Month: May 2021

discussion

Let’s Talk Bookish – What Makes a Good Sequel?

Fives @ Down The Rabbit Hole

Let’s Talk Bookish is a weekly meme, hosted by Rukky @ Eternity Books & Dani @ Literary Lion, where they discuss certain topics, share their opinions, and spread the love by visiting each others’ posts.

MAY 28: WHAT MAKES A GOOD SEQUEL? (M.T. WILSON @ THE LAST BOOK ON THE LEFT)

Prompts: What do you like to see in sequels? Are there any sequels you liked more than the first book? What makes some sequels disappointing? Do you feel like most sequels are worse than the original, or is that just an old wives tale? Do you get excited about sequels or do you prefer standalones?

Welcome to our last LTB in May, everyone! Today’s topic is yet another good one, and a controversial one at that, I’d say! Or perhaps not controversial, but certainly polarizing. I definitely have many friends in one camp versus the other, and I can totally see why there’d be such a variance in opinions.

For me, what I’d like to see in the sequel is a nod to the original characters and original plot, preferably dispersed throughout the sequel, but even if not, at least just a little nod of “nostalgia” really adds the feel of reading a sequel for me. I like to see at least some returning characters, in which we can see growth and change throughout the sequels (because over time, no protagonists or main characters should really remain that stagnant). Another thing I like is seeing part of the first book through another perspective, this often adds a lot of intrigue and interest, and I thoroughly enjoy it. This last one isn’t a requirement for a good sequel though, just something I like to see in one if there.

I can’t currently think of any sequels I substantially liked more than the original, but I did enjoy books 2 and 3 in the Stalking Jack the Ripper series more than the first. But just by the tiniest of margins. And these had all the elements I have mentioned: beautiful growth of characters (AND their relationships!) as well as continual nods to elements planted in previous books. It just felt like always a true continuation and something naturally progressing, rather than forcefully dragged on for the fans. Other than that though, I don’t know many (sequels way better than original) – since it’s unlikely I read the sequels if I didn’t enjoy the first book. So maybe they’re out there, but how do you expect me to read the sequel if the original wasn’t even good?

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3 star, adult

Review: The Paris Library by Janet Skeslien Charles

Andge @ Down the Rabbit Hole

Based on the true World War II story of the heroic librarians at the American Library in Paris, this is an unforgettable story of romance, friendship, family, and the power of literature to bring us together, perfect for fans of The Lilac Girls and The Paris Wife. 

Paris, 1939: Young and ambitious Odile Souchet has it all: her handsome police officer beau and a dream job at the American Library in Paris. When the Nazis march into Paris, Odile stands to lose everything she holds dear, including her beloved library. Together with her fellow librarians, Odile joins the Resistance with the best weapons she has: books. But when the war finally ends, instead of freedom, Odile tastes the bitter sting of unspeakable betrayal.

Montana, 1983: Lily is a lonely teenager looking for adventure in small-town Montana. Her interest is piqued by her solitary, elderly neighbor. As Lily uncovers more about her neighbor’s mysterious past, she finds that they share a love of language, the same longings, and the same intense jealousy, never suspecting that a dark secret from the past connects them.

A powerful novel that explores the consequences of our choices and the relationships that make us who we are—family, friends, and favorite authors—The Paris Library shows that extraordinary heroism can sometimes be found in the quietest of places.

“We all have a book that changed us forever,” I said. “One that let us know that we’re not alone. What’s yours?”

The Paris Library lived up to its name, bringing bursts of sympathy and wonder in equal measures. With a deep look into Odile’s past during the Nazi Occupation in Paris and her current life in the States, the biggest question one can ask is, how do the two points in her life connect?

I came in thinking this was going to be equal, alternating POVs between Lily and Odile, but it definitely focuses on Odile a lot more in the past. Lily’s story fills in the gaps and gives us glimpses into who Odile somehow becomes while pieces of the puzzle are still missing. I will start off by saying that I docked off stars because it does get slow in the middle at times, and the flow doesn’t always propel me to flip through the book as fast as possible. It meanders and lets us laze in the pages like we are going out on a stroll or browsing aimlessly in a library. But this is the only reason why it’s anything less than 5 stars, let me tell you.

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3.5 star, YA

Review: Flamefall by Rosaria Munda

Andge @ Down the Rabbit Hole

Series: The Aurelian Cycle #3

Revolutionary flames ignite around Annie, Lee, and a brand new POV character in the second book of the Fireborne trilogy.

After fleeing the revolution and settling into the craggy cliffs of New Pythos, the Dragonlords are eager to punish their usurpers–and reclaim their city. Their first order of business was destroying the Callipolan food supply. Now they’re coming for the Dragonriders.

Annie is Callipolis’s new Firstrider, and while her goal has always been to protect the people, being the government’s enforcer has turned her into public enemy number one.

Lee struggles to find his place after killing kin to prove himself to a leader who betrayed him. He can support Annie and the other Guardians . . . or join the radicals who look to topple the new regime.

Griff, a lowborn dragonrider who serves New Pythos, knows he has no future. And now that Julia, the Firstrider who had protected him, is dead, he is called on to sacrifice everything for the lords that oppress his people–or to forge a new path with the Callipolan Firstrider seeking his help.

With famine tearing Callipolis apart and the Pythians determined to take back what they lost, it will be up to Annie, Lee, and Griff to decide what to fight for–and who to love.

With war on the horizon from an enemy previously thought vanquished, this society Annie and Lee live in continue to make us question what is the right decision to make in hard circumstances in Flamefall. For a story about dragons, this series and book stands out for its exploration of government and politics with the added bonus of dragons thrown into the mix.

Annie is now head of the fleet of dragons, a feat that once would not have been possible as she was born into a serf family. With such great responsibilities, she is already put to the test with the looming threat from escaped dragonlords who were now refocusing their attention on the kingdom that once was theirs.

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