Writing a sequel is a high-wire act. After readers fall in love with a world and its characters, expectations skyrocket. A great sequel must recapture the magic while offering something fresh. But some sequels miss the mark so badly they become cautionary tales. Here are the six most disappointing book sequels ever, ranked.
6. The Lost Symbol (2009)
Dan Brown's follow-up to the mega-hit The Da Vinci Code had a tough act to follow. The original sold over 80 million copies, blending religious intrigue, historical puzzles, and relentless pacing. The Lost Symbol tries to replicate that formula with Robert Langdon investigating Freemasonry in Washington, D.C., but it falls flat. The stakes feel low, the twists are predictable, and the big reveal is anticlimactic. Even philosopher Slavoj Žižek called it "a candidate for the worst novel ever."
5. Sandworms of Dune (2007)
Frank Herbert's original Dune series is a sci-fi masterpiece, weaving politics, religion, and philosophy. His son Brian Herbert and Kevin J. Anderson attempted to conclude the saga with Hunters of Dune and Sandworms of Dune. Instead of a satisfying resolution, readers got shallow fan service, complete with clones of iconic characters like Paul Atreides and Baron Harkonnen. The prose is straightforward, the action is generic, and it lacks the depth of the originals.
4. Allegiant (2013)
The final book in Veronica Roth's Divergent trilogy was eagerly awaited by YA fans. But Allegiant took the story beyond Chicago's walls, revealing a larger genetic experiment that muddied the series' mythology. The shift to alternating perspectives between Tris and Tobias annoyed many readers, and Tris's sudden death felt like shock value rather than meaningful storytelling.
3. Go Set a Watchman (2015)
When Harper Lee's Go Set a Watchman was announced, fans of To Kill a Mockingbird were ecstatic. But the book, set 20 years later, shocked readers by portraying Atticus Finch as a segregationist. This contradicted the beloved hero of the original, shattering the idealized image fans had cherished. It felt like a betrayal, and the book was widely panned.
2. Ready Player Two (2020)
Ernest Cline's Ready Player One was a nostalgia-fueled adventure that captured millions of readers. The sequel, Ready Player Two, is a hollow cash-grab. The new quest lacks charm, the references to '80s icons like Prince and John Hughes feel forced, and protagonist Wade Watts becomes an unlikable tycoon. It's a tedious read that fails to recapture the original's magic.
1. Harry Potter and the Cursed Child (2016)
No sequel disappointed more than Harry Potter and the Cursed Child. Written by Jack Thorne, based on a story with J.K. Rowling, the play follows Harry's son Albus and a time-turner plot that undermines the original series' themes. Fans were horrified by the characterizations, especially Harry as a neglectful father, and the convoluted story felt like fan fiction. It's a stark reminder that even beloved franchises can stumble.
These sequels prove that meeting fan expectations is nearly impossible. But they also remind us to appreciate the originals that made us care in the first place. For more on disappointing follow-ups, check out our ranking of Twilight books or our list of greatest TV shows.
