[A username]

I'm reading the Eye of the world, They just came back from the first day in the town. It's in the beginning.

I've just heard of a new book that is the new first book!:D

Should I read that one first?

[Gear]

New Spring is a prequel to the Wheel Of Time story which has to do with Moiraine and only adds background to the story.

It isn't necessary to read New Spring before The Eye Of The World .

[Werthead]

No. New Spring actually spoils sevreral major plot revelations from later in the series. I'd hold off on it until much later, maybe between Books 10 and 11 (when it was originally released).

[Grasshopper]

Agreed.

As a latecomer to the series, I thought about when to read the prequel, but a little birdie told me to read in publishing order. Made more sense that way.

Glad I did. Would'a been real pissed with the spoilers.

[molybdenum]

I agree that New Spring should be read later on the first read, but I'm wondering if it might be a good idea to read it first on the re-read. There's no spoilers that are going to ruin the later books for you, and you may catch some things in the first few books while New Spring is fresh in your mind. I haven't done this, but I'm thinking it might not be that bad of an idea.

[Power to the J]

I'd skip New Spring all together if I was you. I was really disappointed by it, and kind of pissed that Jordan was writing a prequel before finishing his series.

[Fred Gallney]

New Spring was definitely the second best book in the series after Eye of the World. It was smaller, and had a faster pace.

If you're reading the series for the first time, I suggest reading Spring after you have finished Knife of Dreams. Then, whenever you reread the series (if you can be bothered) read it before Eye.

Well, thats my 2 cents worth. :P

[Whitehem]

I read the 11 main books and then new spring which i found perfectly fine so i don't think it really matters.

[4XampL]

You should read New Spring optimally just before Fires of Heaven (book 5).
This will give you the most fun. New Spring's main characters have a great deal of coverage in books 4 and 5, so you are primed for events in book 5 and beyond. It acts like a flash back, filling in holes and giving you more detail where you won't get it... further you won't get it anywhere else, so it is a nice wealth of knowledge.
Reading it after book 5 which I did at first really makes New Spring more trivial.... like oh that's interesting... yet I'm so far along now that the relevance is less.

I have made the above declaration having read through the whole series for the second time.

[Obtuse]

I'd advise skipping it altogether. I started reading it after book 11 and I don't think it stacks up to the rest of the series. I found it boring and unnecessary.

If you do read it, however, read it later.