New Spring

[AmusableAlias]

The only frustration I've had with the WoT series so far is when to read the prequel New Spring.

I say it is a frustration because I have been buying the paperback box sets (I'm up to LoC but I own 9 of them) but I also found New Spring sometime ago.

The problem is i don't know when to read it! It's a prequel so should I read it now while I'm on book 6? or wait?

A friend of mine who is also a fellow WoT reader said I should wait till reading CoS because that is when it was published.

 

Anyone have some thoughts on this frustration?

[randsc]

In the order of publication, definately.

 

Very much unlike most of the books, New Spring has little in the way of long passages of exposition. It assumes you know certain things about the universe of the WoT. Thinks you won't know until you have read far enough into the series.

[David Selig]

The novel version of New Spring, which I assume you have, was published between Crossroads of Twilight and Knife of Dreams, so if you are going by publication order, that's the time to read it.

 

I don't think it matters much, you can read it any point after LoC and it shouldn't make much difference.

[Agitel]

I think all the potential spoilers are done by book six, so after finishing LoC you could start New Spring if you wanted to.

 

It was published between CoT and KoD, though.

[yoniy0]

It doesn't matter when the novel came out, the Legends version is the relevant one (for the purpose of deciding when to read it. You should without a doubt read the novel, it's first half's very good). Wait until you know who Cadsuane is (hence, after ACoS, I think); once you've met her, you're safe to read NStN. And enjoy.

 

BTW if you're interested in prequels and short stories, you should definitely read Ravens as well. It's really short, but it's good. At least, it is if you can stand Egwene (she's so cute as a little girl, you just want to hug the stuffing out of her). So if you're one of those who find that part challenging, perhaps you should wait until after KoD to read it.

[Kadere]

It really doesn't matter. If this is your first time reading the series, you might as well wait until you're done with ToM, unless you want to take a short break. There's no spoilers or anything. In future rereads (if you ever do them) I would suggest starting with New Spring before The Eye of the World. It makes more sense there. But as this is your first read and you're already into LoC, it REALLY doesn't matter when you want to take a break and read New Spring.

[yoniy0]

As I said above, I disagree. I don't think it's a good idea to meet Cads for the first time through Moiraine's eyes - you might get the wrong idea. Plus, it's cool not to need the disclaimer to understand why "only one could be so much stronger".

[Din]

Basically I tell people "It's about Moiraine. You'll know when to read it."

[Rcurran]

As I said above, I disagree. I don't think it's a good idea to meet Cads for the first time through Moiraine's eyes - you might get the wrong idea. Plus, it's cool not to need the disclaimer to understand why "only one could be so much stronger".

 

It's interesting what you say here about the wrong idea. Moiraine, in my opinion, has a similar reaction to her as I would have. If you mean from a plot point of view I'm not sure what the impact would have been.

 

I would say start at the start and read new spring before anything to people who ask me. Generally speaking the people who would ask me have had so much WoT shoved down their ear holes by me over the years that it's unlikely there's parts of the story they don't know a little about already (not that NS has any spoilers) including my opinions on Caddy.

[Luckers]

I agree with yoniy0. After aCoS.

[Ace Sedai]

Save it for last.

After finishing all 13 you start getting an itch and although NS doesn't make it go away,it soothes.

[AmusableAlias]

Save it for last.

After finishing all 13 you start getting an itch and although NS doesn't make it go away,it soothes.

 

I get an itch any time I'm not reading WoT! I come on dragonmount instead of paying attention to my marketing prof.