The Eye of the World (1990)

The Wheel of Time has fourteen main novels, with Brandon Sanderson completing the final three after Robert Jordan's death; New Spring is an additional prequel. Start with The Eye of the World. Splintering alliances, rival institutions and the practical difficulty of leading a coalition give the scale its purpose. Expect stretches of slower progress in the middle. This is an especially large commitment for readers who enjoy keeping many political threads active.