Third in The Wheel of Time Series By Simon J. Phillips

It’s no secret that The Wheel of Time series demands patience. It builds slowly, chapter by chapter, like a tapestry woven in the dark, you don’t always know what the full picture is until you’ve stepped back. But The Dragon Reborn, the third entry in Robert Jordan’s monumental saga, is where that picture finally begins to emerge from the shadows.

This is where the world stops expanding outward and begins folding back in on itself. The stakes rise, the characters deepen, and the mythic weight of Rand al’Thor’s destiny becomes more than prophecy, it becomes reality.

A Shift in Structure, a Strength in Storytelling

Unlike the previous volumes, The Dragon Reborn follows a bold structural shift. Rand, the titular Dragon, is largely absent. And that’s not a weakness, it’s a strength. His presence lingers on every page but it’s Perrin, Mat, Egwene, Nynaeve, Elayne, and others who take centre stage. Jordan challenges the typical ‘chosen one’ narrative by showing us the world reacting to Rand’s ascent rather than merely following in his wake.

It’s in this reaction that the book finds its strength. We feel the weight of prophecy as the pattern tightens. We see the signs, omens, chaos, and political unrest, as nations begin to stir, and the world reshapes itself to accommodate a Dragon Reborn.

Mat Cauthon Awakens

This is the book where Mat comes into his own. Finally freed from the Shadar Logoth dagger, we get our first real glimpse of the roguish, witty, battle-hardened gambler he’s destined to become. His escape from Tar Valon is one of the most thrilling moments in the book, a chaotic run through city streets, dice in the air, and fate at his heels.

Jordan shows incredible restraint here. Mat doesn’t immediately become the legend; he earns it page by page, through struggle and sheer bloody-mindedness. It’s some of the finest character development in the series.

Dreamers, Wolfbrothers, and the Loom of the Pattern

Perrin’s arc continues to evolve, and though his brooding nature can wear thin at times, his growing bond with the wolves adds a haunting edge. It’s here that we begin to sense the vast, spiritual undercurrents of Jordan’s world, dreamwalking: the World of Dreams, and Talents that feel less like magic and more like fate reaching through.

Egwene’s training in the Tower and her own journey through Tel’aran’rhiod offers a parallel to Rand’s, the rise of another kind of power, more subtle but no less dangerous. The female half of the One Power continues to feel richer and more complex than most fantasy series ever attempt, and Jordan does not shy away from making the women in this world powerful, flawed, and capable of true leadership.

The Stone of Tear and the Dragon’s Claim

The climax of The Dragon Reborn erupts in the heart of Tear, a city long resistant to prophecy, and the prophesied site of the Dragon’s rise. Rand enters the Stone of Tear alone, facing off against one of the Forsaken, Be’lal, and ultimately seizing Callandor, the crystalline sword that no man but the Dragon Reborn can touch.

It’s a moment both personal and mythic. Rand doesn’t just fight a Forsaken, he confronts destiny. He steps fully into the role the Pattern has woven for him. The image of Rand holding Callandor, victorious but shaken, marks a seismic shift not just in his arc, but in the world itself. The prophecies are no longer shadows, they’re real, glowing, and deadly sharp.

Final Thoughts

The Dragon Reborn is not a flawless book, it still carries Jordan’s love of travel scenes, internal repetition, and the occasional pacing lull but it’s where The Wheel of Time begins to feel truly alive.

This isn’t just a continuation. It’s a turning. A reshaping. A slow-burning epic beginning to spark.

If you’ve made it through the first two books and weren’t quite convinced, this is the one that might win you over.

You can also watch my companion review video on YouTube if you’d rather hear my full thoughts aloud. It’s linked below.

Let me know in the comments, how did The Dragon Reborn hit you? Did Rand’s absence bother you, or did it make the book stronger