The Dragon Reborn (The Wheel of Time #3) is a 1991 fantasy adventure novel written by Robert Jordan, published by Tor Books.  Set as the third book in the Wheel of Time series, the story follows the declaration of Rand al’Thor as the Dragon Reborn, and the efforts of those who want to help him and those who want to stop him.

Positives:

• Great, well-written characters
• Very complex story
• Great writing
• A lot of memorable moments
• Solid world-building
• Great action

Negatives:

• Distracting level of detail
• Pacing slows down dramatically during the middle

Plot:  The story picks up after the events of the The Great Hunt in which Rand al’Thor has declared himself the Dragon Reborn.  He now travels to the Stone of Tear to prove his proclamation to the world.  Along the way Rand is pursued by the forces of darkness while aided by those you support him.

Much of the story focuses on the point of view of the supporting characters Mar, Perrin, and Egwene, not actually from the point of Rand (though he is the main protagonist of the series).  The best stories actually surround Perrin and Mat’s stories.

On Nynaeve, Egwene, and Elayne’s story arc, we get more on the conspiracy of the Black Ajah as well as the exposition of the Aes Sedai.  It was good to get the insight into the Aes Sedai hierachy though it was very slow.

Like his previous books, the story is pretty damn complex.  Rand is on his mission, and there are a ton of characters vying to either help him or hurt him.  There are a lot of great twists that keep the read very engaging.  There are some plot points that are introduced that aren’t resolved, but in good ole Jordan format, is a starting point for the next entry.  The ending is pretty damn epic with the world acknowledging Rand’s destiny. (5 out of 5)

Characters:  There are a lot of new characters introduced to the series.  Jordan has done a fantastic job with the characterization.

This is the point where we get see the main three, Rand al’Thor, Matrim Cauthon, and Perrin Aybara, have actually pretty grown as they struggle to cope with their destinies.  Rand is dealing with the madness that the taint brings to men who can channel but proves himself as the Dragon Reborn.  Perrin is struggling with his calling with being a wolf brother but he does meets and falls in love with Zarine “Faile” Bashere.  Faile is a pretty interesting character although she is almost as big a douche as many of the other women characters.  I love how she teases Perrin. Matrim is finally cured of his illness.  Naturally he doesn’t want to get caught up with the war with the darkness.  Yes, the stubbornness of the Two Rivers folk is strong and frustrating but they’re there when they need to be.

Gaul is this Aiel from the Stone Dog clan who was captured but later freed by Perrin, whom he pledges his life to.  Gaul is awesome and the guy shows he can throwdown when the situation calls for it.  But he’s also surprisingly insightful.

Nynaeve al’Meara, Egwene al’Vere and Elayne Trakand are just as annoying as ever though their story is interesting.  Nynaeve’s stubbornness is annoying and Egwene is just ridiculous wanting to fight about everything. Really didn’t like how Siuan Sanche is so manipulative and how she treats Nynaeve, Egwene, and Elayne is just plain stupid considering that they’re new to the game and that she wants them to follow her orders.  I do like Verin as she is more helpful than the rest of the Aes Sedai who all strive to manipulate others.

Min is just a great character and definitely a breath of fresh air compared to most of the female cast.  Loial is normally a scholar but he does gets his kickass moment.  The characters are just awesome, even the bad guys.  (4 out of 5)

Writing: Robert Jordan does a great job with the storytelling and pulling his readers into a rich world filled with rich characters, deep storylines, and fantastic world-building.  However, the writing does suffer in some areas.  One being the heavy level of description which can be distracting and even convoluted the reading experience.

Love the exposition of the Aiel, who are literally the definition of awesome.  They have a harsh but interesting culture not only when it comes to their beliefs but also the society.

One of the most memorable moments of the novel is Mat’s fight with Elayne’s brother, Gawyn Trakand, and half-brother  Galad Damodred.  Literally made him look badass and shows that he is a terribly underrated character.

Some travel sequences do make for some slow moments which feel long winded.  I’m one of those who can appreciate these moments for their insight into the characters.

I still hate the characterization of most of the female characters.  The female characters get very cocky and rude for no apparent reason other than they are convinced of their own greatness and often put down the male characters.  Mat saved Egwene, Elayne, and Nynaeve and they showed little appreciation for his assistance.

The writing is spot on and Jordan has done such a fantastic job with the series so far.  Yes, the book doesn’t completely focus on Rand but his presence is felt in every page.  Thumbs up. (4 out of 5)

The Verdict:  In the end, The Dragon Reborn (The Wheel of Time #3) is a great read and great addition to the Wheel of Time series. Yes, it continues the trend of too much detail and during the Aes Sedai portions it slows down dramatically.  Despite this, Jordan has continued to improve his characters who remain rich in personality, a very engaging and complex story, a rich world, a lot of memorable moments, and an epic conclusion.  The Dragon Reborn (The Wheel of Time #3) gets 4 out of 5.