Do you think a series can ever be too long?

giorgos_97 · Post by **giorgos_97** » 04 Mar 2014, 15:25

Ofcourse! Some series are awesome but after a while they become boring and start repeating themselves. I think it's better to finish the series with a great ending than keeping on and on !

Sunshine-Ileen · Post by **Sunshine-Ileen** » 04 Mar 2014, 16:36

It depends, I think. The Warriors Series went on and on and on, and to me it never got boring. But Harry Potter, personally, I loved it, but she seemed to get more about war than friendships. So she got less creative at the end.

AMP76 · Post by **AMP76** » 04 Mar 2014, 16:43

Yes! In fact, I have been slightly disappointed in the lack of stand alone books lately. It seems that everyone is writing a series or trilogy at least and I see it as a marketing ploy. If its a good author, I will read it regardless, but I am now at the point where I won't even start reading a series until all the books are releases. Take Game of Thrones, that series has been in the making for almost 20 years, I am going to have to read the first five books all over again when the sixth comes out or I will be completely lost! I like a good story, but I also like it in one volume.

sybil1reader · Post by **sybil1reader** » 04 Mar 2014, 16:55

I love to read series, but I like to have them all before I begin. That way I can read them all at once and not forget during the waiting time for a new one. I love the J.D. Robb series as well as Patricia Cornwell's. I have a bunch that I have not read yet, so suggestions anyone?

AMP76 · Post by **AMP76** » 04 Mar 2014, 18:16

When I started the Anita Blake vampire hunter books, I think there were 4. Total.
Now there are over 20. No end in sight, no plot, all the characters have gone downhill in character and way too much sex, not even good sex, it used to make me blush and now I just skip a few pages. In a way I want to know what happens at the end, in a way I hope the lead character dies off so the series can just end.

Ulani Caite · Post by **Ulani Caite** » 04 Mar 2014, 19:17

Sometimes I find it difficult to continue a story if its series is too long. It feels kind of like I have to finish it but I already know what's going to happen, as was mentioned before it feels like the character's are no longer developing and it is just another problem they solve in the new book.
So, I believe if the author can keep it developing and interesting then there is no reason for it to end. But that is extremely difficult to do, so most series' should end when the story ceases developing.

Gulmohor · Post by **Gulmohor** » 04 Mar 2014, 21:33

I love travelling with the story and being a character myself alongwith the journey.The anticipation of reaching the end is far more exciting than meeting the it abruptly.Definitely a series can be too long as far as the author can bind the readers interest with his story telling skills.

SoftCoyote · Post by **SoftCoyote** » 05 Mar 2014, 10:39

All the time!
And I get particularly annoyed when a series starts off as a trilogy but ends up with more books.

khamneithang · Post by **khamneithang** » 05 Mar 2014, 11:59

I have always enjoyed them. But of late, many authors are unable to sustain readers' interest. Books that I have enjoyed, thought others would love it too, have been trashed by many others. I would always choose a series that I have read the previous installment over a new standalone.

amber200419 · Post by **amber200419** » 05 Mar 2014, 16:07

If I love the book and the character then I think it can go on forever in fact I have been upset when a series ended.

jen_obsessive · Post by **jen_obsessive** » 05 Mar 2014, 20:49

yes! it can become boring and stale. Although, if a book is well written and you can connect with the characters its hard to put that last one down.

jvanderveen · Post by **jvanderveen** » 05 Mar 2014, 23:04

I believe that if the author truly cares about the characters and his or her readers, then they will continue to strive to make exciting books. For example, I have read every book in the JD Robb "In Death" series and will continue to read them. I enjoy seeing how the characters evolve and how varied she manages to make the story lines.

Meg0169 · Post by **Meg0169** » 06 Mar 2014, 10:55

Yes. I understand not wanting a series to end. You want to continue going on adventures with the characters for as long as possible, and it's understandable. However,I think there comes a time when the characters and stories are no longer true to what they were. It's not that they've grown, they've simply been stretched too far. I also notice that sometimes an author will keep writing a series and the quality of the books will go down drastically, especially if all of a sudden they're co-authoring the books or writing them too fast. I think there's a time and a place where we have to say goodbye to our characters, otherwise they lose the love we have for them.

Kate_Emme · Post by **Kate_Emme** » 06 Mar 2014, 13:53

I agree with several of the other people's comments. While it can be amazing to have a great book turn into a series, there are times when it seems like the author is repeating plots, or getting lost in side stories in order to elongate their story. I just finished a seven book series that could have easily been a trilogy. I felt books 3,4, & 5 were so similar struggled to see how they moved the story along.

yalonde · Post by **yalonde** » 06 Mar 2014, 14:15

It depends if you enjoy the series. For example, I started off really enjoying the House of Night series by Kristin and P.C. Kast. Then I started to get more annoyed with the main character and wanted the series to END.