Let’s rank all 14 books in The Wheel of Time series

The Wheel of Time is one of the longest epic fantasy series around, at 14 door-stopping volumes. Before Amazon adapts it for TV, let’s take a closer look.

One of the biggest fantasy series on the horizon is Amazon’s The Wheel of Time, based on the book series by Robert Jordan and Brandon Sanderson. It’s an extraordinary story that follows the lives of young farm villagers thrown on a path woven by destiny. It’s a long tale, spanning 14 novels that average around 900 pages each. From the most recent statistics, Jordan’s series has sold over 80 million copies worldwide.

And if Amazon’s show does for The Wheel of Time books what Game of Thrones did for George R.R. Martin’s A Song of Ice and Fire (or what Netflix’s Witcher series did for Andrzej Sapkowski’s novels), Jordan’s work could soon be back on top of the charts. With so many new readers on the horizon, and so many old experienced ones perhaps considering a reread ahead of Amazon’s show, we figured it’d be a good time to have a little fun and rank all 14 books of the series, “best” to “worst.”

Searching through Wheel of Time forums and resources such as Dragonmount.com, there are several fan polls and rankings to help us get a better understanding of how the community feels about each individual books in the series. With these rankings, we want to reflect the general consensus, as well as throwing in our two cents. Each individual books has its ups and downs, and there’s always something worthwhile. But some of the books do drag on longer than others, and drive the plot the forward to differing degrees. At the end of the day, the series is more than the sum of its parts, but that doesn’t mean the parts can’t be evaluated on their own.

For reference, here is a list of The Wheel of Time books in their release order:

1. The Eye of the World (1990)


2. The Great Hunt (1990)


3. The Dragon Reborn (1991)


4. The Shadow Rising (1992)


5. The Fires of Heaven (1993)


6. The Lord of Chaos (1994)


7. The Crown of Swords (1996)


8. The Path of Daggers (1998)


9. Winter’s Heart (2000)


10. Crossroads of Twilight (2003)


11. Knife of Dreams (2005)


12. The Gathering Storm (2009)


13. Towers of Midnight (2010)


14. A Memory of Light (2013)

Thank you to @rogueAelfinn for the resources!

As you may have noticed, we’re not including the prequel novel New Spring on this list, since it’s not considered part of the main Wheel of Time storyline. Also, a word of caution for newbies before we start: although we’re not going to dive into exacting details, we are going to be talking about the series in broad strokes, so beware of minor SPOILERS. With that, let’s begin!

14. Crossroads of Twilight, Book 10 of The Wheel of Time

No one wants to choose their least favorite book in a series, but it’s almost universally agreed among the fandom that this book belongs at the bottom of the pile. As the series nears its end, readers were expecting real progress instead of the lengthy subplot developments we get here.

The biggest problem with Crossroads is that it brings the events after Winter’s Heart to a standstill and comes off as padding for the sake of padding. The book is a long read, but doesn’t progress the main story in a meaningful way, except to set up the next book in line. Book 10 can feel a bit like a hurdle to climb over in able to move on with the series.

At times it can be frustrating, but there are several bright moments along the way that make the next installment look promising, especially for Egwene and Rand.  However, the side plots involving Perrin and Mat barely develop at all. This particular book may feel like a speed bump in the road, but as the series goes on it becomes clear Crossroads was meant to set pieces in motion.

13. The Path of Daggers, Book 8 of The Wheel of Time

Sometimes The Wheel of Time series seems to move in fits and starts, and The Path of Daggers is another book that feels unbalanced. There are subplots of interest here, such as Elayne’s claim and taking on the Bowl of the Winds, but all character development for Egwene seemed to be put on pause while Mat is sidelined.

Fortunately, some parts stand out more than the rest. The massive battle scenes are entertaining, and make up for the slower pace at the beginning of the book. There is a welcome growth in the relationship between Elayne, Nynaeve, and Aviendah, but other than that there isn’t much going on, and by the end of the book things don’t seem to have progressed at all.

Most Wheel of Time books build up to a seismic event at the end, and Path of Daggers is no different. However, this time the conclusion of Rand’s arc is messy in an unsatisfying way. At this point in the series, Rand has become rather an enigmatic character, and it might be disappointing to see so little of him. Looking at the big picture, Path of Daggers could be accused of starting a trend where subplots get in the way of the main story moving forward.

12. Winter’s Heart, Book 9 of The Wheel of Time

Winter’s Heart has enough great moments to help push the reader through some of the meandering middle and witness one of the biggest accomplishments for our main character so far. It’s also satisfying to see beloved characters come together once again, as Nynaeve and Lan join Rand and Min on a life-or-death mission.

What brings this book down is the side story between Perrin and Faile, which struggles to build as much excitement as the rest of the book. The big reason Winter’s Heart pushes ahead of Path of Daggers is because of its powerful conclusion, a moment that drastically effects the magic system in this world.

If you’re an avid fan, you might have suspected these three books to be at the bottom of the rankings, yet I don’t think they’re written poorly. These books are essential to moving the pieces into place for the final stretch. The thrill isn’t on par with what we expect from this series, but a re-read will certainly improve your appreciation for them.

As you can see above, it sounds like Rafe Judkins, the showrunner for Amazon’s Wheel of Time show, knows about these books’ reputations and may be doing some strategic cutting when it comes time to adapt them. As good as they are, this is a solid idea.

11. Knife of Dreams, Book 11 of The Wheel of Time

The final Wheel of Time novel written exclusively by Robert Jordan speeds things up, quickening the pace to the level we’d come to expect. This book is certainly an improvement over the previous few. After a lull, things jerk back to life, and the final destination is in sight.

Events seem to be coming together faster than ever. Rand continues to suffer from his abilities as he seeks truce with the enemy. Elayne pushes forward and Mat courts his future wife. But the most intriguing storyline, by far, belongs to Egwene Al’vere.

Her circumstances have led to her captivity in the White Tower. She works to seize control from the inside without losing her respect or dignity. Her story provides one of the better chapters to date, “Honey in the Tea.” Jordan’s final novel before he passed away was a brilliant combination of action, drama, and intrigue.

10. A Crown of Swords, Book 7 of The Wheel of Time

A Crown of Swords comes hot off the heels of one the craziest climaxes in the series thus far. Following the build up from Lord of Chaos, the seventh book does a lot right. It introduces another mysterious Aes Sedai, features a long-awaited confrontation between Rand and one of the Forsaken, and drives Nyneave’s character forward in exciting ways. However, the conclusion feels a little muddled.

The book succeeds at tightening up loose ends while continuing to development prominent characters and relationships, such as Rand and Min. But there are times when the story comes to a crawl. The duel with the One Power in Shadar Logoth at the end was captivating, but didn’t have the impact most endings in this series have.

But coming so soon after the events at Dumai’s Wells, it is compelling enough to push any reader to breeze through this book in a matter of days. The mystique Cadsuane Sedai brings to the table is something readers had been missing for a while and it feels good to have it back.

9. The Dragon Reborn, Book 3 of The Wheel of Time

The Dragon Reborn caps off the first arc of the series and shows Jordan at his best. While juggling multiple points of view, he moves the story forward in exciting ways that lead to a perfectly executed climax.

While Rand travels alone with a search party hot on his heels, he contemplates his role in destiny and questions his sanity. Meanwhile, Mat is brought to safety by Nyneave, Egwene and Elaine, the thus begins a wonderful companionship.

The strength of this book is in the magnitude of its storytelling, which carves a path for future books to follow. However, the choice to view Rand mainly from the points of view of others has its drawbacks, as there are stretches where we don’t see arguably the most important character in the story. But all in all, this is an excellent conclusion to the first arc. While original problems seem to be solved, a world of conflict is about to open up to our heroes.

8. The Gathering Storm, Book 12 of The Wheel of Time

In The Gathering Storm, fantasy author Brandon Sanderson takes the helm after the passing of Robert Jordan. This book not only tells a daring story but also succeeds as a smooth transition from one author to another. Sanderson did not try to emulate Jordan’s writing; rather, he adapted his own style to be appropriate for The Wheel of Time. “I cannot replace Robert Jordan,” Sanderson writes in the foreword. “Nobody could write this book as well as he could have. That is a simple fact.”

This volume is filled with war, death and madness. Heroes struggle to unite a fractured land of warring kingdoms and shaky alliances in preparation for the Last Battle, Tarmon Gai’don. Madness runs rampant within this book. What has been building up for a while now comes to a head as Rand continues to lose control. The man who is supposed to save the world has ended up terrifying it to the bones.

Storyline aside, this volume stays true to the soul of the characters Jordan had been writing about for years. When he passed away in 2007, Sanderson received a phone call from Harriet McDougal, Jordan’s wife and editor. She requested that he be the one to complete the final Wheel of Time book. Out of respect for his predecessor, Sanderson ended up turning what was supposed to be one last book into a fully realized trilogy. The twelfth book in the series is a terrific addition, but Sanderson has yet more to give.

7. Towers of Midnight, Book 13 of The Wheel of Time

By the second-to-last book in the series, readers should be comfortable with Sanderson’s style, meaning he can lean into the story more.

As Sanderson has aid, the actual plot comes mostly from Jordan, although Sanderson is the one giving it shape with his words. “Imagine the book as a product of a new director working on some of the scenes of a movie while retaining the same actors and scripts,” he once explained. And he’s done an exceptional job, kicking things into overdrive as the end looms near. He effortlessly synthesizes the plot while bringing long-overdue character growth to a number of the main players.

Sanderson sets the stage for Towers of Midnight in his previous volume. Black clouds roll through the skies as the Dark One’s lays his taint upon the land. Skirmishes rage along the Borderlands as trollocs surge out of the Blight in horrifying numbers. The persistent Black Ajah cannot be ousted. All of these builds into an incredible story that shows us a side of Rand readers hadn’t seen for a long time.

With this books, Sanderson proves that Jordan’s fantasy legacy couldn’t be in better hands. He brings a much-needed spark to The Wheel of Time series while retaining Jordan’s original vision.

6. The Great Hunt, Book 2 of The Wheel of Time

The second book in the series stands stands on its own as a high-ranking entry. It introduces exciting new characters and gives more to do to now-familiar favorites like Mat and Perrin. The White Tower, to which we are formally introduced in this book, is a great addition to the world, and the appearance of foreign invaders gives us a look a player who will be very prominent in the future.

Egwene and company face challenges that allow them to blossom as characters apart from Moraine. Nyneave announces herself as one of the stronger characters in the books, while Rand acts reluctantly. The climax of this book expertly weaves the storylines together. It could have been complex of being hard to take in, but Jordan pulls it off, writing an exciting book that goes down easy.

5. The Fires of Heaven, Book 5 of The Wheel of Time

The Fires of Heaven continues a stretch of heavy plot development, with a ton going on for our heroes. Rand tries to piece together a broken people as he grows in character and abilities. Mat solidifies his role as a reluctant hero, and Elaine has a bigger role to play as well. With the exception of Perrin, this title features a healthy balance of characters.

The weight of responsibility taken on by our heroes truly hits home in The Fires of Heaven. The shocking conclusion pivots away from what readers have grown used to up to this point, and has a ripple effect that will affect many of our characters going forward. The once innocent farm villagers are long gone, and looking back at the events of the first few novels, it feels as if ages have passed.

4. Lord of Chaos, Book 6 of The Wheel of Time

Lord of Chaos ends the second proper stretch of The Wheel of Time with high drama. While the book can feel slightly disjointed at times, the events at Dumai’s Wells, the newly raised Amyrlin Seat and a sprinkle of madness make for a terrific read.

The story begins shortly after the events of the previous book, with Rand facing new obstacles as a ruler. Jordan digs into what this new role means for his ultimate destiny, but the anxiety-inducing climax steals the show. It’s a chilling cliffhanger.

The reappearance of a too-long-forgotten character is a welcome surprise, and a new mission for Mat results in a heartwarming reunion. Sometimes, the story is so complex that it hinders the flow, but because of the high number of exceptional moments, the seventh book in the series earns its high spot on this list.

3. The Shadow Rising, Book 4 of The Wheel of Time

The Shadow Rising is about as good a book as you’ll find in this series. After the conclusion of the previous book, readers have a feeling a new arc is about to begin. This fourth book in the collection proves to be an excellent world-building adventure. Our formal introduction into the Aiel way of life may be confusing at first, but it has rewarding depths.

The lead female characters go through phenomenal growth during this part of the series, with each growing stronger as Jordan develops them personally and their relationships with each other. On the other hand, Mat plays sidekick to Rand, who is the true focus of this novel. Rand’s increasing abilities combined with a newfound cunning attitude results in one of his most interesting storylines so far.

Yet even he is out-shined by Perrin, who steals the show. His arc is one of love and heroism, beautifully balanced. We get a great sense here of how things have really changed since the start of the series.

2. The Eye of the World, Book 1 of The Wheel of Time

The Eye of the World gets a well-deserved boost for being the novel that started it all. The intentional parallels between Edmond’s Field and the Shire from J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings invoke a sense of naivety and familiarity before readers are introduced to Jordan’s brutal wider world. As the story moves forward and evil starts to sap our characters of their innocence, we realize the tale isn’t as familiar as we thought.

It’s a thrilling book to kick off the epic series. With such a large cast of characters, it’s hard not to identify with one or another. Readers will find themselves rushing through pages just to find out what happens next, and when looking back, they’ll feel nostalgic for the way things were before they started to hit the fan.

1. A Memory of Light, Book 14 of The Wheel of Time

Out of respect for those who have yet to finish the series, there will be no spoilers about the content of the final book. It suffices to say that Memory of Light is the finale readers had been waiting for. This book delivers, bringing a great many plotlines to satisfying conclusions. While it’s impossible not to wonder how things may have been different had Jordan written the series all the way to the end, Brandon Sanderson used all the notes and resources he could to make sure fans got the ending Jordan had been reaching for.

Fans have followed this group of characters through thousands of pages of story. Jordan’s excellence as an author comes from his ability to create relatable characters in an un-relatable world. The connections between reader and character pay off in a heart-wrenching final act, with plenty of smiles and teary eyes to go around. The Last Battle brings decades of storytelling to a truly epic conclusion, and the emotional resonance of reading it is enough to name the final Wheel of Time book as the best in the series.

For those unaware, in a 2013 interview, Brandon Sanderson revealed the last chapter of the series was written by Robert Jordan himself.

"This end book is what everyone has been expecting. They call it the Last Battle, so it’s the last showdown as there’s this massive war going on. You can also expect the last chapter written by Robert Jordan himself. He always promised fans that he knew what the end of the series would be, so he sat down and wrote it before he passed away. It’s gone into the book virtually unchanged by me. It’s the goal I’ve been working towards all this time."

Thanks for Jordan and Sanderson for putting this incredible series together. Amazon, you have your work cut out for you.

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