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New Spring  By  cover art

New Spring

By: Robert Jordan
Narrated by: Kate Reading,Michael Kramer
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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)

Featured Article: 16 of the Best Fantasy Authors Ever


There is no feeling quite like falling in love with a great fantasy listen, doing a little digging, and joyfully discovering that the author has an extensive catalog of audiobooks for you to dive right into. Fantasy as a genre is particularly blessed with a wealth of diverse authors writing all different kinds of stories. From classic epics to standalone novels that were published in the last few years, it's the perfect genre for losing yourself in a full day’s worth of listening. These brilliant fantasy authors will transport you to another world—whether a parallel universe or a post-apocalyptic version of Earth.

What listeners say about New Spring

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

Read it after reading others in the series

I am a really big fan of this series. I didn't think I would like it, but I do! If you try to listen to this before any of the other books you will be totally confused. It is meant to fill in the missing parts to some of the major character's backstory. It isn't meant as an introduction to the world created by Robert Jordan. I suggest listening to at least 5 books in the series before getting this one. It will give you a deeper understanding of the Hows and Whys of what has happened and will let you look at the series from a fresh perspective. After listening to this one, I will begin listening to the series over again!

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320 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

A+

I enjoyed this as my first book in the series. The unabridged version is by far the best for audio books. As a long haul trucker I thoroughly enjoy the detailed in depth unabridged audio books. Michael & Kate have always been the best readers (next to Richard Ferrone) in my opinion. Jordan has a wonderful imagination. I enjoyed this book so much. I have listened to over 2000 audio books (yes I?ve kept track of them :) and I have to say this is by far one of the most enjoyable ever for me. It is my opinion the longer the better. If you have a short drive to work then this might be a little much for you, but otherwise it is well worth the cost. I can easily listen to this book again and again for details I did not catch the first time around. Many enjoyable miles go by without any road rage anger thanks be to this audio book :)

I'd like to point out the characters are pure, rather innocent and for children reading this book it is likely one of the few books out there today that is well done without all the sex and vulgarity found in many other books. Adults who listen to this book should keep that in mind when writing a review. How many audio books can you say you've not heard one profane word (as we know them in today's world) or vulgar inflection? Not many are there? It is refreshing to me as a father.

Highly recommend this audio book and the series for all ages.

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234 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

Well done!

I am a confirmed fan of the Wheel of Time series. It is easy to read, though the plots and subplots are challenging to follow. I read this prequel after finishing Book 7, and really enjoyed it. This "prequel" is really a vehicle to develop the characters of Lan, Moiraine and Siuan. Since the mystery concerning these characters and the reasons for their quest to find the Dragon Reborn helped make the first three or four volumes more interesting, I recommend a new reader read at least the first three volumes before reading this book. Jordan's prose sounds excellent when read. The readers are talented and, as a result, this is one book that might be more entertaining to listen to than to read.

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159 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Don't Start Here

So, I started with New Spring because I was new to the series and in my head, starting with the prequel made sense. However, now that I'm working on the series, I feel that starting with New Spring caused me to have opinions about people that are formed based on this book. It also has a few spoilers. I would suggest that you wait to read New Spring until book 8+.

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77 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars

Do Not read this first

I wish I had read the recommendation not to read this book too early. Not that it is a spoiler, on the contrary. It does not make as much sense unless you have read at least the first book in WOT. I do not think this is the best of the series and if one were to judge the series on this one you might not be too enthralled. The WOT is a masterpiece. While this book is good, I do not believe it is of the calibre of the rest in the series. If you are not familiar with WOT, read or especially listen to Volume One and then decide. You will not be able to put it down.

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73 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars

Surprisingly Enjoyable

I'm a WOT fan, but was very skeptical of a prequel book to the series. (not to mention anxious for the sequels.) This book was a pleasant surprise. I wouldn't listen to it as the "first" book in the series, however. You'd be missing too much background information on Aes Sedai, and might be a little lost. It might also be helpful to check out a website on WOT terms/pronunciations prior to listening.

As for the reading itself, it was done very well. This was my first audio book and I was, again, quite pleasantly surprised.

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27 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

Wow!!

I started the series with this book, and I am really glad that I did. After this one I jumped right in to the first novel of WOT, and the 20 years prior that is explained in "New Spring" really gives a good deal of backstory, and a Spring Board into the other novels. Pun intended. By now I am on book 5 and I can't stop listening to these books. The series is great so far; it is like entering a different universe. But going on a listening binge will leave you somewhat emotionally drained. At any rate start with this one if you haven't started.

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24 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars

You don't need a review to decide...

If you're a WOT fan, you're gonna get this one eventually. I decided to get it after book 7, since audible doesn't have book 8 at the time I'm writing this review.

(This shouldn't contain any spoilers for anyone who has read even book 1)

The time period for this story starts with Siuan and Moiraine as "Accepted" - shortly before being raised Aes Sedai, and ends with Lan becoming Moiraine's Warder. There are several familiar characters (mostly in the White Tower), and references and expansions to a number of details from throughout the series.

The story does a good job of setting up the back story for how and why Moiraine and Siuan got involved in their top secret mission, and how Lan and Moiraine met and ended up in the relationship they have. It also sheds some light on the process of being raised to Aes Sedai.

This book is much shorter than the rest in the series, but seems to follow much the same pattern: the story moves along at the same pace and then comes to an abrupt end. Many people complain about the stories moving slowly - I don't have a problem with that because they are very well written, interesting, and narrated by professionals. My problem is, as I mentioned, the endings seem to come out of nowhere - as if Jordan all of a sudden realized he'd reached his page quota...

Overall, this book was enjoyable and worth listening to, even if a bit anticlimactic. I would recommend waiting until after book 7 to get this one, but I'm sure getting it earlier would be just fine too. Thankfully the narration is still done by Kate Reading and Michael Kramer.

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22 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars

Good

I listened to this after the entire series, and it was nice to learn how things started. A must listen if you like the WOT series. Read this first or last makes no difference.

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21 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars

Better than Crossroads

As a dedicated fan to the Wheel of Time series I felt compelled to listen to this book. Robert Jordan actually goes somewhere in this book instead of a lot of subplot development. "New Spring" reminds me why I started reading the WOT series. I would strongly suggest this book to any WOT fan.

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17 people found this helpful