Compare Two Fantasy Novels Before You Commit to Book One

Two fantasy series, both starting with a doorstop of a first book, and only time for one. This compares opening pacing, how much world-building you have to wade through before the plot moves, tone, and how big the eventual commitment is, so the choice is about the book in your hand, not the cover.

Compare {BOOK_A} and {BOOK_B}, the first books in two different fantasy series, to help me decide which to start. Cover: pacing in the opening 50 pages, how much world-building is front-loaded before the plot moves, the tone (grim, comic, adventurous), and how big a commitment the full series is (number of books, whether it is finished). End with a one-line recommendation, aimed at wanting a quick, satisfying read rather than a ten-book saga.