The end approaches. The final battle is in sight and Rand is changing to prepare himself. He gets harder inside, willing to do whatever it takes to defeat his enemies and giving up the boy and man he has been. He attempts an alliance with the Seanchan but the Empress refuses. Those around him see the change and mourn it. As he gets harder, he trusts fewer and fewer people and is ready to sacrifice anyone to achieve the defeat of evil.
Egwene is facing her own battle. She has been captured by the White Tower and although she is has been raised Amerylin by the Aes Sedai who fled the Tower, she knows the two factions must come together. She starts working from within as a prisoner, pointing out to her captors the divisions within the White Tower and how weak it makes the sisterhood. When the Seanchans attack, killing some Aes Sedai and capturing others for slavery and to make into weapons, Egwene sees her chance. Can she unite the Aes Sedai and lead them to their appointed role in the Last Battle?
Mat and Perrin are both slowly working their way towards Rand. Mat has been told that Moraine, the Aes Sedai that visited their village so long ago and started the boys and two women on their path, has not been killed but is captured. He and his Band are headed to try to rescue her. Perrin is also on the move.
This is the twelfth book in the Wheel Of Time. It is also the first book that Brandon Sanderson wrote after Jordan's death, using his notes for how the series should end. Sanderson brings a breath of fresh air to the series. His pacing is a bit more brisk and the characters accomplish huge feats in this book. There are two more books in the series and I'm looking forward to reading them. This book is recommended for epic fantasy readers.