The Shadow Rising is the fourth book in Robert Jordan’s Wheel of Time series.
The Stone of Tear has fallen, and the Sword That Cannot Be Touched has been drawn in accordance with prophecy, confirming Rand as the Dragon Reborn. But there is much yet to do before he must face the Dark One at Tarmon Gai’don. Goaded by Moiraine, who seeks to guide his path towards Sammael in Illian, Rand remains determined to choose his own path, and to move in a direction that no one expects. For the Dragon, to remain in one place is death – and the Aiel, who took the Stone and allowed Rand to sieze the Sword That Is Not A Sword, have their own prophecies to fulfill.
Meanwhile, Perrin is torn by rumors from the Two Rivers: rumors of Whitecloaks, there to hunt him, threatening the friends and family he left behind. Since leaving home, Perrin has grown into both a man and a warrior, but how can one warrior stand against a legion of Whitecloaks? How can a man refuse to do so? It is clear that destiny is not yet done with Perrin, even as his path must diverge from Rand’s for a time.
The Shadow Rising is generally considered one of the best novels of the Wheel of Time series. What has been up to this point a well-executed, if fairly unsurprising, fantasy series takes a step up with this tale, gaining depth of characterization and a sense of drama previously lacking. If you’ve read this far, don’t stop here.
