Eye of the World by Robert Jordan | Spoiler-free Book Review
- ~ Althea ~
- Oct 3
- 3 min read
i hestitated picking this up for the longest time.
A SPOILER-FREE REVIEW— 4.0 —
⇢ content warnings// violence and gore, death, misogyny
this is for those looking to immerse themselves in a classic epic fantasy — because there are moments when you just want to feel like you’re sitting on the shoulder of a farm boy and slowly trudging into a world that has yet to know who you are
“There must be a difference in what you saw, it seemed to him, depending on whether you sought adventure or had it forced on you.”
it definitely leans towards being a set up to a long-winded adventure — so if that isn't what you are looking for, i don't think this is the right time to read it. you won’t enjoy if you aren’t in the mood to sit back and live through every night in the woods with Rand and his friends.
despite its length and vast lore, it’s easy to find yourself within it’s pages storytelling-wise in the sense that robert jordan doesn’t overwhelm you — even knowing what certain people, things, and cultures will eventually lead to. it gives you room to breathe and acquaint yourself. that doesn’t meant to say that it lacks tension but i can see robert jordan planting seeds and stakes. i look forward to being able to explore how the different cultures interact as everything unfolds.
it did read much faster compared to other 1k+ page fantasy books i’ve read… thus, i wouldn’t let the length intimidate you.
thankfully, i loved being able to get a front-row seat view as they fight for their lives and sit together on nights where they only had each other. you’re really taken through the story with the characters.
“I will hate the man you choose because he isn't me, and love him if he makes you smile.”
robert jordan has a fairly direct but slightly whimsical way of writing that also manages to focus on the right details. there is an injection of philosophy within the lore that keeps it from feeling dry. exactly how i want it~
i was immersed from that opening paragraph. a surprise given that i watched the series and knew what i signed myself up for. i do think it was a disgrace that the show did not open similarly. the atmosphere/tone shifted from being an exploration and coming-of-age under societal pressure to something more mature right off the bat. but i digress.
i see the vision and i want to see how this all plays out.
“And the quickest to harm a stranger are the soonest to think a stranger will harm them”
the underlying misogyny was not as bad as i expected (perhaps i was warned enough beforehand). it’s definitely not going to headline a list of books for female protagonists and portrayals. however, considering the time this was published, i have read far more misogynistic books published in the 2010s-2020s. there are times when it does feel outdated but i personally wasn't bothered at the time of reading.
there’s a part of me that wonders if this book was written by a woman and published in modern times, whether publishers would have classified it as young adult. do mind the trigger warnings on your way in, though.
“You cannot escape so easily, Dragon. It is not done between us. It will not be done until the end of time.”
stay safe and enjoy your books ♡
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