Robert Jordan Books in Order: Complete Wheel of Time Reading Guide
Creator of The Eye of the World and The Wheel of Time — one of the most ambitious epic fantasy series ever written, spanning 14 volumes and completed by Brandon Sanderson after Jordan's passing in 2007.
About Robert Jordan
Robert Jordan began publishing The Wheel of Time in 1990, and what followed was one of the most sustained world-building achievements in the history of the genre. Over 23 years and 14 volumes, Jordan constructed a secondary world of extraordinary depth — with its own cosmology, history spanning thousands of years, dozens of distinct cultures, and a magic system built around the One Power that remains one of fantasy's most detailed and internally consistent. The sheer scale of the enterprise is staggering: more than eleven thousand pages, hundreds of named characters, and plotlines that play out over the course of decades in-world. Jordan's prose is deliberate and immersive, rewarding patient readers with a cumulative richness that few fantasy series can match.
Jordan was diagnosed with a rare blood disease in 2006 and died in 2007, leaving the final volume unwritten. He left extensive notes, dictated scenes, and detailed outlines. His estate chose Brandon Sanderson to complete the series, and what had been planned as one final book became three — Books 12, 13, and 14. The result is a series that carries two distinct voices across its length but arrives at a genuinely satisfying conclusion. The Wheel of Time's influence on modern epic fantasy is difficult to overstate.
Reading Order: Where to Start
Start with The Eye of the World (Book 1). The Wheel of Time is a linear series and must be read in order. The New Spring prequel should not be read first — it was written after Book 10 and assumes knowledge of characters and world concepts that you'll only have after reading the main series. Read it after Book 5, or save it for after the final volume. The series is a significant time investment, but it's fully complete: no unfinished storylines, no waiting for the next book.
Robert Jordan Books in Order
The Wheel of Time
The complete series — read in order from Book 1.
- 1
The Eye of the World
The Wheel of Time, Book 1
The farm boy Rand al'Thor discovers he may be the Dragon Reborn, a figure of prophecy destined to either save the world or break it. The series opener that established the gold standard for epic fantasy world-building.
Note: Start here.
- 2
The Great Hunt
The Wheel of Time, Book 2
Rand and his companions pursue the stolen Horn of Valere across a world growing darker with the Shadow's return.
- 3
The Dragon Reborn
The Wheel of Time, Book 3
Rand fully embraces his destiny as the Dragon Reborn while his friends face their own trials across the world.
- 4
The Shadow Rising
The Wheel of Time, Book 4
The companions split across three major storylines in what many fans consider the series' best volume. The world of the Aiel is revealed in full.
- 5
The Fires of Heaven
The Wheel of Time, Book 5
Rand leads the Aiel westward while Nynaeve and Elayne hunt the Black Ajah through war-torn nations.
- 6
Lord of Chaos
The Wheel of Time, Book 6
The Dragon Reborn consolidates power while the White Tower schemes and the Forsaken close in.
- 7
A Crown of Swords
The Wheel of Time, Book 7
Rand seizes Illian as the Bowl of the Winds offers hope against the Dark One's unnatural heat.
- 8
The Path of Daggers
The Wheel of Time, Book 8
The Bowl of the Winds is used, but at great cost. Rand faces rebellion and assassination attempts.
- 9
Winter's Heart
The Wheel of Time, Book 9
Rand attempts a desperate gamble to cleanse the male half of the One Power in one of the series' most spectacular sequences.
- 10
Crossroads of Twilight
The Wheel of Time, Book 10
Multiple storylines converge as the aftermath of the cleansing ripples across the world.
- 11
Knife of Dreams
The Wheel of Time, Book 11
Jordan's final completed volume. Long-delayed plotlines resolve with momentum as the Last Battle approaches.
- 12
The Gathering Storm
The Wheel of Time, Book 12
Rand approaches breaking point while Egwene leads the rebel Aes Sedai.
Note: Completed by Brandon Sanderson from Robert Jordan's notes after Jordan's passing in 2007.
- 13
Towers of Midnight
The Wheel of Time, Book 13
Mat and Perrin's storylines take center stage as the Last Battle draws near.
Note: Completed by Brandon Sanderson.
- 14
A Memory of Light
The Wheel of Time, Book 14
The Last Battle arrives in an epic conclusion 23 years in the making.
Note: Completed by Brandon Sanderson. The final volume of the series.
Prequel
Best read after Book 5 or at the end of the main series.
- 1
New Spring
The Wheel of Time Prequel
Set decades before The Eye of the World. Follows a young Moiraine and Lan as the Aes Sedai search for the Dragon Reborn's birth. Best read after Book 5 or at the end of the series.
Note: Do not read first — best appreciated after the main series.