the dragon reborn

We get treated to wide range of points of view this week as we check in with our main cast and a number of ancillary characters we haven't seen in a while. Some pleasant, some less so...

Rand, Mat, Moiraine, Lan and the Aiel have departed from Rhuidean and have made their way to Imre Stand. But things are not exactly going to plan.

We jump to Tanchico as Nynaeve, Elayne, Thom and Juilin arrive on the Seafolk Raker, and get some great plot development from Egeanin's point of view as she glimpses a number of familiar faces. 

The girls team up with Bayle Domon to root out the Black Ajah, and we get some extened scenes with Jaichim Carridin and the Black Ajah sisters before we jump all the way to the Two Rivers where Perrin is waging an ongoing assault on the trollocs that have invaded his homeland.

There is plotting, scheming, massive implications for long standing loyalties, multiple battles and a particularly rowdy night in an inn for Elayne. Quite the smorgasbord of plotlines, so enjoy!

Send us your feedback by clicking any of the hyperlinks below!

• Twitter - @BloodAndAshPod
• Facebook - BloodAndAshesPodcast
• Web - www.bloodandashespodcast.com

Enjoy, friends!

Mo, Willie and Jody

Welcome back! In this episode we stick with the two main plotlines: Perrin in the Two Rivers and Rand, Mat & Egwene in the Waste.

Perrin is starting to come into his own, giving orders to respected Two Rivers elders, barking at Aes Sedai and organising the farm folk against the dual assault of Whitecloaks and Trollocs. He also puts Slayer in his place and it all just feels... right. And everyone agrees!

Rand and Mat emerge from Rhuidean to, well, not exactly exultation and fanfare. In fact, it's downright hostility from the get-go, even from Aviendha. But Rand knows what needs doing and sets his own path now. 

Mat. Wonderful, cocky Mat. Always ready to lighten the mood. Bless him.

Send us your feedback by clicking any of the hyperlinks below!

• Twitter - @BloodAndAshPod
• Facebook - BloodAndAshesPodcast
• Web - www.bloodandashespodcast.com

Enjoy, friends!

Mo, Willie and Jody

And now for something completely different... Well, somewhat different.

Join us for a trip down memory lane as we travel with Rand through the history of the Aiel in the glass columns in Rhuidean. We recount his visions in chronological order in a bid to make it more digestible. Let us know if we succeeded at all!

Then Perrin, Faile, Gaul, Bain, Chiad and Loial have an encounter in the Ways before making it to Emond's field and getting some bad news.

It's an emotional roller coaster this episode, so hold onto your feelings, we're going in...

Send your corrections, theories and comments via the links below:

• Twitter - @BloodAndAshPod
• Facebook - BloodAndAshesPodcast
• Web - www.bloodandashespodcast.com

Enjoy, friends!

Mo, Willie and Jody

We're in for a real treat here, folks!

Not only do we get a very rare glimpse into the thoughts of our favorite Blue Ajah champion, but we get a big dose of culture and lore dumps from not one, but TWO thus far mysterious nations: The Sea folk and our beloved Aiel!

Nynaeve and Elayne book passage on a Sea Folk raker, making some interesting discoveries in the process. They're joined by Thom and Juilin as the group sets off for Tanchico.

Rand, Mat, Egwene, Moiraine and Lan set off for the Waste with their company of Aiel warriors, but not before Rand does something pretty incredible in the Heart of the Stone to keep the Tairen nobles in line.

It's another doozy of an episode coming in at well over 3h, so sit back and enjoy!

Reach out to us using any of the links below:

• Twitter - @BloodAndAshPod
• Facebook - BloodAndAshesPodcast
• Web - www.bloodandashespodcast.com

Enjoy, friends!

Mo, Willie and Jody

There's a lot going on here. 

In this episode Perrin sets off via the Ways on his quest to liberate the Two Rivers from the Whitecloaks, in a bizarre and spiteful arrangement with Faile. Good thing they have Aiel backup.

Egwene meets Amys in Tel'aran'rhiod and is summoned to The Waste to learn about Dreaming. 

Nynaeve, Elayne and Aviendha prepare to leave for Tanchico, and Moiraine asks Thom to accompany them after meeting with the Aelfinn. 

Oh, and Rand and Mat also go see the Aelfinn, nearly destroying their world in the process.

We even have some romantic moments, one subtle and touching, the other ridiculous and over-the-top, but they're both great.

We hope you enjoy it! Let us know:

• Twitter - @BloodAndAshPod
• Facebook - BloodAndAshesPodcast
• Web - www.bloodandashespodcast.com

Enjoy, friends!

Mo, Willie and Jody

I hope you like The Stone of Tear, because we're still here. Much to the frustration of Moiraine.

The girls are having no luck squeezing information out of the captured Black Ajah sisters. And Moiraine is having no luck pushing Rand into action. 

Elayne is trying to process her feelings for Rand, so after she and Egwene take a crack at learning something about Saidin and Saidar and their differences, Elayne hangs back and declares her feelings for Rand. Sort of.

Speaking of hanging, Rand is starting to consider it as a suitable treatment for the High Lords of Tear. Can't say I disagree. 

Then all hell breaks loose when Lanfear shows up and Rand's hand is forced to make a decision about what happens next. Exciting stuff indeed!

We also reference two episodes of The Podcast of the Dragon. They are Episode 25: The Power of Nope and Episode 26: Thus Do We Sing the Beginning. Great content and I highly recommend them both, especially Episode 25.

Tell us what you think by reaching out via any of the following social media links:

• Twitter - @BloodAndAshPod
• Facebook - BloodAndAshesPodcast
• Web - www.bloodandashespodcast.com

Enjoy, friends!

Mo, Willie and Jody

It might be a new book but we pick up right where we left off. Almost.

After checking in with Min who's finally made her way to the White Tower we also get a brief catch up with some of our least favourite characters. Padan Fain, Dain Bornhald and High Lady Suroth. Gross.

And then it's straight back to The Stone of Tear where all breaks loose when a bubble of evil targets our 3 favourite ta'veren. It's an action packed stretch but somehow we still get distracted by a double entendre, revel in the radness that is everything related to The Maidens of the Spear and are all repulsed by the High Lords of Tear.

Despite all the black hearts present in this stretch we still have lots of laughs and manage to come up with some theories ripe for correction, so please do chime in using any of the below social media links.

• Twitter - @BloodAndAshPod
• Facebook - BloodAndAshesPodcast
• Web - www.bloodandashespodcast.com

Enjoy!

Mo, Jo and Wil

And here we are, the finale for The Dragon Reborn!

Mat, Perrin, Rand, the girls, Moiraine, the Aiel and just about every person you can think of converge on The Heart of the Stone and action ensues!

We summarize the final chapters, pick our favorite moment from the episode and then spend a bit of time talking about the book as a whole and pick our favorite moment (thing?) from the book as a whole.

Clear your schedule, sit back and enjoy the climactic end of The Dragon Reborn!

Mo, Willie & Jody

Oh boy, Tear is bursting with ta'veren as virtually everyone converges on the troubled city. 

Nynaeve, Egwene and Elayne arrive and immediately set about tracking down the Black Ajah with the help of a fan favorite character. 

Perrin, Moiraine, Lan, Faile and Loial arrive and take up lodging next to a smithy where Perrin gets to flex some old muscles. Literally and figuratively. And as a result his axe gets some competition from a new hammer...

Mat and Thom arrive in the rain, at night, but immediately start searching for the girls and Comar and Mat's luck runs wild.

All this to set up a climactic finale, and yet we still get distracted by Mortal Kombat, clog design sensibilities and a double entendre that almost completely derails us. We also (foolishly) thought this might be a shorter episode due to the smaller number of chapters. Haha, how naïve we were.

Let us know what you think as we get ready for the big finale in the next episode!

• Twitter - @BloodAndAshPod
• Facebook - BloodAndAshesPodcast
• Web - www.bloodandashespodcast.com

Enjoy!

Mo, Jo and Wil

Things are getting pretty hectic right off the bat with Perrin and co. arriving in Illian, getting attacked almost immediately, discovering some disturbing things about forces of the Shadow and making a run for Tear.

Mat also fends off an attempt on his life with the help of Thom, on their way to Caemlyn to deliver Elayne's letter. The city seems to be under a malevolent influence but Mat makes his way to the Queen and her... advisor. He learns of a plot on Elayne's life and immediately sets off for Tear, where the girls are also heading.

But of course we also need to talk about female Trollocs and Native East African languages. Speculation with no real evidence abounds. Come join the fun!

• Twitter - @BloodAndAshPod
• Facebook - BloodAndAshesPodcast
• Web - www.bloodandashespodcast.com

Enjoy!

Mo, Jo and Wil

And we're back! Join us as we dust off the ol' brain cobwebs after a full week's break and dive right back into The Dragon Reborn. And BOY, what a set of chapters...

Perrin spies on some Forsaken, manages to piss off Moiraine to no end and has to constantly spar with Faile. Verbally, obviously.

Rand is... struggling. Haggard from the constant attacks he's lashing out in spectacular fashion.

Mat pretends not to be a hero while acting extremely heroically and cracking wise.

But the women steal the show. Nynaeve, Egwene and Elayne encounter their first Aiel, and holy cow, do the sparks fly. Nynaeve conjures some insane weaves, and Aviendha and the Maidens of the Spear kick the door down. Literally.

True to form we find all sorts of miniscule detail to ponder when we're not nerding out about how rad everyone is being. Or mad. Depends on the POV.

Send us your thoughts and feedback via any of the following links:

• Twitter - @BloodAndAshPod
• Facebook - BloodAndAshesPodcast
• Web - www.bloodandashespodcast.com

Enjoy!

Mo, Jo and Wil

Just as we get used to being in the Tower, everyone hits the road! Or the river, as the case may be.

Mat defies all laws of physics in both an altercation in the streets of Tar Valon, and at the dicing tables. Plus he runs into an old friend and they set off together on another grand adventure!

We also catch up with Perrin who is suddenly confronted by two elements from Min's viewings about him. His life is about to get really complicated...

We have our usual mix of irreverence and pedantry, but the majority of the episode is pure plot progress as our friends set out in the world and take care of business!

Send us your thoughts and feedback via any of the following links:

• Twitter - @BloodAndAshPod
• Facebook - BloodAndAshesPodcast
• Web - www.bloodandashespodcast.com

Enjoy!

Mo, Jo and Wil

Well, Mat's back and immediately the whole episode becomes a barrel of laughs. Naturally.

Mat gets hungry, kicks some ass and then charms us all over again. That loveable scamp!

The girls shift gears in their investigation, going so far as to charge headlong into danger in attempt at learning something, anything that will help them mitigate the threat of the Black Ajah. But they do come out with a plan.

These chapters hardly move the timeline along at all, but it's such a fun stretch we were laughing all episode. 

Tell us if you agree or if you have any feelings about it at all!

• Twitter - @BloodAndAshPod
• Facebook - BloodAndAshesPodcast
• Web - www.bloodandashespodcast.com

Cheers,

Mo, Jo and Wil

Welcome back to the Tower of Mysteries! We learn some shocking statistics about the Black Ajah right off the bat, before we even start with our chapters. 

Then we hit the ground running with Mat being severed from the Dagger (I think I'll capitalize that from now on) and having a chat with both a Forsaken and the Amyrlin Seat in his bedroom.  And reminiscing about commanding troops in an ancient battle for good measure. 

Egwene scrubs some pots, is entrusted with an extremely useful magic item and then undertakes the Accepted test immediately after, to almost disastrous consequences.

As you will tell straight away from the episode, I was struggling, so I'm sure we left plenty of room for correction and enlightenment. Or maybe you just enjoyed our tangents? Either way, let us know via these channels:

• Twitter - @BloodAndAshPod
• Facebook - BloodAndAshesPodcast
• Web - www.bloodandashespodcast.com

Cheers,

Mo, Jo and Wil

Welcome back to Murder on the Orient Express! Or at least, the White Tower version thereof.

We're right in the guts of the White Tower now as the girls report to the Amyrlin's study to explain themselves after disappearing for months. More accurately, to have things explained to them. Specifically about how naughty they are and what their punishment will be. At least that's how the sisters see it, but our intrepid team are no shrinking violets. They take the Amyrlin's bombshell task and boy, do they run with it.

The luxury of previous reads becomes a stumbling block as we try to connect Slayer with the White Tower, so please, for the love of all that is good and pure enlighten us! You can do so using the links below:

• Twitter - @BloodAndAshPod
• Facebook - BloodAndAshesPodcast
• Web - www.bloodandashespodcast.com

Enjoy!

Mo

Finally, the gang emerges from the Mountains of Mist. Perrin and Moiraine participate in a short lived power struggle until Perrin is made to clean her prize trout and eventually asks her for help with his wolfishness. This after encountering a man who lost his battle against "going full wolf" and Perrin having to face his greatest fear.

We catch a brief glimpse of Rand as he's being hunted by... what exactly? We can barely decide.

And the girls make their way back to Tar Valon, but not before ruffling some serious Whitecloak feathers and giving Verin a figurative heart attack.

As always, send your comments, corrections, theories and general observations to any of the following social media links!

• Twitter - @BloodAndAshPod
• Facebook - BloodAndAshesPodcast
• Web - www.bloodandashespodcast.com

And lastly, do tell your friends about the show and how much you love it. And by "friends" I mean every single contact you have, live or online.

Enjoy!

Mo

Here we go friends! The Dragon Reborn has been kicked off!

We join Pedron Niall as he entertains a parade of ne'er-do-wells who all relay their version of events at Falme, culminating in the appearance of the contemptable Padan Fain. 

But then we venture North into the still snowy Mountains of Mist where the fledgling army of the Dragon Reborn is hiding from the chaos they caused on the Almoth Plain.

We get to spend 5 straight chapters in the head of our favorite beefy boy as he and the rest of the party anxiously await the right time to leave the mountains. By the end their cover is well and truly blown in a spectacular battle with the shadowspawn. We couldn't have planned a better episode crescendo if we tried!

As always we ask that you, our loyal listeners, participate in our inane ramblings though any of the following channels:

• Twitter - @BloodAndAshPod
• Facebook - BloodAndAshesPodcast
• Web - www.bloodandashespodcast.com

Whether it's to agree, contest or correct, we welcome it all! Even if it's years after we have published this episode, we'll never shy away from addressing your feedback or questions. And we love a wild theory, so throw those this way as well! And lastly, do tell your friends about the show and how much you love it. And by "friends" I mean every single contact you have, live or online! :D

Enjoy!

Mo

Get ready for the home stretch! In our penultimate episode for The Great Hunt all the pieces on the board are being positioned and primed for action.

The boys, Verin and the Shienarans experience a bad trip when trying to use the Portal Stones to get to Toman head. Not even the horses are spared this brain bending ordeal. But they make it to Toman head and are now within striking distance of Falme.

Egwene, Nynaeve, Elayne and Min experience the ultimate betrayal from Liandrin and are delivered to the Seanchan on a silver platter. Of course, Nynaeve well and truly flips that platter right back in their faces, but not without losing Egwene and Min to the reprehensible Sul'Dam and Seanchan soldiers.

Sprinkle in some Waygate hypotheses and jokes about "bad wind", and you have our latest episode!

Get psyched and join the conversation by sending in your feedback and your favorite moments to:

• Twitter - @BloodAndAshPod
• Facebook - BloodAndAshesPodcast
• Web - www.bloodandashespodcast.com

We'll include listener submitted favorite moments in the "Honorable Mentions" at the end of the episodes.

Enjoy!

Mo