Spoiler-free book guide
The Shadow Rising
Book 4 of 14 in The Wheel of Time
Spoilers for books 1-3 of The Wheel of Time.
This page assumes you have read The Eye of the World, The Great Hunt and The Dragon Reborn. The opening below goes no further than chapters 1 and 2 of The Shadow Rising.How it opens and who you meet earlySpoils books 1-3. Nothing past chapters 1 and 2 of The Shadow Rising.ShowHide
How it opens
Min comes to the White Tower in Tar Valon in a dress, calling herself Elmindreda, with news from Moiraine for the Amyrlin Seat. Nearly everyone she passes in the Tower carries an image of violence or death, and Siuan Sanche keeps her there in disguise to help hunt the Black Ajah. At Taren Ferry, Dain Bornhald sends Whitecloaks across the river into the Two Rivers, looking for Perrin. In the Stone of Tear, which Rand al'Thor now holds, Perrin's axe leaps at him by itself, the figures on Mat's playing cards step out to attack him, and Rand's own reflections climb out of his mirrors with swords.
Who you meet early
- Siuan SancheSiuan Sanche, a fisherman's daughter from Tear, has been the Amyrlin Seat for over ten years. Thirteen of the Black Ajah fled the Tower, and she fears some remain. She keeps secret where Egwene, Elayne and Nynaeve have gone.
- Elaida do Avriny a'RoihanElaida is a Red sister who sometimes has the Foretelling. She attached herself to Morgase before Morgase took the throne of Andor. She distrusts Siuan Sanche and means to see her stopped.
- Gawyn TrakandGawyn, son of Queen Morgase of Andor, is in the White Tower and furious that his sister Elayne and Egwene have vanished again. The word is that they are doing penance on a farm, but he cannot find out where.
- Dain BornhaldDain Bornhald commands Whitecloaks sent into Andor on orders sealed by Pedron Niall. His father is dead, and Dain sees this command as his path to Perrin of the Two Rivers and to avenging his father.
- Suroth Sabelle MeldarathThe High Lady Suroth commands the Seanchan ships that escaped Falme, now holding the islands around Cantorin Harbor in secret. She means to retake the mainland and to deal with the man who claims to be the Dragon Reborn.
- Perrin AybaraPerrin Aybara, a golden-eyed blacksmith's apprentice from Emond's Field, lives in the Stone of Tear as one of Rand's party. He thinks Rand cannot do what he must unless Perrin and Mat do their part, so he stays.
- Faile BashereFaile left Saldaea to find adventure and now stays close to Perrin in the Stone of Tear. She is thinking of leaving Tear, and she wants Perrin to come with her.
- Rand al'ThorRand al'Thor holds the Stone of Tear as the Dragon Reborn, with Callandor, the Sword That Is Not a Sword, on a stand in his bedchamber. Aiel guard his door, and the High Lords of Tear compete for his favor.
Where it sits
The Shadow Rising is book 4 of 14. Read The Eye of the World, The Great Hunt and The Dragon Reborn first, in that order.
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The opening on this page is written only from chapters 1 and 2 of The Shadow Rising. Character notes say where each person stands as this book opens, written only from the earlier books and those chapters.