Discussion: Series vs. Stand Alones

There has always been the discussion of if Stand Alones or Series are better. But in the end it all comes back down to personal opinion. Someone can’t tell someone to like certain books because everyone is different really. They can like whatever they want.

When I am taking about series here I am talking about more than one book, whether it’s a trilogy etc.

I am one of those people that adore series. I think they are absolutely amazing. There is something about reading deeper and deeper into a world each new book. Finding more about characters, discovering new characters. Series does something that stand alones just can’t.

A series can go into so much more depth. The characters can be explored more, the world can. I love being on a journey with characters watching them grow and a series lets you do that.

Lets talk about Harry Potter, readers are able to watch an 11 year old boy, grow to be a 17 year old. The reader is able to watch Harry learn what friendship is, what love is, experience heartbreak and depth. If there was only one Harry Potter book it would have never been as magical and beautiful as it now and will forever be.

Another thing that a series does is let the readers (most of the time) feel closure and satisfaction. A stand alone can leave everything open in the air. But because most series span across a couple of years, readers are able to get a little closure.

One of my favourite, but worst, things about series is the wait. Having to wait for the next book in the series to come out. Months upon months sometimes even years. But when you get that book into your hands the day it comes out, stay up all night and day to read it. Now that to me is an amazing feeling.

Even though I adore series sometimes I do think stand alones work better for certain stories and authors. John Green for instance. The Fault in Our Stars and Looking for Alaska are beautiful stand alones that don’t need more books to follow to make them any better.

Nether less it is all up to the reader on what they do prefer to read. No one can tell them what they should like better or that they should not like a certain type of book. It all depends on the person and how and what they like to read.

You can see that I prefer series over stand alones, but what do you prefer?

Jess @My Reading Dress

· Reply

January 21, 2015 at 11:54 PM

Standalone’s a refreshing every once in a while but honestly, with YA and all the story lines that authors want to mush in, we’re better off with series. I don’t mind a good series, as long as it doesn’t drag (I’M LOOKING AT THE MIDDLE BOOK OF THE TRILOGY. Urgh, always a bummer that one). But then again, I can never remember anything when it comes to series.

Renee Bookboyfriends

January 22, 2015 at 9:41 AM

Me too! I love series(es?) more than standalones because of the world building and potential for so much character development. But, there are quite a few good standalones and I agree that it depends on the writer, although some authors do both and are AMAZING at both! (*cough Jessica Shirvington cough*)
I think that classics are better as stand alones because first of all the length of some of them, wow I could not read another one in the series if it was the same length as the first! But probably because they didn’t know if they were going to get a renewed contract so the had to give it all they had! And plus they would find it hard to just write by hand one novel so they’d put it all into one book. Just a thought. 🙂
Ahh and I see you’ve got the Bloodlines series there! 😀 Soon enough you’ll have The Ruby Circle to go with it!

Ebony @ Daring Damsels

January 22, 2015 at 11:07 AM

Fantastic discussion, lovely! <3 While I ultimately prefer series (you learn so much more about the world and characters etc etc), I do enjoy reading standalones, too. As you mentioned, I think standalones work better for some authors. Sometimes series take more time and effort, so it's always nice to be able to just read a book and be done with it sometimes. Also, the wait for the next book in a series is always agonising! I know trilogies are extremely popular right now, but I really like that length for a series. I feel it gives the reader enough time to connect and learn about the characters and world, without the story dragging on and on, such as the House of Night series.

Cassie

January 22, 2015 at 12:27 PM

I LOVE series! The anticipation waiting for the next book is part of the fun.
Alternatively, you can just do what my mum does…wait until all the books are out, and then binge read.

On the other hand, if a book works as a stand-alone, then it shouldn’t be pushed into a series. It should stay as a standalone.

Francoise

January 22, 2015 at 8:19 PM

Ah I love both standalones and series. It really depends on what sort of mood I”m in. If i’m feeling more something quick, I’ll usually go for a cute contemporary standalone. If I have a lot of time and I’m committed to investing myself in a series I will. I feel like trilogies are my favourite though because it’s not too short or too long. Perfect balance 😛

Great discussion Angel!

Jaz

February 2, 2015 at 11:27 PM

Ooooh ok I think it definitely depends on the story and how the author has tied up the book by end. For example, Rites of Passage of Joy N Hensley was meant to be a standalone (which contemporaries) usually are but most of us thought she should continue it. On the other hand, when I first read The Iron King I thought it would’ve worked as a standalone because the story individually wrapped up but Julie Kagawa created a larger overarching storyline on top of The Iron King’s own plot.
I definitely hate the wait for series and yes they definitely develop the characters more.
But the thing with a series is, like if it wasn’t intentional to begin in, writing more books = putting the characters through more pain and a lot of the time they’ve gone through enough. Gayle Forman herself said that at this talk when people asked if there would be a 3rd If I Stay novel. Adam and Mia had already been through so much in If I Stay/Where She Went and I personally thought it wrapped up nicely. She agreed that Just One Night had to be written because Allison and Wilem needed closure ;D
But yeah I think it’s how the story’s developed. A series is required if the story is large and hasn’t finished in book 1; but it’s not always necessary when book 1 has its own plot and its concluded, but the author decides it’s part of a larger story.
Great post Angel!