After Moiraine’s prophetic hint at the end of The Eye of the World, we’re pretty sure that Rand is The Dragon Reborn. In Robert Jordan’s The Great Hunt, the main overarching story arc starts to really get moving.

When the book starts in Shienar, it is quickly apparent that Rand is the Dragon Reborn, the wielder of the One Power fated to fight the Dark One, and he soon begins knowingly channeling the Power.

It’s not long until Mydrdraal and Trollocs attack Fal Dara, the fortress Rand and the others are staying at after their encounter in The Eye of the World. The Darkfriend Padan Fain escapes with the Myrddraal and Trollocs, taking the Horn of Valere with him. The Horn, recovered by Rand and company in the first book, has the ability to summon long-dead heros from past ages, and would be a big asset in the Last Battle. Not exactly something you’d want the forces of evil to have…

Rand, Mat, and Perrin go with a band of Shienarans sent to recover the Horn. They track Fain to find it, as well as the dagger from Shadar Logoth, which was also stolen, and without which Mat would likely die from the infection, as it would be needed to heal him. During the chase, Rand travels through alternate universes a couple of times, mainly unintentionally, partially from his lack of knowledge of the Power.

Meanwhile, Egwene and Nynaeve travel to Tar Valon with Moiraine to train to be Aes Sedai. There Nynaeve is quicly raised from Novice to Accepted, and they meet Elayne Trakand (the Daughter-Heir of Andor), whom Rand met briefly in the first book.

In the second half of the book, both parties end up at Toman Head, where a huge three-way battle blows up between the two parties (along with the warriors called by the Horn), and the equally unpleasant Seanchan and Children of the Light. During the battle, Rand fights Ba’alzamon yet again and proclaims himself the Dragon Reborn.

The Great Hunt is a worthy successor to the first Wheel of Time book, and a very good book. The Dragon storyline is really just getting started by this book, and believe me, it gets more interesting yet… Like with any series, I recommend reading them in order (a concept a lot of people seem to have a hard time grasping). So check out The Eye of the World, which will introduce you to the world and characters, before reading this book.

“Twice and twice shall he be marked,
Twice to live, and twice to die.
Once the heron, to set his path.
Twice the heron, to name him true.
Once the dragon, for remembrance lost.
Twice the dragon, for the price he must pay.”