Reading order · 15 books · 1990 to 2013 · Set in an invented world
The Wheel of Time Books in Order
The Wheel of Time is one of the great epic fantasies. Three young men from a quiet village, Rand, Mat and Perrin, are swept out into a vast world when dark creatures come hunting them, and Rand learns he is the Dragon Reborn, fated to face the Dark One. After Robert Jordan’s death, Brandon Sanderson completed the final three books from his notes.
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Series facts
- Books
- 15
- Published
- 1990 to 2013
- First book
- The Eye of the World
- Latest
- A Memory of Light (2013)
- Setting
- Set in an invented world
- Order
- Story order differs from publication order
The reading order
Every The Wheel of Time book in publication order, with the story order a switch away. Choose a title for its cast and summary.
15 books · Set in an invented world
- 1The Eye of the World1990With Rand al'Thor and Egwene al'VereWhen monstrous Trollocs attack the village of Emond’s Field, Moiraine, an Aes Sedai, and her Warder Lan lead Rand al’Thor and his friends out into the world, pursued by the servants of the Dark One.Buy on Amazon
- 2The Great Hunt1990With Rand al'Thor and Egwene al'VereThe Horn of Valere, which can call the dead heroes back to fight in the Last Battle, is stolen, and Rand, Mat and Perrin join the hunt for it, while Egwene and Nynaeve go to the White Tower to train.Buy on Amazon
- 3The Dragon Reborn1991With Rand al'Thor and Egwene al'VereRand sets off alone for the great fortress of Tear, pursued by his friends, while Egwene, Nynaeve and Elayne hunt dangerous renegade Aes Sedai.Buy on Amazon
- 4The Shadow Rising1992With Rand al'Thor and Egwene al'VereRand journeys into the Aiel Waste, Perrin returns home to defend the Two Rivers, and Elayne and Nynaeve travel to the city of Tanchico.Buy on Amazon
- 5The Fires of Heaven1993With Rand al'Thor and Egwene al'VereRand leads the Aiel across the mountains to stop an army that is ravaging Cairhien, while Elayne and Nynaeve travel with a menagerie.Buy on Amazon
- 6Lord of Chaos1994With Rand al'Thor and Egwene al'VereRand gathers men who can channel, while the divided Aes Sedai each send embassies to him.Buy on Amazon
- 7A Crown of Swords1996With Rand al'Thor and Egwene al'VereRand campaigns against the Forsaken, while Elayne, Nynaeve and Mat search the city of Ebou Dar for a powerful object that could heal the world’s weather.Buy on Amazon
- 8The Path of Daggers1998With Rand al'Thor and Egwene al'VereElayne and Nynaeve try to restore the weather, Rand faces the invading Seanchan, and Egwene marches on Tar Valon.Buy on Amazon
- 9Winter's Heart2000With Rand al'Thor and Egwene al'VereRand takes on a dangerous plan to remove the taint on men’s magic, while Perrin searches for his kidnapped wife, Faile, and Mat tries to escape Ebou Dar.Buy on Amazon
- 10Crossroads of Twilight2003With Rand al'Thor and Egwene al'VerePerrin continues his search for Faile, Mat travels with a mysterious Seanchan noblewoman, Elayne fights for the throne of Andor and Egwene besieges the White Tower.Buy on Amazon
- 11New Spring2004With Moiraine Damodred and Lan MandragoranA prequel set twenty years before the main series.Buy on Amazon
- 12Knife of Dreams2005With Rand al'Thor and Egwene al'VereThe long threads of the story begin to come together as the Last Battle draws closer.Buy on Amazon
- 13The Gathering Storm2009With Rand al'Thor and Egwene al'VereCompleted by Brandon Sanderson from Jordan’s notes.Buy on Amazon
- 14Towers of Midnight2010With Rand al'Thor and Egwene al'VereAs the Last Battle approaches, Perrin confronts his past and Mat takes on a perilous promise.Buy on Amazon
- 15A Memory of Light2013With Rand al'Thor and Egwene al'VereThe Last Battle between the forces of the Light and the Shadow.Buy on Amazon
Do you need to read them in order?
Read in publication order, starting with The Eye of the World. New Spring is a prequel about Moiraine and Lan, best read after the first few books or once the main series is finished.
Who appears in which book
The series’ main characters, book by book. Lead means the book is told around them; minor covers cameos.
| Book | Rand al'Thor | Egwene al'Vere | Perrin Aybara | Mat Cauthon | Lan Mandragoran | Moiraine Damodred | Elayne Trakand | Nynaeve al'Meara |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 The Eye of the World | LLead | LLead | LLead | LLead | MMajor | MMajor | ·Minor | MMajor |
| 2 The Great Hunt | LLead | LLead | LLead | LLead | MMajor | MMajor | MMajor | MMajor |
| 3 The Dragon Reborn | LLead | LLead | LLead | LLead | MMajor | MMajor | MMajor | MMajor |
| 4 The Shadow Rising | LLead | LLead | LLead | LLead | MMajor | MMajor | MMajor | MMajor |
| 5 The Fires of Heaven | LLead | LLead | LLead | MMajor | MMajor | MMajor | MMajor | |
| 6 Lord of Chaos | LLead | LLead | LLead | LLead | ·Minor | MMajor | MMajor | |
| 7 A Crown of Swords | LLead | LLead | LLead | LLead | ·Minor | MMajor | MMajor | |
| 8 The Path of Daggers | LLead | LLead | LLead | ·Minor | MMajor | MMajor | ||
| 9 Winter's Heart | LLead | LLead | LLead | LLead | ·Minor | MMajor | MMajor | |
| 10 Crossroads of Twilight | LLead | LLead | LLead | LLead | ·Minor | MMajor | MMajor | |
| 11 New Spring | ·Minor | LLead | LLead | MMajor | ||||
| 12 Knife of Dreams | LLead | LLead | LLead | LLead | ·Minor | MMajor | MMajor | |
| 13 The Gathering Storm | LLead | LLead | LLead | LLead | ·Minor | MMajor | MMajor | |
| 14 Towers of Midnight | LLead | LLead | LLead | LLead | ·Minor | MMajor | MMajor | MMajor |
| 15 A Memory of Light | LLead | LLead | LLead | LLead | ·Minor | MMajor | MMajor | MMajor |
Characters in the The Wheel of Time books
11 characters from Robert Jordan’s chart, with the number of The Wheel of Time books each appears in.
| Character | Books | First in this series |
|---|---|---|
| Rand al'ThorShepherd revealed as the Dragon Reborn | 15 | The Eye of the World 1990 |
| Egwene al'VereRand's childhood sweetheart, later Amyrlin Seat | 14 | The Eye of the World 1990 |
| Perrin AybaraBlacksmith who can speak with wolves | 13 | The Eye of the World 1990 |
| Mat CauthonGambler with uncanny luck | 13 | The Eye of the World 1990 |
| Lan MandragoranMoiraine's Warder | 15 | The Eye of the World 1990 |
| Moiraine DamodredAes Sedai who leads them out of the Two Rivers | 8 | The Eye of the World 1990 |
| Elayne TrakandDaughter-Heir of Andor | 15 | The Eye of the World 1990 |
| Nynaeve al'MearaWisdom of Emond's Field | 14 | The Eye of the World 1990 |
| Min FarshawWoman who sees visions around people | 14 | The Eye of the World 1990 |
| Thom MerrilinGleeman | 14 | The Eye of the World 1990 |
| AviendhaAiel Maiden of the Spear | 13 | The Dragon Reborn 1991 |