Now that Robert Jordan’s sprawling book series has finally made its way to the small screen, courtesy of Amazon Prime Video, fantasy lovers are anxious to dive into the original novels. However, it might be difficult to know where to begin: Reading the Wheel of Time series is nothing short of an endurance contest, with 14 main-series novels and an average of 826 pages each book. But don’t be concerned. The route you’re taking is clearly highlighted on the map below. There will be spoilers for Robert Jordan’s Wheel of Time trilogy.

Jordan’s fantasy trilogy centers around a prophesied battle between good and evil, the foundation for which was set a long time ago. The Creator imprisoned the Dark One millennia before the events of the first book in the series, Eye of the Globe, to keep him from gaining control of the Wheel of Time: a cosmic contraption powered by magic (aka the One Power) that propels the world through waves of cyclical time. The channelers of the One Power, known as the Aes Sedai, unintentionally unleashed the Dark One, allowing him to attack the Creator. The Wheel produced Lews Therin Telamon, a channeler capable of destroying the Dark One, in the hopes of balancing power. Unfortunately for the Dragon, the Dark One imposed a curse on male channelers, including Telamon, guaranteeing that if they pursued their skill, they would be driven to suicide. Following Telamon’s death, a prophecy emerges predicting that the Dark One would unite his troops and the Dragon will channel the One Power once more, in a catastrophic struggle for the world’s destruction… And that’s just the preamble.

Here’s a quick rundown of the Wheel of Time books, in chronological sequence:

Published in 2004 as a standalone novel — and with less than half the page count of the average Wheel of Time book — New Spring is a prequel set 20 years before the events of Eye of the World and the rest of Jordan’s series. The story here follows a small band of Aes Sedai as they seek out the reincarnated Dragon, who is rumored to have just been born

The Aes Sedai have narrowed their search for the new Dragon down to three candidates from the same small village: Rand author, Matrim Cauthon, and Perrin Aybara. Just as channeler Moiraine Damodred arrives in town with Al’Lan Mandragoran, soldiers who serve the Shadow attack, forcing them to flee with the three young men and two young women: Egwene alert and Nynaeve al’Meara.

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‘The Great Hunt’ by Robert Jordan

A servant of the Shadow steals a priceless artifact, which prophecy foretells the Dragon will need. Meanwhile, the adventurers’ last outing has left Mat Cauthon psychologically damaged, and Rand and Perrin find themselves separated from two potential Aes Sedai, Egwene, and Nynaeve.

‘The Dragon Reborn by Robert Jordan

As The Dragon Reborn opens, Rand has set off on his own, with Moiraine, Lan Mandragoran, and Perrin following close behind. Meanwhile, Egwene and Nynaeve escort Mat toward the city-state of Tar Valon, where they hope to find a cure for his magical ailment.

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‘The Shadow Rising by Robert Jordan

The Shadow Rising sees Rand and Moiraine reunited with Egwene and Mat on their journey to the Aiel Waste. For his part, Perrin heads home to Two Rivers, and Nynaeve leaves on her own quest to sniff out Aes Sedai who have aligned themselves with the Dark One.

To Be Continued…..