How to Read the Wheel of Time Books in Order

The 15-installment series both subverted and expanded what’s possible for epic fantasy.

By Adrienne Westenfeld Published: Aug 30, 2023 1:22 PM EDT Save Article

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Elaine Chung

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Wheel of Time fans, rejoice: Amazon Prime's epic fantasy series is returning to the small screen for Season Two, streaming on September 1. Adapted from Robert Jordan's award-winning book series by the same name, Season One made significant changes to the source material—and now, with Season Two on the horizon, fans are wondering just how the new episodes will engage with Jordan's other books. Amazon Prime confirms that Season Two is expected to cover Book Two of The Wheel of Time series, The Great Hunt, as well as elements of Book Three, The Dragon Reborn.

If you're not up to speed on the Wheel of Time books, that's where we come in. We’ve spelunked our way through the books to bring you this roadmap to the sprawling series, with guidance on how best to navigate the novels and what to expect from each outing. Season One of Amazon’s series spanned only the first installment, The Eye of the World, so we recommend starting there, then plowing through the ensuing books in their publication order. The series changed hands for the final three volumes, owing to Jordan’s death in 2007, but with a treasure trove of notes from the author's personal archive, fantasy favorite Brandon Sanderson managed to bring the titanic story home, just as Jordan intended.

Drawing on global mythologies about the cyclical nature of time, as well as familiar themes of fate and free will, The Wheel of Time looms large in the literary canon as a definitive work that both subverted and expanded what’s possible for epic fantasy. If you fall in love with the books, don’t stop exploring—there’s a whole world of video games, roleplaying games, and even soundtracks to get lost in.