Robert Jordan Wheel of Time Series in Order: Why the Prequel is a Trap

You finally decided to do it. You’re staring at that massive shelf of books—or more likely, a dauntingly long list on your Kindle—and wondering how on earth anyone finishes this thing. Robert Jordan’s world is huge. It’s legendary. It’s also famously unfinished by the man himself, which adds a whole other layer of "how do I even start this?" to the mix.

Getting the robert jordan wheel of time series in order seems like a simple task until you realize there’s a prequel sitting there, tempting you to read it first. Don't. Seriously, just don't do it.

The Traditional Path (The One You Actually Want)

Most people who love this series will tell you the same thing: stick to the order the books were actually released. There is a specific rhythm to how Jordan reveals the world. He starts small, in a dusty little village called Emond's Field, and slowly peels back the layers of a complex, terrifying reality.

If you jump into the prequel, New Spring, right away, you lose the mystery. You find out things about Moiraine and the Aes Sedai that are supposed to feel like secrets in the beginning. It's like watching the Star Wars prequels before the original trilogy; sure, you get the timeline, but you kill the "I am your father" moments.

Here is how the main sequence actually flows:

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1. The Eye of the World (1990) – This is your starting line. It feels very Lord of the Rings at first, but stick with it. It changes fast.
2. The Great Hunt (1990) – Things get weird. The stakes get global.
3. The Dragon Reborn (1991) – The title character barely appears, which is a bold move that actually works.
4. The Shadow Rising (1992) – Many fans (me included) think this is the best book in the entire series. It's massive.
5. The Fires of Heaven (1993) – No Rand POV in the previous book? He's back in a big way here.
6. Lord of Chaos (1994) – The ending of this book is arguably the most famous moment in the whole fandom.
7. A Crown of Swords (1996) – The world starts to feel like it’s fracturing.
8. The Path of Daggers (1998) – Shortest book in the series, but dense.
9. Winter's Heart (2000) – Features a massive magical feat that changes the world’s physics.
10. Crossroads of Twilight (2003) – This is the one people complain about. It’s slow. Very slow.
11. Knife of Dreams (2005) – Robert Jordan’s final solo book. He went out on a high note; it’s a total return to form.

The Sanderson Era

After Robert Jordan passed away in 2007, his wife and editor Harriet McDougal chose Brandon Sanderson to finish the job using Jordan's extensive notes. It was supposed to be one book. It turned into three.

12. The Gathering Storm (2009) – The pace suddenly accelerates like it's been hit with a nitro boost.
13. Towers of Midnight (2010) – Tying up a dozen different loose ends.
14. A Memory of Light (2013) – The end. Literally a 200-page chapter for the final battle. It's exhausting in a good way.

So, Where Does the Prequel Fit?

Basically, New Spring was published in 2004, right between Crossroads of Twilight and Knife of Dreams. If you want the "true" experience of someone living through the releases, read it then.

Honestly? It's a nice palate cleanser after the slog of Book 10. You get a younger, less-stoic Moiraine and a very grumpy Lan Mandragoran. It’s refreshing. Some people say wait until the very end, but by then, you’re so emotionally spent from the finale that a prequel feels like a tiny snack after a twenty-course meal.

If you really can't wait, at least finish Lord of Chaos first. By then, you’ve seen enough of the world that the "spoilers" in the prequel won't ruin the main plot's tension.

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Navigating the Infamous Slog

You’ve probably heard of "The Slog." It’s the period between books 7 and 10 where the plot seems to crawl. Back in the day, waiting three years for a book where nothing happened was torture.

But you've got the advantage now.

You can just click "next" on your e-reader. The slog isn't really a slog anymore; it's just a lot of character development and political maneuvering. Don't let people scare you off. The payoff in Knife of Dreams and the Sanderson books is 100% worth the slower chapters about Elayne's bath habits or Perrin's brooding.

A Note on the Short Stories

There are a few extra bits floating around. The Strike at Shayol Ghul is a short piece that explains the "Breaking of the World." It’s cool, but not essential. Then there are "River of Souls" and "A Fire Within the Ways," which are essentially deleted scenes or non-canon sequences published in anthologies like Unfettered.

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Save those for when you're desperate for more content three years from now.

Actionable Next Steps for New Readers

If you're ready to dive into the robert jordan wheel of time series in order, don't overthink it. Here is your immediate game plan:

• Start with The Eye of the World. Ignore the prequel for now.
• Check the Glossary. Every book has one in the back. Use it. It helps you keep track of the 2,000+ named characters without accidentally spoiling yourself on a wiki.
• Audiobooks are a cheat code. Rosamund Pike has started narrating new versions, and the original Michael Kramer/Kate Reading versions are legendary. They help immensely during the slower middle books.
• Stop at Book 11 to reflect. Before you start the Sanderson era, take a breath. The writing style changes significantly. It’s good, but it’s different.

The Wheel weaves as the Wheel wills, but your reading order is something you actually get to control. Stick to the publication sequence for your first time through. You only get to experience the mystery of who Rand al'Thor really is once. Don't spoil it by trying to be a chronological completionist on day one.