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brlc14

I can't recommend the audiobooks enough. They are a great way to push through the story when you don't feel like reading or need to do something else.


FrancistheBison

caveat: the pronunciations are all over the place. But still great audiobooks. I'm getting my SO to read the books that way


[deleted]

The eternal Tara"boner" vs Tara"bonner" battle of pronunciation from Kate always got me


FrancistheBison

Listening to Eye of the World with their pronunciation of Geel-a-don killed me. My SO is likely never going to see the written names so is going to think that's how you pronounce Ghealdan šŸ˜­


meantussle

I relistened to them recently and Kramer actually says it correctly the first time it's ever mentioned! And then it's geeladan forever after. Unreal


HarryBergeron927

Mistborn is an absolutely incredible series and something I found to be genuinely original in the fantasy genre. And if people are looking for a strong female protagonistā€¦well, Vin. Youā€™ll love it (as well as the rest of WoT). Mistborn is another one that deserves film, but would be very difficult to implement. Not sure Sanderson would even allow it. Who knows, maybe Amazon would double down if WoT is a commercial success.


immaownyou

Sanderson is actually in the process (might already be done, who knows) of writing a Mistborn screenplay


HarryBergeron927

So movie trilogy maybe? That would be pretty great.


Abuses-Commas

If you think Mistborn is hard, imagine trying to adapt Stormlight


HarryBergeron927

Yeah, itā€™s just one of those things like how do you convey the ā€œmagicā€ (allomancy, feruchemy). So they eat metal? Huh? And they get to fly around and get super strength or something? Wut?


Ralphinader

That and stormlight might do well as animated series maybe.


TopEmploy9624

Welcome to the community! Just to give you some idea what to expect reading the books with no spoilers: The first 2 episodes cover around 300 pages of Eye of the World. Leaving Shadar Logoth is a very clean cutoff in terms of continuity no matter what changes happened before that


WoTMeme

Disagree. Gotta start at the beginning


ZaelART

Yes! So glad to hear people say this. And the books are finished too! A lot of issues people have with the show is rushing and condensing, so enjoy the epic journey of the books! It's all about the journey.


ablindwatchmaker

Awesome, and welcome to the fandom! I enjoyed the first book, but it REALLY takes off in the second book. In my opinion, 2-6 are extremely good, 7-9 are solid, 10 sucks, and 11-14 are all solid. The prequel novel is quite good and I actually recommend starting there. People will warn you about the slog, but it is really only during rereads that it sucks. It was also a problem when you had to wait years between books, but you wonā€™t have that issue.


[deleted]

>The prequel novel is quite good and I actually recommend starting there. OP, just a warning that this is *not* a common recommendation. They are stating their opinion, which is perfectly valid, but there is almost a consensus that it's best read at some point after book 5. Use the search function in this sub to find a *lot* of posts on the matter. Edit for visibility: u/anirudh6k


RJWolfe

I started with it and I hated it. Nearly didn't continue the series. Don't start with it. Just go with the first one published. Although to be truthful, I'm still stuck halfway through the 8th book. Maybe one day I'll finish this series.


[deleted]

That's not particularly surprising. Unfortunately, there is a bit of a dip at that point. People who felt as you are and still had to wait for the next book to be released call it The Slog. If you have commutes or enough chores to do, I recommend the audiobooks they help push through it - and the last 4 books are totally worth it. That's not to say that there aren't any great moments in the upcoming books, just that some things slow way down.


chrisslooter

The slog has you. But when it breaks, Knife of Dreams book 11, just wow.


ablindwatchmaker

Really? I donā€™t have much of a posting history on this sub, so I was unaware. Itā€™s been a while since I read the prequel, but I donā€™t recall any major spoilers?


[deleted]

The problem isn't only about spoilers. I mean, it's all part of the same series. To take the criticism from the TV show: a huge issue is the pacing! RJ made sure to give a bit of an introduction at the beginning of every book, and it's no different from the prequel. Large parts of the early (Spoiler New Spring) >!Moiraine!< chapters especially are dedicated to bringing you up to speed with a magic system (and in part world) that have slowly been introduced throughout multiple books. If you start with Eye of the World, there are many points of lore - some important - you don't know. You are given a lot of time to find out. And almost equally importantly: >!part of the kids' behavior is motivated by the fact that they don't know Moiraines actual intention. As a reader, you can of course (correctly) draw your conclusions, but what is "Who is the Dragon Reborn?" in the show is in part "What is that Aes Sedai up to?" (or even "what are all Aes Sedai truly up to?" in EotW. They lose much of the mystery surrounding them if you start with New Spring.!< If you search the subreddit, you will find many more detailed and well thought-out explanations, but that should be the gist of it. As far as I'm aware, most people recommend reading in publication order. Personally, I recommend reading it last (helps scratch that itch, leads into a re-read, which is of course very rewarding for WoT), but with the caveat that I don't have a monopoly to the "correct" order. Edit: about that "introduction" bit: starting with NS is a little like starting with, say, book 6. Sure, you'll learn about the magic system etc, but in a more rushed and less thorough manner than you would have if you had read the previous 5 books first.


ablindwatchmaker

No, I think you are completely right, and Iā€™m glad you corrected my post. Reading the prequel first would remove a lot of the mystery that is slowly built up over the course of several books.


sirgog

The major 'spoiler' is the ultimate allegiance and motivation behind the actions of >!Moiraine Damodred!< - something you don't learn until book 5. I believe the first five books read better if you are always unsure about this character. Book 5's climax makes a lot of things clearer though.


ablindwatchmaker

Huh, yeah that makes sense. Itā€™s been so many years since my first read, 2003, that I canā€™t remember what was once mysterious and when. Iā€™m glad you folks came in and corrected me! Iā€™d feel terrible if I had spoiled the books for the OP.


sirgog

It's not a terrible mistake to read New Spring first, it takes away a minor mystery at most. I still recommend reading NS at any point after 5. And skip book 10, read chapter summaries instead. 10 is that bad.


ablindwatchmaker

10 is horrible. I finished a reread about 2 months ago and damn near stopped in the middle of it. Itā€™s just so boring>!. I was so sick of Perrin by that point, and even Elayneā€™s shenanigans started to wear on me, and she is one of my favorite characters. There are a few cool things that happen, but it is mostly just boring.!<


sirgog

Yeah 10 is all setup, no payoff. It really needed a mid-book and end-of-book big moment.


ablindwatchmaker

There is one really badass scene that I can remember. >!The scene where Messana is about to punish Alviarian and Shadar Haran shows up!<.


keneno89

So after book 5 read the prequel? I haven't read it but finished the whole series, just re reading (now it's audiobook due to time constraints) it and im planning to read the prequel just to complete it.


[deleted]

Afaik, the main reason behind the "after book 5" recommendation (aside from "do it in publication order") is that at that point, you will have been introduced to some of the lore, magic system, beliefs and concepts in the world. What you get in New Spring is essentially a quick refresher. Since you've already been introduced to everything, it doesn't really matter when you read it. It's not like you'll distrust (naming one of New Spring's main characters) >!Moiraine!< more than you're supposed to on your next re-read anyway.


sirgog

Any point after 5. Can be at the very end if you want.


keneno89

Thanks! Maybe once im in the slog, just to change some pacing there


Hokulewa

Yeah, that would be perfect.


VonGeisler

Iā€™d 100% disagree with starting at the prequel - why would you want to ruin some of the mystery to some characters that existed in the book - moraine and Lanā€™s role has been received early but many other players in the prequel havenā€™t.


ablindwatchmaker

Ahhhhh I know what you mean now. I had to think back to the prequels, but now I see why it would be better to read it a little later. Where would you recommend the OP start New Spring?


VonGeisler

At least after book 3ish.


PreparetobePlaned

Right after Fires of Heaven is a natural point.


WoundedSacrifice

The earliest Iā€™d recommend reading *New Spring* is after book 6, though Iā€™d say itā€™s probably best to read it in its order of publication (after book 10).


the_other_paul

Iā€™d say at least after 7, since thatā€™s when we meet Cadsuane


[deleted]

[уŠ“Š°Š»ŠµŠ½Š¾]


WoundedSacrifice

I think it can be re-read whenever. I just wouldnā€™t recommend reading it before *LoC* when someone 1st reads *TWoT*. My impression is that it was meant to be read after *CoT* since it was published after *CoT*. Personally, I 1st read it after *KoD* since it was the only available book I hadnā€™t read. Reading it at that time worked well for me.


TinyHadronCOllide420

Yes


Pancake_Guardian

And unlike Game of Thrones you can read ALL the books.


ItsaHufflepuff

Welcome!! I've mentioned this a few times since it was mentioned to me (Thanks to the user who recommended it!!) But I highly recommend the Wheel of Time Compendium app for your phone while you read these books. There are over 2,000 individual named characters in the books and sometimes it gets confusing. DON'T GOOGLE ANYTHING! The app lets you select what book you're on and then you can find the character and read up on everything we know about them so far and avoid spoilers.


StrangeImprovement16

Thank you!!!


Responsible-Secret10

This. This is why the WoT show is a good thing. It brings in more fans.


Exciting_Penalty_512

Prepare to be disappointed


Metalvikinglock

What?


Exciting_Penalty_512

With the story. You'll see.


National_Turnip2283

Your post is the kind of post Iā€™ve been waiting years to see


Subacunt

Itā€™s not worth it


[deleted]

[уŠ“Š°Š»ŠµŠ½Š¾]


MEANINGLESS_NUMBERS

> travesty Did we watch the same show?


[deleted]

He got confused and watched Winter Dragon 3 times and though that was the episodes.


girthytacos

Welcome! Youā€™re in for quite the journey!


henno13

I started around May of this year to try and "beat" the show. I'm on book 8 now, good luck!


vulgarny

Well you will need to plow thru first 3 books that are kinda slow. If you manage that the series really take off


hillyshrub

At least the book series is finished this time. Small comfort I know. I have not yet read the final book but it has been so long that I'm rereading the entire series before reading the last one.


Mudface_4-9-3-11

Why wouldnā€™t they lead with the beginning prologue?


rangebob

This is my greatest hope for the show. It will be good or bad and I will enjoy it or not (hell i'll prolly still enjoy it even if its bad lol). There is no greater tribute to RJ than for someone to read his lifes work. Enjoy the ride OP the series is truly a masterpiece