This is the second novel in the Brandon Sanderson era of the Wheel of Time, the thirteenth overall in the series, and the penultimate instalment! I have to admit that while the previous book, The Gathering Storm, felt like a really exciting new start that really got things moving again, Towers of Midnight (though an enjoyable read) was a little less exciting. It’s still good for sure, but by this point I’m used to the intriguing new Brandon Sanderson style and it felt a little more like a book that was lining things up for the finale (which isn’t strictly bad).
One thing that delighted me, and which those who have read my other reviews might be able to guess, is something that I feel like I’ve been waiting to happen for about four books. I don’t want to say what it is, because it’s a bit of a spoiler, but, gosh, it puts me in quite a happy state of mind as I look ahead to the finale. I think this is a development that is likely to please any fans who have come this far in the series.
For once, I think the Perrin storyline was probably the one that I enjoyed the most. I still find his relationship with Faile to be quite excruciating, but this book was about he and his people trying to make peace with the Children of the Light. It was a good bit of fantasy political drama and actually probably the book which has made the Children of Light more interesting than ever before. It felt like a really nice endpoint to tensions that have built for many books, and I have no doubt that it’ll pave the way for some even more interesting storylines in the book ahead.
I also quite enjoyed how Rand was written in this one. I grew to find the character kind of insufferable after about four of five books because of his arrogance and emotional detachment. This was addressed in a meaningful way in The Gathering Storm, particularly towards the end, and so I was looking forward to seeing how he was written here – and you know what? I think I’m starting to like him again. I’m glad that his character arc wasn’t just him becoming increasingly cold and inhumane.
So, as I say, it’s mostly lining things up for the finale and getting people to be where they need to be for The Final Battle. It’s not the most exciting book of the bunch, but it’s far from being one of the most boring too. It’s been a long journey and I am glad that this penultimate book has left me in a position where I am thinking “I look forward to seeing how it ends” rather than “I just want it to be over” and I was genuinely worried it might go that way a few books ago.
Rating: 8.2/10
