Towers of Midnight
| Company type | Novel |
|---|---|
| Industry | Publishing |
| Founded | November 2, 2010 |
| Founder | Robert Jordan, Brandon Sanderson |
| Headquarters | United States |
| Products | Fantasy novel |
| Website | www |
Towers of Midnight is a fantasy novel authored by Robert Jordan and Brandon Sanderson, serving as the 13th entry in the The Wheel of Time saga and following the events of The Gathering Storm.
Originally envisioned as the second segment of Robert Jordan's intended concluding volume, A Memory of Light, the extensive content necessitated its division into three separate books. This choice was made collaboratively by Jordan's estate, Tor Books, and Sanderson, who completed the series based on Jordan’s comprehensive notes. The title Towers of Midnight, suggested by Sanderson, replaced the provisional name A Memory of Light: Shifting Winds.
Released on November 2, 2010, through Tor Books and Orbit Books, the novel contains approximately 328,000 words and achieved the top spot on The New York Times Best Seller list upon debut. It is distributed in hardcover, paperback, audiobook, and digital formats.
Pre-release information
On August 30, 2010, Tor Books revealed that Brandon Sanderson would distribute promotional bumper stickers during his tour for The Way of Kings. Some of these stickers featured codes granting access to exclusive pages from Towers of Midnight. Enthusiastic readers also decoded passwords to unlock a full chapter (Chapter 8). The final code was hidden in Venice, Italy. This campaign, initiated at Sanderson’s request and supported by Tor, successfully engaged fans worldwide.
Perrin Aybara and Egwene al'Vere
In Ghealdan, Perrin Aybara confronts charges from the Children of the Light for allegedly killing two members. Under Andor law, with Morgase Trakand presiding as judge, Perrin is convicted of "illegal killing" despite his defense citing communication with wolves and self-defense. He consents to abide by Galad Damodred's judgment following the Last Battle.
Meanwhile, Faile Bashere alongside Berelain sur Paendrag handle political intrigue surrounding Perrin. The Forsaken Moridin orders Graendal to eliminate Perrin using a "dreamspike" ter'angreal designed to restrict movement and Traveling. Graendal’s agent Isam plants this device to trap Perrin’s forces. Perrin ventures into the dream world to remove it but is chased by Isam. Despite assistance from his wolf companions, Perrin strategically leads Isam to Tar Valon, overcoming the dreamspike’s constraints.
Egwene al'Vere endeavors to capture Forsaken Mesaana amid a string of murders targeting Aes Sedai. She declines to bond Gawyn Trakand as her Warder due to his insubordination. Gawyn uncovers that 'Bloodknives', assassins loyal to the Seanchan, are responsible for the killings. Egwene organizes a gathering in Tel'aran'rhiod intending to trap Mesaana during a covert meeting involving channelers from multiple cultures. The Black Ajah assaults them, sparking a confrontation; Mesaana is immobilized by the dreamspike and ultimately broken mentally through Egwene’s mastery of the dream world. Egwene bonds with Gawyn and agrees to marry him.
On Tower grounds, Hopper and Perrin engage Isam; Hopper is slain, ending his opportunity for rebirth. Perrin destroys the dreamspike by casting it into a nightmare volcano and escapes Isam’s pursuit. He crafts a Power-forged war hammer named Mah'alleinir ("he who soars"). Galad’s Children are ambushed by Trollocs targeting Perrin but are rescued by Perrin’s forces. Galad sentences Perrin to provide financial reparations and serve in the Last Battle. After Jaret Byar attempts to assassinate Perrin but is killed instead, Galad joins Perrin’s army under his command.
The Dark One’s emissary, Shaidar Haran, reprimands Forsaken Graendal for causing the demise of three Forsaken: Mesaana, Aran'gar, and Asmodean.
Mat Cauthon and Elayne Trakand
In Caemlyn, Mat Cauthon encounters Queen Elayne Trakand of Andor to deliberate on constructing "dragons" (artillery) following the designs provided by former Illuminator Aludra. During their discussions on resource distribution, Mat consents to lend Elayne his foxhead ter'angreal, which he uses to block the One Power, allowing her to replicate it.
Disguised with an angreal, Elayne impersonates a Forsaken to interrogate Black Sister Chesmal. Although Chesmal's allies eventually uncover her ruse, Elayne employs both Mat’s original ter'angreal and its duplicate to overcome them. When her ex-guard Doilen Mellar, a Darkfriend, ambushes her, she loses possession of both medallions. In a desperate move, she uses the One Power to collapse the roof on him, recovers the original ter'angreal, but Mellar escapes with the copy.
Mat and Talmanes corner the gholam inside a burning structure. Using copies of Mat’s medallion provided by Elayne, Mat injures the creature and forces it through a Skimming portal into the infinite void.
Following Perrin’s arrival, Morgase convinces Elayne to entrust Perrin with governance over the Two Rivers under Andoran authority. Elayne consolidates her rule as queen of Cairhien by deploying the dragons and offering estates to Cairhienin nobility, thereby uniting Andor and Cairhien.
Mat, Thom Merrilin, and Noal venture into the Tower of Ghenjei to rescue Moiraine Damodred, who was presumed dead after falling through a ter'angreal portal during her confrontation with Lanfear. Guided by Mat's extraordinary luck, they avoid capture by the Eelfinn using fire, music, and iron weapons. Mat negotiates safe passage with the Eelfinn by sacrificing his left eye. As they flee, they are pursued by the serpent-like Aelfinn; Noal reveals himself as the legendary folk hero Jain Farstrider and remains behind to delay their pursuers. Using his ashandarei polearm, Mat breaks through barriers to secure their escape. Moiraine awakens severely weakened in her use of the One Power but now possesses a potent angreal, confessing her love for Thom Merrilin. They prepare to seek out Rand before the Last Battle.
Rand al'Thor
Following his soul-saving revelation on Dragonmount, Rand al'Thor embarks on a mission to counteract the Dark One’s influence by adopting a hopeful approach that reverses Shadow’s corruption. He surprises many by visiting the White Tower to inform Amyrlin Seat Egwene al'Vere of his intention to break the Dark One’s prison seals in order to construct a more enduring barrier. Although Egwene cannot dissuade him, she agrees to convene at the Fields of Merrilor in one month and accelerates efforts to unify nations against what she perceives as a looming catastrophe.
After purging Darkfriends within Tairen ranks, Rand travels with Min Farshaw to Bandar Eban, where he revitalizes the devastated port city by feeding its starving population and rebuilding its infrastructure. He then moves northward to Maradon in Saldaea, which is under siege from Shadowspawn emerging from the Blight. Despite General Rodel Ituralde’s command, the city faces imminent destruction until Rand single-handedly repels tens of thousands of Shadowspawn using immense power from the One Power. However, he is unable to assist Kandor and Arafel, which also succumb.
Now Rand prepares for negotiations with assembled nations at the Fields of Merrilor near the Blight border ahead of Tarmon Gai'don. On the eve of this summit, he dreams of a woman begging for aid—Mierin Eronaile (Lanfear)—who descends into darkness as surrounding walls collapse around her.
Aviendha
Granted permission to undertake her final challenge to become a Wise One, Aviendha travels across the Aiel Waste to reach the ancient city of Rhuidean. During her journey, she is visited by a mysterious Aiel named Nakomi, who engages her in a dialogue that prompts reflection on the Aiel’s destiny once their toh to the Dragon is fulfilled. After successfully completing the trial involving the crystal columns—which unveils the history and dishonor of the Aiel through the perspective of her forebears—Aviendha seeks further understanding of the ter'angreal. This pursuit inadvertently exposes a possible future in which her descendants set off events enabling the Seanchan to conquer the wetlands, forcing the Aiel into hiding, dismantling their ji'e'toh system, and driving them toward extinction. Faced with this bleak vision, Aviendha departs Rhuidean resolved to locate Rand and change this outcome.
The Black Tower
Mazrim Taim maintains an iron grip over the Black Tower, with Logain absent for an extended period. Though several Aes Sedai initially dispatched by the Red Ajah have authorization to bond certain Soldiers and Dedicated, no such bondings have taken place. The Tower is under heavy security, with entry and exit strictly monitored; numerous Aes Sedai and Asha'man display unsettling changes in behavior, and some former critics of Taim now unexpectedly support him. Newly constructed gateways fail, imprisoning those inside under Taim’s supervision. Among a small faction of Soldiers and Dedicated—including Androl Genhald, Emarin, Jonneth, Canler, and several Two Rivers Asha'man rejected by the Dragon—there is growing awareness of the darkness permeating the Tower. This group strives to uncover Taim’s intentions while seeking a way to flee and unite with Logain and the Dragon Reborn.