The Gathering Storm Thread

[Marie 73]

I should post before it all leaves my mind!

 

Last warning, I am not using spoiler tags.

 

 

Stop looking, Brynefan!

 

I will start by saying I don't care what Kaitlin says (she's smoking crack!) Moiraine's name wasmentioned more than usual per the latest books in the series. Toward the end I thought her ears must be burning red in that Tower and I was a bit sick of it, to be honest. It is pretty obvious it is a layup for her dramatic return to the fold. Nynaeve suddenly missing Moiraine and recognizing her own prejudices against the Aes Sedai was just odd to me. Nynaeve=/=rational when it comes to Moiraine.

 

Anyway.

 

Chapter 22, oh my Jesus. I'm glad I hadn't read any spoilers about that chapter. I was so scared Cadsuane's pride would make her do something and Rand would just balefire her ass. It was a very chapter for me at the end. Good stuff.

 

Sheriam is such a disappointment. A weak, weepy, self-justifying, Darkfriend. I loved the way she tripped herself up, maybe because it involved red hair, but her attempts to talk like a bad ass just rang false. Especially when she started crying for her life anyway. Always crying.

 

I love Romanda.

 

I'm glad Morgase is finally revealed to Perrin even if I didn't see it happen. I am fine with that, I'm just glad it ended. Ditto for Egwene finally becoming Amyrlin.

 

Speaking of which, I loved loved her and Elaida's back-and-forth. It was funny and great. I hope they save Elaida, however, because I can't stand the thought of anyone being leashed. In fact, I really would like to see the Seanchan put in their place about that.

 

I'm glad Siuan/Bryne have finally become an official couple, but good lord, Siuan these days is not the Siuan I used to love. She is just...yeah. I also now believe Egwene is the better Amyrlin than Siuan was or ever could have been. Never thought I'd say that. :\

 

Also, Mat. Horrible writing. Mat does not make long "funny" anecdotes or write "dramas" for his coverup stories. It was so obvious BS was trying really, really, REALLY hard to make Mat "Mat" and it just failed. All of his chapters were just awkward to the extreme. I hope we get Thom's POV at least for some of Moiraine's rescue.

[Ekho 52]

Have to say I loved the book , although I do agree that Moiraine was mentioned ridiculously often.

 

I enjoyed finally getting to see the Ajah heads all sit down and admit they had messed up, and basically everything White Tower related.

I got a bit bored of Rand and his descent into madness, although I wouldn't blame the writing for that, just my total lack of interest in his character.

I do wish we could have seen Galad and Perrin meeting (or rather Galad and Morgase/ Galad and Berelain)

 

Also, I'm not sure if I'm 100% convinced Graendal is dead. Although I think thats more wishful thinking

 

 

Favourite part of the entire book:

 

Verin had looked very closely at Elaida, searching for proof she was black. But comments by black sisters led her to believe strongly that Elaida herself was not black. Just an unstable woman who was sometimes as frustrating to the black as she was to the rest of the tower

Edited October 30, 2009 by Ekho

[Olivia 26]

Chapter 22, oh my Jesus.

 

I hope they save Elaida, however, because I can't stand the thought of anyone being leashed. In fact, I really would like to see the Seanchan put in their place about that.

 

Also, Mat. It was so obvious BS was trying really, really, REALLY hard to make Mat "Mat" and it just failed. All of his chapters were just awkward to the extreme.

 

My TL;DR first thoughts on TGS:

 

I think overall Sanderson just isn't nearly as subtle as RJ was. Rand's madness and out of control-ness in this book just felt way too blunt to me. Especially true with Mat, like you already described well, Marie.

 

I did not like the capture of Sheriam. Not because I feel for her but because that red hair thing seemed way too obvious of a trip-up - you'd think even an incompetent Black sister would watch her tongue better. Still, that scene could not distract from the PURE AWESOME that was Verin's death. And I was SO glad the Seanchan attack on the Tower wasn't as bad as I thought it was going to be. Really cool moment for Egwene there. It's kind of bad for me to want a genocide, even for a fictional culture, but damn are those Seanchan hideous. I was hoping with Tuon that that whole "sul'dam can channel too" revelation that has been around since book TWO would finally come to a head and crush their culture.

 

Oh btw.. FORTUONA! When I read her name, "O Fortuna" starting playing in my head at full volume.

 

I felt a little bit of a father/son theme in this book. Gawyn thinking of Taringail (who I don't think has ever shown up even in a flashback before, just in references), Masema thinking of his father as he died, Rand and Tam's scene. I wonder if that was RJ or Sanderson?

 

I too hope for Graendal's survival, if only because it was a little anticlimactic to have her die kind of off-screen like that, focusing instead on Rand's fading morals than the actual death of a really cool char. Besides, I want more details of Aran'gar/Graendal! I wanted Halima scenes in this book. But I guess lack of Halima balances lack of Elayne. Light.

Also, this may seem trivial, but yay finally a gay man in WoT!

Ch 22 was definitely a BOOMWTFWASTHAT chapter, I agree. Did Rand really use the TP? And shortly before Ch 22... oh my... I actually literally burst out laughing when Cadsuane did that to Semi! It was like Sanderson had read Laura's fanfic! But he didn't pull it off as convincingly as our Laura did - I can't believe the most evil, skilled torturer to ever live would be reduced to eating off the floor just from one spanking in front of a few people.

 

In the end, Sanderson is certainly a good writer, he just isn't RJ. I did like this book very much though. I need to re-read it again for details. I admit I kinda skimmed through it the first time just to get a feel for the whole book rather than pay close attention =X

Edited October 30, 2009 by Olivia

[Kaitlin 22]

I didn't like the book.

 

There were parts I liked.

 

First of all... Roaches! a;sdlkfjas;lfja Romanda was pretty cool about it considering how much she seemed to hate bugs and I would be running my hands through my hair too. Sheriam was a little wimp standing up on the chair. She was a wimp later on too. *folds arms*

 

Romanda, Egg, Verin, and Thom were my favorites in this one. Thom didn't seem as badly written as Mat and hopefully he'll be ok in the next one. I hope Moiraine will be too.

 

The Verin part was the only part of the book I wholly enjoyed. I like that Cadsuane was right about needing to treat Semi like she was nothing special but there are 194,059,009 spankings in the series and frankly it has gotten mighty old. I don't buy that it would have happened just after *one* time either. I was so relieved Cadsuane lived though and still stuck around trying to get stuff done after Rand was a jerkface to her.

 

I didn't mind Bryne in this. What was the deal with Egg chastising Siuan for rescuing her and then letting Bryne off the hook completely? If she just did it to chastise Siuan further by embarrassing her then I think it was over the top. After all, they found Egwene alone and passed out in a hallway. Though they countermanded her orders in the first place by going in to get her it was reasonable to take her out of the Tower when finding her in that condition.

 

The part with Rand at the end had me rolling my eyes, and I don't love Tuon as much as I thought I did. I'd been under the impression that she was starting to realize the truth about collaring women when she spent time with Mat. Obviously not!

 

I wanted there to be more Nyn.

 

The Disco Rand Fiery Lump of Soldier bit had me laughing.

Edited October 31, 2009 by Kaitlin

[Marie 73]

The part with the bugs...yech. I bonded with Romanda and her paranoia over "is that a cricket?!" But when roaches popped out oh jesus lord help me I do not like cockroaches not even fictional ones. I was a little confused over why it was so hard for them to kill them, or why they were killing so few. I would have been making the biggest block of Air and slamming down, not just the ones nearest me. Actually, no, I would have gotten out of there a hell of a lot sooner.

 

I wanted Rand to kill Min. I know that is sick, but I just have a hard time accepting that fourway of theirs is going to be all happy. Which is why I was glad to see awkwardness between Avi and Min.

 

Egwene does seem to like to remind Siuan of her place a lot. I can see the point to an extent but it just seems overly done sometimes.

 

I still can't get over the horrible Mat chapters. Saidared!? Really?!

 

OH! AND HOW COULD I FORGET! If I have to read one more time about someone gritting their teeth I swear to Olivia's grandmother I will hurt somebody!

[Brynefan 2]

Stop looking, Brynefan!

 

I've got the book now I skipped chapters though, because I couldn't wait for the White Tower stuff. I'll attempt a re-read of the series before the next book to get a better grip on what has happened o.O

 

Bryne suddenly got a lot sexier through Sanderson. With RJ I never knew what the sparse descriptions truly meant so I was always scared I would be confronted with an overweight, greybearded oldie in the end (I am quite certain that would be the case with RJ actually). He makes sense now too, but Siuan got another layer of not making sense at all. But damn, they got cute, and no more of that strange abusive stuff that made no sense. So... the content got a bit scrambled but I love the new package.

 

What was the deal with Egg chastising Siuan for rescuing her and then letting Bryne off the hook completely? If she just did it to chastise Siuan further by embarrassing her then I think it was over the top. After all, they found Egwene alone and passed out in a hallway. Though they countermanded her orders in the first place by going in to get her it was reasonable to take her out of the Tower when finding her in that condition.

 

Egg was a bit like in the middle of a really good dream and Siuan "woke her up" and ruined the fun, so she must have some sort of petty revenge It's odd that she didn't hold her own general more responsible for his own actions. "Siuan made him do it." Well, how could he let Siuan make him do it then? The rescue left me with a Star Wars feeling. I can't fully explain why though.

Edited October 31, 2009 by Brynefan

[Tosh 8]

I shouldn't be in here. O.O

[Olivia 26]

If I have to read one more time about someone gritting their teeth I swear to Olivia's grandmother I will hurt somebody!

My grandmother?

 

For me, it was when characters would start a sentence with "Look,..."

[Marie 73]

Bryne suddenly got a lot sexier through Sanderson. With RJ I never knew what the sparse descriptions truly meant so I was always scared I would be confronted with an overweight, greybearded oldie in the end (I am quite certain that would be the case with RJ actually). He makes sense now too, but Siuan got another layer of not making sense at all. But damn, they got cute, and no more of that strange abusive stuff that made no sense. So... the content got a bit scrambled but I love the new package.

When I read about Sexy Bryne I thought of you.

 

 

That sounds a little awkward.

 

I shouldn't be in here. O.O

 

No you shouldn't!

 

Also, Mat must be dense. How hard is it to piece together "My Dearest Thom" "hold me in the same affection as you seem to" "I want to save Moiraine!" and realize Thom might have a crush at the very least?

 

And Tuon's new name has to be one of the most awkward and fugly names in WoT. Every time I read it I was like "are you serious?"

 

I still can't get over Nynaeve missing Moiraine.

[Cerendrallion 32]

I love Nynaeve missing Moiraine! I'm hoping for a hugging moment when they eventually meet again.

[jan 14]

Nynaeve missed Moiraine?! When oh when am I going to see the book!

[AshSnow 0]

Going to buy it after class tmr! If my brain is still functioning to remember after the Physics mid-term...

 

Edit: I have read up to chapter one...*need sleep before class in 5 hours*, no complaints so far.

Edited November 3, 2009 by AshSnow

[Asmodean82 0]

Graendal's dead????? This makes me sad. She had become my new favorite Forsaken. Jordan spent Soooo much time on her. I will read no more spoilers, soon my copy will come and I shall enjoy enjoy enjoy! But seriously.... Graendal dies???? What the hell?

[AshSnow 0]

I was just reading chapter 22, where Lews Therrin is actually talking to/answering back to Rand's question's. They are talking about the Bore , and he says why the sealing failed and was so weak. Because they had to touch the Dark One himself with Saidin in order to get it to work.

 

Early Cadsuane was saying how she thinks Callandor must have some other use. I'm thinking some how this sword will be used in sealing the Dark One. Though I have no clue how.

 

And I just read chapter 23...wow...that was...stunning.

 

And you guys are right...the Mat chapter...that was just bad. I have always enjoyed Mat chapters THE most. That one...it just wasn't the same. The rest of the book is good enough though. I like it =]. I just hope Mat gets better

 

One thing I noticed about the book...either the language or how it went about certain common things was...the language/interaction's seemed more...modern. Maybe that's just me though. Like phrases we hear now days that I don't recall hearing before in WoT, though I forgot what phrase it was.

Edited November 6, 2009 by AshSnow

[Ekho 52]

To be honest I didn't mind the Mat chapters, I thought they were still funny, its just a different kind of humour from what everyones used to

 

One thing I did notice that puzzled me was in chapter 31 Cadsuane made a sarcastic comment to the innkeeper that she hadn't noticed the aiel in the city. I'm wandering does the oath road allow for sarcasm or is still a lie? And in that case is it simply a mistake Sanderson made or is Caddy not sworn to the three oaths