The Great Hunt

A good second installment in the series and progressed the story well and introduces some more elements of the world and magic system. I doubt this is going to be anyone's favourite in the series but it was a strong addition.
Overall a hard one to review without spoiling elements of the series.

Characters and DevelopmentThe main characters are split up once again in this book. A large amount of time is spent with Rand and Loial and a seperate plot line follows Egwene and Nynaeve. I didn't feel Rand developed significantly as a character in this one overall, while the events probably permanently modified the girls' for the remainder of the story.

Plot
The beginning opens up a new and exciting plot line involving the girls while I feel Rand's plot line doesn't progress in a meaningful way until the very end. All the “filler” in the middle is still extremely high quality and enjoyable for a fan of the series but I don't feel most of it is strictly necessary for the story to progress (I'm sure some of the characters and themes reappear in future books though so I may have to come back and modify this).

SettingA new group is introduced with their own customs and a new world and way of travel is introduced. Not going to say much more here for spoiler reasons.



TL;DRPros

• Introduces more elements of the world and magic system
• Progresses the major plotline in a big way right at the end
• Begins a major plot line about Tar Valon and Aes Sedai

Cons

• Overall lots of it is probably not critical to the story except the very beginning and very end