A Crown of Swords

Lore & Background

The book has three main plotlines: Rand's move against the Forsaken Sammael in Illian, Egwene's manoeuvring among the rebel Aes Sedai in Salidar, and the search for the Bowl of the Winds in Ebou Dar. Reviewer Andy Butcher in Arcane gave it 7 out of 10, finding it a cut above most fantasy but slower than the first three books.

Rand al'Thor prepares to attack Sammael in Illian while living with his friend Min Farshaw and putting down a rebellion of Cairhienin nobles, during which Padan Fain badly wounds him. After recovering, Rand and his Asha'man defeat Sammael in Shadar Logoth, where the Forsaken is destroyed by Mashadar, and Rand takes the Laurel Crown of Illian, now called the Crown of Swords. Egwene al'Vere and Siuan Sanche work the Salidar Aes Sedai against Elaida's White Tower, and Egwene uses the transfer of Lan Mandragoran's Warder bond from Moiraine to Myrelle to make Myrelle and Nisao swear fealty to her. In Ebou Dar, Elayne, Nynaeve, Aviendha and Mat Cauthon search for the Bowl of the Winds to break the unnatural heat caused by the Dark One, enlist the Kin and the Atha'an Miere, and confront a gholam. Mat is left behind when the Seanchan invade the city.