In a lot of ways, these books are very similar to something Tolkein would write, in that there is lots of details and a richly developed history of the world.  What sets them apart is that there is plenty of action to keep it from getting stale.

The main character of the book, Rand Al'Thor, is an unwitting hero who is forced to come to terms with his true nature, and the ramifications that stem from it.  Throughout the book, him and his companions are assailed by plenty of creatures of evil.  Pressed into action unwillingly, Rand begins to develop his powers, and sets forth to save the world from destruction.

While the beginning of this book is a little slow, it really picks up and takes off around page 80-something, just out of the blue, and from then on it's a crazy ride to the end, which just leaves you anticipating the second book all that much more.

If you read this book, be prepared to get sucked into the other (currently) nine books.  If you don't have that much patience, beware!

Rating 7/10 stars

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