The Wheel of Time - A Spoiler Free Introduction

I'm on a mission to help you find your new favourite books.

This video is a spoiler free and (mostly) unbiased introduction on the Wheel of Time (aka one of the best fantasy book series of ALL TIME). Ideal for new readers who want to know more about the series and if it's worth the commitment to read all 15 books.

I cover general world building concepts, characters and plotlines, content guide/warnings, readability report, rating each book in the series, and THE SLUMP. Plus tips for how to read a series of this magnitude.

Subscribe to see more videos about big book series soon!

[maybelore]

what do you mean you're not very entertaining? the most entertaining thing in the world is watching someone talk about something their passionate about.

[kaykayy]

I've been watching all your videos! I love your positivity and how you stress reading is for enjoyment. Sometimes it can feel like a race or competition when you see everyone online reading so many things. It's important to remember reading is for ourselves!

[krissaunders]

For the people looking to get into the Wheel of Time, there are 2 recommended reading orders:
1) books 1-5, The prequel, books 6-14. This order is recommended for plot reasons. I recommend this order because it makes the beginning of book 6 all the better. It is great without this reading order but with it, it becomes the icing on the cake. Book 6 is considered the best in the series though my favorite is book 12.
2) books 1-10, prequel, then books 11-14. This is the release order. Many recommend it just so you get to experience the series the way readers originally got to. But reading A New Spring (the prequel) after book 10 can be daunting and kinda ruins a twist but I've already said too much.
Most don't recommend prequel, books 1-14 on your first read. It would give you a false promise of certain POVs prevalence in the series. You will want to reread the series. Most consider the first read great but the second to be even better because the amount of foreshadowing that will go over your head in the first read through is astounding.
Interesting note: Books 12-14 were originally written as 1 book and Brandon wrote it thick as RJ requested but it was too thick to make a profit off of so it was rewritten as 3 books. The same thing happened with book 9 and was broken into book 9 and 10. It is why book 10 is the worst in the series.

[timothyburbage]

I love the music for your intro is like an 80s soap. I imagine each scene in your intro is a different character who lives in the town of Cronk

[brettpetty]

I wasn't much of a reader before wheel of time. Like you were talking about in the intro, I didn't have good reading habits lol. I stumbled upon a clip from some college humor game show and one of the people called WOT "nerd homework" and for some reason that stuck with me, I wanted to see if I could nerd out on something so huge. So I listened to eye of the world, got on YouTube to see what people had to say about it and I found the most wonderful community of book fans! Fast forward a year and a half later and I had finished the last book. I would give anything to read WOT for the first time again, I think about it almost every day. It's what gave me confidence to dive into other big fantasy like stormlight.
Long story short if anyone is reading this comment without having read WOT I recommend it with my whole heart. The main characters arc is the best of all time!
Love your channel buddy just stumbled upon it today, good luck!

[AshleyRebecca]

I love how you make reading approachable! You also do great with synopsis that don’t spoil anything. I appreciate the perspective!

[inkylynx]

I started reading WoT at the beginning of the year by listening to its audiobooks at my work! I've found I read books better if I listen to them than if I physically read them, and I'll actually hack away at their Everestine heights. So far it's doing well since I finished 8/15 books!

So for those of you who don't have the mental fortitude to physically read WoT, perhaps give the audiobooks a go! Michael Kramer and Kate Reading (lol) have wonderful voices for all the characters, and it might be easier for some of you to absorb the ambience of location and clothing descriptions and the big words if you hear them instead of see them.
My one downside I will admit is that it may be hard to remember where places are. I didn't look at a map until I finished the first few books and even now I have a poor sense of where anyone is in the world in relation to one another. Don't be like me. Pull up a map of the Westlands and reference it often whenever you're listening.

[birdmaster]

I'm on book 4 right now and I'm loving
I love your explinations and positive energy with your videos too 😎👍

[swdge]

I'm actually reading book 3 now and am loving it. Great job breaking everything down so comprehensively without spoilers. Also it is unbelievably bold of you to name a cat Nynaeve.

[HeavyTopspin]

What really makes WoT stand out is that there are certain set pieces that you'll want to go back and read again and again. I've read every book in the series at least twice (EoTW 8 times, LOL, starting with book 6 I reread the series from the beginning with each new book's release), but occasionally I'll just pull out certain books just to read a specific extended scene.

[kimberlymerriam]

Stumbled across your channel today by watching your overview of the Throne Of Glass series. Great stuff! I haven't seen anyone else in the "BookTube" space do videos like you do. I appreciate that your approach is to introduce your audience to new books, as opposed to simply giving us your opinion. Loving the movie and M*A*S*H references, too!
Looking forward to what you put out next!
Happy reading. 📚

[issymartin]

Hi! New to your channel and seriously have so much respect for your approach to book videos, you seem really happy and kind - SO refreshing!!!!

[ninalvdok]

Your enthusiasm inspired me to reread the series, just started book one again! I love that I stumbled upon your channel, looking forward to your next video😊

[rachels]

You are quickly becoming my favorite booktuber on YouTube!! I love your positive attitude and sense of humor, plus you always deliver very balanced, well-researched, and fair takes. Excited to subscribe and looking forward to more content! 🎉

[safinan]

Hi 👋 I’m fan of the wheel of time series too, I’ve only read first 6 books… happy reading I’m from uk 🇬🇧

[Ulmo]

Awesome pitch for WoT, have read the series twice and I really enjoy it

[LordB]

Absolutely love this! Currently on Book 8, and it has started to slow down. However, I’m reading the Throne of Glass series when I need a break from WoT and it’s working out better for me that way.

For anyone who needs help the Wheel of Time Companion app is a great spoiler free reference!

[TheOkayestBookReviewer]

I've had the first 3 books on my shelf for years. You made a very convincing case, and I'm moving book one to my more immediate TBR : )

[ViperRT]

Just happened by this channel. I'll Keep an eye out on it. The one thing I couldn't get over was "slump". It's the "slog". 😀

I personally feel that Crossroads is the only real slog.

Anyway. I like the content so far.

[thesuperheroguy]

I came across your channel recently, and I love it! You are rapidly becoming one of my favorite Booktubers along with Mike from Mike's Book Reviews, Moid from Media Death Cult, and Jonathan from Words in Time. I'm currently reading The Wheel of Time. I'm on Book 2 "The Great Hunt", and I'm a few chapters from the end. Your intro to the series makes me want to keep going--which I will. But I'm taking a brief break to read "The Color of Magic" before diving into Book 3 of The Wheel of Time. Your video on Discworld is also amazing, and that's why I'm slipping in a Discworld book in between The Wheel of Time because I so want to dive into Discworld. All your other videos I've seen are top notch. Thanks for doing Sci Fi September. To be honest, I'd love to see you do more Sci Fi content along with the Fantasy as I'm currently making my way through a list of the 300 best Sci Fi novels. Keep up the great work! I only disagree with you on one thing--you're very entertaining.