Do you think a series can ever be too long?

[Sakilunamermaid]

I own a lot of the Stephanie Plum books by Janet Evanovich. I have many series where there are 7 plus books, I really like Vampire Academy, True Blood, and the Thirst series lol yes they are all vampire books hah

The length of the books in the series also effect the likelihood of reading them. Like 12 books that are 350 pages compared to 700+ pages can make a huge difference.

[Ameesa]

It depends on the series. If it is something written with a goal in mind like Wheel of Time or the Stormlight Archives then I don't mind them being long. The Stephanie Plum books, though it is a series with continuing characters, isn't a series with any goal. You are just putting the same people in different situations. Harry Potter is another good example of a series with a goal, she knew where she wanted her characters to end, and didn't just keep tossing them into new situations without her mind set on that goal.

[Jesscar6]

It can if its not done well.
It depends on what the series is about but any series has the potential to drag on too long. Its just whether the Author ends it at a good point.

[elinadsy]

I think it really depends on the type of book. I've found young adult fiction series tend to be a bit better in terms of retaining quality over length? But adult series, especially high fantasy, I find exhausting if they're long.

I have noticed though that the sweet spot is the halfway point in the series when the author really has a handle on their characterization and pacing, but hasn't used up all their ideas.

[Shrabastee Chakraborty]

Yes, even with a good story and amazing characters, I believe too long series can become monotonous and lose it's initial charm. I will never want that for my favourite books. I'd rather they end not too soon, nor too late, but keeps me engrossed till the very end.

[Dael Reader]

I think a lot of series are too long. Especially some of the planned series that have been published within recent years. There have been some series where I liked the idea and plot of the first book, but was deeply disappointed in the subsequent installments. The authors were clearly more interested in selling more books than writing a good story. Also, generally, I hate it when authors write even one sequel to their best-selling novels. One and done! Don't ruin things by writing a bad sequel. Think up a new story instead.

[_Delly_01]

I must say I much prefer books that stand alone rather those which are part of a series.

I completely agree with you. Most of the time, books that are part of a series are dragged out for longer than what they should be, and it makes for an underwhelming read because they're predictable or filler. Especially the second book in a trilogy that does nothing but set up for the final book. Even a duology can be a letdown.

[alewis12]

Oh yes they can! I've experienced it first hand with a series I was into at one time. It makes the plot seem stretched thin

[Henrytbab]

I always love it when a good book continues into more books of a series, but I wonder if sometimes, a series goes on too long? For example, I have read all of the Stephanie Plum books by Janet Evanovich, but I have discovered that by the time you get to about book 14 or so, that they seem to be a different problem to solve, but none of the characters situations or anything else changes. I makes the story less enjoyable because the stories become very predictable. I think that once you get to that point, either the series needs to end, or maybe the author just needs to take a break from that particular series or something. Have any of you experienced this with other series?

Yes. They can be too long. I generally am not fond of them even.

[Lia A]

I think that it can. Usually, more than five books are too much for me, unless the books are particularly good. In most of the books that I have read that have long series, the plot seemed to be stretched thin, or a convenient problem for the characters to solve comes up when a book ends.

[monserrat_21]

That happened to me with the True Blood series. I bought a box that contained the first six books, I read them, I liked them, but then I learned that there were at least seven more and I lost my interest. If there's a reason why there are so many, like the Harry Potter books where there's a book for each year, I don't mind, but usually if a series is longer than five or six books, I don't read it.

[Victor Kilyungi]

Yes. After 10 books I think that's overkill and I wouldn't want to read any more.

[Nathaniel Owolabi]

if every single book in a series is great, then the series can never get too long. I used to read most of Net Force series the only reason I stopped was because the author changed the main characters in the book. however, if he hadn't done that, I would still have continued reading it. series never get boring, I think it's the author that gets less inspiration.

[Wesusa]

For sure. Series can drag out a lot longer than the story needs to. Harry Potter is a perfect length. I would say that Cursed Child upsets that balance, and I personally do not deem that as part of the series.

[Alissa Nesson]

I think it depends on the series. Some could go on forever and I would keep reading.