Wheel of time - how are the books?

[AnaViaSalamanca]

Was just watching a bit of the TV series on amazon. Has anyone read the book series? Do you recemmend?

The books are mixed. First one is good, though much slower than the series (which isn't a problem, it's proper worldbuilding and the pacing is decent), the rest are mostly good until book 6, which is excellent, and then there's a lot of up and down in quality. Jordan died before finishing the series so Brandon Sanderson took over for the last three, based on Jordan's notes and with lots of input from Harriet Jordan. I hate the Sanderson books because I loathe his writing style.

There are some rubbish things in it, mostly relationship stuff, but also lots of good ideas. The first book is (allegedly) deliberately derivative but then he tried to undercut some of the tropes he set up. Overall, it's worth reading, though you might want to throw the books at the wall sometimes.

I completely agree with Kiwi on every point. I liked the first few and enjoy certain elements in particular. DH adores them and has grown up with them in many respects. I've only seen ep 1 of the series so far and I'm desperately hoping DH isn't disappointed.

They probably are worth a read if you have a spare few months!

I liked them when younger, tried to read again recently and found them much more derivative and pretty sexist. If you're able to skim past the heaving bosoms (of which there are many!) the plots are decent and move fast though.

I loved them 20 years ago. They suffered, imo, when the core team are split up and having massive adventures each in separate books. It slowed it down too much for me.
I've not reread them in the last ten years or so- I will though!

Thanks all. I’ll give it a go as been looking for a new series. Should I start with the prequel (New Spring) or just The Eye of The World?

I think read EotW first, then maybe New Spring. Get to know Moiraine and Lan first before finding out their backstory.

Not all that well written imo, and as pp say quite sexist. Take a look at this blistering review: www.theguardian.com/books/2021/nov/17/the-wheel-of-time-is-far-from-great-for-women-amazon-prime-rosamund-pike.

If you're looking for a new series, have you read all of Bujold yet? Or for epic fantasy, Helen Lowe's Wall of Night series is not well known at all, complex and beautifully written.

I found they developed too many different threads in the books, too much faffing about between them. But generally good stories with a nice enough writing style.

I can't really add anything but agreement to the first response.

If you want a decent fantasy series to get stuck into I recommend Robin Hobb, female writer so you don't get the boobing and other sexist crap you get from male writers.

Plus Brandon Sanderson did an absolutely awful job of finishing the series so you really don't want to invest time into starting it now

DH is obsessed with them. I've never read them but dislike Brando Sando so imagine the last 3 books aren't good. Tonight DH said three of the books are referred to as the slog so make of that what you will!

I loved the books as a teenager so I'm going to give the tv series a try despite the terrible reviews.

Agree with Robin Hobb as far superior books. Really really good

Yes I love Robin Hobb. I haven’t yet read the elderling realm, but everything else. She should hurry up and write more.

@GrumpyPanda many thanks for the suggestions. I hadn’t heard of them.

TBH the article plus watching the three episodes on prime kind of put me off reading the books…

I read them as a teen, and mostly seem to remember the author had an obvious and pervasive fetish for spanking girls and women...? So many mentions of spankings...

I found it skeevy in the 90s and don't think I'd like them more now, but different people like different things, I guess.

I grew up reading WoT and absolutely love them for this reason, but haven’t read with a more critical adult eye. I would say though that even though some bits might be iffy, the actual world building and matriarchal premise was extremely NOT sexist and pretty feminist if you compare it with other books of it’s time and genre, so I’ve never been put off by spanking etc.

However if you want a book to love forever that is definitely palatable as an adult, start with Assassin’s Apprentice by Robin Hobb x

I never actually had a problem with how much Robert Jordan went off track, as I loved escaping into the world of the wheel of time, so was happy for the books to be as long as possible (nerdy teen). I’m glad other posters hated Sanderson ending though - I feel like a lot of dudes enjoyed his ending but I didn’t and I can’t read his books either, really don’t enjoy his writing style. But I wouldn’t let this put you off starting WoT as you do get the story finished at least, and there are about 11 books of Jordan enjoyment to get through before you have to worry about the Sanderson take over.

I’m also loving the show and it made me go to my bookshelf to see if I had book 1 but I must have given it away at some point! When we get a bigger bookshelf I want to get a majestic looking beautifully bound set of them.