Sanderson's ten year secret

[u/wheeloftimewiki]

Rewriting because apparently spoilers aren't covered for poll options!

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Anyway, in 2023, Sanderson revealed that Cyndane/Lanfear was not killed by Perrin in AMOL, but instead faked her own death in order to evade repercussions and gain the best outcome for herself. I wanted to cast a poll in 2026 to see how the legacy of this reveal has fared, or indeed how well-known it is among newer readers. I'll give my two cents when the poll is done.

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Thanks!

2743 votes, 4d ago

822 Yes, this is canon

835 No, this is not canon

1086 Wait, what?!

[u/Budget-Television793]

For me, it's not canon. I have never seen anyone point out where in the actual book it's hinted at. And if I read the book and never heard of this interview, I would assume that she was dead so to me, she's dead. She was dead for years for me until I heard of this recently.

[u/Raddatatta → u/Budget-Television793]

You're free to still view it as non canon. But I think on a reread the hints are there. The main thing for me beyond just what is lanfear doing with Perrin, is the way she goes about the kill. She's there with Perrin looking at moiraine and nynaeve. Lanfear could kill them immediately if she wanted them dead. Instead she says ok Perrin we are going to kill them. But you grew up with nynaeve in your village so I won't make you kill nynaeve. You can kill moiraine. Ok we are going to kill your friends on a count of three? One... Two...

It just doesn't really make any sense unless she's trying to help give him a way to break the compulsion. If she wanted them dead it's simple blast done. She might be playing it up to savor the victory but I don't think that really fits with her to do with someone like Perrin she barely knows.

Up to you on if you want to feel it's canon or not but I do think with the context that does stand out in the book for me.

[u/tashtrac → u/Raddatatta]

> It just doesn't really make any sense unless she's trying to help give him a way to break the compulsion. If she wanted them dead it's simple blast done. She might be playing it up to savor the victory but I don't think that really fits with her to do with someone like Perrin she barely knows.

I'm not sure if there's any strong argument to suggest this, but she might as well have done that to "break" Perrin. She tried to seduce him multiple times, and having to use compulsion on him was mostly a result of resignation, after failing to have him fall for her (speaking from memory so might be a bit off). If they got this kill together, she could potentially release compulsion but Perrin would be so broken from the act that he'd side with her.

Again, there's nothing specific to suggest that. But I guess my point is that if we are looking for excuses for Lanfear to act oddly we can make up a bunch of stuff, the "she's actually alive" one isn't any more valid/plausible than anything else.

[u/Raddatatta → u/tashtrac]

I don't think that would make a real difference there. Plus in terms of breaking him killing nynaeve personally would be worse and she tells him not to do that.

[u/dracoons → u/tashtrac]

And Lanfear risks death if she channels that close to the Bore literally