Book Review: The Eye of The World by Robert Jordan (Wheel of Time #1)
Dive into the rich, beautifully crafted world that Robert Jordan imagined.
I'm so glad I chose to read the Eye of the World, because WOW the writing is beautiful!
This first installment of the Wheel of Time series was, to me, a bit daunting to write about. It's like reviewing the first five minutes of a film without watching the rest. The full arc of the story takes place over the course of 14 books and just looking at just a tiny slice of it seems odd!
I was first introduced to this epic fantasy when Amazon released the television series in 2021. Afterward, I rushed out to buy the first book. It then sat on my shelf for a while. And a while longer. Until I finally cracked it open and started to discover what a beautifully crafted world I've been missing out on.
It took a little time to get into, but when I did I found myself entranced with this world and its inhabitants. I really enjoyed the travels of our small companion group throughout this richly detailed landscape. The characters really developed beautifully along their travels.
"As the Wheel of Time turns, places wear many names. Men wear many names, many faces. Different faces, but always the same man. Yet no one knows the Great Pattern the Wheel weaves, or even the Pattern of an Age. We can only watch, and study, and hope."
The pacing, while slower, takes its time to really build an beautifully structured environment from the ground up. The world-building is so grand. I appreciated some of the history deep-dives, even if some of the names and places went over me.
Final Thoughts: Should You Read It?
I’d rate The Eye Of The World ★★★★ (4/5 stars).
- Huge, epic story that this book only scratches the surface of.
- Found Family, Hero's Journey are heavy themes in this book.
- The story can feel slow or overwhelming at times, but is still interesting.
I know that a 14-book story is quite the commitment. However, should you choose to read The Eye of The World, you'll be happy to discover a fully realized epic fantasy that I've only just scratched the surface of. I've already found myself thinking about the second book, so I'm looking forward coming back to this story!
Book Summary
- Title: The Eye of The World (The Wheel of Time, #1)
- Author: Robert Jordan
- Genre: Fantasy, High Fantasy, Epic Fantasy
- Who Should Read It? Anyone who enjoys great, big worlds and more traditional high fantasy. It's an epic that will keep you busy for a while.
Synopsis: 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.
Moiraine Damodred arrives in Emond’s Field on a quest to find the one prophesized to stand against The Dark One, a malicious entity sowing the seeds of chaos and destruction. When a vicious band of half-men, half beasts invade the village 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.
