Epic, Immersive, Unforgettable! It’s hard to find words that do justice to the work of Robert Jordan. It’s no coincidence that he’s often hailed as a worthy successor to Tolkien. As a devoted fan of The Lord of the Rings, I instantly noticed the numerous similarities that kept me glued to the pages from start to finish.
Book Review: “The Eye of the World“
- Author: Robert Jordan
- Series: The Wheel of Time #1
- Release Date: January 15, 1990
- Publisher: November 15, 1990 by Tor Books
- Formats: Mass Market Paperback
- Page Count: 500
- ISBN: 9780812511819 (ISBN10: 0812511816)
- ASIN: 0812511816
- Language: English
Similarities to Tolkie
Robert Jordan has openly stated that he based the hometown of his protagonists, the Two Rivers, on the Shire. The first resemblance that immediately struck me was the arrival of the Myrddraal, which instantly reminded me of the Nazgûl. Other parallels were easy to spot—Padan Fain felt like a twisted version of Gollum, Lan had the aura of Aragorn, and Moiraine carried echoes of Gandalf. And of course, the Dark One needs no further explanation.
Yes, there are similarities, but that in no way makes this book a mere copy. The Eye of the World establishes itself as just the beginning of something grand, and its legacy is well deserved.
Plot
The Eye of the World follows a group of young men from the Two Rivers whose quiet village life is shattered when the forces of the Dark One attack. It soon becomes clear that many are searching for these three boys, but the true reason remains a mystery.
Forced to flee, the group—guided by the enigmatic Aes Sedai Moiraine and her Warder, Lan—sets out on a perilous journey toward Tar Valon. But the Dark One is always just a step behind. His minions are unleashed upon them, hunting them down, dead or alive. As the story unfolds, it becomes evident that the fates of Rand, Mat, Perrin, Egwene, and Nynaeve are woven together, and The Wheel of Time has assigned them crucial roles in the ever-repeating battle between light and darkness.
“The Wheel of Time weaves the Pattern of the Ages, and our lives are the threads it weaves.”
“This battle has raged since the dawn of Creation. People always believe it to be a new war, but it is the same old war, simply reborn anew.”
Cycles, Magic, and Prophecies
I call it the new battle because, in The Eye of the World—and throughout the entire series—time is depicted as a Wheel that turns through the ages, repeating events in different variations. People’s destinies are woven into the Pattern, creating an overwhelming sense of déjà vu—everything has happened before, yet it is always different.
“No one knows how the thread of their life will be woven into the Pattern, or how the thread of an entire nation or people will be spun.”
The magic system is one of the book’s greatest strengths. Known as The One Power, it is divided into two halves—saidin (the male half) and saidar (the female half). But after the Dark One tainted saidin, every man who touches the True Source goes mad. This leaves the Aes Sedai, an organization of powerful women, with the grim task of hunting down and neutralizing any man who can channel.
The story begins with the legend of Lews Therin Telamon, the Dragon, whose madness led to the Breaking of the World. This legend sets up one of the most gripping conflicts of the book—the prophecy of the Dragon Reborn. The question lingers throughout: will this reincarnation be a savior or a destroyer?
Review
I love that the novel keeps its characters shrouded in mystery, leaving us guessing until the very end. The protagonists face countless challenges, constantly pursued by the Dark One’s servants, never truly safe anywhere. Treachery lurks among men, while Trollocs and Myrddraal prowl the lands, sniffing out their prey from miles away. The journey becomes a true test of endurance and willpower.
Rand al’Thor? From the very first pages, Robert Jordan masterfully sows seeds of doubt about Rand’s origins, leaving us eager to see the theory unfold. At one point, I admit, I found myself more intrigued by Perrin’s storyline. But by the end, I realized Rand is a character with much to develop—and one who will surely surprise me.
“The One Power,” Moiraine explained, “comes from the True Source, the force that drives the Wheel of Time, the energy placed by the Creator to set the Wheel spinning.”
And the Aes Sedai? The Ajahs? Jordan skillfully sprinkles hints about the magic system and the internal divisions within the Aes Sedai, but nothing is laid out clearly. The glossary at the back of the book helped, but I crave more details—more about magic, power struggles, who can be trusted, and who cannot. What will become of these characters? Clearly, I’ll need patience as I continue this journey.
Jordan constantly drops clues about the past, about repeating cycles, and about an eternal war that has raged since the beginning of time, all of which only fuel my curiosity. The blend of the familiar and the unknown, of the predictable and the unexpected, is what completely captivated me—in the best possible way. The feeling of déjà vu is ever-present, yet it is always mixed with anticipation.
Will the hero break free from fate’s threads? Can he challenge what is meant to be and change it? What will happen when The Wheel of Time turns once more?
I’ll leave you with that mystery and highly recommend diving into the depths of The Eye of the World.
The Wheel of Time turns and Ages come and pass, leaving memories that become legend. Legend fades to myth, and even myth is long forgotten when the Age that gave it birth returns again. What was, what will be, and what is, may yet fall under the Shadow.
Moiraine Damodred arrives in Emond’s Field on a quest to find the one prophesized to stand against The Dark One, a malicious entity sowing the seeds of chaos and destruction. When a vicious band of half-men, half beasts invade the village seeking their master’s enemy, Moiraine persuades Rand al’Thor and his friends to leave their home and enter a larger unimaginable world filled with dangers waiting in the shadows and in the light.
