The seventh novel in the Wheel of Time series one of the most influential and popular fantasy epics ever published. The war for humanitys survival has begun. Rand alThor, the Dragon Reborn, has escaped the snares of the White Tower and the first of the rebel Aes Sedai have sworn to follow him. Attacked by the servants of the Dark, threatened by the invading Seanchan, Rand rallies his forces and brings battle to bear upon Illian, stronghold of Sammael the Forsaken . . . In the city of Ebou Dar, Elayne, Aviendha and Mat struggle to secure the terangreal that can break the Dark Ones hold on the worlds weather and an ancient bane moves to oppose them. In the town of Salidar, Egwene alVere gathers an army to reclaim Tar Valon and reunite the Aes Sedai . . . And in Shadar Logoth, city of darkness, a terrible power awakens...