The full prologue to A Memory of Light was released Tuesday. And it certainly doesn’t disappoint.

It’s hard to believe, after all these years, that the end – figuratively and literally – is almost here.

I struggled with this series off and on the last several years; the series is great, don’t get me wrong. Most of the characters are well-written and relatable. I admire the masterful way Jordan (and Sanderson) connects the threads of so many different lives and stories. Everything has meaning. No words or scenes are wasted.

But there are some chapters where the dialogue or description, or the lack of action, gets suffocating and hard to push through. And in the end, I always go back to it. Because it’s worth it.

Anyway, the prologue picks up where Towers of Midnight left off, and does a solid job of further drawing together some threads introduced in previous installments, as well as setting the stage for the Last Battle.

The prologue alternates between various characters’ points of view and Talmanes’ as he storms Caemlyn to secure the dragons and keep them from falling into the Shadowspawn’s hands.

There are whispers of betrayal by one of Rand’s former allies, who is then revealed as a new Chosen.

It’s succinct, engaging, and it certainly left me eager for the rest of the final installment.

Darrell Sweet’s unfinished cover for A Memory of Light.