When I got [to Charleston] and I sat and read that alone quietly, actually, in Robert Jordan’s chair, in his room, just a few feet from the computer he’d written much of the books on, I felt immensely and deeply satisfied with this conclusion, that he wrote himself. It feels right to me.
It’s hard to imagine Sanderson saying anything other than that he was satisfied by the ending, but one has to expect that, given how long and hard Jordan working in constructing the labyrinthine storyline of The Wheel of Time, that he’d have given a lot of thought to how it should end. Frankly, if there’s anything I’m worried about, it’s the reaction of the fans if the volume plays out too closely to what we all expect. Fans have had nearly 20 years to sit and ponder all the secrets of the series, and, given that Tarmon Gai’don is the ultimate battle between good and evil, as black and white a confrontation as you can get, it’s hard to imagine that things won’t fall into place just as we all expect them too. Fans have constantly been surprised by this series, but I expect surprises will be lacking if Sanderson stays close to the script laid out by Jordan 20+ years ago.
From what Sanderson says on Writing Excuses and elsewhere, surprising readers appropriately is one of his major design principles. I think we are in good hands.