Starting a Sequel

There’s something special about starting a sequel, being reunited with characters who took you on a great adventure the book before. I’ve recently started the audiobook Bear Knight, it’s the second book in James R. Hannibal’s Lightraider series. For me, it’s only been a couple weeks since I’ve encountered the characters, but for the characters, a whole year has passed.

Starting a sequel feels like catching up with old friends. I find myself smiling when a character from the first book reappears and, naturally, I wonder how they’ve been during the obscure time we’ve been apart. Sometimes, sequels get a lot of grief because they’re “never better than the first book/movie/season/etc.” but regardless of how good the story is, it’s a treasure to be reunited with the characters you grew to love from the first novel. Sequels are also opportunities to meet new characters on new adventures.

So, what are your thoughts on sequels? Do they excite? Do you groan because you prefer stand-alone novels? Maybe you’re like me and you view the characters as friends and you’re just happy to be with them again?