Book Review

The Eye of the World by Robert Jordan is the first in a completed epic fantasy series of adventure, darkness, and friendship.

Synopsis

“The Wheel of Time turns and Ages come and pass. What was, what will be, and what is, may yet fall under the Shadow.

Let the Dragon ride again on the winds of time.

The Wheel of Time turns and Ages come and go, leaving memories that become legend. Legend fades to myth, and even myth is long forgotten when the Age that gave it birth returns again. In the Third Age, an Age of Prophecy, the World and Time themselves hang in the balance. What was, what will be, and what is, may yet fall under the Shadow.

When The Two Rivers is attacked by Trollocs-a savage tribe of half-men, half-beasts- five villagers flee that night into a world they barely imagined, with new dangers waiting in the shadows and in the light.”

My Thoughts

This is a series I’ve been hearing all over the fantasy book community lately. What really sold the 14-book commitment was the fact Brandon Sanderson was hand-chosen to write the last three books, as Robert Jordan passed away before completing the series; and lately, my love for Sanderson made me want to dive head first.

So for those who have no idea about this series, if you really enjoy the epic fantasy world with a character-driven story, this one may peak your interest. I’ve heard it compared to the LOTR series a lot as we follow the main characters on a long, wide journey.

And I’ve officially learned I am NOT a huge fan of journey stories..

Usually when we follow a quest, my interest starts to wane as, most of the time, the characters are just meandering around with not much going on. And this series is no exception.

While there were plot twists that revved up the pace and creatures who jumped out of nowhere, I found that the plot followed a very repetitive cycle. They’d go a day or two with nothing happening and then they’d make it to the next area only to find out they’re being chased, discovered, then attacked; and it just kept going round and round and round again until they finally made it to their destination. And these types of stories tend to bore me, and I end up skimming page after page until something climatic actually happens.

But in the end, I did find the book fascinating enough to keep going.

When it came to the actual plot, It did turn out a little predictable. It followed the Chosen One trope with an MC who is in complete denial of everything that goes on around him, to the point where I was extremely annoyed with him.. most of the MCs to be exact. In the end, only one of the three didn’t make me want to reach in and slap them back to their reality.

So overall, I gave this intro to a LONG series a solid 3 out of 5 stars. I wasn’t overly impressed with the characters, but I can instantly tell their world is going to be vast enough to really capture my interest. Besides the redundant plot and the annoying main three characters, I did mildly enjoy the book.

I’m excited to see where this journey may take me over the next 13 months..

More Book Info

Published: 15 November 1990

Publisher: Tor Books

Genre: Adult Epic Fantasy

Pages: 814

How I Read It: Anniversary Hardcover Edition

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