New Spring

The Wheel of Time Prequel

By: Robert Jordan

Narrated by: Kate Reading, Michael Kramer

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

©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)

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.

Interesting and Satisfying

This prequel is revealing in many ways. It delves into tower politics, world affairs when the dragon was reborn and into the history of the wheel of time. It was nice to see Moraine at a time when she didn’t know everything and to get a sense of the passion and the commitment she has to Rand. It was nice to see her natural distrust of Cadsuane.

This is Moraine as an accepted and through her testing to become full Aes Sedai. This is Moraine desparate to escape being crowned queen of Carhien. This is Moraine on a quest that will consume her life.

There is also Lan. Strong soldier trying desparately to avoid being crowned king of a dead land against his will. He especially does not want what his mentor, his...cameira, his first love, has in store for him.

Together they will shape the events in the Wheel of Time. But first they have to overcome a very strong initial dislike and distrust of each other. To escape what the world wants of each, they will cleave to each other and change their future.

I wish they would write an ending novel to Wheel of Time that would be so satisfying and wrap up all the loose ends that made an entire fringe of forgotten paths at the end of A Memory of Light.

The narration here was particularly good and I didn’t want the story to end. I did listen on 1.5 speed.

New Spring Review

I really enjoyed this book. It was new from the original series and it was my first time in audio format. I thought it was very well written and filled in some good information that helped to make the next book even more enjoyable.

Good intro to Eye Of The World series

Loved it. Great start off point for those wanting to learn about the Eye of the world series.

Easily the best fantasy book I've ever read

Having read the physical copy more than a dozen times, actually listening to Michael Kramer and Kate Reading tackling this is just an awesome treat to experience. These legendary narrators make more than justice to the WoT prequel, a book that seems in my mind to be superior to any other WoT book. I cannot recommend this any stronger. With Kate being from and center in this story, she is the canonical voice of Moiraine and Suian. She lives and breathes the characters. So goooooood

Awesome book

Memorable and well written. This book is part of a great series and the performers did a great job. I love the female/male voices for Moiraine and Lan.

My favorite of the series so far!

If you could sum up New Spring in three words, what would they be?

Very enlightening backstory

Who was your favorite character and why?

Moirane, she has always been my favorite, and she doesn't disappoint in this book either. In the other WoT books, she is mysterious and seems aloof. In this book, since it's partially from her point of view, you see her more human side.

Which character – as performed by Kate Reading and Michael Kramer – was your favorite?

Kate Reading performing is always a treat

Enjoyed listening to this one

Years ago I stared to read this series and got through the first four or five. I can’t remember why I stopped, but I think part of it was because the storyline was a bit confusing and I could never really figure out what all of the fuss was about, why everyone in the story was in conflict. Now that I have decided to revisit it, I decided to start with this book, as the description says that it had more information setting up the series and explaining what set everything up in the drama and conflicts that followed. So YAY, now I can get on with re-reading the series and get the most out of it.

Jordan was a very good writer, or had an excellent editor (probably both) and his use of language and themes are reasonably sophisticated for the fantasy genre. His characters fairly well conceived and the women are not just place holders for male attention or affirmation, for the most part, which is refreshing for the genre. I look forward to revisiting the entire series now, and think that this book sets it up well.

An auspicious start.

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

Very good!

I like the book a lot, I honestly want to know more about them! I would strongly suggest having a background in Wheel of Time before doing this book. You can listen or read it without but I found it very fulfilling with the background I had.