Robert Jordan’s The Wheel of Time stands as a monumental epic fantasy series, often mentioned alongside classics like The Lord of the Rings. Spanning 35 years and numerous volumes, it’s a saga brimming with rich history, intricate lands, and a diverse cast of characters that continue to enchant readers worldwide.
At the heart of the Wheel of Time universe lies the One Power, a mystical force wielded by individuals known as channelers. This powerful energy flows from the True Source, comprising two interwoven halves: Saidin, accessible only to men, and Saidar, which women can command.
Centuries ago, during the fabled Age of Legends, a formidable male channeler named Lews Therin Telamon, also known as The Dragon, led the Hundred Companions in a collective effort to imprison the malevolent Dark One. However, this act tragically corrupted Saidin, driving any man who channeled it to madness. This cataclysmic event triggered the Breaking of the World. As fate would have it, the Dark One’s seal was never meant to last eternally, and prophecies foretold the Dragon’s rebirth, heralding a final, epic confrontation between him and the Shadow in the Last Battle. This is precisely where The Wheel of Time books commence their grand narrative.
For those interested in picking up the books after experiencing the Prime Video series, it’s worth noting that the show broadly adapts the first two books across its first two seasons. The third season then combines elements from the fourth and fifth books, primarily drawing from The Shadow Rising.
How Many Wheel of Time Books Are There?
The Wheel of Time saga consists of 14 main novels, generally best enjoyed in their publication order, though a couple of books unfold concurrently. Tragically, Robert Jordan passed away in 2007 before he could complete the series with its final installment, A Memory of Light. However, thanks to his extensive notes and the dedicated efforts of his longtime editor and wife, Harriet McDougal, the concluding volume was masterfully brought to life by acclaimed epic fantasy author Brandon Sanderson. Sanderson, known for his own compelling works like Mistborn: The Final Empire and A Way of Kings, as well as other novels within his Cosmere universe, ensured the series received a fitting farewell for its devoted readership.
If you’re looking to read the ebook versions of The Wheel of Time series, it’s worth noting that all 14 books and the prequel novel are included with a Kindle Unlimited subscription. Amazon offers a free trial of the service to new subscribers. There are also accompanying audiobooks available to those with an Audible subscription.
The Robert Jordan Books
1. The Eye of the World
The book that started it all. Released in 1990, The Eye of the World introduces us to the series’ major players, including Rand Al’Thor, Perrin Ayabara, Matrim Cauthon, Egwene al’Vere, and Nynaeve al’Meara, whose lives are all thrown into chaos when their home of Emond’s Field is attacked by monsters called Trollocs. Saved by the Aes Sedai (this world’s term for those who wield the magic known as “The One Power”) Moiraine and her guardian, the Warder Lan, the two of them whisk the youth away from Emond’s Field, believing one to be the mythical figure known as the Dragon Reborn, who is destined to either save the world…or destroy it.
The Eye of the World focuses much on Rand and his viewpoint, though others, including those from Emond’s Field, also feature.
2. The Great Hunt
Picking up shortly after the events of the previous book, the identity of the Dragon Reborn has been revealed. The Great Hunt sees the Emond’s Field folk divided, with Rand, Mat, and Perrin out on a quest to retrieve a legendary artifact known as the Horn of Valere, which is currently in enemy hands. Meanwhile, Egwene and Nynaeve begin their long and arduous training, learning to control the One Power and master the ways of being Aes Sedai.
The Great Hunt is a Rand-focused novel, with more than half the chapters centering on his point of view.
3. The Dragon Reborn
Setting off on his own after the Battle of Falme, Rand has his eyes fixed on the port city of Tear, determined to prove his destiny. Despite arguments and disagreements, Moiraine, Lan, Perrin, and Loial pursue him, while Mat is taken to Tar Valon to be cured of a mysterious curse. Dangers lurk everywhere for both groups, from Darkfriends and the Forsaken to the Black Ajah, but even in darkness, hope can be found.
The Dragon Reborn is mostly split between the viewpoints of Egwene, Perrin, and Mat, each getting about a third of the narrative, with Nynaeve, Rand, and some others filling up the remainder.
4. The Shadow Rising
With the characters reunited in Tear following the events of Dragon Reborn, their reunion is short-lived as the group splits into smaller parties, each embarking on their own dangerous missions. Rand, Mat, Egwene, and Moiraine journey to the Aiel Waste, while Perrin and Faile return to Two Rivers to check on their families after hearing troubling rumors. Knowing the Black Ajah still poses a threat, Elayne, Nynaeve, and Thom head to the city of Tanchico to hunt them down. To further complicate matters, the Tower – the seat of power for the Aes Sedai – is teetering on the brink of collapse at the worst possible time.
The Shadow Rising is split relatively evenly between the three groups, with Perrin’s viewpoint receiving a slight majority.
5. The Fires of Heaven
Rand, now commanding his own Aiel army, must travel with Mat over the Spine of the World in pursuit of a rival Aiel clan pillaging the area around Cairhien. With the White Tower embroiled in internal strife and the rise of a new Amyrlin Seat, some Ajah orders prepare for war against the Tower and those loyal to the new Seat. Friends are lost, and the Forsaken continue to complicate the lives of our protagonists as new revelations come to light.
The two primary viewpoints of The Fires of Heaven are Rand and Nynaeve, with other characters sprinkled throughout. Perrin is notably absent from this book.
6. Lord of Chaos
As Rand’s influence and power grow, so do his enemies’ plots against him. Perrin returns, bringing forces from Two Rivers to assist Rand as they journey together towards Cairhien, sharing news from back home. The struggle between the White Tower and the rebel Aes Sedai intensifies as the rebels elect their own Amyrlin Seat and begin their trek towards Tar Valon, tasking Elayne and Nynaeve to seek out the ter’angreal, the Bowl of the Winds.
The Lord of Chaos sees Rand’s viewpoint receiving the most attention, with Egwene, Nynaeve, and Mat roughly splitting up the second-place spot.
7. A Crown of Swords
Working alongside the Aes Sedai sworn to him and his Asha’man, Rand prepares to confront one of the Forsaken and eliminate them. Meanwhile, Mat, Elayne, and Nynaeve continue their search for the Bowl of Winds, aided by allies. On the rebel Aes Sedai front, Egwene and Siuan attempt to incite the rebels to attack the White Tower and the forces loyal to its Amyrlin Seat. A glimmer of hope appears when a long-lost ally is found and sent to aid Nynaeve.
A Crown of Swords is one of the rarer books in the series as it doesn’t have a single central or primary viewpoint; instead, it’s divided fairly evenly among Mat, Rand, Perrin, and Egwene, who each receive about equal shares of the narrative.
8. The Path of Daggers
The Seanchan invasion is underway in Altara, a large-scale threat that Rand must confront and repel, while Elayne and Nynaeve strive to escape its clutches. Our friend Perrin heads south to challenge and halt a false prophet of the Dragon as the siege of the White Tower draws nearer, and Rand’s encroaching madness from tapping into the One Power exacts a terrible price.
The Path of Daggers is one of the shorter books in the series, with only 31 chapters. Elayne, Rand, Perrin, and Egwene are the most prominent characters, each having roughly equal shares of viewpoints. Mat is absent from this book.
9. Winter’s Heart
Things aren’t going smoothly for our heroes: Perrin chases after those who kidnapped his wife, Mat is trapped in a Seanchan-controlled city, and Elayne grapples with nobles who resist her claim to the Lion Throne. Rand and Nynaeve make a bold and risky move, heading to Shadar Logoth with the crucial goal of clearing the taint from Saidin. Winter’s Heart takes place concurrently with the following book, “Crossroads of Twilight.”
Elayne and Mat share the spotlight in Winter’s Heart, with Rand’s viewpoint coming in third place. Perrin and the rest of the cast fill in the remaining perspectives.
10. Crossroads of Twilight
Crossroads of Twilight takes readers back in time slightly, predating the dramatic, world-changing events with Rand at the conclusion of Winter’s Heart, and instead focuses more on the happenings surrounding other characters. Perrin is relentlessly pursuing his wife and friends, attempting to rescue them; Mat deals with his prisoner (and potential future wife); and Egwene continues her siege on the White Tower. To achieve victory, a truce with the Seanchan may prove essential.
In Crossroads of Twilight, Egwene takes center stage with the largest percentage of viewpoints in the book, with Perrin and Mat tied for second, and Elayne following behind. To the annoyance of many readers, Rand is nearly absent from this book, with most of his presence confined to the Epilogue.
11. Knife of Dreams
Knife of Dreams marks the final book Robert Jordan would complete for the series before his passing. Released two years prior, this eleventh installment sees Egwene contending with her capture by the Tower’s Aes Sedai, attempting to sow discord and sway support from within. Meanwhile, Elayne works to uncover the Black Ajah operating within Caemlyn. Perrin successfully rescues his wife, and Rand aims to turn one of the Forsaken’s traps back on them. The last of the Two Rivers boys, Mat, having faced numerous battles, receives news that someone long thought dead may, in fact, be very much alive. New signs are beginning to emerge, signaling that the Last Battle, Tarmon Gai’don, is drawing closer.
Knife of Dreams features Mat with the largest amount of the story told from his point of view, with Elayne second, and Perrin and Rand tied for third.
The Brandon Sanderson Books
Brandon Sanderson took the extensive notes and partially written manuscript that Jordan had left for A Memory of Light. With the full approval and support of Jordan’s widow and editor, Harriet McDougal, Sanderson opted to expand the material into three novels, ultimately delivering the epic conclusion to The Wheel of Time series.
12. The Gathering Storm
The first book of the trilogy penned by Brandon Sanderson, based on Jordan’s notes, The Gathering Storm, focuses heavily on Rand and Egwene. Rand has resolved to purge himself of emotion, and as the Last Battle approaches, his actions become increasingly severe, alarming his loved ones. Egwene continues her efforts to destabilize the White Tower, and the siege of the White Tower ultimately reaches its dramatic conclusion.
The Gathering Storm gives Egwene and her work in the White Tower the most focus in the book, with Rand coming in second. Other familiar faces like Mat and Nynaeve receive a few narrative beats, while some, including Perrin and Elayne, get only a fleeting mention, if any at all.
13. Towers of Midnight
Towers of Midnight plunges both Perrin and Mat into perilous situations that could lead to their demise, keeping them from aiding as the Last Battle commences and the Dark One’s prison walls crumble. Perrin finds himself with an army of Trollocs closing in around him, and to survive, he must finally master his latent abilities. For Mat, his characteristic luck is tested once more as he confronts the enigmatic Aelfinn and Eelfin, potentially uncovering secrets that could lead him to a long-lost friend.
Towers of Midnight is largely a Perrin and Mat story, with Perrin taking a majority of the viewpoints and Mat only slightly less. This book is based on materials Jordan left behind prior to his death and was completed by Brandon Sanderson.
14. A Memory of Light
The culminating volume in The Wheel of Time series, everything has led to A Memory of Light. The forces of Light and Shadow prepare for Tarmon Gai’don, and all the key players are in position. Rand, Egwene, Nynaeve, Perrin, and Mat have grown far beyond simple villagers from Two Rivers, and the fate of the world now rests on them – and on whether Rand can fulfill the Dragon’s Prophecy. The Last Battle is finally here.
As the grand finale, it’s fitting that A Memory of Light has a strong focus on Rand’s point of view, with the other characters from Two Rivers also having a significant presence.
Other Stories
New Spring
Released in 2004, New Spring is a novella that takes place 20 years before The Eye of the World. It recounts the events after Moiraine, Siuan Sanche, and the Amyrlin Seat of the time learn that the Dragon has been reborn. This prequel tells the tale of how Moiraine and her Warder, Lan, first meet, and chronicles the early days of Moiraine’s quest that will one day lead her to a small village called Two Rivers.
River of Souls (Robert Jordan & Brandon Sanderson) – Unfettered Collection
River of Souls is a small collection of scenes originally written for A Memory of Light from the perspective of the Forsaken Demandred during his time in Shara. It was included in the anthology Unfettered, which was compiled to help author Shawn Speakman with medical debts incurred while being treated for Hodgkin’s Lymphoma.
Companion Books
Given such a vast and intricate world, rich with lore and its own history, several companion books have been released to provide additional details and explanations for various aspects of the story.
The World of Robert Jordan’s Wheel of Time
Written and edited by Teresa Patterson, The World of Robert Jordan’s Wheel of Time compiles notes and information provided by Jordan himself. This volume was originally published with illustrations in 1997, with an updated edition a year later, covering information up through The Path of Daggers. While still a valuable resource for devoted fans, this book doesn’t include details from the later books or the series’ conclusion, as they had not yet been written.
The Wheel of Time Companion: The People, Places, and History of the Best Selling Series
For anyone eager to truly delve deep into the lore and characters of the books, the Wheel of Time Companion book is an absolute must-have. This extensive volume, formatted like a dictionary in an A-Z style, provides excellent breakdowns and details of your favorite characters, maps, portraits, historical accounts, and much more. It’s an invaluable tome to add to your shelf once you’ve completed A Memory of Light!
Origins of the Wheel of Time
For readers who wish to understand more about the genesis of The Wheel of Time and the brilliant mind behind it, Origins of the Wheel of Time is a non-fiction title. It reveals fascinating details about Jordan’s writing process in creating these books and the various real-world inspirations he drew upon to craft his intricate fantasy world.
Comic books
Comics writer Chuck Dixon, collaborating with Jordan’s estate, has created visual novels that adapt the very beginning of the Wheel of Time series. These include graphic novel adaptations of both the ‘New Spring’ short story and the first main book, ‘The Eye of the World.’ These comics offer an excellent entry point into the series and provide a visual foundation for imagining the characters you’ll be spending so much time with if you continue the saga.