Rage Reads The Eye of the World (Wheel of Time #1), Part 2
Rage Reads #2
February 22, 2026In a previous issue I had discussed my thoughts and opinions on the five from The Eye of the World. This issue is a direct continuation of that, where I will be discussing my thoughts and opinions about everything else. Again, note: there will be spoilers for The Eye of the World.
Moiraine and Lan
Moiraine is an Aes Sedai, which means she can channel the One Power to do magical things. There are a lot of promises, hints, plot points alluded to, with the introduction of Moiraine Sedai. Only a few of them are resolved by the end of the book, two of which is the Eye of the World and the Horn of Valere.
The first time I read this book, I thought Moiraine was the coolest ever. She had powers, and she kept the boys safe, and she knew so many things. But I was naive then. On the second read, actually Moiraine wasn’t all that. She is frustratingly secretive and vague, and coolly nonchalant about most things. (The nonchalance may have been part of her upbringing in the Cairhien Royal Palace, which was mentioned towards the very end of the book.) She’s also not above manipulation to get what she wants.
It doesn’t help Moiraine’s reputation that she’s claimed two young women to have enough potential to be very, very strong Aes Sedai.
With training you might become even more powerful than Egwene, and I believe she can become one of the most powerful Aes Sedai we have seen in centuries.
The two young women she’s just met, and she already thinks they could be stronger than her. Maybe she’s just humble, but why would she inflate Egwene and Nynaeve’s heads like that? Is that part of the training? Lan also at some point had spoken to Nynaeve like she was already Aes Sedai.
“You see, Nynaeve, you are welcome to come.” There was a hesitation in the way Lan said her name, a hint of an unspoken “Sedai” after it.
Isn’t that kind of crazy? Or are Warders also trained to “sense” women who have already touched the True Source? It’s certainly not just vibes, right? I know that this is the author’s way to establish promises, events to look forward to, and hooks that the reader should hold on to, and it is proving to be effective. I want to see Egwene become Amyrlin Seat, and I want to see Nynaeve become one of the most powerful Aes Sedai in recent history.
Also a side note, I’m pretty sure Lan almost broke his oath (whatever it is) to save Nynaeve when they went to rescue Perrin and Egwene from the Children of the Light. That is a big thing, coming from a Warder. Lan was a very serious character, and his demeanor does not invite anything other than rigidity, battle-ready.
Lan being king was curious, and it expectedly put a barrier between him and Nynaeve. Lan’s story sounds like he could be the chosen one instead of Rand, it is certainly more interesting so far. But I wonder if Lan ever will claim the title and fly the banner again. A Warder and a King.
I, however, did like that Moiraine does not always treat Nynaeve like she’s a child. Even when Nynaeve kept on antagonizing her, confronting her at every opportunity, she made Nynaeve see reason by explaining her thought process on certain decisions that Nynaeve disagreed with. In a way I think this is her way of “training” Nynaeve to keep a clear head when faced with difficult decisions. A skill that may be useful in Nynaeve’s future?
Padan Fain
Padan Fain’s introduction to the series was weak. He was a peddler that regularly visited Emond’s Field to sell his wares. On the night of the Trolloc attack, he vanished.
But soon after, the reader learns that Padan Fain very much has a big role in the journey of Rand becoming who he is supposed to be. In Fal Dara, when Padan Fain was caught and interrogated, he admitted that he has been following Rand—that, in fact, he was made for that purpose. Padan Fain is the Shadow’s hound dog, Find My Rand tracker, and a filthy little thing.
We might see more of Padan Fain. Moiraine felt that he is hiding more secrets.
Thom Merrillin
The gleeman! I don’t really have much to say about him, apart from the fact that it’s a nice thing for the boys to learn practical, non-world saving skills while on the road running away from evil, evil creatures. Imagine a Dragon Reborn who could pass as a gleeman playing the flute and juggling balls as a fun little hobby.
Anyway, I don’t fully believe Thom is dead. I’m not going to spoil future books (I don’t remember much of them anyway), but I feel like the fact that Rand still keeps Thom’s things has to mean something. And also didn’t Min also see the gleeman as part of the Pattern or something like that?
Trollocs and Myrddraals
Evil little not-cute kittens. (That’s genuinely my notes on them. They hate deep water and they can’t swim.)
Others
A quote from Elyas that I really liked, when Perrin was about to throw away his axe into a lake:
You’ll use it, boy, and as long as you hate using it, you will use it more wisely than most men would. Wait. If ever you don’t hate it any longer, then will be the time to throw it as far as you can and run the other way.
I think that’s accurate for any weapon that can destroy and harm.
In my head there was whooping and a round of applause when Loial was introduced for the first time. Of course, this didn’t happen in my first read. In my head Loial is like a beloved character in a sitcom appearing on screen for the first time in the series, for some reason.
Elayne Trakand was also introduced, and we saw very, very little of her in this book. Sounds like she knew what she was doing, but Gawyn alluded to her not always being taken seriously and being treated like… a princess, or a child. She’s got a good head on her shoulders.
“It is not right,” Elayne said. “She asked if I wanted to pick out the one farm she could do the same for, while all around it the crops still failed, but it still isn’t right for us to have flowers when there are people who do not have enough to eat.
Elaida is scary. I don’t have any opinions on Queen Morgase and Gareth Bryne.
A quote from Moiraine that sounds nice but probably isn’t useful in real life:
A tool made for a purpose is not demeaned by being used for that purpose.
We create our own purpose, and we choose to make ourselves tools for that purpose.
That’s the end for The Eye of the World. I’d love to hear your thoughts and opinions on the book, or your thoughts and opinions on my own thoughts and opinions. No spoilers beyond The Eye of The World please!
I will probably be writing about Wheel of Time for the rest of the year, but I will try to read other books or series in between. You’re welcome to suggest books you think I should read.
Rage Reads will always be free. If you enjoyed this piece and want to support my work, please consider giving me a tip.
Note: This was originally posted on Substack.