Towers of Midnight was published by Tor Books in 2010. The novel focuses on Perrin and Mat — the two of the original trio who had received less attention in The Gathering Storm. Perrin finally reconciles his human and wolf natures, forging the power-wrought hammer Mah’alleinir and accepting his role as a leader. Mat leads a small team into the Tower of Ghenjei (the realm of the Aelfinn and Eelfinn) to rescue Moiraine Damodred, whose apparent death in The Fires of Heaven had been one of the series’ most mourned moments.
Moiraine’s return — anticipated by readers for fifteen years and five novels — is handled with characteristic restraint: she emerges diminished in power but unbroken in will, and her reunion with Lan is one of the series’ most emotionally satisfying moments.
The Tower of Ghenjei
Mat’s expedition into the Tower of Ghenjei — the otherworldly realm of the snake-like Aelfinn and fox-like Eelfinn — is among Sanderson’s best contributions to the series. The sequence combines dungeon-crawl tension with the specific weirdness of Jordan’s cosmology: the Eelfinn’s bargains, the doorway ter’angreal, the rules that govern interaction with these alien beings. Mat’s sacrifice (losing an eye, as foretold) gives the rescue genuine cost.
Perrin’s Arc
Perrin’s storyline — which had dragged across volumes seven through ten — reaches a satisfying resolution. His acceptance of the wolf within, symbolised by the forging of Mah’alleinir, represents the completion of a character arc that began in The Eye of the World. The hammer, a tool of creation rather than a weapon of destruction, reflects Perrin’s nature: he builds rather than destroys.
Collecting Towers of Midnight
First edition (Tor Books, New York, 2010): Boards with dust jacket.
Approximate market values:
- Fine in dust jacket (first printing): $20–$40
- Signed by Sanderson: $40–$80
Projected values (2026–2036): Modest appreciation as part of the complete series.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Moiraine’s rescue satisfying? For most readers, profoundly so. The fifteen-year wait created enormous expectations, and the execution — restrained, emotionally honest, and with real consequences (Moiraine’s diminished power) — met them.
Is this better than The Gathering Storm? Opinions divide. The Gathering Storm has the series’ single best scene (Dragonmount); Towers of Midnight is more consistently paced across all storylines.