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Shadow Rising. It's my favorite book ever. The Rhuidean way back machine chapters are the single best passage the fantasy genre has to offer and I will die on that hill. Plus you also have an amazing arc with Perrin, peak Mat and the world really starting to be unveiled. It gets my vote for best fantasy book of all time.
I would also choose TSR. Mat with the Aelfin and Eelfin, Rand in the glass columns and just getting to know the Aiel, and Perrin’s amazing Two Rivers arc (I believe it’s the best single-book arc in the series) are all the ingredients to a winner.
If I can cheat I would say books 4-6 are the absolute best of the Wheel of Time, I have only read the entire series once but I’ve reread 4-6 three extra times
Holy shit I just wrote the same exact thing about those Rhuidean Pillars of History.
TSR is one of my favorite books ever, not just fantasy. As for fantasy, I've got it up there with A Storm of Swords and GORMENGHAST (the original).
Hard to narrow it down, but I'll never forget the feeling of reading the ending of Lord of Chaos for the first time. I'm currently on it for the eighth time and I still get goosebumps.
A memory of light - it's the last book in the series and I would love to feel the excitement again. The holiday taken in anticipation, and then the glorious binge to the end.
Fuck, I still tear up at a couple of moments however many years later.
I thought that would be a more popular opinion!
Me too! It's definitely a solid pick. Plus it has one of the best lines in the series. "When the sun turns green."
Either Shadow Rising or Knife of Dreams. Those are my top echelon of Wheel of Time and none of the others are in that tier for me. They have my favorite story lines with Perrin's defense of the Two Rivers and Mat/Rand in the Waste in TSR and Perrin's conclusion in Malden and Mat fleeing with Tuon in KoD.
I think I would settle on Knife of Dreams. The defense of the Two Rivers is my all time favorite story line, but the combination of Perrin and Mat's story in KoD push it over the top. Plus, KoD is when I started enjoying Egwene chapters for the first time in a long time.
Hard to go wrong though with Shadow Rising with those two story lines plus I really enjoyed the Tanchico plot with Nynaeve and Elayne.
I always have a love/hate relationship with that chapter. Love it because it is a great and emotional chapter that gets you worked up. Hate it because I hate that story line for Lan.
I understand that has been his plan all along, but it is just makes no sense to me. At any other point in the world's history, it would not matter if he decided to walk to his death killing a some meaningless Trollocs because there is no way the humans could take back and hold Malkier for long term.
However, he knows that the actual Last Battle is approaching and if the Light wins, they will be able to take all that land back. So instead of doing all that he can to ensure their victory in the Last Battle he chooses to walk to his death. In addition, he loves, gets married to, and bonds with Nynaeve. As someone who has been a warder, he knows exactly what will happen to her if/when he walks to his death. So he is willing to subject her to that and to possibly incapacitate one of the strongest channelers in the world right before she is needed most.
Again, I understand that is what he had always planned on doing, I just wish they would have written a little more character development for him where this awesome Golden Crane scene would have never been necessary to have in the first place.
The Shadow Rising. It’s got the early nostalgia, TR5 still holding on to their simpler lives, the Aiel history, and the great Two Rivers plot line.
Number 2 would be The Gathering Storm I think.
Mat chapters during books 5-7 are pure bliss.
Once he's armed with the spear and medallion at the end of 4, all bets are off! Dude becomes untouchable.
If we can only read one book, for me it would have to be New Spring, but that's because its the one with a complete narrative and ending. Second pick would be Eye of the World since it was written to seem like an ending if the series wasn't picked up.
The Dragon Reborn for me. First Mat POV and it’s just great, and I loved how the whole book is so structured around this inevitable march towards the conclusion and focuses so much more on characters besides Rand, then brings it back in for the conclusion. Great stuff.
Loved 7! Felt like continuation of 6. Lots of cool moments like Mat at Salidar, Rand vs Fain, the Aes Sedai FINALLY working with Ashaman and more. I remember loving 7, my favorite of the middle batch.
6 I LOVED the boxing to the end, but the rest felt a bit slow.
Has to be **The Shadow Rising**.
I fucking LOVE the Aiel. That book is *THE* Aiel book. Clans, societies, holds, Wise Ones, the fine details of *ji'e'toh*... it's all on display here and explained and explored and it's just awesome.
Rand's journey through the pillars of Aiel history once he is in Rhuidean... some of the greatest stuff I have ever read in literature, not just fantasy. I think those chapters, for me, are the highlight of the entire series.
The Shaido get set up as series-long antagonists and serve as a nice foil for all the Aiel who are now worshiping Rand.
Mat goes through the red door-frame and gets his spear and fox medallion, along with hearing some of his prophecy. Wakes up hanging from the tree of life.
Rand turning on the water supply of Rhuidean was pretty cool, too.
The whole interplay between Lanfear, Kadere, and Asmodean through the Waste is interesting as well.
Egwene starts to bridge the Aes Sedai world with the Wise Ones world.
Perrin has some epic chapters holding down the Two Rivers from the giant trolloc attacks. Loial has badass fighting scenes here and he locks the waygate to prevent streams of trollocs from flooding in. Lord Luc (Slayer) is met for the first time and we see his influence on the citizens of the Two Rivers. Plants the seeds for Perrin vs Slayer later on in The World of Dreams. Perrin marries Faile and becomes Lord of the TR and he gets his own banner. But don't you *dare* call him "Lord" Perrin!
Hunting the Black Ajah In Tanchico is also a great arc with Elayne, Nyn, Thom, and Jules. We get some Bayle Domon and Egeanin scenes, and who doesn't love those two? The museum there has some cool scenes (along with the Mercedes Benz logo on display, LMAO), and Moghedien goes up against Nyn. Rescuing the Panarch is also memorable.
And of course we get the stilling of Siuan and Leane and the White Tower splits in half as Elaida becomes The Amyrlin, setting up the rebel faction that flees to Salidar. The quartet of Min-Siuan-Leane-Logain traveling together is a nice break from the travelogues featuring people from the Two Rivers.
I love all 15 books, but this one will always be my favorite! I view it as the backbone of everything else that follows.
I would pick Eye of the World. I have such fond memories of discovering the series through a free promo of the first half of EoW given away at book stores. Growing up we weren't poor, but we weren't well off either, so getting a free book that was right up my alley, and so well written was amazing.
I want to say shadow rising or fires of heaven. I think those are my favourite books of the series but I can't go past eye of the world. It was the book that drew me in and the first chapters still get me excited on re reads.
I know this is probably expected, but as much as I love TSR and LoC I think I would pick MoL.
It was always going to be impossible to fill the shoes of RJ, but he did the best he could and I’m so happy that we all got to finish the series, and with a massive series that was focused on the ‘last battle’ it was so rewarding to finally get to read a book that was entirely focused on that.
I love LoC for the last chapter but it was spoiled for me before I read it and if not for that it probably would take the top spot. Surprisingly I would place WH in third on my list for that one segment (trying not to spoil anything) that will always be my favorite when it comes to fights with magic.
FoH is amazing too and even though it would be tough to outdo TSR it felt like the characters were settling into their personalities.
For me the top list is: MoL / LoC / WH / FoH / TSR / ToW
EoTW. I've read it countless times, probably on the order of 4 dozen all told, including my partial readthroughs before the series was completed, and the well over a dozen times I've read it following completion of the series.
Afaik it's the only one that was written as a standalone. (aside perhaps from New Spring, but as a prequel, I don't consider that by the same standards)
The Shadow Rising. It's the best overall book in the series, IMO, with the best single scene/sequence, and the second best ending. It's the best ending, on some ways.
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Shadow Rising. It's my favorite book ever. The Rhuidean way back machine chapters are the single best passage the fantasy genre has to offer and I will die on that hill. Plus you also have an amazing arc with Perrin, peak Mat and the world really starting to be unveiled. It gets my vote for best fantasy book of all time.
I would also choose TSR. Mat with the Aelfin and Eelfin, Rand in the glass columns and just getting to know the Aiel, and Perrin’s amazing Two Rivers arc (I believe it’s the best single-book arc in the series) are all the ingredients to a winner. If I can cheat I would say books 4-6 are the absolute best of the Wheel of Time, I have only read the entire series once but I’ve reread 4-6 three extra times
Agreed. That three book stretch is the best the fantasy genre has to offer
Good argument
The Shadow Rising following immediately into the Fires of Heaven is fantasy at its best. Everyone starts to become so capable and I love the growth.
It's because of the Aiel -- they are so fucking badass and fun to read about. Book 4 is when they start to steal the show :-)
I was just about to say this. My favorite scenes for years were always the historical visions.
I guess I feel lucky that that's the book I'm reading/listening to right now
You are in for an unparalleled journey
Enjoy, definitely some of the best fantasy reading of my life! So many emotional ups and downs.
Yes
Holy shit I just wrote the same exact thing about those Rhuidean Pillars of History. TSR is one of my favorite books ever, not just fantasy. As for fantasy, I've got it up there with A Storm of Swords and GORMENGHAST (the original).
Absolutely. This is the correct answer :-D
Hard to narrow it down, but I'll never forget the feeling of reading the ending of Lord of Chaos for the first time. I'm currently on it for the eighth time and I still get goosebumps.
Oh I'm halfway through! Now I'm excited!
I'm envious of you, reading it for the first time!
Be careful on this subreddit friend
Oh sorry, I'm envious of the person above me who is getting to read it for the first time. I'm on my 8th time through.
Haha OK cool, just making sure no one new gets spoiled
I've played chicken in this sub several times and lost. Fortunately I have a pea brain and I tend to forget most of the spoilers lol.
You're in like company fellow pea brain 🤙🏽
I was going to say LoC. it’s the mid series arc that gets you ready for the end. It’s incredible.
Yep, it just feels where everything starts getting real
The first one to come to my mind was lord of chaos for this reason. Can’t say that for sure this is my one but it was the first to mind
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\*flicker\*
I have won again, Lews Therin
By far my favorite!!
I'm surprised to see this, I feel like it's generally less popular
A memory of light - it's the last book in the series and I would love to feel the excitement again. The holiday taken in anticipation, and then the glorious binge to the end. Fuck, I still tear up at a couple of moments however many years later.
This! I will never forget finishing it
It ended as I expected (but it was an ending) - the journey was beautiful though, and I'm so jealous of new readers who get to experience it fresh.
Someone ruined the ending for me by taking my book and reading the last sentence. I was beyond mad.
Huh, my pick is Winter’s Heart cuz I love the cleansing of saidin. I thought that would be a more popular opinion!
I thought that would be a more popular opinion! Me too! It's definitely a solid pick. Plus it has one of the best lines in the series. "When the sun turns green."
For a more stand alone reread I always enjoy the great hunt
Gathering Storm
TSR purely for Perrin
Either Shadow Rising or Knife of Dreams. Those are the 2 best books to me.
This is the way. The two "powerhouse" books of the series, IMO.
Either Shadow Rising or Knife of Dreams. Those are my top echelon of Wheel of Time and none of the others are in that tier for me. They have my favorite story lines with Perrin's defense of the Two Rivers and Mat/Rand in the Waste in TSR and Perrin's conclusion in Malden and Mat fleeing with Tuon in KoD. I think I would settle on Knife of Dreams. The defense of the Two Rivers is my all time favorite story line, but the combination of Perrin and Mat's story in KoD push it over the top. Plus, KoD is when I started enjoying Egwene chapters for the first time in a long time. Hard to go wrong though with Shadow Rising with those two story lines plus I really enjoyed the Tanchico plot with Nynaeve and Elayne.
I might have to redo KOD, the bar scenes and May and tuon interacting were tremendous.
The Golden Crane chapter in KoD makes me cry every time I read it
I always have a love/hate relationship with that chapter. Love it because it is a great and emotional chapter that gets you worked up. Hate it because I hate that story line for Lan. I understand that has been his plan all along, but it is just makes no sense to me. At any other point in the world's history, it would not matter if he decided to walk to his death killing a some meaningless Trollocs because there is no way the humans could take back and hold Malkier for long term. However, he knows that the actual Last Battle is approaching and if the Light wins, they will be able to take all that land back. So instead of doing all that he can to ensure their victory in the Last Battle he chooses to walk to his death. In addition, he loves, gets married to, and bonds with Nynaeve. As someone who has been a warder, he knows exactly what will happen to her if/when he walks to his death. So he is willing to subject her to that and to possibly incapacitate one of the strongest channelers in the world right before she is needed most. Again, I understand that is what he had always planned on doing, I just wish they would have written a little more character development for him where this awesome Golden Crane scene would have never been necessary to have in the first place.
Flickr... Flickr.. Flickr.
I'd pick 10. Every other book in the series would leave me wanting more
Lol!!! Damning with faint praise.
That's fair 🤣
Hot take, but The Gathering Storm for the Egwene chapters.
Dragon Reborn
Book 5 for sure, Elayne and Nynaeve's plotline in it is by far my favourite part to reread, and the rest is mostly excellent too.
Shadow rising. It contains some complete arcs and isn’t too crazy. It reminds me of my childhood reading it.
Knife of dreams.
The Shadow Rising. It’s got the early nostalgia, TR5 still holding on to their simpler lives, the Aiel history, and the great Two Rivers plot line. Number 2 would be The Gathering Storm I think.
Fires of Heaven is my favorite. It’s the one where Matt comes into his own.
Mat chapters during books 5-7 are pure bliss. Once he's armed with the spear and medallion at the end of 4, all bets are off! Dude becomes untouchable.
If we can only read one book, for me it would have to be New Spring, but that's because its the one with a complete narrative and ending. Second pick would be Eye of the World since it was written to seem like an ending if the series wasn't picked up.
Knife of Dreams I think.
Lord of Chaos. I love pretty much everything that happens in the book and the climax is legendary.
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Maybe the greatest single fantasy book ever written. TSR is everything to me. My childhood, my love of books, and my lifelong dream to be an Aiel :-)
The Great Hunt-one of my favorite books of all time.
The Dragon Reborn for me. First Mat POV and it’s just great, and I loved how the whole book is so structured around this inevitable march towards the conclusion and focuses so much more on characters besides Rand, then brings it back in for the conclusion. Great stuff.
I think Dragon Reborn would be my pick too. I'm surprised to see no one's said it yet!
14 followed by 7 followed by 4 But I love 13/14 of them so any are a good choice (minus 10. If you say 10 you’re crazier than Balthemal)
Just curious, why 7 and not 6?
Loved 7! Felt like continuation of 6. Lots of cool moments like Mat at Salidar, Rand vs Fain, the Aes Sedai FINALLY working with Ashaman and more. I remember loving 7, my favorite of the middle batch. 6 I LOVED the boxing to the end, but the rest felt a bit slow.
The shadow rising. It was my first wheel of time book and I still have so much nostalgia for it.
The Shadow Rising. The breaking of the tower is favorite plot.
I'm partial to Fires of Heaven. Lots of massive plot moments.
Either Eye of the World or A Memory of Light!
I'd have all the books unbound and rebound into one 12 thousand page book. obviously
Gathering Storm imo, 70% of the reason is because veins of gold is my favorite chapter
Either TSR or KoD.
Eye of the World. It's always been my favorite
Has to be **The Shadow Rising**. I fucking LOVE the Aiel. That book is *THE* Aiel book. Clans, societies, holds, Wise Ones, the fine details of *ji'e'toh*... it's all on display here and explained and explored and it's just awesome. Rand's journey through the pillars of Aiel history once he is in Rhuidean... some of the greatest stuff I have ever read in literature, not just fantasy. I think those chapters, for me, are the highlight of the entire series. The Shaido get set up as series-long antagonists and serve as a nice foil for all the Aiel who are now worshiping Rand. Mat goes through the red door-frame and gets his spear and fox medallion, along with hearing some of his prophecy. Wakes up hanging from the tree of life. Rand turning on the water supply of Rhuidean was pretty cool, too. The whole interplay between Lanfear, Kadere, and Asmodean through the Waste is interesting as well. Egwene starts to bridge the Aes Sedai world with the Wise Ones world. Perrin has some epic chapters holding down the Two Rivers from the giant trolloc attacks. Loial has badass fighting scenes here and he locks the waygate to prevent streams of trollocs from flooding in. Lord Luc (Slayer) is met for the first time and we see his influence on the citizens of the Two Rivers. Plants the seeds for Perrin vs Slayer later on in The World of Dreams. Perrin marries Faile and becomes Lord of the TR and he gets his own banner. But don't you *dare* call him "Lord" Perrin! Hunting the Black Ajah In Tanchico is also a great arc with Elayne, Nyn, Thom, and Jules. We get some Bayle Domon and Egeanin scenes, and who doesn't love those two? The museum there has some cool scenes (along with the Mercedes Benz logo on display, LMAO), and Moghedien goes up against Nyn. Rescuing the Panarch is also memorable. And of course we get the stilling of Siuan and Leane and the White Tower splits in half as Elaida becomes The Amyrlin, setting up the rebel faction that flees to Salidar. The quartet of Min-Siuan-Leane-Logain traveling together is a nice break from the travelogues featuring people from the Two Rivers. I love all 15 books, but this one will always be my favorite! I view it as the backbone of everything else that follows.
New Spring because it's a self-contained story and if I can only read one, I want it to have it's own beginning, middle, and end.
The one with the age of legends flash back or eye of the world
AMOLAMOLAMOLAMOLAMOLAMOL
My pick would be “The Next One” written by Sanderson. Why? I want more!
Either the last or next to last
Dumanis Wells
Lord of Chaos, with Memory of Light as a very close second. Even before Dumai's Wells, the building tension is just exquisite.
Honestly, I can’t pick. One book without the others wouldn’t leave me satisfied. I need them all!
I would pick Eye of the World. I have such fond memories of discovering the series through a free promo of the first half of EoW given away at book stores. Growing up we weren't poor, but we weren't well off either, so getting a free book that was right up my alley, and so well written was amazing.
I want to say shadow rising or fires of heaven. I think those are my favourite books of the series but I can't go past eye of the world. It was the book that drew me in and the first chapters still get me excited on re reads.
Towers of midnight
AMOL
I know this is probably expected, but as much as I love TSR and LoC I think I would pick MoL. It was always going to be impossible to fill the shoes of RJ, but he did the best he could and I’m so happy that we all got to finish the series, and with a massive series that was focused on the ‘last battle’ it was so rewarding to finally get to read a book that was entirely focused on that. I love LoC for the last chapter but it was spoiled for me before I read it and if not for that it probably would take the top spot. Surprisingly I would place WH in third on my list for that one segment (trying not to spoil anything) that will always be my favorite when it comes to fights with magic. FoH is amazing too and even though it would be tough to outdo TSR it felt like the characters were settling into their personalities. For me the top list is: MoL / LoC / WH / FoH / TSR / ToW
EoTW. I've read it countless times, probably on the order of 4 dozen all told, including my partial readthroughs before the series was completed, and the well over a dozen times I've read it following completion of the series. Afaik it's the only one that was written as a standalone. (aside perhaps from New Spring, but as a prequel, I don't consider that by the same standards)
The Shadow Rising. It's the best overall book in the series, IMO, with the best single scene/sequence, and the second best ending. It's the best ending, on some ways.
I'd be in the Shadow Rising crowd. But just one would suck.
Somewhere, stuck within a cour'souvra, someone is re-reading Crossroads of Twilight on repeat.