Although this book has been published for decades and there is a TV adaptation out, I will try to make any of my reviews of The Wheel of Time series as spoiler-free of the main plot points as possible. This is my first time reading the series so I have no knowledge of the ending or anything beyond this book.
Quick summary of my review: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Robert Jordan is a fantastic high fantasy writer that masterfully shows, not tells, the reader what they are experiencing in the Wheel of Time series. There were epic battles, twists and turns, flirting, and the introduction of many new characters in The Great Hunt. It is a long read but I was very engrossed and the time flew by quite quickly for me.
Recipes inspired by this book: Lamb and Turnip Stew with Gruyere Toast
“The Wheel weaves as the Wheel wills,
and the Pattern provides what is needful.”
I love epic, high fantasy books and The Great Hunt did not disappoint at all. Robert Jordan is brilliant in his world-building and character development. I do recognize that he explains something in 100 words where 45 words may have been sufficient, but I enjoy his prose overall. I was invested in each character and journey throughout the book and looking forward to continuing the series.
The Great Hunt starts pretty much where The Eye of the World left off, with the Horn of Valere. I liked the introduction of several new characters and am excited to continue the series and see where/if they fit in for the main plot or side plots. As for the main characters from the Two Rivers, there was a lot of growth in Rand towards the end of this book, Nynaeve is still a badass, and the others I wished had more growth in this book but I imagine I will see more in the third installment.
“Light, why did the Pattern have to catch me up with you?
Why couldn’t I have something safe and simple,
like being shipwrecked with no food and a dozen hungry Aielmen?”
There was one particular gory part, to me, that involved writing in blood on a wall, as well as some hung bodies. Plus the Seanchan, that entire section was disturbing. With those points aside, I thoroughly enjoyed the second installment of The Wheel of Time series. I felt the stress and fear certain characters had while trying to sneak around a specific city, I flinched a bit when Rand yelled at his friends – especially at Loial, and I sensed the helplessness when Rand and two others were separated from their party. Jordan is a master at showing, not telling, the reader what is happening in a scene.
“Death is lighter than a feather, duty heavier than a mountain.“
I paired two beers with this book, Darkest Days Dark Mild Ale and Time Spiral Munich-style Dunkel. The first beer was Darkest Days dark mild ale by Matchless Brewing and this is what I used in the Lamb and Turnip stew. I wanted a beer that had a bit more complexity to it than what the original stew recipe called for and felt a mild ale would be more time-appropriate for the Wheel of Time world setting.
My second beer pairing is Time Spiral by Wayfinder Beer. I originally chose this beer due to its name and how it relates to some parts in The Great Hunt, but as I drank it I began to see how it complements the book even more. The Munich Dunkel style has been around for hundreds of years, dating back to the early 12th century. It was a style of lager that many countryside villages would brew not only due to the German brewing law of Reinheitsgebot but because they used what ingredients they had available. The toasty, bread crust flavors in the Time Spiral made me want to pair it alongside the lamb stew, the beer is not very bitter and its malty profile works well with the lamb and spices in the recipe. If you are able to get your hands on either of these beers I do recommend them!
And my final thought, I did watch the first season of the TV show before reading this book, I noticed some differences that perhaps may be addressed or shown in the second season of the show. If you have read and watched Wheel of Time, did you happen to notice any differences as well?
Pros:
- Jordan’s world-building is impressive, I will probably say this every book I read from him
- The flaws and personality quirks of characters, although many annoy me it gives them a more real-world appearance to me
- The build-up to the action scenes and major plot points
- That ending!
Cons:
- The beginning has a very repetitive use of “The man who calls himself Bors”, and it got overused immediately
- There were instances of “If you had just told them the truth/what was really going on this wouldn’t have happened”, but that is usually what is needed for conflict in some sections, which I get (and Jordan is obviously not alone in doing this)
You can view my The Great Hunt-inspired recipe for Lamb & Turnip Ale Stew by clicking on the link. If you tried any of the recipes, please do tag me on Instagram @thebooktendercafe I would love to see your creations! You can also purchase The Great Hunt on Bookshop.org below, please know this is an affiliate link which means I may earn a commission if you buy from my link. It costs you absolutely nothing extra but just helps support The Booktender Cafe so I can continue making content like this review and book-inspired recipes.