The Shadow Rising

Book Four of The Wheel of Time

By: Robert Jordan

Narrated by: Kate Reading, Michael Kramer

Length: 41 hrs and 13 mins

Publisher's Summary

The Wheel of Time is a PBS Great American Read Selection!

Now in development for TV!

Since its debut in 1990, The Wheel of Time by Robert Jordan has captivated millions of readers and listeners around the globe with its scope, originality, and compelling characters.

The Wheel of Time turns and ages come and go, leaving memories that become legend. Legend fades to myth, and even myth is long forgotten when the age that gave it birth returns again. In the Third Age, an Age of Prophecy, the World and Time themselves hang in the balance. What was, what will be, and what is, may yet fall under the Shadow.

The seals of Shayol Ghul are weak now, and the Dark One reaches out. The Shadow is rising to cover humankind. 

In Tar Valon, Min sees portents of hideous doom. Will the White Tower itself be broken? 

In the Two Rivers, the Whitecloaks ride in pursuit of a man with golden eyes, and in pursuit of the Dragon Reborn.In Cantorin, among the Sea Folk, High Lady Suroth plans the return of the Seanchan armies to the mainland.In the Stone of Tear, the Lord Dragon considers his next move. It will be something no one expects, not the Black Ajah, not Tairen nobles, not Aes Sedai, not Egwene or Elayne or Nynaeve.Against the Shadow rising stands the Dragon Reborn....

TV series update: "Sony will produce along with Red Eagle Entertainment and Radar Pictures. Rafe Judkins is attached to write and executive produce. Judkins previously worked on shows such as ABC’s Agents of SHIELD, the Netflix series Hemlock Grove, and the NBC series Chuck. Red Eagle partners Rick Selvage and Larry Mondragon will executive produce along with Radar’s Ted Field and Mike Weber. Darren Lemke will also executive produce, with Jordan’s widow Harriet McDougal serving as consulting producer." (Variety)

The Wheel of Time New Spring: The Novel

The Eye of the World

The Great Hunt

The Dragon Reborn

The Shadow Rising

The Fires of Heaven

Lord of Chaos

A Crown of Swords

The Path of Daggers

Winter's Heart

Crossroads of Twilight

Knife of Dreams by Robert Jordan and Brandon Sanderson

The Gathering Storm

Towers of Midnight

A Memory of Light by Robert Jordan 

Warrior of the Altaii by Robert Jordan and Teresa Patterson 

The World of Robert Jordan's The Wheel of Time by Robert Jordan, Harriet McDougal, Alan Romanczuk, and Maria Simons 

The Wheel of Time Companion by Robert Jordan and Amy Romanczuk

Listen to more books in The Wheel of Time series.

©1992 Robert Jordan (P)1997 Books on Tape

Critic Reviews

"Jordan's multivolume epic continues to live up to its high ambitions. Complex plotting, an array of strong characters, lavish detail, and a panoramic scope make this series a feast for fantasy aficionados." (Library Journal)

"The fourth volume of the most ambitious American fantasy saga continues to suggest that The Wheel of Time will also be the finest." (Booklist) 

I cannot finish this book!

I really loved the first three books, but Robert Jordan really turned a corner in this book. In the first three books, I was well aware of the fact that this was a matriarchal world, and it didn't bother me at all. Something changed in this book though, the women are arrogant, petty, egotistical to an extreme, and you as the reader are still supposed to like them. They treat all the men as if they were pure simpletons, and second class citizens to say the least. To make matters worse, the male characters accept this treatment without exception. They are good little lap dogs who take their lashings , and politely ask for another. It really is disgusting to read.

PLEASE PROGRESS

The lack of real progress in this story is driving me crazy. I'm going to have to give it up cause I just can't sit through another 41 hours of boring lack of progress.

The BEST of the Wheel of Time

Great development of Perrin and a decent amount of Mat, this novel stands out as the most emotional and most ecstatic novel in the series. This turn in the series is the most engaging and enjoyable. I have listened to it 4 times now and each time experience a tightening in my throat when...well better not spoil it. You will not regret this one!

Best Book So Far

Now totally addicted to the pattern that Jordan has woven, I have to admit this last installment was by far my favorite. YES, critics of Jordan are right in that he can describe every detail in the most mundane scenes...and YES, his characters are a bit one dimensional in their personas...BUT with a story this complex I have to admit I appreciate characters that I know won't change on me from chapter to chapter or book to book. What I think most critics miss is that this book is about the storyline and the pattern, not just about the characters that play within it.

This past week I learned that Jordon has died and that he didn't finish his last book in the series (and rumor has it the last installment is a mammoth!). I am committed to finishing this out and seeing Rand through as the Dragon reborn, finding out what Lord Perin Golden Eyes does, and discover what's up with Matt and his flair for luck and history. 4 books down, 8 more to go!

Almost as great as the first book

Storylines pick up quite a bit in book four. The three main protagonists begin embracing their respective roles as Taurvanianamias (only Jordan knows how to spell that word). There's more action as well.

Note: I want to give this series one star when the story focuses on the women, Nineve in particular. I've never hated a character as much as Nineve; she's utterly obnoxious dimwit with less than zero common sense — a stupid, stupid girl.

Both narrators are truly outstanding, especially Michael Kramer. Bravo indeed.

In depth plot and storyline but whats with the constant and petty quarreling?!

I truly love the wheel of Time series universe created by Robert Jordan. For years I have both read listen to these books the only drawback is the petty war of the sexes immature nearly constant quarreling between the primary characters.

Its quite incongruous when comparing the lifetimes of literally earth shattering import these beings represent to the high school level judgmental pithiness and childish banter they display towards each other.

Rand and Perrin seem to be the only ones evolving into capable characters matching their reality.

Already deep into Book 4 and seriously these characters should have grown out of this by now. if it doesn’t stop soon I don’t think I can continue listening. Its beyond annoying and destroys the otherworldly fantasy element i so enjoy

Good at first, then...Meh

I stopped reading the series after this book. The tragedy of this series is that the world, the back-history, and magic system are exquisitely developed, but the plot is repetetive and the characters are hollow. The pattern of the plot (no spoiler) is a less-than-brilliant move by (insert character), which leads to an emergency, which is resolved at the last second in a maddeningly convenient manner (usually either an unlooked-for rescue or a new manifestation of magic). The characters are fantasy stereotypes. However, the books are very suspenseful, and these are common issues in all but the best fantasy. All might be forgiven except for the sheer unnecessary length of the series. There are at least two major plot lines that a good editor would have axed altogether to bring focus to a badly meandering story arc and cut the size down a bit. I would recommend this series only to die-hard fantasy aficionados who will appreciate what was done well and forgive what was done poorly.

I'm still listening...

I am struggling with continuing this series. The overall concept is intriguing but the writing is difficult sometimes. Things happen to characters that after four books we still have no explanation for, the girls are airheads at the best of times, oh Rand this and oh Rand that and all of the sudden he and Egwayne have no feelings for each other with no lead up, Elaine writes two letters that we have no insight into, Minh is supposed to be street savvy yet she sounds like an idiot when it comes to the opposite sex and someone please shoot me when Nineavh speaks. She's mean and grouchy and how are we supposed to like her or how do the others like her? Anyways I'm still listening because it is entertaining but im hoping Mr. Jordan connects the dots and smartens up the characters in the rest of the books.

lances say

Through out the Wheel of Time different threads of each part continue to get more and more intriguing. The changes/challenges each character undergoe never fail to leave you wanting more.

Lots of good stuff here

Quite a variety of really good storytelling and situations. Not at all predictable. Many characters and stories. A real page turner and engrossing. Of course being in the middle of a long series many unresolved threads. Listened to this for hours at a time.

Where do we go from Here?

So Rand has taken Callandor. Forsaken are falling, and Lanfear has staked a claim on Lews Therin in his sheppard costume of this age. In book 3 we were introduced to Aiel, and suddenly they are a key component to Rand's victory at Tear and at what cost? Rand must find answers, and although Tear outlaws channeling and anything to do with channelling, oddly it is their store of angreal that provides answers (albeit cryptic for now), and Mat Cauthon starts to come into his own here too.
Had book 1's journey been written with such focus and intent as this book, it would easily have been five stars and a brilliant novel in its own right. The story is clearly, firmly lodged in Jordan's mind and one can't help but imagine him over a computer or typewriter furiously churning out this brilliant continuation as it develops in his mind.
This book answers such questions as Who is Rand? What do the Aiel have to do with anything? Who are the forsaken, really? What roles do Mat and Perrin play in Rand's journey? And on Kate Redding's side, Nynaeve al'Meara, Elaine Trakand, and Egwene al'Vere really start to develop as they head to Tanchico opening up the world to the reader from the Aiel waste in the east right across to the west, in search of the black sisters that Siuan Sanche set them to hunt.
Just for the history presented in this book alone as exposition makes it 5 stars! Brilliant in every way, and the beginning of the development of Mat as a battle leader is handled beautifully!

cuts in the audio lower performance quality

Often the audio paused more than as expected between sentences where we should here the continuation of the story. this seems to be due to the cut and edition of difference recordings. I noticed this for the first time in book 3, but in this one this issue seems more frequent and it decreases the performance quality m

differing pronunciations

only thing that frustrates me in this audiobook is the narrators not pronouncing names and places the same, it makes me unsure how it should actually be said.

Brilliant!

liked book one, tolerated book 2, enjoyed book 3 (especially the crescendo at the end) and loved book 4. this book will keep you hooked from beginning to end with twists and turns you don't expect, characters growing and changing, plots thickening. Bloody brilliant!

Brilliant

I've read this series before , enjoying the retelling because off eye condition, excellent

Narrators not up to the task

The narrators do not have the depth or range required to do the variety of accents required. Particularly the female narrator. Her attempts to do Seanchan slur were terrible. A British narrator could have managed the variety of accents better. She can barely get beyond an American accent. She also couldn't effectively differentiate between young and old. Which is annoying as I'm engrossed in the story so have to carry on listening.

Most Awkward Moment

Just chapter 8 with Rand and Elyane it was so awkward all I heard was I’m fond of you for like minute it was so funny and awkward generally a good scene in showing the emotions of the characters.

Entertaining

I love the Wheel of Time story , going through the books like I would be eating it ;) Cant wait for the next one. No Credit thro.:(

epic

another excellent addition to one of the greatest fantasy sagas ever written in my humble opinion.

Incredible

Loving the whole series. Jordan has such an ability to tell a story in such rich detail