Friday, September 20, 2019

Discussion: Reviewing Sequels


This Week’s Topic: Reviewing Sequels


I recently was approved for the second book in a series, and it made me recall a past discussion I had with my daughter about reviewing series. She was firmly on team NAY. She loved reading them, but felt they were hard to review, and I guess I suffer from temporary amnesia every time I go to NetGalley or Edelweiss, because I just keep requesting them.


Her first point was, that it can be really difficult to review a sequel, especially if you are a proponent of spoiler-free reviews. Not only do you have to worry about revealing anything BIG in that happens in the book you are reviewing, but you also have to worry about letting anything that was major in the previous books slip. This is no easy task, and is part of the reason why it takes me soooooo long to write reviews for books in series.


HOWEVER, I don't find this to be the case for companion books. Technically, they are part of a series, but they stand apart, therefore, it's just like reviewing a standalone. I also believe, the books in a series, where part of the story is wrapped up, while there is something that remains open for the next book are a bit easier to review. At least, I can talk about the plot line that is resolved, you know?


Her other point was about blog visitors. If people haven't read the previous books, how much interest could they have in reading a review for the sequel? And, I will admit, a review with little interaction is sort of depressing.

I want to know, what are you feelings on reviewing sequels? 
What is your experience with those reviews on your blog? 

Now it's your turn!

Reviewing sequels: Yea or Nay? 
Let us know in the comments!

53 comments:

  1. Reviews get very little traction as it is (especially mine LOL - I keep reviewing those obscure books, plus they're NEVER fantasy and ALMOST NEVER contemporary! THE HORROR! LOL), so it would make sense not to review sequels. The main reason I keep doing it is that I can't help but review EVERY SINGLE BOOK I read (and then again, the review goes on GR as well, not only on my blog). But another valid reason is that, if a review with little interaction is depressing, a book with little reviews is, too. Think of the poor author who puts forth a sequel and hardly sees reviews for it?!?

    Super creative discussion as usual!

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    1. I review every book I read, I just don't feature them all on the blog, though, I link to them all on my Sunday Post. It really is depressing, when a review is largely ignored, especially when I featured books I loved. I can usually get over 100 views for a review, but sequels never do as well. I always see a lot of reviews on GR, so people are reading and reviewing, but I do notice less ARCs, especially for HUGE books. I did a very limited tour for Two Dark Reigns, which was a 3rd book, and it made me wonder if they were limiting ARCs, because the prior books were so successful, or that they didn't feel it helps with buzz.

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    2. Yep, one has to wonder. I guess next to no one would read a review for a sequel and suddenly get interested in it, unless they had been living on a desert island for a while and knew nothing of the previous book(s). Then again...not reviewing sequels at all would leave the poor books into a void, and it would look like no one isn't interested in them!

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    3. "Is" interested. Gosh, I think it's time for me to go to bed LOL.

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    4. If the first book does well, the sequel hardly needs hyping, but just because I don't like reviewing sequels, doesn't mean no one should, right?

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  2. I review everything I read. Books in a series can be tough to review without revealing an important point from a previous book. If it can't be done, I will put a note that there may be spoilers for previous books in the review. I also look at the book summary for the book that I am reviewing. I feel like I can include as much information as the official description. I don't really look at my blog traffic like I should but I feel like my reviews of sequels do get some attention. Great topic!

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    1. I also review everything I read, just not on the blog. I like having the record of my thoughts on GR. I use the synopsis as a guideline for all my reviews. It's always a good way to see what's ok to reveal.

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  3. I rarely review sequels, mostly for the reasons you listed above. It's hard to talk about a second or third book without referencing what happened earlier. I think your daughter is spot-on about views, too. I know it shouldn't be all about that, but it does play a big role. I know I tend to not read posts with reviews of second or third or whatever books, if I haven't read the first book, have never heard of it, or know I would never read it. Ugh, that sounds harsh!

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    1. I read a lot, therefore, I don't have to feature every book I read on the blog. I want to post reviews people will actually read. I am like you. If I haven't started the series, I wouldn't check out a post on a subsequent book.

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  4. I review everything I read, so I have to review sequels. But I try to start with a brief non-spoiler bit about how I liked it or not, and then give a big notice to stop if the reader hasn't read the prior books in the series because of spoilers. Great discussion topic!

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    1. All books I read are reviewed, just not necessarily featured on my blog. I also only feature books I liked, so the tricky bit would be telling the reader what I liked and making sure I don't reveal anything that I shouldn't

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  5. I read a ton of series and love them! I enjoy seeing the development of characters as the series goes on. When I review something beyond the first book in a series on my blog, I often give out a warning about spoilers for book one if there are any in my review.

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    1. I do see a lot of people warn of spoilers, but that's always been outside my comfort zone.

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  6. I can definitely relate to all your points, but I do love when it's a series I really love and there are other people that love to talk about it. It just makes the series that much more enjoyable!

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    1. I have seen people do spoiler posts, where they just talk about the juicy bits. I would think most of the people, who read the post, are people, who have read the book already, versus people who are considering reading the book.

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  7. Very Nice Information Thank you keep it up Regard HDVOGO

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  8. I actually find sequels difficult to review because of the spoilers! Howeverrrr, I assume that if someone is reading a review of the second book (or further in a series), they've read the previous books. I mean, at least I don't read reviews for sequels of books I haven't read the first of lol

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    1. You would like to think they had read the previous books. I know I only read reviews for series I am reading (except companions), which is why I think you don't get as much interaction with sequel reviews.

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  9. Books that a part of a series can be really hard to review. I find myself second guessing everything I type because I don't want to give up spoilers from the first book. Companion books are little easier to review. It's easier to not give away too much.

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    1. Companion books are really easy, and I love reading and reviewing them. I even read those books out of order.

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  10. i don't review every book i read, but i rate them all on goodreads. i just don't have the time and when i travel i binge read on those freebies waiting...and waiting...and waiting. lol i have a love hate relationship with series, but that seems to be the thing nowadays. i don't finish a lot of them because i rarely buy books any more. i am thinking of kindle unlimited or amazon prime because there are those ones...you know...that i have to have and the library doesn't always have them
    sherry @ fundinmental

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    1. I do write something for every book I read, but they all won't appear on the blog. I like have those breather books in there, and I can still review a sequel and just post to Goodreads, but the struggle is still there, when trying to write the review. Contemporaries tend to be companion series, which are almost like standalone. Those, I love reading and reviewing.

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  11. I hardly ever write reviews, so, um, I guess I'm just stopping in here to say hi and I can't wait to get home and read the final book in the Three Dark Crowns series. :)

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    1. I listened to the audiobook for Five Dark Fates. The first three books were so good for me, I was a little disappointed. Curious to see what you thought.

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  12. I do if I have something to say (same as every other book really).

    I think it's a little trickier to explain things and not spoil the first book but it can also bring attention to a series and help it find new readers that either didn't know about or were waiting to see if it held up 1 or 2 books later.

    Karen @ For What It's Worth

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    1. I feel like sequel reviews are the most vague that I write. It definitely stretches me as a reviewer. They are usually the shortest of my reviews too.

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  13. Bueller? Bueller?

    Sorry couldn't resist when I saw that image.

    I've never really thougt about this but it's a great point. It CAN be hard to review sequels for exactly those reasons. I try not to spoil or reveal too much when I do it- I kinda just try to approach it like any other book, more or less- but it's definitely a balancing act.

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    1. That was Ben Steins most iconic role. I feel like there is an extra challenge with what is hands off with sequels. Although I believe a reader would have read pervious books, you never know, so the worry about spoiling previous books is there too.

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  14. See this is why you shove sequel reviews into a post with anticipated books. Voila, look at all the fake love your precious is getting now! Sequels ARE hard to review, which is why I do a terrible job of doing it. All the points you make are completely valid. Spoilers are impossible to navigate- even mentioning characters still existing gives something away in cases! My sequel reviews tend to be short and rather vague but meh, I figure the publisher knew what they were getting into when they suggested the arrangement, so 😂

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    1. Mine are short and vague too, and I wonder if anyone actually gets anything out of them. It seems short and vague is the goto format for sequel reviews, but there are so many reviewers leaving off stars, that I honestly have no clue how the books rated for them.

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  15. Great discussion idea Sam! I actually like reading sequel reviews. Many times I drop series because the sequel is a dud. Why even get my hopes up with a stellar first book if the sequel is stinky?! ❤️ I didn't think of many of the troubles you have with sequel reviews... so I guess I need to examine how many spoilers I leave...

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    1. That's good to hear. I was wondering how people felt about reading the reviews. I won't read a review for a sequel until after I have read the book, because I am so paranoid about spoilers.

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  16. I never really have any problems reviewing sequels or reading reviews for sequels. As long as it's non spoilers, and the writer keeps it vague enough, then I think it is fine! It's possible to focus on other things than the plot and simply mention character development, setting and so many other things that are involved in books!

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    1. Sometimes the best part is how something from the previous book was resolved or I am really made about what happened to X character. It's so tricky for me. I guess, because most of the series I have read are SFF, I have always fallen back on talking about the world and how it's changed and what not. However, a series for me is more about the story and how it developed.

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  17. I agree with your daughter though. Reviewing sequels is hard to write and also kind of hard to engage an audience who have not read the first book or even the ones who don't want to be spoiled. I've done this before in my old blog and looking back at it, I gotta say that I prefer to do a series review instead once it's over. I don't mind voicing out my thoughts though in Goodreads for the sequels. But these thoughts aren't enough to land a FULL review on the blog.

    Companion books are okay since they can be read as a stand-alone. I don't mind them reviewing them.

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    1. I read very few reviews prior to reading a book, because I fear spoilers, and let's face it, spoilers are sort of subjective. This is why star ratings matter for me, but like you, I will put it all out there on GR. I still try to be spoiler free, but I don't feel as much pressure jotting down my thoughts there.

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  18. Well all these points are valid. But I don't care for visitor numbers anymore so that's one down. Spoiling is unavoidable in my opinion! Well spoiling the previous book of course but visitors should expect it I guess. My main problem is that I usually just want to go on with the next book and end up writign kind of mini reviews for the books between the first and last one!

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    1. It's great if you binge a series, because you can do a series review, but I have no patience, and will request advanced copies, with a wait of about a year between books. Though, mini-reviews are the way to go. Since they are short, it's probably easier to avoid spoilers. I always feel like reviews for the blog need to have some meat, and I think that's why I struggle so much. I wrote a real thin review for a mystery/suspense book today, but it was hard to talk about the best parts, since they were all part of the plot twist. Contemporary standalones are much easier to review.

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  19. I definitely agree about the views and comments, and also about how hard it can be to review sequels. The ideal thing is to not reveal anything major from the first book either, but that's impossible sometimes. I definitely think that companions, or romance series where each book features a different main couple are a different matter altogether. Great discussion, Sam!

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    1. It's a struggle, but since I have vowed not to start any new series, I may be able to avoid it. Though, we all know I am a liar when it comes to vows like that.

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  20. I totally get both points of view. I review sequels, but they can be hard to review.

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    1. I review them for GR, where I feel no pressure to make that much sense, but I have tried to avoid it on the blog.

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  21. I've tried to review sequels before but pretty much gave up on them because I'm always so afraid of spoilers that I end up with nothing much to say.

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    1. Right? It's so hard. I will drop a few thoughts on GR, but nothing too detailed.

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  22. I review sequels, but something I find difficult is remembering everything that happened in the previous book(s), if there is a long wait time between books. I agree, it's pretty hard to avoid major spoilers, but I just try my best! I tend to skip reading reviews if it's a series that I haven't read and I'm excited to read it, as to avoid spoilers. Great discussion Post Sam :)

    Lindy@ A Bookish Escape

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    1. The length between books is tough, and some authors are better than others with planting those little reminders in the beginning chapters. Same. I actually only read. reviews for most books after I have read the book. I will glance at stars to get a feel, if I am on the fence, but spoilers are so subjective, and some people reveal too much in their reviews.

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  23. I think the sequels are definitely so hard to review. I have reviewed only a handful of sequels because I am not a major series-reader. But recently I had to review a sequel and I ended up reviewing both the first and second book simultaneously :P Also, my reviews get so less interaction :(

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    1. I like being late to the party and getting to read installments of a series in a row, though. I feel like my experience is better, because I get to continue the story right away and can stay immersed in the world.

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  24. I just assume that the reader has read the first book when writing reviews for squals or make it clear that the book is a squal.
    Usually with trilogy I binge read them and write one big review. With larger series I review the first few book separately and then group the later books together. I notice review for books between the first and last start sounding the same.

    I don't really get a lot of engagement for my book reviews, series or stand alone.
    Then again I don't always read what new and shiny.

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    1. I feel like I enjoy series more, when I binge them, but sometimes I cannot resist the hype, and I read the books right away. I feel like discussions about books in a series get more attention. I seen spoiler talks about 2nd and 3rd books, and a lot of people enjoy chatting about theories and whatnot, but reviews, not so much.

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  25. I agree that reviewing sequels can be hard. I often post a disclaimer at the top of sequel reviews warning people that the review will most likely contain spoilers for earlier books. It's very hard not to!

    Nicole @ Feed Your Fiction Addiction

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