New Spring

The Wheel of Time Prequel

By: Robert Jordan

Narrated by: Kate Reading, Michael Kramer

Length: 12 hrs and 38 mins

Publisher's summary

Since its debut in 1990, The Wheel of Time by Robert Jordan has captivated millions of readers and listeners around the globe with its scope, originality, and compelling characters.

The Wheel of Time turns and ages come and go, leaving memories that become legend. Legend fades to myth, and even myth is long forgotten when the age that gave it birth returns again. In the Third Age, an Age of Prophecy, the World and Time themselves hang in the balance. What was, what will be, and what is, may yet fall under the Shadow.

For three days battle has raged in the snow around the great city of Tar Valon. In the city, a Foretelling of the future is uttered. On the slopes of Dragonmount, the immense mountain that looms over the city, is born an infant prophesied to change the world. That child must be found before the forces of the Shadow have an opportunity to kill him.

Moiraine Damodred, a young Accepted soon to be raised to Aes Sedai, and Lan Mandragoran, a soldier fighting in the battle, are set on paths that will bind their lives together. But those paths are filled with complications and dangers, for Moiraine, of the Royal House of Cairhien, whose king has just died, and Lan, considered the uncrowned king of a nation long dead, find their lives threatened by the plots of those seeking power.

New Spring begins Moiraine and Lan's quest to find the Dragon Reborn that will lead to the events of The Eye of the World...and their fateful meeting with Rand al'Thor.

New Spring is a perfect jumping-on point for fantasy listeners wanting to know more about The Wheel of Time and the forthcoming TV show.

The Wheel of Time New Spring: The Novel

The Eye of the World

The Great Hunt

The Dragon Reborn

The Shadow Rising

The Fires of Heaven

Lord of Chaos

A Crown of Swords

The Path of Daggers

Winter's Heart

Crossroads of Twilight

Knife of Dreams by Robert Jordan and Brandon Sanderson

The Gathering Storm

Towers of Midnight

A Memory of Light by Robert Jordan and Teresa Patterson

The World of Robert Jordan's The Wheel of Time by Robert Jordan, Harriet McDougal, Alan Romanczuk, and Maria Simons

The Wheel of Time Companion by Robert Jordan and Amy Romanczuk

Patterns of the Wheel: Coloring Art Based on Robert Jordan's The Wheel of Time

Listen to more books in The Wheel of Time series.

©2004 Robert Jordan (P)2004 Audio Renaissance, a division of Holtzbrinck Publishers, LLC and Books on Tape, Inc.

Critic reviews

"Jordan has come to dominate the world that Tolkien began to reveal." (The New York Times)

"Written with all the skill that has made Jordan one of the grand masters of fantasy." (Publishers Weekly

"Both narrators handle complex roles with feeling and confidence, never losing the excitement and tension of the fast-moving story. The performers breathe emotion into their characters with an earnestness that holds listeners close and leaves them wanting more." (AudioFile)

great prequel

there are some issues with the prequel not lining up with some of the stuff from the first book but all in all this is a great informative start to the entire series

A good addition

A little more background details, good enough that they could have kept going until the first WoT story and I would have read them all.

Missing pieces from WoT

Great backstory for WoT, but also great for people just beginning the series. Detailed and developed characters and environments like the rest of the series.

in the beginning

I have never read any of the stories related to the wheel of time. They started poping up as possible interests, so i figured why not start. I do enjoy series style books Dragonlance fan here) and upon investigating this, i decided to take a chance and start in the beginning....I will admit there were points of confusion but later on i was able to get back on track...i feel having the 2 diffrent authors help give the perspective of both sides as well. I really enjoyed this book and look forward to the rest. My hope is I enjoy it so much i will want to listen/read it more than once like with others in my collection 💜😁

Michael Kramer can not tell a story .

I loved the story but the delivery sucks¡!!!!!!!!!!!! Michael Kramer can not delivery the story. he is a sports caster.

Good but felt rushed

I liked this book quite a bit, but it could have focused a bit more on Lan. It also felt rushed in the second half.

A most excellent beginning

This book has been out long enough that we need to stop saying it’s a prequel and call it volume 1, as it isn’t to be missed.

The audiobook is worth more than you’ll spend on it. The narration is pitch perfect and a great listen.

Right back in it!!!!

I love how this is a bonus for long time fans or a true entry point for newcomers.

Much Better than Expected

At first, I was not too thrilled that Robert Jordan had deviated from the main series to write a prequel. I've been engulfing The <i>Wheel of Time</i> Series since discovering it by accident several years ago, yet the last two novels have been major disappointments. That being said, <i>New Spring</i> was like a breath of fresh air. The novel takes us back to the early days of Moiraine Damodred and Siuan Sanche when they were just Accepted, not full Aes Sedai. In addition, we get a better understanding of Lan Mandragoran's past and how he became warder to Moiraine. Take this novel for what it is; that is, a peak at the past of very important charcters and what motivated them to set in motion the return of the Dragon Reborn. As to the narration, as usual Kate Reading is fantastic, Michael Kramer is OK. Overall, this is a great audiobook.

An auspicious start.

Very well done. A wonderful intro to the skies and I especially liked the words of the author at the end.