Gather in these hallowed halls

To be known and to know others.

A collection of the pilot books for popular series, for those of us who love to follow a character's journey for as long as an author will let us! Some of the below series have heavily debated starting points and book read orders--in those cases the pilot was selected based on what seems to be the most popular approach.

Fictional books that feel like a warm hug, featuring magic and whimsy and perfectly happy endings. These are lower on stakes and higher on good vibes!

Step into the Cosmere... Listed in the order that Brandon Sanderson recommends to new readers of his work in 2024.

The four books in Tolkien’s main Middle-earth saga + several other collections published posthumously.

If you're a completionist, read in this order. Otherwise you can start with The Liveship Traders Trilogy or The Rain Wild Chronicles, but make sure you save Fitz and the Fool for last.