Winter's Heart

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Winter's Heart
File:WoT09 WintersHeart.jpg
Original cover of Winter's Heart, showing Perrin Aybara leading Annoura, Balwer and Gaul
Author Robert Jordan
Country United States
Language English
Series The Wheel of Time
Genre Fantasy
Publisher Tor Books (U.S.) &
Orbit (UK)
Publication date
November 7, 2000
Media type Print (Hardback & Paperback)
Pages 668 pp (U.S. hardback edition) &
640 pp (UK hardback edition)
ISBN 0-312-86425-6 (U.S. hardback edition)
& ISBN 1-85723-984-9 (UK hardback edition)
OCLC 45066106
813/.54 21
LC Class PS3560.O7617 W55 2000
Preceded by The Path of Daggers
Followed by Crossroads of Twilight

Winter's Heart is the ninth book of the Wheel of Time fantasy series written by American author Robert Jordan. It was published by Tor Books and released on November 7, 2000. Upon its release, it immediately rose to the #1 position on the New York Times hardcover fiction bestseller list, making it the second Wheel of Time book to reach the #1 position on that list. It remained on the list for the next two months. Winter's Heart consists of a prologue and 35 chapters.

The book's title is a reference to the increasing coldness of Rand al'Thor's personality and to the return of winter following the reversal in the previous book, The Path of Daggers, of the unnatural heat caused by the Dark One's manipulation of climate.

Winter's Heart was the first Wheel of Time book for which the prologue, entitled "Snow", was first sold as an ebook in advance of the physical release of the book. "Snow" was released by the Scribner imprint of Simon & Schuster in September 2000, two months before the publication of Winter's Heart.

Plot summary

Many of the events of Winter's Heart take place simultaneously with the events of the next book, Crossroads of Twilight. Perrin Aybara and his followers pursue the Shaido Aiel who kidnapped his wife, Faile Bashere, while Elayne Trakand attempts to suppress rebellious nobles.

Mat Cauthon is trapped in the city of Ebou Dar in Altara, under Seanchan occupation. His escape is disrupted by a Seanchan noblewoman named Tuon, the heir to the Seanchan Crystal Throne; and Mat, having heard a prophecy of his own marriage to the Daughter of the Nine Moons (referring to Tuon herself), kidnaps her.

Rand al'Thor is appointed a Warder by Elayne Trakand, Aviendha, and Min Farshaw; and later kills most of the Asha'man traitors in Far Madding. Lan also kills Toram Riatin in a duel. Caught by guards, he is imprisoned for a short time but is set free by Cadsuane and the other Aes Sedai. Rand and Nynaeve al'Meara Travel to Shadar Logoth. There, defended by Cadsuane Melaidhrin's Aes Sedai and loyal Asha'man against the Forsaken, Rand and Nynaeve use the Choedan Kal to cleanse saidin of the Dark One's influence. In the process, both Shadar Logoth and the access key (of the female Choedan Kal) are destroyed.

Release details

External links