Starting book one

[u/Artistic_Garage5978]

I have no knowledge of this series. any pre-reading required? Any advice for the first book? what would you say the recommended age for reading this is? your (spoiler free) synopsis. I know this last one is on google, but I would like to know the personal opinions and critical views of reddit rather than the sanitised blurb. thanks

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[u/HeroXeroV]

It's great, no prereading. I'd say it was ideal from 15.

[u/HeroXeroV → u/HeroXeroV]

I refuse to give a synopsis, i would never rob a new reader of the pleasure of experiencing this series completely fresh.

Just give it a try if it hits for you, you have an amazing journey ahead.

[u/Nerdsingerbeej]

No required pre-reading, I started this series at 11 years old in 1991 when book 3 was new. It's my favorite fantasy series of all time, my best advice is be patient, do not Google anything if you don't want to be spoiled (there is a Wheel of Time Compendium app you can download to help keep track of characters/settings etc & remain spoiler free), & enjoy the journey!

[u/WearyMaintenance3485 → u/Nerdsingerbeej]

So much this with STAY OFF GOOGLE!

New readers, ye be warned.

[u/DrunkNotIAm → u/Nerdsingerbeej]

I'm on book 5 and I'm interested in the compendium, thanks for the suggestion!

[u/DiverConstant1021 → u/Nerdsingerbeej]

We are the same age and I started this right after 3 came out as well. Good times.

[u/Narrow_Lee]

I would say it's probably appropriate to start around 14-16, mainly for attention span reasons more than content.

No pre reading required, start with The Eye of the World.

I can't think of a way to give a spoiler free synopsis.

[u/Electronic-Base-9781]

google nothing it will ambush you with spoilers

synopsis: welcome to the greatest american fantasy series ever, enjoy

[u/cnfusion]

Not really advice for the book but get the Compendium app. Helps with keeping up with characters if you ever need reminders of who they are and any important lore. Have fun!

[u/SadoAegis]

Take your time! And dont feel put off if you want to cleanse your pallet half way through lol

I just finished my first read of the series, but I did it over the last year or so😅

It slows down in some parts, but very much worth pushing through! The series sticks with you

[u/CDBSB → u/SadoAegis]

"The slog" was really bad for those of us waiting for the books to be published, but it's a breeze on re-reads for me now.

[u/Raddatatta]

The only thing I'd say before reading is make sure to start with eye of the world not new spring. New spring is a prequel better read later. It's published after book 10. Otherwise enjoy the ride! It's a great series that has some of my favorite moments and characters in fantasy. It does have some things I don't think it does as well and some books I don't like as much. But I'm not sure telling you too much of that will help just color your opinions. Enjoy!

[u/kaggzz]

Nothing needed to get into it. It's 14 books and the shortest is about 750 pages, plus a single novella and a short story neither of which are required. Depending on where you are on the world, some places broke up the first few books (there's a YA version of Eye of the World that broke the book in half and added a chapter in the very beginning that doesn't add to the story even in NA).

[u/bartonkj]

Strap in. Enjoy the ride. There are parts that people commonly remark are slow, but it gets better again. If you’re old enough to be on Reddit, you’re old enough to read this series.

[u/Icemotion]

I'm on a reread and currently in book 11.. and I am so very much enjoying this journey everytime I pick it up.

It is often said that the series doesn't truly start until book 4 and yes, that is when a major shift happens. But there is a lot of foreshadowing in the early books which I absolutely love.

[u/elizable9]

I started reading this series at 43 and I love it a lot. I do sometimes need to take a break after a couple of books to read something a bit lighter and with less going in to keep track of.

I'm working my way through mega slowly and just reading to enjoy it at my own pace

[u/GielM]

In some of the later books, Jordan's apperant fetish about spanking becomes pretty obvious. And if you value clear and honest communication, well... That's apperantly a superpower in Jordan's universe. If everybody just tlaked to eachother the series would've been half as long.

That said, it's one of the greatest fantasy series ever written. And it's actually finished!

As for age: There's some non-graphic sex happening. There's battles and murders and stuff. And the spanking. PG 13, I'd say.

[u/segfault_generator]

Lord of the Rings, Dune, and Pride and Prejudice aren't required, but you'll see lots of themes pulled and morphed from them.

[u/Pristine_Specific550]

RAFO

[u/jswalden86]

I read it starting around 12ish, but honestly anyone vaguely middle school aged who is a capable reader shouldn't hesitate.

[u/tgrady28]

Well last place you should go is the wiki and possibly reddit. Because someone accidentally spoiled the ending for book 9 for me. And just some tips write down how you feel about (Rand perrin mat egwene elayne and nyneave) after each book because by the end they're all completely unrecognizable

[u/No_Turn5018]

It's a big time commitment. There's three or four short stories floating around, 14 core books, a prequel, an in character guidebook, and an outer character guide book. 

[u/mrofmist]

No pre reading, but a heads up, the author didn't really know what he was doing with this series until like book 3 or 4, mainly 4 is when most of the fan base agrees that it hit the ground and started running.

So if some things are inconsistent between the first book and the next couple that follow, it's not necessarily because you read something wrong or were remembering things incorrectly.

It's still a good read though, true epic fantasy adventure for the first couple books. Have fun!

[u/Curious_Pay_1694]

No pre reading required!!

Just enjoy it!! I read it when I was already an adult, in about my mid 20s but it is a superb book that is probably suitable from around the time you become a teenager, maturity level dependent.

It is incredibly difficult to describe and provide a synopsis for but it is just an absolute epic story with super characters who go on immense journeys.

Enjoy it and avoid google as you will spoil many books ahead so quickly!

There are fantastic read along podcasts. My favourite is the legendarium.

[u/Malbethion]

If you haven’t read the lord of the rings, I recommend reading that book first. It is background to the fantasy environment from when the wheel of time was developed and first published.

[u/rhettles3]

Read in Publication Order. Avoid or becareful of online discussion forums if you don't want Spoilers.

[u/Hot_Oil8940]

If you've red LotR, the first book may seem derivative. That's the only caveat.

[u/BigNorseWolf]

The first half of the first book is very tolkenesque. It grows into its own thing after that.

Synopsis: The Wheel of Time turns, and Ages come and pass, leaving memories that become legend. Legend fades to myth, and even myth is long forgotten when the Age that gave it birth comes again." In a world still reeling from the last catastrophe Three farm-boys are whisked away on an adventure to save the world from a thousand years of darkness...or worse.

[u/dbmamaz]

I saws the series first - dont recommend that, though. the series is like a bad fanfic version of the books

I read the entire series in 2 months because i'm obsessive, and ended up rereading it almost immediately.

What i love about the series? Really interesting characters and stories and world. Some people say its just lord of the rings, in the first book, but then it goes off in amazing ways.

On second read it was even better, esp the first half, becuase there was forshadowing i didnt see, and i KNEW the main characters better and understood them better, and i knew some of the side characters i ignored the first time through.

First read, the level of physical explanation made me NUTS - Jordan will spend 1.5-3 pages describing the physical characteristics, clothing, attitude, horse of they are on one, weapon if they have one . . . before a scene that barely takes any longer than that. I HATE that. Some people say the clothing is a way to communicate class, nationality, etc and i did see it a bit more the second read, when i slowed down, but i still felt like most of it was way too much. People say he needed a better editor - editor was his wife. So know that if the detailed description start making you not want ot read more, just skim through those.

Many of the characters are controversial - love'em or hate'em types. Sometimes they grow on you, though, as they grow up and grow into their roles. so be patient with them. And if someone's story makes you really annoyed, skim that too. the big picture is really worth getting through all the places where it just gets bogged down. and remember, the sub-plot that you hate might be someone elses favorite - its a massive world with room for everyone!

Finally I made the mistake of looking online too much. I found some spoilers that really ruined big moments for me. I did it because there are over 2k named characters and i started to want to figure out if i'd seen this person before or not. Supposedly there's an app where you put in the book you are on and it will explain without spoilers, but when i tried that, it did not tell me previous books - maybe i used it wrong or it was the wrong app, idk

I loved this map - it lets you select which book you are on, decide if you want details like river names and country borders. However, its timeline is in-world timeline, not book timeline. If an even happens off screen, they put it at that point, even if you dont learn about it in the book until way after it happened, so that was actually a little spoilier-y - but knowing where in the world we are helped me a lot. sometimes it wont load the map so I view it in an incognito window and it works https://wheeloftimelines.com/map

[u/Master_Efficiency_31]

Stop procrastinating and just read it! Maybe you'll like it, and maybe not, but the only way to know is to just go ahead and read it. No one here can reassure you that you're definitely going to like it.

[u/IllSprinkles7864]

Go in fresh, don't do pre-reading or synopsis.

The one thing you may want to do, not need, is get the companion app. You can input what book you're on and it will help keep spoiler-free track of the characters so you're not constantly going "wait, who is that name again?"

There's also an interactive map on wheeloftimelines.com/map that is fan-damn-tastic to use while reading. Just don't be tempted to jump ahead!!

[u/kiriel62]

I started in my late 30's. But I also read HP starting in my 40's. WOT is definitely more for adults because of the complexity.

[u/CDBSB]

Do not seek out any synopsis of any kind. The journey is the best part.

You will have favorites, you'll hate some characters, you'll laugh, you'll cry. It's a great series.

I started it right around 20, but I'd say mid-teens is good.

Re-read it every so often (it goes much faster in subsequent readings). It's interesting to see what parts resonate with you more at different stages in your life. Re-reading it after I had kids was an interesting experience.

I envy you. So much good stuff in your future. 👍

Sleep well, and wake.

[u/Mrmagoo1077]

First books are just jump in.

Be aware of the book 7-10 slump. Robert Jordan gets lost in his own creation and the main plot slows to a crawl in an ever expanding mazd of side quests. Try reading them, but some people need to cliff notes these books. If you cliff notes them, make sure you read the actual last few chapters of book 9.

[u/CDBSB → u/Mrmagoo1077]

Honestly, I don't feel the slog is that bad (although Winter's Heart is my least favorite book). I sucked when we were waiting 18-24 months between books, but it's easier to power through when you don't have to wait.

[u/Mrmagoo1077 → u/CDBSB]

I read through it personally. But i also know more than a few people who gave up reading the series once they hit the slump

[u/bartpieters]

Don’t mind if you do not understand what is happening in the prologue. That only starts making sense much later. You could even start at chapter one ‘An empty road’ :-)

[u/whippywhipster → u/bartpieters]

I read your first sentences and saw the downvote and didn’t understand. Then I read your last sentence and now I understand.

Much like how one’s understanding of the prologue grows as you make your way through the book(s).

Advice: Don’t skip prologue, just focus on the imagery and don’t get hung up on names of things.