Okay 2nd books are usually hit or miss with me. There are some really good ones out there and many of them are meh. I find that the 2nd book keeps the reader connected to the story , and characters . Many times there is some big struggle that they have to overcome to make it the third book. I have noticed lately that the second book takes place some place new or introduces more characters . But as I have mentioned it has hit and miss with trilogies. Most of the time I want to see how the series ends, so I will read the second book to find out what happens.
What are some good 2nd in series ?
What are some bad ones ?
Do they turn off from finishing a series ??
What makes a good second book ?
My favorite series of all time is the Song of the Lioness Quartet series by Tamora Pierce. When I first started reading this series, I didn't realize that I had actually picked up the second book in the series, In the Hand of the Goddess. I loved the book so much that I went back read the first, and then read the rest of the sequels. The second book in that series is still my favorite and always will be. It had an engrossing story and a complete ending.
ReplyDeleteThe ones I don't like are the ones that are merely used as stepping stones for the next book. They have no real story of their own, and in the end are ultimately forgettable. I can name two that are perfect examples of this and will probably offend the die hard fans--Linger by Maggie Stiefvater and New Moon by Stephenie Meyer. I felt that neither could have stood on their own, and had they been the first book in the series they never would have been as popular as they are. I don't know if Linger has turned me away from reading Forever, but it certainly didn't make me eager to read on in the series.
Some great second books in a series:
ReplyDeleteAlien Tango by Gini Koch
Second Grave On The Left by Darynda Jones
The second book in the dark hunter series..can't remember it's name.
Double Cross by Carolyn Crane.
Can't think of any misses, though I know I've read a lot of them.
Hmmm...a second book that I particularly didn't enjoy was Spells by Aprilynne Pike. I loved Wings, the first book, and liked Illusions, the third book, better than the second.
ReplyDeleteAs for the above comment on New Moon...I didn't like it very much when I first read it. I wanted to slap Bella and tell her to get ahold of herself. But as I came to understand that Stephenie envisioned an other-worldly relationship for the characters, where they were essentially mated and couldn't separate, New Moon made a lot more sense.
I love the entire "House of Night" books by P.C. Cast!
ReplyDelete~Sherry
Sherry Soule Official Website
Author of the Spellbound Series
Great topic! I agree that I'm sometimes turned off a series after reading the second book. I enjoyed Wings by Aprilynn Pike, but after reading the second book I just wasn't interested.
ReplyDeleteCassandra Clare's Mortal Instruments series was a favorite (top five) until I read the fourth book...now I found myself hating the series more and more. The fourth book absolutely ruined it for me, so I think sometimes it can be more than just the second book.
As far as good second books, Brandon Sanderson's Mistborn series had a fantastic second book, and it made me utterly excited for the third (which was great as well). I also really liked The Two Towers by J.R.R. Tolkien. The first Lord of the Rings book was good, but the second was awesome.