Is it just me, or...

[[deleted user]]

Does anyone else get discouraged when a book series has more than 10 books? I feel like when I see books with 15-20+ books in the series, that they just aren't worth reading because of the excessive amount of books. Almost like the author just keeps doling out stories, regardless of the quality. Anyone else feel the same? O.O

[Issa]

It completely depends on author. Some authors plot out many books and the flow over 10 books works though one might not like every book that's written. Some authors just keep writing new books as long as the publisher allows them but they can't seem to come up with anything new so they recycle their ideas over and over. But I'd yeah, there are a number of authors who should just bury their dead horse and move on.

[Gail]

Christine Feehan is one. Her books have become very
repetitive.

[Barbara ★]

I don't get intimidated by long series though I usually only purchase (borrow) the first in the series to see if I like it. If I don't like it, think of how much time I've saved myself. But if I do, I'll continue the series at my own pace.

I also check out reviews for the first couple of books in a long series to see what others think of it. Sometimes that helps me weed out boring or overplayed series.

[[deleted user]]

I think there are some series that lend themsrlves well to many books with exceptional writing. There needs to be a long-term problem to overcome or an adversary that you will eventually meet. The problem I find is when books 15 through 18 don't address the overall story arc.

Psy/Changeling series is going on book 11 and the story is getting MORE interesting. I almost started to read the Anita Blake Series but EVERY review said the story ended and became Erotica. I guess my point is the author and their ability to create an epic tale makes all the difference.

[Mlpmom (Book Reviewer)]

I can why it would be daunting to some to try and start a series with that many books in it.

And in some series it is overly excessive, as in, the series really should have stopped long ago but in some, like the In Death series by J.D. Robb, they really are still fabulous.

[Nepeta]

Yes, yes it does. For example, House of Night has like what, 12 books? And no offense to anyone who likes the series, but each book seems to be a little more nonsensical than the last.

[Wan]

Issa wrote: "It completely depends on author. Some authors plot out many books and the flow over 10 books works though one might not like every book that's written. Some authors just keep writing new books as..."

Totally agree with you. I do love Dark-Hunter and it is 20+ books so far. They are fabulous and the next book was equal or better than the last.

Another one that I really like is Lora Leigh's Breeds Series....a girl gotta have her eroticas once in awhile :-).

[PepperP0t]

I agree with Wan on both the Dark Hunter & the Breeds series - read & like them both. To keep them from getting "stale" Ibreak it up so I don't read more than 2-3 in a row.

[P.A.]

I kind of agree with you here, but I figure if a series has that many books there has to be something good about it. If they start to get repetetive or boring then I stop reading.

Personally, I think Lora Leigh's Breeds series is excellent (I love the story line) but I think it's gone on too long now. It feels like you're reading the same story over and over.

[Rinou]

When I start a series when it begins and it goes on and on, I go on too as long as the books catch me.

But when someone recommends a series to me and there are already more than 10 or 12 books, I don't have the courage to begin it.

[Sally]

I'm thrilled when a series I'm starting has a lot of books, because if I like them, I have a great time ahead of me.
I agree about the Nalini Singh series and Patricia Briggs can keep going wi th any of her series and I'll keep reading them.

[Anne]

If the series is good and I've come to really care about the characters, I don't care how long they are. However, if one or two new characters get introduced in each consecutive book, it can get too cluttered and a bit overwhelming, IMHO.

[PNR lover]

I love series, the more books the better for me. I'm more inclined to reads books in series. In fact if I look at all the books I have read there is only about 2 to 4 books that are not in a series.

Dark hunters is one of my favourite series of all time, C Feehan:- Ghostwalkers and Dark series.
Laurann Dohner:- New species, I'm loving this one.
JR Ward BDB

So for me I'm a series girl.

[Lauren]

Sally wrote: "I'm thrilled when a series I'm starting has a lot of books, because if I like them, I have a great time ahead of me."

I agree, it is great knowing there is so much to look forward to.
I'm slowly working my way through the Dark Hunters, Psy-Changeling, Immortals After Dark and Lords of the Underworld and love the fact that there are several books still to come.

I have the opposite issue - reading the first couple of books and then knowing I have to wait months and months for the next one to come out.

[P.A.]

Jaq D wrote: "How many series' have that many books?

Darkover does, but each is a stand-alone book apart from the ones released after Marion Zimmer Bradley's death so it works.

The longest series I've read was..."

I can think of a few with a lot of books, these are just off the top of my head:

Dark Hunter has 21 books
Argenau vampires by Lynsay Sands has 18 books
Christine Feehan Dark series has 22 books
Breeds by Lora Leigh has 25
Midnight Breed by Lara Adrian has 10
Anita Blake has 20
Sookie Stackhouse has 11
Black Dagger Brotherhood has 10

[Ann has a dirty mouth]

When I was a young girl, I read all of the Babysitter's Club books up to 120 and nearly all of the Sweet Valley High books. Later I said "I can't believe that I read so many of those crappy books! What was I thinking!"

Then when you posted the list of long series, I realized that I have read all of the Dark Series, All of Black Dagger Brotherhood, and nearly all of the Argenau vampires, and I realized I have not really changed as much as I would like to think lol.

[Allison]

I usually don't mind, but I do agree that House of Night has fallen off quite a bit.

[P.A.]

Ann wrote: "When I was a young girl, I read all of the Babysitter's Club books up to 120 and nearly all of the Sweet Valley High books. Later I said "I can't believe that I read so many of those crappy books!..."

I read those too--especially the Sweet Valley high. I also got sucked into VC Andrews books

[PNR lover]

Mageverse (9 books) by Angela Knight
Darkyn (7 books) by Lynn Viehl
New Species (7 books) by Laurann Dohner
Pride (7 books) by Shelly Laurenston
Lords of the Underworld (10 books) by Gena Showalter
GhostWalkers (10 books) by Christine Feehan

[Abby]

See I'm one of those people that actually like the Carpathian and ghostwalker books by Feehan... For me I think the key is to space out each book so what I do is read a book from say the dark hunters.. Then I'll read a few more books from other series and about 5 or so books later I'll read the next book in the dark hunters and the same for any other series.. Right now I'm working on reading my way through 25 different series and most have more then 5 books... And I haven't been getting bored or anything like that because I'm spacing them out... However I don't space them out so much that I can't remember what the previous book was about... I find that it works for me...

[P.A.]

BJS wrote: "Mageverse (9 books) by Angela Knight
Darkyn (7 books) by Lynn Viehl
New Species (7 books) by Laurann Dohner
Pride (7 books) by Shelly Laurenston
Lords of the Underworld (10 books) by Gena Showalt..."

This is a fun game

-Morganville vamps- 11 books
Pys changeling - 10 books
House of Night- 10 books

[[deleted user]]

Well, I'm glad I'm not the only one then! LOL When I see series with that many books, I feel automatically overwhelmed. I also have a tendency to HAVE TO read all the books right after the other, so maybe that's why I get intimidated ^_^

[P.A.]

Sarah ~Slow reader, or slowly reading? ;) wrote: "Well, I'm glad I'm not the only one then! LOL When I see series with that many books, I feel automatically overwhelmed. I also have a tendency to HAVE TO read all the books right after the other, s..."

I actually take breaks in between books and I enjoy the series so much more. i just recently started reading Dark Hunter and I love it, but I still only read 2 books at a time and take a break. That way I don't get sick of them.

[PNR lover]

Sarah ~Slow reader, or slowly reading? ;) wrote: "Well, I'm glad I'm not the only one then! LOL When I see series with that many books, I feel automatically overwhelmed. I also have a tendency to HAVE TO read all the books right after the other, s..."

See for me if I found a series I go right through them, I hate having to wait for the next books to come out. Like the first book left it right on a cliff edge. It's seems like forever I have been waiting for the next book. Mind you I think there is only going to be 3 in this series.

[Ann has a dirty mouth]

I also know that this bothers some people, but I read books out of order like crazy. I figure if I find one at the used bookstore, I will at least be able to figure out enough of the story to see whether or not I want to look for the others. If always started at the beginning, it would probably be a lot more intimidating for me.

[PNR lover]

Jaq D wrote: "Wow, I never heard of most of these. Are they all Romance genre?"

Yes most of them are PNR

[[deleted user]]

Ann wrote: "I also know that this bothers some people, but I read books out of order like crazy. I figure if I find one at the used bookstore, I will at least be able to figure out enough of the story to see..."

You're right...that would drive me nuts. Before I read ANY book, I make sure I'm reading them in the right order. Authors always like to tell you they can be stand-alone, but I read a lot of series and I can tell you that you will always be missing something if you read out of order.

[Wan]

Me too. I have to read them in order (including novellas and spin-offs, if I could help it).

The Night Huntress caught me off guard. I didn't read the 2 Night Huntress World books between the 5th and the 6th and it bugs me like crazy.

[Sandra J]

Reading a series out of order never bothers me. I'm with Ann in that I can usually figure out the main points. If I like the book, I'll go back and read the earlier books to pick up the details I may have missed by jumping around. I also have no problem with dumping a series at any point if I dislike a book. I don't feel the need to finish it.

[P.A.]

Jaq D wrote: "Wow, I never heard of most of these. Are they all Romance genre?"

They are all PNR and if you're going to read any I would highly suggest the Dark Hunter series. I just discovered the series and have only read 7 of them so far but they are excellent.

I love that the characters are all so different with really different stories--it doesn't feel like some series where you feel like they take the names out of a story adn insert new names. There are also some really unique concepts about vampires and werewolves (I've never seen it before) and there are also a good mix of gods and demons too.

[PepperP0t]

P.A. wrote: "I kind of agree with you here, but I figure if a series has that many books there has to be something good about it. If they start to get repetetive or boring then I stop reading.

Personally, I..."

She could stand to change direction on Breeds - some of them we hear about constantly and others not at all -- plus aren't there other Breeds that could be eplored.

[P.A.]

Pat wrote: "P.A. wrote: "I kind of agree with you here, but I figure if a series has that many books there has to be something good about it. If they start to get repetetive or boring then I stop reading.

..."

I agree with you. I was really disappointed with It was like reading all of the others again. It's almost like a formula now: insert growly, Alpha male here, mix with heroine in trouble with the council, stir in a whole lot of mating hormone and some sex, and presto new book. The only reason I keep reading at this point is because I want some resolution to the overall plotline that has carried throughout--and I want to read Cassie's story.

[[deleted user]]

P.A. wrote: "Pat wrote: "P.A. wrote: "I kind of agree with you here, but I figure if a series has that many books there has to be something good about it. If they start to get repetetive or boring then I stop r..."

I'd like Dog's story too. I really like they coyote breeds and want more. I think I'm tired of the cat's and wolves' storylines for a while.

[Michelle]

I get burned out pretty quickly on series. I'll read one, maybe two, titles and then give it up for a while. I don't think I've ever read past five books in a series.

I think it does depend a lot on the writer. After a while, I think the ideas simply stop being fresh.

[Cmkage]

For me it depends all on the series. I read books 2-10 of the Psy/Changeling series one right afer the other (after having read the first one a couple months earlier) and I could read another 10 of them right now, they are that good.

On the other hand, I'm really hoping that the Sookie Stackhouse books end soon, since Charlaine Harris isn't much of a planner and it's really showing. Her first books in the Sookie series were so much better. Also, her Harper Conelly series, which is only four books long, is even better.

I usually like starting a series though that has 10 books out already. At least the wait between books isn't so long for a while. I've got so many favourite series that take a year or longer to get a new book out. I understand it takes time to write a book, but as a reader it is really frustrating.

[PepperP0t]

Michelle L. wrote: "I get burned out pretty quickly on series. I'll read one, maybe two, titles and then give it up for a while. I don't think I've ever read past five books in a series.

I think it does depend a lo..."

Sometimes it helps to stop after a couple of series books, read something else then return to the series. It seems to me that when I read more than 3 in a row of a series, I start to pick it apart (whether the book deserves it or not) so the mini-breaks help keep the series fresh for me.

[Anika]

I think it depends on the author, take for instance LKH the Anita Blake Series she changed within the Series which a lot of people would say it was for the worse but I keep reading because I have put time into it and I want to know how it finally ends. But many would say they've lost interest in this series. Also another series from L.A. Banks the Vampire Huntress Series that was long but overall thought it was good also K. Armstrong with the Women of the other World Series - excellent!

The other series that I read from my favorite authors vary between the 6 - 10 books and I can't wait for the next books to come out like I.Andrews, J.Estep, C.Neill, P.Weldon, C.Vaughn, K. Arthur and much more.

[P.A.]

Tabitha wrote: "P.A. wrote: "Pat wrote: "P.A. wrote: "I kind of agree with you here, but I figure if a series has that many books there has to be something good about it. If they start to get repetetive or boring ..."

Me too. Is it just me or do you picture Hugh Jackman as Wolverine whenever you read about Dog? It might just be the cigar but I can't get the visual out of my head.

[[deleted user]]

P.A. wrote: "Tabitha wrote: "P.A. wrote: "Pat wrote: "P.A. wrote: "I kind of agree with you here, but I figure if a series has that many books there has to be something good about it. If they start to get repet..."

I can see that, but without the bad hair cut.

[P.A.]

Tabitha wrote: "P.A. wrote: "Tabitha wrote: "P.A. wrote: "Pat wrote: "P.A. wrote: "I kind of agree with you here, but I figure if a series has that many books there has to be something good about it. If they start..."

Or the bad sideburns. LOL

[[deleted user]]

Anika wrote: "I think it depends on the author, take for instance LKH the Anita Blake Series she changed within the Series which a lot of people would say it was for the worse but I keep reading because I have p..."

I' ve been on the fence about reading any Anita Blake. They get high praise to start then the reviews went downhill after the first 8 or 10 books. I can't bring myself to start a long series KNOWING it will suck after a while. What do you think?

[Jim son of Jim (formerly PhotoJim)]

Terry Pratchet's Discworld is at 39 books.
J.D. Robb is at 34 books.

Were I starting out would I pick up the first in either series now? probably not. But I certainly won't miss a new one of either of these series either.

[Michelle]

Photojim wrote: "Terry Pratchet's Discworld is at 39 books.
J.D. Robb is at 34 books.

Were I starting out would I pick up the first in either series now? probably not. But I certainly won't miss a new one of eit..."

Wow! I had no idea about Discworld. My son and hubby love that series, but I don't think even they knew that.

[PepperP0t]

Alex Cross by James Patterson is 19books and Stone Barrington by Stuart Woods is at 22books.

I like them both for diversions and they're about all hubby will read.

[Wan]

Photojim wrote: "Terry Pratchet's Discworld is at 39 books.
J.D. Robb is at 34 books.

Were I starting out would I pick up the first in either series now? probably not. But I certainly won't miss a new one of eit..."

I'm about to stard In Death Series. How do you like it? And I'm OCD about reading them in order - Do you really have to read them in order on this series?

[Lanie]

If I start a series and I like it, I'll read every book as fast as I can get my hands on them. I got caught up to book 16 or so of the Anita Blake series in just over a week.

The first quarter of the series is awesome. If you are interested in reading them, I would go as far as Obsidian Butterfly or maybe The Harlequin and then stop. They do really turn into literary porn. The last couple of books were okay, and stepped away from the sex a bit but they can't compare to the first few.

I LOVE the Dark Hunter series. I own most of them and re-read them at times. Seize the Night and Acheron are by far my favorites and I think Bad Moon Rising easily takes second place behind them.

In any series things are going to get repetitive to a degree. Important information from the earlier books has to be highlighted in the later ones so that those people reading them out of order at least have some clue as to what is going on.

The Dark Hunters could probably go on forver and I would keep on reading them. :)

[Danielle The Book Huntress]

I like that there are plenty of series books out there to read. I always want to see what's up with the characters, and a series is a good way to go. On the other hand, I think there should be more standalones, since it's getting very hard to keep up with all the series books and the order.

So I'm fine with series, as long as the author wants to keep writing them and things don't get too stagnant. Even if I get kind of bored, I just break up the series with other books. I'm not one to read straight through a series because I don't like getting jaded with the story or the person's writing.

[C.D.]

I definitely get intimated by really long series, and honestly, really long books. I'd rather read 5-300 page books than one 1500 page book.

I think it's really hard for an author to keep things fresh after so many books (I have a hard time myself and I only have 3). Those that can do it...well, that's awesome. Personally, I like things resolved in a timely manner.

[Michelle]

Lady Danielle "The Book Huntress" wrote: "I like that there are plenty of series books out there to read. I always want to see what's up with the characters, and a series is a good way to go. On the other hand, I think there should be mo..."

I've heard that it's easier to sell books in a series, but I'm not sure if that's true. I do know that it can be frustrating to track down books in the right order, though. Usually, I borrow books from the library, so I find myself waiting a long time for the right book in the series.

I like stand alones, too.