Should I read New Spring First?

[Radiance he/him]

Just started The Eye Of The World yesterday, first time read through. I just found out about the prequel(I believe) New Spring. Is it something that I would want to read first or does it really matter?

[Farnsworth]

It doesn’t really matter. I read them in publication order and it all made sense. 

[Erunion he/him]

I read new spring first. I recommend people read Eye first. 

New Spring is very tonally different, and spoils some surprises from Eye. However, it still works if you read it first (and hints at the tone of the later series if people find Eye too LOTR). 

[Mulk he/him]

New Spring is...well, I didn't read it until...gosh, probably 8 or more books in.  It's not necessary to get any of the plot in Eye of the World, so basically it comes down to when you want to get around to it.

Edited December 22, 2017 by Mulk

[jag519 he/him]

I'd say no, b/c it spoils a lot.  I suggest always starting re-reads with it, but i'd never suggest your first read starting it.

[Calyx]

I just finished the series, starting with A New Spring, and enjoyed it. However, that book is full of Aes Sedai names and I think I probably would have gotten a lot more out of it had I read it somewhere in the middle.

Moiraine and Suian are two of my favorite characters, though, and part of that might be because I read A New Spring first.

[Wyndlerunner he/him]

Read it after "The Docks" 

You'll know it when you read it.

[chongjasmine]

I will suggest reading new spring first Only during a reread.

For first time reader, I recommend reading after Fires of heavens,

[Waffles]

On 1/21/2021 at 3:29 PM, chongjasmine said:

I will suggest reading new spring first Only during a reread.

For first time reader, I recommend reading after Fires of heavens,

I would second this.