THE EYE OF THE WORLD (The Wheel of Time #1) by Robert Jordan ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

(Original review written January 12, 2020)

I could tell this was a classic from the start. What a beginning to an epic series!

First off, I don’t think I’m reinventing the wheel (I truly didn’t mean to use this pun) writing a review for this highly regarded series. Most has been said before I’m sure, but at least when I finally finish this series -- probably in 100 years due to the length of installments -- I can look back at it and remember what it felt like at the beginning 🤓

And after hearing about it for so long...I get it. I totally get why it’s so talked about. This has the world, the characters, the lore and history, all at a top notch level. I don’t think there’s any question that fantasy readers hold The Wheel of Time series in high regard, some putting it up as THE gold standard when comparing for quality (Lord of the Rings still being the granddaddy of the genre). And after 1/14th of the adventure, I’d say it’s there.

The amount of influence from other solid fantasy series is evident, and no doubt rounds the story out well. The comparisons to the Fellowship in LOTR seems the most obvious, with the crew of somewhat misfit boys plucked from their safe haven to join more mystical/world-hardened folk on an adventure to the end of the world as they know it. I also caught some similarities to the Chronicles of Amber series that I read last year, which itself felt like an epic collection sitting right on the outskirts of a widespread classic. All three series feel so larger-than-life and expansive, and it feels like a right of passage to delve into them; everyone else knows what you’re missing if you don’t.

It’s a daunting notion staring fourteen books at around 700+ pages each head on. The excitement to begin mixes with the fear of what may come, including a journey that may take years or may have dips in interest affecting the experience. That initial excitement alone can carry you through the first book I think, but luckily the story stokes the fire constantly as you go. I’m happy to say that for me that fire for the next entry is well ablaze.

I plan to mix in other reads while I take on the large volumes of The Wheel of Time, just to keep things fresh. Otherwise, the foreseeable future will be spent working my way around the Wheel. Can it keep my attention for another million pages? I guess we’ll find out.