Wheel of Time Books Ranked

[@AnthonyHudg]

I have yet to read The Wheel of Time, but I’ve been really enjoying your videos. You have a very laid back feel, and it’s awesome to see more people share their love for books. Keep up the good work!

[@jonathankoan]

Thank you so much for watching. It’s nice to know that someone appreciates the videos.

[@corruptcurly34]

It’s definitely a struggle book series. There’s a lot of build up and re-explaining that can be a chore, but the pay offs are SOOOO perfect. Even some of the least liked books in the series (most likely the slog depending who you ask) have some amazing moments.

[@citizena1495]

Great video! On my first read through so far and am about 40% through Shadow Rising! Loving every single bit so far that I’ve already ordered the entire rest of the series so I have a collection:)

[@jonathankoan]

Shadow Rising is really good! It’s my favorite of the RJ books. 4-6 are great, and 11-14 are by far the best books in the series. I personally enjoyed 7-10 a lot, but they are a step down in quality. I’m glad you’re enjoying it!

[@linkvagar2336]

The Gathering Storm is my favourite too. I was finally happy that the main character actually got heavily featured after seemly barely being present for the previous few books.

[@mrgauth]

Enjoyed. Thx for making. I really need to get back to and try to finish the series. Have read first 4, but stopped because I needed a break. I am an old man, think grandpa old, and really need to get back to it before I die. Thx for re-inspiring me.

[@josephreusch]

Nice list! Different from mine I think I am doing a reread currently but I already feel like I need to go back and read books 1&2 to properly place them. I am on book 8 and so far Lord of Chaos has been my favourite, I just love the forsaken POV's and it definitely has the best ending to a WOT book so far. Before the reread I always said the first 3 and the last 3 books were my favourite so curious as to how it will be now. Book 2 is the only book I can't remember that much of other than a few scenes and the ending. Right now I would probably go 6, 4, 1, 2, 3, 5, 7 for books I've reread so far.

[@robertpatenaude]

Also my favourite series! Refuse to watch the show as I know it will never live up to my expectations. This series got me through some tough times! Was devastated when I thought it would not be finished. Will be forever grateful to Sanderson for finishing it. Be well, stay safe!

[@jonathankoan]

I enjoy the tv series, but they definitely change a lot. But The books are just amazing. I am amazed at how well Sanderson was able to complete the series. Gives me high hopes for the end of all of his series.

[@Sarah06294]

Great video and channel. Love your relaxed style. I’m just finished Crossroads and my ranking so far would be: 1. The Fires of Heaven 2. The Great Hunt 3. The Dragon Reborn 4. The Shadow Rising 5. The Eye of the World 6. Winter’s Heart 7. Lord of Chaos 8. A Crown of Swords 9. The Path of Daggers 10. Crossroads of Twilight Fav Characters so far: Galad, Rand, Mat, Perrin, Nyneave, Moraine, Lan, Egwene, Loial, Cadsuane. Excited to read the final 5, starting with New Spring.

[@jonathankoan]

You are in for a treat. The last 4 books are in my opinion the best. I also like Galad Rand and Perrin. I’d throw in Gawyn as well in my favorites. Thank you for watching!

[@FullStewart]

I’ve only read Eye of the World, Great Hunt and Dragon Reborn, but I’d say it’s gotten better each book. Love Tar Valon stuff, Mat is probably my favourite character lol we have opposite opinions so far i dont really mind rand at all, his absence from the third book didnt feel obstructing to me enjoyment of it and i hope it gets even better from here

[@jonathankoan]

I hope you continue to enjoy the series My favorites upcoming…as well as my least favorites sadly.

[@bland-g154]

your expression in the thumbnail holding the books indicates how truly massive this series is 😂

[@SpartnMarine823]

I’m enjoying the show now that I’m not expecting a 1-1 book adaptation. They’re still delivering some great scenes

[@dennisclark1351]

I will say that a couple of books in this series took me a full year to get through, each, while others took a few months, and then there was the Sanderson books, I finished each in a matter of 2 or so weeks. I am like you, I am loving the show, and understand that you're not going to fit 1 MILLION WORDS of content into a television show, so some choices have to be made, but thus far, I'm very impressed.

[@tyleryates8508]

So excited to get to this book series soon

[@TT-qc2mu]

I'm getting back into the series after a brief hiatus. For the life of me I can't remember what you're referring to in book 5 about Aes Sedai doing something to a member of their group. Can you remind me? Thanks! Also - I'm on book 6 so no spoilers past that point!

[@staffski]

Always a surprise when someone says they don't like Mat. Do you find his antihero antics silly, or did you never get over the surly Mat from book 1&2? Or some others reason?

[@jonathankoan]

For me, I don’t like his personality. I prefer my heroes to be very upright and pure individuals. Rand and Perrin are much more so than Matt. Rand occasionally falls sway to wrongdoing and promiscuity, but he always regrets it and try’s to make it right. Perrin for the most part stays righteous throughout. Matt didn’t work for me until towards the end.

[@staffski]

@@jonathankoanRands Promiscuity? Huh, I never saw it that way. You have a few interesting point of views.

[@gamer46ful]

I am currently finishing A Memory of Light so I will exclude it for now even though I know it's going to be a good rated book but my ranking goes as follows 14. Crossroads of Twilight 13. The Path of Daggers 12. Winter's Heart 11. New Spring 10. Lord of Chaos 9. Crown of Swords 8. Fires of Heaven 7. The Dragon Reborn 6. The Eye of the World 5. Knife of Dreams 4. Towers of Midnight 3. The Gathering Storm 2. The Great Hunt 1. The Shadow Rising

[@jonathankoan]

Solid ranking! A lot of your placements are in similar areas to my own.

[@gamer46ful]

@Jonathan Koan your ranks were really good. These books have been great. I started WOT in January of 2020 and I am about to hit the 3 year mark and as I type this comment I just started The Last Battle chapter. Wish me luck!

[@Thetopnoobpro]

Is that Narnia in your shelf in the back? Also great ranking :)

[@jonathankoan]

Indeed, it is on the shelf. I’ve read through the Narnia books and really enjoyed them. I actually recorded myself reading them out loud and doing all of the voices for my nephews for Christmas (I did Lion, Witch, and Wardrobe and Horse and his boy). They’re so much fun to read, but boy did recording those audiobooks make me exhausted.

[@Iwenttothewoods1379]

Currently nearing the end of The Great Hunt!

[@UnfriendLee]

I also loved The Wheel of Time and have read the series a number of times. I actually clicked your video because I'm currently working on re-reading the books. I personally find Robert Jordan's worldbuilding to be insanely good and couldn't agree more with Sanderson being an excellent choice to wrap up the content. Just out of curiosity, if you see this, have you read any of the webnovel The Wandering Inn? I only ask because it's another of my favorites also because of some insane world building by the author (and based upon most of the novels I see in the background, we share somewhat similar tastes).

[@jonathankoan]

I’ve seen it advertised, but I don’t read e-books because I much prefer to read physical books. But the premise and artwork intrigued me.

[@UnfriendLee]

@@jonathankoan Wow, thanks for the quick reply! I definitely understand that. Something about a physical copy feels more relaxing usually. Also can't beat new book smell.

[@harrycorbiniv]

First time read, on The Great Hunt currently. Loving it

[@jonathankoan]

Very good book. You are in for a treat!

[@45Racing5]

I am about 100 pages off finishing Lord of Chaos and my personal favorite is either The Eye of The World or The Dragon Reborn. The Shadow Rising was a bit of a letdown for me after hearing so many good things about it. The Perrin storyline was great but the other two storylines were not so much.

[@jonathankoan]

I can understand that. I personally loved the shadow rising because of the Perrin and Rand storylines. But eye of the world and the Dragon reborn both really captured classic fantasy tones, so I really like them as well. Hope you enjoy the rest of the series, and be prepared for the slog. I still had fun Reading those books, but it is tedious. But the final four books are totally worth it.

[@45Racing5]

@@jonathankoan I am intrigued to find out about the 'slog'. I am looking forward to see how the series unfolds

[@adamtideman4953]

Spoilers for Fires of Heaven 7:52 You said your absolute favorite moment of Fires of Heaven was what the Aes Sedai did to a certain member of their group. What was this moment exactly? I can't remember anything significant happening with the Aes Sedai in that book.

[@jonathankoan]

So, I just went back and looked and I apprently was thinking about something from Book 6. There's some stuff with Siuan that starts in the end of Book 4, that continues through this book, and reaches a climax in book 6 with another character. I was thinking of the book six moment in particular, but this book sets up that journey. If you've read the books, I'm referring to what they do with Egwene and where she ends up in the power struggle.

[@adamtideman4953]

@@jonathankoan Oh gotcha, I understand. Great list btw, The Gathering Storm is also my favorite WoT book ;)

[@davereese6614]

I watched this twice because I'm on book three and am enjoying it immensely.

[@jonathankoan]

Book 3 has some wonderful moments, but book 4 is when it kicks up a gear for me.

[@davereese6614]

@@jonathankoan Good to know that. Thanks!

[@jenricbruce7]

Where do I get these editions?😢

[@jonathankoan]

These were the standard editions in bookstores when I was reading the series (2017-2019), but you’ll probably have to go to a used bookstore or a website like ABEBooks to find them.

[@davereese6614]

Very interesting.

[@rap3208]

Unless each book in a series can stand alone, I can't really rank the books in a series, I consider them as just one book. Yeah, I've been meaning to read the series for years but somehow nver got to doing it.

[@gracefullynadine864]

Honestly I was surprised to see Crossroads of Twilight at 14. It should've been 15 😅

[@jonathankoan]

I just really did not like “New Spring”. So frustrated by that book, that even though it’s “better” than Crossroads at Twilight it infuriates me more. But I acknowledge Crossroads isn’t that good.

[@gracefullynadine864]

@@jonathankoan to be fair Moiraine is my favorite character, you could write a book about her going shopping and I'd read it lol

[@chrissleeping65]

My list goes like this 1. A Memory of Light 2. The Shadow Rising 3. The Gathering Storm 4. Towers of Midnight 5. The Great Hunt 6. The Dragon Reborn 7. Knife of Dreams 8. The Fires of Heaven 9. Lord of Chaos 10. The Eye of the World 11. A Crown of Swords 12. Winter's Heart 13. New Spring 14. The Path of Daggers 15. Crossroads of Twilight

[@jonathankoan]

Very similar lists. I like it!

[@dennisclark1351]

Great video. I also think the series while not 100% faithful is doing a great job of putting out a great show. I also think that many of the books taken over and written by Sanderson really are the very best. Jordon did a phenomenal job of worldbuilding, but Sanderson had amazing flow. FYI, I see your other books, and I love RA Salvatore and Terry Brooks as well, and Star Wars and Star Trek. I enjoyed your take.

[@jonathankoan]

Thank you for watching!

[@JoelAdamson]

I'm a slog skeptic. My top tier is TSR, TEOTW, LOC, and Winter's Heart. I don't even count the Sanderson books, though I agree Memory of Light was great.

[@pupwizard3888]

You loved the trial sequence????? That's a first.

[@jonathankoan]

Oh yeah. I loved all the Brandon books. It gave Perrin and Galad a really good dynamic.

[@mtverv]

You have a lot of Star Trek: Voyager books so you get a sub

[@williamgass9242]

Yuck. I thought Brandon Sanderson ruined everything. He is the worst.

[@jonathankoan]

👀…(hides my favorite author’s books)….

[@linkvagar2336]

I mean, technically he saved everything. And the ending of the series was extremely well done. I'm not sure what more you wanted from it? We are very lucky to even get the conclusion we did.

[@williamgass9242]

@linkvagar2336 we are unlucky that it was Sanderson who butted in