The Gathering Storm - Wheel of Time Book 12 Official Discussion NO SPOILERS

[Daddy Darth]

I was reading a chapter on Matt last night and things were a little hairy. Took me a while to settle and get to sleep - serious trouble putting the book down. I am about half way through now. What a good good read.

[molybdenum]

Figured I'd give my mid-point review as well.

There's some exciting stuff in this book. I'd say plotwise and structurewise, it may be the best book in the series, certainly the best since book 6. It's unfortunate that it couldn't be written by RJ and keep that same Wheel of Time feel to it.

I think Sanderson has nailed almost every character. Rand and Egwene have been done spectacularly so far. Mat seemed a little off at the beginning, but he's getting better as we go.

The one thing I'd like to be rid of that Sanderson does in pretty well all his books, and he's kept it through here, is the way some of his characters seem to question everything they ever believed. The second chapter with Egwene is just annoying, and felt completely Sanderson rather than Jordan. The little we've seen of Perrin also seems to have this problem, as does Aviendha, to a much lesser extent. The other slight annoyance is that every single character seems to want to burn everything they see. There's no way Jordan used "Burn ___" as much, and I don't think he ever used "Burn it".

Minor grievances though, that are inevitable with an author switch. Otherwise, the job done has been spectacular, and the plot is moving better than it has in a long, long while.

[Bond]

The second half is better than the first and yes there was a pretty hairy scene in the first that is almost matched in the second. "Flaming" and "light" seemed to be Jordan's preferred exclamations. I noticed the introspection too and the weak rendering of Elaida. I always got the feeling Elaida was one of Jordan's favorite characters for some reason. Sanderson didn't treat Elaida and Alviarin with as much attention as I would have expected Jordan to. In a way there is an upside to this switch from Jordan's subtle hinting and signaling to Sanderson's more intimate reflection. It's like after Jordan has been teasing us throughout we're getting Sanderson to finally spell it all out now at the end.

[molybdenum]

I have some comments to make about Elaida to respond to that, Bond, but I'll make them in the Spoiler section once I'm done the book.

And the book is certainly becoming better written as I'm going along. I don't really even notice the differences with Mat's character anymore. I'm hoping it was just that one chapter. To be honest, Mat would be incredibly difficult to portray. I'd have no idea how I'd go about doing it.

[Rob B]

Just a little real-life anecdote and I thought this might be the best thread...

I bowl on Thursday nights and I noticed a gentleman from one of the other leagues with Winter's Heart in front of him so I struck up a conversation...he didn't even know The Gathering Storm was out yet and said "Jordan's estate hired a writer to take over the series....the book should be coming out in a week or two..."

I, of course, replied the book is already out, I have it, and it hit #1 on the NY Times bestseller list and that Sanderson is a terrific writer.

[the mighty pen]

Great book. For any who are unsure whether or not to read it, DO IT.