The Wheel of Time follows Moiraine Damodred’s search for a prophesized hero to save the world from The Dark One. When half-human, half-beast creatures attack the Two Rivers, Moiraine convinces Rand al’Thor and his companions to leave their home and embark on a dangerous journey into an unknown world, filled with light and shadow.

A huge epic fantasy series with 14 novels and roughly 10,000 pages. Making it a must-read for any fantasy buff. So I was eager to dive into this magical universe and see if it would make my fantasy heart tick faster. And it did to some degree.

One of the things I loved is the world-building that Jordan established. Handing us little puzzle pieces to unravel the mystery. However, since the world is extensive, there is a significant amount of descriptive writing. Which for me means I don’t easily connect with the characters on a deeper level. Nonetheless, I appreciated the synergy between the characters, the developing ties and the formation of the quest.

Which brings me to critics pointing out the similarities between this series and The Lord of the Rings. While I acknowledge these similarities, I also wonder if some of the foundations of fantasy (good versus evil and a hero’s quest to save the world) are not the essence of fantasy. Additionally, it’s worth noting that both Jordan and Tolkien were devout believers and maybe inspired by Christian themes of sacrifice, redemption and the idea of destiny. So what do you think? Is it fair to make a comparison between the two?

However, I thoroughly enjoyed this book despite its slower sections. Absolutely worth your while if you’re a fantasy buff.