Hello frens! 📚✨

Long time no write —well, just a couple of days. Though I painted for a bit today, I also wanted to write a little something about a book I just finished: New Spring, the prequel to the Wheel of Time series.

I didn’t realise at first that New Spring wasn’t the original starting point for the series. It was meant to be part of a prequel trilogy, but sadly, neither that trilogy nor the main Wheel of Time series were completed by Robert Jordan himself, as he passed away in 2007.

📖 Brandon Sanderson finished the series using Jordan’s extensive notes, along with the help of Jordan’s editor (and wife), Harriet McDougal.

I wanted to give you a little context, because if I’d done my research after watching the Amazon series, I might have started with the first published book, The Eye of the World, instead of New Spring. But honestly, if you’ve seen the show, you won’t get any spoilers from this prequel. In fact, you might be even more excited to dive in, since the book starts with two of the show’s main characters: Lan and Moiraine. You get to see how their legendary bond begins, which is only hinted at in the series.

If you’ve never watched the show, or you want to experience the story in chronological order, New Spring is a great place to start.

🤓 Jordan’s writing is definitely a slow burn. He immerses you in his magical world, describing everything in detail—the feelings, the buildings, the subtle dynamics between characters. It can feel overwhelming at first, but once you settle in, the story picks up pace and I found myself devouring the book. I wanted to reach the end to find out what happens, but also didn’t want it to be over!

🩷 What I loved most:

📕 The magic, especially how women wield the power while men risk madness. 📕 The world itself, which feels like a mirror to ours in many ways. Even the side characters feel vivid and important. 📕 There’s betrayal, scheming, and the need to be clever—magic alone isn’t enough. 📕 The friendships are deep and life-saving, both metaphorically and literally.

I honestly don’t know why I waited so long to start this series, but I’m glad I finally did. There are so many mysteries and “why’s” I need answered, so I’m definitely continuing!

✨ If you like magic that simmers before it explodes into action, betrayals, deaths, suspicion, friendships, and learning to trust yourself, this book (and maybe the whole series) is for you (and me, I'm so excited to see what's ahead!).

Because let’s face it—life is kind of like that, isn’t it?