Where should I start the Wheel of Time?
- Start with The Eye of the World, book one. There is no alternate entry point.
- Do not read the prequel New Spring first - it rewards readers who already know the world. Most fans recommend reading it after book six.
- The series is a single continuous story. Each book assumes you have read the previous ones.
What is the Wheel of Time?
The Wheel of Time is a fourteen-book epic fantasy series published between 1990 and 2013. It is one of the longest works of fiction ever written - roughly four million words. The story follows a large ensemble cast across a fully realized world with its own history, politics, and religion.
The magic system, called the One Power, is among the most internally consistent in the genre. Male and female channelers access it in fundamentally different ways, and that divide shapes the world's entire social order.
Yes. Most readers take years to finish, reading other books between volumes. That said, many find the early books hard to put down. A reasonable test: read the first book and decide from there. The series earns its length.
Amazon Prime adapted the series starting in 2021. The show takes significant liberties with the source material and is not a substitute for the books. If you have watched it, expect the books to be considerably richer and more detailed.
The reading order
Read the fourteen main books in publication order. The prequel New Spring is best placed after book six - see the section below for why.
Books 1-6 · Robert Jordan
- The Eye of the World (1990) Amazon
- The Great Hunt (1990) Amazon
- The Dragon Reborn (1991) Amazon
- The Shadow Rising (1992) Amazon
- The Fires of Heaven (1993) Amazon
- Lord of Chaos (1994) Amazon
After book 6: This is the recommended point to read the prequel New Spring if you choose to include it. See below for details.
Books 7-11 · Robert Jordan
- A Crown of Swords (1996) Amazon
- The Path of Daggers (1998) Amazon
- Winter's Heart (2000) Amazon
- Crossroads of Twilight (2003) Amazon
- Knife of Dreams (2006) Amazon
Note on books 7-10: These books are slower-paced and cover a more compressed story timeline. Many fans call this stretch "the slog." The pacing picks up significantly in book 11. If you find yourself slowing down, you are not alone - pushing through pays off.
Books 12-14 · Completed by Brandon Sanderson
The final three books were originally planned as one volume but grew too large to publish as a single book. See the Sanderson section below for background on how the series was completed.
Box set: The complete series is available as a hardcover box set - a popular gift option or a way to commit to the full read. Amazon
Your reading progress
Check off books as you finish them. Your progress is saved in your browser.
Reading Progress
0 of 15 read- The Eye of the WorldReading
- The Great HuntReading
- The Dragon RebornReading
- The Shadow RisingReading
- The Fires of HeavenReading
- Lord of ChaosReading
- New Spring (prequel - optional, best read here)Reading
- A Crown of SwordsReading
- The Path of DaggersReading
- Winter's HeartReading
- Crossroads of TwilightReading
- Knife of DreamsReading
- The Gathering StormReading
- Towers of MidnightReading
- A Memory of LightReading
The prequel - New Spring
New Spring (2004) is a prequel novella set before the events of the main series. Most fans strongly recommend reading it after book six rather than before book one. Reading it first spoils the sense of discovery that makes the early books work.
Recommended placement: After Lord of Chaos (book 6) and before A Crown of Swords (book 7). At this point you know the world well enough for the prequel's context to be rewarding rather than confusing.
Required? No. It is optional enrichment. You can finish the fourteen-book main series without it and miss nothing essential to the story.
The novella follows two of the series' central characters on a mission set years before the main story begins. Experiencing who they become across the main books first is what makes the prequel's perspective meaningful - which is precisely why early reading is discouraged.
The Brandon Sanderson books
Robert Jordan passed away in September 2007 before completing the final book. His wife and editor, Harriet McDougal, chose Brandon Sanderson to finish the series from Jordan's extensive notes, outlines, and completed scenes. What was planned as one volume became three.
Sanderson's prose is cleaner and more direct than Jordan's more elaborate style. Most readers adjust within a few chapters. If the voice feels different at first, that is normal - the story content, character arcs, and major plot threads follow Jordan's original plans closely.
Books 12-14 are faster-paced than most of the middle series and are widely considered a satisfying ending. Readers who pushed through the slower middle stretch consistently report that the final three books made it worthwhile.
Full Sanderson transition details →Popular checkpoints
Common places where readers pause and ask what comes next.
Continue with book 2
The Great Hunt picks up the story directly. The series rewards readers who continue - the first book is a strong introduction but the later books are where the story's full scale becomes clear.
Full reading order →Consider New Spring here
This is the ideal point to read the prequel if you want to include it. You know the world and the major characters well enough for it to be meaningful.
New Spring guidance →You have hit the slog
Books 7-10 are slower and cover a compressed timeline. This is a well-known challenge. The series picks up significantly in book 11 and the final three books are fast-paced. Pushing through is worth it.
More on the slog →Continue with the Sanderson books
Knife of Dreams ends on a high note. The final three books were completed by Brandon Sanderson and are considered a strong finish. Continue straight into The Gathering Storm.
About the Sanderson books →FAQ
How long is the Wheel of Time?
Fourteen main books plus one prequel novella. The main sequence alone is roughly four million words - one of the longest works of fiction ever published. Most readers take two to four years to complete it, reading other books between volumes.
Should I watch the Amazon show before or after reading?
Either order works, but the two are very different experiences. The show takes significant liberties with the source material. Reading first gives you the richest version of the story. Watching first is fine - just know that the books cover far more depth, and some things you may expect from the show unfold quite differently on the page.
Are the audiobooks worth it?
Yes. The audiobooks are narrated by Michael Kramer and Kate Reading, who split the male and female point-of-view chapters respectively. They are widely considered among the best fantasy narrations available and are especially popular for the longer, slower middle books where audio helps with pacing.
What is "the slog" and should I be worried?
Books 7-10 are slower in pacing and cover a compressed story timeline. Fans call this stretch "the slog." It is a real shift in pace, but the series recovers strongly from book 11 onward. Many readers find switching to audiobook helps during this stretch. Almost everyone who pushes through is glad they did.
Is the series complete?
Yes. The series concluded in 2013 with A Memory of Light. Fourteen main books plus the prequel New Spring - all written, all published, no waiting.