WOT 12 - The Gathering Storm - SPOILERS

[Nassau]

Ok, started a new thread to talk about it while other people are still re-reading the series or (OMG!) reading a different one! (Not looking at anybody in particular, nudge, nudge).

So first impressions: I liked it! I thought it had great pace and a good ending.

Verin: So NOT purple ajah! Didn't think she was black though (as such).

Egwene: You go girl!

Elaida: Haaaaaaaaa!

Rand: I really thought he was going to off Tam and then really go mad. Finally able to laugh again.

Will come back when I think of something else.

[FreeTheGuidoOne]

Oi you. Pity the poor folks waiting for paperback.

But, Verin? Ooh.

[Nassau]

I did put the word SPOILERS in the title so you shouldn't have read it if you didn't want to know what happened.

Get thee to your local library or borrow a copy from a nice, understanding friend.

[Igglybuff]

Helloooo! At last, can talk about it.

Verin- I knew she was something special but gasped out loud. Brilliant.
Loved Egwene in this. She was fab - esp during the raid.
Not sure about how Avienda and Mat were written - they are my fav characters so maybe that's why.
Balefire on the foresaken - there didn't seem tobe any consequences - will that come later??
I missed Loial...and Lan.

This book was much faster than the last few so really enjoyed it as so much happens.

[Nassau]

Oh I think when Aviendha comes back she'll trip Rand straight into the sack. (Far Snows anybody?)

I'm thinking that Greandal probably wasn't in her hide-out. Just a hunch.

That list of Black Ajah was interesting - some names on there that I didn't suspect (Sheriam being one - just thought she was getting beaten up for information by Halima).

Have to read bits of it again. Probably will wait until the Christmas break and then skim it again.

Only counted about 2 sniffs and maybe one 'arms folded under breasts' (maybe, not sure).

So will it be the next one or the following that Mat, Thom and Noal will get to the Tower of Gengei (sp)? They're in Caemlyn now so about halfway there.

[Igglybuff]

I thought that about Greandel. Seemed a bit too easy a death. Although maybe that's just the style of writing? Things did happen quickly in this book with little build up I thought

I'm thinking the next book will have lots on the moiraine rescue and hopefully more about Cadsuane as she's still an enigma to me.

[frakkinaround]

Verin - guessed that, ditto Sheriam.

Was annoyed about the way there was no Elayne. Also no Loial and no Lan as igglybuff said. Few threads that just seemed to be completely dropped which never used to happen [griping emoticon]

Don't really like the style of writing as much as I liked RJs - not enough tension and not enough of the good old sniffing/arm crossing/braid tugging/two rivers wool.

Like the ending though, good break point, fairly satisfying but still lots of things to tie up (obviously) so enough to keep you wanting the next one. Unfortunately, though, it's getting to that stage in the series where I'm ceasing to be suprised anymore and think 'yep, thought so, suspected as much, yep, saw that coming' or maybe that's the difference in style. The buildups seem a lot less subtle.

Didn't see the Elaida thing coming though, brilliant twist!

I think there's some good stuff coming - Mesaana in the White Tower, Moiraine and more on Cadsuane, who intrigues me too.

[Igglybuff]

Yes, Nynaeve just wasn't quite right was she! And too much use of italics in the wrong places...

I missed the subtlety too and "side" stories of birgitte/olver etc. But I just want to know what happens so can let it go for now.

[ObsidianBlackbirdMcNight]

I didn't like how Mat was written but Nynaeve was fine. Missed Elayne and Lan but I'm sure they'll turn up in the next books. Do you think Mesaana could be Laras? Actually no she couldn't, they would sense her ability (unless she can invert the weaves) but she wouldn't do all that manual labour. But then maybe she just bosses all the other kitchen staff. So - Mesaana = Laras?

Graendal blatantly escaped. She probably saw the messenger as a warning and scarpered. Balefire was part of Rand's madness I think, he was using more and more until he was about to balefire the whole of creation. Maybe it's tainted like the ways, or maybe it's just too powerful for one person to wield.

Very pleased with the way that Egwene handled herself in the white tower.

[Xavielli]

Loved it, but I too missed some of the side stories and really want to know how far along Elayne is in her pregnancy. I want to hear about babies dammit!!

[WoTmania]

I'm on page 481
I normally love mat but he's not the same and I'm finding the 'bloody ashes' really irritating. Its Blood and ashes' surely?

Otherwise loving it.

[Igglybuff]

WoTmania you are right. It's blood and ashes. I miss Mat!

Now I will have to re-read just to get the real Mat back again.

[Avendesora]

It was great wasnt it! I have just finished it and I am so relieved.

I wish some of it had been a little more drawn out, a little more tension. Poor Verin. Sheriam was disposed of far too quickly tho! A quick list of Black Sisters then were off to the next bit. I assume that it is fast paced because the Last Battle is fast approaching and therefore it needs to be, and on the whole i loved the fast pace and the marching to battle feel of the writing, but I would have liked a few more pauses for tension. Its a minor gripe tho, overall I loved it :O)

I do have one worry tho. When the colours showed Rand Perrin he said he was with Galad. Have we missed Perrin facing the Whitecloaks and Berlain meeting the love of her life? I hope we dont learn about it in the past tense as we did Sheriam's beheading.

I am glad they didnt try to fit the Tower of Ghenji in. There was plenty going on with he White Tower. Loved the White Tower, Egwene was so strong!

I wonder what Mazrim Taim has been up to and what our Red Sitters have been doing there? All the others are bonded, as far as I remember, to Logain's faction or Rand's loyal Ashamen. It is interesting that we are sure they are not Black as well.

Another slightly random thought - who else thinks Settel Anan is the dreamer that Egwene's ring belonged to? Was her name Corine Nedel? I wonder if Verin knew she was still alive and thats why she kept the notes back - bad manners to pass them to someone else if the writer is still alive. Maybe she can be healed?

Ah Verin. We knew she could lie but we hoped she wasnt Black. Poor Verin. Is it true the Dark One doesnt let them go even after death? That is what they said when Seriam was executed. Poor Verin and Tomas. I wonder what is in the letters she left?

[Avendesora]

Also what was the bit about Rand's sword? I seem to have missed that explanation.

[WoTmania]

I really felt for Verin. I always found her disconcerting.
The fast pace was odd too but It's already been split into 3 books cn you imaine if the build up and detail was the same as if RJ was still writing it - we'd be looking at 8 or 9 books.

I finished it last weekend and now feel bereft but will re-read soon

[Avendesora]

I thought the fast pace fit well with the fast approaching Final Battle, but I felt a bit sad that Verin would have got a couple of chapters if its had been revealed a few books earlier.

So can we presume that her mistake of 70 years ago was to back herself into a corner where it was die or become Black Ajah? If so what was Cadsuanne's mistake?

[WoTmania]

maybe she wasturned aginst her will? Orshye was looking into the BA and got in out of her depth?

[Avendesora]

Yes could be, will we ever find out do you think?

[WoTmania]

I hope so too but doubt we will as she's dead now. I want to find out about Cadsuane though. And when will Gawyne find out about Morgase still being alive? What will he do then?

[Avendesora]

We might find out - she had a satchel of letters and the letter to Mat and her journals. I wonder if thats how she got the scar on her arm?

[WoTmania]

oh of course. and maybe. only 10 and a half months til the next one

[Avendesora]

Is that all? I was expecting the usual few years!


I thought Mat was OK and he didnt jar on my nerves at all.

Fail really stepped it up a notch and what a useful way to tie up a loose end!

[Pogleswood]

Haven't quite finished,but although I'm enjoying it I'm finding it very patchy - Mat really doesn't feel right,particularly the first time we saw him.But I love all the Egwene/White Tower stuff.And Verin - she was one of my favorite characters
There is a lot still to be resolved,isn't there?

[WoTmania]

They are due at the same time next year and the year after I think

[Avendesora]

[TinselianAstra]

It's "bloody and ashes" or "blood and bloody ashes for extra emphasis

Faster pace is good, there were some books where it felt like nothing happened at all. I also noticed that we skip between threads much more than before, just a chapter or two with each person rather than a big chunk (and so not seeing other people for hundreds and hundreds of pages).

Verin was v exciting, it sounds like she thought she could play at being Black Ajah to get information/get ahead but then found she couldn't back out. I was sidsappointed by Sheriam, it didn't seem to have been particularly foreshadowed.

Obligatory bit of wild speculation: So the Seanchan prophecies say that Rand has to kneel before the crystal throne - who reckons that when he weilds Callandor with two woman Tuon will be one of them? I kno she can't actually channel herself yet but if she link into an a'dam then I think she could be brought into a circle.