I can't say I really noticed much difference between Jordan's and Sanderson's writing. Although there definitely were some things. Like some characters, especially Mat, seemed to use different expressions and maybe more modern language. Otherwise they were their old selves, though.
In the foreword, Sanderson says that he by no means tries to impersonate Jordan, but in my opinion, the book is very faithful to the style of the series. The pace is faster, though, and the overall structure felt tighter. And many loose ends get tied up. But all that could be just because the story is about to end.
The book focuses on Egwene al'Vere in the White Tower, and Rand al'Thor, who's still working to unite the world for common cause. Before he can continue, trouble is caused by Semirhage, one of the Forsaken, who in the previous book blasted Rand's hand off and is now being interrogated by Cadsuane and other the Aes Sedai who are with Rand.
The interrogation doesn't go well, however, as Rand has disallowed torture and they are finding it very hard to break the Forsaken with other means. Just when Cadsuane comes up with a solution, Semirhage is freed by the "uber" Myrddraal (I think) and given a male Domination Band, similar to those the Seanchan use to enslave women capable of channeling.
Semirhage's attack completely surprises Rand, of course, and the collar is locked around his neck. The Forsaken then uses it to control Rand and makes him to strangle Min, who happened to be with him since they were sort of sleeping. Rand is furious, but no matter how hard he tries, he cannot access the Source without the Semirhage's will. One doesn't simply do it.
And so he somehow reaches for True Power, which -- instead of coming from the True Source like One Power does -- is granted by the Dark One himself. Before this, the only other person we have seen to use the True Power, has been Moridin, the current leader of the Chosen (or Forsaken).
It remains unclear why Rand is granted access to it, but with it he's able to break the band off his neck (before Min is killed) and proceed to burn Semirhage and Elza -- a Black Sister, who was helping the Forsaken -- off the Pattern with balefire. And from that, even the Dark One cannot save them.
And if Rand was hard as stone before, now he is cuendillar; completely devoid of emotion -- although, he's still able to get angry. But he now completely resists any attempt to be controlled, "to be put back in the box", and no price is too much to pay any longer, as long as he and the world get to Tarmon Gai'don, the Last Battle.
He sets off to get Arad Doman, the land north of the now Seanchan controlled Tarabon, back in order. His attempt goes in vain, however, as Graendal -- another Forsaken -- has successfully erased all hope of getting proper leadership re-established. Rand manages to find Graendal, though, thanks to Nynaeve's help.
Rand doesn't want to go storming through the Forsaken's palace as she would just escape. Instead, using the Choedan Kal, he draws an immense amount of the One Power and then destroys the whole building and everyone inside it with balefire from a distance. He sent some random guy to visit the palace beforehand to get Compulsed by Graendal and when the weaves are gone from the poor sod's head afterwards, Rand judges Graendal dead.
However, I already read the prologue of the next novel, where it is revealed that Graendal actually escaped and the Compulsion wasn't made by her. The attack still eliminated one Forsaken, as Aran'gar happened to be in the palace. Thus the foolish and dangerous use of balefire wasn't a complete waste. I fear Graendal's revenge will be very sudden and painful, though, as no one will expect it now.
Rand also tries to ally with the Seanchan but his attempt to convince Tuon, the Daughter of the Nine Moons, with his ta'veren influence fails when she notices the flickering black halo that now surrounds Rand from his one time use of the True Power. After Rand leaves, Tuon is certain what needs to be done. She announces herself as the new Empress, may she live forever, and then orders a surprise attack against the White Tower, whose Aes Sedai are Rand's allies in her opinion. Silly how the Seanchan are such a civilized and orderly society, yet totally fail to understand the people of "Randland".
Rand himself has had enough with uniting the world, and tells the Aiel and the rest of his armies to get ready to march into the last battle. But before any attack is launched, he is visited by Tam al'Thor, his foster-father. He is Cadsuane's plan to make the Dragon Reborn able to laugh and cry again. The rendezvous doesn't go quite as well as planned, however, as when Tam mentions Cadsuane, Rand gets extremely mad, and almost kills Tam before finding self-control again.
Rand, horrified, Travels to Ebou Dar where he intends to destroy the whole Seanchan army in his rage. He isn't able to do it, however, and instead jumps to top of the Dragonmount, the steep mountain raised from the ground by the death of Lews Therin Telamon, the Dragon. Rand again starts drawing Power through the Choedan Kal, this time enough to destroy the world. He's tired of being bound to the Wheel of Time and wants to end it all.
Lews Therin, the voice in his head, haltingly suggests that maybe they are reborn to have a second chance. To do and experience all the good things again. Love and all that good stuff. Yeah... that part actually feels quite cheesy now that I re-read it. Regardless, Rand stops his attempt of destroying the world and instead turns the Choedan Kal's power on itself. Finally free from the temptation to use the most powerful sa'angreal ever created, Rand smiles and is able to laugh again. Lews Therin also disappears from his head. "For they were not two men, and never had been."
In the meanwhile, Egwene's slow progress of gluing the White Tower back together is bearing fruit. The Seanchan attack wrecks the Tower but mostly thanks to Egwene's organized defense, the Aes Sedai are able to repel the raiders. They manage to take prisoners, however, and with them, they possibly gain the knowledge of Travelling, evening the odds against the Aes Sedai and Rand's armies.
Elaida is captured as well, and the Tower finds itself without a leader. After some thought, the Tower's Aes Sedai decide to raise Egwene as the new Amyrlin Seat and the White Tower finally stands as one once more. The most interesting part, however, and maybe the coolest part in the whole book, happens before the Seanchan attack. Egwene is visited by Verin Mathwin, the Brown Sister, who has been along since the second novel, The Great Hunt.
Upon seeing Egwene, Verin states that Egwene's white dress is green -- a lie. And no Aes Sedai who has taken the Three Oaths is capable of telling one... unless they are of the Black Ajah (or otherwise used the Oath Rod to remove the oaths). Verin tells she became a Black Sister only because the other option was to face death, however. And she has spent her time gathering knowledge -- typical for a Brown Sister. Her knowledge happens to be the majority of the names of the Black Sisters. And she gives the list to Egwene.
The funny thing is, though, that when one becomes a Black Sister, she is made to swear an Oath as well, to stay loyal to the Great Lord "until the hour of my death." The hour apparently includes being poisoned lethally, as she points out and mentions that the tea she's been drinking is not very good for your health.
Egwene's ability to channel is being supressed forkroot tea she's been given by Elaida's orders and thus is not able to help Verin. But what a revelation that was. Would be interesting to read the series again to find if there were parts were Verin acted in a way a Black Sister would.
With the list of names, the Aes Sedai are able to capture and execute all of the fifty or so Black Ajah in the rebel camp but most of ones in the Tower get away. Better than nothing, though.
In the next book, Towers of Midnight, I expect to see Mat & Co. saving Moiraine from the tower of whatever. And the cover agrees with my expectations. Also, in this one there was no single mention of the Black Tower's Asha'man whose leader is evidently not on Rand's side. Oh, boy. Dealing with them will be much fun. And of course the Seanchan still remain a problem as well.
This ended up in way too much of a plot synopsis than I would've liked. But I don't like writing unattached comments. I guess I could be briefer in describing the events, though. Oh, well. At least there's something for me to read, when in January, after reading the last book, A Memory of Light, I look back what I thought about all of the thirteen previous novels.
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