Now, I'm personally addicted to these little gems. I love revisitng old favorites -- whether it's a day-in-the-life sort of story or giving deeper insight into events that were hinted at during the course of the main book -- and now I find that I love meeting new characters that expand the world we've been introduced to.
A few short stories/novellas that have killed me dead:
Annnnd here come the fun, probing questions --
For everyone... What are some novellas/short stories that you've read? What did you like/dislike about them?
And for those that enjoy them... Do you prefer stories that are set in an already established world (as with the Elder Races series)? Or do you prefer stand-alone shorts that come without any baggage?
I LOVE BOTH.
ReplyDeleteI LOVE standalone shorts, whether they're series related (I love JF's Night Huntress novellas) and I love the random novells I find via YOU and Amanda, and I recall, a while back, reading Unlocked, by Courtney Milan. It is technically part of her Turner brothers series, but I'd never read anything else by her at the time, and didn't know the difference.
As for short stories that are set in between other books? *DIES*
I just read Roar & Liv *dies some more* and I'm getting all twitchy-fingered waiting for Undone (Liz Norris). AND BRIGID KEMMERER. It's no secret I'm one of Brigid's biggest cheerleaders, but her novellas are AMAZING and provide so much more insight to her characters, and, you know, do NOTHING to make the wait inbetween the books easier.
But... I think they're a fantastic marketing tool. Released between books they keep buzz going and momentum and and and I LOVE THEM.
Also: I can't get Destroy Me in Australia and FJFLFHJLDHF *SOBS HYSTERICALLY*
*goes back to reading Unravel Me and Chapter 62*
Wait. I don't feel so bad, afterall :P
I have Roar & Liv on my wishlist and I'm probably going to break down and buy it soooooon. I just want more!
DeleteYou know, I think that's what it comes down to for me... novellas and short stories feed that need I have for 'just a little bit more' in a world. *loves on them*
But... I think they're a fantastic marketing tool. Released between books they keep buzz going and momentum and and and I LOVE THEM.
YES! They keep the book alive in readers' minds and that's a GLORIOUS thing!
I am super sad for you that you aren't able to get Destroy Me. Maybe they couldn't find a skeevy enough cover. o.O O.O O.o Hopefully it just means that they're going to include it in one of the physical versions of the book. I HOPE!
*loves on you for your comment*
Kelly, you're probably the sole reason I like novellas as much as I do. *nods*
ReplyDeleteYou're actually the reason I thought of talking about this topic. The first time you told me that you weren't a big fan of novellas I was all o.O O.O O.o O RLY? And now you're a convert! YAY!
DeleteThey are definitely a different beast from full length novels. If you don't have that mindset, then the reading experience is just... not as fun.
DeleteSO TRUE! If you're not in that frame of mind, they can be a HUGE disappointment. You'll have your WTF? face on and everything.
DeleteI actually haven't read very many of them, but it seems like a requirement these days for series authors. I like the idea of them - getting a little snippet to tide us over until the next book or to give us a peek into an idea that can't get its own book. But...I hesitate to read them because they feel like castoffs to me. Before I can judge I need to just get in there and read some more. I didn't know there was one for the Shatter Me series, so maybe I'll start there!
ReplyDeleteI was impressed by how much we learned about Warner in Destroy Me. I think it becomes a balancing act for an author between revealing *too* much (and having to retread the reveal in the main books because there are plenty of people who DON'T read novellas) and giving readers something new to whet their appetites. I am SO impressed by the quality of some of the stories. SO impressed.
DeleteLeigh Bardugo wrote a novella that lays out a folk tale from her Grisha series. I found it fascinating that she was expanding the world without ever visiting the main characters.
All I can say is... give them a try. They might not be for you, but if they are you won't want to miss them.
I remember really getting into these late last year. It was around the time when Hana was released for Lauren Oliver's Delirium series. I gobbled that one up and then tried the short from Lauren DeStefano's Chemical Trilogy series and was completely disappointed because the story was crazy short for the price.
ReplyDeleteI love the stories that are based in the world of books I'm reading. The last one I read was the short for Diana Peterfreund's For Darkness Shows the Stars. I was ENAMOURED with that book and was happy to read more about one of my favourite characters.
I'm okay with standalone shorts, but they just don't have the same effect on me.
In general, I think shorts based in established worlds work because the author doesn't have to build the world as much (if at all). Standalones don't have that.
DeleteYeah, the downside to novellas and short stories is that you're sometimes paying $3 for a 20 page story. Boo to that. (Although I love catching them as freebies. That just ROCKS!)
I am going to be in the minority but on a whole---I am not a fan of novellas. I am usually ok with ones that have already established characters from series I love but even then it is hit or miss. I am always left wanting :( I don't read to many for that very reason. Occasionally I will pick one up when I am told it has important story parts in it for a series.
ReplyDeleteThe exception seems to be Christmas Novellas. Evidently I already am in the yuletide mood when I read those LOL
I think there are plenty of people who don't care for them. Amanda had a good point that you almost have to have a different mindset when you go into them. They aren't full length novels and you're not going to get the same type of story from them. I'll admit that there are good and bad novellas out there. Some leave you wanting more in a good way (Destroy Me is a perfect example of this) and some leave you dissatisfied with the story that's told.
DeleteSo... yeah. Obviously all authors aren't suited to crafting a complete story in a shorter length. Some are going to hit it out of the park and some are going to crash and burn.
(And, yes, I have read a few that absolutely didn't work for me but I still find myself loving them more often than not.)
For some reason I can't seem to make myself do short stories, even if they're part of a series I really love. I don't know if it's the format, the fact that most are eBooks and my eReader and I don't get along, or just being lazy about chasing them down. I've made it part of my Seriously Series goals to knock a few of these off the list though - I have WAY too many series that the only things I *haven't* read are the short stories.
ReplyDeleteHonestly, they're not for everyone. Amanda said (up above) that you have to go into them with a different mindset from what you have for a novel length book and I think she's right.
DeleteI'm crossing my fingers that you enjoy them at least a little, though, as you work through Seriously Series.
Lisa T. bergren's River of Times novellas are the best I've read. A lot of others just seem liked CUT scenes. And then that makes me feel like I've just been ripped for $1-2 (which I know sounds stupid & cheap).
ReplyDeleteShort stories more often than not I just want more. Now if I'm just wanting a Naughty Snack, it can be ok.
I have the first River of Time book. Once I read it, I'll have to take a look at the novellas.
DeleteI really really really think that some authors do novella length stories better than others (which is true with everything, if I'm honest). Tahereh Mafi's Destroy Me was amazing (in my opinion) and it showed us a lot of depth to a character who was somewhat mysterious before.