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The Eye of the World
- Wheel of Time, Book 1
- Narrated by: Kate Reading, Michael Kramer
- Series: Wheel of Time, Book 1
- Length: 29 hrs and 57 mins
- Unabridged Audiobook
- Categories: Science Fiction & Fantasy, Fantasy
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What listeners say about The Eye of the World
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Overall
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- Simon Corke
- 22-04-20
American narration such a turn off
Love Americans and the accent, but fantasy novels so quickly become cringe-worthy when narrated in an American accent. there's a reason why, when you watch The Lord of the Rings there's not an American twang in earshot. totally kills the immersion or any credibility/authenticity.
135 people found this helpful
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- C_Boy
- 17-02-19
Epic Story with a couple of issues.
At approximately 457 hours this series of books are not for the faint hearted and there are a couple of things that I had an issue with.
Firstly, Mr Jordan does like to describe what a character is thinking and in particular, what they are wearing. Heaven help you if there are 10 or more characters in any one scene as you will soon discover in turn what each person is wearing (down the buttons and trim), what facial expression they have, the length of their hair, what they are thinking and everything in-between. This becomes infuriating at times and on more than one occasion I found myself yelling at my phone "Just get on with it!" Honestly, if he had cut down these descriptions I reckon he could have cut the length of the books in half.
Secondly, the vast majority of the female characters are quite unlikable. In the most part I would use the word horrible to describe them. This is toned down a bit when Brandon Sanderson takes over at book 12.
Lastly, the 2 narrators were unnecessary in my opinion. Just a little thing but worth a mention.
Now for the good. Oh my, its epic! Some of the pacing may be a little off in places but it is an excellent story. The pay off is definitely in the last 3 books. You will not be disappointed. No spoilers here but “The last battle” makes the battle of Pelennor Fields or the Siege of Dros Delnoch look like a minor skirmish.
In conclusion, if you have the time and can cope with the issues above (and you will know by the first couple of books) its well worth the listen.
58 people found this helpful
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Overall
- Anne Thomson
- 11-03-20
Intolerable narrator
Knew within a couple of minutes that I was irritated by the narrator. By 30 minutes I was done. Have no idea if this is a good story. Returned.
44 people found this helpful
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- Texnik
- 10-12-18
Bah
Remember, you're embarking on a 450-hour journey. I'll review it in its entirety. I finished the audiobook series a while ago, but apparently I never wrote a review.
As you might know, the author died before he could finish the series. Brandon Sanderson used his notes to officially finish the series. For whatever reason, those last 3 books are the best in the series.
It's a very good story, when looked at from the outside.
It's the only story I'll never recommend.
Book 10 (out of 14) is atrocious. I gave up on it and read the summary on Wikia. You should too when you realise that nothing is happening in that book. Your time is more valuable... unless you're in jail I suppose.
The last 3 books are excellent.
The story is too long for what it's worth.
The main characters are immature.
The main characters get into a lot of trouble.
The world-building is extensive.
There is magic... a lot of magic.
There are thoroughly depicted and unique cultures.
There is a versatile, but not thoroughly prepared, magic system.
The author does not know how to exploit the potential of his own ideas, or he didn't care.
Many ideas are diamonds in the rough and I weep for their wasted potential.
Yet there are quite a few unique ideas.
Some of those ideas still cross my mind, one year later, after experiencing tons of other fantasy stories.
The idea to length ratio is still not high.
The story is too long.
It's a plot-driven story.
There are some very epic scenes.
The plot warps the characters. If something epic needs to happen and the characters aren't where they should be, they'll start acting out of character until the pawns are all where the plot can have the greatest effect.
After a little practice, I could predict epic scenes with 100% reliability based on when characters stopped acting like themselves.
There aren't THAT many epic scenes, in the grand scheme of things.
The story is too long.
The author filled the story with a lot of annoying characters.
Most of the female characters look down on men.
Most of the male characters look down on women.
Most of the female characters are incompetent, especially the young ones.
Some of the main characters bicker constantly.
Sometimes I felt that the author's best method of achieving realism was to describe it in real-time.
The story is too long.
Most of the time I just wanted The Dark One to succeed because he was more relatable/mature than everyone else. Maybe that was the point? He is pretty old.
The book follows a pretty standard formula, stretched to its breaking point.
The story is too long.
Individually, each book could be described as 5/5 if I were generous.
Only the final book offers any sense of closure.
A shocking plot point towards the end of the story poisoned the ending.
When the closure was offered, it didn't matter because of the aforementioned plot point.
None of the other books are worth reading on their own.
The story is too long.
Despite my determination to complete a story I'd invested so much effort in, I often found myself pausing the audiobooks to do nothing. Doing nothing was less boring than a lot of the scenes. I'm glad I finished the series though because like I said, not finishing it would have been a waste of the time I'd already spent listening to it. It's called effort justification.
Do not listen to it unless you have a good reason to believe you'll enjoy it.
I can't with a good conscience recommend somethig so massive to anyone.
The story is too long.
36 people found this helpful
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Overall
- Robyn
- 13-04-13
Fab
Epic fantasy at its best. Delighted there are so many books in the series as this will solve the commuting boredom problem for many weeks yet!
Very much like Brandon Sanderson (or rather, Brandon Sanderson is very like Robert Jordan). Reminds me of Sanderson's Stormlight book - a very similar feel.
The narration is good - perhaps not the best I have ever heard, but it doesn't detract from the story at all.
Occasionally I would like the female characters to be slightly different from each other - they all seem to be cut from the same cloth, and therefore are a little predictable and perhaps a little boring, but the storyline itself is compelling, and you can't help but download the next book in the series immediately the current one finishes (I am about to download number 5 - still happily enjoying it all).
34 people found this helpful
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- Smeakles
- 09-04-19
Awful narration
I genuinely hope they redo this with the new series for Amazon coming along - I can't believe that these are the same people who did Stormlight Archives - that was a 5 out of 5 for me. The male narrator is so monotone, I've had to turn off.
If it's possible, read the books, because they are amazing. If not, I'm sorry, I hope you have a better experience than I did.
22 people found this helpful
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- John Clark
- 21-03-10
Acceptable not classic delivery
While Jordan was American I am disappointed they used people with such heavy accents. It is okay but I would say when compared to Fry reading Harry Potter you will be hugely disappointed.
44 people found this helpful
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- Mark
- 25-12-08
Excellent series ... until book 8
I have been listening through this series for a few months now and really enjoying it. I would have given 5 starts to it apart from some of the slightly repetitive statements. Then I got to book 8 and it is not available (the other 10 are), having contacted Audible they informed me that they have not yet got the license for it. I have to say that has put the dampers on my listening pleasure.
If you are thinking about starting this epic listening experience I would wait until it is available.
72 people found this helpful
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Overall
- Anette F
- 16-06-07
Absorbing....
5 well deserved stars from me for this book - part one of the Wheel of Time series.
After listening to the preview a few times I very nearly didn't bother to buy this book. I thought the narrators voice would grate on my nerves and stop me from enjoying the book.
I was attracted by the length of the story, thinking that over 29 hours of 'read' time would keep me occupied for quite some time. Also the number of books available in the series on Audible means I'll not be short of a book to read for quite some time!
I was quickly absorbed by the story and forgot the narrators American accent, although it was a bit of a 'jolt' when a female narrator cut in part way through the book! (Although she only reads a few chapters here and there before the male narrator returns)
The 29 hours passed too quickly and I'm eager to 'read' the second book in the series.
The Eye Of The World reminds me of the Lord of the Rings in lots of ways, strange names, battles, good against evil, a quest, all well told, well described and very enjoyable.
A very good read which I'll probably return to in the fullness of time.
35 people found this helpful
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Overall
- Dominic
- 29-11-10
A Sizable Literary Feast
Years I ago I read this book as a very young 13 year old. It was daunting then (the sheer size of it, and the sequels) and I gave up half-way through. It's still daunting now, but in a way that I relish - it's massive. This book alone is 29 hours long, and there's currently 13 sequels out with another one on it's way. If you're looking for a series to sink your adventuring teeth into then look no further.
I was initially weary of the American narrator, and I doubted I could listen to his accent for 29 hours, let alone the sequels. However my fears disappeared within the first chapter - he does an excellent job, and I honestly forget about the accent altogether.
I shan't dwell on the book itself, since its continued success and legacy stands testament to its quality. You'll find a plethora of reviews of the Amazon site proper, but my advice is to just dive into this book - it's superb.
25 people found this helpful
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- macyok9s
- 04-09-19
Mixed feelings
I read this series over a decade ago and waited anxiously for each new book to come out. I wanted to enjoy the series again while I drove 45 mins to/from work. It just didn't work for me. The reader just read too slow for me. And the use of two different readers who both read male and female parts - after the first reader had already read the female parts - didn't make sense to me. If you're going to use various readers, why not have them be consistent in reading the same character throughout the book? Very disappointed.
100 people found this helpful
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- Laura
- 26-04-20
Narrator
I got this because I remember reading it many years ago. Unfortunately, the narrator makes this sound ridiculous with an exaggerated, dramatic tone.
92 people found this helpful
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- Lore
- 29-06-12
Your first step down a very long and winding road.
The Eye of the World kicks off Robert Jordan's epic fantasy series and it is a step that should not be taken lightly. This first book is excellent and will likely have you listening to the next book in the journey before you know it. This is a long series (13+ books) and each book so far is between 23-41 hours of listening in unabridged format.
Some things you should know before you start:
1) Robert Jordan did not live long enough to finish the story, but he did pass along his vision for the conclusion to Brandon Sanderson who is writing the final books. Brandon Sanderson is an awesome Fantasy writer so the conclusion of the series is in good hands.
2) Robert Jordan can tend to be wordy at times and some of the books along the way feel a little bloated, but each one does advance the story.
3) The narration is done by 2 excellent narrators: Michael Kramer and Kate Reading. Each chapter will be read by one or the other depending on the chapter's main character. If the main character is female then Kate will read the entire chapter including the male voices. Michael will handle the chapters where the main character is male and he will do the female voices. This means that you must get accustomed to 2 voices for each character. This put me off at first but I quickly became accustomed to it and now I really enjoy the format.
4) After a few books the narrators change the way they pronounce certain character names and this can throw you off until you realize that it is just a pronunciation change and not a different character. Just be prepared for it.
I am glad I started this long journey and I feel that audio is one of the best ways to experience Jordan's work. I had read The Eye of the World years ago but it didn't inspire me to keep going forward in the series, where the audiobook left me wanting more!
1,410 people found this helpful
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- R. Brown
- 10-04-13
If you like an extremely descriptive style...
This book takes descriptive writing to another level. Every room, every person, every article of clothing, how the bed feels, what is used for a pillow, the condition of the pathways, etc… While I like the story and characters I cannot help but wonder if an abridged version would be better. The excessive detail tempers the emotional impact when the author is trying to build excitement, tension and fear. In fact, I felt a little detached throughout the entire story. This book is a good candidate to try that 1.5x or 2.x speed option. I will try the next book in the series but am not yet willing to commit to 14 extremely long books. After reading series by Terry Brooks, David Eddings and Orson Scott Card I am used to more excitement and a greater attachment to characters.
48 people found this helpful
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- Greg
- 20-02-08
This Series Rocks
I am writing this review on the first of this series because as you consider beginning a multibook series you'll be wondering if the commitment is worth it. After having listened to all of the books now available on Audible (10 or 11 and the story is still not over) I am telling you to GO FOR IT. It took a several chapters to get my bearings with the material, but after that I was hooked in a terribly engrossing world of fantasy that I would never have thought would interest me. Some other reviewers have panned the narrators, and maybe with the first book they hadn't yet found their bearing either, but throughout the series they are outstanding in my opinion. I couldn't get enough of this story. I'm thankful that I came to it late, when there were already more than 10 books to enjoy. I admit that I have expected the author to wrap up this saga before now, but in reality I am thankful that he kept the characters and their world alive. I recommend this series with no reservations.
546 people found this helpful
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- Samuel S
- 14-12-20
Do not buy this book
I don't want to write redundant reviews for all of this abhorrent series so this is my warning to you.
There are enough somewhat interesting hooks to pull you in but it is not worth it. At first the world building is pretty great and you are thrown into an actiony adventure. The author kept writing new side plots in that detracted from the story and each one initially draws the audience in until it is revealed to also be worthless.
Unfortunately the characters suck in almost every facet, they are idiots who keep pointless secrets as a plot device and treat each other without any respect or empathy. For example: halfway through the full series a character is escorting a woman whose life he's saved multiple times and she starts having her subordinates throw rocks and feces at him because he won't give her his most prized possession.
The only reason I kept going through these audio books was because I was driving multiple thousands of miles for personal reasons and needed something to engage my mind while doing 10-20 hours runs on the road. I wish I'd just listened to baby shark on repeat. These books are absolute bottom tier garbage.
25 people found this helpful
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- Kyle
- 25-11-08
everything you need to know
If you read several of the listener ratings you will find that half love it and half hate it. This is not anything like LotR. This is bigger in every respect. The world is bigger, the characters are deeper and thjere are many, many, more of them. If you take on this series you need to be ready to focus. If you listen half heartedly you will be lost very quickly. I understand some of the points of the bad reviews. This series is detailed. You will always know what everyone is wearing and what every room looks like and some people will find it tiresome. I however really get a sense of being in the story and that is why I read/listen. If your thing is a movie type book, a few hours and everything is rapped up, then you are looking for something else. There are many great stand alone books on this site alone but if you are looking for a neck deep fantasy with as much intrigue as can be put on paper then look no further. Personally this and the Sword of Truth are my favorites. Be warned though that the author recently died and the 12th book (A Memory of Light) is now being written by Brandon Sanderson of Mistborn. The final installment is about 60% through the rough draft phase. I usually dont get books until the series is done because i cant stand waiting a year to see how it ends but just the fact that the last book is on its way has prompted me into a second go round on this series so I know exactly what is going on. WHether you get this one or not happy listening.
411 people found this helpful
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- Gene
- 09-05-21
Don't start down this road. Trust me.
In truth, this book probably deserves two stars. But the series only slows down as it goes along, and it's important to stress that point.
I finally just gave up in the middle of book six. Jordan is a terrible writer. I want my time and money back.
24 people found this helpful
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- So Fain
- 24-04-10
If you only knew what was coming....
This intro may seem slow to some, but it really is a great beginning to an amazing adventure. Not the best book in the series but it's one that will always be special to me simply because of the world that introduced me to.
If you want to spend 6 months of commuting wishing that your drive was longer so that you could listen to more.... This is your series.
104 people found this helpful
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- D. Hutchins
- 11-07-09
Give it a chance
My kids and I love fantasy books and were excited about starting a long series that we had heard a lot about. I'm not really sure where everyone gets that Michael Kramer is a great narrator unless they have stuck it out and listened to more books in this series. Frankly, he starts out AWFUL. We almost stopped listening just because of him. His cadence is so predictable and completely got on my nerves for the first 2/3 of the book. The first part that Kate Reading read seriously saved this book for us and we kept listening.
... and then about 2/3 of the way through it get SO much better. We are now almost finished with the 2nd book in the series and it is wonderful. Yes, this book has a slow start. But as you continue with the story you understand why - it NEEDS a slow start. I'm rating it pretty high even though I never thought I would get through it. Give it a chance and you will have a great start on an epic series.
95 people found this helpful