Lord of Chaos is the sixth installment in author Robert Jordan's The Wheel Of Time series, and it features the best ending of any of the 14 books, except for the last one. This book is also the key to understanding Rand al’Thor’s relationship with the Aes Sedai. His lack of trust and subsequent dealings with Aes Sedai stem from events in this book.
Readers also get a glimpse of Jordan’s vision for Egwene al’Vere. He starts her on a hugely important path in this book. While Nyneave remains more caricature than character, with her childish tantrums and mental block, Egwene is more fleshed out. Her past as a prisoner of the Seanchan and her training with Aiel Wise Ones have provided her with tools no other Aes Sedai has.
While much of Lord of Chaos seems to focus on Rand hanging around waiting for something to happen, foundations are being laid for future storylines and character development. Rand does have a plan, though hurdles continuously appear before him, and he must find ways over or around them.
Points of view in Lord of Chaos
The points of view are spread out in this book more than any other to date. According to the Wheel of Time Wiki, the main characters, 80 percent of the narrative is told from the points of view of Rand, Egwene, Nynaeve, Mat, Elayne and Perrin. The other 20 percent is spread out among 43 other characters, some of whom are significant players.
This seems like an overwhelming, and maybe unnecessary, number of characters to be given a voice in any one book. But there are so many things happening in these books that it's justified. Jordan gives readers glimpses of these 43 other characters and hints at what roles they have to play as the story unfolds.
It's an impressive accomplishment to juggle so many characters with the nimbleness that Jordan does. Jordan wants readers to see what’s happening from as many angles as possible, and he accomplished this almost seamlessly.
Rand and the Aes Sedai
Rand’s relationship with the Aes Sedai is forever complicated. While he came to trust Moiraine before her untimely disappearance through the twisted doorway with Lanfear in The Fires of Heaven, he barely tolerates other Aes Sedai in his life. Moiraine warned him not to trust any Aes Sedai, and he takes that advice to heart.
Of course, Aes Sedai don’t help themselves with how they deal with the Dragon Reborn. The White Tower is broken, and both contingents want to control Rand. For his part, Rand is more open to the rebels because of his connections to Elyane and Nynaeve, but he is wary of all Aes Sedai.
When Alanna and Verin show up in Caemlyn with a bevy of Two Rivers girls headed for the White Tower, they don’t know the Tower is broken. They aren’t aligned with either side, but then Alanna bonds Rand as her warder without his permission. Instead of tying him to her as she intended, it drives him away from her and pushes his distrust of the Aes Sedai to the edge. This single misstep by Alanna is a key part of explaining Rand’s relationship with the Aes Sedai moving forward.
When the rebellious Little Tower sends a contingent of Aes Sedai to Caemlyn to draw Rand to their side, he won’t allow more than three in his presence. Elaida sends her own contingent to Cairhein, but her goal is much darker. She wants Rand brought to the White Tower, voluntarily or by force. She wants him controlled and inside the White Tower until the Last Battle. Again, Rand only admits three members of this group into his presence at a time.
In Caemlyn, a member of the rebels’ contingent is attacked and nearly killed. The attacker seems to be Aiel, and the Aes Sedai demand an audience with Rand and bring six sisters rather than the mandated six. The Dragon Reborn listens to them but brushes them aside and travels to Cairhein. There, an audience of three Aes Sedai visit him, supposedly to present him with a chest full of gold. In fact, the servants were disguised Aes Sedai, and they capture Rand and stuff him into a chest. After a few days they leave Cairhein and heading back to Tar Valon with their cargo.
Rand’s captivity and how harshly he is treated solidifies his stance on Aes Sedai. They cannot be trusted, and he will take no more chances in the future. The discovery of his capture and subsequent rescue attempt make the book's ending extremely tense and explosive.
In the end, several Aes Sedai from the Little Tower swear oaths of fealty to the Dragon Reborn, something no one could have seen coming.
Egwene and the Little Tower
Egwene has been on her own, training to be a dream walker with the Aiel Wise Ones since early on in The Shadow Rising. Since Moiraine’s apparent death, she’s been on her own with the Aiel, recuperating from the harm Lanfear did her.
Finally, Egwene is recalled, not back to the White Tower but to the village of Salidar, which the Aes Sedai rebels have made their home base. She heads out immediately, and upon her arrival is told she’s to be named the Amyrlin Seat for the sisters in Salidar. This is a shock to everyone, including Egwene, but she quickly realizes the sisters in power in Salidar want a pliable puppet they control. Egwene is willing to go along with it, but only to a point. She is developing a plan of her own.
Elayne and Nynaeve turn Moghedien over to Egwene, who keeps their secret about the woman's identity. The Amyrlin Seat decides to send her two friends to Ebou Dar to find something that can help with the weather, which is falling under the control of the Dark One’s touch as he gains more presence in the world.
Mat, whom Rand sent to Salidar to escort Elayne to Caemlyn to take the Lion Throne, is also sent to Ebou Dar. Since he has been burdened with the safety of Andor's daughter-heir, he must follow. Aveindha, who accompanies Mat to Salidar and has attached herself to Elayne, also goes to Ebou Dar to help with the search. Aviendha’s goal is to beg Elayne’s forgiveness for lying with Rand and get to know her better so they can be first-sisters so both may marry the Dragon Rebord, along with Min.
The Black Tower
Rand offers amnesty to any man who can channel, and he sets up a training facility known as the Farm (later renamed the Black Tower) outside Caemlyn where they can train. To his surprise and suspicion, the false dragon Mazrim Taim shows up. Though Rand distrusts him, he puts Taim in charge of the training, telling him to train the men quickly and to train them as weapons.
Taim begs Rand to allow him to recruit to build up their numbers more quickly. Despite his misgivings, Rand eventually gives his permission. Taim does a great job and quickly puts together a small army of men who can channel. They play an essential role in the incredible ending of this book.
Lord of Chaos sets up three significant aspects for future storylines. Events in this book have long-ranging effects, especially for Rand and Egwene, as well as other characters. There are a lot of little details that become more significant as the story moves forward.
The Wheel of Time book club
- The Eye of the World
- The Great Hunt
- The Dragon Reborn
- The Shadow Rising
- The Fires of Heaven
- Lord of Chaos
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