Blodeuedd's Favorite Fictional Character --- Rand al'Thor

I don't think there is another blogger quite like Blodeudd of Book Girl of Mur-y-Castell.  She shows such a passion for the books she reads and reviews.  I always know that if I want to read a review by someone who seems to put her heart and soul into a review, I can head over to her blog and dive into some amazing writing.  We don't always read the same kind of books, but I know that if she raves about a fantasy novel, I'm going to love the book as well.  The books she reviews are wide ranging and a few times she has came close to convincing me that a new romance book it just what I want.  On her visit today, she is going to talk about a series and a character that I love about as much as she does.  I think it's fitting that she chose a character we both love, it's almost like a birthday present.  So I hope you stick around, read the post, and go on over to her blog and let her know how awesome she is.

I spent a lot of time thinking of who my favorite character is. One part of my brain said Rand, Rand, Rand! But the other part said, you are re-reading the series, and haven’t really fallen yet..but hey brain, it’s still Rand! And I adore him.

I was about 13 or 14 when I met Rand for the first time and fell in love, with the series, and him too. He is the main character in the Wheel of time series by Robert Jordan, and now it’s a series being finished by Brandon Sanderson as Jordan passed away. It’s the old school kind of fantasy, a young shepherd meets a mysterious woman and a warrior and soon he and his friends are going on an adventure. Well ok more like fleeing as baddies are after them. I always liked the farmer/nobody who finds his destiny and becomes something more, and the change is just so great in Rand. At first he is the fumbling farmboy who tries his best to be brave and look after his friends. But who also doubts as the realization of his true fate is bestowed upon him. He is made for great things. He is the Dragon Reborn. The reborn Dragon as the old one almost destroyed the world, and this Rand will do too and fight the big baddie. How will it all end?

And here I still am, many years later, still reading this series! We are finally coming to the last battle, or will in the book that is being published in 2013. And I tell you, if Sanderson kills him then I will throw that last book at the wall. Yes there is a big chance that my favorite fictional character will die and that will not be pleasant for anyone near me. I do fear this fate.

Back to Rand, and why I like him. It’s the change, he matures, he becomes the Dragon, he leads men into battle and he becomes a king. I also have a true weakness for Lews Therin Kinslayer, that’s the old Dragon and he does spend some time mumbling to Rand in his head. What can I say; I like crazy Rand, for Lews will truly drive him insane with his talking and memories. Not to mention that magic, to Rand, is poison that also will drive him insane. You see, he is a lost cause, I have to like him.

At the present I am re-reading the series and something strange has happened. I liked him first when he was naïve, but at the moment I am pretty neutral. Horrible isn’t it. But then again he has not gone insane yet so maybe that is the reason. He still is great through. A true fantasy hero, even if I could have him having less women around. I mean honestly, does he really need that many? Read and see what I mean as I do not want to spoil all things here at once.

I might just be, ok I am, as in love with this series as I am with the characters in it. They are flawed, idiots, real, too good to be true (those are the bigger idiots), and just great. And now I just hope he will live, because in the end you never know with authors and the craziness they will come up with.