First time reader

[u/Busy_Astronomer_8230]

So I just finished fourth wing last night and I’ve had this sitting here for a bout two months - i got sick last year and I can’t work anymore I just run my business from home so I found my love again .. fantasy . I consumed every fantasy show on every platform I could. Then I started noticing a lot of the stuff I really loved were adapted from books and I used to read so much so I gave it another shot and I can’t stop reading lol 😂 this series is super interesting to me I hated they stopped the show but I’ve heard the books are 1000 time better. I’m just wondering if you read the books after the show. Was it hard for you to stay focused because it was similar material as what you’ve seen and when did it stop feeling mf familiar also when does it pick up I already own book 1-3 an im a completionist thanks to my adhd so I wanna finish it but im just worried that if (just opinions ive seen) it doesn’t get good till book 4/5 that I’ll struggle to keep interest? Any advice

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[u/geomagus]

I read them long before the show, so I found the show frustrating and stopped early.

I have been reading the series to my wife since. She very much prefers the books to what she saw of the show, and I don’t think that’s driven by my own preferences.

I disagree that the series doesn’t get good until 4-5, but I understand why people say that. Imo books 4 and 11 are the high water marks - but that’s not to take away from the others, just that those two are the best of a great series.

People also view 4-5 as when it gets good because the main characters are young, and come from rustic and/or sheltered existences. They get swept out into the world and grow, and books 4 or so is when they really come into their own and drive the plot (rather than various more powerful people driving them to the plot).

The first couple of books start from a familiar spot (classic fantasy stuff) and gradually pull them (and you) into a much bigger world, with much bigger things. That transition is something I quite like, but some people aren’t as interested in.

Also, imo the first three books are the most layered with foreshadowing, which makes them especially fun on rereads.

Overall, I wouldn’t put much weight in others’ opinions. Let your own view develop as the series goes, imo.

[u/duffy_12 → u/geomagus]

Something to keep in mind, these first three books were written at the same time and Jordan originally wanted to publish them as one book but the Publisher disagreed. So those three kinda have that first book weirdness to them; with the first book having to deal with quite a bit of Publisher interference too.

Once those were a success Jordan had less restraints and was finally able to fully bloom into the storyteller that he wanted to be.

I myself came within a hair's breath of quitting the series after the 3rd book; to this day I shudder thinking that almost happened.

[u/drale2]

The books are fairly different from the show and I think you'll be in for enough surprises that you won't have any trouble losing focus. It really is a fantastic series so I hope you start it!

[u/SmartAlec13]

I read the first book or two before seeing the show.

The show helped me picture certain things better, and definitely helped with how things are pronounced. Even though they change a lot of things compared to the books, I can see what they were going for with the show. Overall I liked the show, it’s too bad it was cut down right when it started to get good.

For your last statements I kinda agree. It took me years of occasionally reading a bit here and there to work through the first 3 books. It was entertaining but it hadnt really sucked me in by that point. With that in mind, o man, once you reach book 4 and shit gets going, it’s really good. The tide really turns once Rand starts taking a bit more command and making moves himself.

[u/jordencd]

I have recommended the series to a lot of people over the years with the same warnings. The first 80% of the first book feels long. The amount of world building is incredible, and then you hits the last 10% and it’s a race that pulls you through and into the second book.

I always thought the second book was great and by the end I was sold that it would be my favourite series.

I’m in the minority on this but I love the political maneuvering and later story lines that are often called the slog.

[u/ArrogantAragorn]

Welcome!

First of all, be careful on this sub and the internet in general as spoilers abound (if you care about that). Don’t google a character because sometimes even the autocomplete search suggestions contain spoilers.

Asking questions here is usually safe, but sometimes people miss the spoiler tag level. There’s also an app called the Wheel of Time Compendium where you can select the book you’re up to and search characters to get spoiler-free recaps (there are a lot of characters).

Finally, coming off of my reread of Fourth Wing (Threshing Day had me wanting to reread Violets part and look for evidence for some of my theories) I just want you to know that WoT is about as different a series as you will get from Empyrean. Both have great characters, but WoT is waaay slower paced. Most of the books are more a slow burn up to an epic climax rather than quick and full of action and cliffhangers like Fourth Wing. Also, while WoT has some romance, it’s more frustration than fornication - and that spicy stuff all happens off-screen, fade-to-black style.

That said, I think you will enjoy the drama and intrigue of WoT if you liked it in FW. Another similarity is the foreshadowing. Pay close attention to what people say vs how they act, and to dreams, prophecies, myths and legends. WoT is like FW in that it is very rewarding to reread and theorize about.

I hope you enjoy the book, please post your questions, theories and reactions here, we love to hear from and help new readers as they take their first trip around the Wheel.

Sorry for the long reply, but I guess you should get used to it going into WoT. Cheers!

[u/OrionIsLord]

Welcome to WoT! If you're getting back into reading fantasy, you've chosen an EPIC series. It's not perfect: There will be characters you don't like, plotlines you're not invested in, themes you're not fond of, and maybe even stylistic choices from Robert Jordan that you question. But it really is a seminal work in the genre. It's full of depth and emotional weight that keeps on giving. Rereads are very common and highly recommended!

The show got a lot right and even more wrong, but neither to a degree that should keep you from understanding things as you read. The producers said a couple years before season 1 premiered that they were adapting "their own turning of the Wheel." This ultimately proved frustrating for most book fans - you'll see why even as soon as the end of book 1. I still mostly enjoyed the show for what it was and thought it was a damn shame they cancelled it after its strongest season.

It's true that the series really opens up and becomes a unique work of art by book 4, but the first 3 books are great fun and set up A LOT. They are not just pages to get through before the series gets good. Tons of character development, world building, lore and history, etc. Pay attention and take it all in because RJ is a master of foreshadowing.

Have fun and stay the hell away from google, reddit, and forums - the spoilers are EVERYWHERE ha.

[u/DataMonster01]

I actually like books 1-6 the best. The first two books have a lot of action, which I really like.

[u/procerator]

The books are nothing like the show