It’s been a while since I read this book but now that The
Wheel of Time series is finished with the help of Brandon Sanderson I’ve
decided to start from the beginning and re-read the first nine books (which is
where I left off some years ago) so I can see how it all ends. To assist me
with this massive undertaking (these are big books after all) I’ve turned to
the masterful readers Michael Kramer and Kate Reading, who are so good at
reading this epic in audio book I’m considering to have them read the entire
thing to me. They’re both amazing. But what about Robert Jordan’s first book? I
get goose bumps even thinking about it. Here’s basically your classic story of
a hero chosen to save the world. Except while Rand al’Thor is our main hero,
the Dragon Reborn, Jordan gives us at least four more characters that are just
as realized and important. You have Rand’s friends Perrin Aybara, Matrim
Cauthon, Egwene al'Vere and Nynaeve al'Meara. We meet them all in their home
village of Emond's Field as they live normal provincial lives. That’s until
they meet an Aes Sedai named Moiraine Damodred (which is basically a woman
wizard), her Warder Al'Lan Mandragoran (her bodyguard), and gleeman Thom
Merrilin (a lone traveling entertainer). With their arrival comes an attack of
Trollocs (pig-wolf-man-monsters) and dark friends which lead them all on a race
across the world to find safety from the Dark One. On their way they’ll meet
more foes and befriend others (like a woman who can see the future and a book
reading giant) who will forever be linked to their destinies. This is fantasy
at its best. The development of world and character is simply phenomenal. Some
will accuse Robert Jordan of over-writing (and he does) but who cares when the
storytelling is so great. I remember when I first read this book it affected my
dreams (that’s how vivid it is). Now re-living it is just as exciting. I can’t
wait to keep reading (or listening if you want to be precise). Grade: A
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