Book Review of Wheel of Time Eye of the World
Robert Jordan’s Wheel of Time series begins with the epic fantasy The Eye of the World. Here’s a short synopsis of the book:
“The Wheel of Time turns and Ages come and pass, leaving memories that become legend. Legend fades to myth, and even myth is long forgotten when the Age that gave it birth returns again. What was, what will be, and what is, may yet fall under the Shadow.
When a vicious band of half-men, half beasts invade the Two Rivers seeking their master’s enemy, Moiraine persuades Rand al’Thor and his friends to leave their home and enter a larger unimaginable world filled with dangers waiting in the shadows and in the light.”
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Full Book Review of The Wheel of Time Book: Eye of the World Without Spoilers
I’ve been looking for a longer series that builds an intricate, magical world with plot twists, hidden secrets, compelling characters, and convincing bad guys, and I finally found one that fits all of that! While there are parts of the book that get a little too wordy or long winded, the story of this book (and entire series) really pulls you in if you enjoy epic fantasy.
Characters
There’s so many characters introduced in just the first book that you’re bound to find a favorite character or multiple groups that you like. The number of characters also meant that there was characters I really did not enjoy. But who knows, maybe they redeem themselves in later books because there’s lots of reading left in the series.
My personal favorite character was Perrin Aybara, especially after the major reveal about his character in the middle of the book. I hope to hear more about him and his journey in the next books.
Plot
The good news about this book is that even though there’s some slow parts and a lot of characters to keep track of, the main plot of the book is enticing if you like fantasy novels. The goal of the first book is interesting, but there’s also a bigger picture with a definite long term goal in mind which makes you want to keep reading the series.
Throughout the book, there’s some good battle scenes and action sequences, but the book was mainly a quest. There was a lot of getting from one place to next, and at times this seemed slow. I think it had less to do with the plot and more to do with Jordan’s pacing of the book.
Writing
Robert Jordan’s writing style is remarkably similar to J.R.R. Tolkien, so if you like The Lord of the Rings books you would also like this one. The writing style can get a little long-winded at times, but Jordan paints a picture of almost every scene and aspect of the world that really allows you to see the book clearly.
Full Book Review of Eye of the World With Spoilers
You’ve been warned that from here on out there will be spoilers.
As a big fan of fantasy, I really enjoyed reading Eye of the World. This individual book had a well-written plot as well as a world that makes me want to read the entire series. I liked the quest layout of the book, the problems they encounter on the way, and when they finally find the Eye of the World at the end.
Some of my favorite aspects of the book, in addition to the magic system, are all the types of species and creatures already introduced in this book like the Green Man, Loial, and all the dark creatures. Everything makes the world building more complete and somehow more magical.
The ending of the book doesn’t end on a cliff hanger, but it does make you want to read the next book because it feels like the final chapter isn’t really the end. The story should just keep going, so it’s easy to pick up right into the next book like there wasn’t even a gap.
I do wish we’d have some more answers at the end of the book, like what does Rand’s sword really mean? How exactly does one wield the One Power? And what the heck is the story with the Dark Lord? And I want to know more about the Aes Sedai!!! But now I’m invested in these plot points and character development and want to follow along for the rest of series.
Pros of the Book
Ever since Lord of the Rings and Harry Potter, I’m always looking for fantasy novels that have a whole, well-written world to drive into. These books definitely appeal to the fantasy fan who likes the commitment of multiple books with a lot of characters and a whole new magic system. It’s going to take a long time to finish the entire series, but I’m invested now.
One of the complaints I’ve seen about this book is that it’s just a copy of Tolkien’s writing. While I don’t disagree that there are lots of similarities to Lord of the Rings, I still liked the fantasy world of Wheel of Time because I’m also a big fan of Lord of the Rings. All the popular fantasy books today are full of cliches and similar plots, so this one doesn’t bother me in the least because at least it’s well written.
One of the things that I did really like about the book and that was different than Tolkien’s books is the magic system. There’s much more of a focus on the magic system in Wheel of Time, and it’s pretty unique from other fantasy books. While there’s still a lot of questions about the magic system, it’s a major plus.
Cons of the Book
There were a few things that I didn’t like about the book, but just know that these things did not stop me from picking up the second book. I think it’s definitely worth reading. And maybe you won’t mind some of these things.
First, I found that the pacing of book wasn’t great in the beginning/middle of the book that made it seem unexciting. I had a hard time keeping up my reading pace in the middle of the book because I didn’t feel compelled to keep reading. I did want to know the ending of the book, but it was easy to set down and come back to another time.
Second, I found the book a little bit long winded. The whole series is so long, Jordan must have a reason for including so many details. But some of the details and meetings in the book seemed superfluous.
And third, there were multiple characters that I just did not enjoy. Almost all the female characters grated on my nerves for the entire book. And Rand, while he had a few great moments, was irksome to say the least, especially at the end.
Conclusion
While this is a long series, this book is a wonderful fantasy book in itself. The reading can get a little long and strenuous in the middle, but it’s a good story if you enjoy epic fantasy. I think it’s a great fantasy read!
You can find the book here.
I have a full summary of the book here if you need a refresher on any of the main points.
Rating: 4.25 out of 5 Stars
This is a book I would recommend to most other fantasy readers, a plot I still think about, and a series I’m invested in after the first book. There were a few minor complaints, but I enjoyed the writing style, the world building, the plot points, and the main characters.
Here’s how I rate all my books: My Rating System
Who Would Enjoy Reading The Wheel of Time?
If you’re a big fan of the traditional fantasy genre, you’ll like this book, too. The world of The Wheel of Time is amazingly built in just the first book, so I can only imagine it will get even more complete as the series continues. It’s a great read if you are a fan of Brandon Sanderson or Tolkien.
This is also a great option if you’re looking for a fantasy series with multiple books that you can really dive into. This is one of the longest series I’ve been reading, but its satisfying that there’s always more to learn about the world, characters, and plot lines.
While it’s popular in the fantasy world, it’s not as fast-paced or compelling as some of the new books or books that are popular on social media. If you found The Lord of the Rings too wordy, you’ll also feel that way about this book.
What to Read After the Eye of the World
If you really liked this book or love the whole Wheel of Time series, you’re definitely not alone! But what to read next? Try some of these other epic fantasies.
The Great Hunt by Robert Jordan
If you read and liked the first book, the next logical book to read is the next one in the series! The second book of the series is The Great Hunt with the same main characters (plus a few) as they continue their journey. But be warned, the entire series is a big commitment even though it’s worth it.
The Hobbit by J. R. R. Tolkien
If you enjoyed the writing style and the extensive world building of Johnson, you’ll also enjoy the world of the hobbits by Tolkien. Tolkien is the original epic fantasy writer, and his books are still super popular. The Hobbit or The Lord of the Rings series are both greta options.
The Way of Kings by Brandon Sanderson
Another fantasy series you can really invest in is The Way of Kings. The world building in Sanderson’s books are some of the best, and there’s tons of books by Sanderson to dive into afterwards.
The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss
A lesser known fantasy series that also has a great magic system with extensive world building is The Name of the Wind. This is another awesome read, however, the series isn’t finished as of right now.
