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Reading about Richelle Mead's future VA spin-off series, got me thinking about spin-offs in general. There are quite a few out there.

I always wonder, is it best to read the first book in the original series before starting a spin-off series? Think it's important to get the "full history" of the characters -OR- not necessarily needed since there are new characters involved in the spin-offs (typically) with limited interaction from the "original" series characters?

Please post your thoughts, along with any spin-offs you know of/have read, stating if its (1) best to start with series 1, book 1 -OR- (2) ok to jump into the spin-off book 1.

(I hope that makes sense. Let me know if it only makes sense to me. LOL)

Here are some spin-offs I have read:


Stealing Shadows - Bishop / Special Crimes Unit #1 - Kay Hooper
I have read all of her Bishop/SCU books. Each comes as a trilogy within the series. (Example: Stealing Shadows is book #1 in the "Shadows" trilogy and Touching Evil is book #1 in the "Evil" trilogy, but book #4 in the overall series) I would say that a reader could jump into one of the trilogies without having read the previous books, but you will miss out on overall connection of all the characters in the overall series to each other.

ETA: After thinking about this one ^^ more, I don't know that it really counts as a true spin-off. It's more like a bunch of trilogies put together to form a series.

First Drop of Crimson - Night Huntress World #1 - Jeaniene Frost
I have read all of her "Night Huntress" series (Halfway to the Grave book #1) and this book. It's listed as #1 in the series and I think a reader could jump in without having first read NH. You will, however, miss out on some other character history built in the "mother" series.

And some I haven't (so, please correct my reading order, if it's wrong, I'm just guessing here ...):


Love in the Time of Dragons - Light Dragons #1 - Katie MacAlister
I haven't read any of her dragon series, but according to FlibBityFLoob, she recommends:
Start with You Slay Me, Aisling Gray series (#1-4)
Then, read Playing with Fire, Silver Dragons series (#1-3)
Then, read Love in the Time of Dragons

Shadowlight - Kyndred #1 - Lynn Viehl
Listed as "Kyndred #1 / Darkyn #8"
Start with: If Angels Burn, Darkyn #1

The Rogue Hunter - Rogue Hunter #1 - Lynsay Sands
Listed as "Rogue Hunter #1 / Argeneau Vampires #10"
Start with: A Quick Bite, Argeneau Vampires #1

Fired Up - Dreamlight Trilogy #1 - Jayne Ann Krentz
Listed as "Dreamlight Trilogy #1 / Arcane Society #7"
Start with: Second Sight, Arcane Society #1

The Dream-Hunter - Dream Hunter #1 - Sherrilyn Kenyon
Listed as "Dark Hunter - Dream Hunter #11"
Start with: Fantasy Lover, Dark Hunter #1

Undone - Outcast Season #1 - Rachel Caine
Listed as "Outcast Season #1"
Start with: Ill Wind, Weather Warden #1

I prefer to read the very first book with the original characters but I'm not anal about it. For some books though you really do need to read the original or you'll just spend you entire time being confused while reading the spin off. Sometimes an author really should just leave a good series alone though. I LOVE Richelle Mead!!! She'll do great with the Vampire Academy spinoffs. I cant wait to read them

And some up-coming Spin-offs:


Radiance - Radiance #1 - Alyson Noel
Start with: Evermore, Immortals #1
... a guess based on Alyson Noel's site stating "featuring Ever's younger sister, Riley"

Eternal Rider - Lords of Deliverance #1 - Larissa Ione
Start with: Pleasure Unbound, Demonica #1
... a guess based on Larissa Ione's site stating "The Lords of Deliverance series is a Demonica spinoff, set in the same world and based on the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse. The first hero, Ares (War) will be introduced in Sin Undone, and the first book, Eternal Rider, will hit the shelves March 2011."

The Lost Hero - The Heroes of Olympus #1 - Rick Riordan (read more )
Start with: The Lightning Thief, Percy Jackson #1

Wolf Pact - Wolf Pact # 1 - Melissa De La Cruz
Start with: Blue Bloods, Blue Bloods #1
... a guess based on the book's description "Wolf Pact is a spinoff in the Blue Bloods starring Bliss Llewellyn, a central character in the Blue Bloods novels, as she goes on a quest to find the legendary Hounds of Hell and convince them to join the Blue Blood vampires in their war against the Silver Bloods."


And Yet-to-be-named Coming-Soon:

* Vampire Academy Spin off - Richelle Mead
* Sookie Spin off??? Maybe? (read more )

Sashana wrote: "I prefer to read the very first book with the original characters but I'm not anal about it. For some books though you really do need to read the original or you'll just spend you entire time being..."

Yeah, I'm anxious for that one as well. :)

The only one of the above you listed Steph, that I feel able to comment on is the Jayne Ann Krentz. I've read all of them up to and including Burning Lamp which is Dreamlight 2, Arcane 8; and I'd say it would be nice to have read the others but not essential.

JAK always does a recap of how and why, but does bring in characters from other books, if sometimes only in passing, as they are usually from other times and places.

Of some of the other series you mentioned, I'm either reading books in the original series or they're on my tottering tbr tower.

My favorite spin off is the Alpha & Omega series by Patricia Briggs.

Starting with: these are a spin off of the Mercy Thompson series. I actually like the Alpha & Omega series better. I think with the Alpha & Omega series it is best to read Mercy Thompson first, as there are spoiers in the A&O series, but you do not need to read it to understand it.


I am not sure if the Fever series qualifies as a spin-off, but Moning first had her Highlander series and then wroter her Fever series. I do not think you need to read one first over the other. I read the Fever series first (and then again after I read the Highlander series, and then again ......), there are basically no spoilers (maybe comments on romantic couples, but it is hard to be considered a spoiler) in the Fever series. I personally prefer the Fever series bc I like Urban Fantasy over paranormal romance.

Janet Evanovich has a new spin-off series coming that will be paranormal/urban fantasy: which is a spin off the Stephanie Plum series, and particularly the in between holiday books she would write. I am interested to see how the series is, it focuses on Diesel.

They're making a spin off to harry potter and Percy Jackson too

She has Percy listed up there. :) Harry Potter? That surpirses me, do you have any info you can share? I would love a book about Hermione. I just have trouble imagining Rowling doing that though. I have heard she might write The History of Hogwarts. Any links you can share about this? I would love to read them!

I know it is not Rowling doing the spin off. And it is about Harry's two sons. I will try and find the link

here is the first book http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/25...

The recent articles say Rowling isn't planning on writing anymore Harry Potter books:

Ah. Thanks. :)

yeah a lot people are not happy about it.

Hmmm, I guess that is an intersting point that figures under spin offs -- how do people feel about other authors writing about the same characters? I feel sort of bad making such a blanket statement, but I am typically not interested in reading spin offs written by others besides the authors. But I guess I could be convinced otherwise.

I know what you mean. But I am going to try the first one.

Regina wrote: "My favorite spin off is the Alpha & Omega series by Patricia Briggs.

Starting with: [bookcover:H..."

OMG, how (HOW, I ask you *doh*) did I forget to mention "Alpha & Omega"? :) Thanks for adding that one, Regina.

And, I'm not sure how I feel about others snaggin' someone else's well known characters for their own books. I guess it could be flattering, but ??? Dunno.

Yeah, I was pretty amazed that I'd forgotten too and felt stupid when I read Regina's post. Really enjoy both Mercy & Alpha & Omega.

Some series out in real 'literature' land often do the second author and sometimes you'd never know but others are pretty woeful.

Right? LOVE both of those too. *shrug*

Lol you only remembered how many others? :) glad it is other people's favorite too.

I love the A&O spin-off more than the original Mercy Thompson series! Dream Hunters, didn't them as much, only Xypher's book really stood out for me. And Vane's for the Were Hunters.

How do you do the picture of the book and then create a link?

I wll have to do it the "old-fashioned way" LOL

I know of two series that have spin-offs.

Christine Feehan has finished the Drake sisters, first book is Magic in the Wind and last is Hidden Currents

She had received a LOT of questions hoping that there would be a spin-off of Ilya's brothers, so she started it.
Safe Haven is the series name (I think) first book is Water Bound. So there should be only six books in all; as Ilya's story is already written.
For those who don't know the series, Drake sisters are seven sisters (who are of the seventh sister of seventh sister line who passes the powers down) who have magical abilities. The sixth meets her HEA and it comes out that he is the seventh son of the seventh son and will pass down to his sons his magical abilities.
The following series is about the finding of his other brothers (all were taken by the Russian govt, raised separately to become trained killers/spies).

Other series is Janet Chapman's Highlander series. First book is Charming the Highlandaer and I am guessing that the last was supposed to be Secrets of the Highlander, but many were asking about Camry so she wrote her story, A Highlander Christmas.
In the, I think sixth, book you meet Kenzie, Matt Gregor's brother who was trapped in the body of a panther. He has been released and is now called to be a "soul warrior" to help others who have been traped in an animals body.
His series is called Midnight Bay. First book is Moonlight Warrior and the second is due out at the end of the month, Dragon Warrior.

I don't know who here has or hasn't read the series' so sorry if I am giving info that everyone already has.

Janette

Janette, to do the book covers or links - use the "add book/author" just above the comment box. It will be self explanatory once you click on it. At the bottom it says link or cover. LOL.

Haven't read a lot of CF so that was good to know and for JC's Highlander series, followed by the Moonlight Warrior series - always loved those books, but I'm sure many here don't know them. Sad she didn't do more on Puffin Harbour.

Never be frightened to say what you think, especially here, we all like to learn something new.

I think I would prefer to read the entire original series first but I am very particular about things like that. I will however read a prequel later sometimes if it was written later. Thanks for reminding me that I need to read Vampire Academy... eventually... :-P

It would be like watching the TV show Angel with never having seen Buffy. It is just unfathomable to me LOL.

In some series, you get a good amount of context reading the original series. In others, it hardly matters at all. I am enjoying the Kyndred and A&O series, and I would say that reading the original series is more important (but not absolutely necessary) for those books than, say, the coming Lords of Deliverance by Larissa Ione, where I expect them only to maybe borrow a secondary character.

Btw, there's also the Cassandra Palmer series and the spin-off Dorina Basarab series.

Sandra wrote: "Janette, to do the book covers or links - use the "add book/author" just above the comment box. It will be self explanatory once you click on it. At the bottom it says link or cover. LOL.

****

Thanks, will give it a try.


Janette

Generally I think it is best to read the first series. With Feehan's new series you definitely will be better off to read the Drake sisters.
I read one of the reviews where someone said it made it harder, she felt it was better to not read the first series. Someone, don't remember if it was who posted the review, but they remarked on how some of the events didn't make sense.
Well, if she had read the first series, then all of the questions would have been answered. Or she should have paid better attention as she read the series.


Also with J. Chapman's. You would understand better who the characters are and what their roles are as they appear in Kenzie's series.

I don't think I have ever read a series where I didn't read or didn't have to go back to read the first one to better understand the spin-off.

Janette

Okay, I don't know how much sense this will make but I've read the first 3 'Night Huntress' books and none of the 'Night Huntress World' ones. So which should I read first: Destined for an Early Grave or First Drop of Crimson?
Is there an order? Because I really hate reading books out of order (even PNR ones) since they always give a little something away. I only ask this since for example, there is a chronological order for the Cassie Palmer and Dorina Basarab series, I think it's something like 1st CP, 2nd CP, 3rd CP, 1st DB, 4th CP, 2nd DB, 5th CP. So does anyone know, shall I just go with when they were published?

I'd read the Night Huntress' books first. I've read them all and I don't remember there being any real clunkers. But don't quote me.

You'd definitely be safer reading Destined for an Early Grave, I'd think!

Thank you! 'Destined for an Early Grave' was published before 'First Drop of Crimson' (I thought it was the other way round until I just checked) so that does make sense :D

Another spin-off question lol. Has anyone read 'Outcast Season' by Rachel Caine, spin-off of 'Weather Wardens'? Can you read it as a standalone or should you read WW first (I am planning to at some point)?