The first book in Robert Jordan’s epic high fantasy series The Wheel of Time was published in 1990, and since then, 13 subsequent books and one prequel have been released.
As of 2021, the books had sold over 90 million copies worldwide, making it one of the best-selling epic fantasy series since The Lord of the Rings.
In November 2021, Amazon debuted its TV adaptation, starring Rosamund Pike as Moirane and Josha Stradowski as Rand.
If you’re curious about the hype or wondering in which order you should start tackling the books, we’ll help you out with this list of all 15 titles.
All 15 Wheel of Time Books in Order
Below are all 15 books in the Wheel of Time series, listed in order of publication date.
1. The Eye of the World
This is the first book in Jordan’s epic series. Here, we meet a mysterious traveler named Moiraine Damodred, who arrives in Edmond’s Field seeking the Dragon Reborn—the one prophesied to stand against “The Dark One.”
When a gang of beastly soldiers attacks the village, Moiraine fights them off alongside a band of locals. Among them is Rand, who decimates the trolloc army, leading Moiraine to believe that he may be the Dragon Reborn.
2. The Great Hunt
For centuries, tales have been told of the Great Hunt of the Horn, a powerful artifact that summons dead heroes to fight on behalf of the Light.
Now, the Horn has finally been found—and stolen. Rand must keep it out of the Dark One’s hands, but he’ll first have to step into his destiny as the Dragon Reborn and master new magical capabilities.
3. The Dragon Reborn
Now that Rand has been declared the Dragon Reborn, the war-ravaged people of the world cry out for his help. He travels to the great fortress known as the Stone of Tear, hoping to find the sword Callandor and discover if he truly is destined to battle The Dark One.
Following Rand are Moiraine and their friends, who fight off Darkhounds on the hunt and hope to reach the Heart of the Stone in time for the next great test.
4. The Shadow Rising
With the Callendor now in his possession, Rand travels with Moriane to the desert region of Aiel Waste, where he’s granted permission by the Wise Ones to enter the sacred city of Rhuidean.
Rand hopes to be declared the prophesied leader of the Aiel, but his journey will force him to relive ancestral history, discover the secret past of the Aiel, and learn to channel the One Power.
5. The Fires of Heaven
While Rand continues learning how to master his abilities, he must also rally his Aiel followers to defend Cairhien, a city threatened by dark forces.
Once Rand establishes control of the city, he plans to avenge the deposed queen. His battle leads him to the world of dreams, where he fights to stamp out an evil leader once and for all.
6. Lord of Chaos
Rand now rules Tear, Andor, Caemlyn, and other nations, but the threat of the Dark One continues to grow. Rand being to train a new legion of men who can channel the One Power, but Cairhien receives an unexpected visitor seeking to control Rand.
When he’s kidnapped and tortured by an agent of dark forces, Rand’s followers take up arms in the Battle of Dumai’s Wells, which leads rebels forced to swear loyalty to the Dragon Reborn.
7. A Crown of Swords
Elayne, Aviendha, and Mat search for the Bowl of the Winds, an artifact with the power to reverse the endless heat waves started by the Dark One.
Meanwhile, the Aes Sedai from different lands assemble, and Rand attempts to stop a rebellion among nobles in Cairhien.
8. The Path of Daggers
Now that the Bowl of the Winds has been found, the Aes Sedai are able to stop the Dark One’s control of the climate.
Meanwhile, Rand fights off the Seanchan invading forces, but suffers an attack from a traitorous enemy.
9. Winter’s Heart
While Rand is on the run with Min, Mat kidnaps the woman he’s prophesied to marry, and Perrin chases after the warrior who kidnapped Faile.
As Cadsuane tries to figure out where Rand is headed, Rand finally manages to cleanse saidin of the Dark One’s influence.
10. Crossroads of Twilight
While Perrin continues fighting to free his wife, Mat courts the Daughter of the Nine Moons, whom he’s destined to marry and, as it turns out, can channel the One Power.
Rand and Perrin’s storylines cross when a truce requires Rand to meet with the Daughter of the Nine Moons.
11. New Spring
New Spring is actually a prequel, set 20 years before the events of The Eye of the World. Here we get to learn more about Moiraine and how she became Aes Sedai.
Moiraine also recounts how she witnessed a prophecy of the Dragon’s rebirth, which leads us back to the events of the first book.
12. Knife of Dreams
This is the last installment that Robert Jordan wrote in full before his death. Here, we see a changing world, where the dead are walking and all signs show that the Last Battle is near, when Rand must confront the Dark One and save humanity.
Rand and the Daughter of the Nine Moons have negotiated a truce, but when Rand’s alter-ego takes control of saidin, the resulting conflict costs Rand his left hand and reveals the mental disorder that will likely kill him.
13. The Gathering Storm
Here, Brandon Sanderson steps in to help complete the final volume, which was ultimately split into three books.
Rand struggles to unite a fractured network of kingdoms and alliances as he prepares for the Last Battle. While he tries to stop the Seanchan encroachment, his allies watch with terror as a shadow seems to be growing in Rand’s own heart.
14. Towers of Midnight
In the days leading up to the Last Battle, Mat and Perrin must align their followers to fight in humanity’s last stand.
They must also embrace their destinies and channel the forces within them, while Rand struggles to control both his power and madness.
15. A Memory of Light
It all finally comes down to an epic duel between Rand and the Dark One, as Rand must harness all of his powers to defeat evil for the sake of humanity.
When it’s all done, Rand is believed dead, but his friends know that he survived in another body, riding off in secret, albeit no longer able to channel the One Power.
What Order Should You Read The Wheel of Time?
The best way to read the Wheel of Time books is in the order listed here (starting with The Eye of the World and ending with A Memory of Light).
If you read the prequel as the first book in the series, you may not understand some of the events in their proper context. That’s why some fans argue that you can skip the prequel, New Spring, but if you do wish to read it, it’s best to read it in order (as #11 in the sequence).
Have you read the Wheel of Time books? Share your thoughts on the series in the comments below!
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As a blog writer for TCK Publishing, Kaelyn loves crafting fun and helpful content for writers, readers, and creative minds alike. She has a degree in International Affairs with a minor in Italian Studies, but her true passion has always been writing. Working remotely allows her to do even more of the things she loves, like traveling, cooking, and spending time with her family.
