A Review: The Eye of the World by Robert Jordan

A strange thing can happen when you find your favorite series during your formative years. You might question whether or not something is actually “good” because you found it when you were relatively inexperienced or if your memories of it are saturated with nostalgia. When I decided to re-read The Wheel of Time series, I worried that The Eye of the World by Robert Jordan would slip off of the pedestal I’d set it on.

But my curiosity and unrelenting need to question my assumptions that are overdue for re-evaluation are stronger than my fear of disillusionment.

Summary

The Wheel of Time has turned, almost completing its revolution as the third age comes a close, forcing several young men and women from the Two Rivers into the pattern, for Trollocs have come to their small village to lay waste and find the one who is to become the Dragon Reborn. After narrowly escaping death, Moiraine, an Aei Sedai—one who can wield the one power to defend the world against the Dark One’s tendrils, arrives to spirit away the five young heroes to Tar Valon where they can be protected until the time comes when they must stand against the Dark One’s forces. With Trollocs and Darkfriends in pursuit, the party journeys into the unknown.

Review

As you might be able to tell, this novel oozes elaborate and beautiful worldbuilding that might easily remind you of the Forgotten Realms or Middle Earth. The history runs deep and places like Baerlon and Caemlyn and Manetheren feel authentic, immersing you so deeply in the world that the novel itself becomes a portal into a new realm.

The story feels similar to The Fellowship of the Ring at the novel’s start, but quickly becomes its own distinct story by the midpoint. Pacing is probably the weakest element. While the sense of progression is constant, the novel does meander in a few spots, and near the end, the author is forced to do a bit of worldbuilding just before the climax, and that’s really not the best place for that.

Ask anyone familiar with this series who their favorite character is, and you’re sure to get as many answers as there are characters in the story itself. The story is cleverly written so that you can invest yourself in more than one protagonist so that if any one of them falls flat for you, there are two more who you love reading about.

Due to all of this (and a sizable dose of description), the length of the novel is probably longer than most readers are comfortable with. But if you’re the kind of person who searches for the thickest fantasy book on the shelf or the one with the most books in the series, Jordan’s The Eye of the World is already on your radar.

Is The Eye of the World Worth Reading?

Conclusively, Jordan’s work is still at or near the pinnacle of my storytelling preferences. Perhaps nostalgia has permanently marred my ability to objectively critique the book, but I, unfortunately, can’t change that. After all, the Wheel weaves as the Wheel wills.

If you happen to have this book on your TBR (and let’s face it, it’s been on it for years now), I grant you permission to bump it up to your next read. Whether it be for the traditional fantasy adventure, depth of worldbuilding, or a desire to engage with one of the core pillars of modern fantasy storytelling, The Eye of the World is a novel that you absolutely should experience. Full stop.

The Eye of the World is a very long book. However, if you’d like to start a series that’s similar to Robert Jordan’s work but has a much softer entry, you can read my one my stories in The Continua Chronicles.

And your first adventure is free!