Crikey, that’s a title and a half for a book.
The fact that The Gathering Storm is the 12th volume in a series might give you an idea that I think its worth a read. There are definitely problems with epic fantasy, as George RR Martin has found out, the longer a series gets, the more spread out the characters get and the harder it is to progress the story without hitting the 300,000+ word barrier per book.
And to be honest things were starting to drag in the last two or three volumes. This came to a head when Robert Jordan sadly contracted what turned out to be a very rare and terminal disease. But he did write extensive notes and partial chapters so the series could be finished.
So it’s with this in mind I picked up volume 12 a couple of weeks ago after finishing the absolutely excellent Best Served Cold by Joe Abercrombie. Chalk and cheese really, Abercrombie has written a thoroughly modern fantasy with dark humour and swearing, where Jordan/Sanderson have written classic high fantasy.
So far (over 500 pages in!) I am loving it. The story has really picked up pace and there have been a couple of real twists that have left me wondering where things are going.
Will post again on it once I have finished 🙂
Related posts:
Book 12 Wheel of Time: The Gathering Storm, Brandon Sanderson and Robert Jordan
Towers of Midnight, Book 13 of the Wheel of Time, Robert Jordan and Brandon Sanderson
Towers of Midnight, Book 13 of the Wheel of Time by Robert Jordan and brandon Sanderson
Towers of Midnight, Near Avendesora and Court of the Sun analysis , Robert Jordan & Brandon Sanderson.
