Lets Talk Bookish

Let’s Talk Bookish: Duologies vs Trilogies

Dini @ dinipandareads16 Comments

✨ Welcome back to another week of LTB! ✨

Let’s Talk Bookish is a weekly meme created by Rukky @Eternity Books and co-hosted by Aria @Book Nook Bits and myself! In this discussion meme, participants get to talk about certain topics, share opinions, and spread the love by visiting each other’s posts! Learn more about LTB, past topics and future topics HERE.

This week’s topic is:

⚔️ Duologies vs Trilogies ⚔️

Prompts: Do you prefer duologies or trilogies, and why? What are the pros and cons of having two books vs. three books in a series? What are some of your favourite duologies and/or trilogies? Do you think there are benefits to these shorter series, compared to ones with 4+ books, or are fewer books limiting?

Do you prefer duologies or trilogies, and why? What are the pros and cons of having two books vs. three books in a series?

If you’d have asked me a year ago, I probably would’ve said that I don’t particularly mind but I tend to read more trilogies. However, these days I feel like I’m all about the duologies. I love a story that can reel me in and give me all the character, world-building, and plot that I crave in a compact two-book series, while still delivering on that satisfying conclusion where it feels like everything is well-resolved.

I do think this answer is dependent on the book, author, and their writing, but also with a reader’s personal preference. Having more books in a series is great for a thorough exploration and deep-dive into the world-building, lore/history, character arcs, relationship dynamics, and of course, an engaging, well-developed, and well-paced plot. It gives the author more time to explore the world that they create while answering the questions that readers probably have after reading the first and/or second book(s). Sometimes there’s just so much that an author wants to do—and that is necessary for the story to be satisfying—that it does require more books to do so effectively.

Do you think there are benefits to these shorter series, compared to ones with 4+ books, or are fewer books limiting?

I don’t think fewer books are limiting at all! Maybe I’m generalizing here (or just putting my own thoughts on others) but I think readers have less patience for longer series these days, unless it’s really good. Like, “can’t eat, can’t sleep, can’t function cos I’m just thinking about that series” type of good. That or the books in a series are interconnected but introduce new mini plots with each book or are companion novels—from my knowledge I’m looking at Dungeon Crawler Carl, Wayfarers, The Singing Hills Cycle, etc.

With those longer series, unless the scale of the world, plot, and characters are massive and continuously compelling (i.e. Brandon Sanderson levels), I think there’s a higher risk of losing interest if the combined elements become too long-winded or boring. I particularly love when an author doesn’t try to stretch out a story and keeps it straight to the point but with a good enough dose of the essential elements that it can still deliver a very satisfying conclusion.

What are some of your favourite duologies and/or trilogies?

*Book covers link to the Goodreads pages*

Trilogies

The Green Bone Saga by Fonda Lee, Between Earth and Sky by Rebecca Roanhorse, The Poppy War by R. F. Kuang, The Black Magician Trilogy by Trudi Canavan, Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor, Shades of Magic by V.E. Schwab, Mistborn by Brandon Sanderson

Duologies

The Sands of Arawiya by Hafsah Faizal, The Shepherd King by Rachel Gillig, The Crimson Moth by Kristen Ciccarelli, Letters of Enchantment by Rebecca Ross, Villains by V.E. Schwab, The Blood of Stars by Elizabeth Lim, Fable by Adrienne Young

Don’t forget to check out the other bloggers who joined the discussion this week! 👇🏽

Emma @ Pages of Emma
Leyre @ Read You Leyre
Lost @ Chronicles of Tick Tock
Abyssal Librarian
Julie @ Bookflowerpath
Elle @ Unwrapping Words
Shoto @ Magic & Maybes
Laurie @ Laurie Is Reading

If I’ve missed your post this week, don’t hesitate to let me know in the comments, and I’ll add you to this week’s list of community posts ASAP!

What about you—do you prefer duologies or trilogies, or does it depend on your mood? What are some of your favourite duologies/trilogies?

16 thoughts on “Let’s Talk Bookish: Duologies vs Trilogies”

  2. I am a sucker for some good worldbuilding and I agree that trilogies are just better for it!

    I have also noticed a decline in attention spans in general, and definitely agree that it means duologies (and standalones) are more popular now. It’s great that there are books for everyone, and I am just glad that there are still authors about who will give us 3+ books haha. Loooong series are definitely some of my favourites.

    We have so many trilogies in common! I always know I don’t need to shout about TGBS with you haha!

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    • I think duologies are a good middle ground. I’ve noticed some authors creating duologies for different characters in the same world (mostly in romance fantasy) and I love that concept because it gives more of the lore and world-building that readers love, but it also allows for the story to extend in different directions, and it keeps things fresh with a new story each time. There are cons to this idea as well, but its seems to work for many readers (and the one I have tried was fun)! I do enjoy a longer series that allows me to get obsessed and really immerse myself in a world and the character’s lives though. I haven’t read very many longer series, but I’m dipping my toes in one right now!

      And YES, you know I will always fight for TGBS to be read by EVERYONE! 😂 I’d make it required fantasy reading if I could! 🤭

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    • Oh, yes. This! It’s the worst when the author doesn’t come out with the next or final book in a series that has been so hotly anticipated. I’ve experienced reading a handful of these but thankfully, not so many that it becomes too much. But I agree that it’s always a risk!

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  4. Absolutely loved reading your take on this! I completely agree — there’s something so satisfying about a well-crafted duology that gives you everything: the world-building, character depth, AND that tidy, conclusive ending, all without the long-term commitment of a massive series.

    I also think you hit the nail on the head with how reader patience has changed. Unless a series is utterly obsessive-level good, it can be hard to stick with 4+ books these days. Life’s busy, the TBR pile is never-ending, and sometimes it’s just refreshing to know the story will wrap up neatly after two (or three) installments.

    I’ve been loving duologies for that reason lately too!

    Curious — do you ever wish some trilogies had just stayed as duologies? 👀

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    • Exactly, there’s too much going on in every sphere of life and even though reading is my love, I find that it needs to get me to obsessive-levels of enjoyment to want to stick to even a trilogy these days. Plus, the payoff and wait has to be worth it, which I’ve been having trouble finding more of these days. It could be that I’m just reading the wrong books but it’s honestly not exactly enticing me to keep trying! 🫣

      I have read trilogies that I wish had stayed duologies. I’d get to the end of the second book and wonder why this is being extended because I don’t see that there’s any need for it. It gives ‘middle book’ syndrome where it’s just filler and that filler could’ve been used to create a strong story and ending, even if that means the page count gets extended a bit more, rather than creating a whole new book for it! 👀

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  6. I’ve been on the hunt for more duologies so looking into all the ones you’ve recommended here. I agree fully with you – definitely prefer shorter series nowadays and love when the story is resolved between one to two books. Starts to feel dragged out if they’re a lot longer to me now (though of course, some fantasy books require it).

    Interesting topic this week! Here’s my discussion: https://booksandblah.wordpress.com/2025/07/04/lets-talk-bookish-duologies-vs-trilogies/

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    • Yeah, unless the world-building is super complex and grand and the storyline is so engaging that I don’t want to stop reading, I find it hard to feel as invested in longer series now. I’ve too often felt that longer series aren’t worth it these days but I could just be reading the wrong ones or need to try different ones! 🤭

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  8. I love to see some of my favorite duologies and trilogies on your list! I agree, it truly depends on the books and the story they set out to tell. If it has higher stakes, I prefer trilogies (or longer) rather than rushing the plot but if it’s not too heavy, then duology is better or otherwise it will suffer from the dreaded middle book syndrome 🥲

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  9. For me, if I am really enjoying the stories and characters, I want more. I have been reading more trilogies and duologies than before, and sometimes that is perfect. It’s tough to decide, Dini.

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  10. I always thought “the more the merrier” but nowadays, I know that the higher the number of books, the more it can also drag itself out. As I know at least one example here.

    Currently reading the first book of a duology and am curious for the second which is going to be released in November. It’s the second duology in the series overall, and I read the first book (The Serpend and the Wings of Night) but skipped book no. 2. It’s just not for me when the POV changed entirely to a different character/ or changed to a switching POV thing. – I just love my one-POV too much and can’t let go, yet 😭

    I know book series, where the second book falls into the infamous second-book-syndrome and just isn’t quite as good anymore. Ofc, I bet that can happen to duologies as well but overall, in trilogies it might happen when fillers are needed to get to the third/ next book in the first place. I just had it happen too many times when I was excited for book no. 2 and it got me wildly disappointed

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