The Gathering Storm: Book Twelve of the Wheel of Time

Though it took a little time to adjust to Sandersons writing style, the feel of Jordan's characters is the same. Sanderson definitely did justice to Robert Jordan's Saga. I am anxiously awaiting the next book!

Having first picked up The Eye of the World over 18 years ago, it is nice to see that the series is finally coming to an end. Brandon Sanderson does a good job of picking up where Robert Jordan left off though it is clear from the first page of the prologue that the writing style has changed considerably. And when the usual characters make their first appearances, you can spot the differences in their behaviours and in their speech. For me, this made getting into the story just a little more challenging. With various threads in the story coming to a conclusion (about time for some of them!) and with no new storylines introduced (thank goodness!) this novel is an enjoyable read.

As the Wheel of Time moves into it's final trilogy, we can start to feel the pace of the books improving. For so long, this series was dominated by long books that moved at such a slow pace that characters finished a book at about the same place they had started. Many times I was left wondering if I should even continue to read this series, but persisted for reasons I cannot explain. I know the series has been popular with many people throughout its epic story, but cannot for the life of me figure out how all these people were able to maintain a passion for an author that seemed more interested in defining the amount of lace on a shirt or the thread count of a tapestry than actually moving the plot along.

Knife of Dreams (Book 11) had finally started to close off some storylines and The Gathering Storm continues on along this vein. Matt's conversations in his short portion of the book had me laughing out loud, somthing that has rarely happened while reading this series. I am excited to read the last two books in this series when they finally arrive on shelves in the years to come.

Can I recommend this book to those following the series? Yes, without question as the end to this tale is in site.
Can I recommend this series to someone who has not yet begun? No. There are simply too many needless details to slog through too fully enjoy the tale that is buried underneath.

Brandon Sanderson has done an admirable job in taking up the reins of Robert Jordan's Wheel of Time series. I can't imagine the pressure he must be under to complete these works that have been going on for 20 years. He shows an obvious love of the series and its characters and manages to emulate Jordan's writing style with his own flourishes added.

In fact, this is the first book in the series since book 7 or so where it really feels like things are *happening*. The last few books have meandered along with main characters rarely moving anywhere or doing anything. Finally, things are coming together for the Last Battle. (Considering that Jordan had only planned on doing one more book, I can't imagine how he was going to fit it all in, unless the book was 3000 pages long.)

Kudos to Sanderson for taking on this task, I look forward to the next two books and finally getting closure on this excellent series.

I was also skeptical of a new author taking on this mammoth story. After the first couple pages though yopu are back in the "Pattern" and the "Wheel" is definitely spinning!
Lots of action and resolutions in this one. Some great moments as you would expect. Kudos to Robert Jordan for taking the time to hand pick Brandon Sanderson to continue this saga for us.
You will notice a slightly different writing style, but not in a distracting way. You will be pleasantly surprised. Its a kin to Jordan's earlier flavor to the series.

I was skeptical at first when I heard Brandan S was going to write the book. I couldn't believe that anyone thought they could top what Robert Jordan had created for the last two decades. But as I went on to Brandan's website and saw that he was probably one of the greater Robert Jordan fans and that he wouldn't force the book into his way of writing. it would be silly just to say I was "relieved" it was more closer to "OMG I'm so flipping happy hes going to write it more in Jordan + Brandan writing style"

From the moment I turned to the prologue I was captured. Once again after a 5 year hiatus I was back in the world that I had left behind in Knife of Dreams.

I couldn't tell what was Brandan and what was Jordan. Although I found that a fresh writer was able to keep us away from the dragging scenes and in that I was quite grateful.

I ended up failing a test, staying up for almost 30 hours and never put the book down. It went with me at all times. At work during break I read. At school I read. At home I read. Forget the phone, forget TV, forget my stomach forget it all.

I had one goal.

And that was this book.

Brandan created a world where it felt like we never left. His style of writing is so unique yet so close to Robert Jordan that he brought us home.

I did find and agree with other critics who spotted on the small fact that Brandan saw Mat in a different life a tad annoying but it was so small I barely noticed.

All I know is I'm happy Rand is once again smiling and that I'll be buying the book as soon as it comes onto this website.

the gathering storm is so true to the series; the characters continue to be who they were and it was just such a relief to feel yes, the story will reach its ending! brandon sanderson has done an admirable job. so many of the previous volumes were tedious and drawn out that i despaired that the story was lost, buried in descriptions of trees and valleys with no action or progression. here, we were given both! Great job!

love how things are going so far half way through the book and already worried about how long its going to take till the next 2 books are ready...sure hope there not a year apart :(

The last few books were quite tired and frankly not all a good read. Sanderson does an amazing job, make it easy to read. The story flows and Sanderson is a better Jordan. I was not going to buy any WoT books but when I heard that Sanderson was going to finish the series I was quite exicited. His own books are excellent and he did great work here.

I'll be honest. I didn't really care for book 11. I didn't like book 10. With a new author, I had no idea what to expect here.

It's not seamless, you can tell that it's not Robert Jordan writing. But it doesn't matter. This is a great book and is right up there with the stronger ones in the first half of the series.

You can tell that Brandon is heading for a conclusion, there's very few wasted words here. Although in a way I'll be unhappy to see it end, I'm glad that it's going to get there under such capable hands.

Bottom line: If you're a fan of the series, buy this now. You won't be disappointed.

In many ways this feels like any other Wheel of Time book, thanks to Robert Jordan's detailed plans and Brandon Sanderson's love of the series. I noticed some different word choices, and found more humour in Mat's scenes than I've found before. "Try the pies" is likely to become a running joke in my house.

The plot threads wove together well, some coming to at least short-term resolution and others keeping us waiting for the next books. I was surprised and satisfied by the return of Verin Sedai.

Buy it now, don't wait for the paperback (and I prefer the paperbacks).

After hearing that Robert Jordan had passed away in 2007, I never thought I would get the chance to read anymore of his books in the Wheel of Time. This is a well written book, and look forward to the 2 remaining books to come

there are no words that can do justice to what brandon has accomplished in continuing robert jordan's vision. buy the book, experience the tale that even death could not stop. share in the final days before the end of one age and the start of a new one