[Terez]

Serious, serious spoilers:

Spoiler

Verin dies.
Sheriam is Black Ajah.
Rand kills Semirhage with the True Power. In case you forgot, that's the Dark One's power.

[HoosierDaddy]

Hi, I'm HD and I can't pass a spoiler tag without reading it. Might have to go purchase this book now.

[Terez]

You were warned, lol. Don't worry, that's only a few out of many, many exciting things in this book.

[HoosierDaddy]

Even more exciting than braid tugging or mustache knuckling? IMPOSSIBLE!!!!

[Terez]

Well...

Spoiler

In chapter 7, Nynaeve almost tugs her braid. But she stops herself.

[Werthead]

Terez, on 23 October 2009 - 07:33 PM, said:

Serious, serious spoilers:

Spoiler

Verin dies.
Sheriam is Black Ajah.
Rand kills Semirhage with the True Power. In case you forgot, that's the Dark One's power.

Ah.

Spoiler

I hadn't heard that. Did Rand gain that ability when he and Ishy crossed the streams in Book 7? And I'm guessing killing them with the True Power is the non-balefire method of ensuring Forsaken don't come back again?

[Abyss]

Macros, on 23 October 2009 - 05:17 PM, said:

That lesbian scene thats been in the offing for 4 books finally hits

pedantic cat says "Ahem... the proper term is 'pillow friends'."

Werthead, on 23 October 2009 - 06:09 PM, said:

Abyss, on 23 October 2009 - 03:18 PM, said:

Fuck. Are those TGS spoilers? Because if they are, I'm in. You got me. I'm buying.
...

Yes.

Spoiler

And when I say 'badass', I mean, a 'Quick Ben' level of badass.

In the manipulative clever sense, or in the 'splosions and property destruction' sense?


- Abyss, CLEARLY not spoilerphobic...

[Terez]

Werthead, on 23 October 2009 - 08:36 PM, said:

Terez, on 23 October 2009 - 07:33 PM, said:

Serious, serious spoilers:

Spoiler

Verin dies.
Sheriam is Black Ajah.
Rand kills Semirhage with the True Power. In case you forgot, that's the Dark One's power.

Ah.

Spoiler

I hadn't heard that. Did Rand gain that ability when he and Ishy crossed the streams in Book 7? And I'm guessing killing them with the True Power is the non-balefire method of ensuring Forsaken don't come back again?

Spoiler

I actually don't know much - only got to really read through chapter 12, and just skimmed through chapter 23 for points of view, and when I got to Semirhage's point of view, I had to read. The store was closing in like 5 minutes and I still wanted to skim the end of Egwene's points of view to see if there was any sign of a Seanchan attack, which I didn't see. So, Rand balefired her with the True Power is all I managed to get from that chapter - that, and a scene after with Cadsuane. Shaidar Haran rescued Semirhage, and told her it was her last chance to do something good. Semirhage collared Rand. Most of what I gathered from skimming the scene was that the True Power was his only way to escape her, as he was only shielded against saidin and that's why he used it, but of course he did it unconsciously, and there are huge hints of Moridin's anger at Semirhage that we saw in the prologue, in Graendal's point of view - especially after that, there are hints of Moridin residue. It's almost as if Rand's anger at Semirhage hurting Min gave Moridin the opportunity to get his revenge against Semirhage.

As for when he got the ability...I get the feeling that the link has been getting stronger between them, so no telling how long he's been able to do it. Of course the balefire thing is the obvious catalyst for the link, but that might not even be it. We don't know. Anyway, there's a bit in an earlier chapter in Ituralde's point of view where Ituralde notices that Rand has a look of ecstasy on his face as he's making a gateway, and I considered when I read that that maybe Rand was using the True Power. Then I was like....nah, couldn't be! lol...but who knows how long he has been using it?

[Terez]

I just read the Dragonmount spoiler thread, because I started to wonder if I had read what I thought I read, in that hurried moment (major spoilers):

Spoiler

I read in the DM thread that Rand killed Semirhage by ripping her out of the Pattern, like Ishamael tried to do to him when they fought in Tel'aran'rhiod. Perhaps that is what it was rather than balefire - I might have read 'removing her from the Pattern' as being balefire since that's what it does essentially, but I could have sworn I remembered the trademark bar of fire that balefire is....and I'm almost positive it was the True Power, because I remember a reaction like 'you have no idea how much you have been honored' or something from Semirhage. I hope I didn't give a fake spoiler, lol. I really did just skim that chapter, but I'm still 99% sure on the True Power thing.

In any case, I've now spoiled pretty much the whole rest of the book for myself by reading that thread. They are being pretty stingy with spoilers, though - it's annoying, because it's like they're posting just to say 'nyah nyah I have it and you don't', and not actually giving up any information, lol.

This post has been edited by Terez: 24 October 2009 - 05:49 AM

[Terez]

Got independent confirmation on both points.

Spoiler

It was the True Power, and balefire. I feel better now that I know I didn't read it wrong - and that I evidently read it better in a rush than someone else did while reading it carefully!

This post has been edited by Terez: 24 October 2009 - 07:09 AM

[HoosierDaddy]

Your spider is pleased to present such clickable information. I can tell. It's the smile.

[Terez]

Soooo tempted to post more spoilers. But don't want to ruin it totally - there are at least three other major spoilers not yet revealed here.

[Terez]

I think I might try to stay offline till Tuesday. I need to stop harassing book store employees. I know that there are certain chapters with good stuff in them that I didn't read and haven't yet been spoiled on, so I will save something for myself, and hopefully get some work done!

Oh, and...

Spoiler

I realized the person at DM was better at keeping secrets than I am.

This post has been edited by Terez: 24 October 2009 - 11:09 AM

[Terez]

For Cougar, if he's interested in spoilers:

Spoiler

We were right about Lews Therin. "He knew--somehow--that he would never again hear Lews Therin's voicein his head. For they were not two men, and never had been."

[Terez]

I think RJ's talent as a big picture epic fantasy author is really starting to come out in this book. In the last few books, many things were set up, and not many things resolved. Now things are resolving, and the intricate theories that we've come up with are starting to take serious hits, and some of the wackier theories turned out to be not so wacky after all. It's good fun.

Oh, and BS is doing a great job telling it.

Spoiler

I heard he had a little trouble with Mat, but I haven't read the Mat chapters - since I had to skim, I skipped those because I knew his plot didn't advance toward Ghenjei, so I figured I'd save him for later.

This post has been edited by Terez: 25 October 2009 - 02:10 AM

[Pig Iron]

Haven't read the spoilers, and I guess every obvious theory like this has been discussed several times, but: I wonder if the relationship between Rand, Lews and the Dark one might not be "endgame material". What if the seals are what is keeping them separate personalities? Kind of weird otherwise that the DO has had so little screentime (major character without traits except for very mean).

This post has been edited by Pig Iron: 26 October 2009 - 01:01 PM

[cerveza_fiesta]

Terez, on 22 October 2009 - 12:02 PM, said:

Yeah, that distinction between good and bad remains at its core - Rand and all his buddies - but even our core good guys have serious issues, and Rand is at the top of the list of people with issues IMO. But it's not black and white by any means - even now with book 12 coming out, we know so few Darkfriends by name, but know there are at least 10x more than the ones we know, probably more. Even the non-Dark ones have secret plans, secret motivations - and these are not just hints of secrets, but real mysteries with meat behind them. As the series goes on, the most amazing thing is how many of the mysteries tie back to book 1. There are a few mysteries that end up being duds, but far more that go somewhere interesting.

The political intrigue is what is laid on thick over the next several books, more so than action (not that action is absent by any means - it's just not so prevalent).

Sounds like you just read chapter 6 - last time you posted, you were on chapter 5 (the first Mat chapter, which you mentioned). So, you're reading slow!

I know...I'm a slow reader when I'm trying to read fast.

When I'm not even trying its like watching a glacier move.

Meh...no time for heavy reading in my life.

[Terez]

I understand. I haven't read anything new in forever, not counting new books in series I've been reading a long time. I used to read more....then I got addicted to book websites.

[pat5150]

For what it's worth, my review of TGS is up on the Hotlist.

Enjoy the book, you guys!

Patrick

[Terez]

Who is Robert Stanek, and what does his leglessness have to do with Lews Therin?