Wheel of Time you are not allowed to drop until you finish Book 2. The first book is pretty different than the rest of the series. I wouldn't call the series tough to read when you get committed, unlike Malazan which has a very dense writing style (though book 2 was already noteworthily better than 1 in this regard).
Riftwar and Elderlings are both long but they're divided into arcs which makes it easier. I don't think it takes too long for either to get going but Elderlings is extremely character focused, so maybe skip if you're not into two characters talking to each other for several chapters in a row (they're good chapters though!)
List the ominous stern whisper from the delphic cave within:
They enslave their children's children who make compromise with sin