I recommend Mistborn as a starter for the friends who have a fantasy background!
Fineeee, I'll resist! And yes I did convert people (11 that I know of for sure, possibly more from my numerous facebook posts about Sandershon haha!) Over the years I've developed a reputation as "the person with the good book recommendations" so that was enough for a few people to jump in. The others were either swayed by my saying that HP was no longer my favorite book series or my flat out begging them to read it because I knew they would enjoy the books! EDIT: Oh and I recently bought the Mistborn Trilogy as a birthday present for one friend who was being particularly stubborn - so I basically guilted her into reading the books haha! She is currently working her way through them and loves them!
And that decides it, I'll try the Rithmatist next!