ParchThe Wheel of Time Reading Order
Robert Jordan & Brandon Sanderson · 15 books · about 291 hours of reading
The Wheel of Time is long but blessedly simple to order: fourteen main novels that run in a straight line, plus one prequel written midway through. The only real question is when — or whether — to read the prequel.
Start with The Eye of the World and read the fourteen in order. Leave New Spring until later: it's a prequel written for readers who already know these characters, and it's a strange, low-stakes place to begin a series this size.
The fourteen main novels in sequence, with the prequel saved for the end. Best for a first read.
This order is about 291 hours of reading — roughly 19 months at half an hour a day.
Average is about 250 WPM. Measure yours in two minutes and every time below recalculates.
Word counts counted from the text by the Wheel of Time wiki, with four from Popular Novel Word Count. Reading times are estimates — editions, translations and your own pace all move them.
How long does it take to read The Wheel of Time?
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Frequently asked questions
How many Wheel of Time books are there?
Fourteen main novels plus one prequel, New Spring — fifteen in total. Robert Jordan wrote through book eleven; Brandon Sanderson completed the final three from Jordan's extensive notes after his death in 2007.
When should I read New Spring?
After the main series, or at minimum after book ten. It's a prequel about Moiraine's youth written for readers who already know her, and starting there gives a misleading first impression of the series.
Can you tell where Brandon Sanderson takes over?
Most readers can — the prose tightens and the pace accelerates noticeably from The Gathering Storm onward. Sanderson worked from Jordan's notes and a partially written ending, so the story remains Jordan's even where the sentences aren't.
How long does it take to read The Wheel of Time?
About 291 hours at an average reading speed of 250 words a minute — roughly 4.4 million words across all 15 books. At half an hour a day, that's about 19 months. Your own pace changes that a lot, which is why this page lets you set your speed and shows what's left as you tick books off.
Does my progress save?
Yes — ticking a book saves it in your browser, no account needed. Clearing your browser data resets it, so for a permanent record with dates, ratings, and notes, track the series in the Parch app.
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