I saw the TV because I got "serious" about reading and I seriously loved the series. Never missed an episode. After I started reading, I found out (in a wiki-surfing bonanza) that the TV series was inspired by the books. I ordered the first 2. Then next 2. Then the next 4. Then the remaining 4. I just finished Changes yesterday, and I'm already jonesing for my next fix (waiting for books 2-to-6 of Codex Alera to arrive and for Side Jobs to be released).