The Wheel of Time: The Eye of the World

"The Wheel of Time turns, and Ages come and Pass, leaving memories that become legend."
And so begins The Wheel of Time series by Robert Jordan. The Eye of the World begins the long journey of three young men and two young women whose lives are turned upside down when a strange woman, Moraine, enters their small village of Edmond's Field. Rand Al'thor, Matrim Cauthon, and Perrin Aybara, are forced to leave their comfortable lives and begin a journey with people and monsters they only knew as Gleeman's tales told in taverns. Egwene Al'vere is swept along in the flight from Edmond's Field in the Two Rivers and joins them on their journey. They are being chased by friends of the dark and must make it to Tar Valon, the home of the Aes Sadai where they will be safe. On the journey, Rand and the other 2 boys start having mysterious dreams of a fire-faced man named Ba'lazamon.
While they are making their way to Tar Valon, they stop at a forsaken and empty city named Shadar Logoth to try and escape their pursuers. Rand, Mat and Thom, a gleeman, get seperated from the rest of their party when they are forced to flee Shadar Logoth in the middle of the night. From Shadar Logoth they make their way to the great city of Caemlyn hoping to meet up with Moraine and the others. Rand sneaks into the castle and first meets the daughter-heir, Elayne and her brother Galad. He also meets an Ogier named Loial in the library of the inn they're staying at while in Caemlyn. Meanwhile Moraine and the others rescue Perrin and Egwene from the Whitecloaks, an overzealous group of people, who thought they served the dark lord and were contemplating torture. Once everyone is reunited in Caemlyn, Loial tells Moraine of a threat to the Eye of the World and it is decided they must travel there to stop the Dark One. A long battle ensues and many surprising things are revealed during and after the battle.

This book series is by far one of the best I've ever read. Robert Jordan does an amazing job with suspense and hidden surprises that you never see coming. He weaves a deep and enthralling tale and makes you feel as if you're there running with Rand, Mat and Perrin and you can almost feel the friends of the dark right at your heels. You feel their pain and their shock at being ripped from a farmers life and thrust into the world and wondering if they'll ever see their families again.

I highly recommend this series for anyone who likes a good Fantasy series.