Title: A Memory of Light
Author: Robert Jordan, Brandon Sanderson
Series: The Wheel of Time #14
Narrator: Michael Kramer and Kate Reading
Genre: Fantasy
Length: 41 hours 47 minutes
Published: 2013, MacMillan Audio (originally published 2013)
My Grade: 4 out of 5
Review Summary: There are no endings, and never have been endings, to the turning of the Wheel of Time.
But it was an ending.
GOODREADS’ DESCRIPTION
The Wheel of Time turns and Ages come and go, leaving memories that become legend. Legend fades to myth, and even myth is long forgotten when the Age that gave it birth returns again. In the Third Age, an Age of Prophecy, the World and Time themselves hang in the balance. What was, what will be, and what is, may yet fall under the Shadow.
When Robert Jordan died in 2007, all feared that these concluding scenes would never be written. But working from notes and partials left by Jordan, established fantasy writer Brandon Sanderson stepped in to complete the masterwork. With The Gathering Storm (Book 12) and Towers of Midnight (Book 13) behind him, Sanderson now re-creates the vision that Robert Jordan left behind.
Edited by Jordan’s widow, who edited all of Jordan’s books, A Memory of Light will delight, enthrall, and deeply satisfy all of Jordan’s legions of readers.
The Wheel of Time turns, and Ages come and pass.
What was, what will be, and what is,
may yet fall under the Shadow.
Let the Dragon ride again on the winds of time.
MY REVIEW
I see similarities between the final three Wheel of Time books as well as with Stormlight Archive. And Im not sure if that’s my head playing tricks on me because I know it’s the same author, but with slightly different voices. But there are words that trigger my fond memories of Stormlight when reading. But beyond those single words here and there that triggers fond memories of Brandon Sanderson’s other works, there are no similiarities.
Having spent the last 5 years listening to Wheel of Time, I need to say that if I wasn’t aware, I wouldn’t know that it wasn’t Robert Jordan who finished the story. He takes on the voice of Jordan so well and I think I may have been more involved due to the fact that the last three books are actually leading up to the end.
For a 14-book series (excluding New Spring, the prequel) which will be my next project, that covers 4.4 million words, with a ridiculously detailed world-building, the ending came very fast. Even though The Final Battle chapter was 9 hours long, the ending was upon me out of nowhere and before I knew it, so many people were dead, the end was here and Michael Kramer read “The end of the last book of the Wheel of Time”. Slightly disappointing if I am completely honest. But also not. I have very mixed feelings at the moment. So many people died that it could have been a George R.R. Martin book. It was not an ending which included the evil being destroyed for good. Time functioning as a wheel, meant that everything moved on, more will happen, and I believe that the Final Battle will come again one day.
It feels weird leaving behind all characters, they all had their very special roles in this time and age to defeat the dark one. They grew over the years and played their roles well and even though they were stubborn and annoying, they were so well developed and real. I do believe 14 books are quite a lot and the pace has definitely been slow with scenes here and there full of action, but it also gave the reader/listener a chance to really know the characters and appreciate the journey they did.
I am very happy with the ending and I will struggle to find my next long-term audiobook project. It also bothers me that I strongly believe the second read of this series would be amazing, but there are just so many great books out there that I want to read. Not sure I have another five years to dedicate to this series. No time was wasted and I do wish I had more concentration power to be able to digest all the intricate details of this deep epic fantasy journey. As a whole, I loved it, but individually with each book, I struggled a bit to get through, even with amazing narrators such as Michael Kramer and Kate Reading. The full story concludes with a four out of five, I believe. It was a really good, but quick ending, to a very, very long series.
