- "as though it was not usually inhabited"
- "Do you really think that the Dark Lord has not asked me each and every one of those questions? And do you really think that..I would be sitting here talking to you?"
- Think! By waiting two hours I ensured I could remain at Hogwarts as a spy!
- There is no point apportioning blame. What is done is done
- "You know about the plan?"
- Bellatrix's mouth fell open.
- "The misty fug" typo fog p42 ch3
- Dumbledore's black and shrivelled hand
- But the evidence so far suggests that that would be optimistic to the point of foolishness.
- Madam Rosmerta's finest oak-matured mead
- His godfather's dead? Vernon said loudly
- Bellatrix Lestrange inherit the house??!
- Harry suspects Dumbledore was enjoying himself
- Using Kreacher as a test of ownership
- "You did not do as I asked. You have never treated Harry as a son. He has known nothing but neglect and often cruelty at your hands."
- I do not think you need worry about being attacked tonight...You are with me.
- Voldemort using Occlumency against Harry
- Why does Harry need to say "Hermione Granger told me" - is there more than 1 Hermione?
- Harry understood he was not being snubbed, and that he had permission to keep asking questions
- Dumbledore's favourite flavour of jam is raspberry
- Slughorn collects people and talent
- "If it is..I'll make sure I take as many Death Eaters with me as I can, and Voldemort too if I can manage it"
- Slughorn taught Mr and Mrs Weasley and Lily Potter
- Arthur Weasley promoted
- All the girls hate Fleur - Mrs Weasley hoping Bill falls for Tonks instead
- Hermione shrieked
- Harry feeling warmth from his friends supporting him
- Harry's excellent report card for 7 OWLs
- Hermione dreadful at Quidditch
- Ollivander captured - for the Elder wand?
- Hagrid the security
- Harry standing up to Narcissa Malfoy
- Dumbledore won't always be there to protect you
- Why is Malkin even disputing that Malfoys are death eaters
- U no poo
- Ministry buying 500 shield hats!
- Harry: You don't pay here
- Vanishing cabinet for Malfoy
- Hermione tries to suss out info but fails
- Harry felt a twinge of annoyance when Ginny leaves (he also smelt something flowery at the Burrow)
- Luna: "It was like having friends" π Harry pitied her
- "They're friends of mine"
- None of them was at the Ministry. They didn't fight with me"
- (The DA members performing jinxes on Malfoy is something I forgot to note in the previous book)
- Nearly Headless Nick is a Potter authority
- Hagrid assumes all 3 of them are taking his lessons
- Lavender Brown and Ron
- Harry got the quidditch captain's badge
- Katie Bell the only one left - doesn't advocate nepotism
- Did you really tell him I'm the best in the year? Oh Harry!
- Liquid luck- Felix Felicis
- Stupid scribbles of the previous owner - Snape
- Add a clockwise stir - Harry tells Hermione how to do it
- Harry the clear winner
- Marvalo and Morfin deeply racist - Merope scarred by the dad
- Ron showing signs of jealousy
- Harry's final decision - "if you don't get out of the way I'll hex you!"
- Hermione telling Ron he was brilliant .."yes yes you were magnificent" and she confounded his competition
- Ron annoyed he's not invited to parties but this was how Harry felt when he wasn't prefect
- Hermione's eyes flickered between Ron and Madam Rosmerta
- Harry scowled at Ginny being with Dean
- Tom Riddle was greedy, evil and exploitive even as a kid
- You will hear many of his Death Eaters claiming that they are in his confidence, that they alone are close to him.. they are deluded. Lord V has never had a friend, nor do I believe he has ever wanted one.
- Voldemort keeps trophies
- Harry had a savage urge to jinx Dean into a jelly
- Felix Felicis- placebo effect but Ron and Hermione don't get on
- Harry could not help admiring her spellwork at a time like this
- Ron and Lavender burst in
- Harry thought he heard a sob before it slammed
- Romilda Vane looked like she meant business (with the love potion)
- Hermione on the verge of tears
- Luna was demonstrating her usual knack of speaking uncomfortable truths; he had never met anyone quite like her.
- A bit lonely without the DA. Ginny stopping others calling her loony
- Luna turned her protuberant eyes upon him in surprise
- Nobody's ever asked me to a party before as a friend!
- I'm really glad you're taking her, Harry, she's so excited!
- Girls were very strange sometimes
- Hermione and Cormac
- I like really good Quidditch players
- Unusually large number of resentful girls
- Is that why you dyed your eyebrow, for the party? Should I do mine too? ππ
- Satsuma mandarin
- Eez eet over? What an 'orrible-
- Fenrir Greyback plans and positions himself so he is close to victims on the full moon
- Lupin is a nice tie in to Prisoner of Azkaban
- "To Master, from Kreacher" - maggots πππ
- Mrs Weasley gave Lupin an annoyed look as though it was all his fault she was getting Fleur for a daughter-in-law π
- Tonks' patronus changed form
- I haven't forgotten Minister. He raised his right fist "I must not tell lies"
- We'll see who's right.. you'll be eating your words, Hermione
- And the rest of the evening passed with both of them abusing the Minister for Magic..
- Dumbledore's man through and through
- Dumbledore never seemed to like me as much as the other teachers did
- Voldemort revealed his true character in his excitement at discovering his identity
- Malfoy and Hermione furious that Harry came top of the class without doing anything
- 1 March - Ron's birthday
- Er-my-nee croaked Ron
- "Half our family does seem to owe you their lives, now I stop and think about it...Well, all I can say is that it was a lucky day for the Weasleys when Ron decided to sit in your compartment on the Hogwarts Express, Harry" - Arthur Weasley to Harry after Harry saves Ron from poisoning
- Luna's commentary π
- Kreacher? π
- And if Dobby does it wrong, Dobby will throw himself off the topmost tower..!!
- .. but why are you so interested? ..Hermione gave Harry a sharp look
- She's grown on me, Luna..I know she's insane
- Hermione wearily crossing out Harry's sentences
- Cold disappointment from Dumbledore
- Greatness inspires envy..
- Voldemort wanted to teach at Hogwarts
- Dumbledore suggests the DAtDA post can't be held onto because of Voldemort
- Lavender Brown Shrieking at Ron for being with Hermione
- Just don't think too badly of me once you've seen it
- All right, I lied!..I was annoyed you woke me up
- Now at last we shall see. Harry quickly.
- Voldemort wildly happy about Horcruxes
- Voldemort a solo operator, wouldn't rely on philosopher's stone
- Morfin's and Marvalo's Shack - Marvalo's ring
- Hufflepuff's cup, Slytherin's locket, the diary
- Nagini - so when he killed the Keeper of his father's house in Goblet of fire he made a horcrux?
- Lucius Malfoy tried to use the horcrux for his own gain (sabotage Weasleys and Dumbledore) and to rid himself of incriminating evidence
- By attempting to kill Harry, Voldemort singled out Harry and gave him the tools for the job - he didn't hear the whole prophecy and did not realise he would be advancing the prophecy by his own v actions of attacking Harry, who he perceived to be a threat
- Difference between being dragged into the arena vs walking into the arena with your head held high
- Lavender red eyed and screaming at Ron
- Ron brushed snow off Hermione and Lavender cried.
- Hermione was cheery "It's a nice day"
- Harry kissed Ginny. Dean Thomas shattered a glass; Romilda Vane looking as though she might throw something
- Hermione was beaming
- Ron's jerk of the head - well if you must
- Harry giving them his Felix Felicis
- Your enemy must weaken himself to enter
- But your blood is worth more than mine
- Dumbledore very calm
- Why didn't Dumbledore bring more members of the order? Or kids - they wouldn't fit in the boat presumably
- That Dumbledore could cast a fire spell after drinking the potion is crazy
- Rosmerta under the imperius curse
- Amycus Alecto Fenrir
- Severus..please (begging for execution)
- Hagrid's skin deflecting curses
- Dumbledore had weakened himself for nothing
- Lupin lost control
- Dumbledore told me explicitly that Snape's repentance was absolutely genuine..
- Malfoys hand of glory
- I am good looking enough for both of us, I theenk! - Fleur on marrying Bill
- Tonks and Lupin
- Hagrid's views valued
- Ginny understood Harry
- Can't believe (again) that Dumbledore died..was it really the only way? Was it the craziest MVP play for Snape's cover?
- This is a book full of emotions - Ginny and Harry finding each other the long way; Hermione and Ron; and Dumbledore's death
- I like it quite a lot but I suppose it feels like there is no closure after the dramatic shock of Snape killing Dumbledore and that puts a sour taste in the mouth
- Maybe ranks after Prisoner of Azkaban
- Maybe a 4.7/5
Andre's Fortress
This used to be a site dedicated to Board, Card and Party Game reviews but, in the end, I realised that there are plenty of other things to talk about =)
Friday, 16 January 2026
Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (Book #6)
Monday, 12 January 2026
Love you QQ
Dear daughter,
You were crying in the night. I was too hard on you today. Sorry. Daddy will try to be more patient and remember you are only 2 years old.
Love you heaps.
Dad
Saturday, 10 January 2026
Harry Potter and the Order of Phoenix (Harry Potter Book #5)
- MUNDUNGUS FLETCHER, I AM GOING TO KILL YOU! ππ
- Interesting dynamic of the ministry (who are stupid and stuck in red tape) vs us- when Voldemort is enough of a problem
- How's Harry supposed to not leave the house... and why has he been kept out of the loop
- Calmly talking about Voldemort to the Dursleys
- Petunia finally stops pretending there us no magic
- Remember my last Petunia
- Wotcher, Harry! Kind of like Suzie Blue from keys to the kingdom
- ..a whole bunch of wizards was standing matter-of-factly in the house as though this was a long standing arrangement
- This is a classic us against them book where no one believes the main character and the system and red tape is against Harry..
- I think it's better that Harry gets the facts .. from us rather than a garbled version from others
- Andromeda, Sirius's cousin, had two sisters Bellatrix and Narcissa Black who became Lestrange and Malfoy respectively
- Waging war against the house aided and abetted by Kreacher
- The cleaning duties part is a bit better than the usual Dursleys stuff at the start of books but it's still kind of boring
- Dumbledore limiting communications with Harry
- Doesn't it ever lie flat? Mrs Weasley said desperately
- A tight fit in the telephone box
- Lift ascending slowly at the Ministry of Magic but the level numbers are descending from 7 downwards
- Mr Weasley stood on Harry's foot to stop him from saying Hi to Kingsley
- Kingsley is an insider on locating Black
- If you can get away before 7 Molly's making meatballs
- Mr Weasley's office was slightly smaller than the broom cupboard at the dead end of a shabby corridor
- Lack of procedural fairness - change of courtroom and time
- The lift doesn't even come down this far
- Harry felt a surge of emotion when he saw Dumbledore - who saves the day
- For some reason Harry did not want to look at Hermione (when she and Ron were made prefect)
- Eerie seeing a photograph of people who would meet their end shortly
- Luna Lovegood is hilarious π deadpan, and too honest with shocking but calm outbursts delivered in a dreamy state
- Dumbledore's strategy of nigellating Harry
- Hermione accepting Harry's apology after he snapped at them even though she and Ron are on his side.
- Seamus and Lavender think he's lying
- Best to know what the enemy is saying
- Ask us no questions and we'll tell you no lies"
- Asperity
- Mollified
- Harry and Ron carefully avoided looking at each other
- "Couldn't you tell she wanted to talk to Harry on her own?"
- Hermione's mute attempt to capture Umbridge's eye
- No practice for practical component
- "Detention Mr Potter... The Ministry of Magic guarantees that you are not in any danger from any Dark Wizard"
- It was murder. Voldemort killed him and you know it
- "Have another biscuit." "No thanks" "don't be ridiculous"
- Well I'm glad you listen to Hermione Granger at any rate π re Umbridge's speech
- Thank you for your support Ron
- "Yes, you too Longbottom. There's nothing wrong with your work except lack of confidence. "
- Luna Lovegood and Ernie Macmillan believe Harry "I personally believe you 100%"
- And it looks like it's going to rain - Ron secretly training
- If you're going that means I can go too without being rude
- Detritus
- I saw him send it said Cho angrily
- That's right I saw him she said fiercely
- Fred and George exchanged looks but said nothing to Ron
- Hermione consoling Ron
- Percy pleasantly surprised Ron did not take the "Fred and George" route and followed in his footsteps
- Percy very thick
- Oh give them here..I'll look through them and correct them - Hermione
- Hermione you are honestly the most wonderful person I've ever met and if I'm ever rude to you again..p269
- You're less like your father than I thought...Harry didn't want Sirius to gauge a risk
- This book is all about discrediting Dumbledore and Harry
- T for Troll
- Harry, you're the best in the year at DAtDA
- Just listen to me all right? It sounds great when you say it like that, but all that stuff was luck.
- This is exactly why we need you..we need to know what it's really like.. facing Voldemort- Hermione says V for the first time
- Harry subconsciously planned lessons
- What did Vicky say? π
- Hermione who was taking more subjects than either of them had not only finished her homework but was also finding time to knit more elf clothes
- Harry's stomach did a backflip
- Yes well the idea seemed quite popular said Hermione happily
- Hermione's speech to Dumbledore's Army
- The veiled witch sitting alone shifted very slightly in her seat - Mundungus
- The fact that Cho had praised him made it much, much harder for him to day the thing he had sworn to himself he would tell them.
- No he hasn't snapped Hermione π
- Hem hem said Ginny
- Hermione the great organiser and meeting chair
- It was as though they had just signed some sort of contract
- Ginny and Michael Corner
- Ginny talks now to Harry
- What about Cho and you? She just couldn't keep her eyes off you, could she?
- Harry had never appreciated just how beautiful the village of Hogsmeade was. P311 ππ
- Hermione jinxed the paper so that they would know who dobbed them inπ
- McGonagall is such a cool character
- By London she knew Harry meant 12 Grimmauld Place
- Hedwig staring at Harry as if unable to believe he would give her away like that
- Neville charged at Malfoy re St Mungo's
- It was hard to decide which one he wanted to triumph over the other - Umbridge or Snape
- There will be - no need to talk Harry Ron and Hermione said together
- Umbridge's hand in the fireplace
- Cho made Marietta come with her
- ..he was also thinking of Cho saying he made her nervous
- Keeping the timing of Dumbledore's Army meetings unpredictable
- You can do a Protean charm? (Coins will change dates and burn, mimicking Harry's coin) How come you aren't in Ravenclaw
- McGonagall gave them no homework "I really don't want to have to hand [the Quidditch Cup] over to Professor Snape, so use the extra time to practise, won't you?
- Snape refusing to listen to 14 eye witnesses who saw Slytherin attack Gryffindor
- Ron kicked the quaffle into the other goal
- Johnson.. what a player that girl is, I've been saying it for years but she still won't go out with me
- "I really like you Harry"
- You know what I mean, said Hermione impatiently
- Dumbledore continues to avoid looking at Harry
- Gets help from portraits of other headmasters and various instruments
- "Stay where you are"
- Have you never paused while feeling hard done by to not that following Dumbledore's orders has never yet led you into harm?
- Look after yourself Harry - Sirius's last proper words
- Snape is superb at Occlumency
- Well I suppose you want to ---Only if you do - Cho said eagerly
- You have no subtlety Potter. You do not understand fine distinctions. It is one of the shortcomings that makes you such a lamentable potion maker
- Legilimency used to detect lies - those skilled at Occlumency can shut down feelings and memories that contradict the lie
- When Snape spoke again, it was slowly and deliberately, as though he weighed every word
- Voldemort knows Harry can see his thoughts and the reverse is likely to be true
- Snape knows Harry can resist Imperius Curse and similar powers are needed to resist Legilimens
- Then you will find yourself easy prey for the Dark Lord! Fools who wear their hearts proudly on their sleeves..
- Empty yourself of emotion
- Be warned Potter..I shall know if you have not practised
- Lee Jordan claiming exploding snap not information related to what subject they are paid to teach
- Harry recommended essence of murtlap
- Took their lead from Neville
- Neville motivated in DAtDA classes
- Dumbledore trusts him and if we can't trust Dumbledore we can't trust anyone
- Roger Davies, Ravenclaw Quidditch captain, setting a standard with which Cho would soon expect him to compete? π
- Harry's mistake was to talk about Hermione on Valentine's day π
- "Girls don't often ask questions like that"
- "When did you do this?" Her voice trembling slightly... how you dare... how you could...p512
- What exactly are you so happy about? "Oh Harry don't you see? If she could have done one thing to make absolutely sure that every person in this school will read your interview, it was banning it!"
- P513. Teachers found ways to express their feelings about the banned interview
- Trelawney said Harry would become minister for Magic and have 12 children ππ€£
- I just wanted to say...I believe you - Seamus
- That interview was so brave.. it made me cry..
- Dad's reprinting! He can't believe it.. people seem even more interested in this than Crumple-Horned Snorkacks
- DUNG UMBRIDGE
- That would be mine said a deep voice
- Harry felt a surge of pride in Hermione's jinxing ability
- Marietta shook her head
- I cannot allow you to manhandle my students Dolores
- Fudge stunned by a sudden blow
- He will not be single-handed
- Enough of this rubbish
- Anyway ..we don't care about getting into trouble any more
- Warns Hermione to go into the great hall for lunch
- Hermione giving the night off to Harry and Ron re homework π
- Break up argument with Cho before Snape's Occlumency lesson
- I think it was a brilliant idea Harry said coldly (agreed Harry) - "she sold us all out, including you!"
- Snape's exam - James and Sirius the bully
- Lily Evans clearly loathed James - how did they get married
- ..if you just talked to Cho. "It's not Cho I want to talk to"
- Ginny and Harry starting as friends
- "What do you think about this? Hermione demanded of Ron
- "I'm really sorry Harry. I thought you'd finished so I cleared up" - Hermione after Harry's potion smashed on the floor
- Aurors only take the best. Nobody has been taken in the last 3 years..
- McGonagall only accepts Exceeds Expectations. "I'd say you're averaging "Acceptable""
- Snape only accepts Outstanding
- "I should have made my meaning plainer. He has achieved high marks in all DATDA tests set by a competent teacher" looks into her eyes
- Potter, I will assist you to become an Auror if it is the last thing I do - McGonagall p586
- Careers advice - my favourite chapter of the book...culminating in Peeves saluting to Fred and George
- "One more lesson like that and I might do a Weasley"
- Hermione we've been through this before..it's already bad enough going through the exam once
- Harry and Neville more relaxed without Snape around during the Potions OWL
- McGonagall and Hagrid attacked during an exam
- Harry caused Sirius's death
- Hi we recognised Harry's voice. What are you yelling about? Ginny and Luna walk in
- Ginny and Luna willing to help
- Harry recognised Hermione's offer to accompany him as a sign of solidarity and loyalty
- Harry forgot Snape was around
- Umbridge using Cruciatus and sending Dementors after Harry
- Hermione crying without tears ππ€£
- Umbridge easily fooled by the mention of Dumbledore's weapon
- HERMY! WHERE HAGGER?
- He knew Ron would not have chosen Neville Ginny Luna..
- Nice that they came and the group expands
- Hermione and Neville say don't touch it Harry p688
- SPT to APWBD
- If Sirius really was not here, he had led his friends to their deaths for no reason at all
- If death is nothing Dumbledore kill the boy - a trick because he had other horcruxes
- It was his fault Sirius had died
- Dumbledore's conversation is weird re feelings
- Dumbledore should have just passed a message to Harry re Voldemort's trap..
- "A lone voice of truth... forced to bear ridicule and slander"
- Ron making centaur noises to scare Umbridge π€£
- McGonagall giving random points to Gryffindor
- Harry has grown up a lot and had to after his guilt
- "He somehow could not find words to tell them what it meant to him, to see them all ranged there, on his side"
- I didn't like this book as much as the others. Somehow Dumbledore's reasons of keeping Harry in the dark (because Dumbledore loved Harry) and blaming himself don't really add up. Ultimately Harry caused Sirius's death, even if that's a harsh conclusion and even accepting he's suffering from PTSD due to Cedric's death
- I thought the Cho romance was a bit cringeworthy but I suppose that is a reflection of teenage turmoil
- I would've also liked to see Umbridge suffer more
- Say 4.2/5. I did enjoy the fight at the Ministry and Luna Lovegood's crazy character.
Tuesday, 30 December 2025
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (Harry Potter Book #4)
- The first book in the series to kind of get a bit dark.
- How did Fred and George know that Ireland would win and Krum would catch the snitch?!
- How did Bulgaria make it this far - presumably they made sure they were within 150 points of the other team before catching the snitch - which is an interesting strategy.
- Interesting concept to introduce wizards from different countries and schools of different lands
- Winky conjuring the Dark mark with Harry's wand..?
- Percy taken aback by Hermione scolding him re Winky the elf because she gets on well with him, relatively speaking
- If George and I died, how did you feel knowing that the last thing we ever heard from you was an unfounded accusation?
- Why is everything I own rubbish
- Moody's mad electric blue eye
- Hermione muttering about slave labour
- The Weasleys trying to enter the competition underaged
- Hermione eating in a hurry to go to library
- "There's no blocking it. Only one known person has ever survived it, and he's sitting in front of me."
- Hedwig's nips of affection and pride at not wanting to be replaces
- Fearing Snape would poison them so they worked harder at antidotes!
- Brilliant plot device of being entered into a dangerous competition - someone mysterious rigging the rules
- Gryffindor celebrations!
- Great plot device of no one believing Harry didn't put his name in including Ron - and the concept of the undeserving hero
- Hermione his good mate, the voice of reason and the true friend
- Angry jealous Hedwig again to make things worse π
- Great exploration of school dynamics re other houses hating Gryffindor
- The next few days were some of Harry's worst at Hogwarts.. was Rowling saying this as at that moment or was she making that statement as a foretelling for the series as a whole
- Since when have you been a top student..or is this a school you and Longbottom have set up? π
- "Harry liked Hermione very much but she just wasn't the same as Ron"
- Moody: "Nice Cloak, Potter"
- Harry's rather face a Dragon at Hogwarts than go back to Privet Drive
- "That was a very decent thing you just did, Potter" Moody said quietly re tipping Cedric off
- Play to your strengths, a spell to get what you need
- You're the underdog here Harry..nobody would know
- Fear left him as soon as he sat on the Firebolt
- Our youngest champion is quickest to get his egg! We'll this is going to shorten the odds on Mr Potter! - Bagman
- Extravagant praise from McGonagall
- Fingernail marks on Hermione from nerves
- Ron finally coming aroundπ
- They grinned at each other and Hermione burst into tears and gave both a hug π "you two are so stupid!"
- Biased judges
- Harry's surprise party - courtesy of Fred and George nicking enough food from the kitchens
- Fred asking Angelina to the ball on the spot
- Hermione calling out Ron for looking for the best looking girl even if she's horrible
- "That shut Harry and Ron up" - just ban turned down by girls they asked to the ball
- "Oh did I?" ..Hermione's eyes flashed dangerously
- Ginny going with Neville
- Krum was accompanied by a pretty girl in :4blue robes Harry says he didn't know π
- Harry looked away from Diggory and Cho so he wouldn't have to talk to them
- Her my oh nee
- Krum mustering the courage to talk to "Hermy-on" π
- "Next time there's a ball, ask me before someone else does, not as a last resort!"
- Ron: I hate being poor π
- Abruptly asks about the leprechaun gold vanishing and why didn't Harry tell him!
- Researching about magical eavesdropping to get back at Rita Skeeter
- Mrs Weasley gave Hermione a tiny egg and Harry and Ron Dragon eggs - "Hermione looked sadly at her tiny egg"
- Flour beamed at Harry
- "You fly very well. I vos watching at the first task"
- Dumbledore knew Harry wanted to write to Sirius
- "You're another one who might think about a career as an Auror. Mind works the right way, Granger"
- Sirius' warning letter to Harry
- Harry can't be killed yet in the item until after the final task for Voldemort's return...
- Practising stunning hexes and impediment jinx
- Potter wants a word with you Dumbledore
- "Dumbledore come!" said Crouch angrily (this is clearly a typo on page 503)
- Ludo Bagman passing info on to Rookwood, a death eater
- Barry Crouch Jr used the Cruciatus curse on Longbottom's dad and mum
- "We alone were faithful! We alone tried to find him!"
- The pensieve
- "Quite understandable" - Dumbledore I'm Harry falling asleep in Divination class
- How could [Voldemort] have held a wand?
- Dumbledore connecting the dots on the disappearances
- Mrs Weasley and Bill - Harry's visiting family - Harry had such a good time
- Mrs Weasley, you didn't believe that rubbish in Witch Weekly did you?
- Amos Diggory upset at Harry
- Cedric dies in part because of his nobleness but also because Harry insists on being a joint winner with him
- Voldemort has a Muggle dad who left his wife before V was born - Harry had a Muggle mum.
- Followers abandoned him for 13 years but Wormtail paid some of the debt back
- Dementors, Lestranges and Giants are V's allies
- Voldemort could not touch Harry because of his mother's love but he can now
- He was so weak and waiting for one of his followers to return to restore his body
- Quirrell was easy to bend to V's will
- Rats told Wormtail there was an Albanian forest where a dark shadow was possessing them
- Wormtail made a body for Voldemort using Nagini's poison and unicorn blood
- Dumbledore's ancient magic in the care of Harry's relatives
- Nice how Rowling keeps the identity of the loyal Death Eater at Hogwarts mum
- Death eaters stop laughing when Harry resists the Imperius curse
- Cedric Diggory reappears
- "Your mother's coming.. she wants to see you..it will be all right..hold on.."
- Mad eye takes Harry back!! The ultimate twist - suspiciously says "How did he treat them? Did he forgive them"
- The clue: he told Harry he hated Death Eaters who walked free
- Harry understood for the first time why Dumbledore was the only wizard feared by Voldemort
- The moment he took you I knew - and I followed - Dumbledore
- Typo page 594 - said Moody not Crouch
- Sirius exclaimed and Dumbledore stood up so quickly that Harry started - when Harry said Wormtail pierced his arm
- Cornelius Fudge - great plot device for the disbelief that Voldemort is back
- "You fail to recognise that it matters not what someone is born, but what they grow to be!"
- "If you are against him, then we remain, Cornelius, on the same side"
- Mr Weasley's fondness for muggles set him back in his work
- Dumbledore a great leader and taskmaster
- Sirius freaks Mrs Weasley out
- Fudge's attitude changes everything
- "He had no memory of ever being hugged like this, as though by a mother"
- Diggorys did not blame him for what happened
- S'long as we've got him, I'm not too worried
- "Yeh did as much as yer father would've done, an' I can' give yeh no higher praise than that."
- And why.. why..was Dumbledore so convinced that Snape was truly on their side?
- P626: "it is my belief, however, that the truth is preferable to lies, and that any attempt to pretend that Cedric died as the result of an accident, or some blunder of his own, is an insult to his memory. "
- We are only as strong as we are united, as weak as we are divided.
- Remember Cedric Diggory.
- Harry's gift to Fred and George.
- Initial thought is it probably sits just behind Azkaban because "you can't beat time travel" - but I love the concept of a traitor lurking in the midst of a tournament. This book has serious Mafia vibes and I actually think I like this slightly better than Azkaban. Snape's loyalty being explored and developed adds to this.
- 4.85/5
Thursday, 25 September 2025
Skyfire (The Seven Signs #1), Michael Adams
- Interesting super simplistic teen book.
- Doesn't have a lot of wow or quotable moments - many conversations were teenage oriented and cringeworthy but it still made for an interesting read to solve the mystery of why the signs are being sent to these 7 kids. Interesting concept.
- Action scenes were so-so.
- Easy to read in a few hours if focussed.
- Probably a 3-3.5/5. I'd still read the rest of the series.
The Emperor of Nihon-Ja (Rangers Apprentice #10)
- Gets interesting from chapter 5 onwards
- Will "had met her as Evanlyn and shared so many dangers and adventures with her under that name that she would always be Evanlyn in his mind"
- "He knew Alyss wouldn't like it, but he had a genuine affection for Evanlyn and he wasn't going to pretend otherwise. He and Evanlyn had gone through too much together for him not to greet her that way...he was wise enough to make the hug a brief one. "
- "It took a lot more courage for you to offer that than it took me... when I get home, I'll be letting people know about it." Horace to George
- "She wished there was some way she could break down the barrier between them. Maybe this journey might give her the opportunity."
- Halt and co avoiding an ambush while on the water and Horace planning a counter in the village
- "There's nothing wrong. He's planning something"
- Evanlyn and Alyss looking for reinforcements with a great plan and justification - Will and Horace and Halt worried but Selethen not worried
- "I'll worry about you."
- Finally, a map of the final battle. Took you long enough Flanagan.
- Alyss smiling despite scolding Will for the bad proposal.
- Didn't quite understand the hedgehog and dart weapons but this was an exciting book.
- Shigeru being a noble and humble leader is a great aspect to the story - but the final battle ended a bit too abruptly for my liking.
- Overall very interesting but maybe a 4.2-4.4/5
Monday, 22 September 2025
The Eye of the World (Wheel of Time #1), Robert Jordan
- A book from 1990. Jordan started this journey 35 years ago and didn't get to see the end - and Sanderson comes in. This somehow obliges me to read it.
- I love the original cover.
- Apparently it will take me 13 days of continuous reading which equates to four months to half a year to one year to finish the entire series less the prequel, depending on whether I read 200-350 words per minute and whether I read 1 to 3 hours per day...
- I have also been warned that the series dives into immense and epic world building, culture, exploration, lore, more than what I am used to.
- So it appears to be a big investment so I'm going to take notes so I remember what I read:
- After reading the prologue, I immediately get the sense that something terrible has happened in the 4th age; Lews Therin (named Dragon) who was supposed to be one of the favoured and good guys has somehow done the unthinkable and unconsciously killed everyone he loves as punishment for crossing Shai'tan, some evil lord, and has been cursed into doing so and forgetting what he has done. A person who is quite obviously his enemy, Elan Morin Tedronai (Betrayer of Hope), appears to restore his memory to torture him with the pain of his sins. There is some discussion of this battle been Betrayer and Dragon having happened many thousands of times and as a result of a battle between good and evil over since the beginning of time... and somehow this incident breaks the world and causes the Shadow to fall upon the land. The Dragon disappears and turns into a mountain as a result of the agony of remembering what he has done.
- And this somehow seems to be a setup that will make sense as we progress and can be re-read in a new light after finishing the series
- Early references to the Dark One, the Dragon, the Forsaken, the Shadowman, Ishamael and the Shepherd of the Night who all seem evil
- The sleepy country region of Two Rivers... I love the maps and attention to detail with setting out the geography of the region.
- A mysterious evil rider who is seen but disappears..
- Funny how at the start of the book there are country bumpkins randomly start criticising what appears to be a newly elected Wisdom - a wise woman seer of sorts- of the Women's Circle
- Strangers visiting Emond's field once in a blue moon.. including a lady apparently wearing the wheel of time symbol on her finger
- "As the Wheel of Time turns, places wear many names. Men wear many names, many faces. Differentfaces, but always the same man. Yet no one knows the Great Pattern the Wheel weaves, or even the Pattern of an Age. We can only watch, study or hope." - Moiraine. Quite an ominous quote. Suggesting The Two Rivers has a big past and history that everyone has forgotten!
- Moiraine's guard a bit like a Ranger from Ranger's Apprentice..a cloak that blends in..potentially a Warder, of tales that seem exaggerated
- Stunned at receiving a silver penny
- "Strangers and a gleeman, fireworks and a peddlers. It was going to be the best Bel Tine ever. "
- Jordan does quite a good job of painting a picture of quiet non eventful village living - relying on news of the outside world in chapter 3 from the peddler.
- I'm curious to know what he history of the Two Rivers is now!
- Perrin seems like a polite fellow vs the prankster Matrim
- "Well, all the world has troubles, from the Great Blight south to the Sea of Storms, from the Aryth Ocean in the west to the Aiel Waste in the east. And even beyond...In the Borderlands they'd be calling your winter spring."
- What could be worse than wolves killing sheep and men? Men killing men..war in Ghealdan.. the snows of Dhallin Forest are red with the blood of men. The standard of the Dragon has been raised.." Ghealdan seems to include or be super close to two Rivers
- "The Dragon's not the Dark One.. and this is a false Dragon anyway..he caused the Time of Madness!"
- The last false Dragon laid a siege to Illian (false = dying or disappearing without fulfilling any of the prophecies)
- The world would apparently end if the real Dragon was born..
- This Dragon can wield the one power
- Ewin claims only certain women, later clarified to be the Aes Sedai, can wield the power without dying.
- Aes Sedai rode from Tar Valon, which is near dragonmount, the prologue chapter name
- "..evil times..No one claiming to be the Dragon Reborn for twenty years and now three in the last five years.."
- "You can't take him off. My wife sent me to buy pins!" Everyone stared at him like he was an idiot
- Confusion re whether the Dragon is a saviour or villain and whether it was the Aes Sedai who actually broke the world. And who are the Children of Light?
- Darkfriends on the side of the dark one.
- Naming the Dark One seemingly a taboo
- Unresolved love with Egwene who might want to move to a different village to be a Wisdom
- Watch Hill and Deven Ride, the nearby villages, the limits travelled to by Emond's field locals. But Rand Mat and Perrin have been to the Mire as well, the swamp at the end of Waterwood, and the mountains of mist
- The Gleeman somehow scared of Moiraine listening to his stories of all the ages
- Lews Therin Telamon sealed the Dark One's prison but was driven mad by the Dark One's counterstroke and killed his blood relatives; other male Aes Sedai caused great earthquakes and reshuffled the world in the breaking of the world
- Most epic quote: "Time is a wheel with seven spokes, each spoke an Age. As the Wheel turns, the Ages come and go, each leaving memories that fade to legend, then to myth, and are forgotten by the time that Age comes again. The Pattern of an Age is slightly different each time an Age comes, and each time it is subject to greater change, but each time it is the same Age." This suggests the stories the peddler and gleeman tell are stories that could have happened before and may possibly repeat all over again given time is circular and the Age will come about again, but with small tweaks.
- I'm immediately reminded of the game Tomba! Where the meaning of certain "events" are not revealed until later and there are different levels of interconnectedness between levels and events that are only apparent later
- This all suggests to me that all the folk tales are real and will happen again at some stage, with a variation and many other tales have been forgotten by humans
- The Mayor and Wisdom seldom agree
- The villagers scared of a war happening close to home and want their council to be seen to be doing something about it and deciding their livelihood - Council decides to set up a patrol formation at the towns near the two Rivers at Taren Ferry and Deven Ride near the White River .. but they are in no hurry re urgency given Bel Tine and festivities
- Rand and friends trying to get witnesses on their side to back their story that there is a strange evil rider..Tam deduces only young people can see the rider for some reason
- Tam seems to know a lot more than the usual Two Rivers person - he bought his sword far away from Two Rivers
- Ramping up security and preparations at the farm.. and just as well as those animal creatures..Trollocs.. attack! What a sudden change
- And Tam seems very calm when attacked, he's definitely hiding a past of some sort
- Rand suddenly in survival mode and protecting Tam in a precarious position...
- Tam's mutterings are scary and reveal that he knows more than he is letting on. Laman's Pride and the tree of life mentioned.. they called them savages. The fools said they could be swept aside like rubbish. How many battles lost.. before they faced the truth? Before the nations stood together against them? Marath, Cairhien, Shining Walls
- Rand must be some kind of chosen one given his backstory per Tam's mutterings
- "The Light will take care of us all and if the Light doesn't, we'll just take care of ourselves"
- Thom Merrilin - "without asking whether he needed or wanted help, he hopped down and picked up the back of the litter."
- The peddler Fain just disappeared
- Dragon's Fang on the inn - accusing innkeeper /Mayor Bran of evil etc
- I could see where this was going - needing the help of Aes Sedai Moiraine.. but they do things for their own reason and with a catch apparently...the Wisdom being unhelpful
- "A little bit more light in the darkness"
- All the stories paint the Aes Sedai as villains even if they are healers
- 7 trolloc bands and Lan and Moiraine say they are behind on their march (? Are they visiting the sites mentioned in prophecy?)..
- "Death comes sooner or later to everyone.. unless they serve the Dark One"
- "Even with an angreal..I don't know you are worth it sheep herder no matter what she says"
- Lan the Warder doesn't like Thom the gleeman and thinks he's abstaining from helping
- Tam's Heron mark sword a fine sword - symbol of a master swordsman which is strange for a place like Two Rivers
- Ravens crows rats are spies for the Dark One's minions
- Every if Lan and Moiraine knew about the man who made people afraid by looking at them, they'd need backup to make any difference
- Only the weakest Aes Sedai would fail to be a match for a Fade or Myrddraal, and Fades have the Dark One's own luck..
- Using the angreal to heal Tam but it appears they aren't being made anymore and they can't do powerful stuff from the previous age of legends
- "Not crazy Rand. Purposeful. The Trollocs came to kill or capture young men of a certain age who live near Emond's field"
- The Trollocs failed because they didn't appreciate Two Rivers custom ..Bel Tine and Wintersnight
- "What would they want with us (Mat Cauthon, Perrin? We're just farmers, shepherds" "That is a question that has no answer in the Two Rivers.. but he answer is important" Trollocs have not been seen in almost 2000 years in certain parts..eg 600 leagues to the south of the Great Blight. The sort of raid that happens in Shienar, Borderlands
- "In one of you or all three, there is something the Dark One fears"
- "It took a great deal of effort to bring so many Trollocs so fat without raising a ..cry from the Borderlands to Caemlyn and beyond. I wish I knew how they did it. "
- Tar Valon has knowledge from the Time of Madness and the Age of Legends.
- "Are you willing to bet your village on it sheepherder? Your whole Two Rivers?"...Lan was right about one thing. He could not risk the village on the chance Moiraine was wrong
- He was not sure if he was more afraid of being laughed at or being believed
- Rand is clearly part of some prophecy..tall mountain, white tower, island on a river that seems similar to the prologue.. must be hinting he's the Dragon
- What would Trollocs want with you boys? Or the Dark One, Light help us?
- Aes Sedai are tricksome. They dont lie, not right out, but the truth an Aes Sedai tells you is not always the truth you think it is
- Aes Sedai do things for their own reasons, and those are not always the reasons you think.
- Warders bonded to Aes Sedai, Lan to Moiraine. An exchange
- You listen sharp, think deep and guard your tongue.
- Is this what Aemon's blood has come to? You have forgotten what and who you were.
- Mountain Home, Manetheren the people of Aemon. They rushed back home when their homes were threatened after fighting against the Dark one. Reputation for fighting the Dark one, soared back like their feet had wings and without sleeping
- Ba'alzamon heart of the dark
- "Trollocs and their human allies"
- Aemon had to hold out for 3 days for promised help against a force that would have overwhelmed in 1 hour. They did not concede the Tarendrelle for ten days but no help arrived - betrayal
- Elderene reached out to the True Source and hurled the one power at the Trollocs after Aemon died
- People of Manetheren could have fled but they were bound to their land by the blood that was shed and stayed; wars raged elsewhere and they forgot the ways of war
- Rand needs to return to Emond's Field
- What is done is already woven in the Pattern
- Egwene coming is a part of the Pattern now as is Rand telling Tam, and Thom Merrilin the gleeman joining the party.
- Rand promises to take care of Egwene
- Lan has superior hearing or senses or can communicate with Moiraine telepathically somehow
- Draghkars are large birds worse than Fades
- Moiraine can restore rest and remove fatigue but not for herself
- Rand has a bad habit of watching and reacting
- Taren Ferry full of trickery but they don't stay long there
- "You must handle it" - Moiraine doesn't want someone remembering her in his thoughts..Tam? Ferryman Hightower?
- Moiraine ..or Lan..caused a whirlpool to stop others crossing.. and she created the fog cover over the river to outfox the Fade
- The shine in her eyes was not all from moonlight
- Lan had at some earlier point in time placed dry wood in the woods expecting the party to pass here which is some foresight
- Saidin, the male half of the true source, is tainted and if touched by males will die unless the Red Ajah find them? - they stop the breaking of the world...
- spoilers: apparently there are no male Aes Sedai for that reason. I wonder if that will create a plot tension where the Aes Sedai including Egwene.. will fight Rand later
- Egwene has old blood that can channel the true source it seems and she has potential to be an Aes Sedai.. she is close to her change and all Aes Sedai can feel it. Egwene a natural and made the angreal emit light, maybe even capable of going to the amyrlin seat
- Finally some real sensible world maps and close up maps of regions, unlike Ranger's Apprentice which has a ridiculous map
- Interesting how Jordan semi fast forwards some of the world map travelling eg days pass by on the way to Baerlon
- The three friends can shoot bow and arrow
- The flame and the void
- Rand doesn't trust the Aes Sedai but Egwene does
- Whatever the Dark One wants, I oppose..Before I let the Dark One have you I will destroy you myself.
- Nightly talks with Egwene and Moiraine
- Male Aes Sedai tried to free the Dark One and the Fordaken and it was the men who went mad and broke the world. Males are strong with Earth and Fire.
- Two potential initiates from Two Rivers..Moiraine asks Egwene to forget it
- Being Aes Sedai does not change who you are - there are kind and cruel Aes Sedai all the same - Moiraine says
- Juggling and fighting lessons each night
- Egwene in charge of the Emond's Fielders
- Baerlon is the first city and bigger than all Two Rivers towns combined
- Moiraine reminds them that their choices are limited - run instead of hiding with her at Tar Valon = death
- Baerlon may have darkfriends.. and Moiraine and Lan have reputations under aliases.. Thom Merrilin is known here too.
- White cloaks, Children of the Light hate both Aes Sedai and Darkfriends - here in Baerlon to deal with the false Dragon Logain. in Ghealdan heading towards Tear (to fulfil a prophecy that the Stone of Tear, a fortress, will be felled by the people of the Dragon and when the Dragon wields a special sword that can't be touched (in the heart of stone which is in the fortress).. after the Aes Sedai have died trying..
- Rand thinks the Dragon holding the sword is impossible unless the Stone has already fallen or the Dragon is a great lord of tear.. otherwise how will the Dragon get into the heart
- Some kind of evil in Saldaea, North , trollocs in Borderlands- why aren't the white cloaks going there
- Amador (Southwest and home of the children of Light) and Tear hate the Power and the Dragon
- References to the crazy winter weather and wolves eating all the beef and mutton
- White cloaks looking for a woman Aes Sedai
- Mat doesn't know how to shut up and be discreet and gets told off
- Ara felt like he said too much re trouble in Saldea
- Trust no one, not even Moiraine and Lan
- Does Lan know Logain
- Ba'alzamon (handsome): "you cannot hide it from me forever..did they tell you the eye of the world would serve you? The strings that move you have been centuries weaving. Your father was chosen by the White Tower, like a stallion roped and led to his business. Your mother was no more than a brood mare to their plans"
- The Amyrlin Seat will use you.. just as Davian was used, and Yurian Stonebow, and Guaire Amalsan and Raolin Darksbane
- It seems hard to talk to the Dark One unless you focus on angry thoughts
- Lews Therin created Dragonmount
- The Second Covenant, the Covenant of the Ten Nations
- Dark One whispered in Artur Hawkwings ear; and whispered in the High King's ear who sent his armies across the Aryth Ocean
- "Dance on Aes Sedai strings until you die."
- Tell the Amyrlin Seat of this..dream. they will not use you then. But will they let you live to spread the tale of what they do?
- Min - young woman dressed in a boy's coat - sees pieces of the Pattern - a prophetess - Egwene loves Rand and vice versa but wants to be Aes Sedai - Lan with seven ruined towers standing around his head and a babe in a cradle holding a sword- Thom has images re Juggling a fire and the White Tower - p 216.
- P227 eye of the world
- You and I will meet again. Run if you want. You can't escape from me
- Rand talking too much with Fain and telling him too much
- Heron-mark, Lord Bornhald
- Tingling filled Rand; he wanted to laugh, it felt so good
- Thom thinks it's a bad idea to tell Moiraine that all 3 of them had the same dream and he even chases after Perrin "does he have sense enough to keep his mouth shut?"
- Only a fool puts his hand in a hornet nest until he absolutely has to
- Nynaeve is caught up in this and also has sparks, Min says - Nynaeve can track thanks to Tam al'Thor- she's red cheeked at Lan's compliment re tracking
- Min shook her fist at him and stamped her foot π€£π
- Whitecloak / White Tower questioners assume you're guilty before they start - all they go after is a confession
- Tam tried to convince the Two Rivers Village Council that the kids need to run or the village will be attacked.. no one believed him
- Mat seemed unsure how to take what she had said, or how to reply, or even whether to reply
- It was crazy
- Thought he saw something move in the hallway
- "You belong to the great lord of the dark" - Why did Rand not get killed
- Why did Moiraine say no to the suggestion of going north if the ice has broken ar Maradon
- War cries from the 3 friends against the Trollocs, and Mat speaks in a different language..Manetheren.."Besides we had to shout something. I mean that's what you do at a time like that. You heard Lan"..
- Mat: "for the honor of the Red Eagle, Rose of the Sun." The War cry of its last king - matches Min's vision
- Fadea blades come from Thakan'dar
- I am not at my strongest when working with Earth and Fire
- The blood of Arad's line is still strong in the Two Rivers
- Aridhol / Shadar Logoth, ally of Manetheren
- Mordeth the ..false? Treasure hunter
- "You don't have a shadow "...
- Mat's greed taking them into a trap
- Trollocs do not come in here for a reason.. thousands camped here and died
- Mordeth the second to king Balwen and whispered poison to the king.. he wants to consume souls using Mashadar's power (deathly fog) if they step within the boundary of the walls
- Moiraine and Lan are connected and will know or sense each other's death
- I bet we'll see Mordeth again
- The one power would attract Mordeth
- ..we are the hare, and it is the hounds that dictate the chase.
- Interesting - inexperienced Emond Fielders separated and split apart from Moiraine and dealing with Mordeth, maze of Mashadar's fog and Fade and fist of Trollocs chasing them. Chapter 20
- "Egwene, Light blind me, why didn't you follow me?"
- Perrin's pov - he sees himself as a slow thinker but he prefers that over Mat's rashness quick but thoughtless actions
- Thom has knife skills
- How did Rand escape by shooting No
- Captain Domon's boat The Spray.. says Trollocs keep following him..from Saldaea where the ice broke up late ..and you can see the Blight from Maradon
- "Boyle Domon no give free passage, not to his own mother. I may no put in again at all until I reach Whitebridge"
- I told her I would take care of her. I should have tried harder
- Nynaeve's character is interesting- she seems motivated by protecting the Emond Fielders- like a motherly figure
- Lan: how did the Dark One send a thousand Trollocs south after the party crossed the Taren? It's a lot to mobilise so far south of the Blight. Moiraine suggests only Travelling would make that possible and only Forsaken can do that and Aes Sedai are not powerful enough (not since the Time of Madness).
- Moiraine seems to be able to detect the boys through bonds eg the coins she gave?
- Shayul Ghul will hunt the boys and the White Tower and Amyrlin Seat will oppose them?
- Moiraine: "I must have those young men. " - vague, sinister even
- "If you watch the wolf too hard, a mouse will bite you on the ankle"
- Moiraine knew Nynaeve al'Meara was hiding and knew Nyn was an unknowing wielder of the One Power and can handle Air and Water better than Egwene - so many healing feats while being so young aroused her suspicions - the signs happen from very young eg finding they healed an animal just by wishing for it - Nyn used the power to heal Egwene and can sense her presence which led her to Baerlon
- "How dare the village gossip in front of an outlander!" "Who said I was too young?"
- You have great potential I think. With training you might become even more powerful with Egwene, and I believe she can become one of the most powerful Aes Sedai we have seen in centuries"
- Ok.. this part where the group splits apart because trollocs attack and they are separated by Mordeth's fog, seems critical and the start of the branching out of individual character stories...
- Nyn is too prideful and doesn't want to do anything with the Aes Sedai
- "The Dark One wants them. If the Dark One wants a thing I oppose it. Can there be a simpler reason or better?"
- Great strategising in difficult circumstances. "As much as I hope for Egwene's safety, Nynaeve, I fight against the Dark One, and for now that sets my path. " - she has to go for the ones who the Dark Lord wants and whose coins are lost which suggests they are the most vulnerable. Perrin is safe across the river but no time to deal with him and others
- "Light, a Wisdom is supposed to look after all of her people. Why do I have to choose like this?" Nynaeve- I kind of like her character.. she will oppose Moiraine if she needs to with her power!
- Perrin grinning and using his reasoning to find Egwene
- Egwene might learn the hard way of Moiraine's priorities
- Perrin's strategy is to skip whitebridge and go to caemlyn to avoid the trollocs and Fades who will likely go there
- Elyas Machera cooking rabbit, with yellow eyes and his wolves
- Spine of the world has gaps that can be climbed to get to Aiel Waste where it's almost impossible to get water his an Aielman helps
- Wolves used to hunt with men and Perrin can apparently talk to wolves
- Wolves can smell thoughts and tell if you lie
- The Red Ajah wanted to gentle Elyas once.. they like hunting men who know the One Power
- Talking to wolves is older than Aes Sedai and using the power
- Elyas' wolves want Perrin and ask them to stay in the forest
- The dreams with the Dark Lord do damage
- Gelb is being blamed
- Ancient Statues of Kings and queens on the river Arinelle
- Tremalking island- crystal sphere with treasure, but the sea folk are searching for Coramoor
- Tanchico panarch's palace- different animal bones and lost empires including Artur Hawkwing's in there
- Mat obsessed with treasure
- Sometimes Rand seems to be taken away in the moment as if he is someone else eg thrillseeker with heights
- Mat stole a curved dagger from Shadar Logoth
- the Tinkers (Tuatha'an) are looking for a song they lost during the Breaking of the World, and if they can find it again the paradise of the Age of Legends will return
- Raen the seeker / Mahdi
- Way of the leaf is a pacifist philosophy of v the Tinkers, and young folks run off with them... you become Lost if you can't do the way of the leaf
- A reference to Elyas spending time with them in Spring - wonder if that relates to new spring
- Elyas described as having a "kill or die" mentality
- Aielman don't sing anything except battle chants or songs for the dead. The Aiel Waste is crazy to cross but Trollocs were found 100 miles into the waste
- Aiel girl to the 'lost' Tinkers: The Leafblighter means to blind the eye of the world and slay the Great Serpent (time itself).. warn the people. Tell them to stand ready for He Who Comes With The Dawn.
- Elyas "knows many strange things" - what is he?
- Gelb is probably going to cause trouble
- The White bridge from the Age of Legends
- Illiad appreciate gleeman - Captain Domon wants gleeman to lift crew spirits
- How to travel unnoticed when you have a Gleeman?
- Logain got caught by Aes Sedai near Lugard while travelling to Tear and can wield the power - they are parading him while going north and passing through Caemlyn
- The last false Dragon couldn't do anything
- Proclaimed from Illian about the great hunt of the horn and heading west through mountains of mist and Aryth Ocean - asking everyone to gather in Illian
- Apparently the hunt must happen before the final battle with the Dark One
- Crazy person is looking for the 3 boys from Emond's field (Elyas? Probably not) And ..a Fade doing the same? The Fade can appear out of thin air
- Fade knows there is a white haired gleeman
- Thom wants to flee south to Illian to join the hunt... and to avoid the Fade and attention of travelling to Tar Valon.. until Gelb starts opening his mouth
- Mat is tense
- Rand just wants the truth re his dreams
- Thom had a nephew who was killed by Aes Sedai
- The Queen's Blessing. Just remember it. RUN!!
- "Something tells me to wait" "Take life as it comes. Run when you have to, fight when you must, rest when you can."
- Steddings in Ogier homeland - havens
- Aram was into Egwene and angry she left
- Chapter 28 - unclear whether the chapters are happening simultaneously or in chronological order. Most likely latter and Rand and Mat have already left Whitebridge while Moiraine, Nyn and Lan enter Whitebridge
- Moiraine artfully dodging Nyn's questions about her real purpose for tracking down the 3 Emond's Fielders. Nyn seems very protective of her village and that translates to caution and anger at Moiraine for not being transparent
- Moiraine doesn't know where Mat and Rand went so wants to grab Perrin first from the north
- Vulture like Ravens on the prowl, until they reach the stedding
- Elyas knows Perrin can feel and talk to the wolves
- Perrin was about to mercy kill Egwene had they not reached the stedding
- Arthur Hawkwing United every land from the Great Blight to sea of Storms - north to south to East to west, Aryth Ocean to Aiel Waste and lands beyond. 1000 gold crown bounty on each Aes Sedai
- He died after the statue was made and before his capital city was built. Some of his relatives went beyond Aryth Ocean
- As long as you hate the axe you will be a wise user - says Elyas to Perrin who hates his axe
- Bornhald (old man) and Byar (evil eyes) of the children of the Light - think Perrin and Egwene are Darkfriends..Egwene asked to repent by the time they go to Amador but a gibbet / execution structure awaits Perrin for killing two children
- Master Grinwell's farm and daughter Else "you play so beautifully. I never heard anything so beautiful." Mistress Grinwell suddenly paused her sewing and gave Rand a long appraising look - they left the next day
- The times made suspicion of strangers commonplace, and there were always strangers at an inn
- Lugard near to Four Kings and doing mine trading
- Hake hitting a maidservant
- Howal Gode rich merchant looking for them -
- The inn acting as a trap- they can't be harmed but they can't escape either
- Hake scared of the Heron sword and the bouncers Jak and Strom are called off
- "The Great Lord of the Dark has marked you as his own." - Gode
- Did Rand summon lightning to escape from Gode?
- Master Kinch offers his house but they don't trust him or are rushing to Caemlyn
- Gode is dead?
- Mat seems to be sick or blind
- Alpert Mull helped in a small way with a scarf
- Master Allwine
- Paitr: ".. this is not my idea..I have to do it. I didn't want to, but they made me. "
- "No matter how strong you are, the Great Lord of the Dark is stronger."
- 20 darkfriends in market sheran - if the Queen would not do something, then somebody ought to ask the Children of the Light for help. Somebody should do something.
- "Just thinking of a night in the open made his bones ache" - too much running and looking over their shoulders.
- Everyone going to Caemlyn to see Logain "That's what's causing all the trouble. People who won't stay where they belong"
- Another darkfriend lady attacks.. and Hyam Kinch giving them a ride
- "You haven't been hiding anything in your pockets have you? An apple maybe? I won't hold it against you if you have. You could at least look. "
- Holdwin the innkeeper with the Fade asking him to look for a boy who stole his heron blade, Bunt the farmer who claims to be a supporter of Queen Morgase who is supposedly under Aes Sedai Elaida's influence.. her siblings are supposedly dead after being sent to Tar Valon..Cairhien their dad got killed
- Caemlyn a great city.. bigger than the coastal ebou dar, Tear, Illian
- "They haven't caught us yet. We can make it all the way, if we just don't quit." P 533
- "Let's leave to Tar Valon now. Or south to Illian. I wouldn't mind seeing them gather for the Hunt of the Horn. If we can't go home let's just go" Mat, foreshadowing a side quest
- Finally an ally - Master Basel Gill knows Thom Merrilin.."he's a harder man to kill than you might believe. "
- Thom was court bard and known in all royal courts from Tear to Maradon and had a death warrant against him "The Queen never forgets anything. You ever know a woman who did?"
- "No bloody Darkfriend will make me turn my back on Thom's friends" - Gill
- "We are alive. That much is all right. And I intend to stay alive. I intend to find out why we're so important. I won't give up."
- Loial the Ogier- was Caemlyn built by Ogiers? Yes they put groves in every city that were forgotten by humans in their short lives
- Mistakes Rand for an Aielman p552
- Hawkwing and Lews Therin Kinslayer and Rand? Are ta'veren - a part of the Wheel that forces change in a few life threads and those around it. The world shapes around the selected or chosen life threads
- Lan devising a plan to free Perrin from the whitecloaks... using Nyn's stealth "So he thinks I'm good, does he?"
- Nyn is part of the Pattern - Moiraine
- Was the odd behaviour of wolves mentioned at the start of the book?
- Perrin's wolf communication a change in the Pattern?
- Elyas and Lan know each other. He was a Warder before the Red ajah.. did something
- Unclear if Perrin has been chosen out by the Light or the Shadow - how is it that he met Elyas and could learn from him p580
- The Dark One might be making tiny shifts in threads
- Half mad beggar who knows Rand's etc names
- Red wrappings over the sword = for Queen Morgase, white means against. White outnumbered red 10 to 1 and even attacked the whitecloaks who were supposed to be more in favour of white
- Elayne, Gawyn (First Prince? Future Leader of Andor army?), Galad - Children of Morgase - gets exciting at page 606
- Elaida the stern Aes Sedai counselling Elayne
- Elayne, Daughter-Heir, thinks Rand is handsome
- "Wrap a shoufa around your head, Rand, and you should be an image of an Aielman. Odd since Mother seems to think you sound like a Two Rivers man. "
- Elaida prophecy / foretelling on page 614
- Repeat sentence on pages 623/624
- "Rand tried to hug the two women and shake Perrin's hand all at the same time..complicated by Nynaeve trying to feel his face for fever. "
- Mat's dagger is evil and has something from Mordeth that possesses him
- "What do you think to gain..by dying? If the Lord of the Grave has gained as much freedom to touch the Pattern as I fear, he can reach you dead more easily than alive, now."
- Darkfriends know where the dagger is, which has bonded to Mat
- Critical p640. A man came to the spine of the world where the Ogiers were claiming the Dark One intended to blind the Eye of the World and slay the Great Serpent of time. That was 20 years ago. But the Tinkers also had a similar story 3 years ago where the Aiel told them the same thing.
- Now the three feel like they need to confess their dream to Moiraine
- Threat to the Eye of the World means a change of plans- and Loial can take them there? P 645
- During the time of Madness the steddings offered protection to some male Aes Sedai yet to be affected by the Madness but they cut off the True Source
- Moiraine is blue Ajah and believes the stedding helped
- The Aes Sedaitaught the Olgiers how to set up waygates for fast travel between groves apparently but the Way became corrupted
- Everyone is at war with the Dark One whether they know it or not. "There is enough power in the Eye of the World to undo his prison. If the Dark One has found some way to bend the eye of the world to his is..." p 649
- "The Green Man. The Eye of the World."
- Everyone agrees to travel through the Ways to the Blight and to the Eye of the World..
- Master Gill getting supplies "it won't be easy this time of night but I'll arrange it all."
- "You always do. In the beginning. This contest between us has taken place countless times before. Each time your face is different, and your name, but each time it is you." - Dark One suggests Rand is reincarnated and the Dragon Reborn?? P654-655
- "You can stand aside every power and dominion but mine. There have been times when you made that choice, times when you lived long enough to know your power," - Black Ajah fall into this category... there are some working for him unseen in the shadows. Moiraine??
- "Hurry, time grows short" Rand knew she was not speaking of the time for their leaving anymore. P658
- Sheriam Sedai of the Blue Ajah, Moiraine's friend?
- Great trees used be in Caemlyn where the waygate was
- The ways sucking out all the Light and lamps attracting darkness..
- Eye of the World is beyond Fal Dara (Mafal Dadaranell) in the Blight
- Thom is not dead p 676
- Egwene annoyed at Rand for talking to Elayne
- "Even here your destiny protects you. Not even the Dark One can change the Pattern completely"
- Someone is following them in the Ways
- Dark wind, the black wind that steals souls possibly around since the Time of Madness or earlier
- "I only danced with Aram, Rand.. you wouldn't hold it against me for dancing with somebody I will never see again, would you?"
- She's not for you, nor you for her; at least not in the way you both want
- Law in Shienar and Borderlands - no one may hide their face in the town
- Lan is a hero - Dai Shan / the Golden Crane
- The ogiers are honoured as builders "kiserati ti wansho"
- "Two women will not help unless they are Aiel in disguise."
- The True Battle with the Dark One will take place at the Eye of the World - Agelmar of Fal Dara is shocked
- The Green Man and the Eye
- Need is the key, not seeking glory
- Lan's entire country and family were killed because of stupidity and betrayal but he is the rightful heir to the throne of the now dead kingdom of Malkier and if he wanted to he could raise an army to follow him.
- Padan Fain was brainwashed and turned into a hound for the Dark One..Fain looked for them for 3 years
- Sticks in the Blight.. hot and damp
- Dark One's powers are weakest at noon
- Chill ice breeze from mountains of dhoom but heat ever present
- "Light, you've made me say more than is proper already. Will you shame me to the point of asking you?" P731
- "I will hate the man you choose...but love him if he makes you smile"
- Mat sharpshooter archer
- Perrin unaffected by Blight
- Child of the Dragon = Rand p740
- P747 the male Aes Sedai sacrificed themselves 3000 years ago to make the eye of the world with the Green Man protecting it. It contains the essence of the males. It looks like the female aes Sedai also died capturing it for some need. It can v free the Dark One or imprison him.
- Green Man kills balthamel
- Aginor fought Lews Kinslayer p749
- Rand sees a vision p756 757
- Dark One schemes and has planted darkfriends by Rand's side p 761?,
- In the Age of Legends Aginor was close behind Kinslayer and Ishamael in power p766
- Rand became aware of what he had been seeing all along but not noticing - p773
- Crazy ending
- Prophecies and mysteries still abound
- It's too early to assess how good the book is in the context of the series but for now I would say it's a solid 4.5/5, probably more.
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