Here goes:

Like many many others I was a little apprehensive about this book coming out.  I’m a huge Robert Jordan fan and I like Brandon Sanderson quite a bit too, but was a little uneasy with how the styles would mix. I am glad to say that my fears were unfounded. Sanderson mentions at the start of the book how he isn’t going to try and imitate RJ, but rather tell the story of RJs characters in his own voice. He succeeds. Despite some quibbles this was an extremely satisfying volume of the Wheel of Time.

Click through for a fuller plot review that includes spoilers for The Gathering Storm

The book has 2 main storylines and a number of minor ones. Let’s tackle the main ones first.

Rand al’Thor dominates this book. Even though he is the Dragon Reborn and everything in the story comes back to him he hasnt had so much screen time since Lord of Chaos where we saw him starting down the road that reaches its conclusion here. It started with Aes Sedai trying to manipulate him in the aftermath of Moirraines death and reaches its culmination when Semhirage uses the Male A’dam to capture him. Rands “hardening” reaches such an insane pitch in this book that for large chunks of the book he is unlikeable. In earlier books when he would do something kind of nasty, his thoughts during his own POV’s would redeem him. This time his thoughts just make him scarier. There are 2 scenes in particular which bring this out for me, and it’s not a surprise that they both occur with Nynaeve. The first scene is when Nynaeve and Rand have a talk after she sniffs out the torturers apprentice who had been compelled by Graendal. He questions why everyone thinks he is stupid and doesn’t realize what he is turning into, he knows and has decided that’s the only way he is going to win, and he is willing to pay the price. The other scene is the way he kills Graendal. Brilliantly coldblooded. And there is no way Rand al’Thor does that, no matter what the provocation, before Semhirage tries to takes him prisoner.

The scene with Tam at the end had a different feel to me. There was a degree of desperation there, not just cold bloodedness. It was the alcoholic/drug addict hitting rock bottom. He has only two choices here, either completely give up on his humanity or bring it back, which he does in a wonderfully written final chapter.

The other major plotline was Egwene’s fight in the White Tower. She is such an awesome character. I have always like Egwene (except in the Path of Daggers, and it wasnt her I disliked so much as reading about the rest of the Rebel Aes Sedai). The way she takes Elaida apart, gets the sitters to listen to her, reunites the Tower and kicks all kinds of Seanchan ass, she is now the character I’d like to read most after Mat.

The minor storyline of Verin was super satisfying as well. Shes always been one of the best Aes Sedai characters and she comes through big time in this book as well. I am glad the hidden Ajah thing is over once and for all. That was a theory that was very tempting though it made no sense. The dedication of Verin is astounding. 70 years in the Black Ajah intent on Double crossing them at the end. That takes something. So not only is she this brilliantly distracted character, she is bad ass enough to take on the Back by herself.

Sheriam being Black and her quick execution was a lot less satisfying.

I thought Gawyn was still a moron, but at least now he is a slightly more curious moron.

The Perrin sections seemed solid but unspectacular.

Elaida I am 99% convinced now has been touched by Fain/Mashdar. Theres something similar in the way she is acting now and Mat was acting when he had the dagger.

Speaking of Fain… Where the hell is he? I think he was last seen in Winters Heart.

Cadsuane got a little annoying in this book, so did the Wise Ones.

No Sea Folk POV’s … Thank the light

The only minor quibble I had with the book was Mats character. I didn’t have a huge problem with it the way people complaining on tor.com and dragonmount.com did. But it was definitely off. The way I see it though the Mat chapters weren’t strictly necessary, but I would imagine that if he didn’t appear in the book the howls would be a lot more strident. And I think the quality of this book more than earns Brandon Sanderson the patience to see what he can do with Mat when he actually has something more substantial to do(Get to the Finns already!!!).

As much as I enjoyed this book I am not quite sure where I would rank it in the Wheel of Time. The Shadow Rising and Lord of Chaos were definitely superior. Path of Daggers and Crossroads of Twilight were definitely inferior. Woo hoo!! Reread!

Gawyns lack of intelligence (both in terms of dumbassery and information gathering)

Galad’s choice to be a Whitecloak

The chracters story arcs, and how they compare to each other.

Are they mirrors of each other?

Their relationships to themselves and other WOT characters.

P.S. I think Ive got the audio levels and stereo issues fixed. Please email us if there is still a problem.