Finished Eye of the World

[Lady of Winterfell]

Hello everyone! I am new to these boards so I apologize if this topic has been brought up before. I am afraid to read to many of the threads here as I don't want to run into any spoilers.

I have just recently finished Eye of the World. I started this series because I enjoy fantasy and this series is my brothers favorite. He's reread the books numerous times so I thought I should give it a try. I really enjoy the long series as I like to get caught up in characters and worlds. But I have to say that I wasn't as impressed with it as I thought I would be. I read Martin's ASOIAF right before picking up this book, which is now my favorite fantasy series, so I'm not sure if that has something to do with it. Perhaps I should have taken more time between reading ASOIAF and reading EOTW.

I don't feel any real connection to any of the characters yet. The interactions between the male and female characters started driving me crazy. I just felt the relationships were unbelievable. I never got the feeling that there was anything between Egwene and Rand, despite some of the hints he left. They seemed like nothing more than friends to me, and maybe that's correct, but I felt that Jordan was trying to intimate that they had more than just friendly feelings. I could be way off base here though too. As I said, I've only read the first book.

I just wondered if you feel that the next few books are better and flesh out the characters a little more. I have read that the first 4-5 books are the best, so I want to see why that is and if it's worth me continuing with the series. If you can compare them to EOTW that would be helpful. Thanks!

[Talysia]

The first four or five books do indeed flesh out the characters and their relationships, although there are moments when I got a bit annoyed with one or two of them for it. The backstories and histories of the characters are examined in greater detail, and whilst the books can be fairly similar in style I'd stick with them.

[C Of K]

Welcome, Lady of Winterfell.

ASOIAF is also my favorite series. If you enjoy long ones, Robert Jordan's WoT may be for you, but don't expect any moments like the Red Wedding, or Eddard's Last Stand, as I call it. The two series are totally different, and the first four or five books of The WoT series are good, as you have heard.

As for Rand and Egwene...all I can say is you're pretty insightful... Their relationship is shaped in the later books.

[Lady of Winterfell]

Perhaps I will stick with them then.

C of K, I definately see that ASOIAF and WOT are very different. I do enjoy the long series, as long as it holds my interest. After I finish my current series, I may pick up The Great Hunt (I think thats #2 in WOT?)

Thanks!!

[Talysia]

Yes, The Great Hunt is the second book in the series.

[Marvolo]

Originally Posted by Lady of Winterfell

Hello everyone! I am new to these boards so I apologize if this topic has been brought up before. I am afraid to read to many of the threads here as I don't want to run into any spoilers.

I have just recently finished Eye of the World. I started this series because I enjoy fantasy and this series is my brothers favorite. He's reread the books numerous times so I thought I should give it a try. I really enjoy the long series as I like to get caught up in characters and worlds. But I have to say that I wasn't as impressed with it as I thought I would be. I read Martin's ASOIAF right before picking up this book, which is now my favorite fantasy series, so I'm not sure if that has something to do with it. Perhaps I should have taken more time between reading ASOIAF and reading EOTW.

I don't feel any real connection to any of the characters yet. The interactions between the male and female characters started driving me crazy. I just felt the relationships were unbelievable. I never got the feeling that there was anything between Egwene and Rand, despite some of the hints he left. They seemed like nothing more than friends to me, and maybe that's correct, but I felt that Jordan was trying to intimate that they had more than just friendly feelings. I could be way off base here though too. As I said, I've only read the first book.

I just wondered if you feel that the next few books are better and flesh out the characters a little more. I have read that the first 4-5 books are the best, so I want to see why that is and if it's worth me continuing with the series. If you can compare them to EOTW that would be helpful. Thanks!

If you had read this before Martin you might be able to stomach it. I read Eye of the World back in high school and it wasn't bad. I reread it later on after getting into GRRM and I can't stomach the story. It is too slow moving and I just can't get lost in it.

I do appreciate his popularity though as I like reading and writing fantasy. Tons of authors (Martin himself) admit that he paved the way for their success.

But I don't like the books.

[power to the J]

I liked the first 6 books a lot, and then the series started to fall off a bit. Then I got to 11, loved it, and my feelings for the series were rekindled. Now, I may never read Book 12. Either way, I still think that ASoIaF is way better than WoT, but that's just me.

[Lady of Winterfell]

Like I said, I've only read the first book in WOT, but I think that Martin is much better. I agree Marvolo, I think if I had read Jordan before Martin I would have liked it better. But I could say that about most books I've read since Martin.

[Talysia]

Yes, the first six books were definitely better than the others, although it's been a while since my last reread.

Welcome to the Chronicles, Power to the J!

[power to the J]

Originally Posted by Talysia

Yes, the first six books were definitely better than the others, although it's been a while since my last reread.

Welcome to the Chronicles, Power to the J!

Thanks!

BTW, now Brandon Sanderson will be finishing the book so um...don't expect much better. (He is even worse than Robert Jordan was, IMO)

[Lady of Winterfell]

I wonder if most fans of Jordans works feel the same about Brandon Sanderson taking over the last book. I haven't read any of his works.

[viZion]

Originally Posted by power to the J

BTW, now Brandon Sanderson will be finishing the book so um...don't expect much better. (He is even worse than Robert Jordan was, IMO)

At this point does it matter? I think people (me, at least) just want to find out how it ends. I'd seriously be happy with just Jordan's notes on how it ends let alone an entire novel even if it ends up being poorly written. However, it sounds like the guy is a good writer but I've never read any of his material.

[power to the J]

Originally Posted by Lady of Winterfell

I wonder if most fans of Jordans works feel the same about Brandon Sanderson taking over the last book. I haven't read any of his works.

In his defense, I've only read Elantris, but I couldn't even finish that. But that might just be my weird opinion.

[Lady of Winterfell]

Originally Posted by power to the J

In his defense, I've only read Elantris, but I couldn't even finish that. But that might just be my weird opinion.

Well I think that was the one that got the good reviews, if I'm not mistaken.

[Talysia]

Originally Posted by viZion

At this point does it matter? I think people (me, at least) just want to find out how it ends. I'd seriously be happy with just Jordan's notes on how it ends let alone an entire novel even if it ends up being poorly written.

This is how I feel about the situation. After spending so much time reading the series, I just want to find out how it ends.