This was a strong entry into the series and Sanderson did great job continuing it, despite noticeable changes like shorter paragraphs and more attention to the minor characters (saw way more Gawyn than I needed to). But the characters felt the same with multiple payoffs to thousands of words of setup.

This was Egwene’s strongest arc in the series. However, coming up against Elaida seemed a little too easy for her. She had little agency, but her victories did feel earned. There could be Mary Sue arguments, but her story isn't much different from Mat and Perrin's. If ta’veren is another name for plot armour/convenience she may as well be one. That doesn’t mean I don’t love her character, but I do prefer more struggle and agency.

Rand's story impacted me the most. Poor guy went through a lot, seeing his slow descent into madness (taint notwithstanding). When most protagonists go through hell, readers expect them to brush it off and move on (and that’s what happens in most books). All his tribulations affected him, and this book delved into the consequences. Put any real-world person in his shoes, you’ll see the same happen to them. His ending was impactful leaving tonnes of questions and theories to ponder.

The end is near after so many pages spent with these characters. This world feels so fleshed out and real and I’m excited to see how this all ends.
( )

This was a sad book in the series. Poor Rand and all the other confused characters. I loved the Aes Sedai and Tar Valon scenes.

Here's hoping we see some of the Light in the next book ( )

Fantasy

Wow. Just wow. Sanderson has done an incredible job first and foremost. I believe the series should have finished long ago but nothing in this book felt stretched out just to fill pages. After reading 11 book to get to the final battle, the book sets it up wonderfully and doesn't disappoint. Cue up Tarmon Gai'don! ( )

3.5* ( )

An epic beginning of the end. ( )

The pacing through most of this book felt off, but the last 12 chapters are incredible and beautiful. Really looking forward to book 13. ( )

http://pro-libertate.net/20100809/136-read-gathering-storm ( )

As suggested by my start & finish dates, I made it to Book 12 before being overcome with WOT fatigue, putting the book aside when I reached the 1/3 mark. However, once I returned to it, I finished it in a manner of days. What impressed me was how easy it was to pick up. With so many characters and storylines, I feared I would struggle to get back into the book, but it was like meeting old friends after a long separation. What works best in this volume is the very personal struggles and evolution of Rand as the Dragon Reborn feeling imprisoned by his friends and enemies as well as by Prophecy, and also the resolution of the division of the White Tower. Still, the story seems to plod along for the most part despite being eminently readable due to past investment, as a reader, in the main characters. Brandon Sanderson picks up the threads Robert Jordan left at the time of his unfortunate passing and does, as later proven in his own epic novels, and weaves them well, near seamlessly writing as Jordan. However, there is a subtle change and style and significant diminishment in the use of aphorisms after page 183 that suggests to me the point of transition between the authors. ( )

Summary: More Wheel of Grind. Pretty much the same ol same ol. But with a new author at the helm.


Things I liked: I don't know I want to find out what happens at the end of the story. There's a fair bit of self loathing in continuing to read this series. I fear to watch and yet cannot look away. the scence with Egwene defending the tower at the end was pretty awesome . I like the way the author never gives you the payoff of a happy situation. Like an old friend you can now sense how any series of wins will quickly be whisked away and replaced with some new fangled twist.

Things I thought could be improved:

Still too many two diminisional characters. Plot moves very slowly. Lots of exposition.

Highlight: Egwene defending the tower was pretty awesome and had me fired up about the whole thing again, it's taken forever but was quite possibly worth it .. maybe ... still not sure that's a lot of pages to read for one awesome scene ( )

So much progress! I considered 5 stars but I decided that I was still slightly annoyed that it took so long to progress on some of the plotlines that were tied up in this book that I decided 4 stars better reflected my overall feelings :-D

Still, I really enjoyed the way the characters and their plotlines developed. ( )

I'm not sure if its because its nearing the end of the story, or just the alternate author, but I enjoyed this one very much. Ironically (given the name) I feel like the storm is breaking. The darkness of Rand's steady decline to madness and the division in the White Tower are both finally over. I'm actually excited and optimistic for the protagonists. ( )

Jordan féll frá áður en hann náði að klára sagnnabálkinn mikla um Hjól tímans. Hann var búinn að leggja drög að síðustu bókinni og þegar Brandon Sanderson var valinn til að klára söguna kom í ljós að það þurfti 3 bækur til að klára allt efnið. Engu að síður sést klárlega að söguþráðurinn er þéttari, kraftmeiri og spennan keyrð betur áfram. Hlakka til að klára seríuna undir leiðsögn Sandersons. ( )

This is such a major improvement on the last 3-4 books. Stuff actually happens! The plot finally starts to move towards the end battle. There's no spanking! Some of the most annoying character aspects are removed or the character is absent. Sanderson writes scenes where stuff is actually dramatic and he moves on quickly. What a relief. I zipped through the audiobook and am actually excited about the final 2 books. ( )

Wow! What a great book - so much good stuff happening here, all moving the story forward! ( )

This is by far the best Wheel of Time book I've read in a while. I had wondered whether Brandon Sanderson's writing would mesh with Robert Jordan's, whether things would flow like they had, and I can say with confidence that they do much better than that. This book picked up the pace where the past few had dawdled, stirring in an amazing amount of action and revelation while still providing that familiar, lush descriptive narration. For the first time in the series, I feel honestly closer to a resolution than I had before.

I can't wait for the last two books! ( )

This review is written with a GPL 4.0 license and the rights contained therein shall supersede all TOS by any and all websites in regards to copying and sharing without proper authorization and permissions. Crossposted at WordPress, Blogspot & Librarything by Bookstooge’s Exalted Permission
Title: The Gathering Storm
Series: The Wheel of Time #12
Author: Robert Jordan & Brandon Sanderson
Rating: 4 of 5 Stars
Genre: Fantasy
Pages: 829
Words: 304.5K

Synopsis:

From Tarvalon.net & authored by Toral Delvar

Aviendha is sent to Rhuidean to go through the Glass columns and become a Wise One. Faile kills Masema. Perrin rides north with the refugees, with Grady and Neald too tired to make gateways for those that would want to go home. He meets up with Galad and learns that Maighdin is actually Morgase.

Mat and the Band try and head to Caemlyn before going to rescue Moiraine. In the shadow of the Damona Mountains, they come across a village where everyone goes crazy at night and tries to kill each other, only for everything to reset back to normal the next morning. They learn a woman in a nearby village is handing out pictures of Mat, so he goes to see who it is, learning it is Verin. She explains that she had intended to go to Tar Valon, but was drawn there by his ta'veren nature. She tells him she can make a gateway for the Band to go quickly to Camelyn, but if so he must either wait ten days, then obey the instructions in a letter she gives him; or wait thirty days, then do as he wishes. He agrees.

Rodel meets with Turan after the Seanchan army has been destroyed outside Darulna. He explains he used their overconfidence and reliance on raken against them. Turan tells Ituralde that this will not be the end of it, that the Seanchan will send a larger army and will not make the same mistakes again. Rodel executes him. The Seanchan amass a fresh army of 300000 men with around 200 damane, traping Rodel and his men in a stedding. He knows they cannot win, but hopes to be an inspiration to future generations. Rand arrives and offers an alternative. Rodel and his men go to the Borderlands to protect the Blight border, and Rand will make a truce with the Seanchan, with the Aiel and Saldaeans enforcing order in Arad Doman.

Tuon meets with Beslan as Daughter of the Nine Moons. He swears fealty to her. Tylee tells Tuon how her force was attacked by Trollocs outside Ebou Dar and her opinion that they need to ally with the Dragon Reborn and others. Tuon decides to meet with Rand, waiting until after that before becoming Empress, as once Empress, she will be of higher status than Rand. She believes that would make the meeting difficult. They meet and Rand demands a truce. She feels herself being forced to agree to it, but manages to refuse, largely because of her belief that he must kneel before her according to prophecy. He leaves and she steps up to take the mantle of Empress. She orders a raid on the White Tower.

Rand visits Moridin in a dream and learns he is Ishamael re-incarnated and that balefire is the only thing that can prevent the Dark One giving one of the Forsaken a new body. Rand meets with Harine and tells her the Sea Folk must do better with supplies. In exchange for a promise to answer any question of hers, he learns that Sea Folk men who can channel are either drowned or abandoned on a deserted island. He tells her the practice must stop. Rand orders the Aiel to pacify Arad Doman and to find members of the Council of Merchants so they can name a new king. He uses one of them to try and track Graendal, via one of the messengers she had used, but that messenger had already died. Nynaeve investigates the torturer involved and finds an apprentice, heavily under Compulsion, from whom they are able to find Graendal’s location. Rand Travels there and balefires the whole palace.

Cadsuane makes no progress with Semirhage, until she realizes that they are showing her too much respect and spanks her like a child. Shaidar Haran arrives to free Semirhage and with the help of Elza, from whom she removes Verin’s compulsion, She puts Rand in the male a'dam. Via his link to Moridin, Rand is able to access the True Power and uses balefire on both Semirhage and Elza. Cadsuane tries to tell him not to use balefire, but he tells her he understands it better than she does and that it is the only way to prevent the Forsaken from being re-incarnated into fresh bodies. He exiles her from his sight for her failure in not keeping the male a'dam safely hidden and says that he will kill her if he sees her face again. He Travels to Far Madding to meet with the Borderland leaders, but they refuse to meet outside the city, so he tells Hurin, their messenger, to tell them to either return to the Borderlands and do their duty, or to stay away from him.

Cadsuane has Tam brought to Rand and they talk. Tam asks him why he is fighting. Rand goes crazy when Tam mentions Cadsuane, attacking Tam and fleeing to Ebou Dar before he can kill him. There, he decides to use the Choedan Kal to destroy the Seanchan in the Tarasin Palace. However, he falls sick when he seizes saidin and collapses. The concern of the passersby disturbs him and he flees, skimming first, then Travelling to Dragonmount. With Lews Therin, he realizes that the chance to love is what makes it so important to save the world. The two merge and then begin to laugh, before destroying the Choedan Kal. Above Rand, the clouds part and and he is bathed in light.

In the Tower, Egwene encounters Meidani while serving Elaida and tells her to summon her. Egwene continues to meet with Aes Sedai, who grow more receptive to her. Bennae and Nagora both summon her to ask for advice, and both are impressed. She meets Suana, who tells her she would do well in Yellow. Egwene suggests to her that Sitters of different Ajahs should begin visibly taking dinner together. When Meidani does summon her, she is unable to say why she didn’t flee the Tower when Eliada learned she was a spy, but she is able to show Egwene, taking her to a meeting of Saerin, Doesine, Yukiri and Seaine. She refuses to back down and tells them that they need to start reaching out to other Ajahs to heal the rifts in the Tower and also that they must take the fourth oath off Meidani. Meidani agrees to continue spying on Elaida as that is what Egwene wants from her. Egwene points out that as it was a bare minimum of Sitters that deposed Siuan and that at least one was Black, it was not legally valid.

Katerine tells her that she is no longer to meet with Aes Sedai but is to just do chores. In the kitchen, Laras tries to help her escape, but she refuses. Elaida has her as a serving girl a second time, this time in front of a group of Sitters. Egwene stands up to her, bringing up all her failures, using arguments specifically designed to impress various different Sitters. When Elaida sees Doesine murmuring agreement, she loses control. Egwene calls her a coward and a tyrant and she attacks, calling Egwene a Darkfriend and ordering her imprisoned. Silviana comes before the Hall to stand up for Egwene, saying Elaida should be deposed. Elaida orders her imprisoned and Stilled, with Katerine to replace her as Mistress of Novices.

Verin visits Egwene in her cell and tells her she herself is Black Ajah and that she only got around their oaths by taking poison that will kill her within the hour. Verin has been researching the Black Ajah from the inside and has compiled a list of around two hundred members that she has identified. After Verin dies, Egwene has Meidani remove the body and meets Siuan in Tel'aran'rhiod, telling her Sheriam and Moria are Black Ajah and should be watched. She is pulled out of the dream by Nicola when the Seanchan attack. She finds the novices and teaches them to link, forming a circle with Nicola, before Travelling to the storeroom where the objects of the power are kept, to fetch the sa'angreal she knows, Vora's sa'angreal. She returns and, along with the novices, begins to fight the Seanchan. She encounters Adelorna who is feeling despondent at the poor showing of the Greens. She forces Adelorna to accept her leadership and together they engage the Seanchan.

Gawyn learns Egwene is a prisoner in the Tower and that the Aes Sedai are willing and able to relieve him of command at any time. He leaves them for the rebel camp. When they hear of the Seanchan attack, Siuan and Gawyn decide to rescue Egwene. She persuades Gareth to go with him. He insists that she bond him first. They fight their way in and Gareth kills a Seanchan assassin. She recalls Min’s vision that both would die if they didn’t stay close and Heals him of a minor wound he took that would otherwise have been fatal because of poison. They and Gawyn reach an exhausted Egwene and take her out of the Tower through a gateway. Elaida and around two dozen others are captured.

The next day, Egwene visits Saerin, to retrieve the Oath Rod, before holding a meeting of the Hall. She tells them that the Black Ajah is real and swears the Three Oaths, announcing that she is not a Darkfriend and that everyone else is to do the same. Sheriam embraces the Source, but Egwene shields her and tricks her into lying. Moria tries to flee and they apprehend her as well. Once the other Sitters have all been cleared, they go through the other Aes Sedai, starting with those in Verin’s list. All the Black Ajah are quickly executed.

In the Tower, the Ajah heads try to plan what to do to replace Elaida. The hall has been unable to make any progress, the divisions between the Ajahs still too strong for any to support a woman not of their own. Adelorna suggests Egwene and is immediately supported by Ferane, with the others soon agreeing. Once the decision has been made, a group of Sitters goes to summon Egwene to be raised Amyrlin. She is raised unanimously, with no second round of voting needed by the eleven remaining Sitters, there being no Red, and the Black Ajah Sitters having fled with around sixty others. She names Silviana as Keeper, as Silviana did her duty. She then goes to the rebels, forgiving them for rebelling and readmitting them to the White Tower.

My Thoughts:

I enjoyed this. This how the series should have been the whole time. While this was another monstrous book (the hardcover is over 800 and the ebook clocks in around 1100) I did not find it draggy, slow, ponderous or padded. Sanderson really makes an effort to push the story forward. It was fun and refreshing and I enjoyed reading a WoT book again.

I also felt like Sanderson did an excellent job of starting the characters down a path that would bring them from the wildly flung places Jordan has scattered them to. And I felt like he did the same thing for all the various shit pies that Jordan shoved down our throats. If I sound bitter, I am. Jordan could have gotten his readers to this place without wasting our time with at least 3 books that he made us wade through and wait for years for. I realize I am making a hash of this review as I really did enjoy the book but it is hard to sit back and realize what Jordan did to me, as a reader. While not nearly what GRR Martin has done to his readers, this was bad enough.

I guess I'm going to have to make a concerted effort to judge the next Wheel of Time book on its own instead of dragging in my baggage with Jordan. Sigh, sometimes reviewing books seems like it's more of a hassle than anything.

★★★★☆ ( )

“The end is near," Moridin said. "The Wheel has groaned its final rotation, the clock has lost its spring, the serpent heaves its final gasps.”

Wow.

At times, it's obvious [b:The Gathering Storm|1166599|The Gathering Storm (Wheel of Time, #12)|Robert Jordan|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1442815923s/1166599.jpg|1920889] was not written by Robert Jordan. Brandon Sanderson does quite a job (it helps that I've read all of his own works and enjoyed every one of them), but it is different at times. That being said, I don't think I've read another example of one author taking over another's work, let alone at such a scale, let alone doing as good a job as was done here.

The Gathering Storm hits hard, with a disastrous attempt at negotiation between the Dragon and the Seanchan, an attack on the White Tower itself, and Rand growing ever darker and harder, to the point of terrifying those few friends he has left. It's a bleak book, there's no doubt about it, with a real feeling that perhaps winning this war may not be any better than losing.

Two more of my favorite scenes lie in this book (although there are many just below): Verin's visit with Egwene and Veins of Gold. Just... wow. The first, all by itself, is a reason to re-read the entire series from the beginning. Jordan was a master of foreshadowing. The second... Well. The second takes the darkest the series has gotten and gives us a chance... just a glimmer of hope.

Well worth the read.
( )

Considering giving it 4 stars because..... something finally happens!! ( )

I am a huge fan of The Wheel of Time series. Being such, I had reservations going into this book, because of Jordan's death and its subsequent completion by a different author.

I've just finished it, and I must say, wow. I am absolutely blown away. When I started the book, I couldn't help but notice the rather inescapable difference between Jordan and Sanderson's writing styles. I loved Jordan's immensely descriptive style and the way he made me understand the characters in a way that most writers fail to do. Sanderson's style is much more direct, and at first I felt a little disconnected from my favorite characters and their enormously intricate world. However, it didn't take long for Sanderson to make me feel right at home; not long after beginning, I was completely captivated once again. I am so ridiculously pleased with the way this book turned out. I won't spoil anything here; just know that some major plot threads finally come together. You really just need to read it for yourself.

In short:
Bravo, Brandon. BRAVO, SIR. ( )

I was so sad to hear that Robert Jordan had died and was wondering if the series would ever finish. I was wondering how Brandon Sanderson would do and I was pleasantly surprised at how well he did and I'm glad that the series got finished and I was able to see what happened to the characters. ( )

Wow. I, of course, was worried about someone else taking over for Jordan and I had never read anything by Sanderson. I have to say that this may be my favorite of the WoT books. STUFF ACTUALLY HAPPENS! ( )

Truly amazing! This book has a complete different pace, which was much needed. Sanderson did a great job! Apart from the faster pacing it did not feel that much different from Jordan. I don't know how to describe this book other than to say it was intense, epic and also quite emotional. Can't wait to read the final two books!

Ratings:- ( )

SPOILER WARNING:
I had this book for about 12 months before reading it. Just enjoying the cover art, thinking about the possibilities, stretching out the consumption for as long as possible so as to minimise the wait for the big finale. Awesome read, after investing 15 years of my imagination into this series its great to finally get some pay off! I don't know if it's the change in writers or if the story is just finally coming to a head, but there's some big events here that keep those pages turning madly. The stand outs for me were the breaking and remaking of the White Tower, the rise of Egwene al'Vere-the quintessential country girl-into the heights of bureaucratic & political power, the awesome wielding of the One Power and the True Power, the confrontation between Rand al'Thor and Semihrage that sends him to the edge of madness and his existential crises afterward; coming to a head whilst wielding enough power to level the world in a heartbeat. Reminiscent of Albert Camus and the philosophical idea of the absurd, what a wonderful moment when Rand decides to live and discovers his motivation for doing so. Contemplating the line by Tam al'Thor that for most men its not about having a choice over 'what' it is you must do, but choosing 'why' you do it, that gives your life meaning. I loved the scene with Tam al'Thor despite the fact that it didn't go smoothly, I found it nostalgic, moving, and oddly compelling... the juxtaposition of the old and new, the Freudian moment as the son overpowers the father and becomes a man in his own right, now ready to face his responsibilities and make his peace with the world...
( )

A story worth reading

From the get go The Gathering Storm seemed to be one of the great books in the series... It did not dissapoint. This book brings back a lot of scenes from the earlier entries which is great as it allows you to remember how much have our young heroes grown.

We finally see a conclusion to many of the storylines that had been dragging for many books. And oh my how did these end! Spoilers below

...

Masema, Verin, the rebel Aes Sedai, Elaida, Garret & Siuan, Graendal (?)... So many loose ends tied.

...

Egwene's encounter against the Seanchan was the epic consummation of my official liking of this character whom I only started to really like in book 11. Her development in this book is enough for me to like her as a character now. Not only does she display maturity, patience, control... She's a total badass... I got goosebumps reading about her second night serving Elaida... And her quick thinking during the Seanchan raid!!! She rocked this book...

Rand Al'Thor... He got very big developments... His second encounter with Sehmirage brought him to the brink of destruction... We see a Rand overwhelmed by the weight of his duty... The end, while a bit on the cheesy end was beautifully written. The emotion, the stakes... It was a personal struggle that somehow felt as epic as his encounters with the Forsaken... He had the most difficult battle so far... The battle against his own soul... And love won. Beautiful.

This is one of my top 3 now... There with Shadow Rising and The Fires of Heaven. ( )