**spoilers contained**

Considering that when Robert Jordan began his sprawling epic he envisioned it as a trilogy it makes sense that what will become a 15 book series (assuming his estate does not opt to expand upon and complete his planned prequel or outrigger books) be broken down into sections.  In this way the chronological first book in the series, New Spring, works as a prologue to the rest of the books.  Originally released as a short story for the Legends anthology Jordon eventually decided to expand upon the story and release it as a novel (one of three prequels he planned to release before his untimely passing).

To be honest, very little happens in this book.  As is often the case with Jordan's work he has info spread thinly throughout the series and then massive action dumps... leaving us with a clever sort of reverse pacing to movies.  Unfortunately the tedium of descriptions can sometimes lull the series into a drag rather than bring the world to real and steady life, living and breathing, which is very clearly his intent.

For people starting off the series I almost recommend coming back to this book after you've finished Path of Daggers... not because it gives away too many secrets revealed later, but because it adds depth to characters (Moiraine, Lan and Siuan) that almost rely on your initial impressions to foster empathy to the reactions of the three primary characters of the series (Rand, Perrin and Mat).

The focus of the story is the Aiel War abruptly ends and at the same time the Dragon, a man prophesied as both savior and destroyer, is reborn.  As the birth is announced through prophecy the oracle who cries it out dies leaving only three witnesses to the knowledge of the Dragon Reborn's existence.  They immediately begin working to find the child in as undetectable a manner as possible.  We are taught, in sometimes excruciatingly dry prose, about the hierarchy and inner workings of the White Tower as we watch Moiraine and Siuan be raised from Accepted to Aes Sedai.  We are exposed to a world where one of the largest sororital organizations in the world is in steep decline, but still interfere with the world's leaders and each other.  In some ways they feel like a commentary about the Congress and the Senate.

As Moiraine and Suian continue to plan a way they can both circumvent their new duties with the Tower the Amyrlin dies leaving them as the only two women in the world that know the Dragon has been Reborn.  As Siuan becomes more thickly embroiled in her work at the Tower Moiraine learns that the Tower is intending to force her to take the Sun Throne and act as Queen of Carhein, where she is dark horse heir to the newly empty throne.  Moiraine's response is to run away from the White Tower before they can complete this plan.  To me this choice seemed a far cry from the Moiraine I've come to know through the rest of the series.  While it is true that she devotes herself to the cause of finding the Dragon Reborn the quest serves her as much as it calls to her.

In my previous readings of the series Moiraine was an almost tragic figure, choosing to give her life to a person who did not yet know her in order to secure the safety of the world.  Perhaps the heir to the throne plot was Jordan using Deus Ex Machina to force Moiraine's hand to leaving when she did.  It can also be argued that Moiraine had to choose between two prisons, the prison of the quest or the prison of a throne, but I would counter that the quest is a source of freedom and power for her, one that matches up to a youthful yearning for adventure.

The conclusion of the book is the more familiar section to anyone that read the short story as it focuses on Moiraine meeting Lan the last Malkieri King and Bonding him as her Warder. 

This book has an odd feeling in the series because if you haven't read the rest of the books it adds a distinct level of "woman without a plan" to Moiraine.  To say she enters the series with a clear cut goal and a plan to achieve it is only true in the loosest sense.  For the most part she's just pushing forward and working without a net hoping that somehow keeping her secret knowledge of the existence of the Dragon Reborn will allow her to save the world pretty much by virtue of her life's work.  Having read the series and looking back at the actions of the White Tower I'd say it's more likely that any success the Dragon Reborn may have is in spite of all of the bungling and mistakes made by the White Tower and the Aes Sedai on the Tower's behalf.  The phrase "Charlie Foxtrot" comes to mind.  Be that as it may the book does not diminish my affection for Moiraine as she is capable of doing something other Aes Sedai seem completely incapable of... she understands that she is badly mismanaging her quest (and endangering the fate of the world), acknowledges it and changes her actions.  If only there were more characters in the series that had such moments of logic, realization and catharsis... he may have been able to complete the saga in just three books then. 

For readers who have already been through the bulk of the series this story is a good way to start off a second read through, giving additional layers to a prominent character though most of the intricate interactions at the tower will feel a bit stale and repetitious.