It is a well known fact that sequels are freakishly terrifying.
And when I say “well known” I mean you just read it here on my blog now, so provided at least 5 people read this post — IT SHOULD COUNT AS WELL KNOWN. This is called #CaitLogic and no one has ever lived to deny it. *
I have decided that sequels are, in fact, scarier than the idea of a zombie apocalypse. Probably because I’m looking forward to the zombie apocalypse ** whereas when it comes to reading sequels, I generally have a mental breakdown for 9 minutes to 9 years. I just don’t want them to disappoint me and they have a notorious tendency to do so. Which hurts my delicate constitution. I was born like a fragile leaf.
Lately I’ve been reading a bucket load of these dreaded sequels. My nerves are fraying. IT’S SHOWING WITH MY HAIR GREYING UPON MY HEAD. And while some have been absolutely amazing (A Conjuring of Light and Gemina, for instance) others have made me chew through a brick wall in frustration (aka Starfall and The Spirit Rebellion and The Cursed Queen). More often than not, I just do !! not !! want !! to !! read !! sequels !!!
Except I also do want to read them because if I love the first book, I want more.
DO YOU SEE MY PROBLEM??? ***
But, being me, I decided it would be a good idea to make a list of all the reasons sequels are terrifying. Because if you make a list, it makes it true. I’m sure this list will backfire on me and do NOTHING to help me get over my fear of sequels but whatever. The day this blog gets too sensible is the day you know I finally got abducted by aliens.
* Was that ominous? It probably seems ominous.
** I’m looking forward to eating my enemies and being the Last One Standing In All Of Earth so I can finally catch up on my TBR pile.
*** Erm, one of many problems??? I mean, there are other ones you may have picked up. Like my inability to spell and my self-inflated opinion of what counts as “well known” and my tendency to shout at you.
1. YOU HAVE TO REMEMBER WHAT HAPPENED IN THE FIRST FREAKING BOOK.
This, obviously, wouldn’t be a problem if you waited until the full series was out before reading. BUT WHO DOES THAT???? And what if I don’t even LIKE the series?!? I want to try it now and see. Plus, ugh, I don’t want to be spoiled. Plus if you don’t show your support of series ASAP the publishers might decide no one wants them and not publish the rest.
And then you get to scream into the void for 9 years.
SO! I TRY ALL THE SERIES!
And that means, in 12 months time when the next book comes out I have no memory of this place at all. Partially because I have a horrid memory to begin with, and partially because I’ve legit read 200 books between then and now — where do you think I’m storing all this info??? IN MY LEFT SOCK? No, sir. I am not storing it. It simply vanishes and leaves me looking peeved.
2. AND WHILE YOU’RE WAITING FOR 12 MONTHS FOR ANSWERS, YOU END UP MAKING UP YOUR OWN.
Expectations just go THROUGH THE ROOF, even if you don’t avidly sit there thinking about it…you just sort of stew it. Like cinnamon apples. Which seems delicious but hey newsflash — the author of the series is not simmering the same ideas as you. Ergo they might take a book in a COMPLETELY DIFFERENT DIRECTION to what you have been anticipating for a year.
This is awkward.
It generally ends in tragedy.
3. PUBLISHERS GET A LOT OF JOY OUT OF PRINTING SEQUELS AT DIFFERENT SIZES.
I’m 99% sure Satan works in the publishing office and every time they go to a meeting to discuss a sequel, little Satan pipes up with, “oKAY BUT WHAT IF WE MAKE THE SEQUEL SLIGHTLY SHORTER THAN THE FIRST BOOK?????” And everyone agrees probably because he bribes them with cookies from the dark side.
Oh no, I’m not crying, dear, haha don’t worry.
IT’S JUST RAINING ON MY FACE.
4. THEY START KILLING EVERYONE OFF THAT I LOVE.
Because what are you even supposed to do in a sequel except KILL OFF ALL THE FUN CHARACTERS???? Apparently this brings evil authors great joy. Which, as a writer, I understand. As a reader, I just kind want to drown them in a vat of wombat soup.
Look I waited a year for this darn sequel and you’re going to kill my children???? No.
5. NOTHING ACTUALLY HAPPENS BECAUSE EVERYONE’S TOO BUSY HAVING A MENTAL BREAKDOWN AFTER BOOK #1 TRAGEDIES.
Look this does make sense. Book one = doom, war, anguish, disaster, probably death. So book two obviously has to cope with all of that. UNFORTUNATELY…it is heckin’ boring to read about characters having emotional breakdowns half the time. It’s like a rerun of my own life, especially on laundry day, so I don’t want that.
6. DON’T EVEN GET ME STARTED ON THE FAMED “SEQUEL TROPES”.
Actually do get me started. Because this is a BLOG and it’s dedicated to getting me started on a topic that I can rant about for hours. EXCEPT I WON’T GO FOR HOURS!!! I shall give you a concise list of reoccurring sequel-tropes that I wish would die. Look. I even have a shovel to bury them. #proactive
- Book 1 had the couple getting together, so book 2 will break them up. THIS IS SO TEDIOUS.
- Let’s just ditch fun characters we had in the last book for NO REASON and bring in new ones that you care NOTHING ABOUT.
- Road trip time!!!…for no reason except to put me to sleep ugh.
- Everyone is too wounded to actually do anything fun.
- They repeat ALL their mistakes because someone wasn’t paying attention to the moral lessons in book 1.
- It’s boring because they’re just stretching the plot to get to the finale.
7. EXTREME CASES OF DEJA VU WHICH MAY HAVE DANGEROUS SIDE EFFECTS OF HEADACHES, NAEUSA AND HAIR LOSS.
Do you ever read a sequel and think, “Wait did I not read all of this in book 2.” WHERE IS OUR BRAIND NEW INFORMATION? Because if there is on brand new information to slap in my delicate leafy face, then why am I here????
Sequels should have something new in them, and this doesn’t just mean the character now smells like strawberries instead of cinnamon due to a shampoo change. It means A NEW PLOT THAT’S DIFFERENT FROM THE FIRST BOOK’S.
8. IT DRASTICALLY CHANGES FROM WHAT BOOK ONE GAVE ME.
I’m sure this happens because the author grows and their visions change and maybe the pressure got to them, or they don’t drink the same flavour of unicorn blood as they used to. Either way, the tone or the characters go through drastic and unfounded changes. And it HURTS ME. This is not what I signed up for???? My biggest peeve is when the first book is sassy and the next books are mopey.
Like am I reading a sequel or just a completely new book here, mate.
9. NO ONE ELSE HAS READ IT SO WHO DO I EVEN TALK TO ABOUT THIS.
Most bookworms suffer from this terrible disease that takes first your lungs, then your elbow, and then your eye sockets, and lastly turns your skin to pale ash. The disease is called = A TBR PILE. AND IT MEANS YOU DON’T HAVE TIME TO READ SEQUELS EVEN IF YOU WANTED TO. So half the time when I get to a highly anticipated sequel, I’m hit with the realisation that it’s not everyone else’s highly anticipated sequel. Ergo I’m alone reading it. Ergo who am I supposed to discuss it with?? mY DOG???
So great. Maybe this sequel has given me ALL THE FEELS and now I have to suffer alone while I wait 8 years for my TBR to release my friend so they can read it too.
10. IT’S ABSOLUTELY GINORMOUS AND IT’S GOING TO BREAK MY WRISTS TO HOLD THIS BEAST UP.
Look I’m actually a little bit of a weak frail leaf, okay? This might be because I am smol in stature and don’t eat my greens, or because I’ve slept a collective of 5 hours in the last 23 years, or because I don’t lift weights. * EITHER WAY THE FACT STANDS (or the fact sits because #lazy) — sequels often double in size of the first books and this makes them hard to hold. I also have a self-confessed phobia of huge amounts of pages, but whatever.
- A Darker Shade of Magic = 400 pages. A Conjuring of Light = 630 pages.
- Rebel Of The Sands = 300 pages. Traitor To The Throne = 560 pages.
- A Game of Thrones = 800 pages. A Dance With Dragons = 1120 pages.
- Cinder = 380 pages. Winter = 820 pages.
- City of Bones = 400 pages. City of Heavenly Fire = 720 pages.
- Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone = 320 pages. Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire = 730 pages.
- Red Rising = 380 pages. Morning Star = 520 pages.
- Throne of Glass = 400 pages. Empire of Storms = 700 pages.
Look we want you to use your words. But not all your words. Just some of them??? JUST PLEASE. MERCY.
* But I lift books. Or, better yet, I get my sister to lift them for me and dub her my dutiful pack-mule. Unfortunately she recently left home??? I’m sure not to get away from me, but yet it leaves me carrying my own books and this is tedious.
Yet despite being dead with fear over sequels…there are still a ton I am about to read. SOON, PRECIOUS, SOON. Because they can also be the best thing of ever??!???? Like sometimes book one is just warming up and then — BOOM — book two is everything good in this world. Therefore I will still read all the sequels. I’ll just cry and whinge and procrastinate them too.
Here are some I’m (hopefully HA HA) reading this year:
But seriously zombies > sequels. Much less stress.
hello brave souls: how do YOU feel about sequels??? do you forget first books before the sequels comes out? are you irrationally scared of sequels being bad? and what are some sequels you’re going to read this year??? TELL ME ALL. OR I’LL THROW A BUTTERFLY AT YOU. *
Well, that butterfly looks HORRIFYING so I would say that I generally like sequels, because if I care about the character I want the story to continue. Also, why are the sequels always longer? The Wise Man Fear is twice as long as The Name of the Wind, and the name of the Wind is not slim to begin with. I like companion novels, like it’s the same world, but different characters. Forgetting books is the actual worst, it leads to a lot of problems in my life. Anyway, I’m currently reading Gemina whcih is GREAT and makes me soo happy, and I loved how different Days of Blood and Starlight was.
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Guess who hasn’t read Wise Man’s Fear yet.😂😂 I’m so so bad with procrastinating. Or maybe I’m GOOD at procrastinating?!? #GlassHalfFull 😂
Gemina is a glorious sequel. 😍 It didn’t let me down at all!! Just what I need! Now to wait 93898 years till Obsidio because obviously my feels can take it. *weeps*
Oh my gosh sequels kill me sometimes. You’re expecting a few favorite series and then you get such a different book that you are wondering what even in the world you picked up. Sometimes I look at the cover just to check I picked up the right one. You never know.
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A NEW. Obviously I meant a NEW not a few. *grumbles in the corner*
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I know right?!? Sometimes it dumps you in really randomly too and then if I don’t remember book #1 well enough it’s just me screaming “WHAT’S GOING ONNNNN” desperately.😂
My memory also stinks and I forget things pretty much right away. It’s why I write book reviews VERY SOON after reading the book, so I have a chance of being somewhat coherent, and also before I start another book. I will not start another book until i’ve written the review for the last one, it’s just how I work. But then the sequel comes out and i’ve forgotten the first one too much and whyyyyyy.
Wonderful post! Sequels can be so evil, but also so good, but yet so evil at the same time.
I have to write book reviews immediately too!! I’m actually kind of worried because I’m supposed to write a sequel review soon and I PUT IT OFF AND NOW I’M REGRETTING EVERYTHING.😂
And yesss…sequels really are quite good but still…terrifying.😂
I don’t read a lot of stand-alone fiction, so I read ALL the sequels ALL the time. It is glorious. I love stepping back into a world I know that is populated by characters I love.
Also, is…is that the third Magnus Chase? I STILL HAVEN’T HAD TIME TO READ THE SECOND ONE AND I’VE HAD IT SINCE CHRISTMAS. *Sobs* I used to be that person who bought and read a book within a day of it coming out, and now I’m sat here like, “What do you mean The Dark Prophecy’s out? It’s only been… Oh.” My soul is crying actual tears.
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Yes! The third Magnus Chase comes out soon!! Not QUITE yet, but these are still sequels I plan on getting to this year.😂 And omg I am the person who tries to get books immediately and then doesn’t read them for like 92 years.😂 I have procrastinating problems.
I do love sequels, but I really wish authors included a recap of the previous books in their sequels, it’s often longer than a year before I get to a sequel because I’m a slow reader and have a ridiculous number of books to read as we all do, so it would be really helpful if they could remind me what the hell happened in the last book!
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Ohh I wish all sequels had like full synopsis recaps in the beginning. THAT would be so helpful.😂
I’ve never agreed with a post more in my life, sequels scare the heck out of me 😂 ! Sometimes I get scared of a sequel to a book before I’ve even stared the first book! Which has zero logic to it I know but I don’t want to love the first book and then the sequel be a let down, I feel cheated😶 ! I also have the worst memory so if I’m reading a series, I HAVE to read them one after the other or re-read the first book. It’s the only way. How do people have these amazing memories and remember books for 12+ months???? 😮 , I don’t understand. Someone teach me their ways???
I actually just experienced the crushing disappointment of sequels with the mara dyer trilogy. It was more both book 2 and 3, but book 2 was completely pointless and I feel like the two of them should of just been mashed together to make one really good book and cut out the boring stuff. Great post cait 💖
P.s – I only wrote this so you wouldn’t throw a butterfly at me, they scare me…😂
kirsty @ kirstychronicles recently posted…Discussion || Series or Standalone?
I have such a bad memory too so I totally understand!! IT’S SO FULL OF SUFFERING OMG. And like I often just read the first books and don’t go on at all…even if I loved the first book….#QueenProcrastinator 😂 And whoever can remember a book after 12 months is clearly in league with the darkness.
omg I really need to finish Mara Dyer too.😂😂 SURPRISED? OF COURSE NOT, CAIT. STOP PROCRASTINATING EVERYTHING.
And also I will not throw a butterfly at you. I’ll protect you from their terror.
I do exactly the same thing! I couldn’t even tell you how many series I’ve started and never carried on with…a new book just always seem to call to me!! I CAN’T HELP IT 😭 !! I hope you enjoy Mara Dyer more than I did!
But thank you for not throwing a butterfly at me, I very much appreciate it!!
kirsty @ kirstychronicles recently posted…Discussion || Series or Standalone?
Haha, yes, sequels. The sequels I have read (for the most part) have been pretty good. But yes, they do get exponentially longer. Lol. Especially with the Lunar Chronicles. It’s also the worst when publishers wait for a year before publishing the next book. By then I’ve probably forgotten about the series and wait 5 years to buy it (unless it’s by my favorite author, then proceed).
Omg it’s so hard trying to remember everything between book releases.😂 And like the first two books aren’t so bad, but then if the series is beyond a duology? I’m so sunk.😂 AND WHY IS WINTER SO BIG?? IT’S LIKE TWICE THE SIZE OF CINDER.
Sequels are so stressful! And I totally agree with your list xD
Sequels on my tbr?
– Gemina (HELP NOT READY FOR THIS)
– Goddess Test #2 (Goddess Interrupted)
– Once a Witch #2 (Always a Witch)
The last one isn’t that popular, but you should really give this sequel a try, if there’s still room on your tbr xD If you’re interested, you can find my review here (https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/1971407113) 🙂
Wait, I meant to say ‘duology’ where I said ‘sequel’ at the end of my comment xD
THEY’RE SO STRESSFUL. 😭😭 And omg Gemina is really really good but I procrastinated it for AGES after it came out so I can’t really talk.😂 And I haven’t heard of the witch ones but I should check them out! My TBR will hate me but what’s new?😂
And Gemina is SO BIG as well, it’s really scaring me xD
Okay cool! I’m curious to hear what you think of them, if you’re planning on reading them and once you’ve read them 🙂
oooh! oooh! can you throw a butterfly at me? my yard needs more butterflies, because they get scared off by the chickens, who keep trying to eat them. even though some butterflies have learned to hang around until the chickens get let out, then they go higher and flee the yard. 😛
I love sequels! even better if it’s a whole series! but I HATE getting into a series before it’s finished. but unfortuatelly, I’m hooked, and I have TWO YEARS before this series wraps up. I’M GONNA DIE BEFORE THEN!!!!
ok, I’m done. now I shall go finish being upset, because my siblings and I were watching ninjago last night, and a character DIED to destroy this evil army, and i didn’t even like that character much, BUT IT WAS SO SAD. I EVEN CRIED. mostly because his son was so upset, and having all these flash backs, AND JUST STOP IT ALREADY YOU’RE BREAKING MY HEART. but, the last time a character died to save everybody, they found him again, so maybe?????? but i think not. and now I’m sad. 🙁
you probably had no idea what I was talking about, but it felt good to say. XD (mostly because I only have 1 friend who watches ninjago, and she hasn’t even finished season 3 yet.)
*looks at crazy comment*
I’ll stop now.
Most crazily, ~Olive
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*THROWS ALL THE BUTTERFLIES AT YOUR HEAD IN A VERY KIND WAY*
Aww, how dare the fangirl world destroy our emotions so much, amirite?!😂 I haven’t seen ninjango before, but I trust you about teh sadness!! HERE IS CAKE FOR YOU TO MAKE IT BETTER.
Once again, you made me giggle :). I totally agree with every observation you made, but I, too, keep diving into new series all the time. We book nerds are suckers for punishment aren’t we?
EXCELLENT. I AM SO GLAD.😂😂 We are totally suckers for punishment! Like sometimes sequels are so worth it, so we have to take the risk right?!😂
Exactly!! 🙂
Remembering is the biggest challenge for me. If I don’t write a review of a book within three days I struggle to remember my thoughts, so coming to a sequel is pure agony if I don’t read books one after the other. It’s funny because when I do read them all together, the little paragraphs that fill in the gaps seem so unnecessary, and then when I’ve left it months between books I’m so grateful for them! My expectations always get in the way of reading, especially if I’ve loved the previous books!
I so am the same with the reviews!! I’m supposed to be writing a review right now ahahhhhh and I read the book a few eeks back and I’M STRUGGLING.😂 WHY IS REMEMBER THINGS SO HARD. *shrieks*
My number one problem is definitely remembering what happened in book one… sigh.
It’s so so hard, right?! If only they put synopses of previous books in the front! That would solve all our problems.😂
I agree with everything you just said. But especially the one about forgetting what happened in the first book. Like I’ve read this series called Keeper of the Lost Cities and the last (I think) book just came out. But it’s been like five years since the first one and they’re all huge, so I want to re-read the whole series and at the same time, I don’t. If you know what I mean.
Also, I love those white keys in the picture of Cassandra Clare books. They’re gorgeous.
I totally know what you mean!! I mean rereading is GREAT but our TBRs are huge as is right?! And then when the series is mammoth…omg. I will probably want to reread Game of Thrones when Winds of Winter comes out: but also NOOOOOOO.
Aww thank you!!
Sequels stress me out. What if they suck? And, why do they need to be so huge? Also, I’m expected to remember what happened in the first book. That’s not going to happen.
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There’s so much RISK, omg, my heart can’t handle it. *flails wildly in a heap of terror*
WAIT YOU HAVEN’T READ PAPER AND FIRE YET??? I’ve read a book that Cait hasn’t omggggg. I thought P&F was quite good, though not as great as I&B. I also read it right after I read I&B because OMG THAT CLIFFHANGER ENDING I MUST READ MORE and my school library actually had it. Also Ink and Bone had an excerpt of Paper and Fire which sort of ruined the cliffhanger but OBVIOUSLY I NEED MORE.
Okay enough about that series. XD SEQUELS TERRIFY ME. What if it’s not as good as the first book??? WHAT WILL I DO. And haha I pretty much forget EVERYTHING that happened in the first book, if I had to wait a year for it to release. Who is this person??? What is this place??? Who do I like and who do I hate and who do I ship and who do I not ship???
Also the comparisons of first books to their sequels in length SCARES ME. LIKE OMG A BOOK SHOULDN’T EVEN BE ALLOWED TO BE THAT LONG.
BECAUSE I DON’T REMEMBER ANYTHING OF INK AND BONE, MAY. IT’S A PROBLEM. 😭😭😂 I think I’ll just wait until Quill and Fire is out and then reread I&B and go on from there haha.
The unknown of sequels is scaaaary. My smol soul can’t handle all the pressure.😂
Wait isn’t it Ash and Quill??? Or something like that??? XD #memoryproblems
Omg I’m terrible. 😂😂 OKAY SO I WAS CLOSE! I had the Quill part?!?
BLESS THIS POST. I also hate it when a sequel took so long to be published, it will make me forget what happened in the first page AND I DON’T HAVE TIME FOR RE-READS! Also the multiple size in a series…. WHY CAN’T IT BE ONEE. And yes, I totally agree with the second book cliche, especially about the “breaking up and find a new guy that resulted in love triangle” cliche. IT’S SOOO OBVIOUS.
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I WANT to reread stuff but omgggg there are too many books out there to try and get through.😭 I HAVE NOT GOT TIME. Please can’t publishers put recaps in books or something?!
I have to read series relatively close together usually, otherwise I will have forgot what happened in the first book (I don’t have great book memory!). I don’t like cliffhangers at all, so often I try to wait until the whole series is released if I expect cliffhanger endings (because how do I wait another year before the sequel?!). Sometimes though I can’t help myself and start one anyway, or sometimes you don’t know there will be another book and think it’s a standalone (please publishers, put the series and the number the book is in the series, on the cover or spine. Or at least inside the book, but preferably also on the cover / spine). I would prefer it if a sequel included a synopsis of the previous book, so I could read it but others could skip it if they wished. Alternatively sometimes it’s woven into the text, if it’s cleverly done then I’m fine with that too. Too much rehashing though becomes tedious in a series which I’m reading close together.
It annoys me so much when the sequel has a different size to the first book. Like, I want my series to be all the same height. Some publishers though seem to switch heights halfway through a series. WHY?! This frustrates me.
I read quite a lot of books where I don’t know anyone else who’s read it, so I feel your pain there. It’s true that sequels usually are bigger. Sometimes that can be nice, sometimes less so. For me it depends how well the book is written.
I like a good sequel, but it’s awful when it disappoints.
Great post, I related to a lot of the things you mention :).
SAME. Or rereading helps! If one has…time.😂 Which I confess I don’t generally because my TBR is a mammoth beast as is!! Eeek. But sometimes it’s nice to wait till the entire series is out and then binge happily, right?! But synopses included with the books would be HEAVEN. *begs the publishing world to make this happen*
I want my series to match too. This shouldn’t be a huge ask. 😭😭
Hey, Cait. Remember how you keep shouting, ahem, saying that we’re not a hive mind? Yeah, well, I LOVE SEQUELS. Perhaps it’s because almost all the sequels I’ve read so far have been an improvement on the initial books. Especially, Sarah J. Maas sequels. Which is completely opposite of what you think, I know. I’m actually a voracious rereader so I catch up on the novels and then continue on the sequel. But most of the time, I remember what happens in the previous books. Two of my most anticipated sequels are A Court of Wings and Ruin and Three Dark Crowns. Sorry that it’s the exact opposite of your blog post.
One Dark Throne*
I’M GLAD YOU LOVE SEQUELS, ALICE. THIS IS GOOD NEWS. ALSO YOU’RE CRAZY. (hahaha JUST KIDDING.😂😂😂 I couldn’t resist, ahem.) I think sequels CAN be better than first books! I think a lot of authors do grow/mature as they write, which can be good. Like I 1000% ADORE Stiefvater sequels all the time. But I guess more often than not I forget too much and get too scared of being let down.😂
Pfft, why are you sorry?!? I want to hear different opinions!
Sequels do scare me. I was so nervous about ACOWAR. I got Avenged the day it came out but haven’t picked it up partially b/c I’m terrified of being disappointed after I loved Ruined so freakin much. UGH! Trilogies CAN do better by sequels that trilogies though. IF and only if the author planned out the three books to make one complete story. Not. “Let’s write book one and see what happens” or ” Book one is done and so is my story till it picks back up in book three. So for book two I’ll make up shit.” Bc I hate despise both of those situatiuons. Keep on ranting and informing the masses Cait. 🙂
I haven’t picked up Avenged either. 😂 I’m in denial that I remember book one, BUT I DO NOT. So I’m going to have to find time to reread it! Ahhh.
Your photo for #3 is both beautiful & horrible… WHY do they do that??!? UGH
I do forget books before I’ve read the next one…. for illustration- behold my Hunger Games shame. 😐 I ‘m waiting until I have bought the last one & then I’m going to start over & read them all… and then watch the rest of the movies.
The sequels I really dread are the unplanned ones. SOMETIMES the author will have had enough left in their imagination to give you another decent story but more often it’s like “oh hey Author Person these characters were really popular- you must write more! Cuz money!” So Author Person is like “oh ok uh… let’s have them have a Tupperware party! Yeah that’ll be fun!’ ;/
BECAUSE THEY WANT TO SEE THE BOOKWORMS CRY, ANNE. THAT’S JUST HOW IT IS. *weeps obligingly* I wanted to collect the rest of the Olympian series but like…what size. 😭😭 My life is a mess.
I don’t actually agree that authors shouldn’t write sequels…I don’t think writing for money is a bad thing at all. It’s a career! Any other career is perfectly acceptable to follow, for money, so I don’t believe artists should be the exception for that. 🙂
Butterflies!!! I am slightly obsessed. I will chase them up the Alps with my camera. And I have. By the way, the German word Schmetterling is pronounced Sh-met-er-ling.
I would like to say that I’m a brilliant reader who remembers everything, but alas, I do not. Recently finished Traitor to the Throne and spent half the book trying to figure out who everybody was, despite the helpful little index in the beginning. I do, however, have a pretty good knack for book plots, if I liked the book and if it happens to be a good day. My most anticipated sequels for this year include: Our Dark Duet, Obsidio, and A Conjuring of Light.
Oooh real butterflies are nice! I went to a butterfly sanctuary once and it was FAB although none of the butterflies tried to eat our souls which is slightly disappointing. :/
Hehhhh, I’mt he same with Traitor to the Throne.😂 I was SO confused for that book haha. I remembered NONE of the secondary characters. I’ll have to do a series reread before the finale book because I’m so lost already.😂
OUR DARK DUET THOUGH. AFJDSKLAD I WILL READ IT THE SECOND IT IS IN MY CLAMMY PAWS.
1. YOU HAVE TO REMEMBER WHAT HAPPENED IN THE FIRST FREAKING BOOK.
YAS! I’m reading ‘A Crown of Wishes’ right now and I’ve had to strain brain cells to figure out what on earth went on in the first book (I knew … but dimly. There was a man-eating horse who was my fav. character BUT THE NAME, MAN. THE NAME!) and WHO WAS THIS CHARACTER? IS IT A SISTER? WHAT R NAMEZ.
But I gulped down the Red Rising series fairly quickly so I had no worries there. It’s more when there’s been a giant stretch of time between reading the first book and the second. I have a memory but, man! If I can’t remember my brother’s mother-in-law’s name (I know. I’m gonna have it tattooed on me so I don’t forget again. Kidding. Not. Maybe) … how the heck am I supposed to remember of the names/life background of characters I read ONE ENTIRE YEAR AGO!
IT’S SO HARD TO REMEMBER. WHY DO THEY TORTURE US BY EXPECTING US TO REMEMBER. *wails* And omg I’m the same with Star Crossed Queen haha. I only remmeber the horse. I want to say it was Kamila? Or Karmelia? NAMES. RIDICULOUS THINGS.
I had to wait like 15+ months between Red Rising and Golden Son because I read and eARc of Red Rising STUPIDLY VERY VERY EARLY. 😂 Although it amuses me to know I was one of the first people to fall in love with it ahhh!!
wait my big plot twist in my sequel was that my mc changed shampoo what am i supposed to do now
DARN. I HAVE RUINED EVERYTHING FOR YOU.
I’ve got one completely unrelated question (leaving unrelated comments seems to be a recurring theme for me haha *sweats nervously*)… Have you published or are planning on publishing any of your books? Because I’m really interested in reading them! They all sound very creative and original and I always enjoy reading the lil snippets you post!
Usually, I’m very fond of sequels (except if they completely destroy the original book, in which case I’ve got my trusty laser flute ready for the author) and I often wait for the series to be finished before reading it, because I have the memory of a dead fly… Oh, and the last time I waited for a sequel was absolutely horrific, that was when I had to wait for TWO FRICKIN YEARS for City of Heavenly Fire and was in tremendous pain the whole time, so no thanks I’m good, NEVER AGAIN.
Aww, that’s okay! I don’t mind unrelated comments.😂 I just like chatting with everyone! So yes, I’d love to be published someday. 😉 I’m working with an agent in the UK so fingers crossed I get to announce a book deal one day!
That’s great! I can’t wait to read your work!
I’ve given up on series because I couldn’t remember the previous books, even though I liked them a lot. I did that with His Dark Materials. I read the first two books, and then waited. And waited. And waited. (Seriously…. look at the dates: 1995, 1996… and then 2000!) When I got my hands on The Amber Spyglass, I started it and was totally confused. I felt like I was reading a different series because I had no clue what was going on anymore! I couldn’t be bothered to re-read the other two (and this was in the days before you could easily look up stuff like plot summaries online)… so I gave up.
Omg that is a long gap for the Dark Materials! I read the first one but guuuuuuess who hasn’t read the sequel? NO ONE IS SURPRISED.😂
Sequels are teeerrifying omg. I didn’t read Gemina and Crooked Kingdom until this year because GAHHH. Scary. (Also didn’t have copies until this year but sssshhh.) I totally postpone reading sequels a lot. XD
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I totally get the scariness.😂 IT ME. But omg sometimes the sequels ARE better and that makes it worth it right?!
I forget everything of ever before the sequel comes out even though I don’t read hundreds of books in between. Look, I can barely remember what I ate for dinner yesterday, how do you expect me to remember EVERYTHING I READ FROM A YEAR AGO?? I can’t. My sequel fear is very real. I will put off reading sequels because I loved the first book MORE THAN ANYTHING and then the sequel will kill all of my babies and I can’t live with that grief. If I read it, that means it will actually happen. If I don’t read it, I can continue to float around on a cloud??? That is until I am overwhelmed with NEEDTOKNOWNOW.
Also, many people seem to be afraid of butterflies, so that could be threatening 😛
*hi fives for our forgetfulness* WE ARE THE SAME KRIS. I think…I mean I don’t quite remember–
HHHAH JUST KIDDING. (Omg I’m so funny. Ahem.)😂😂
But anyway, it’s extremely hard to just keep 3093098 books in our heads. Books should come with synopses honestly. This would solve ALL our problems omg.
And butterflies are definitely terrifying.
I too am looking forward to the zombie apocalypse. And, I agree with all these points! Often I’ll wait until an entire series (or at least a few of the books) are out before starting it just to avoid #1 and #2.
The zombie apocalypse shall be so PRODUCTIVE. I mean, so long as we beat back all the zombies or just BECOME a zombie to avoid being interrupted. Winning plan. :’)
Cait I love your posts they always make me laugh!! I’ve read sequels and I HATE waiting for the next book, but somehow I always manage to hang on and wait. There have been times that the 2nd book has come out and before I could read it I had to RE- READ the first book! And sometimes it has been worth it and sometimes it hasn’t. 🙂
AHHH THANK YOU. This makes me very happy. *gives you cake and doesn’t throw a butterfly at you*
May I also put forth mid-series cover changes as a reason to be concerned? It’s not always great when SOMEONE decides a perfectly good cover is, in fact, not good, and then changes the cover of the sequel to something “better” that doesn’t remotely match or even work….. There are non-terrible cover-changes, but…. there are also some really, really dreadful ones too.
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YES. That too absolutely. I will never forgive series that just change in the middle and ruin my chances of collecting them all matching. Like I’m not that rich to just start collecting again?! I’m more likely to just skip buying more.😭😭
Which doesn’t SEEM like the ideal marketing strategy,.. but then, I’m not a marketing expert, so it might make some kind of sense? (Unless they KNOW that they’ve got us regardless of the cover because we HAVE to know what happens next… it’s probably that…)
Also does it usually end up being “well we’ve got this pretty cover, we should definitely replace it with a terrible photo-cover that basically doesn’t even match the contents of the book at all.” *side-eyes North America Lynburn Legacy covers, specifically*
… I apparently have some residual bitterness.
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Sequels are scary. Maybe that’s why I stick to contemporary most of the time 😉 But omg, that line of Rick Riordan books makes me SO SAD. Why can’t they all be the same heighttttt??
I can’t wait to read Our Dark Duet though 🙂
My Riordan collection makes me anxious. 😭😂 And I will never understand why they change the sizes…like it’s the same COVER why not the same SIZE. Omg. *has miniature breakdown*
Knowing Schwab, however, ODD will be perfect. ❤️
This is so accurate, especially the part about sequels getting longer! QUIT IT, AUTHORS! I’ve been burned too many times by series’ that got progressively worse and worse (like Mara Dyer) – there are way less that stayed good! Thankfully I loved all of TMI, TID, and Harry Potter!
Also, I love your new flowery butterfly spacers! The colors are so pretty!! 😀 😀
Agh don’t tell me that about Mara Dyer…I still have to read the finale.😭😂 And omg there are some that just get worse as they go on and breeeak my heart. But the good ones make up for it, like all the things by Schwab and Stiefvater. 😍
AWW THANK YOU!
I AM SO SCARED OF SEQUELS! What if they ruin the first book? What if I have too high expectations? What if it kills my favourite character or what if something really bad happens? What if they change the entire plot? <<< basically thoughts from Anisha's head! Haha but in all seriousness, I have a love hate relationship with sequels because OF COURSE I NEED THE NEXT BOOK but OMG WHAT IF IT'S BAD???
ALL THESE FEARS SO SO MUCH. *cries with you* I just don’t want my ships to sink, IS THAT TOO MUCH TO ASK??? 😭😂
Just an appreciation comment: I love your blog. You’re never judgy or preachy and you’re just you. I love that! Keep up the great work!
Aww, thank you Violet!! THAT MEANS SO MUCH TO ME. <3 *gives you cake*
Like you, I both hate and love my sequels. Sometimes they’re nothing like the first book, sometime they’re just boring and other times everyone feels completely different. BUT THERE ARE TIMES WHEN THEY’RE EVEN MORE AMAZING AF like Gemina and Crooked Kingdom and Morning Star and I rest my case.
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YES AND YES. Like it’s always worth the risk.😂 Especially for things like Crooked Kingdom adkjfasdl I just can’t even with how preciously clever that book was. And also Maggie Stiefvater sequels are always my favourite things.😍
hahaha this post was just wonderful!!! I think you pretty much summed up why reading/waiting on sequels is so traumatic!!
PS I’m also waiting on Our Dark Duet- I pretty much read anything by Schwab at this point- and thank goodness, like you said, she has a habit of actually delivering the goods in sequels!!
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*hi fives* We can share the trauma. I need to reread This Savage Song before I get to be traumatised with ODD. *shrieks in anticipation* SCHWAB IS QUEEN THOUGH. Her sequels have never let me down. <3
I live in the US so when you post something I get it around midnight so I end up reading it really late at night or as soon as I get up. Well, this morning my half asleep brain literally thought the title of your post was: 10 Reasons why SQUIRRELS are Terrifying. XD I was thinking, what do squirrels have to do with books? Oh well, Cait is the book queen so she can do whatever she wants I guess. 😛
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Omg that makes my day.😂😂 SQUIRRELS. I mean, knowing ME…it could actually happen?!? So I don’t blame you for being confused haha.😂
Seriously, mind *blown* by the length comparison. I never realized how the books physically grew. . Yes, series scare me, especially if I get attached to a character or am supporting a ship, because we all know, authors can be cruel. Confession: the series I was most worried about finishing lately was Lara Jean by Jenny Han, because she kept trying to wreck my ship. *trust issues*
Sam @ WLABB
Well they don’t ALWAYS grow!!😂 Just I find they generally do? I noticed the Half Bad series by Sally Green actually got smaller as it went on though.😂
OMG IT’S TERRIFYING WONDERING IF YOUR SHIP WILL SINK!! *cries* I haven’t even read the Lara Jean sequel because I’m scared.😂
Oh, gosh, I think my #1 problem with sequels is that I don’t get to them??? XD Honestly, the amount of series I have where I read the first book, enjoyed it, and I’ve gone on to never pick up the second book ever. And it’s been a year. IT’S FINE; I LOVE HAVING UNFINISHED SERIES LYING AROUND.
(Though I did read Gemina this year, and I loved it! So, that was a success??)
I think my main problem is with finales! I have SO MANY SERIES where I literally need to read the last book, and I’m finished, and I just…haven’t. I can’t tell if it’s because they’re big OR if it’s because I’m just too lazy to read them or what. Like, I’m well aware I’m going to love it. But I just refuse to. I’m a mess, basically.
Is it bad that I just go into sequels blind??? I’m not patient enough to re-read, so I just move on and hope I remembered enough details and important plot points and characters to know what’s going on in the next books. I mean, it hasn’t been a TERRIBLE experience so far, so I’m going with it. XD
SAME SAME. I have a ridiculous amount of sequels on my TBR it’s just hilarious. And terrifying. Ahhhem. And sometimes I like the first book “okay” but not enough to continue, but then I feel bad for having so many unfinished series in my life.😂
This is sooo accurate! Especially the bit remembering anything haha. I was so happy I did a readalong of all the Throne of Glass books before Empire of Storms came out because I knew nothing…
I need to read Kings Cage but I was so disappointed with Glass Sword so I’m SCARED!!
Also finales are scary! It all ends after that last book… am I ready for that? What if everyone dies? What if no one dies (=worse)? I have so many sequels and finales waiting for me to pick them up. I just started Always and Forever, Lara Jean and hopefully I will continue reading sequels and NOT start new series 😉
Sometimes I go googling for like synopses…but it’s still better to reread, right?! IF YOU HAVE TIME. *weeps* Sometimes I don’t have enough time to reread everything I need to!
And also I hope the next Lara Jean book is good!! I still have to read the sequel…WHO IS SURPRISED? 😂😂
Sequels are a blessing and a curse. I love them because my stories can carry on and I can dive into a world I love with characters I love. But they also suck because they are daunting. What about if I don’t love it? I’ve been burned before and so I am filled with fear everytime I start a series. And the wait between books is killer! Basically, only read series when all the books are out. It’s the only way. Then people will tell you if it’s worth the effort because I hate disappointment.
EXACTLY. They’re excellent because I need more, but also so much perilous expectations. *flails and weeps* I also really hate LOVING the first book and then being disappointed by the sequel, because it makes me love the first book less, which isn’t fair, right?!? Gahhhh.
I completely understand the massive books-no strength problem!!! I can barely lift a cup of coffee with my noodle-arms, let alone a massive book! A big part of me dreads reading sequels too because, when I’m not afraid I’ll drop the brick-of-a-book on my face while reading in bed, I HATE all of the changes! It’s the same thing with a new season of a TV series. Everything about the characters changes, the plot takes some drastic, backwards turn, and before you know it, it’s almost a completely different book that you didn’t sign up for, but you’re stuck with because you just NEED to know what happens next! Anxiety is exhausting when reading sequels!
Books are just exhausting omg. Like we are SMOL BOOKWORMS. Books should at least be magical so they can hold themselves.
Ohh I avoid TV Series adaptions like the plague because they change too much. It HURTS.
I am pretty bad with sequels, unless they’re in a series I ADORE and am thusly VERY EXCITED FOR. Like the ones I wrote about in my recent post (titled, in part, ‘sequels I’m excited about’).
When I think I am going to enjoy a series well enough but don’t necessarily want to read it ASAP, I will actually buy the first book, and usually the second book. Case in point: the Shades of Magic series. I pre-ordered A Gathering of Shadows and only got around to reading it last month *laughs nervously* But it meant that I was able to binge read the entire series (nearly finished ACOL, someone hold me, most preferably Kell or Rhy or Holland, thank you) and also support the author as the series was being written and released *cheering for myself*
I actually want to try and make time to re-read series before their new book comes out this year – if that sentence even made sense, whatever. I have VOWED not to request any books after June so that I can actually do this thing. So let us see if it happens, which I hope it will, because I am sick to death of forgetting things 😀
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I get super excited for sequels and STILL get super terrified of them.😂 AND AJFDKSLAD I UNDERSTAND ABOUT ACOL SO SO BAD. I actually was just looking at my best of 2017 shelf on Goodreads and realised there are only 5 books on it. I’ve nearly read 100. 😳 ACOL was so so good that it ruined me.😭😂 Why can’t we have more Kell/Rhy (and omg I love Holland…he is such a sad cinnamon roll).
I’m trying to reread Ruined so I can start Avenged! It’s going badly because I’m so distracted with my towering TBR.😭😂
*whips out pen and notebook and scribbles hastily because I’m SOON GOING TO BE WRITING A SEQUEL HOPEFULLY???*
Sequels are literally one of the most hit-or-miss things in the world, and they are sort of terrifying. And sometimes they are so boring that I want to punch myself in the face with the whole 846 pages. So I COMPLETELY RELATE TO THIS HILARIOUSNESS AND PAIN!!!!
I’m not sure what sequels I will be reading this year, as I still need to finish Book One’s. Like Fellowship of The Ring. And The Girl Who Circumnavigated Fairyland In a Ship of Her Own Making. (Which I am SO in love with…) So if Fairyland turns our to be everything I dreamed, perhaps the sequel to that?? If there IS a sequel…?
I didn’t answer all of the things, so let the butterfly tossing COMMENCE!!!!!
SEQUELS ARE GREAT TO WRITE. HAVE FUN, KENZIE.😂 I wrote my first sequel this year! I mean, first in like 5 years?!? So I barely remember how to write sequels haha, but I wrote it 1 day after finishing the first book so I didn’t forget absolutely everything. Amazingly.
I need to START that Fairyland series!! I read another book by that author (Deathless!) and it was absolutely amazing…huuuurry up and read the Fairyland books, Cait.😂
I AM SO READY FOR THIS! YEAH! *distant sobbing*
Okay. So you are a writing machine, and I must give you all of the cookies because I literally know not how you do it. At all. 😂😂😂
So far it’s really good! I’m enjoying it, but I haven’t had much time to read lately, which is LAME! I need to read all of the books!!!!
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I think I like sequels? Subconsiously I’m scared it might not be as good as the previous book but I’m more excited than nervous 🙂 But I must say, standalones ARE THE BEST! We don’t have to worry about sequels which means I get to save time, money and space. WIN WIN WIN! Also loving your new spacers <3 😀 Great post Cait 🙂
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SO MUCH SEQUEL FEAR THOUGH.😂 But I mean, I like them too hehe…I mean look at the Raven Cycle and VE Schwab’s books. I’m obsessed hahah. But I will still panic over them all the time.😂
Aww, thank you!! My butterflies are so fearsome and terrifying.
Oh my.
First off, I rarely start a series before a few books have been released.. this is in part because I am generally out of the loop, and don’t hear about a series until there are a few books on the go already.
However, I am RIGHT THERE WITH YOU on item #1. I am not good at remembering stuff from books long term. Example, when I got into Mortal Instruments there were only 5 books… and I got them in paperback and refused to buy #6 as a hardcover and screw up my set so I had to wait FOREVER for book 6. Wisely, once I finally got it, I decided to reread 1-5 first. Good call me, because as I reread I was like “oh yeah. forgot you even existed, random character who will be super important…”
I have never encountered your point #3 – likely because I tend to get into series when delightful matching sets have been released that catch my eye…. BUT GOOD GRIEF WHY WOULD ANYONE DO THAT?! Why would you put out a sequel that cannot sit perfectly next to its predecessors?! WHO DOES THAT?!
I can’t even.
and oh my god #6. the couples of book 1 breaking up in book 2. STOP IT. JUST STOP IT. Even more annoying is when the couple is only together in odd number books and break up for new reasons in even number books. The worst? When they break up in EVERY book. Like, seriously? Go away.
“They repeat ALL their mistakes because someone wasn’t paying attention to the moral lessons in book 1.” this, more than anything else, causes me to scream out loud while reading. There is a limit to stupidity I will tolerate from a character.
I am going to reign myself in here now, because I am still smarting from very disappointing sequels I read within the past year and I just still mad and could rant about this topic for pages and pages ;D
I don’t have any particular sequels on the radar right now (well, I’m rereading Harry Potter, so….). The sequels that hurt my soul hurt my soul so much I have abandoned that series, and that is actually really hard for me to do. I hate leaving things unfinished. So now I am series-shy.
Ahh you are wise then!😂 I basically NEVER wait, unless I’m seriously procrastinating or didn’t get it for review…then I might actually wait a while. But like then if I don’t like it, I feel like I’ve wasted more time anticipating it!?? THE AGONY.
Remembering things is just ridiculously hard though.😂I barely even remember my own name SO THERE’S THAT.
And I really hate it when a book spends ALL IT’S TIME/EFFORT to get a couple together and then they break up in the sequel. It’s tedious and frustrating ughhhh. And just kind of makes the first book feel pointless? *cries*
It’s to my eternal frustration that publishers/authors/whomever makes these decisions, I DO NOT CARE, do not put “Previously on…” at the beginning of sequels. IS IT SO HARD TO ADD A PAGE OF WHAT HAPPENED PREVIOUSLY TO JOG OUR MEMORY?!?!?!?! *RAGES* Episodes have “previously on…” SO WHY CAN’T BOOKS? WHY IS IT SO HARD? *Head explodes*
And yes to the rehashing of the plot. Or filler second books where nothing happens?! If you’re writing a trilogy and the second book sucks and nothing happens THEN YOU’RE WRITING A DUOLOGY. The only book I liked the second book where the plot was basically (almost) the same was Catching Fire.
Seeing book series expand is terrifying. Books are getting so chunky! They need to hit the freaking gym! Books 700 pages long terrify me because I’m worried I’ll get bored halfway through because THAT’S WHERE IT SHOULD BE ENDING, DAMN IT.
Don’t even get me started on book sizes. There should be a standard paperback (which should be the US paperback because they’re floppy and I love them) and a standard hardback. No mini hardbacks. No paperbacks that think they’re super tall. ONE. SIZE. FITS. ALL. Is it really so hard? REALLY?
I tend to wait til all the books are out before I read them, because of the whole forgetting everything thing. Apparently that’s wrong, according to a Twitter thread I saw the other day, but if authors don’t give me a “previously on..” then I don’t read the series ’til it’s done, end of. I read hundreds of books a year, and I can’t remember all of ’em!
And you’re guaranteed if I DO start a series and keep up with it, the author stops writing it (thanks Rebecca Serle!) or it gets delayed and delayed and delayed. Or I wait years to read the sequel and I can’t even remember why I loved the original in the first place…
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Honestly a recap in the front of a book would SAVE LIVES. I 1000% PETITION FOR SOMEONE TO GET PUBLISHERS TO DO THIS. 😂
And I agree that Catching Fire was great! Initially I was like “dude this is the SAME book”…but turns out it was still amazing and heartbreaking and that’s okay I didn’t want feelings anyway.
Omg, why isn’t there a standard paperback. 😭 Also a standard hardcover size would be nice tHANKS. Someone needs to have a series talk to publishers.😂
I love this post SO much, I can relate to it a lot! I’m really SCARED of sequels, mainly because I’m always thinking that it will end up being disappointing compared to the first book? It really IS irrational but I can’t help it. Also, YES I do forget EVERYTHING that happened in the first book (s) whenever I get around to reading a sequel, mainly because of massive TBR problems and the YEARS we sometimes spend waiting for the next book to be released but sometimes I don’t bother re-reading the books before because I am a bit lazy and get into it and then wonder just who’s who and whatever is happening and WHY and then I regret everything haha. I am ashamed at times.
Great post!! 🙂
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Soooo much agreement. And like sometimes it’s irrational, but sometimes sequels DO have a habit of not being as good as the first books, right?! 😭😂 PRESSURE. And I think I actually enjoy series more if I read them all in a binge session. But do I have the patience to wait for all the books to be out? No. No I do not.😂
I have such a love and hate relationship with sequels that when people ask for my opinion I have none because it’s all over the place. Also, this blog is AMAZING AND FUNNY AND JUST EVERYTHING.
AHH THIS MAKES ME VERY HAPPY, YARELI. AND ALSO WELCOME TO THE MADNESS OF PAPER FURY. YOU GET CAKE.🎉
Thank you so much!!! CAKE IS ALWAYS WELCOME
That photo of the Rick Riordan books. Just…I can’t…. *weeps so deeply she dies*
*buries you in small hole on a hill so can rest in peace after witnessing my Riordan collection atrocity*
I mean, at least with the zombies, the end is quick and painless. But with the sequels… I mean, you showed us the stats- no one has time for 1100 pages of ANYTHING, sorry. So yes, agreed. Zombies win.
UGH sequels. I have ALL THESE PROBLEMS. All. Because yes. The worst is when you want a sequel so badly, so very badly, and then it lets you down tragically. Like not “it wasn’t the best”, more like “why did that author Allegiant me?” Which I think is the actual phrase that we should now use for any time we are devastated by a sequel? I am still mad at Sally Green for Allegianting me. (I know you liked it but I DID NOT. Do not approve, do not want.) I also know that you liked Allegiant but look, most of us didn’t so just go with it, okay?
I also have the memory problem. I was reading Seeker last week and I was like “wait, what was Riders even about? There is a horse on the cover, maybe horses?” and I had to read like, 4 spoiler reviews before I remembered what happened since I read it like, a year and a half ago. The struggle, Cait. It is real.
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I know right? Like zombies, please eat me fast. Sequels, please don’t be 398938 pages it’s not that much to ask.
BAHHAAH “what did the author Allegiant me”.😂😂 I HAVE TO LAUGH BECAUSE I ACTUALLY LIKED ALLEGIANT. It fit! And soooo did Sally Green’s. So we’re going to have to agree to disagree there. 😉
Omg I need to reread Riders before Seeker. Thanks for reminding me.😂
YOU JUST EVERYTHING I’VE EVER FELT ABOUT SEQUELS!!! For realllll….. what is with the tedious tropes of sequels???? I could be reading a sci-fi and it feels the same as a sequel in contemporary or fantasy or a gosh-darned fairy-tale romance. Why can’t the characters just stick together and HAVE SOME FUN. Also I just realized Now I Rise by Kiersten White is about to be a thing and made my dog freak out with the speed that I clicked over to Amazon.com/preorder 😉
I have to say, the final book in trilogies scare me even more, though. Most the time I put it down and am like WHAT the HELL just HAPPENED
DOWN WITH THE TEDIOUS SEQUEL TROPES. *throws confetti and shrieks wildly at the moon* I think it’d be nice to have couples who actually stick together and their relationship gets stronger, not goes the other way in sequels.😂
OMG I CAN’T WAIT FOR NOW I RISE BUT I NEED TO REREAD THE FIRST ONE BECAUSE I REMEMBER NOTHING.😂 Not surprisingly.
Yeah. Sequels. Raging Star, third part of Blood Red Road. ‘Nuff said.
And I never remember… Thank god for GR re-reads now being a thing, right?
Then again, sequels being LONGER is about the only problem I don’t have 😀 I mean… I’ll always appreciate a book being longer! Especially if it’s in print and I can see it! (I mean, as opposed to ebooks, as I usually read them)
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I WILL NEVER FORGIVE RAGING STAR. OMGGGGG. I’M STILL BROKEN.
And I’m so glad Goodreads does rereads now too! It makes me actually reread stuff haha.😂
Hasn’t made me reread yet cause ALL THE ARCs, but yes 😀
Evelina recently posted…Rogue mages, steampunk spells and secrecy – Brother’s Ruin by Emma Newman
I think so many sequels, especially in the YA category, are unnecessary and often bloated or stretched just to milk the story for all it’s worth when it comes to $$$… Some *are* just really bad, but a lot of it is publishing companies looking to make a buck. I don’t mind series, there are plenty of good ones, but I think there is a severe lack of (recent) standalone stories in the YA/NA world. Not every story needs to be stretched across the cosmos for crying out loud. That’s one of the reasons why I decided to make my own novel a standalone.
Well I have to firmly disagree with all of that because I don’t believe for a minute that authors don’t deserve to be paid for their work. Publishing is a business so I fully think it makes perfect sense for them to publishing books they think people would like. A restaurant would make food they think people will eat. There’s no difference.
Thank you for the reply. I do appreciate it. 🙂
I think you may have misunderstood my meaning here. I meant publishing companies sometimes interfere and stretch out stories that really don’t *need* to be longer just to make more money, instead of maybe leaving the stories shorter and more concise. I’m obviously not against authors being paid for their work, of course not! I’m against interference of publishers forcing things into franchises just to make money. Of course I acknowledge this isn’t an issue in every case, and if a story is meant to be a trilogy, then great! But you can usually tell when a story has just been stretched out into a trilogy or larger series and it probably was really better off as a standalone or even a duology. It’s sacrificing story for the sake of making more money and generating hype, and I personally believe that what is best for the story is what needs to come first. Just my two cents, of course.
We’ll have to agree to disagree. Unless you work in publishing? I’m working towards a career in publishing myself and have a bit of behind the scenes experience, but of course I don’t know everything about the industry. But yet I can’t see how publishing companies are any different to any other sort of company that makes a living and I don’t know how we can decide when something is “forced” or not, honestly! So yeah. 🙂 Differing of opinion will just have to happen here, sorry.
And that’s totally okay. 🙂 I’m just old and cynical haha.
Best wishes for your publishing career!
SO, SO TRUE!!
*clapping like crazy*
I’M GLAD YOU LIKED IT.😂
I Like it .Thanks for your great post.
I forget details from book one ALL THE TIME. Then start the sequel and get super confused. Or I don’t read the sequel because of all the possible things that can go wrong for the precious cinnamon rolls. But yet I want to read them??? This post sums up the struggle PERFECTLY. Also, Our Dark Duet has been eyeing me for WEEKS and I can’t ….. I suspect things are not going to go happy pineapples and rainbows for August.
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