Confession: I don’t like trilogies.
It’s not the trilogies themselves, a good story is a good
story no matter how many books it takes to tell it. Many of the books I use as examples I actually really like, but many trilogies use similar storytelling formats that I don’t always enjoy.
Pattern-Pattern-Break
Trilogies that do
this: The Hunger Games, Divergent, Across the Universe, Inkheart
What it is: The
first two books have a similar setting, style, tone, or type of telling the story and
the third book breaks the well-known pattern.
Why I don’t like it:
Often times I find myself looking for a certain type of book and it sweeps the
rug out from under my feet leaving me shocked and having trouble adjusting.
1-in-3
Trilogies that do
this: Darkest Powers, Darkness Rising, Sea of Shadows (probably)
What it is: Books
stretched out into a trilogy that would have done better as a large standalone.
Usually the first book introduces the characters, world, and teases at the
plot. Not much else happens. The second book is heavy in action and explains
more. The third book wraps everything up.
Why I don’t like it:
I don’t like having to wait three years for a series to complete when it would
have been better as a single book. Most of the books are good, but as a
complete story it could have been great.
I also find that when I’m reading trilogies I start losing
interest after a while. This also has to do with how long it takes for the
series to come out and the fact that I don’t reread before the next book. I
feel like I love the first book and my love for it lessens until finally I’m
just reading the third book because I feel like I owe it to the series.
I’m not saying that I won’t read trilogies. Many of the
books in YA are trilogies and I do enjoy them, but I found that in general I
will love a standalone, duology, or series more often, and with more loyalty,
than I will a trilogy.
Am I the only odd-ball or have you noticed it as well? Are
there any other series that seem to fit the patterns that I listed above?
-Christina
