All 15 Wheel Of Time Books, Ranked Worst To Best

The Wheel of Time is based on the novel series of the same name by Robert Jordan, and the 14 books and single prequel novel in the series can be ranked from worst to best based on a variety of factors. The Wheel of Time began in 1990 when Jordan published the first book in the series, The Eye of the World, and was completed by Brandon Sanderson after Jordan’s death in 2007. The Wheel of Time season 3 is expected to cover the fourth book in Jordan’s series, The Shadow Rising.

As The Wheel of Time‘s cast works on season 3, it’s interesting to consider whether the best seasons of the show will line up with the best books in the series. First, however, the best books in the series have to be identified. With such a massive novel series to examine, there is obviously going to be a significant amount of variance, even if most of them were written by the same person. That being said, every Wheel of Time book is worth reading, even if some rank much higher than others.

15 Crossroads Of Twilight (2003)

Book 10 Of The Wheel Of Time

Every book in The Wheel of Time has its merits, but there’s one in particular that doesn’t match the quality and originality of the others: Crossroads of Twilight. This is the 10th book in the Wheel of Time series and the third book in the series to reach the number one spot on the New York Times best-seller list.

This book has some great moments, and Jordan’s prose is as descriptive as ever, but the plot moves at a very slow pace. There are no major Rand moments in the book, and the narrative largely consists of Perrin and Elayne’s arcs, which detracts from other great characters and storylines. Also, many events here happen at the same time as those in Winter’s Heart. Ultimately, the narrow narrative and plodding pacing are the main culprits for Crossroads of Twilight‘s lackluster quality.

14 The Path Of Daggers (1998)

Book 8 Of The Wheel Of Time

The Path of Daggers is certainly an entertaining novel, and it contains some of the most critical events in the series, but like Crossroads of Twilight, it struggles with pacing. The eighth book in The Wheel of Time novel series, it begins on an exciting note with the Bowl of the Winds ter’angreal being used, but things begin to slow down shortly afterward.

There are large stretches of the novel where characters are simply traveling or working through minor obstacles that almost feel like side quests. The Path of Daggers‘ climax is exciting and explosive, literally, but too much of the story feels like filler. On a positive note, this book was where fans started to really buy into the series as it was the first to hit number one on the New York Times bestseller list.

13 Winter’s Heart (2000)

Book 9 Of The Wheel Of Time

Like The Path of Daggers, there is too much focus on minor storylines and not enough emphasis on more important events. Although Winter’s Heart has one of the most incredible climaxes of any Wheel of Time book, it struggles because of the excessive exposition and rambling narrative. The plot is not bad by any means, but Jordan gets the balance of the book’s various stories a little out of whack.

There is too much focus on minor storylines and not enough emphasis on more important events. These minor storylines are likely because the events in this book occur at the same time as those in the next book, so it seems there was a little more room here to ramble since characters were split between stories. Because of this, Winter’s Heart struggles to distinguish itself as an individual book and feels more like a minor cog in a larger saga.

12 Towers Of Midnight (2010)

Book 13 Of The Wheel Of Time

Towers of Midnight is the second of the three books in the series completed by Brandon Sanderson (part two of the A Memory of Light series), and the difference in the two authors’ styles is evident in the text. Sanderson writes the final three novels at a much faster pace than the last few that Jordan wrote, solving the biggest issue with the books after Towers of Midnight.

However, Sanderson’s descriptive ability is not quite at the level of the legendary Robert Jordan’s. The narrative also becomes a bit clogged with all the storylines being juggled, preventing Towers of Midnight from matching the earlier books in the series. Despite this, it still hit the top spot on the New York Times bestseller lists, bringing in both Jordan and Sanderson fans for the continued fantasy series.

11 A Crown Of Swords (1996)

Book 7 Of The Wheel Of Time

A Crown of Swords is a thrilling installment in The Wheel of Time, easily earning a mid-tier ranking for Jordan’s books in the series. The seventh book in the series, A Crown of Swords, boasts an epic battle with one of The Wheel of Time‘s Forsaken, intriguing Aes Sedai politics, and a fight with a Gholam. A Crown of Swords also sticks to three main storylines for the majority of the novel, which helps maintain a focused, well-paced narrative.

However, A Crown of Swords lacks some of the magic present in the best books in the series, failing to deliver any of the massive twists or unforgettable moments that sets it apart. The best parts of this particular addition to the Wheel of Time series are the smaller moments, more so than any plot or character development.

10 New Spring (2004)

Prequel To The Wheel Of Time

Released in 2004, New Spring is the prequel novel to The Wheel of Time series, telling the story of Moiraine Damodred’s early quests to find the Dragon Reborn and the tale of how she and Lan Mandragoran came to be bonded as Aes Sedai and warder. This standalone prequel is a thrilling read, and it doesn’t require previous knowledge of the series to enjoy it.

However, because it’s not part of the main series, it lacks the incredible moments that require a series worth of groundwork to create, preventing it from ranking among The Wheel of Time‘s best. For anyone looking at something small to dig into or something that might not require any knowledge of the world-building, this is a great read. However, it won’t offer much in the way of the ongoing storylines or provide any real new information.

9 The Great Hunt (1990)

Book 2 Of The Wheel Of Time

The Great Hunt is the second book in the series, and it makes up the majority of The Wheel of Time season 2’s plot. Though The Wheel of Time makes some massive changes to The Great Hunt, it keeps the bones of the story intact, which is a positive considering how good the book is. Rand, Mat, and Perrin head out to retrieve the Horn of Valere, while Egwene, Nynaeve, and Elayne head to the White Tower to learn the Aes Sedai’s way.

The Great Hunt might not be a top-five contender in The Wheel of Time because of the need for heavy exposition and world-building, but it remains a compelling story that includes critical character development for the foundational characters in the series. There is also a lot here, as it was split into two books in 2004 (The Hunt Begins and New Threads in the Pattern).

8 The Gathering Storm (2009)

Book 12 Of The Wheel Of Time

The Gathering Storm is the first novel in the series completed by Brandon Sanderson, and the twelfth book in The Wheel of Time as a whole. It’s also the first part of the A Memory of Light storyline. Jordan died in 2007, and the book was incomplete. His widow looked for an author who could finish the story. It was immediately proven to fans that Sanderson was up to the task of completing the series.

This book provides a positive change of pace compared to Jordan’s last few books and begins the final trajectory of the series. The tension in Gathering Storm is palpable as the stakes build toward Tarmon Gai’don, and Sanderson relentlessly moves the plot forward. Though it can feel a bit rushed and spread out at times, this is one of the better books in The Wheel of Time series.

7 Knife Of Dreams (2005)

Book 11 Of The Wheel Of Time

Knife of Dreams is the final book in The Wheel of Time that was completed solely by Robert Jordan before his death. It represents a significant step forward from the three preceding it. In the three books before Knife of Dreams, it felt like Jordan’s saga might have grown out of his control and become impossible to weave into one coherent story.

However, he brilliantly pulls his narrative back together in Knife of Dreams, consolidating the plot and quickening the pace. Knife of Dreams gets the series back on track and moves the narrative inexorably toward the finish line. As with the previous three books, it raced to the top of the New York Times bestselling fiction novels list. The next book in the series following Knife of Dreams was the first that Brandon Sanderson worked on as a co-author.

6 The Eye Of The World (1990)

Book 1 Of The Wheel Of Time

The Eye of the World introduces the reader to the brilliant world of The Wheel of Time, capturing the imagination in an unyielding grip. It strikes a perfect balance between world-building and storytelling, setting up compelling and nuanced characters along the way. The story itself begins with Rand al’Thor and his friends escaping their homes after a Trolloc attack and realizing fate has plans in store for all of them.

Its story can stand alone as an enjoyable novel, but its real achievement is successfully setting up an incredibly expansive world. Other books in the Wheel of Time series are better because they have the benefit of the groundwork laid by this novel, but none of it would’ve been possible without this audacious fantasy classic. This was the one that started it all and remains a brilliant fantasy launching pad.

5 Lord Of Chaos (1994)

Book 6 Of The Wheel Of Time

Lord of Chaos, the sixth book in The Wheel of Time, is not only one of the best novels in the series, it’s one of the best fantasy novels ever written. The stakes begin to rise in this book as the Dark One’s touch on the world grows stronger, allowing him to affect the weather and create an avatar in the form of Shaidar Haran.

This gives the narrative an extra sense of weight and starts to build tension around the Dark One breaking loose from his prison. Lord of Chaos also has one of the most exhilarating climaxes in the series, which helps put it in the top five books in Jordan’s series and one that sets the table for all the books that followed. Lord of Chaos was nominated for the Locus Award for Best Fantasy Novel in 1995, losing to Brittle Innings by Michael Bishop.

4 A Memory Of Light (2013)

Book 14 Of The Wheel Of Time

A Memory of Light, the final book in The Wheel of Time series and the conclusion of Brandon Sanderson’s trilogy of the same is one of the best epic fantasy books ever written. All the events of the 13 novels before it converge in this explosive finale, sending the series out in the perfect way. There are plenty of clever twists, ridiculous emotional stakes, thrilling action, and so much more.

However, A Memory of Light‘s brilliance is partly a product of all the books before it. As pulsating as the plot is, Sanderson’s prose can’t compare to the effortless flow and literary elegance of Jordan’s prime novels. Regardless, Sanderson did more than a commendable job of finishing the series that Jordan started so many years before. It finished up the run with one last trip to the top of the bestseller lists.

3 The Dragon Reborn (1991)

Book 3 Of The Wheel Of Time

The Dragon Reborn is the beginning of a three-book stretch in The Wheel of Time that is true peak fantasy literature. The story is thrilling, the world-building fascinating, the characters are explored in depth, and there is plenty of action to get the blood pumping. Jordan’s words seem to flow off the page with an elegance that is hard to find in any area of literature.

This Wheel of Time book also benefits from having two novels before it that set up the world. Rand al’Thor is now the Dragon Reborn and sets out to prove himself to the world at large. This book is also part of the story in the third season of The Wheel of Time on Amazon Prime Video. All that being said, only two books in The Wheel of Time can top The Dragon Reborn.

2 The Fires Of Heaven (1993)

Book 5 Of The Wheel Of Time

The Fires of Heaven is an utterly engrossing novel with perhaps the best ending in the series. Like The Dragon Reborn, this book was written during Jordan’s prime, and his talent is on full display once again. The Fires of Heaven has one of the best duels in the series when Rand fights Rahvin in Caemlyn, and it ends up with one of the most joyous and shocking twists in The Wheel of Time.

In this book. the most powerful Forsaken band together and go into battle against the Champion of Light, Rand al’Thor. The pace of the novel is excellent throughout, and if not for one jaw-dropping book, it would be the best novel in The Wheel of Time series. The cliffhanger endings also become a staple and allow Jordan to keep people anxiously awaiting what he has in store for them next.

1 The Shadow Rising (1992)

Book 4 Of The Wheel Of Time

The good news for Wheel of Time fans is that the best book in the series, The Shadow Rising, is the book that the third season of Amazon Prime Video’s The Wheel of Time series will be mostly based on. The Shadow Rising is a fantasy masterwork, executing fascinating character development, rich world-building, and an addictive pace.

This is the longest book in the series, with Rand al’Thor claiming the crystal sword and setting out to prove himself as the Dragon Reborn. However, he learns of the Forsaken’s plans and knows a war is coming. Furthermore, The Shadow Rising does all of this within the best narrative of the series, which keeps the readers on their toes at all times, building to the epic conclusion. When all is said and done, few fantasy books can hold a candle to The Shadow Rising.

The Wheel of Time

Brandon Sanderson and Robert Jordan’s expansive fantasy series is brought to life in The Wheel of Time, a fantasy tv series created for Amazon Prime Video. The series follows a woman named Moiraine, a member of the all-female Aes Sedai group who can utilize a great power. Following an attack on a local village, Moiraine heads there to find a villager that may be the reincarnation of an all-powerful dragon that will either save or destroy the world.

Cast

Barney Harris , Zoe Robins , Madeleine Madden , Marcus Rutherford , Daniel Henney , Rosamund Pike , Josha Stradowski , Kate Fleetwood , Priyanka Bose , Hammed Animashaun

Release Date

November 19, 2021

Seasons

2

Directors

Sanaa Hamri , Ciaran Donnelly , Thomas Napper

Showrunner

Rafe Judkins

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