**spoilers contained**

Robert Jordan's expansive Wheel of Time series was introduced to us through this book.  It's often a slow moving story, but Jordon himself said he tailored the first 90 pages or so after The Lord of the Rings so that readers would have a comfortable and familiar starting ground.  That said, a book that I found magical and enthralling the first time I read it has become less so with each subsequent reading.  The details that made the book so rich and vibrant on my initial reading are nearly arduous as they're now etched in my mind and feel repetitious.  The main exception to this is the descriptions of the Myddraal (Fade).  This is probably the only book in the series that gives adequate description to these monsters ripped from Fairy Tales.  Unfortunately Myddraal, which were so prominent in this book, become quickly diminished in the series, not just because they evoke less menace, but because they become less and less of a threat.

This book works as the introductory piece to the series for most readers as it was the first book out, roughly 9 books earlier than New Spring (the series prequel).  The story centers on the Moiraine attempting to complete the quest she started in New Spring, finding the Dragon Reborn and escorting him to Tar Valon for "protection."

Moiraine finds three young men born within a couple weeks of one another: Rand, Perrin and Matrim.  After their village is attacked she convinces them that it's in their best interest to leave with her so that no future attacks happen on their friends and family.

After this we're introduced to a far larger world than what we glimpse in the Two Rivers.  The party is hounded by Trollocs and beset by hazards that split them up.  (It is never a good idea to take anything, no matter how gaudy, from a cursed city)  For the most part Jordan had a plan and had stuck to it by introducing the bulk of the primary characters in this book.  Most of the secondary and tertiary characters haven't changed drastically over the course of the series, but we've seen some drastic progression in others and its interesting seeing them once again in their original presentation.  Most notably Rand, Nyneave and Padan Fain.  While Perrin and Matt have also been changed throughout the story their changes seem less drastic than some of the people around them.  There is also a high level of distrust between the characters this early in the series, and I remember how their distrust reflected my own.

One of the nicest parts about going back is seeing all of the little subtle hints about the future that Jordan had weaved into his work such as Matt blurting out "I like battles."  A major theme to the early books is that when youthful yearnings for adventure are answered it is often far worse than imagined.  This is in stark contrast to the later books when characters have accepted their new lives to a point that they know they could never simply go back.

At the end of the book, after the group has re-united, we are introduced to two members of the Forsaken, or as I like to think of them the DNC or Do Nothing Crew.  Part of my issue with the Forsaken is that they're so built up by their past deeds and reputation that short of causing thousands of children to be stillborn at their release from their 3000 year imprisonment they'll pale in comparison to the stories.  The lone stand out among them is Ishmael who doesn't tend to get directly involved, instead gently guiding the hands of others to drive the world to war and turmoil.  Add that to the fact that one of the two Forsaken to appear at the end of this book gets murdered by an 18 year old kid who has no formal training about how to use his powers and you get a group of folks who are far less intimidating than what they should be.

We're treated at the end to the knowledge that Rand al'Thor is the Dragon Reborn.  As readers we're clued in much earlier, but for the sake of the story we have... if not the big reveal then at least the big confirmation.

Previously Underappreciated Character: Nyneave.  She is definitely the stand-out character for me as she makes a choice to live a life service, in that she travels with the boys and Egwene to protect them, rather than leaving them subject to the whim of a stranger, and even worse an Aes Sedai stranger.  This idea of service and helping others is what drives Nyneave, in spite of her other character flaws, throughout the series and is handled deftly in this story.

Previously Over appreciated Character: Collectively the people of the Two Rivers.  Honestly, with the exception of Tam I felt that there was too much time spent on a lot of characters that effectively drop off the face of the Earth, a problem that tends to creep up in these books again and again.  Yes they add some additional depth to the world, but how many times do I need to know the Coplins and Congars interbreed?

Previously Overlooked Moment: Tie-The sacrifice of the Green Man - Rand's Madness.  The death of the Green Man really should be a more significant moment as he's both the keeper of Avendesora (the tree of life) but he's also symbolic of the pending end of an Age.  Before the new Age can truly be ushered in the old one has to be swept away, and this starts with the death of the Green Man.  As Rand is fighting Aginor a voice pops in his head, presumably that of the Creator, who is insisting that he cannot take part directly.  This moment stands out more because the Eye of the World was not yet used up, and as such this is not simply a symptom of Rand's future madness.  To my knowledge this is the only moment in the series where The Creator has any direct contact to the world of WoT.  Surprisingly this moment seems to be shuffled away and forgotten by Rand who, almost immediately lacks any recognition of his Divine Calling as the Chosen One and instead begins to hate himself for what he is and what he was born to do.

It is also at this point in the story that Moiraine truly begins to mishandle her dealings with Rand.  Perhaps it is because of her lifetime of playing the Game of Thrones that causes her to do so, but for whatever reason at a time when her counsel and concern is most needed she opts to distance herself and emotionally abandon Rand.

This book feels emotionally complete, which is surprising as the first three books are fundamentally one book if you view the series as a trilogy.  At this point we have been introduced to the bulk of characters and we know their personalities.  We've been introduced to a surprisingly vast portion of the world and a sort of wormhole known as the Ways, inhabited by the living personification (monsterfication?) of the Taint on the male half of the One Power.  Our journey has just begun.