The Fires of Heaven (Book Five, The Wheel of Time)

The White Tower has split and the Amyrlin Seat, Siuan Sanche, has been stilled and deposed. Elaida, an Aes Sedai, a female channeler of the One Power, and the leader of the uprising, has become the new Amyrlin and those who think her a usurper have escaped to form their own Tower. After their battle in Tanchico against the Forsaken Moghedien and the Black Ajah, Aes Sedai who serve the Dark One, Nynaeve al'Meara and Elyane Trakand, both also Aes Sedai, search for those same rebels while, at the same time, flee from Moghedien's wrath. With the help of the Forsaken Lanfear, Rand al'Thor has defeated the Forsaken Asmodean, has ventured into the ruined city of Rhuidean and has been proclaimed the Car'a'carn, the Chief of Chiefs and the chosen one of the Aiel people. However, there are those who would rather die than serve. The Shaido Clan, led by their leader and self-proclaimed Car'a'Carn, Couladin, have fled the Aiel Waste in search of richer lands to pillage. With the help of Mat, Egwene, and the Aiel that follow him, Rand must pursue the Shaido across the Waste and into the Westlands, where the final showdown between Car'a'carns will take place on the doorstep of the great city of Cairhien.

Personally, The Fires of Heaven is one of my favorite in this series by Robert Jordan. My all-time favorite is Book 7. Full of twists, The Fires of Heaven has at least a dozen moments where I threw the book on the floor in fury and then immediately picked it up again to continue reading. It is full of action, Rand and his continuous Forsaken-balefiring, tons and tons of Aiel, and, most importantly, it finally gives Mat a time to shine. Go Mat!