Did the Sequel(s) Deliver? A Study.
Humans are more-ish types of people, and if one is good, we usually think another is better. And it can be! But of course, we all know that this can quickly snowball into a losing proposition. See: a second round, sending ‘just one more email’, another wide legged jean.
And thus our sweet, tender souls can experience the ecstasy of a second installment to a favorite book, which can be blissfully satisfying but sometimes gruelingly disappointing.
Here’s the issue. A second book, whether a true sequel in a series or just a second standalone installment, needs to both preserve what we loved in the first book while also changing things. A FINE NEEDLE TO THREAD, y’all. Plus, if it’s a trilogy etc, you have to avoid the dreaded middle-book-destiny where it’s all just wall-to-wall exposition and plot set up for the final book.
(Note: If The Guncle Abroad does not deliver I swear I am flipping every table in this establishment. That’s not a threat, that’s a promise.)
So how do you know if a second book is worth your time? Fortunately for you, I am a woman who reads quickly and also unfailingly needs to finish most every project I start. It’s the second most rigid thing about me. Lately, I’ve finished allll the series. Read on to know whether you should finish that trilogy, pick up that next installment, buy that pair of jeans (NO. You ALREADY HAVE A SIMILAR PAIR. CLEAN OUT YOUR CLOSET FIRST.)
Technically a prequel to The Hunger Games, The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes tells the story of Coriolanus Snow, mentoring a beautiful young District 12 woman in the 10th Hunger Games.
Listen, the entire Internet and the movie-going public seemed to love this. What I will say is that Collins explores the early philosophical underpinnings of the Games, which is substantive for the audience. And she does not shy away from writing unlikeable characters. If you like a villain origin story, maybe you’ll like it? But for me, it was kind of plodding, running through a lot of war theory, while also being quite clear that all of this is terrible and the main character is terrible (true, but unnuanced.)
Does the sequel/prequel deliver? Ehn. Yes for everyone else, no for me.
Two lambs might even be too much for this book because, y’all, a lot of kids die. It’s … the Hunger Games. And if you don’t know what a lamb rating is, never fear! Learn more HERE.
This duology, however - great start, great conclusion. (do we need more duologies? Consider it, publishers.) Divine Rivals and its sequel Ruthless Vows follow young reporter Iris Winnow on the frontlines of a war between gods, and the magical connection she makes with another young idealist. Part Kate Atkinson, part mythology, with a little bit of fantasy and romance. Like your favorite WW2 book but with a skillful fantasy underpinning. I really liked both of these books.
Does the sequel/prequel deliver? Yes! A beautifully balanced pair.
I really liked the first book The Maid (read more here), and in this sequel, Molly the uniquely proper, unusually minded maid is back, solving another crime in her beloved hotel. While we learn a lot more about Molly’s background in The Mystery Guest, for me, this was too much same, not enough change. Didn’t love. (But great reader Jessica G. did love this so remember, reading is what? Very personal! Also fundamental.)
Does the sequel/prequel deliver? Not really. We needed more change from Molly.
Yes, yes, I know you are serious and don’t read Sarah J. Maas. But in the vastly unlikely event that you happen to be one of the scant 38 million people who have, let Auntie Kerry break this down for you.
I really, really liked the first Crescent City book, a modern / urban fantasy that has all the fairies and gods and witches you want but also beautiful friendships. House of Flame and Shadow … felt like a first draft. Characters completely change behavior, storylines get a ton of page space and then get dropped, the culmination was oddly anti-climactic. Read and enjoy the first book as a standalone.
Does the sequel/prequel deliver? Did not. Kept wondering when it was going to gel.
And finally while we’re at it, Iron Flame (the second book in the Fourth Wing series) is absurd, even considering we’re talking a book about a magical military academy with sexy dragons. I’m stopping the series there. Convince me otherwise.
More YA to Read with Your YA, From the Community
I was so thrilled to hear from so many of you about books your tweens and teens are reading and loving. The children are in fact the future. Here are some of the suggestions your fellow readers suggested (is “fellow readers” stoking the patriarchy?)
From Andrea and Anna:
The Sunbearer Trials (“Queer more kid-friendly version of The Hunger Games”)
A Million to One (“Mystery detective story on the Titanic”)
From Kira:
“For my daughter, The Summer I Turned Pretty and the sequels would be very dog-eared if she read physical books vs the Kindle” (YES these are so good, also To All the Boys I’ve Loved)
Kira’s son loves Brandon Sanderson. “Series like Skyward and Alcatraz vs the Evil Librarians are more for the younger crowd, and the Mistborn trilogy is an absolute fantasy classic.”
And here are a few of Nina’s suggestions for her boys:
Buddha 1 - graphic novel series she describes as “breathtaking” and maybe more for teen boys
A Wolf Called Wander - “great for kids who love animals and works for girls and boys”
The Kane Chronicles - “For Percy Jackson lovers, this series was recommended by my sister Moya, a middle school teacher and former librarian”
THANK YOU all for sending, and for growing a generation of readers.
A Few Last Words:
All links go to Bookshop.org, where you can direct proceeds to go to your favorite indie bookshop. And that’s some goodness!
If you don’t read series, sequels, or anything that a Netflix executive is optioning, congratulations to you and your smart tastes. Check the archive for something you may like more, or come back next week, where we could be talking good fiction! Or memoirs! Or a non-fiction book about a Laotian rice farmer! You’ll just have to find out.
The most rigid thing about me is how aggressively controlling I am at group meals. The poor servers are just trying to figure out who had the chicken Caesar, and everyone is just chattering on with no regard. I’m all, “PEOPLE LOOK ALIVE.”
If these are the kinds of literary insights you’re looking for, please like, comment, share, and send other reading friends my way! I live for small hits of dopamine.
You know a series is good if you read it out of order and it still is good. That happened to me with Hekne series which includes the Bell in the Lake and The Reindeer Hunters written by Norwegian author Lars Mytting. There's a third book that's written but not yet translated. These two were so good that I'm figuring out if it's faster for me to learn Norwegian or wait for the English version!
I just finished Iron Flame, enjoyed the second half but the first half was a slog. I’ll keep reading in hopes that, as you pointed out, the second is often the worst in a series. As for the Maas books, I read ACOTAR a few years back and found the writing so traumatically bad I’ve blocked it all out and can’t give the others in the series, or her other series, a shot