First Time readers - should New Spring be read First?

Laurien Achaur

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Hello, Tar Valon!

Before I get too far into EotW, I'm curious - would it be wise to read New Spring first, for the sake of chronological order? Or would you recommend just starting with EotW and reading in order of publishing? Looking forward to hearing your thoughts :)
 

Hal Bahalla

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I think most recommend waiting on New Spring until you get through at least a couple of the main books. Though there is certainly a personal opinion where you could opt for another approach.

For me, part of the enjoyment is the mystery in the characters. Learning about them through their interactions with the Two Rivers folk. Some of that is lost if you get all the details from NS.

I waited to finish the full main story before going and readinng NS. I don’t think that is necessarily important… but I would have hated to miss some of the character development up through the first half or so.
 

Arinna Katal

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I agree with Hal--I would read them in publication order so that you don't accidentally learn anything before you're intended to learn it. You'll also be saving yourself a lovely treat! New Spring is possibly my favorite book in the whole series. :D
 

Nadezhda al'Lanahrin

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I agree with Arinna and Hal, I advise reading New Spring later on. It spoils a lot of the mystery of the White Tower and how it works. And more especially other characters and their motivations.
 
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I read new spring first, but planning to re-read it after I’m finished with all books. I think that would be my recommendation, to either read it when you’ve read a few books, or after. it didn’t ruin anything to read it in advance (for me, bare in mind I read a lot of wiki's and it doesn’t ruin anything for me either, for others it might though), but I feel I will appreciate new spring more the second time around, after knowing more about the world… though it is still my favorite anyway thus far (I’m at the end if TSR).
 

Ahmyra al'Ruley

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I second reading it after at least the first 4 books.
 
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I agree with the publication order recommendation!
 

Elania al'Manir

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I've seen New Spring recommended as the first book to read for people who are hesitant to start a massive, somewhat heavy fantasy series because it's a bit easier and lighter. It can help ease in new readers.

I like to read it after The Fires of Heaven for spoiler reasons. As you can see, though, many people recommend published order and that's after Crossroads of Twilight. Maybe that's the best place for a first-time series reader? The problem is that I haven't been one in so long that I honestly don't remember.
 

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I agree to go in publication order. It is pretty spoiler-y. :laugh: It's meant to be read with a good chunk of the story in mind. :pleased-1:
 

Catt Heckathorne

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I agree about the publication order.

It explains a ton of Moiraine's motivations with the Emond's Fielders, which tends to spoil a bit of the "Why should we trust a Sedai when nothing good comes from that in the stories?" attitude.

I would say read the entire series starting with EotW, then go straight thru to A Memory of Light, THEN start your reread with New Spring. I've heard from others that it tends to spoil a lot.

But at the same time........ it explains episode 6 very nicely.
 

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Chiming in to agree with the others. I think much of the mystery surrounding certain characters would be lost on a first-time read if New Spring comes first. Reading it at the end/beginning of the reading cycle seems a perfect place for it, though, IMO.
 

Toral Delvar

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I think a lot is lost by reading first, but it was written originally for the Legends anthology (and then expanded), so the intent was for it to be read by people who hadn't read the other books
 
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I am on book 9 and waited to read New Spring until after book 6. I agree with most here that it is better to be well into the series rather than reading it first. I kind of wish we could have had a mini-series continuing to fill in the blanks between New Spring and the first book.
 
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First read through, no read it later. After that i love reading it first.
 

Alexr al'Petros

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First read through, no read it later. After that i love reading it first.

Agreed. First read through, maybe insert it between 5, 6, or 7 for a change of pace. But afterwards, on the re-reads, I read it first to get me back into the World...
 

Alysia Peldran

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How would it work to read it last? I am very close to finishing the series and I'd prefer not to take a break at this point but I'm interested to hear what others think.
 

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How would it work to read it last? I am very close to finishing the series and I'd prefer not to take a break at this point but I'm interested to hear what others think.
I think that's still okay. You'll have a lot of the context needed, and then some. :)
 
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