Oof the struggle

I’ve actually finished Crown of Swords and am 3 chapters into Path of Daggers. It’s not the slog of plot (I quite enjoy some explorations, developments, and expansion of character study). The part I’m currently struggling with (and I’m sure it’s been others before me) is the developmental place Elayne and Nynaeve are in. Oooooof. I just keep hoping they mature a bit at some point instead of all this straining and pushing against everything. It’s no mystery why they behave this way: actual (lack of) age combined with trial by fire experience in the face of lots of folks who’d just as soon smack them down. I get it: they have to stand up against a lot of cantankerous and arrogant sets of people and they’re still learning as they go. But I find myself deeply hoping everyone matures a bit. There’s a a lot of “knee jerk” and “foot stomp” type behavior that makes me cringe. Not to mention a fair amount of getting in their own way.

Not complaining. Just struggling and hoping there is a payoff for their large hill they’re climbing.