Do you read spin-off books within a series?

[pixy0stix]

Do you read spin-off books from within a series? Such as there's a main character based series, and then there are half-series books with a supporting character from the main series taking the lead.

I don't ever read those.

[rainbowchip]

I usually do if I like the series/author.
But maybe that's just because if I find an author I like, I tend to read all of their stuff.

[smock]

Rarely, unless I really like the series. I feel the same way about prequels and novellas. (And I admit that as someone who wrote a prequel novella for one of my books, lol!)

[shananagins]

Sometimes I do. If I really like the author I'll try the spinoff books. I liked the John Grey books from the Outlander series and I like the Virgil Flowers books from John Sandford's Prey series.
I don't usually like it when an author puts out a novella that is between two regular books in a series. I don't often read novellas unless I can get them on audio from the library.

[travella]

I can only think of one series where I've read a spin-off book(s), The Life We Bury by Allen Eskins. I LOVED the Life We Bury. When I heard that he had other books that featured a detective that appeared in The Life We Bury I decided that I needed to read those as well. I have only read The Guise of Another at this point, but I liked it, and plan to read the rest of his books.

I keep telling myself I should read the spin-off books for Outlander, but I just cannot get myself to pick them up...

[dorothyinAus]

I will if I like the character and it continues the main story in some way.

[secretlyevil]

Eh...it depends.

[ufcasey]

I very rarely read spin-offs, whether they are an entire series, a one book non-main character, a prequel, or a novella. And I actually get irrationally angry when the stuff in those books are referenced in any way in the main books, because if it was so important that the reader had to know it for the main original book series it should be in the books for that main series!

The only spin-off series that I have read and liked is Patricia Briggs' Alpha and Omega spin from her Mercy series. Though the Mercy books are still better. Oh and the new Hugh spin-off series from the Ilona Andrews' Kate Daniels series, it's only one book so far but I really liked it! But I like everything they write haha

[abs]

Nope. Not usually. I also don’t read the novellas about secondary characters. Like ufcasey said it’s super annoying when events from the spin off are mentioned in the main series. I will also never understand the novella concept. Either write a full length novel or don’t. A novella is just annoying—especially when it advances the series in a way in which you are lost if you don’t read it.

[pixy0stix]

Jul 25, 2018 20:19:05 GMT -5 ufcasey said:

The only spin-off series that I have read and liked is Patricia Briggs' Alpha and Omega spin from her Mercy series. Though the Mercy books are still better. Oh and the new Hugh spin-off series from the Ilona Andrews' Kate Daniels series, it's only one book so far but I really liked it! But I like everything they write haha

Funny you mention these, because both were what prompted this. I’d rather they just continue the main series instead of getting sidetracked.

[ufcasey]

Jul 25, 2018 20:30:38 GMT -5 pixy0stix said:

Jul 25, 2018 20:19:05 GMT -5 ufcasey said:

The only spin-off series that I have read and liked is Patricia Briggs' Alpha and Omega spin from her Mercy series. Though the Mercy books are still better. Oh and the new Hugh spin-off series from the Ilona Andrews' Kate Daniels series, it's only one book so far but I really liked it! But I like everything they write haha

Funny you mention these, because both were what prompted this. I’d rather they just continue the main series instead of getting sidetracked.

Ha! I agree with not needing Anna/Charles books for the Mercy series. However for the Kate Daniels series there is only one book left (released at the end of next month) and from what I read on their blog it is recommended to read Hugh's book before that final one. So at least the Hugh book isn't taking time away from KD, since it is ending (well, Hugh's book probably delayed that final KD book, but oh well they are also writing the Innkeeper book and the Nevada books too).

[pixy0stix]

Jul 25, 2018 20:48:06 GMT -5 ufcasey said:

Jul 25, 2018 20:30:38 GMT -5 pixy0stix said:

Funny you mention these, because both were what prompted this. I’d rather they just continue the main series instead of getting sidetracked.

Ha! I agree with not needing Anna/Charles books for the Mercy series. However for the Kate Daniels series there is only one book left (released at the end of next month) and from what I read on their blog it is recommended to read Hugh's book before that final one. So at least the Hugh book isn't taking time away from KD, since it is ending (well, Hugh's book probably delayed that final KD book, but oh well they are also writing the Innkeeper book and the Nevada books too).

But I don't wanna read about Hugh! *whine*  (LOL!)

I also liked the Hidden Legacy books, and love the Innkeeper series.

[litskispeciality]

I don't read a lot of series. The only one I could think I wanted to read was "Four" from the Divergent series, but never got around to it. I guess if I really like an author I try to read everything anyway. A future thread or question of the week (if we haven't already had one)...what author(s) do you read everything?

[ufcasey]

Jul 25, 2018 22:34:05 GMT -5 pixy0stix said:

Jul 25, 2018 20:48:06 GMT -5 ufcasey said:

Ha! I agree with not needing Anna/Charles books for the Mercy series. However for the Kate Daniels series there is only one book left (released at the end of next month) and from what I read on their blog it is recommended to read Hugh's book before that final one. So at least the Hugh book isn't taking time away from KD, since it is ending (well, Hugh's book probably delayed that final KD book, but oh well they are also writing the Innkeeper book and the Nevada books too).

But I don't wanna read about Hugh! *whine*  (LOL!)

I also liked the Hidden Legacy books, and love the Innkeeper series.

Yeah I would basically read anything they write (litskispeciality - totally stealing that question for next week!). I think The Edge series is the only one I haven't finished out of all the stuff they have written. They could write a grocery list and I would read it!

I wasn't so sure about a Hugh-centric book, I mean, he tried to starve/drown someone to death, not exactly hero-material. But the book introduces a new character, Elara, who I found very interesting.

[bex]

Only if I like the actual character that the spinoff is about.

Most series I read are YA, and I get annoyed when the author is clearly trying to make a follow up series "happen," (not sure if those are what you mean by spinoffs or not) and they spend a good deal of the final book in the initial series setting up for the next series. City of Heavenly Fire (for mortal instruments) and the end of the vampire academy series are two that come to mind that are guilty of this. I want to read a final book devoted completely to the characters I am already invested in, don't try to sell me on new characters that I don't like that much.

[snshne322]

Jul 25, 2018 20:19:05 GMT -5 ufcasey said:

I very rarely read spin-offs, whether they are an entire series, a one book non-main character, a prequel, or a novella. And I actually get irrationally angry when the stuff in those books are referenced in any way in the main books, because if it was so important that the reader had to know it for the main original book series it should be in the books for that main series!

The only spin-off series that I have read and liked is Patricia Briggs' Alpha and Omega spin from her Mercy series. Though the Mercy books are still better. Oh and the new Hugh spin-off series from the Ilona Andrews' Kate Daniels series, it's only one book so far but I really liked it! But I like everything they write haha

This is my only hang up.  I don't mind reading spinoffs and have enjoyed quite a few, but I don't want to have to read all of them to get every reference. Black Dagger Brotherhood is a BIG one that does it and it's mostly turned me off of them.  I expect the original characters to show up in some capacity, but they still need to be separate.

I'm glad to hear you liked the Hugh story!  I almost picked it up since my library doesn't have it yet, but it was $15.99 for a paperback!  I typically like her books and like to have a copy, but it just seems like a lot for a paperback.

[snshne322]

I should have finished the post first, lol.

I'm glad it evolved to Patrica Briggs/Ilona Andrew love. I agree that I wasn't thrilled about The Edge series, but everything else has been great. I'm getting worried about Mercy though, a couple of books in the middle were tough. 6, 7 and 8 maybe?

[brandy0331]

I find that when I do read a spin-off, I would have been better off to just reread the series if I just want to be in that “world” so to speak. Hope that makes sense.

[aurora]

Sometimes, if I like the character. I did enjoy the Lord John spinoffs from the Outlander series.

I plan to boycott all future GRR Martin spinoffs to vote with my wallet for him to work on the actual series, goshdarnit.

[slaycurls]

HAHAHAHA I get this. It's also something that I do not enjoy.

[rainbowchip]

Maybe I'm not understanding the question. Would Bloodlines and Six of Crows be spin offs? Because I liked those better than the originals.

[expectantsteelerfan]

I don't, and I find it odd that I don't. I am a Harry Potter lover, and I haven't read Fantastic Beasts or The Cursed Child. And my favorite series of all time is Stephen King's Dark Tower, and I didn't read The Wind Through the Keyhole. I think I maybe would if I was aware of the spin-offs when reading the series for the first time. But when they come out much later, I feel like I'd have to re-read the whole series to get back into the mindset to be in that 'world', and if it's something I loved as-is, I don't necessarily want to read something that might not live up to expectations (even if other fans loved the spin-offs).