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The Wheel of Time #0
New Spring
The prequel novel to the globally bestselling Wheel of Time series - a fantasy phenomenon
The city of Canluum lies close to the scarred and desolate wastes of the Blight, a walled haven from the dangers away to the north, and a refuge from the ill works of those who serve the Dark One. Or so it is said. The city that greets Al'Lan Mandragoran, exiled king of Malkier and the finest swordsman of his generation, is instead one that is rife with rumour and the whisperings of Shadowspawn. Proof, should he have required it, that the Dark One grows powerful once more and that his minions are at work throughout the lands.
And yet it is within Canluum's walls that Lan will meet a woman who will shape his destiny. Moiraine is a young and powerful Aes Sedai who has journeyed to the city in search of a bondsman. She requires aid in a desperate quest to prove the truth of a vague and largely discredited prophecy - one that speaks of a means to turn back the shadow, and of a child who may be the dragon reborn.
The city of Canluum lies close to the scarred and desolate wastes of the Blight, a walled haven from the dangers away to the north, and a refuge from the ill works of those who serve the Dark One. Or so it is said. The city that greets Al'Lan Mandragoran, exiled king of Malkier and the finest swordsman of his generation, is instead one that is rife with rumour and the whisperings of Shadowspawn. Proof, should he have required it, that the Dark One grows powerful once more and that his minions are at work throughout the lands.
And yet it is within Canluum's walls that Lan will meet a woman who will shape his destiny. Moiraine is a young and powerful Aes Sedai who has journeyed to the city in search of a bondsman. She requires aid in a desperate quest to prove the truth of a vague and largely discredited prophecy - one that speaks of a means to turn back the shadow, and of a child who may be the dragon reborn.
423 pages, Paperback
First published January 6, 2004
About the author
Robert Jordan
643 books16.3k followersLibrarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.
Robert Jordan was the pen name of James Oliver Rigney, Jr., under which he was best known as the author of the bestselling The Wheel of Time fantasy series. He also wrote under the names Reagan O'Neal and Jackson O'Reilly.
Jordan was born in Charleston, South Carolina. He served two tours in Vietnam (from 1968 to 1970) with the United States Army as a helicopter gunner. He was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross with bronze oak leaf cluster, the Bronze Star with "V" and bronze oak leaf cluster, and two Vietnamese Gallantry Crosses with palm. After returning from Vietnam he attended The Citadel where he received an undergraduate degree in physics. After graduating he was employed by the United States Navy as a nuclear engineer. He began writing in 1977. He was a history buff and enjoyed hunting, fishing, sailing, poker, chess, pool, and pipe collecting.
He described himself as a "High Church" Episcopalian and received communion more than once a week. He lived with his wife Harriet McDougal, who works as a book editor (currently with Tor Books; she was also Jordan's editor) in a house built in 1797.
Responding to queries on the similarity of some of the concepts in his Wheel of Time books with Freemasonry concepts, Jordan admitted that he was a Freemason. However, "like his father and grandfather," he preferred not to advertise, possibly because of the negative propaganda against Freemasonry. In his own words, "no man in this country should feel in danger because of his beliefs."
On March 23, 2006, Jordan disclosed in a statement that he had been diagnosed with cardiac amyloidosis, and that with treatment, his median life expectancy was four years, though he said he intended to beat the statistics. He later posted on his Dragonmount blog to encourage his fans not to worry about him and that he intended to have a long and fully creative life.
He began chemotherapy treatment at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, in early April 2006. Jordan was enrolled in a study using the drug Revlimid just approved for multiple myeloma but not yet tested on primary amyloidosis.
Jordan died at approximately 2:45 p.m. EDT on September 16, 2007, and a funeral service was held for him on Wednesday, September 19, 2007. Jordan was cremated and his ashes buried in the churchyard of St. James Church in Goose Creek, outside Charleston.
Robert Jordan was the pen name of James Oliver Rigney, Jr., under which he was best known as the author of the bestselling The Wheel of Time fantasy series. He also wrote under the names Reagan O'Neal and Jackson O'Reilly.
Jordan was born in Charleston, South Carolina. He served two tours in Vietnam (from 1968 to 1970) with the United States Army as a helicopter gunner. He was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross with bronze oak leaf cluster, the Bronze Star with "V" and bronze oak leaf cluster, and two Vietnamese Gallantry Crosses with palm. After returning from Vietnam he attended The Citadel where he received an undergraduate degree in physics. After graduating he was employed by the United States Navy as a nuclear engineer. He began writing in 1977. He was a history buff and enjoyed hunting, fishing, sailing, poker, chess, pool, and pipe collecting.
He described himself as a "High Church" Episcopalian and received communion more than once a week. He lived with his wife Harriet McDougal, who works as a book editor (currently with Tor Books; she was also Jordan's editor) in a house built in 1797.
Responding to queries on the similarity of some of the concepts in his Wheel of Time books with Freemasonry concepts, Jordan admitted that he was a Freemason. However, "like his father and grandfather," he preferred not to advertise, possibly because of the negative propaganda against Freemasonry. In his own words, "no man in this country should feel in danger because of his beliefs."
On March 23, 2006, Jordan disclosed in a statement that he had been diagnosed with cardiac amyloidosis, and that with treatment, his median life expectancy was four years, though he said he intended to beat the statistics. He later posted on his Dragonmount blog to encourage his fans not to worry about him and that he intended to have a long and fully creative life.
He began chemotherapy treatment at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, in early April 2006. Jordan was enrolled in a study using the drug Revlimid just approved for multiple myeloma but not yet tested on primary amyloidosis.
Jordan died at approximately 2:45 p.m. EDT on September 16, 2007, and a funeral service was held for him on Wednesday, September 19, 2007. Jordan was cremated and his ashes buried in the churchyard of St. James Church in Goose Creek, outside Charleston.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 3,412 reviews
April 30, 2023
Reviewed by: Rabid Reads
This book gave me FEELINGS . . .
. . . few of them good.
For the first time in a WoT reread, I found myself absolutely hating the content.
HATING.
The only reason NEW SPRING didn't get one-starred is b/c there are more than a few poignant Lan moments. But without those . . . *flares nostrils*
The first problem is that the front half to two-thirds of the book is slow as molasses.
Noooooothiiiiiing haaaaaappennnnns.
Well, okay, something happens--Gitara, the same Aes Sedai who sent Tigraine to the Waste, foretells the Dragon's rebirth then falls over dead, while Siuan and Moiraine are in attendance--then nothing happens.
They spend a bunch of time in Tar Valon, first doing clerical work, then forced into projects by higher-ranking Aes Sedai, and it's 60% before Moiraine gets around to fleeing the Tower, but she's so awful that I almost wished we were back in the Tower doing nothing.
You: How awful was she?
Me: Do you remember how bad she was the first few books? How manipulative? How superior?
You: Yes . . .
Me: That x100.
You: O_____O
Me: EXACTLY. *fumes*
Any temperance she'd learned, any restraint, is G-O-N-E. Combine that with her dual sense of entitlement (newly raised Sister + Cairhienin nobility) and you've got yourself a Moiraine. *throws her back*
She tortures Lan--premeditatedly and on a nightly basis--b/c not realizing he was in the company of an Aes Sedai, he said to a friend (while she eavesdropped) that he'd prefer to avoid their company. She abuses stray animals with flicks of the Power, and she leaves a shady innkeeper to be gang-raped, b/c it's no less than the woman deserves (according to Herself).
So yeah . . . Moiraine is vile.
Then there's the Lady Edeyn, also known as Lan's carneira.
"What's a carneira?" you ask, and that's an excellent question. It's a manboy's first lover, but it's ever so much more complicated than that.
In Malkier, men don't approach women to show their interest. Women do the chasing. But b/c of the constraints on male behavior (b/c courtesy), it'd be pretty tricky for a man to spurn the advances of a woman he isn't interested in without causing offense.
So that's obnoxious.
I could continue to rant, but really? What's the point? Yeah, Siuan being a featherbrain and painting a red, flashing target over her head for the Black Ajah to see was aggravating, but it can't compete with the misdeeds of others, so why bother?
Suffice it to say that I do NOT recommend NEW SPRING, in fact, I so absolutely do not recommend it that my recommendation is to skip it entirely. You don't learn anything necessary to the continuation of the series, so do yourself a favor and toss this one on the burn pile. #goodriddance.
NOTICE: this reread is in preparation for finally biting the bullet and reading book 14. That means I HAVE NOT read book 14 yet. Please be mindful of this in the comments, both for me and for others who may or may not have progressed past this point in the series. Thank you.
My other reviews for this series:
The Eye of the World (Wheel of Time, #1) by Robert Jordan
The Great Hunt (Wheel of Time, #2) by Robert Jordan
The Dragon Reborn (Wheel of Time, #3) by Robert Jordan
The Shadow Rising (Wheel of Time, #4) by Robert Jordan
The Fires of Heaven (Wheel of Time, #5) by Robert Jordan
Lord of Chaos (Wheel of Time, #6) by Robert Jordan
A Crown of Swords (Wheel of Time, #7) by Robert Jordan
The Path of Daggers (Wheel of Time, #8) by Robert Jordan
Winter's Heart (Wheel of Time, #9) by Robert Jordan
Crossroads of Twilight (Wheel of Time, #10) by Robert Jordan
This book gave me FEELINGS . . .
. . . few of them good.
For the first time in a WoT reread, I found myself absolutely hating the content.
HATING.
The only reason NEW SPRING didn't get one-starred is b/c there are more than a few poignant Lan moments. But without those . . . *flares nostrils*
The first problem is that the front half to two-thirds of the book is slow as molasses.
Noooooothiiiiiing haaaaaappennnnns.
Well, okay, something happens--Gitara, the same Aes Sedai who sent Tigraine to the Waste, foretells the Dragon's rebirth then falls over dead, while Siuan and Moiraine are in attendance--then nothing happens.
They spend a bunch of time in Tar Valon, first doing clerical work, then forced into projects by higher-ranking Aes Sedai, and it's 60% before Moiraine gets around to fleeing the Tower, but she's so awful that I almost wished we were back in the Tower doing nothing.
You: How awful was she?
Me: Do you remember how bad she was the first few books? How manipulative? How superior?
You: Yes . . .
Me: That x100.
You: O_____O
Me: EXACTLY. *fumes*
Any temperance she'd learned, any restraint, is G-O-N-E. Combine that with her dual sense of entitlement (newly raised Sister + Cairhienin nobility) and you've got yourself a Moiraine. *throws her back*
She tortures Lan--premeditatedly and on a nightly basis--b/c not realizing he was in the company of an Aes Sedai, he said to a friend (while she eavesdropped) that he'd prefer to avoid their company. She abuses stray animals with flicks of the Power, and she leaves a shady innkeeper to be gang-raped, b/c it's no less than the woman deserves (according to Herself).
So yeah . . . Moiraine is vile.
Then there's the Lady Edeyn, also known as Lan's carneira.
"What's a carneira?" you ask, and that's an excellent question. It's a man
In Malkier, men don't approach women to show their interest. Women do the chasing. But b/c of the constraints on male behavior (b/c courtesy), it'd be pretty tricky for a man to spurn the advances of a woman he isn't interested in without causing offense.
So that's obnoxious.
I could continue to rant, but really? What's the point? Yeah, Siuan being a featherbrain and painting a red, flashing target over her head for the Black Ajah to see was aggravating, but it can't compete with the misdeeds of others, so why bother?
Suffice it to say that I do NOT recommend NEW SPRING, in fact, I so absolutely do not recommend it that my recommendation is to skip it entirely. You don't learn anything necessary to the continuation of the series, so do yourself a favor and toss this one on the burn pile. #goodriddance.
NOTICE: this reread is in preparation for finally biting the bullet and reading book 14. That means I HAVE NOT read book 14 yet. Please be mindful of this in the comments, both for me and for others who may or may not have progressed past this point in the series. Thank you.
My other reviews for this series:
The Eye of the World (Wheel of Time, #1) by Robert Jordan
The Great Hunt (Wheel of Time, #2) by Robert Jordan
The Dragon Reborn (Wheel of Time, #3) by Robert Jordan
The Shadow Rising (Wheel of Time, #4) by Robert Jordan
The Fires of Heaven (Wheel of Time, #5) by Robert Jordan
Lord of Chaos (Wheel of Time, #6) by Robert Jordan
A Crown of Swords (Wheel of Time, #7) by Robert Jordan
The Path of Daggers (Wheel of Time, #8) by Robert Jordan
Winter's Heart (Wheel of Time, #9) by Robert Jordan
Crossroads of Twilight (Wheel of Time, #10) by Robert Jordan
July 12, 2022
Check out my YouTube channel where I show my instant reactions upon finishing reading fantasy books.
2.5 stars. A needless book that brings virtually nothing to the universe, but still somewhat enjoyable for huge fans of the series.
I went into this book with absolutely no knowledge of what I was getting into, but given how much I have enjoyed the rest of the books in this series I had some high optimism for this being a fun read. Unfortunately, what I got instead was a story that did not need to be told, with a plot where virtually nothing happens - but I got to spend more time with my favorite two characters in this series so it didn't feel like a complete waste of time.
Story: 2/5
The story is weak, and covers some events 20 years before the beginning of The Eye of the World. It's mostly about the meeting of Moiraine and Lan, and an adventure including Moiraine and Siuan. The plot is slow, and feels like it's mostly trying to just develop some of these characters a bit more - which is confusing given that this series is one of the longest fantasy series of all time and there has been plenty of time to flesh these characters out.
The plot doesn't actually feel interesting until the finale of the book, but even then - it's still somewhat on the weaker side.
I ultimately don't understand why this story was written, other than to do a little fan service for some people who desperately wanted to know more about Moiraine due to her being absent for a large number of books in this series. If Robert Jordan wanted to write a compelling "side" book, I felt like there was tremendous opportunity to do a deeper dive into one of the other groups of people who we don't get much backstory of, such as some history of the Seanchan or the Atha'an Miere.
World Building: 2/5
There is absolutely no new or relevant information for the reader that helps expand on this world. It's disappointing given how great the worldbuilding has been in every single one of the other books in this series, but given how short this book is, I understand it.
Fantasy Elements: 2/5
This book is severely lacking in fantasy elements that have made this series so wonderful. There is some light touching on it, but that's not what this book is all about.
Characters: 4/5
Finally, the bright spot in this book. My favorite characters are in this book and get all of the screentime, so to get more interactions between them was a small treat. I love many of the conversations they had and how they play off each other, and which the main series had more of these dynamics which were lacking for large portions here.
Writing Style: 4/5
Robert Jordan is a masterful writer, and even though I disliked much of this book - his writing was typically great.
Enjoyment: 2.5/5
By far the weakest book in this series, with some major flaws mostly surrounding the small length of this book and a severe lack of compelling plot.
2.5 stars. A needless book that brings virtually nothing to the universe, but still somewhat enjoyable for huge fans of the series.
I went into this book with absolutely no knowledge of what I was getting into, but given how much I have enjoyed the rest of the books in this series I had some high optimism for this being a fun read. Unfortunately, what I got instead was a story that did not need to be told, with a plot where virtually nothing happens - but I got to spend more time with my favorite two characters in this series so it didn't feel like a complete waste of time.
Story: 2/5
The story is weak, and covers some events 20 years before the beginning of The Eye of the World. It's mostly about the meeting of Moiraine and Lan, and an adventure including Moiraine and Siuan. The plot is slow, and feels like it's mostly trying to just develop some of these characters a bit more - which is confusing given that this series is one of the longest fantasy series of all time and there has been plenty of time to flesh these characters out.
The plot doesn't actually feel interesting until the finale of the book, but even then - it's still somewhat on the weaker side.
I ultimately don't understand why this story was written, other than to do a little fan service for some people who desperately wanted to know more about Moiraine due to her being absent for a large number of books in this series. If Robert Jordan wanted to write a compelling "side" book, I felt like there was tremendous opportunity to do a deeper dive into one of the other groups of people who we don't get much backstory of, such as some history of the Seanchan or the Atha'an Miere.
World Building: 2/5
There is absolutely no new or relevant information for the reader that helps expand on this world. It's disappointing given how great the worldbuilding has been in every single one of the other books in this series, but given how short this book is, I understand it.
Fantasy Elements: 2/5
This book is severely lacking in fantasy elements that have made this series so wonderful. There is some light touching on it, but that's not what this book is all about.
Characters: 4/5
Finally, the bright spot in this book. My favorite characters are in this book and get all of the screentime, so to get more interactions between them was a small treat. I love many of the conversations they had and how they play off each other, and which the main series had more of these dynamics which were lacking for large portions here.
Writing Style: 4/5
Robert Jordan is a masterful writer, and even though I disliked much of this book - his writing was typically great.
Enjoyment: 2.5/5
By far the weakest book in this series, with some major flaws mostly surrounding the small length of this book and a severe lack of compelling plot.
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May 30, 2023
I’m glad I waited to read New Spring until after reading books 1-14 – this prequel helped stave off a severe book hangover at least for a while.
Going into it, I only knew that Moiraine and Lan would be PoV characters and, liking both characters immensely, I was looking forward to seeing them one last time. Sadly, Lan had only one PoV chapter at the beginning, followed by about 180 pages in Moiraine‘s PoV; all in all, Moiraine’s viewpoint totals roughly 70% and Lan‘s only about 25%.
As a result, the first half of the book mainly focuses on Moiraine’s time in the White Tower and on Siuan and Moiraine’s friendship, which had me feeling all nostalgic. It’s also sobering to see where Elaida‘s enmity originates - and that it was basically a misunderstanding. I wonder if things had still turned out the way they did if they had managed to clear that up; those pranks probably didn’t help either. The pranks themselves felt really childish to me and I had a hard time reconciling them with two adult women, 23 and 21 years old, respectively.
Those two women apparently also were “pillow-friends“ when they were novices/Accepted; I’d always assumed that Moiraine and Siuan‘s romantic relationship in the TV show was creative license on the show‘s part. Sadly, we never see anything romantic about their relationship on page though.
Back to on-page action. About halfway through, things take a decidedly dark turn when Moiraine illegally departs the Tower to look for the baby Dragon. During her travels, she also encounters Lan, who is deciding what to do about his oaths to Malkier. Without giving too much away, the part where Moiraine and Lan’s paths cross is, without doubt, my favorite.
As for reading order, like I said, I’m glad I read the prequel last. Generally, the danger of prequels often lies in the fact that, knowing the outcome already, the plot leaves less chance for surprise and suspense. However, even if this is the case here with some aspects, RJ‘s storytelling alone leaves me feeling as if sliding into a warm bath – I know the outcome (I’ll be clean and relaxed afterwards) but the sensation is still really comforting. Until someone pours the metaphorical bucket of icewater over your head, that is.
All in all, getting to know more about two beloved characters, and how they were drawn in to fight the Shadow with all they have, was payoff enough for me – and a bittersweet way to say goodbye to the Wheel of Time.
Going into it, I only knew that Moiraine and Lan would be PoV characters and, liking both characters immensely, I was looking forward to seeing them one last time. Sadly, Lan had only one PoV chapter at the beginning, followed by about 180 pages in Moiraine‘s PoV; all in all, Moiraine’s viewpoint totals roughly 70% and Lan‘s only about 25%.
As a result, the first half of the book mainly focuses on Moiraine’s time in the White Tower and on Siuan and Moiraine’s friendship, which had me feeling all nostalgic. It’s also sobering to see where Elaida‘s enmity originates - and that it was basically a misunderstanding. I wonder if things had still turned out the way they did if they had managed to clear that up; those pranks probably didn’t help either. The pranks themselves felt really childish to me and I had a hard time reconciling them with two adult women, 23 and 21 years old, respectively.
Those two women apparently also were “pillow-friends“ when they were novices/Accepted; I’d always assumed that Moiraine and Siuan‘s romantic relationship in the TV show was creative license on the show‘s part. Sadly, we never see anything romantic about their relationship on page though.
Back to on-page action. About halfway through, things take a decidedly dark turn when Moiraine illegally departs the Tower to look for the baby Dragon. During her travels, she also encounters Lan, who is deciding what to do about his oaths to Malkier. Without giving too much away, the part where Moiraine and Lan’s paths cross is, without doubt, my favorite.
As for reading order, like I said, I’m glad I read the prequel last. Generally, the danger of prequels often lies in the fact that, knowing the outcome already, the plot leaves less chance for surprise and suspense. However, even if this is the case here with some aspects, RJ‘s storytelling alone leaves me feeling as if sliding into a warm bath – I know the outcome (I’ll be clean and relaxed afterwards) but the sensation is still really comforting. Until someone pours the metaphorical bucket of icewater over your head, that is.
All in all, getting to know more about two beloved characters, and how they were drawn in to fight the Shadow with all they have, was payoff enough for me – and a bittersweet way to say goodbye to the Wheel of Time.
November 9, 2016
1.5 I’m Sorry To Do This Stars
Okay hear me out….I totally admit the Robert Jordan has a fantastic and complex world full of intricately detailed world building with cultures, religions and landscaping. But if it takes 60% for your books to go anywhere and you destroy beloved characters along the way I’m totally going to have a problem.
So this is supposed to be an origin story or a prequel to the Wheel of Time series set a little less than 20 years before Eye of the World. The problem with prequels in general is that they are really hard to pull off and make interesting because you know where the story is going to go. I think the only author I’ve read to do it and do it well is Michael J. Sullivan with the Riyria Chronicles. It is really hard to build enough tension for the story to make it great and that is PROBLEM #1
So moving onto Problem #2 taking forever to do anything. This starts out decent with the foreseeing that ‘The Dragon is Born’ and the events that started Siuan and Moriane on their lifetime journey to find him. But then….nothing really happens for 150 more pages. I mean things sort of happen. We get another in-depth look into the daily life of an Aes Sedea and it makes me like them even less. Really does every woman in this series have to be a ninny, spoiled brat, bitch or trying to one up another woman??? But the story doesn’t begin to take off until Moriane leaves the tower around 60%. That is a lot of time plotting and maneuvering without ever doing anything. The only thing that I appreciated in this first half of the book is FINALLY seeing what the test to become a full sister looked like.
Problem #3 was thinking of characters one way and then seeing them another. I loved both Lan and Moraine from the series. I mean 10 books in and I’m a little attached to the way I see the characters from then. So to go back to 16 years ago to see how Moraine behaved then, OMG she was awful…totally and completely awful. I’m not even talking about the way she treated Lan to get back at a perceived slight by him….which was completely childish and reminded me more of Elayne the daughter Heir’s haughty behavior. No not just that but she Moraine is of the Blue Ajah who involve themselves with righteous causes and justice. Does that seem like justice to you??? It sure didn’t to me and I was not okay with it.
By the end I hated her and all her proclamations that she would bring Lan to heel. I was hoping he’d drop her in another lake and wander the road alone.
Moving on….PROBLEM #4I’m going to say something I really thought I’d never say. I don’t want to read another relationship coupling written by Robert Jordan EVER. The pairings in this book are so weird and uncomfortable. The one involving Lan SO AKWARD and EWEEEEE. No really between Mat and Tylin, Rand and Elayne , Lan and . Some of the Forsaken and their playthings along with now Lan and Edeyn.
Edeyn was over thirty when Lan was fifteen and she took his virginity to be able to control many of his actions for life. This is where it gets icky…even more icky than that first sentence *I just threw up little in my mouth*
I honestly hated that was in this book. I didn’t like being involved in yet another weird power heavy sex thing due to custom. It is even more akward because you know who he ends up with later. I didn’t want to know he had sex with yet another woman in his past. I normally like knowing a few of the characters in my fantasy are having sex. But Jordan seems to make it really strange, akward and weird and I want no part of it anymore.
The only thing that went right. Well this is Robert Jordan so you know that just about everything is going to happen in the last 15%. That is totally true here and the confrontation with the Black Ajah and the plots they hatched were the best aspect to this story. So I will say that the action in the end saved the story a little for me. Also if this wasn’t a prequel I would have been maybe rooting for relationship between Siuan and Moraine but since I’m firmly solidified in wanting those two with other people later in the series I couldn’t put much interest behind that either.
Suggestions If you aren’t that far into the series and really attached to a few of the characters then this is maybe a good thing to read for a little Aes Sedea back story and a little more depth to Lan’s character. If you just LOVE all things Robert Jordan then it also probably won’t be an issue for you. But if like me you have firm attachments to who people are and you didn’t like the Mat/Tylin seduction then this is probably not for you.
Okay hear me out….I totally admit the Robert Jordan has a fantastic and complex world full of intricately detailed world building with cultures, religions and landscaping. But if it takes 60% for your books to go anywhere and you destroy beloved characters along the way I’m totally going to have a problem.
So this is supposed to be an origin story or a prequel to the Wheel of Time series set a little less than 20 years before Eye of the World. The problem with prequels in general is that they are really hard to pull off and make interesting because you know where the story is going to go. I think the only author I’ve read to do it and do it well is Michael J. Sullivan with the Riyria Chronicles. It is really hard to build enough tension for the story to make it great and that is PROBLEM #1
So moving onto Problem #2 taking forever to do anything. This starts out decent with the foreseeing that ‘The Dragon is Born’ and the events that started Siuan and Moriane on their lifetime journey to find him. But then….nothing really happens for 150 more pages. I mean things sort of happen. We get another in-depth look into the daily life of an Aes Sedea and it makes me like them even less. Really does every woman in this series have to be a ninny, spoiled brat, bitch or trying to one up another woman??? But the story doesn’t begin to take off until Moriane leaves the tower around 60%. That is a lot of time plotting and maneuvering without ever doing anything. The only thing that I appreciated in this first half of the book is FINALLY seeing what the test to become a full sister looked like.
Problem #3 was thinking of characters one way and then seeing them another. I loved both Lan and Moraine from the series. I mean 10 books in and I’m a little attached to the way I see the characters from then. So to go back to 16 years ago to see how Moraine behaved then, OMG she was awful…totally and completely awful. I’m not even talking about the way she treated Lan to get back at a perceived slight by him….which was completely childish and reminded me more of Elayne the daughter Heir’s haughty behavior. No not just that but she Moraine is of the Blue Ajah who involve themselves with righteous causes and justice. Does that seem like justice to you??? It sure didn’t to me and I was not okay with it.
By the end I hated her and all her proclamations that she would bring Lan to heel. I was hoping he’d drop her in another lake and wander the road alone.
Moving on….PROBLEM #4I’m going to say something I really thought I’d never say. I don’t want to read another relationship coupling written by Robert Jordan EVER. The pairings in this book are so weird and uncomfortable. The one involving Lan SO AKWARD and EWEEEEE. No really between Mat and Tylin, Rand and Elayne , Lan and . Some of the Forsaken and their playthings along with now Lan and Edeyn.
Edeyn was over thirty when Lan was fifteen and she took his virginity to be able to control many of his actions for life. This is where it gets icky…even more icky than that first sentence *I just threw up little in my mouth*
I honestly hated that was in this book. I didn’t like being involved in yet another weird power heavy sex thing due to custom. It is even more akward because you know who he ends up with later. I didn’t want to know he had sex with yet another woman in his past. I normally like knowing a few of the characters in my fantasy are having sex. But Jordan seems to make it really strange, akward and weird and I want no part of it anymore.
The only thing that went right. Well this is Robert Jordan so you know that just about everything is going to happen in the last 15%. That is totally true here and the confrontation with the Black Ajah and the plots they hatched were the best aspect to this story. So I will say that the action in the end saved the story a little for me. Also if this wasn’t a prequel I would have been maybe rooting for relationship between Siuan and Moraine but since I’m firmly solidified in wanting those two with other people later in the series I couldn’t put much interest behind that either.
Suggestions If you aren’t that far into the series and really attached to a few of the characters then this is maybe a good thing to read for a little Aes Sedea back story and a little more depth to Lan’s character. If you just LOVE all things Robert Jordan then it also probably won’t be an issue for you. But if like me you have firm attachments to who people are and you didn’t like the Mat/Tylin seduction then this is probably not for you.
December 18, 2021
3rd read
Just as great as ever. I will never get tired of this universe.
--
Comfort read, and also to cleanse my tainted memories aquired after seeing the show.
(12-18.12.2021)
-----
2nd read
Four years ago, I fell in love with Wheel of Time and read all 15 volumes in less than three months. To this day, it’s still my number One series.
Some say this prequel should be read in publication order, as it was written after Crossroads of Twilight, which is the 10th. Well, I started with it and it helped a lot with the intricacies of Aes Sedai schemes and the relationship between some of its main characters; it also sheds light on the Foretelling of the Dragon Reborn. But if you want to discover everything on the go, you may read it whenever pleases you, as it takes place about 15-20 years before the start of events in The Eye of the World.
The volume is more explanatory than anything else: the focus is on Moiraine and Lan (two of the key characters in the books to come), how their paths crossed and clarifies the journey ahead with its ultimate goal.
Mind you, the series is not focused on action; it has its share of battles – some takes few hundred pages in the volumes to come – but mostly is a coming of age story, for more than one character. The world building is colossal– a lot of nations, each one with its specifics and myriad details about them –, the magic system is exquisite and there are twists upon twists, all these gradually revealed in the long journey. It has a lot of influences from Tolkien and various myths, but I think they are perfectly adapted for this universe.
First time I read it with a printed map near me and now I realized that I have memorized it and I know the location of each nation and every main town on it – that’s how much I immersed myself in it.
Of course, it’s a matter of subjectivity, but I will always prefer this kind of fantasy, with a vast scope and epic journeys, strong worldbuilding and a magic system gradually revealed and not too wide-spread, instead of grim action-packed ones. If you want a comparison, Dragon Reborn’s and his companions' journey is quite similar in its ‘epicness’ with the one of Frodo’s, only more elaborate. In my opinion, it’s more like the movies than the books, due to the visual impact (I found LOTR books too telegraphic).
I could start it again tomorrow and I would enjoy it just as much, that’s how much I love it 😊
(21-24.01.2018)
-----
1st read
If this, lets say, prelude made me give it 5 stars, I'm really anxious to see what's hidden in the next 14 volumes...
(14-18.11.2014)
Just as great as ever. I will never get tired of this universe.
--
Comfort read, and also to cleanse my tainted memories aquired after seeing the show.
(12-18.12.2021)
-----
2nd read
Four years ago, I fell in love with Wheel of Time and read all 15 volumes in less than three months. To this day, it’s still my number One series.
Some say this prequel should be read in publication order, as it was written after Crossroads of Twilight, which is the 10th. Well, I started with it and it helped a lot with the intricacies of Aes Sedai schemes and the relationship between some of its main characters; it also sheds light on the Foretelling of the Dragon Reborn. But if you want to discover everything on the go, you may read it whenever pleases you, as it takes place about 15-20 years before the start of events in The Eye of the World.
The volume is more explanatory than anything else: the focus is on Moiraine and Lan (two of the key characters in the books to come), how their paths crossed and clarifies the journey ahead with its ultimate goal.
Mind you, the series is not focused on action; it has its share of battles – some takes few hundred pages in the volumes to come – but mostly is a coming of age story, for more than one character. The world building is colossal– a lot of nations, each one with its specifics and myriad details about them –, the magic system is exquisite and there are twists upon twists, all these gradually revealed in the long journey. It has a lot of influences from Tolkien and various myths, but I think they are perfectly adapted for this universe.
First time I read it with a printed map near me and now I realized that I have memorized it and I know the location of each nation and every main town on it – that’s how much I immersed myself in it.
Of course, it’s a matter of subjectivity, but I will always prefer this kind of fantasy, with a vast scope and epic journeys, strong worldbuilding and a magic system gradually revealed and not too wide-spread, instead of grim action-packed ones. If you want a comparison, Dragon Reborn’s and his companions' journey is quite similar in its ‘epicness’ with the one of Frodo’s, only more elaborate. In my opinion, it’s more like the movies than the books, due to the visual impact (I found LOTR books too telegraphic).
I could start it again tomorrow and I would enjoy it just as much, that’s how much I love it 😊
(21-24.01.2018)
-----
1st read
If this, lets say, prelude made me give it 5 stars, I'm really anxious to see what's hidden in the next 14 volumes...
(14-18.11.2014)
February 6, 2019
Side by side they rode down the hill and turned south. Behind them the sky rumbled and turned black, another late storm rolling down from the Blight.
Beautiful. I didn't realise how much I missed Jordan's writing until I got into it again. I've been saving this book for a long time, but finally had to give in and read it. Not a bad decision.
This is not the best Wheel of Time book, and I'd say only devoted fans who have read at least most of the main series should even consider it, but I found it to be quite wonderful.
Full review to come.
Beautiful. I didn't realise how much I missed Jordan's writing until I got into it again. I've been saving this book for a long time, but finally had to give in and read it. Not a bad decision.
This is not the best Wheel of Time book, and I'd say only devoted fans who have read at least most of the main series should even consider it, but I found it to be quite wonderful.
Full review to come.
November 2, 2016
*** 4 ***
A Buddy Read with the best Fantasy Fans at BB&B!!!
A very nice recap of how the search for The Dragon Reborn started and the two Aes Seday who sacrificed much and dedicated their lives to finding and keeping him safe in order to live and be at his strongest at the time of the Last Battle between The Light and the Dark Lord. We also got to see a young Lan , who is wonderful even as a pup. A nice addition, but not an essential one.
I wish you all Happy Reading and find time to enjoy the gorgeous Autumn Weather!!!
A Buddy Read with the best Fantasy Fans at BB&B!!!
A very nice recap of how the search for The Dragon Reborn started and the two Aes Seday who sacrificed much and dedicated their lives to finding and keeping him safe in order to live and be at his strongest at the time of the Last Battle between The Light and the Dark Lord. We also got to see a young Lan , who is wonderful even as a pup. A nice addition, but not an essential one.
I wish you all Happy Reading and find time to enjoy the gorgeous Autumn Weather!!!
August 14, 2021
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Genre: Epic Fantasy
I was not sure when I should read New Spring. Many suggestions were stating that this is best read halfway through the series but I decided to read it once I finished the whole series. I am glad that I have read it and glad that I have read it last and not in the middle of the series. To be honest, I might have given this 3 or 3.5 stars if I have read it earlier. But now since I finished the series and understand the characters better, this book and these characters grew on me more.
The main protagonists of New Spring are Moiraine and Lan. The events take place just when the Dragon Reborn is born. There are new characters and some old ones. Moiraine and Siuan are serving as Accepted in the White Tower and we get to see how they are raised to Aes Sedai. Both the Aes Sedai take the mission to search for the Dragon Reborn. I really appreciated the friendship between Moiraine and Siuan. It was interesting to see how they started and how they grew throughout the series. This book also explains a lot about why Moiraine kept herself away from Tar Valon and the White Tower.
Other strong characters make an appearance too like Cadsuane and Elaida. Their parts were important and added a lot of weight to the story even if they were not too long. I feel the main highlight in New Spring is Robert Jordan wanting you to know how Moiraine and Lan met and how she made him her warder. I think next time I am rereading the series I will read this book first before The Eye of the World. However, if you have not read the series I’d suggest you keep this as the last book. You are still going to be OK if you skip it, but if you are interested to know more about Moiraine, Lan or Siuan then I’d recommend it for sure.
Genre: Epic Fantasy
I was not sure when I should read New Spring. Many suggestions were stating that this is best read halfway through the series but I decided to read it once I finished the whole series. I am glad that I have read it and glad that I have read it last and not in the middle of the series. To be honest, I might have given this 3 or 3.5 stars if I have read it earlier. But now since I finished the series and understand the characters better, this book and these characters grew on me more.
The main protagonists of New Spring are Moiraine and Lan. The events take place just when the Dragon Reborn is born. There are new characters and some old ones. Moiraine and Siuan are serving as Accepted in the White Tower and we get to see how they are raised to Aes Sedai. Both the Aes Sedai take the mission to search for the Dragon Reborn. I really appreciated the friendship between Moiraine and Siuan. It was interesting to see how they started and how they grew throughout the series. This book also explains a lot about why Moiraine kept herself away from Tar Valon and the White Tower.
Other strong characters make an appearance too like Cadsuane and Elaida. Their parts were important and added a lot of weight to the story even if they were not too long. I feel the main highlight in New Spring is Robert Jordan wanting you to know how Moiraine and Lan met and how she made him her warder. I think next time I am rereading the series I will read this book first before The Eye of the World. However, if you have not read the series I’d suggest you keep this as the last book. You are still going to be OK if you skip it, but if you are interested to know more about Moiraine, Lan or Siuan then I’d recommend it for sure.
November 2, 2016
This WoT prequel is the story of how Moiraine and Lan first met and of how Moiraine and Siuan got caught up in all the Dragon Reborn related intrigue. It is set 20 years before the happenings in Eye of the World.
The story was actually better than I was expecting it to be. It was told mostly from Moiraine's POV, but we also got a number of chapters from Lan's POV. It gave both characters plenty of time to shine and I definitely like both of them a lot more after reading their adventures in this story.
An added plus was the fact that we got to see all sorts of familiar characters in their younger days. It is fun to see how some have changed over the years and how some have not!
All in all I thought this sequel was a worthy addition the the WoT series. It is just a pity that Jordan never got the chance to write the second and third prequel books he had planned before he died.
Rating: 4 stars.
Audio Note: As always Reading and Krammer did a great job!
The story was actually better than I was expecting it to be. It was told mostly from Moiraine's POV, but we also got a number of chapters from Lan's POV. It gave both characters plenty of time to shine and I definitely like both of them a lot more after reading their adventures in this story.
An added plus was the fact that we got to see all sorts of familiar characters in their younger days. It is fun to see how some have changed over the years and how some have not!
All in all I thought this sequel was a worthy addition the the WoT series. It is just a pity that Jordan never got the chance to write the second and third prequel books he had planned before he died.
Rating: 4 stars.
Audio Note: As always Reading and Krammer did a great job!
October 29, 2010
Sometimes I feel like reading fantasy is just a waste of time. If nothing else, the themes are often distressingly adolescent and no matter how many times I read about slaying dragons, it's pretty unlikely that I'll ever slay a dragon in real life.
Perhaps, for me, the real attraction that sword & sorcery offers is an escape into a world of imagination. It sounds like a corny movie trailer (I'm sure everyone can hear the movie trailer voice when reading "esCApe... into a worlld ... of imagiNAtion"), but I guess it's true.
Some fantasy authors manage to create amazing atmospheres without the encyclopedia details -- China Mieville's "Bas Lag" books and Gene Wolfe's "Solar Cycle" come to mind. Others take the encyclopedia route.
Of the encyclopediasts, one of my favorites is Robert Jordan.
Say what you like about Jordan's writing -- seriously, go ahead -- "The Wheel of Time" series stands out for its highly detailed world building.
And New Spring does a fine job of representing Jordan's world-building skills.
Published after Path of Daggers (book 8), New Spring is a prequel (Book 0) to the regular series. None of the major protagonists -- not Rand, not Mat, not Perrin, not Elayne, not Nynaeve, not Egwene, not Faile, not Loial, not Ishmael, not Min -- are present. Instead, Jordan tells the story of how Moiraine met Lan -- if you're thinking When Harry Met Sally, you're way off.
It seems that the Black Ajah has begun hunting for the Dragon Reborn. Will Moiraine beat them to the finish line?
New Spring is an enjoyable entry in "The Wheel of Time," and I don't think it's the uncertainty Moiraine feels as she tries to impress her peers or Lan fighting off six (count'em, six!) swordsman that makes this entry stand out. Rather, it's the world that Jordan created that allows this novella to "capture our imagination."
After all, New Spring was published at a time when "The Wheel of Time" had become almost hopelessly bogged down in ongoing ... ongoing ... plots and a phone book's worth of supporting characters. Freed of all this baggage, New Spring makes the WOT feel fun again.
I once read that Jordan had begun to make plans for a second fantasy series after he'd finished with the "Wheel of Time", and it's quite saddening that he passed away before he was able to start it. I sometimes wonder if he resented having to finish "The Wheel of Time" before he could move on to a new world.
Regardless, Jordan's writing may suffer from any number of obsessive writing disorders, but when I'm stuck in traffic, I am grateful that I've taken the time to read fantasy, and "The Wheel of Time."
Perhaps, for me, the real attraction that sword & sorcery offers is an escape into a world of imagination. It sounds like a corny movie trailer (I'm sure everyone can hear the movie trailer voice when reading "esCApe... into a worlld ... of imagiNAtion"), but I guess it's true.
Some fantasy authors manage to create amazing atmospheres without the encyclopedia details -- China Mieville's "Bas Lag" books and Gene Wolfe's "Solar Cycle" come to mind. Others take the encyclopedia route.
Of the encyclopediasts, one of my favorites is Robert Jordan.
Say what you like about Jordan's writing -- seriously, go ahead -- "The Wheel of Time" series stands out for its highly detailed world building.
And New Spring does a fine job of representing Jordan's world-building skills.
Published after Path of Daggers (book 8), New Spring is a prequel (Book 0) to the regular series. None of the major protagonists -- not Rand, not Mat, not Perrin, not Elayne, not Nynaeve, not Egwene, not Faile, not Loial, not Ishmael, not Min -- are present. Instead, Jordan tells the story of how Moiraine met Lan -- if you're thinking When Harry Met Sally, you're way off.
It seems that the Black Ajah has begun hunting for the Dragon Reborn. Will Moiraine beat them to the finish line?
New Spring is an enjoyable entry in "The Wheel of Time," and I don't think it's the uncertainty Moiraine feels as she tries to impress her peers or Lan fighting off six (count'em, six!) swordsman that makes this entry stand out. Rather, it's the world that Jordan created that allows this novella to "capture our imagination."
After all, New Spring was published at a time when "The Wheel of Time" had become almost hopelessly bogged down in ongoing ... ongoing ... plots and a phone book's worth of supporting characters. Freed of all this baggage, New Spring makes the WOT feel fun again.
I once read that Jordan had begun to make plans for a second fantasy series after he'd finished with the "Wheel of Time", and it's quite saddening that he passed away before he was able to start it. I sometimes wonder if he resented having to finish "The Wheel of Time" before he could move on to a new world.
Regardless, Jordan's writing may suffer from any number of obsessive writing disorders, but when I'm stuck in traffic, I am grateful that I've taken the time to read fantasy, and "The Wheel of Time."
January 15, 2024
*** I have a YouTube channel now! Check it out here. ***
2.75 stars
After a ton of research I came up with the reading order most people seemed to say was doable for The Wheel of Time: New Spring after book 5. Right off the bat, I do think that this was a good choice to make because the ending of book 5 was a lot and the prequel is more relaxed and calming. That being said, we follow Moiraine as she get's raised to be Aes Sedai and meets Lan while searching for the Dragon Reborn.
To be completely honest, the first half of the book was quite boring. As much as I liked to see Siuan and Moiraine have a more laid back relationsihp, and to be able to see the Tower before Siuan becomes the Amyrlin Seat, there is only so much you can take of constant fretting and politicking... oh and visiting the bank and a seamstress, then complaining about the seamstress for the rest of the book. That being said, the positives were that we got to see more of the inner workings of the Aes Sedai and become witnesses to some events mentioned in the books.
Lan was a bit more interesting because of his insights into Malkieri culture. Jordan is always praised for giving a true identity to the peoples of his world and it really shines through in this novel. I am really interested by how these traditions might influence developments in Lan and other characters' relationships in the future.
I really loved Moiraine and Siuan's friendship, and I loved their personalities. It is amazing to see how they evolved into the women they are at the time of the main series. Without a doubt, they are quickly cementing themselves into my favorite WoT characters.
Overall, this book was fine, but most of it was quite boring, although I think the ending was definitely magnificent and gave my rating a boost.
-----------------------------------
Books in series :
#0 New Spring: ★★.75
#1 The Eye of the World: ★★★.5
#2 The Great Hunt: ★★★.75
#3 The Dragon Reborn: ★★★
#4 The Shadow Rising: ★★★★.25
#5 The Fires of Heaven: ★★★★
#6 Lord of Chaos: ★★★★.25
#7 A Crown of Swords: ★★★.75
#8 The Path of Daggers: ★★.25
#9 Winter's Heart: ★.25
#10 Crossroads of Twilight: ★.5
#11 Knife of Dreams: ★★★.5
#12 The Gathering Storm: ★★★★.5
#13 Towers of Midnight: ★★★
#14 A Memory of Light: ★★★.5
2.75 stars
After a ton of research I came up with the reading order most people seemed to say was doable for The Wheel of Time: New Spring after book 5. Right off the bat, I do think that this was a good choice to make because the ending of book 5 was a lot and the prequel is more relaxed and calming. That being said, we follow Moiraine as she get's raised to be Aes Sedai and meets Lan while searching for the Dragon Reborn.
To be completely honest, the first half of the book was quite boring. As much as I liked to see Siuan and Moiraine have a more laid back relationsihp, and to be able to see the Tower before Siuan becomes the Amyrlin Seat, there is only so much you can take of constant fretting and politicking... oh and visiting the bank and a seamstress, then complaining about the seamstress for the rest of the book. That being said, the positives were that we got to see more of the inner workings of the Aes Sedai and become witnesses to some events mentioned in the books.
Lan was a bit more interesting because of his insights into Malkieri culture. Jordan is always praised for giving a true identity to the peoples of his world and it really shines through in this novel. I am really interested by how these traditions might influence developments in Lan and other characters' relationships in the future.
I really loved Moiraine and Siuan's friendship, and I loved their personalities. It is amazing to see how they evolved into the women they are at the time of the main series. Without a doubt, they are quickly cementing themselves into my favorite WoT characters.
Overall, this book was fine, but most of it was quite boring, although I think the ending was definitely magnificent and gave my rating a boost.
-----------------------------------
Books in series :
#0 New Spring: ★★.75
#1 The Eye of the World: ★★★.5
#2 The Great Hunt: ★★★.75
#3 The Dragon Reborn: ★★★
#4 The Shadow Rising: ★★★★.25
#5 The Fires of Heaven: ★★★★
#6 Lord of Chaos: ★★★★.25
#7 A Crown of Swords: ★★★.75
#8 The Path of Daggers: ★★.25
#9 Winter's Heart: ★.25
#10 Crossroads of Twilight: ★.5
#11 Knife of Dreams: ★★★.5
#12 The Gathering Storm: ★★★★.5
#13 Towers of Midnight: ★★★
#14 A Memory of Light: ★★★.5
September 11, 2015
I have read and loved the entire Wheel of Time series so it was fun to read the prequel to the whole affair. I really enjoyed finding out how Moiraine and Lan met and how he became her warder. I also liked all the information about the White Tower and the Aes Sedai. There is nothing in this book that you have to know before enjoying the rest of the series but it is a nice little piece of background information. Loved the ending - it almost made me go and pick up Book 1 to read again.
September 28, 2018
Iskreno rečeno nekako mi je ovo ostalo bolje u sećanju, da li pošto sam tada bio u punom zanosu vezano za serijal il šta ne znam. Ali sada sam se malo ohladio Pa reko ajde da krenem opet sa ovim serijalom da se potsetim moje ljubavi iz mladosti :)
I barem ova knjiga nije baš izdržala test vremena. Fin početak, posle čega imamo gomilu ničega sa likovima koji su dosta ... ne simpatični i na momente čak i pokvareni ali bez onog nečega zbog čega bi ih ipak našli interesantnim.
Tako da sve ukupno razočaravajuće i po meni štivo koje je najbolje zaobići. Plus nastavk čitanja serijala ću da odložim dok se ovo ne slegne.
I barem ova knjiga nije baš izdržala test vremena. Fin početak, posle čega imamo gomilu ničega sa likovima koji su dosta ... ne simpatični i na momente čak i pokvareni ali bez onog nečega zbog čega bi ih ipak našli interesantnim.
Tako da sve ukupno razočaravajuće i po meni štivo koje je najbolje zaobići. Plus nastavk čitanja serijala ću da odložim dok se ovo ne slegne.
July 25, 2020
So, this was really nice. This was the first time that I read New Spring, which tells the story of Moiraine and Lan 20 years before the start of the main series. As much as I enjoyed this book, I am going to give it 4 stars and not 5, which is my usual ratings for most Wheel of Time books, largely based off personal enjoyment.
It was interesting reading this, as all the characters that we see in this compared to the main series are so different! Like totally different people, which was unexpected off course, but normally when I read about Moiraine, Siuan or Lan, they are generally so composed and calm characters who are always in control and are largely confident of themselves. Then there is this book, where you have Moiraine and Siuan talking about boys and profusely blushing which was just so strange. Now, in the main series, there were still signs of the sort of character/person that they were before, where there is a scene in The Shadow Rising where Moiraine are chatting with Elayne, Nynaeve and Egwene and I found that to be interesting as it showed that Moiraine wasn’t always this super serious and focussed Aes Sedai. In this book, it was just so different and by the end of the novel, you do see her start to develop into the character that she does end up becoming.
Now one of the best parts of this novel for me was definitely the relationship between Moiraine and Siuan and I actually really liked their chemistry together. Both of them are generally considered to be bi, though I don’t think there’s any real confirmation of that, but they are both queer at the very least. A great portion of the Wheel of Time was written before LGBTQIA+ characters did come to the forefront of fiction and it wasn’t something that was done often back in the those days(or largely accepted unfortunately) and I do appreciate it more that while there is no explicit content of the two, lots of things are certainly applied and to be fair to Jordan, that was probably as much as he was allowed when he was writing the Wheel of Time.
Compared to the main novels, this is about maybe half the length, if even that of the books in the main series. Due to that, it was a lot more contained and largely took place in two main settings, instead of all over the continent, which worked really well for this. It also followed a much smaller cast of characters and was largely a much easier read compared to the main series. However, this is also where some of my criticisms come in. For the main series, I generally excuse the slow pacing and repetitive nature of most of the books as it is such a long series and the payoff, especially in the last few books is so worth it considering the amount of foreshadowing that there is and the worldbuilding is just absolutely top notch. Since this is a four-hundred-page novel however, I actually probably would have liked for there to be bit punchier and more exciting, and while I know that the second half of the book picks up considerable, it wasn’t by much. The first half of the book, aside from the Moiraine and Siuan being awesome characters, much of it was actually fairly boring. Yes, things happen, but considering that it is only four hundred novel, not enough consequential or important things occurred.
Don’t get me wrong, I still really enjoyed this book, but it wasn’t quite good enough for it to be a five star despite how much I love the characters enjoy spending time in the world. Talking about the world, this book actually adds a lot of really nice lore and contextualises a fair number of things in the main series which was great and we really get to learn a fair bit about character back stories and also just being there for these events that we largely know about, but not to this level of detail.
So, that’s review of New Spring, I hope it was ok. 8/10
It was interesting reading this, as all the characters that we see in this compared to the main series are so different! Like totally different people, which was unexpected off course, but normally when I read about Moiraine, Siuan or Lan, they are generally so composed and calm characters who are always in control and are largely confident of themselves. Then there is this book, where you have Moiraine and Siuan talking about boys and profusely blushing which was just so strange. Now, in the main series, there were still signs of the sort of character/person that they were before, where there is a scene in The Shadow Rising where Moiraine are chatting with Elayne, Nynaeve and Egwene and I found that to be interesting as it showed that Moiraine wasn’t always this super serious and focussed Aes Sedai. In this book, it was just so different and by the end of the novel, you do see her start to develop into the character that she does end up becoming.
Now one of the best parts of this novel for me was definitely the relationship between Moiraine and Siuan and I actually really liked their chemistry together. Both of them are generally considered to be bi, though I don’t think there’s any real confirmation of that, but they are both queer at the very least. A great portion of the Wheel of Time was written before LGBTQIA+ characters did come to the forefront of fiction and it wasn’t something that was done often back in the those days(or largely accepted unfortunately) and I do appreciate it more that while there is no explicit content of the two, lots of things are certainly applied and to be fair to Jordan, that was probably as much as he was allowed when he was writing the Wheel of Time.
Compared to the main novels, this is about maybe half the length, if even that of the books in the main series. Due to that, it was a lot more contained and largely took place in two main settings, instead of all over the continent, which worked really well for this. It also followed a much smaller cast of characters and was largely a much easier read compared to the main series. However, this is also where some of my criticisms come in. For the main series, I generally excuse the slow pacing and repetitive nature of most of the books as it is such a long series and the payoff, especially in the last few books is so worth it considering the amount of foreshadowing that there is and the worldbuilding is just absolutely top notch. Since this is a four-hundred-page novel however, I actually probably would have liked for there to be bit punchier and more exciting, and while I know that the second half of the book picks up considerable, it wasn’t by much. The first half of the book, aside from the Moiraine and Siuan being awesome characters, much of it was actually fairly boring. Yes, things happen, but considering that it is only four hundred novel, not enough consequential or important things occurred.
Don’t get me wrong, I still really enjoyed this book, but it wasn’t quite good enough for it to be a five star despite how much I love the characters enjoy spending time in the world. Talking about the world, this book actually adds a lot of really nice lore and contextualises a fair number of things in the main series which was great and we really get to learn a fair bit about character back stories and also just being there for these events that we largely know about, but not to this level of detail.
So, that’s review of New Spring, I hope it was ok. 8/10
January 31, 2022
My project for the year (among other things) is reading the entire WoT series. I'm glad I included this "volume 0" in that.
We are about 20 years before the events of the first book. Lan is still the heir to a throne and hasn't met Moraine yet. Moraine, a highborn lady herself, isn't a full Aes Sedai yet.
The world (the Westlands at least) is at war. One of Moraine's uncles thought it was a good idea to cut down a sacred tree from a desert tribe in order to make a friggin chair. As retribution, the desert people (the Aiel) have gone to war with the Westlands. If you ask me, they were absolutely right. Just thinking about how rare these trees have become in the meantime and what kind of trees they were, made me rage and want to kill that idiot myself.
Anyway, throughout quite a significant part of the book, Moraine and a girl named Siuan (who we know as the Amyrlin Seat) are Accepted that are trained to become Aes Sedai.
The book also tells us of how Moraine and Lan meet and why Lan decided to become her Warder despite never having thought too highly of Aes Sedai before.
Very impressive and moving was the training of the girls. I mean, such torture to overcome! And then, after having witnessed the prophecy of the Dragon Reborn (which sets them on their path), the political Spiel that leads to the death of so many ... it takes people of faith/power/will to survive that.
But I also very much enjoyed the exploration of Lan's and Moraine's similarities: both highborn, both probably very capable of filling those roles, but both knowing there is more to life, more important things to do, thus turning away from their "rights" and making sure that nobody can force them back into their birth roles (which all comes down to Moraine's sheer strength of will as Lan needed the Warder bond to free him - oh, the irony)!
Wheels within wheels within wheels ... while the land is almost drowned in blood.
Yes, Lan is a typical tragic hero. I usually hate those. Or at least roll my eyes at them. But he is kinda funny in his brooding way. Ok, and I love his sword (no euphemism).
In short: Three very important characters get their background stories told in a way they not only deserve but we also need (or so I suspect) in order for us to understand certain motivations later. Or maybe this was all simply meant to make our hearts break even more later. *shrugs*
The writing style was once again very cool. Though it did take me a bit to adjust to the narration of the audio just because Rosamund Pike did such a fantastic job with the other one.
Yes, there are lots of names but big casts are only natural in such a setting, telling such a great tale. No, not all will become super important but the author had a way of highlighting who would be. And hey, if that doesn't suffice, there are always the fandom wikis (or my over-enthusiastic buddy-reader *snickers*). ;)
We are about 20 years before the events of the first book. Lan is still the heir to a throne and hasn't met Moraine yet. Moraine, a highborn lady herself, isn't a full Aes Sedai yet.
The world (the Westlands at least) is at war. One of Moraine's uncles thought it was a good idea to cut down a sacred tree from a desert tribe in order to make a friggin chair. As retribution, the desert people (the Aiel) have gone to war with the Westlands. If you ask me, they were absolutely right. Just thinking about how rare these trees have become in the meantime and what kind of trees they were, made me rage and want to kill that idiot myself.
Anyway, throughout quite a significant part of the book, Moraine and a girl named Siuan (who we know as the Amyrlin Seat) are Accepted that are trained to become Aes Sedai.
The book also tells us of how Moraine and Lan meet and why Lan decided to become her Warder despite never having thought too highly of Aes Sedai before.
Very impressive and moving was the training of the girls. I mean, such torture to overcome! And then, after having witnessed the prophecy of the Dragon Reborn (which sets them on their path), the political Spiel that leads to the death of so many ... it takes people of faith/power/will to survive that.
But I also very much enjoyed the exploration of Lan's and Moraine's similarities: both highborn, both probably very capable of filling those roles, but both knowing there is more to life, more important things to do, thus turning away from their "rights" and making sure that nobody can force them back into their birth roles (which all comes down to Moraine's sheer strength of will as Lan needed the Warder bond to free him - oh, the irony)!
Wheels within wheels within wheels ... while the land is almost drowned in blood.
Yes, Lan is a typical tragic hero. I usually hate those. Or at least roll my eyes at them. But he is kinda funny in his brooding way. Ok, and I love his sword (no euphemism).
In short: Three very important characters get their background stories told in a way they not only deserve but we also need (or so I suspect) in order for us to understand certain motivations later. Or maybe this was all simply meant to make our hearts break even more later. *shrugs*
The writing style was once again very cool. Though it did take me a bit to adjust to the narration of the audio just because Rosamund Pike did such a fantastic job with the other one.
Yes, there are lots of names but big casts are only natural in such a setting, telling such a great tale. No, not all will become super important but the author had a way of highlighting who would be. And hey, if that doesn't suffice, there are always the fandom wikis (or my over-enthusiastic buddy-reader *snickers*). ;)
July 1, 2021
I definitely thought I was going to enjoy this more than I did. What I was expecting was a background story and quest of Moiraine and Lan's trip to the Two Rivers and lead directly into The Eye of the World but that is not at all what this book is. To be quite honest there is hardly any of that in this book.
This book really just focuses on the time even before Rand is born and its main focus is Moiraine and Siuan at Tar Valon pre Aes-Sedai. They obviously become Aes Sedai and Moiraine does set out with Lan but this was just about Moiraine and Siuans friendship I guess, talked an awful lot about dresses and reminded us what all the ajahs were.
It is certainly not impactful to the overall story and doesn't need to be read unless you really want to know about Moiraine and Siuan 15 years before we meet Rand.
This book really just focuses on the time even before Rand is born and its main focus is Moiraine and Siuan at Tar Valon pre Aes-Sedai. They obviously become Aes Sedai and Moiraine does set out with Lan but this was just about Moiraine and Siuans friendship I guess, talked an awful lot about dresses and reminded us what all the ajahs were.
It is certainly not impactful to the overall story and doesn't need to be read unless you really want to know about Moiraine and Siuan 15 years before we meet Rand.
August 16, 2023
Moirane, Lan and Siuan are three of the most important characters in the whole of the Wheel of Time, but we mainly watch their course from a distance, with the writer very rarely giving us their own perspective and thus a closer look to their thoughts and to their feelings. This omission is somehow corrected by this book that is also taking us the beginning of the story.
There we meet Moiraine at an earlier age as an Accepted in the White Tower, shortly before gain the title of Aes Sedai, along with her friend Siuan. Naturally, 20 years ago, her personality is completely different, she is more immature, more insecure, less serious, moody, emotionally weaker, yet having the same determination to do what she needs. Siuan has the same immaturity and insecurity, but the basic ingredients of her character were the same as in the main series. Their friendship in this first stage is very strong, with this emotional bonding being described to us in a very beautiful way by the writer. In the hard training they have to undergo, this friendship give them power that they need too much when they learn about the beginning of fulfilling the prophecy for the rebirth of the Dragon, and finally understand the important role they have to play. Through their experience in the White Tower we learn a lot of things about the conditions in which women are trained and the customs of the Aes Sedai, which of course makes this book even more interesting.
On the other hand Lan, at this age, he is already the hard and serious warrior we know, the one who submits wholeheartedly to duty and sworn to die for it. The only difference he may have is perhaps more laxity, his distrust in Aes Sedai but also the forced engagement with the - pleasant - customs of his lost motherland. The latter also gives the writer the opportunity to bring us some of these customs and to talk to us about the rather relaxed sexual morals of Kandor. His encounter with Moirane is rather unexpected and at first their relationship does not seem to go so well but when the forces of the Dark One make their appearance and they give their first common battle against them they understand that they must ally themselves to help saving the world by finding the Dragon Reborn.
Generally, a very interesting book, slightly different in style than the books of the main series, is filling some gaps, shows us some more aspects of this fantastic world and above all gives us the opportunity to follow in an interesting story some of our favorite heroes. As far as I know the author had the intention of writing a series of such smaller books that would show some other aspects of the story but unfortunately the illness prevented him and we were deprived of a series of such small masterpieces that would grow a bit more the epic scale of his work. The wheel, however, turns as it pleases and eventually allowed only that to became written, so let's read it and enjoy it without thinking about anything else.
Η Moirane, ο Lan και η Siuan είναι τρία από τα πιο σημαντικά πρόσωπα σε ολόκληρη τη σειρά του Τροχού του Χρόνου, κυρίως, όμως, παρακολουθούμε την πορεία τους από απόσταση, με τον συγγραφέα πολύ σπάνια να μας δίνει τη δική τους οπτική γωνία και με αυτό το τρόπο μία κοντινότερη μάτια στις σκέψεις και στα συναισθήματά τους. Αυτήν την παράλειψη έρχεται να τη διορθώσει αυτό το βιβλίο, πηγαίνοντας μας παράλληλα στην αρχή της ιστορίας.
Εκεί συναντάμε την Moirane σε νεαρή ηλικία να βρίσκεται ως αποδεκτή στο Λευκό Πύργο, λίγο πριν αποκτήσει τον τίτλο της Aes Sedai, μαζί με τη φίλη της τη Siuan. Φυσικά 20 χρόνια πριν είναι ένας άνθρωπος εντελώς διαφορετικός, πιο ανώριμη, πιο ανασφαλής, λιγότερο σοβαρή, με διάθεση για φάρσες, συναισθηματικά πιο αδύναμη, έχοντας, όμως, την ίδια αποφασιστικότητα για να κάνει αυτό που πρέπει. Έχει την ίδια ανωριμότητα και ανασφάλεια αλλά τα βασικά συστατικά του χαρακτήρα της ήταν ίδια με αυτά που δείχνει στην κυρία σειρά. Η φιλία τους σε αυτό το πρώτο στάδιο είναι πολύ ισχυρή, με αυτό το συναισθηματικό δέσιμο να μεταφέρεται με πολύ όμορφο τρόπο από το συγγραφέα. Μέσα στη σκληρή εκπαίδευση που πρέπει να υποστούν τους δίνει δύναμη που τη χρειάζονται πάρα πολύ όταν μαθαίνουν για την αρχή της εκπλήρωσης της προφητείας για τη γέννηση του Δράκου και καταλαβαίνουν τελικά τον σημαντικό ρόλο που πρέπει να παίξουν. Μέσα από αυτή την πορεία τους στο Λευκό Πύργο μαθαίνουμε αρκετά πράγματα για τις συνθήκες στις οποίες εκπαιδεύονται οι μαθητευόμενες και τα έθιμα των Aes Sedai, κάτι που φυσικά κάνει αυτό το βιβλίο ακόμα πιο ενδιαφέρον.
Από την άλλη ο σε αυτήν την ηλικία είναι ήδη ο σκληρός και σοβαρός πολεμιστής που γνωρίζουμε, ο υποταγμένος ολόψυχα στο καθήκον και ορκισμένος να πεθάνει για αυτό. Το μόνο διαφορετικό που έχει είναι ίσως μία περισσότερη χαλαρότητα, η δυσπιστία του απέναντι στις Aes Sedai αλλά και η αναγκαστική ενασχόληση με τα - ευχάριστα - έθιμα της χαμένης του πατρίδας. Το τελευταίο δίνει και μία αφορμή στον συγγραφέα να μας μεταφέρει μερικά αυτά τα έθιμα και να μας μιλήσει για τα μάλλον κάπως χαλαρά ήθη του Kandor. Η συνάντηση του με την Moiraine είναι μάλλον απρόσμενη και στην αρχή δεν φαίνεται να τα πηγαίνουν και τόσο καλά, όταν, όμως, οι δυνάμεις του Σκοτεινού κάνουν την εμφάνιση τους και δίνουν την πρώτη κοινή τους μάχη εναντίον τους καταλαβαίνουν ότι πρέπει να συμμαχήσουν για να βοηθήσουν στη σωτηρία του κόσμου βρίσκοντας τον Αναγεννημένο Δράκοντα.
Γενικά ένα πολύ ενδιαφέρον βιβλίο, λίγο διαφορετικό σε ύφος από αυτά της κύριας σειράς, που γεμίζει κάποια κενά, μας δείχνει μερικές ακόμα πτυχές αυτού του φανταστικού κόσμου και πάνω από όλα μας δίνει την ευκαιρία να ακολουθήσουμε σε μία ενδιαφέρουσα ιστορία μερικούς από τους αγαπημένους μας ήρωες. Από όσο γνωρίζω ο συγγραφέας είχε σκοπό να γράψει και άλλα τέτοια μικρότερα βιβλία που θα έδειχναν μερικές ακόμα πτυχές της ιστορίας αλλά δυστυχώς η αρρώστια τον πρόλαβε και στερηθήκαμε από μία σειρά από τέτοια μικρά αριστουργήματα που θα μεγάλωναν λίγο περισσότερο την επική κλίμακα του έργου του. Ο τροχός, όμως, γυρίζει όπως θέλει και τελικά άφησε να γραφτεί μόνο αυτό, οπότε ας το διαβάσουμε και ας το απολαύσουμε χωρίς να σκεφτόμαστε τίποτα άλλο.
There we meet Moiraine at an earlier age as an Accepted in the White Tower, shortly before gain the title of Aes Sedai, along with her friend Siuan. Naturally, 20 years ago, her personality is completely different, she is more immature, more insecure, less serious, moody, emotionally weaker, yet having the same determination to do what she needs. Siuan has the same immaturity and insecurity, but the basic ingredients of her character were the same as in the main series. Their friendship in this first stage is very strong, with this emotional bonding being described to us in a very beautiful way by the writer. In the hard training they have to undergo, this friendship give them power that they need too much when they learn about the beginning of fulfilling the prophecy for the rebirth of the Dragon, and finally understand the important role they have to play. Through their experience in the White Tower we learn a lot of things about the conditions in which women are trained and the customs of the Aes Sedai, which of course makes this book even more interesting.
On the other hand Lan, at this age, he is already the hard and serious warrior we know, the one who submits wholeheartedly to duty and sworn to die for it. The only difference he may have is perhaps more laxity, his distrust in Aes Sedai but also the forced engagement with the - pleasant - customs of his lost motherland. The latter also gives the writer the opportunity to bring us some of these customs and to talk to us about the rather relaxed sexual morals of Kandor. His encounter with Moirane is rather unexpected and at first their relationship does not seem to go so well but when the forces of the Dark One make their appearance and they give their first common battle against them they understand that they must ally themselves to help saving the world by finding the Dragon Reborn.
Generally, a very interesting book, slightly different in style than the books of the main series, is filling some gaps, shows us some more aspects of this fantastic world and above all gives us the opportunity to follow in an interesting story some of our favorite heroes. As far as I know the author had the intention of writing a series of such smaller books that would show some other aspects of the story but unfortunately the illness prevented him and we were deprived of a series of such small masterpieces that would grow a bit more the epic scale of his work. The wheel, however, turns as it pleases and eventually allowed only that to became written, so let's read it and enjoy it without thinking about anything else.
Η Moirane, ο Lan και η Siuan είναι τρία από τα πιο σημαντικά πρόσωπα σε ολόκληρη τη σειρά του Τροχού του Χρόνου, κυρίως, όμως, παρακολουθούμε την πορεία τους από απόσταση, με τον συγγραφέα πολύ σπάνια να μας δίνει τη δική τους οπτική γωνία και με αυτό το τρόπο μία κοντινότερη μάτια στις σκέψεις και στα συναισθήματά τους. Αυτήν την παράλειψη έρχεται να τη διορθώσει αυτό το βιβλίο, πηγαίνοντας μας παράλληλα στην αρχή της ιστορίας.
Εκεί συναντάμε την Moirane σε νεαρή ηλικία να βρίσκεται ως αποδεκτή στο Λευκό Πύργο, λίγο πριν αποκτήσει τον τίτλο της Aes Sedai, μαζί με τη φίλη της τη Siuan. Φυσικά 20 χρόνια πριν είναι ένας άνθρωπος εντελώς διαφορετικός, πιο ανώριμη, πιο ανασφαλής, λιγότερο σοβαρή, με διάθεση για φάρσες, συναισθηματικά πιο αδύναμη, έχοντας, όμως, την ίδια αποφασιστικότητα για να κάνει αυτό που πρέπει. Έχει την ίδια ανωριμότητα και ανασφάλεια αλλά τα βασικά συστατικά του χαρακτήρα της ήταν ίδια με αυτά που δείχνει στην κυρία σειρά. Η φιλία τους σε αυτό το πρώτο στάδιο είναι πολύ ισχυρή, με αυτό το συναισθηματικό δέσιμο να μεταφέρεται με πολύ όμορφο τρόπο από το συγγραφέα. Μέσα στη σκληρή εκπαίδευση που πρέπει να υποστούν τους δίνει δύναμη που τη χρειάζονται πάρα πολύ όταν μαθαίνουν για την αρχή της εκπλήρωσης της προφητείας για τη γέννηση του Δράκου και καταλαβαίνουν τελικά τον σημαντικό ρόλο που πρέπει να παίξουν. Μέσα από αυτή την πορεία τους στο Λευκό Πύργο μαθαίνουμε αρκετά πράγματα για τις συνθήκες στις οποίες εκπαιδεύονται οι μαθητευόμενες και τα έθιμα των Aes Sedai, κάτι που φυσικά κάνει αυτό το βιβλίο ακόμα πιο ενδιαφέρον.
Από την άλλη ο σε αυτήν την ηλικία είναι ήδη ο σκληρός και σοβαρός πολεμιστής που γνωρίζουμε, ο υποταγμένος ολόψυχα στο καθήκον και ορκισμένος να πεθάνει για αυτό. Το μόνο διαφορετικό που έχει είναι ίσως μία περισσότερη χαλαρότητα, η δυσπιστία του απέναντι στις Aes Sedai αλλά και η αναγκαστική ενασχόληση με τα - ευχάριστα - έθιμα της χαμένης του πατρίδας. Το τελευταίο δίνει και μία αφορμή στον συγγραφέα να μας μεταφέρει μερικά αυτά τα έθιμα και να μας μιλήσει για τα μάλλον κάπως χαλαρά ήθη του Kandor. Η συνάντηση του με την Moiraine είναι μάλλον απρόσμενη και στην αρχή δεν φαίνεται να τα πηγαίνουν και τόσο καλά, όταν, όμως, οι δυνάμεις του Σκοτεινού κάνουν την εμφάνιση τους και δίνουν την πρώτη κοινή τους μάχη εναντίον τους καταλαβαίνουν ότι πρέπει να συμμαχήσουν για να βοηθήσουν στη σωτηρία του κόσμου βρίσκοντας τον Αναγεννημένο Δράκοντα.
Γενικά ένα πολύ ενδιαφέρον βιβλίο, λίγο διαφορετικό σε ύφος από αυτά της κύριας σειράς, που γεμίζει κάποια κενά, μας δείχνει μερικές ακόμα πτυχές αυτού του φανταστικού κόσμου και πάνω από όλα μας δίνει την ευκαιρία να ακολουθήσουμε σε μία ενδιαφέρουσα ιστορία μερικούς από τους αγαπημένους μας ήρωες. Από όσο γνωρίζω ο συγγραφέας είχε σκοπό να γράψει και άλλα τέτοια μικρότερα βιβλία που θα έδειχναν μερικές ακόμα πτυχές της ιστορίας αλλά δυστυχώς η αρρώστια τον πρόλαβε και στερηθήκαμε από μία σειρά από τέτοια μικρά αριστουργήματα που θα μεγάλωναν λίγο περισσότερο την επική κλίμακα του έργου του. Ο τροχός, όμως, γυρίζει όπως θέλει και τελικά άφησε να γραφτεί μόνο αυτό, οπότε ας το διαβάσουμε και ας το απολαύσουμε χωρίς να σκεφτόμαστε τίποτα άλλο.
January 23, 2024
Solo por ver el primer encuentro de Lan Mandragoran con Moraine Damodred y los . . . ah . . . desacuerdos que ocurren después esto ya vale la pena, sí.
March 13, 2020
Full Video Review Here: https://youtu.be/3OO9C1752BI
There has been a lot of debate from "Wheelies" on exactly when I should have read New Spring, but I decided after Crossroads of Twilight was the best time before beginning the final arc in this series. All I knew was that I didn't want to read it at the end because I want A Memory of Light to be my final impression of this world.
This is the story of not only how Lan became Moiraine's Warder, but also chronicles her time as Accepted and the origins of her search to find the Dragon Reborn. There's the usual poilitcs of the White Tower, plenty of familiar faces and names, as well as the usually Robert Jordan third act that knocks your socks off.
The good is that if you are one of those, such as myself, that has been begging for Lan to have a bigger role in the main series this will give you your fix. Lan has his own adventure before eventually crossing paths with Moiraine and we get to see him in action in ways the regular series hasn't shown me yet (I'm currently reading book #12).
The not so good is the usual fluff from Mr. Jordan. Too much time is spent on dress shopping and making bank deposits but at 334 pages, this is pretty streamlined for Jordan and it's a welcome pace.
In the end, it's worth reading if you want to know how and why Lan and Moiraine were a well-oiled unit at the beginning of the main series. But it's nothing that is going to change the way you view the world or its characters.
There has been a lot of debate from "Wheelies" on exactly when I should have read New Spring, but I decided after Crossroads of Twilight was the best time before beginning the final arc in this series. All I knew was that I didn't want to read it at the end because I want A Memory of Light to be my final impression of this world.
This is the story of not only how Lan became Moiraine's Warder, but also chronicles her time as Accepted and the origins of her search to find the Dragon Reborn. There's the usual poilitcs of the White Tower, plenty of familiar faces and names, as well as the usually Robert Jordan third act that knocks your socks off.
The good is that if you are one of those, such as myself, that has been begging for Lan to have a bigger role in the main series this will give you your fix. Lan has his own adventure before eventually crossing paths with Moiraine and we get to see him in action in ways the regular series hasn't shown me yet (I'm currently reading book #12).
The not so good is the usual fluff from Mr. Jordan. Too much time is spent on dress shopping and making bank deposits but at 334 pages, this is pretty streamlined for Jordan and it's a welcome pace.
In the end, it's worth reading if you want to know how and why Lan and Moiraine were a well-oiled unit at the beginning of the main series. But it's nothing that is going to change the way you view the world or its characters.
June 25, 2007
I read the Wheel of Time series by Robert Jordan because both my husband and best friend had read them. The best friend highly encouraged me to read the books - my husband warned me off.
The warning is not because the books are bad. The first few, actually, are very good. Great character development, interesting universe for those who love fantasy novels.
The warning is because these books never, ever, ever are going to end. Ever.
There are so far 12 books (including a prequel that came out somewhere between books 10 and 11). Each book is close to 1000 pages. I think the last six books have taken place over the book plot timeline of about a month. Seriously. One or two books may have only covered a day or two. No lie.
The books start off with just 4-5 main characters...but over time I think there become closer to 20. And everyone rates their own storyline. As the books stand now, I think almost everyone is in a completely different country on a different mission. It can get confusing for those not quite looking for that sort of depth.
Nonetheless...once you get far enough in the series you'll keep going. If for no other reason than you feel obligated. At this point, all those of us who've kept us are just praying that Robert Jordan doesn't die before finishing the series because there are so many plot lines left untied.
For those serious about fantasy fiction, these books are somewhat of a right of passage. A necessary evil.
The warning is not because the books are bad. The first few, actually, are very good. Great character development, interesting universe for those who love fantasy novels.
The warning is because these books never, ever, ever are going to end. Ever.
There are so far 12 books (including a prequel that came out somewhere between books 10 and 11). Each book is close to 1000 pages. I think the last six books have taken place over the book plot timeline of about a month. Seriously. One or two books may have only covered a day or two. No lie.
The books start off with just 4-5 main characters...but over time I think there become closer to 20. And everyone rates their own storyline. As the books stand now, I think almost everyone is in a completely different country on a different mission. It can get confusing for those not quite looking for that sort of depth.
Nonetheless...once you get far enough in the series you'll keep going. If for no other reason than you feel obligated. At this point, all those of us who've kept us are just praying that Robert Jordan doesn't die before finishing the series because there are so many plot lines left untied.
For those serious about fantasy fiction, these books are somewhat of a right of passage. A necessary evil.
December 16, 2021
Precuela de la saga La Rueda del Tiempo, de Robert Jordan.
Muy interesante, aunque me ha sabido a poco. Presenta a personajes que serán relevantes en la saga, con mucha relevancia en los papeles femeninos.
Me ha permitido hacerme una buena idea de cómo funciona el "sistema de magia" y las relaciones cortesanas.
3,5⭐
Muy interesante, aunque me ha sabido a poco. Presenta a personajes que serán relevantes en la saga, con mucha relevancia en los papeles femeninos.
Me ha permitido hacerme una buena idea de cómo funciona el "sistema de magia" y las relaciones cortesanas.
3,5⭐
April 6, 2023
Series Review - https://youtu.be/6PCnoqjXPLY
This is potentially my favorite Wheel of Time book. I recognize that most people would expect this story to focus more on Moraine and Lan and how they came together, and although technically that's true its more about Moraine in the tower and how she chooses her life's work to find and help the Dragon Reborn and I loved it. Mainly because we get to focus on potentially one of the few healthy female relationships in this entire series. It was so refreshing to have character interactions be a focus of a story in Wheel of Time and just proves to me that this is something I have been craving the entire series. I read this in publication order and I do recommend reading it there but you can't go wrong reading it first, last or anywhere in the middle since its a prequel to the entire series.
This is potentially my favorite Wheel of Time book. I recognize that most people would expect this story to focus more on Moraine and Lan and how they came together, and although technically that's true its more about Moraine in the tower and how she chooses her life's work to find and help the Dragon Reborn and I loved it. Mainly because we get to focus on potentially one of the few healthy female relationships in this entire series. It was so refreshing to have character interactions be a focus of a story in Wheel of Time and just proves to me that this is something I have been craving the entire series. I read this in publication order and I do recommend reading it there but you can't go wrong reading it first, last or anywhere in the middle since its a prequel to the entire series.
October 10, 2021
4.5 stars
I loved it. Moiraine, Lan and Siuan are some of my favorite characters in WoT and this was even better on reread, seeing where Moiraine's search began while knowing everything that happens later. I didn't realize how much I missed just spending time in this world with these characters.
I loved it. Moiraine, Lan and Siuan are some of my favorite characters in WoT and this was even better on reread, seeing where Moiraine's search began while knowing everything that happens later. I didn't realize how much I missed just spending time in this world with these characters.
October 28, 2023
New Spring is a good book and refreshing, especially after reading Books 8–9, yet it starkly highlights my issue with the WoT. I should preface this as a short review of a short book. Firstly, I liked having POVs from both Moraine and Lan after sadly not getting the treatment in the main series. It’s truly astonishing (at least in Book 1-9) that Lan hasn’t gotten a single POV in this entire series.
The first chapter was very nice, but I wish we actually focused on the Aiel War, but beyond the first chapter, it’s mainly in the background, which is so unfortunate. I hear this was part 1 of a supposed trilogy of prequel novels (that got cancelled), the second one following Rand’s father, but that still doesn’t really excuse this book considering we are following Lan’s perspective. Anyways, the first chapter hooked me, and then I started getting concerned as I was mostly bored for chapters 2–5 or so. Then the book started gaining focus again, preparing for Moiraine testing and just life in the tower. What this book does well is give some background information for characters we enjoyed from the main series, particularly seeing how Moiraine and Siuan relationship blossomed. In WoT fashion, I felt the second half to be stronger than the first when it started focusing more on Lan. It’s no spoiler to know that Lan and Moiraine met, and their interactions were fun. It sort of made me nostalgic for old WoT travelling and going from Inn to Inn. The ending was nice, but I would say this definitely has the weakest climax of a WoT book, with maybe the exception of the first novel. This book is still full of Jordan “quirks” and I would say even worse—not just bosoms, but leggings and stockings in the mix. I wish I could articulate a lot of the strength, but this book is sort of a blur, a fun time, but the strength comes mainly with character interactions. One element I would say it does well is the sense of loneliness Moiraine and Siuan are plunged into as they can’t trust anyone else. This is where the Black Ajah actually felt like a threat, which is sadly not a thing in the main series.
Here I will talk about my issues, but also my general sentiments of the series in general.
The last issue I have for the book concerns spoilers for books 1–9, so be warned.
Missed potential. This is not really concerning about this book, but as I was reading it, it made me think of Wheel of Time as a whole. So many characters in WoT are just poorly utilised, barely utilised, completely forgotten, or just doing uneventful activities. It’s easy to pick on Perrin as his plotline is so bad, but it goes beyond that.
NS + Book 1-9 spoilers:
In Conclusion, overall, a good WoT book. It’s definitely not a favourite, but nice to read a WoT book that is relatively focused and quite short.
6.5 or 7/10
The first chapter was very nice, but I wish we actually focused on the Aiel War, but beyond the first chapter, it’s mainly in the background, which is so unfortunate. I hear this was part 1 of a supposed trilogy of prequel novels (that got cancelled), the second one following Rand’s father, but that still doesn’t really excuse this book considering we are following Lan’s perspective. Anyways, the first chapter hooked me, and then I started getting concerned as I was mostly bored for chapters 2–5 or so. Then the book started gaining focus again, preparing for Moiraine testing and just life in the tower. What this book does well is give some background information for characters we enjoyed from the main series, particularly seeing how Moiraine and Siuan relationship blossomed. In WoT fashion, I felt the second half to be stronger than the first when it started focusing more on Lan. It’s no spoiler to know that Lan and Moiraine met, and their interactions were fun. It sort of made me nostalgic for old WoT travelling and going from Inn to Inn. The ending was nice, but I would say this definitely has the weakest climax of a WoT book, with maybe the exception of the first novel. This book is still full of Jordan “quirks” and I would say even worse—not just bosoms, but leggings and stockings in the mix. I wish I could articulate a lot of the strength, but this book is sort of a blur, a fun time, but the strength comes mainly with character interactions. One element I would say it does well is the sense of loneliness Moiraine and Siuan are plunged into as they can’t trust anyone else. This is where the Black Ajah actually felt like a threat, which is sadly not a thing in the main series.
Here I will talk about my issues, but also my general sentiments of the series in general.
The last issue I have for the book concerns spoilers for books 1–9, so be warned.
Missed potential. This is not really concerning about this book, but as I was reading it, it made me think of Wheel of Time as a whole. So many characters in WoT are just poorly utilised, barely utilised, completely forgotten, or just doing uneventful activities. It’s easy to pick on Perrin as his plotline is so bad, but it goes beyond that.
NS + Book 1-9 spoilers:
In Conclusion, overall, a good WoT book. It’s definitely not a favourite, but nice to read a WoT book that is relatively focused and quite short.
6.5 or 7/10
July 17, 2020
3.5 stars
He is born again!” Gitara cried. “I feel him! The Dragon takes his first breath on the slope of Dragonmount! He is coming! He is coming! Light help us! Light help the world! He lies in the snow and cries like the thunder! He burns like the sun!”
New Spring is a prequel novella for The Wheel of Time and even though I have read the main series a couple of times, I have never read this one. This time around I decided that I would start with the prequel as the blurb mentions that part of the story is of how Moiraine and Lan first met. It didn’t hurt either that Jason Chan’s cover art depicting Lan & Moiraine is absolutely gorgeous, but once I started reading I was overjoyed to be back in this world and to have an unknown (to me) Robert Jordan story to experience.
The book, for the most part, has us following a young Moiraine & Siuane as Accepted, training in the White Tower to become Aes Sedai. Perchance they are present when a Sister has a foretelling of the imminent birth of the Dragon on the slopes of Dragonmount and they secretly endeavour to be the ones to find the boy. The rest of the story is focused on when & how Lan & Moiraine meet for the first time, and how they come to be the team we know.
We win this battle, or the world dies.
Highlights:
• Seeing young Moiriane & Siuan and realising how much they have matured and become world-wise and better people in the main series.
• Everything al’Lan Mandragoran. Tai'shar Malkier!
“To stand against the Shadow so long as iron is hard and stone abides. To defend the Malkieri while one drop of blood remains. To avenge what cannot be defended.”
• Aes Sedai testing.
• Black Ajah left, right and centre!!!
Lowlights:
• Seeing young Moiriane & Siuan and realising how immature, naive and inconsiderate their young selves still are.
• Ok, there is some really messed up, weird shit going on with Borderland romance customs and I have blocked it out.
• Moiraine using questionable weaves and making really questionable choices.
• Moiraine being horrible to Lan. Repeatedly. Putting this one down to youth as she is not this way later on. You are forewarned.
I had a great time reading this but there are definitely some issues that may affect your future views on some of the characters. I’m choosing to focus on the good stuff that I am happy I got to read, and while this is nowhere close the best WoT has to offer, I loved being given a peek into the past of these important characters.
He is born again!” Gitara cried. “I feel him! The Dragon takes his first breath on the slope of Dragonmount! He is coming! He is coming! Light help us! Light help the world! He lies in the snow and cries like the thunder! He burns like the sun!”
New Spring is a prequel novella for The Wheel of Time and even though I have read the main series a couple of times, I have never read this one. This time around I decided that I would start with the prequel as the blurb mentions that part of the story is of how Moiraine and Lan first met. It didn’t hurt either that Jason Chan’s cover art depicting Lan & Moiraine is absolutely gorgeous, but once I started reading I was overjoyed to be back in this world and to have an unknown (to me) Robert Jordan story to experience.
The book, for the most part, has us following a young Moiraine & Siuane as Accepted, training in the White Tower to become Aes Sedai. Perchance they are present when a Sister has a foretelling of the imminent birth of the Dragon on the slopes of Dragonmount and they secretly endeavour to be the ones to find the boy. The rest of the story is focused on when & how Lan & Moiraine meet for the first time, and how they come to be the team we know.
We win this battle, or the world dies.
Highlights:
• Seeing young Moiriane & Siuan and realising how much they have matured and become world-wise and better people in the main series.
• Everything al’Lan Mandragoran. Tai'shar Malkier!
“To stand against the Shadow so long as iron is hard and stone abides. To defend the Malkieri while one drop of blood remains. To avenge what cannot be defended.”
• Aes Sedai testing.
• Black Ajah left, right and centre!!!
Lowlights:
• Seeing young Moiriane & Siuan and realising how immature, naive and inconsiderate their young selves still are.
• Ok, there is some really messed up, weird shit going on with Borderland romance customs and I have blocked it out.
• Moiraine using questionable weaves and making really questionable choices.
• Moiraine being horrible to Lan. Repeatedly. Putting this one down to youth as she is not this way later on. You are forewarned.
I had a great time reading this but there are definitely some issues that may affect your future views on some of the characters. I’m choosing to focus on the good stuff that I am happy I got to read, and while this is nowhere close the best WoT has to offer, I loved being given a peek into the past of these important characters.
January 30, 2022
I was of several minds about when to read this one. Not IF I would read it, but when. I mean, if you're a fan of WoT, it's more a matter of wanting ALL of it and never letting even a single stubborn man, woman, or word out of your grip.
In this case, however, in this Great Re-Read of the series, I decided to read Eye of the World first and THEN the prequel that takes place almost two decades before the events of EotW because of the TV show that recently came out.
Yes, a number of the plot points and character introductions are directly related to the first book AND the prequel. Almost all of the White Tower sequences, Aes Sedai introductions, worldbuilding, and especially the deeper connection between Moiraine and Lan are given more weight in the show BECAUSE of the push of the prequel.
I don't really don't mind.
Of course, I'm already VERY familiar with these characters from the rest of the series and this re-read just tickles me to death. The walk-ons of Verin and Cadsuane were totally delicious.
But what really got my heart pumping was Siuan and Moiraine's friendship and induction, the prophecy that got them out into the world on the mission, and best of all, Lan and Moiraine. They were so funny together.
To me, this is a never-miss book. From here on out, I'll never read it out of order.
In this case, however, in this Great Re-Read of the series, I decided to read Eye of the World first and THEN the prequel that takes place almost two decades before the events of EotW because of the TV show that recently came out.
Yes, a number of the plot points and character introductions are directly related to the first book AND the prequel. Almost all of the White Tower sequences, Aes Sedai introductions, worldbuilding, and especially the deeper connection between Moiraine and Lan are given more weight in the show BECAUSE of the push of the prequel.
I don't really don't mind.
Of course, I'm already VERY familiar with these characters from the rest of the series and this re-read just tickles me to death. The walk-ons of Verin and Cadsuane were totally delicious.
But what really got my heart pumping was Siuan and Moiraine's friendship and induction, the prophecy that got them out into the world on the mission, and best of all, Lan and Moiraine. They were so funny together.
To me, this is a never-miss book. From here on out, I'll never read it out of order.
August 4, 2021
6/10
Its fine. Some cool moments at the end, but nothing amazing.
Its fine. Some cool moments at the end, but nothing amazing.
September 18, 2019
This book is currently Tor's ebook of the month and you can download a copy for free from their website here: https://ebookclub.tor.com/
It's only available until 11:59 PM ET on September 20th 2019 so grab it quick if you want it!
New Spring is technically a prequel to the Wheel of Time series (it's about events that occurred approximately 20 years before The Eye of the World) but I was advised to read it after book 10, Crossroads of Twilight, to avoid accidental spoilers. I'm not sure there were any major spoilers hidden in here but it definitely gives you an idea about which of the Aes Sedai can and can't be trusted so I can see why I was told to hold off on reading it until this point in the series.
I'm really torn about how to rate this book, yes it was interesting to see how Moiraine and Siuan got involved in the search for the Dragon Reborn and I liked seeing a younger version of Lan but I'm not sure this actually gave us any new information that we haven't already discovered throughout the rest of the series. There weren't any major new revelations and it's hard to build tension in a story when you already know the outcome of events that follow on from it.
It's also hard to be happy when you see how horrible one of your favourite characters used to be when they were a new Aes Sedai. I've always loved Moiraine, she is manipulative and she keeps far too many secrets but she's an interesting character and I always felt that she's trying to do the best for the people around her. Young Moiraine isn't a nice girl though, she's just as manipulative but she also has a vicious streak and the way she treated Lan was absolutely appalling. He's not the only person she made to suffer but because I'm so attached to his character I felt really bad for him. I just lost respect for Moiraine because she's so petty and willing to act as judge, jury and executioner for people she's barely met.
It didn't help that we also got to meet Lan's carneira Lady Edeyn and once again a woman in the Wheel of Time series is a nasty piece of work. She took Lan's virginity when he was 15 (and she was in her 30s) and according to custom that gives her some kind of control over his life so she is now able to manipulate him back into her bed - somewhere he quite clearly didn't want to be! It's like the Tylin and Mat scenes all over again except Edeyn is plotting to marry Lan off to her daugher even while she's forcing him into her own bed. How did Robert Jordan consistently manage to create such horrible women and messed up relationships? I can't think of a single female character that I've liked throughout the entire series because he keeps turning them into whiny harpies or sex offenders and I'm so sick of that now. All the men are pushed around by nasty manipulative women and the Aes Sedai get away with murder because everyone else is terrified of them. At this point I'm half hoping Rand will go crazy and destroy the world!
In spite of the issues mentioned and the fact that the plot moved at a snail like pace for at least the first two thirds of the book I still found myself enjoying it though. I don't know quite what that says about me but there you have it - I've obviously lost all sense of perspective when it comes to this series. I'll just say that I'm glad we're closing in on the end now, I almost wish I'd never started reading it but I'm really hoping that the last few books will be amazing enough to make me forget about the drudgery from the middle of the series.
________________
Buddy read with Buddies, Books & Baubles starting 26th October 2016
It's only available until 11:59 PM ET on September 20th 2019 so grab it quick if you want it!
New Spring is technically a prequel to the Wheel of Time series (it's about events that occurred approximately 20 years before The Eye of the World) but I was advised to read it after book 10, Crossroads of Twilight, to avoid accidental spoilers. I'm not sure there were any major spoilers hidden in here but it definitely gives you an idea about which of the Aes Sedai can and can't be trusted so I can see why I was told to hold off on reading it until this point in the series.
I'm really torn about how to rate this book, yes it was interesting to see how Moiraine and Siuan got involved in the search for the Dragon Reborn and I liked seeing a younger version of Lan but I'm not sure this actually gave us any new information that we haven't already discovered throughout the rest of the series. There weren't any major new revelations and it's hard to build tension in a story when you already know the outcome of events that follow on from it.
It's also hard to be happy when you see how horrible one of your favourite characters used to be when they were a new Aes Sedai. I've always loved Moiraine, she is manipulative and she keeps far too many secrets but she's an interesting character and I always felt that she's trying to do the best for the people around her. Young Moiraine isn't a nice girl though, she's just as manipulative but she also has a vicious streak and the way she treated Lan was absolutely appalling. He's not the only person she made to suffer but because I'm so attached to his character I felt really bad for him. I just lost respect for Moiraine because she's so petty and willing to act as judge, jury and executioner for people she's barely met.
It didn't help that we also got to meet Lan's carneira Lady Edeyn and once again a woman in the Wheel of Time series is a nasty piece of work. She took Lan's virginity when he was 15 (and she was in her 30s) and according to custom that gives her some kind of control over his life so she is now able to manipulate him back into her bed - somewhere he quite clearly didn't want to be! It's like the Tylin and Mat scenes all over again except Edeyn is plotting to marry Lan off to her daugher even while she's forcing him into her own bed. How did Robert Jordan consistently manage to create such horrible women and messed up relationships? I can't think of a single female character that I've liked throughout the entire series because he keeps turning them into whiny harpies or sex offenders and I'm so sick of that now. All the men are pushed around by nasty manipulative women and the Aes Sedai get away with murder because everyone else is terrified of them. At this point I'm half hoping Rand will go crazy and destroy the world!
In spite of the issues mentioned and the fact that the plot moved at a snail like pace for at least the first two thirds of the book I still found myself enjoying it though. I don't know quite what that says about me but there you have it - I've obviously lost all sense of perspective when it comes to this series. I'll just say that I'm glad we're closing in on the end now, I almost wish I'd never started reading it but I'm really hoping that the last few books will be amazing enough to make me forget about the drudgery from the middle of the series.
________________
Buddy read with Buddies, Books & Baubles starting 26th October 2016
February 16, 2020
Yolumuz uzun, yürümeye yeni başladık :) Okumaya devam.
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