The Gathering Storm

20 May 2023

🌩️ The Gathering Storm 9 April 2023

🚨 SPOILER ALERT 🚨

This is the 12th book in the Wheel of Time and following the same trend of Knife of DreamsKnife of Dreams
🗡️ Knife of Dreams
18 March 2023

I am continuing reading the Wheel of Time Series by Robert Jordan. This was the 11th book in the series and a bit more action-packed than Crossroads of Twilight]...
, there was more action and progression of story than some of the earlier books. Several big story arcs concluded with the major one being Rand's redemption from his descent into madness and isolation. Early on, while contemplating the Last Battle that he is preparing for and the actions he has felt obligated to take in order to remain strong, he asks himself "And what is the goal? that voice seemed to say. Is it to survive, or is it to thrive?". A few pages later, following Semirhage's attack where Rand nearly kills Min, he painfully hardens himself to be like cuendillar.

At the end of the Gathering Storm, with major cathartic vibes, Rand sits atop Dragonmount where he is wrestling with himself after nearly killing his father and then nearly destroying Ebou Dar with balefire. He comes to the realisation that "each time we live, we get to love again" and by that realisation, he also recognises that even though he will fulfil the Prophecies of the Dragon, he is not necessarily destined to repeat the same mistakes as Lews Therin. He transcends his single-minded hardness and laughs for the first time in about six books. The gradual hardening of Rand caused me much frustration considering the conflict, fear, and tragedy that followed his darkening aura. However, Rand's arc of transcendence was a reminder to me to find compassion and love even in the face of the most difficult challenges. Easier said than done of course!

The second major story arc to conclude was Egwene's ascent to Amyrlin seat and the repair of the White Tower. Egwene spends the majority of the book still as a novice in the White Tower while her rebel forces remain camped outside Tar Valon. She embraces punishment and sets herself the purpose of reforging the White Tower. Her efforts are often delayed or hampered by Elaida's irrational behaviour but Egwene begins to gain traction with many of the sisters within the Tower. This crescendos in a very satisfying roast of Elaida in Chapter 16 where Egwene picks apart her poor leadership in front of several sitters of various Ajahs. This gets Egwene locked up in a cell but provides her with respect from many of the sisters in the White Tower.

After several other progressions, the Seanchan attack the White Tower near the end of the Gathering Storm to raid, capture, and kill Aes Sedai. Egwene defends the Tower with the help of many novices and sisters while Elaida is captured. With some complicated shenanigans, Gawyn, Siun, and Gareth Bryne come to Egwene's (unwanted) rescue almost destroying her hard work of rebuilding the Tower from the inside. Fortunately, after Elaida's capture, the Aes Sedai leaders in the Tower (many of whom are not actually sitters) choose to nominate Egwene as the new Amyrlin. Egwene returns to the Tower and gives a stellar speech urging that the Tower be reforged anew.

One of the most shocking revelations in the Gathering Storm is that Verin Sedai is of the Black Ajah. She entered into the Black to understand and gain knowledge to be used against the Black Ajah when the time was right. She appears before Egwene after having poisoned herself to cleverly loop around revealing nothing until the hour of her death. She provides Egwene with sufficient information to dismantle a large portion of the Black Ajah in the rebel camp and in the White Tower before the end of the book. This includes beheading her own rebel Keeper - Sheriam. Frustratingly for Egwene, Mesaana and Alviarin are yet to be caught and Mesaana is believed to remain within the Tower.

My favourite quote from the Gathering Storm was from Egwene in a moment of solitude and frustration after her rescue: "Life was a tempest, whether you were a milkmaid or a queen. The queens were simply better at projecting control in the middle of that storm."