Sophomore Slump or Success? Ranking the Sequels of 16 Popular Romance Series
We’re reading sequels this month. Finally.
The question we’re answering: Is the second book ever as good as the first? We’ll rate and review 16 popular romance series sequels to see which ones soared and which ones slumped.
Let’s be real: With so many anticipated releases coming this year and a TBR that’s ballooning by the day (1,000+), making time for the next installment isn’t easy. Especially when the first one was so good. How could the second one be better? And what if it’s not? What if it earns a lower rating and we hate ourselves for bursting the bubble?
It’s got to be done. So we’re putting our foot down and demanding more of ourselves.
UPDATE Feb 3: We’ve reviewed two books already!
UPDATE Apr 27: Nine more reviews added! Nearly finished with this list. I started a new job in February so my progress has been slow. 🤷♀️ I like living indoors.
We’re going #2.
As we complete each book, we’ll catalog our ratings and reviews below so check back throughout the month to see our progress.
Ambrosia by C.N. Crawford—☆ 3.5 Complete
Genre: Fantasy
Book #1 Rating: Frost ☆4.0
Series: Frost and Nectar #2
Spice: 🔥 Mild
Tropes: Friends to Lovers, Hidden Powers, Hidden Royalty, Revenge, Rescue, MC is trapped, Royalty, Forbidden Love Interest, Fae/Fairies, Hidden Identity, Kidnapping, Only One Bed, Magic
Pages: 350 pages
Review: Easy to get back into the story - it's been almost exactly a year since I read Frost, the first book. Ava and Torin fighting against all odds to be together was exactly what my heart needed. They were kidnapped like 4 times in 10 chapters - that was a little repetitive. But you learn about Ava's past and it all makes sense. Still loved Shalini and I'm glad she got her HEA, too.
Between Two Kings by Lindsay Straube—☆TBD
Genre: TBD
Book #1 Rating: Split or Swallow ☆4.25
Series: Split or Swallow #2
Spice: 🔥 TBD
Tropes: TBD
Pages: 504 pages
Review: TBD
Brimstone by Callie Hart—☆TBD
Genre: TBD
Book #1 Rating: Quicksilver ☆4.5
Series: Fae & Alchemy #2
Spice: 🔥 TBD
Tropes: TBD
Pages: 660 pages
Review: TBD
Cherry Bomb by Sarah Blue—☆ 3.5 Complete
Genre: Omegaverse
Book #1 Rating: Lavender Moon ☆ Didn’t Read - Alright, fine, I didn’t read Lavender Moon (book #1), but I really wanted to include an Omegaverse in this month’s booklist.
Series: Lavender Moon #2
Spice: 🔥 Hot
Tropes: Omega FMC, Omegaverse, "Male, Male, Male, Female (MMMF)", Gay, MMC/FMC is nesting, In-Heat, Rich/Wealthy MMC, FMC is a Stripper, Lost Love Found, Second Chance
Pages: 261 pages
Review: Good omegaverse, but not great. She's a stripper trying to make ends meet as a late-blooming Omega. They're a new pack looking for an Omega. They all meet Hailey separately with Hayes, the Beta, bringing everything together. It was more emotional than anything; not a lot of distress or turmoil to overcome. I would have loved more about the blackmail.
Crown of Midnight by Sarah J. Maas—☆ 4.0 Complete
Genre: Fantasy
Book #1 Rating: Throne of Glass ☆3.75
Series: Throne of Glass #2
Spice: 🔥 Mild
Tropes: Royalty, Assassin, Magic, Magical Binding, Fae/Fairies, Friends to Lovers, MMC/FMC has a Cute Dog, MC is trapped, MMC/FMC Involved in a Rebellion/Resistance, Rescue, Kidnapping, Past Coming Back to Haunt Them, Hidden Powers, Murder Mystery, Loss of Friend (Death), Survival, Revenge, Virgin FMC, Family Saga, Forgiveness Arc, Slow Burn, MC is an Orphan, Hidden Relationship, Military, MC has a Secret Past, Hidden Identity
Pages: 420 pages
Review: Couldn’t put this one down. A good follow up to Throne of Glass - lots of story development and character focus. The Chaol/Celaena dynamic is beautiful and tragic. I can't wait to learn more about the Wyrdkeys and how Celeana's past comes back.
Dark Prince’s Mate by Anna Zaires & Charmaine Pauls—☆ 3.75 Complete
Genre: Fantasy Romance
Book #1 Rating: Dark Prince’s Captive ☆3.75
Series: A Realm of Dragons and Scrolls #2
Spice: 🔥🔥🔥 Hot
Tropes: Fated Mates, Rejected Mate, Arranged Marriage, Learning a New World, Magic, Hidden Powers, Hidden Royalty, Hidden Identity, Loss of Parent (Death), MC is trapped, Enemies to Lovers, Slavery, Auction, Portal to Another World, No Use of Contraception, MMC/FMC has a Medical Condition, Kidnapping, Rescue, Royalty, Sex First/Feelings Later, MC has Interfering Family, Family Saga, Healing from Injury, MC has Strained Relationship with Parent, Surprise Virgin, Forgiveness Arc, Redemption, Dragons, Aftercare
Pages: 292 pages
Review: Just as good as the first one - MMC realizes his bullying wasn't helping so he tries a new path, one that endears Elsie to him. Whole new guy. The real enemy in this story is revealed and...yeah, it makes sense, but there was nearly no build up to identifying them. It just...was. There's a lengthy explanation in a soliloquey, as madness dictates, but there weren't nuggets to lead you to the conclusion.
Eidolon by Grace Draven—☆ 4.0 Complete
Genre: Fantasy
Book #1 Rating: Radiance ☆4.25
Series: Wraith Kings #2
Spice: 🔥 Mild
Tropes: Arranged Marriage, Teach Me Your Culture/Cultural Exchange, Royalty, Baby on Doorstep, Cult/Sect, Loss of Sibling (Death), MMC/FMC is back from the dead, Past Coming Back to Haunt Them, Rescue, MC has Faked their death, Survival, MMC/FMC have to stop the end of the world, MMC/FMC is Infertile, Scarred MMC, Grow into Love
Pages: 268 pages
Review: I read Radiance two years ago so it took me a bit to get back into the story and remember where I left off. Once the meaning of "Eidolon" is revealed, you know what's coming. It's terrifying and their plan to save the land is impossible. I love it! Ildiko and Brishen are so good together and you see more of their relationship than we did in Radiance.
Eldritch by Keri Lake—☆TBD Currently Reading
Genre: TBD
Book #1 Rating: Anathema ☆3.5
Series: The Eating Woods #2
Spice: 🔥 TBD
Tropes: TBD
Pages: 762 pages
Review: TBD
His Grace, the Duke by Emily Rath—☆ 3.0 Complete
Genre: Historical Romance
Book #1 Rating: Beautiful Things ☆3.75
Series: Second Sons #2
Spice: 🔥🔥🔥 HOT
Tropes: Regency/Georgian/Victorian Period, Rich/Wealthy MMC, Royal/Commoner, "Male, Male, Male, Female (MMMF)", "Male, Male Relationship (MM)", MC has a Tragic Past, Why Choose, Reverse Harem, FMC Nurses the MMC Back to Life, Spanking, Voyeurism, MC is/has a Guardian, Friendship Group, Friends to Lovers, MCs were Childhood Friends, Touch Her and Die Vibes, Obsessive MMC, Protective MMC, Sassy Heroine, "Smart, Strong, Independent FMC", "Mysterious, Brooding (MMC)", Menage, Arranged Marriage, FMC with Sexual Confidence, Forced Proximity
Pages: 549 pages
Review: Low stakes, high smut. The big centerpiece of the book, Burke’s engagement Olivia (lovingly referred to as ‘the gorgon’), didn’t include any scheming. The group talked a big game, but worked very little. I would have loved to see them setting Olivia up in more 'meet-cute' situations with bachelors. Or see how they're talking her up at the gaming tables. It was all very hidden and the reader was kept in the house. George was fantastic in this one, honestly. He improved from the first book. Overall, while I generally like why choose and I liked these characters, I didn't think it was as good as book 1.
Kings of Lockdown by Caroline Peckham & Susanne Valenti—☆ 3.75 Complete
Genre: Dark Romance
Book #1 Rating: Kings of Quarantine ☆3.5
Series: Brutal Boys of Everlake Prep #2
Spice: 🔥🔥🔥 Hot
Tropes: Academic Setting, Dark Academia, Student/Teacher, Bully Romance, Redemption, Forgiveness Arc, Kidnapping, FMC Gives Herself as Payment, Rich/Wealthy MMC, Quarantine Romance, MC is trapped, Secrets, MC has a Secret Past, MMC Teaches FMC How to Fight, Secret/Elite Society, Power Struggle, Survival, Revenge, Enemies to Lovers, Emotional Abuse, Bad Boy/Good Girl, MMC Previously Abused, Found Family, Shunned FMC, Obsessive MMC, Protective MMC, "Smart, Strong, Independent FMC", FMC & MMC Enter Into A Contract, FMC with Sexual Confidence, MMC with Sexual Confidence, Reverse Harem, Why Choose, Spanking, Tortured MMC, Captive Falls for Captor (Not Stockholm Syndrom), Villain Becomes MMC, Forbidden Love Interest, Forced Roommates, Forced Proximity, Hate to Love You, Win her Back, One Night Stand, Slow Burn, Only One Bed, Loss of Parent (Death), Loss of Sibling (Death)
Pages: 588 pages
Review: Oooo things picked up! The plot is moving, the spice got spicier, the angst got angstier, and the boys somehow became a little human. This book uncovers a lot more of the motivations and dirty histories to make you feel connected to the MCs. And fuck the Unspeakables. It genuinely is hard to watch Tatum keep breaking the ‘rules’ and incurring their wrath, but that’s her strategy to break them down. And it works.
The Night Prince by Lauren Palphreyman—☆TBD
Genre: TBD
Book #1 Rating: The Wolf King ☆3.75
Series: The Wolf King #2
Spice: 🔥 TBD
Tropes: TBD
Pages: 487 pages
Review: TBD
Obsessively Yours by Jamie Applegate Hunter—☆ 4.5 Complete
Genre: Fantasy
Book #1 Rating: Viciously Yours ☆4.0
Series: Fae Kings of Eden #2
Spice: 🔥 Hot
Tropes: Fae/Fairies, Royal/Commoner, Clones/Twins, Fated Mates, Magic, MMC/FMC has a Traitorous Cat, Family Saga, Opposites Attract, Protective MMC, Obsessive MMC, Exploring Fantasies, Virgin MMC, Sex Club, Arranged Marriage, Murder Mystery, Magical Binding, Rescue, Touch Her and Die Vibes, Flashbacks
Pages: 444 pages
Review: Couldn't put this down. It's been a while since I finished a book in one sitting. Roman and Violet fight fate to be together despite her twin sister being literally named his mate. You can feel their anguish and betrayal at the world and the ones who set out to hurt them. I didn't know if the author would top book one, Viciously Yours, but she did, with flare.
Splintered Kingdom by Gretchen Powell Fox—☆ 4.25 Complete
Genre: Fantasy
Book #1 Rating: Smoke and Scar ☆4.0
Series: Shattered Crown #2
Spice: 🔥 Mild
Tropes: Fated Mates, Fae/Fairies, MMC/FMC have to stop the end of the world, Cult/Sect, Different Worlds, World Building, Magic, Hidden Royalty, Opposites Attract, Grumpy/Sunshine, Age Gap Romance, Murder Mystery, Revenge, MMC/FMC has a Cute Cat, Loss of Parent (Death), Rescue, Hidden Powers
Pages: 651 pages
Review: Fantastic sequel. The first 25% was a liiiiittle slow, setting up the world and situation after the Crucible. But once they get moving, the moving doesn't stop. You'll see some of the things coming, but not all of them. Elyria and Cedric FINALLY stop lying to themselves and everyone else about their connection. Took them long enough! ♥️
A Storm in Every Heart by Kate King—☆ 4.0 Complete
Genre: Fantasy
Book #1 Rating: A Thorn in Every Heart ☆4.5
Series: Enchanted Legacies #2
Spice: 🔥 Hot
Tropes: Fae/Fairies, Fated Mates, Castle Life, Royalty, Loss of Parent (Death), Loss of Faith, Power Struggle, Rescue, Kidnapping, Revenge, Murder Mystery, Loss of Sibling (Death), Found Family, Hate to Love You, Break Their Heart To Save Them, Only One Bed, Fairytale Retelling, Story Told in Past and Present
Pages: 489 pages
Review: Glad I kept going. I started this book listening to the audio, but I just wasn't connecting with it. So I took up the Kindle version and immediately enjoyed the story. I liked Kastian and Odessa in the first book, A Thorn in Every Heart. There were so many unanswered questions, intriguing "looks", and missing puzzle pieces until the last 6% when everything wrapped up. It's loosely tied to The Little Mermaid and at the end when she wears the makeshift dress fitted with a rope, you can see Disney's Ariel on the beach. That part was sweet.
The Swan by Allison Carr Waetcher—☆ 4.25 Complete
Genre: Fantasy
Book #1 Rating: The Consulate ☆4.0
Series: The World of the Orphium Maere #2
Spice: 🔥 Medium
Tropes: Assassin, MMC/FMC have to stop the end of the world, Portal to Another World, Rescue, Murder Mystery, MC Sees Ghosts, Magic, Loss of Parent (Death), Female Friendship Group, Forbidden Love Interest, Friends to Lovers, MC is trapped, Family Saga, Friendship Group
Pages: 350 pages
Review: Oh this was so good! The toughest most impenetrable killers in Orphium are secretly haunted, riddled with self-doubt, and simultaneously confident in their killing machine-ness. The first part is a murder mystery. The second part is a love story. The third part is the toppling of a corrupt regime, cloaked in goodness. Eryx and Rhiannon are wonderful individually and even better together.
Veradel by Mariah Montoya & Grace Pearce—☆ 2.75 Complete
Genre: Fantasy
Book #1 Rating: Xantera ☆4.0
Series: Guardians & Monsters #2
Spice: 🔥 Mild
Tropes: Vampire, Werewolves, Royalty, Rescue, MMC/FMC Involved in a Rebellion/Resistance, Loss of Parent (Death), Friendship Group, Doctor, Protective MMC, Age Gap Romance, Immortal/Mortal, Revenge, Survival, Family Saga, MC is an Only Child, Tortured MMC, Chosen One, Learning a New World, "Male, Female Relationship (MF)"
Pages: 363 pages
Review: I loved Xantera (4.0) and I was hyped for Veradel. So disappointed. There are three reasons why I gave this book a 3.0:
1. It was pretty uneventful for the first half of the book. The world-building was mostly reinforcing what we already knew from Xantera.
2. Why is there a conversation about alcohol and consent between a werewolf and a vampire who have already been intimate? It's not okay for him to touch her because she can't "consent" to the activity because she's had two drinks but he can watch her masturbate with a clear conscience? And then the next morning, he throws on the guilt trip to get his "10-hour" boner taken care of? But that's okay because now Saskia is sober? Shouldn't have even been a topic.
3. He dedicated hundreds of years to free the people of Xantera and take his place as their ruler and then when they succeed he...goes on vacation? What was this all for? Who is running the pack? How are the people integrating with the werewolves? So disappointed.