Hello bookworms and welcome back to Josie’s Book Corner! Today is Thursday, and you know what that means. And if you don’t, well shame on you! (i’m just kidding, please love me.)
Today I thought I’d share my thoughts on series vs standalones. If you know me (and if you don’t know me then, *cries*) you will know that I am a huge series lover. Trilogies, or even longer series are all my type of books. I cherish my book series’ like they are my own children. But standalones? I can’t really say the same.
So let’s discuss this series vs. standalone business shall we?
Like I said, I cherish my book series’. They are my precious little treasures. Whenever I see or hear of a new book series, I get infinitely more excited than I would with a new standalone. Also, I tend to give much more love to my trilogies and book series’ than to the standalones that I have read. When people ask for book recommendations, I almost always tend to recommend a series, rather than a standalone novel (unless they ask for a contemporary suggestion). I was thinking to myself today, what’s the deal with me loving my book series rather than my standalone novels? Save for some amazing standalone novels, such as Patrick Ness’s A Monster Calls, and Rainbow Rowell’s Fangirl and Eleanor and Park, generally, most standalones do not excite me as much as a trilogy or a 5/6 book series would. Why is that?
For me, there’s a strange appeal that comes with book series. If a book I’m interested in is labelled as being a trilogy or a series, I’m instantly more interested in it than I would be if it was a standalone. I have nothing against standalone novels, it’s just that I find so much more appeal to trilogies and series’. I suppose you’re all thinking: “Well go on Josie, tell us why you love series’ so much!” And so, in list form (the best way, as Cait would probably say), I will tell you the reasons I love series.
You’re able to stay in the same world for longer
Could you imagine only having one Shadowhunter book? Or one Throne of Glass novel? These series’ and more simply would NOT be the same if there was only one book. I adore being able to stay in the world of one story for a long time. If I had it my way, I’d make sure the Throne of Glass series and the City of Bones series would keep on going and never end, because I love them too much. One of the series I wish had more books was the Inheritance Cycle series by Christopher Paolini. Sure there are already 4/5 books in that series, but how about 2 more? Or 3? Heck, give me 5 more books!
More connection to characters
Don’t tell me that after sticking with the same characters after three books that you do not feel fond of them or are connected to them in some way or form. Because you’d be lying, and I don’t like it when people lie to me (gives you all puppy-dog eyes). I am infinitely more connected to characters within a series or a trilogy. It’s as if you’re going on a journey with them. Just as you grow fond of friends you’ve been with for years on end, the same can be said for book characters. I find that it’s easier for me to forget about characters within standalone novels, unless an author has gripped me so hard that my heart aches for more of them.
One book is NEVER enough
The amount of times I have cried over the fact that a novel is a standalone and not a series is incredible. One book is just NEVER enough. That feeling after you’ve read a standalone and you think to yourself: “I need to know what happens next,” and you proceed to scramble to Goodreads or Twitter to find the next book or the possible release date for the sequel, and then you find out, it’s not planned to be a series. *dies*
World-building galore!
Especially with fantasy novels, I don’t think it’s possible to have a standalone. Fantasies must be either trilogies or longer (this is the Josie the Bookworm standard, mind you). Unless you’re a flipping master of world-building and can create the most vivid, detailed world within one book without being info-dumpy and without sacrificing beautiful writing, an immersive plot or developed characters, then YOU NEED A SERIES. You just need one okay? No questions.
Lots of pretty covers?
Can you tell I’m starting to run out of things to say about series? So in my attempt to sway you all to prefer series over standalone novels, I am bribing you with the prospect of beautiful covers. We all love beautiful covers, and don’t lie to be because you know in your heart of hearts that the cover of a book can be a make or break in most situations (unless you’re a great person and do not judge things for their outside beauty – hats off to you).
What in the world else can I say to persuade you? If you’re smart, you’d be nodding with me when I say series are better than standalone novels. Of course, there is nothing wrong with a standalone. I feel as though they’re great for contemporaries. Just… not for fantasies or sci-fi novels (I suppose I’ll draw the line there!).
Which do you prefer? Series or Standalone novels?
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Tell me your fabulous thoughts, bookworms!