WoT Book 13 released-chapters nitpicks!

Prologue
Aside from serving us the reminder that Lan is still riding towards the Blight ('still', considering that it's been two books already), the character that would cause everyone to sit straight up whilst reading is Graendal, for this prologue details the events leading up to Rand's balefire of her fortress. Oh, and what Rand did is called 'balescream'. Awesome stuff. The prologue also includes Padan Fain, now mostly-completely Mordeth, making his way through the Blight and heading for Shadar Logoth.

[Precioussssss...]

And also an interesting look at Kandori tradition. The main point of that PoV is show how much the Blight has advanced on Randland, but it was too engaging to be called filler. Loved it.

Part on Galad was kinda pointless, though understandable, but then again, someone should really tell him that Morgase is alive. Same with Gawyn. And will someone kill Rhadam Asunawa already! I like him 'cuz he's skinny and evil and all, but since we can't kill Galad 'cuz he's one of the good guys, kill Asunawa so that we can move on with friggin' story.

Chapter 1
...is called Apples First. As with The Gathering Storm, it's an early chapter on how the Dark One's power has touched the world, crops are dying, random people have random horrible deaths, yadda yadda yadda, but what makes this chapter fantastic comes close to the end of it, when we see an enlightened Rand coming down Dragonmount, after his epiphany in the last few pages of TGS.

And question: Do people in Randland use the word 'ain't'? Usage of the word was so jarring I had to bring it up.

Anyway, Rand's presence and his driving away the Dark One's touch at the end of Chapter 1 is what saved it from being filler material. And none too soon, too. Which brings me to...

Chapter 8
Filler.

The Seven-Striped Lass, which also serves as the name for the bar that Mat is in, doesn't have much except for the usual 'A is given a letter and if he reads it he'll be bound to do what is in it' schtick. Cue 3-4 pages of 'to open, or not to open', and inner turmoil. 

Bo-friggin'-ring.

Now, Chapter 8 will be the first chapter in Book 13 to have Mat, but I don't remember any mention of Verin giving Mat a letter before her death. But then again, I only read Book 12 once. I hope to recap the entire series during these two weeks, on my study leave. Sniggersnort.

The chapter only gets slightly more interesting towards the end (but only just a weeeee bit), where Mat hears people discussing how the random dead in that town have been drained of their blood (meaning that the gholam is drawing in), and at the end of said chapter, in Mat's camp, he smells blood.

But really, folks, what we wanna see is another confrontation between Mat and the gholam. And a long one this time, please. None of this sneaking-in-shadows-and-only-killing-lookalikes business. Mr Gholam should know that he is evil and that he will not live past Tarmon Gai'don, so he should quickly find Mat as we want to move on with our lives. And the rest of the book.


Chapter 2 will be released prior to November 2nd, but I'm not sure when. Stay tuned, folks! :)

ADD:
Chapter 2
...was released on audio just today!! Had a listen this morning; Questions of Leadership involves Perrin and Galad, separate POVs. Wasn't as exciting as I thought it'd be, especially on Perrin's side, since he still hasn't accepted the fact that he has a huge role to play in all the events. Long talky dialogue with Faile (whom I detest), but as long as she's not calling him a bloody lummox and being a general bitch, I'm content.

Galad's side is a little more interesting, but only just. The rest of the Children of the Light have finally realised that Asunawa is up to no good, offs him and elects Galad as Lord Captain Commander. No mention on what happened to Asunawa, though.


So it's a more-than-a-partial 'yay' from me, since Galad's conflicts are done with, and Perrin's arc is still stuck at that whole "axe or hammer, humanity or wolf–um–ility" thing. Maybe we're in for another epiphany in this book.

EDITS: I've just read Chapter 2, and realised I read better than I listen. Thousand apologies.