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Wheel of Time Reread #1
Wheel of Time Reread: Books 1-4
The Wheel of Time Reread on Tor.com is an extensive analysis of Robert Jordan's epic fantasy series, covering the material chapter by chapter. Join Leigh Butler as she summarizes the chapters and comments on the ongoing mysteries of the series, gender issues, politics, history, and the many Crowning Moments of Awesome.
Volume 1 of the collected Tor.com Wheel of Time Reread covers books 1 through 4 of The Wheel of Time: The Eye of the World, The Great Hunt, The Dragon Reborn, and The Shadow Rising.
Volume 1 of the collected Tor.com Wheel of Time Reread covers books 1 through 4 of The Wheel of Time: The Eye of the World, The Great Hunt, The Dragon Reborn, and The Shadow Rising.
32 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 15, 2013
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Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews
September 14, 2021
Collection of the TOR re-read of the first four books of the Wheel of Time series. You can actually read these for free online, if you make the effort to dig them up.
Good chapter summaries, each followed by an amusing commentary of a somewhat spoilerish nature. Nice companion to the books.
Good chapter summaries, each followed by an amusing commentary of a somewhat spoilerish nature. Nice companion to the books.
March 19, 2013
WOW!!! I wasn't sure at first, reading somebody else's thoughts on a fantasy series that is very dear to my heart, but within the first couple of chapters I was hooked.
The chapters are broken down into two parts - What Happened (speaks for itself really, but it is a brief description of evevts in the chapter, and Commentary, which is Ms. Butler's thoughts on those events.
Each chapter is short, punchy and does exactly what it needs to to fill you in with all the salient points, but also has enough "Oh, yeah, I'd forgotten about him/her/that place/event" moments as well.
In short, Ms. Butler has done a fantastic job with this re-read and made a priceless accompaniment to The Wheel of Time series.
The chapters are broken down into two parts - What Happened (speaks for itself really, but it is a brief description of evevts in the chapter, and Commentary, which is Ms. Butler's thoughts on those events.
Each chapter is short, punchy and does exactly what it needs to to fill you in with all the salient points, but also has enough "Oh, yeah, I'd forgotten about him/her/that place/event" moments as well.
In short, Ms. Butler has done a fantastic job with this re-read and made a priceless accompaniment to The Wheel of Time series.
July 23, 2022
Be forewarned – this is not a novel, but a collection of essays written by Tor’s website staff writer, Leigh Butler, back in the late 2000’s on Robert Jordan’s epic “Wheel of Time” fantasy series.
Each essay captures a chapter or multiple chapters in each book starting from the beginning to the end of the series. The structure of each essay is first, a summary of the chapter, and second, an analytical commentary of the storylines, mysteries, character development, and major themes.
Her comments include discussions on history, politics, gender issues, and Shakespearian themes that the fans have been discussing for decades. Volume 1 covers books one through four and provide a great companion to your reading of the series, especially if it is a re-read.
I am re-reading the Wheel of Time and decided to read this in conjunction with that. For example, I read the first book – ” The Eye of the World” – and then read her summaries and analysis of the first book. Then I did the same with the each of the next three books and it has been a great joy. I absolutely appreciate Butler’s approach to discussing the series and love her insight into the characters and plotline developments. I must also add that I thoroughly enjoy her personal sarcastic sense of humor and wit.
My only comment is (as others have already pointed out) that you may not want to read this until you've finished the series or are doing a re-read. I don’t recommend doing it during your first time reading the series because Butler tends to drop hints and spoilers that refer to books later in the series. If you’ve already read the series once, these are generally minor, but if you are reading it for the first time, you will find out some things earlier than you want to and that could ruin your reading experience.
Otherwise, I am thoroughly enjoying this as it helps me catch some of the small things I miss along the way before they become big things. Thank you Leigh!
Each essay captures a chapter or multiple chapters in each book starting from the beginning to the end of the series. The structure of each essay is first, a summary of the chapter, and second, an analytical commentary of the storylines, mysteries, character development, and major themes.
Her comments include discussions on history, politics, gender issues, and Shakespearian themes that the fans have been discussing for decades. Volume 1 covers books one through four and provide a great companion to your reading of the series, especially if it is a re-read.
I am re-reading the Wheel of Time and decided to read this in conjunction with that. For example, I read the first book – ” The Eye of the World” – and then read her summaries and analysis of the first book. Then I did the same with the each of the next three books and it has been a great joy. I absolutely appreciate Butler’s approach to discussing the series and love her insight into the characters and plotline developments. I must also add that I thoroughly enjoy her personal sarcastic sense of humor and wit.
My only comment is (as others have already pointed out) that you may not want to read this until you've finished the series or are doing a re-read. I don’t recommend doing it during your first time reading the series because Butler tends to drop hints and spoilers that refer to books later in the series. If you’ve already read the series once, these are generally minor, but if you are reading it for the first time, you will find out some things earlier than you want to and that could ruin your reading experience.
Otherwise, I am thoroughly enjoying this as it helps me catch some of the small things I miss along the way before they become big things. Thank you Leigh!
November 30, 2025
I didn't expect the Re-Read to be this good, but it's just fun going through the books again with someone who has a lot more of the series in mind and dives deeper into all the foreshadowing that I've missed, without overcomplicating stuff, mostly.
And I enjoy the writing itself a lot more than the writing of the original books.
And I enjoy the writing itself a lot more than the writing of the original books.
December 15, 2015
These Wheel of Time recaps are awesome. This first installment is a collection of blog posts about rereads of WOT books 1 - 4. Leigh Butler does a great job of recapping every single chapter in each book. I practically feel like I'm rereading the books themselves.
There are only a few downsides to this format:
One is that I wish some of the blog comments (from the original post discussions) were also included for each chapter. I'm sure the discussions were even more enlightening about the theories and some of the more nitty gritty details of this very complicated story. I definitely found myself wishing a few times that I might have the motivation to actually go onto TOR's website and scan through the comments for these posts. But wouldn't it be even better if someone else skimmed through for me and pulled out the best ones and published them in this book?!
Two is that some (okay, a lot) of the links to external websites referred to in Butler's posts are no longer online. I also wasn't very inclined to click on them because browsing the internet on my Kindle Paperwhite ain't all that much fun.
In a lot of Butler's posts, she laments how very long her recaps are. Since I'm reading in a book format and not on a blog, I wasn't at all bothered by the length. (After all, these recaps are much shorter than reading the actual chapters.) In fact, I found myself wishing that she would actually quote more from certain chapters, like about visions and prophetic dreams, etc. And delve deeper into certain hot-button issues. I feel like she often says, "But I'll wait to get into that more later," but then never really gets deep into the topic and then Poof! the book is done and where was all that promised discussion, huh?!
All in all, though, very enjoyable. Very good investment.
There are only a few downsides to this format:
One is that I wish some of the blog comments (from the original post discussions) were also included for each chapter. I'm sure the discussions were even more enlightening about the theories and some of the more nitty gritty details of this very complicated story. I definitely found myself wishing a few times that I might have the motivation to actually go onto TOR's website and scan through the comments for these posts. But wouldn't it be even better if someone else skimmed through for me and pulled out the best ones and published them in this book?!
Two is that some (okay, a lot) of the links to external websites referred to in Butler's posts are no longer online. I also wasn't very inclined to click on them because browsing the internet on my Kindle Paperwhite ain't all that much fun.
In a lot of Butler's posts, she laments how very long her recaps are. Since I'm reading in a book format and not on a blog, I wasn't at all bothered by the length. (After all, these recaps are much shorter than reading the actual chapters.) In fact, I found myself wishing that she would actually quote more from certain chapters, like about visions and prophetic dreams, etc. And delve deeper into certain hot-button issues. I feel like she often says, "But I'll wait to get into that more later," but then never really gets deep into the topic and then Poof! the book is done and where was all that promised discussion, huh?!
All in all, though, very enjoyable. Very good investment.
October 18, 2018
This Wheel of Time... I tell you it demands more commitment than a college degree. I have been on these books for 2 years now... I think. Let me check back on when I read the first book. And I am now re-reading summaries! Like lecture notes back in college! Am I a geek or what.
But if I am a geek... Leigh Butler is the Wise Ones among us geeks. A sitter. Or perhaps Amyrlin herself... Makes sense... geek = novice, the avid commentors on her blogs and other WOT forums = Sitters, so... someone who actually bloody writes out summaries of entire books = Amyrlin? So Jordan if of course the Creator in that context.
Butler does do a tremendous job with her summaries. While Tar Valon Libraries is a great resource for the summaries... I mean, they are actually summaries there... Butler is probably violating some copyrights by reproducing so damn much of the text from the book... but this re-read is a lot more immersive. The commentary can be hit or miss. It is funny, yes. But sometimes Butler seems to focus on things, when I'd much rather she talk about something else. But hey... I hold her no grudges. This is her blog/book and its her right to pick and choose what from the chapter she wants to discuss. And for most parts, I think I am generally in agreement with her on what's awesome and what's annoying in the series... even the "feminist" bits. Though I am probably a little more open than her in accepting the WoT world and the social flaws that exist there. Well, by more open, I mean that I do not really dwell a lot on the fact that people go about spanking each other, even though it does make me cringe. Butler is surprisingly cool with repeated mentions of full and rounded boobs throughout the series though. Or was it lesser to a degree in the first four books?
The only reason I am taking off one star is because the summaries are just too darn long. I primarily started off with the books is because I couldn't remember what happened with Eye of the world (apparently nothing) and how did Ishamael get where he did and the parts about Rhuidean. (hey... I am not going to check actual spellings of those names and places) So I did get those parts nailed down. But had to read through a lot more stuff than I intended to. And the damned stories are so good that read through them I did. At least I could speed read this time round... at least as far as compared to the books.
But great job Butler. Maybe in a year or two I will pick up rest of the re-reads. Or maybe I will just pick up the books themselves again.
But if I am a geek... Leigh Butler is the Wise Ones among us geeks. A sitter. Or perhaps Amyrlin herself... Makes sense... geek = novice, the avid commentors on her blogs and other WOT forums = Sitters, so... someone who actually bloody writes out summaries of entire books = Amyrlin? So Jordan if of course the Creator in that context.
Butler does do a tremendous job with her summaries. While Tar Valon Libraries is a great resource for the summaries... I mean, they are actually summaries there... Butler is probably violating some copyrights by reproducing so damn much of the text from the book... but this re-read is a lot more immersive. The commentary can be hit or miss. It is funny, yes. But sometimes Butler seems to focus on things, when I'd much rather she talk about something else. But hey... I hold her no grudges. This is her blog/book and its her right to pick and choose what from the chapter she wants to discuss. And for most parts, I think I am generally in agreement with her on what's awesome and what's annoying in the series... even the "feminist" bits. Though I am probably a little more open than her in accepting the WoT world and the social flaws that exist there. Well, by more open, I mean that I do not really dwell a lot on the fact that people go about spanking each other, even though it does make me cringe. Butler is surprisingly cool with repeated mentions of full and rounded boobs throughout the series though. Or was it lesser to a degree in the first four books?
The only reason I am taking off one star is because the summaries are just too darn long. I primarily started off with the books is because I couldn't remember what happened with Eye of the world (apparently nothing) and how did Ishamael get where he did and the parts about Rhuidean. (hey... I am not going to check actual spellings of those names and places) So I did get those parts nailed down. But had to read through a lot more stuff than I intended to. And the damned stories are so good that read through them I did. At least I could speed read this time round... at least as far as compared to the books.
But great job Butler. Maybe in a year or two I will pick up rest of the re-reads. Or maybe I will just pick up the books themselves again.
April 19, 2019
Right now I am really feeling this is the best way to revisit these books! When I stop to read a full chapter before reading the recap, I don't feel like I'm missing much.
At this rate I might actually get around to reading A Memory of Light (which I somehow never read, probably because I was so confused by all the characters that I felt I needed to reread the whole series again in preparation.)
At this rate I might actually get around to reading A Memory of Light (which I somehow never read, probably because I was so confused by all the characters that I felt I needed to reread the whole series again in preparation.)
January 6, 2022
A fair enough refresher when jumping back into the series. My advice is to skip the commentary until you've finished the series entire as she sometimes drops spoilers, either blatantly or through hints and insinuations, that pop up in later books.
July 13, 2019
Excellent companion guide to re-reading the Wheel of Time. I read these after completing the series again and it served up a bunch of things I missed, almost got me to reread the whole thing again!
January 10, 2020
Helpful companion to a reread/catchup
Good to help refresh and accompany a reread. I do wish there was less allusion and reference to later books.
Good to help refresh and accompany a reread. I do wish there was less allusion and reference to later books.
December 18, 2020
Leigh Butler is a treasure and I wish she could be my own personal reread guru for every book series that I love.
January 21, 2023
Helpful reread
I am rereading the series and use the reread to see what I might have missed out on. I find the rants very funny
I am rereading the series and use the reread to see what I might have missed out on. I find the rants very funny
March 26, 2025
Good overview of the book series, I’m starting book 5 after a break in the books so I needed a refresher of what’s happened.
April 16, 2013
Now that the series is FINALY over (I started the first book in the 1990. Really!) I have been putting off buying it and finishing it because there is so much I have forgotten in the first 12 books. (Yes 12!) I stumbled across this on Amazon and the kindle price was only $2 so it was worth a try. It had both chapter recaps and commentary. I was leery of the commentary but figured I could skip it if necessary. Got into it and realized the commentary made it a very enjoyable read. The author is witty, observant, and not afraid to call things as she sees them. Lots of fun asides throughout
Only two complaints
1) She really gets into the whole gender issues in the story. Yes I know that Jordan was making lots of statements about this but her tirades on these issues are skippable.
2) This “book” is based on her blog posting and she often puts in links that doesn’t help a Kindle reader. You can go to the TOR blog to dig up the links but by the time I am at my computer I have passed on by. Ah well
And you should not read this if you have not already read the first 12 books (Yes 12, 13 & 14 just came out after the author passed. Sheesh) She has lots of spoilers which I really enjoyed. Jordan introduces a lot of random characters early only to bring them back in later books. Nice to have them called out as you are reading the re-read.
Only two complaints
1) She really gets into the whole gender issues in the story. Yes I know that Jordan was making lots of statements about this but her tirades on these issues are skippable.
2) This “book” is based on her blog posting and she often puts in links that doesn’t help a Kindle reader. You can go to the TOR blog to dig up the links but by the time I am at my computer I have passed on by. Ah well
And you should not read this if you have not already read the first 12 books (Yes 12, 13 & 14 just came out after the author passed. Sheesh) She has lots of spoilers which I really enjoyed. Jordan introduces a lot of random characters early only to bring them back in later books. Nice to have them called out as you are reading the re-read.
May 21, 2018
Leigh Butler's rereads are concise summaries of the gargantuan Wheel of Time books. In this case, concise is subjective, as her summaries will still take you some time to get through; that's to be expected with 800-1,000 page books, though.
After each chapter, she writes her opinions about the story line, character development, and plot twists. Be warned, there are some spoilers in her opinions. Most were obtuse enough and referencing events far enough into the future of the series that they didn't bother me. By the time I got to what she was revealing, I'd long since forgotten her remarks.
I highly recommend these rereads for either revisiting the series in a more manageable manner OR in lieu of books 6-11, which are looooooooooong on pages and short on plot movement.
After each chapter, she writes her opinions about the story line, character development, and plot twists. Be warned, there are some spoilers in her opinions. Most were obtuse enough and referencing events far enough into the future of the series that they didn't bother me. By the time I got to what she was revealing, I'd long since forgotten her remarks.
I highly recommend these rereads for either revisiting the series in a more manageable manner OR in lieu of books 6-11, which are looooooooooong on pages and short on plot movement.
August 26, 2013
I'm reading these as a final ramp-up to the last three books. This first batch of summaries and commentary cover the first four books, and are brief only in comparison with the original material. I haven't compared word counts but this felt like finishing one regular-length Wheel of Time book. It's been a good refresher on the early part of the series, and I've enjoyed the author's informal commentary. It reminded me of conversations my friends and I had through a good portion of high school as we were first reading these books: reliving the cool parts, complaining about the characters that were annoying us at the time, and bandying theories.
April 28, 2014
I read the entire series of the original books. This book, along with the other books in the series covers all the original books 3 or 4 at a time, is a good way to follow what happened in the books, but the entire feel and world that was what was so enticing in the books is entirely missing here. It's really great to get through all those slow plodding books. I recommend reading the actual first and last three books and using this series to follow the action contained in the books in between.
August 19, 2013
These books are chatty -- like having a conversation with a friend about the books. They are helpful to review as you are reading the series but I suggest getting through the first 12 books before you read these -- there are spoilers afoot. Some of the links are busted in the ebook edition but it doesn't detract from the enjoyment I got out of reading this. It is really helpful to have the analysis of parts that I probably missed.
July 14, 2014
I decided to read this in conjunction with my Wheel of Time reread. I first read the series seven years ago, so there are some spoilers happening that I had forgotten, but I've actually enjoyed switching back and forth between the book and the reread. Each chapter has a summary and commentary: I'm giving it three stars because I'd have liked to see the summary sections shorter and the commentary longer, but otherwise, it's very interesting.
April 29, 2013
I've reread these early books in the WOT series a couple of times, but I want to reread the later books. I'm using Leigh's recaps as a way to remind me of the details before I start rereading those later books. And I'm glad I am. I'd forgotten a lot of these details !
October 17, 2014
Excellent time saver for summary and synopsis of the Robert Jordan "Wheel of Time" books 1-4. I read all of the books as they came out but over the years have forgotten a lot of the details (and there is a lot of details); the Reread was a perfect catch-up for the final book.
January 31, 2014
Ottimo recap dei primi quattro libri.
Un po' scarno all'inizio ma poi migliora il livello di dettaglio e di sintesi.
Un po' scarno all'inizio ma poi migliora il livello di dettaglio e di sintesi.
October 6, 2014
Putting it down for now. I guess I need to bite that bullet and just re-read the series. I plan to read this afterwards when I get to book #5 or beyond and feel like I need a refresher.
November 26, 2016
Leigh is stellar. These re-read posts really enhance the whole series.
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