The ironic thing about the charm of books is that it's difficult to describe in words. A good book is more than just a worthy read. For some, it's the quickest possible way to time travel, for some others it's the only form of escape their life grants, and for some more others, it's the cheapest alternative to therapy.
No matter the objective you pick up a promising book with, a great read will always leave your brain with a new flush of dopamine. But not all good books end up reaching their suitable readers because not all good books are talked about as enthusiastically and widely as those topping the bestseller list. And this trend has especially applied to some sequel books that were just as good, if not better, than the original ones, but somehow, failed to match the popularity of the prequel.
If you've been in pursuit of a riveting new read, but none of the ones making the rounds amongst the masses interest you, you came to the right place. Scroll down to discover 5 sequel books that were just as good, but only half as popular as the original ones.
*Warning* - Spoilers ahead. Don't say we didn't warn you.
1. Oliver's Story
Sequel To Love Story By Erich Segal
The original book of Love Story by Erich Segal was a record-breaking book in the romance genre. But the lesser-known, and highly underrated sequel to the original, Oliver's Story, carried the sense of closure a lot of people demanded after reaching the abrupt ending of the prequel. Love Story is a mushy, feel-good book that hits all the right buttons to invoke your inner romantic, but Oliver's Story is for those that prefer a pinch of practicality in their tales of romance. As the name suggests, Oliver's Story traces the life and grief of Oliver, after Jenny is no longer in his life.
Image Courtesy: Amazon.in
Goodreads rating: 3.2/5
2. The Dark Forest
Sequel To The Three-Body Problem By Liu Cixin
I'm yet to meet a science fiction lover, who's read the original and not been absolutely mind-blown. The Hugo Award-winning epic adult sci-fi novel struck a chord with a legion of readers, but unfortunately, the just as brilliant sequel failed to gather the same amount of attention from the masses. But the truth is, the sequel will actually make the epic first book, often dubbed as the best sci-book ever, pale in comparison.
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Goodreads rating: 4.41/5
3. Doctor Sleep
Sequel To The Shining By Stephen King
Even if you've never read The Shining, you've probably seen the memes, which speaks volumes about the massive popularity the original book received and continues to date. The Shining made me lose sleep, and grip tightly onto the book till I reached its very last page. But the sequel by the name of Doctor Sleep does much more than just take the original story forward. Doctor Sleep revisits the story of Danny, the psychic child from the original book, and weaves its own enticing tale, that doesn't need to depend on the prequel's plot to get you hooked.
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Goodreads rating: 4.12/5
4. Speaker For The Dead
Sequel To Ender's Game By Orson Scott Card
The original book Ender's Game managed to bewitch a large section of sci-fi enthusiasts, who weren't quite ready to commit to the harder forms of the genre. On the surface, you get a simple story, but as you probe deeper you discover hard-hitting truths, psychological tendencies, and nuances of group dynamics. However, the sequel is on a whole other league. It's a sci-fi socio-philosophy masterpiece that makes for one of those reads you have to experience at least once in your lifetime, especially if the genre appeals to your reading sensibilities.
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Goodreads rating: 4.07/5
5. Through the Looking-Glass and What Alice Found There
Sequel To Alice's Adventures In Wonderland By Lewis Carrol
Obviously, one of the most popular books in the history of fiction writing, Alice's Adventures in Wonderland is a common mention on almost every reader's favourite childhood classics list. But the sequel is the biggest evidence, that Lewis Carrol is one of those authors that can actually make lightning strike twice. The sequel extends the adventures of Alice, with a narration of her latest escapade down a new, crazier and even more wonderful fantastical world where everything is in reverse, including logic. If you liked the original like almost every member of the world population, you've GOT to read this sequel!
Image Courtesy: Amazon.in
Goodreads rating: 4.07/5
Don't judge a book by its cover. Or in this case, the insane popularity of the prequel it's based on.
