[Eleyan Sedai]

I am, like you, an insatiable reader of Robert Jordan’s “The Wheel of Time.” Around one hundred pages into “The Eye of the World” I was pulled into one of the most epic stories I have ever had the pleasure to read. In reading it, I experienced both an incredibly personal engagement with the story and a driving need to talk to others who also enjoyed these pages. I’m a fan, to put it lightly.

We all have in common the journey of being told a most marvelous story by a marvelous man. We’ve been on this road together. Understandably, all are curious as to how this story will be continued and concluded.

I have had the privilege of reading “The Gathering Storm.” I will go into more detail further on, but if you read no further, read this:

THIS IS ONE OF THE BEST BOOKS IN THE SERIES.

It is one of my top three favorites; and I am not the only one who feels this way.

Brandon Sanderson's voice seemed most obvious to me in the prologue, though this may be because I heard the tape where Robert Jordan describes the prologue in his own words. I'm sure it colored it for me. However, by the end of Chapter 3, I was completely lost in the story. I no longer heard one voice or another. I heard the characters. The characters came across consistently, honestly, and believably. I am frankly amazed at how smoothly this transition happened. Sanderson is clearly not only an exceptional writer, he is a dedicated fan who has taken the time to learn these characters and this world as much as any of us could hope for. And the journey we go on is exhilarating.

Yes, our narrator has changed. Sanderson’s writing is more focused on plot, and his style seems to put more weight on making things happen rather than world building. As we are in the concluding books in our story, this is especially welcome to the reader. Quite simply? Things happen. They happen fast. This book concludes things that have been plaguing me from the very beginning. The story moves forward in a fashion that satisfies and rewards invested readers. Our narrator has changed, and so the pace in which we hear the story has changed. But he serves this final part of the story exceedingly well and the characters speak true.

I dropped my jaw, I cheered aloud, I got up and danced, and I had the HARDEST time not telling my husband what I'd just learned because I was so excited. I’m being quite literal; I did all of these things.

When I was first introduced to this series, I was overtaken by it. Reading "The Gathering Storm" took me right back to my enthusiasm level of ten years ago. This book made me desperately excited about the series again. I felt compelled to talk about it again.

The story moved quickly. The information I read was full, rich and dense. It became obvious very quickly that extending the ending over three books is the right decision. You will find no filler here. To wrap up all the loose ends that need to be wrapped, and to do it right, will take many more pages. The story will be as long as it needs to be, and I am glad it was not cut down in order to finish it in only one final installment.

In this book, we see the real beginning of the end. It may not be the beginning, but it is a beginning. You will have so much to talk about as you read this book. You will be surprised, puzzled, satisfied and tantalized. Theory folk are going to have the best time they've had since book five.

We’re in good hands.

I loved it.
And I can't wait to discuss it with you!!


*************
We'll be posting this on the main site once we get it up.

[Arien Nalaam]

O M G, I so waited for someone to tell me the book moves at the correct pace. ;]] I love Sanderson's work, and I was very excited about how he'll work the plot.;]

Your review pleases me, Mother.;]]

I was jumping up and down on the sofa just now when I read it.
Literally.;]]

[Anya Valerin]

I can't wait for Book 12 myself.

Great review mother. Brandon Sanderson is a great writer and the perfect choice to finish this story.

[ThinkerT]

"Sanderson’s writing is more focused on plot, and his style seems to put more weight on making things happen rather than world building."

THIS is the most welcome thing in the entire review for me (well, other than it being one of the best books in the series).

[Ehlana Taravin]

I've been counting days ! thanks mother for that review. I was (am) very exited bu I was also a bit worried. now I'm just overly exited

[Marivea al'Corriyi]

yay!!!! Now I can't wait even more for it to come out!

[Bryce al'Mara]

Awesome. I cant wait to read it and you made me even more eager. Im putting my faith in Brandon.

[BrotherOfWolfs]

I know that i will just love this book just from the two chapters that i have read. Mother i thank you the the review.

[Aanallein]

thank you

[Jodea Kegan]

can't wait!!!

[Satara al'Caelahn]

Thank you SO much, Mother. I, like many others, have been excited but also slightly worried over the outcome of this book. I was asking myself, "How is this going to work? Is it going to 'flow' okay? How is Sanderson's writing going to be different?"

This review has dispelled any apprehensive feelings I may have had towards the release of TGS. Now, I am only extremely excited.

I live for moments that make you get up and scream at a character, cheer them on, cry for them, or laugh with them. You have given me the certainty that The Gathering Storm will go beyond my expectations, and I can't thank you enough.

[Taylor Sedai]

gahhhh!!!

I am bouncing and the book isn't even out yet. Mother, you made me even more excited!!

[Narysse a'Jahar]

I am getting really excited about this book. This review just gets me more excited. October 27th can't come soon enough!

I can't wait!

[Gedhan Audax]

The Mother certainly knows how to wind her crew up.

I've had the book on order since June and patience is starting to wear thin.
I want it Yesterday!

I'd roll round kicking and screaming, but it might give my granddaughter ideas.

[Rhaemyn Dezelyen]

Mother, Thanks for the review! I'm so much more excited now! I'm in Book 9 of my re-read, now I for sure gotta finish my re-read before the TGS is out

[Vyrance]

Good to hear

[Zimone Zarasri]

Bah, now I want to read the book noooow! But that's a good thing, thank you for the great review!

[Hilwa Katir]

LOVE IT...

one more week to go!!

[Mhor Sedai]

[Malein Basolaine]

Thank you for the review Mother! I agree that Brandon did a great job, better than I think anyone BUT RJ could have done. outside of the book itself Brandon is doing such an incredible job with the fans. It feels like everyday I'm finding new stuff that he's doing to help the fans be involved and really treating us like this is our story, we're not just dollar bills to him.

[Bar Nabi]

great stimulant, that! i loved the mistborn series. are you sad that you have to wait for 13?

[Malein Basolaine]

believe me, the second I finished the book I was all happy, thinking about how great the book was. and how i wanted to keep reading and then it hit me....I now have to wait yet another year to read more!!!!!!

[Eleyan Sedai]

I am amazed at how diligent Brandon happens to be.
I honestly think we're going to get, on average, a book a year, at this pace.

All of this while writing his own stories.

Hey, maybe it will slow down. If I does, I won't be suprised or disheartened. He is writing all of the time. I don't know how he does it.

I think we're in for a hell of a ride for the next 3 years.

[Alondrian]

Well if the books keep up the pace of TGS then it will indeed be quite a storm. This book was fast paced and just kept you going. I think he stuck with the characters just long enough to get us really into them and hooked then switched to another, driving us to keep reading, eager to find out what was going to happen next. BRAVO BRANDON!

[Tyvalius]

Sanderson said in his forward we shouldnt have to anticipate a long duration of time between the installments of the last 3. He also mentioned he is about 3/4 finished with the 2 of 3 installment. Factor in time to finish time to edit time to proof and the obvious time to make us wait with baited anticipation we should see it with in a year if not a little longer. I am more then willing to wait longer since we as RJ fans have a greater amount of patience then the average reader. He certainly has reaffirmed my love for the series and as I see from the Amyrlin the general consensus is the same with those members here.

Sad thing is this is one of those epic stories that is endeared by so many people. Such diverse a people we are, that when it is through we will all have a void that will be hard to fill. Whether the end comes and there is another breaking or the end comes and it ushers in a AGE akin to the Age of Legends we will never know how things progress as per the wisdom and amazing imagination of Master Jordon a picture only he could paint properly. I mean how DO you fill that void. I tried with reading George RR Martin after RJ passed, and even him being as good a author as most out there today can not fill the hole left when it is through.

Tyvalius