Finding a book that you love is one of life’s great joys. Discovering that the story doesn’t end after just one book is another. Realizing that the whole story is told through only two books? That’s perfection.
I’ll be the first to admit that I love discovering a long series, but sometimes they are too long. And sometimes a standalone just isn’t enough. So much like Goldilocks, I’m looking for what I think is “just right”; this is my ode to duologies.
BONUS – The following recommendations are all completed duologies so you won’t have to wait for the next one, you lucky thing!
1. The Wrath and the Dawn by Renee Ahdieh
Starting strong, this duology has everything! Maps. Named chapters. Forbidden lovers. A plot deeply rooted in history. A glossary. One of the strongest female main characters I have ever had the pleasure of reading.
To avenge her bestfriend, Shahrzad volunteers to marry the young Caliph, Khalid, who takes a new bride every night. And then executes them the next morning. Shahrzad uses her intelligence and gift for storytelling to ensure her survival until the moment she can exact her revenge. But is the Caliph as villainous as she has been led to believe, or is there something more to his story?
“They were not gentle. And why should they be? After all, they did not expect her to live past the next morning. The hands that tugged ivory combs through Shahrzad’s waist-length hair and scrubbed sandalwood paste on her bronze arms did so with a brutal kind of detachment.”
The Wrath and the Dawn
I first discovered this duology whilst reading the webcomic, each episode of which had thousands of comments alluding to the books it was based on. It’s such a vibrant and magical story, and although, ashamedly the only (so far) One Thousand and One Nights retelling I’ve read, I think it’s the perfect YA Fantasy to pick up if you’re in a reading slump.
2. These Violent Delights by Chloe Gong
This is the first duology in Chloe Gong’s Secret Shanghai series, and what a way to begin.
Deep in the heart of 1920s Shanghai, a monster awakens. Juliette Cai, heir to the Scarlet Gang, and Roma Montagov, heir to its rival gang, the White Flowers, must put their past behind them, and their blood feud on hold, to save their city and their people from a deadly madness that shows no mercy.
“She…hoped. And hope was dangerous. Hope was the most vicious evil of them all, the thing that had managed to thrive in Pandora’s box among misery, and disease, and sadness—and what could endure alongside others with such teeth if it didn’t have ghastly claws of its own?”
These Violent Delights
This beautiful and unique Romeo and Juliette retelling took me by the hands and never let go. Chloe Gong’s world-building and character design is utterly addictive and I defy anyone who came away from reading this without an interest in Shanghai’s political history! Speaking of which, both books contain an ‘Author’s note’ at the back – if you want even a remote understanding of the political climate you’re going to be enshrouded in, read this first, and then read the book (there are no spoilers!)
3. Campari for Breakfast by Sara Crowe
This duology has a completely different vibe, but it’s no less entertaining. I’d go so far as to say this is one of the most under-hyped pieces of fiction ever written. I’ve written about Campari for Breakfast before, and I’m sure to write about it again because it’s just too good to ignore.
It’s the summer of 1987 and to escape her father and his new girlfriend, 17-year-old Sue Bowl moves into her Aunt Coral’s crumbling mansion to pursue her dream of becoming a writer. The first book takes us through Sue’s trials and tribulations as she comes of age, explores her grief for her mother, sets up a writing group, and as she put it “learn[s] to live life decadently.” You’ll have to read it to find out what happens in the second book, Martini-Henry.
” ‘Hampshire-born Sue’ – I liked that. I could see myself in years to come, tending quietly a few pet sheep, wearing wellies, before returning to my typewriter by the Aga, with the hint of husbands in the photos on the wall, and a monogrammed table cloth, perfect for the writer of romantic fiction.”
Campari for Breakfast
What I think is so special about this duology is firstly, the sheer number of (intentional) grammatical errors and spelling mistakes; so much of Sue’s character is rooted in her complete self-assuredness – a quality I find extremely refreshing to read about in a young female character! And secondly, Sara Crowe’s deep understanding of what it means to be a girl (in the most cliché early 2000s nostalgic way possible!)
Please read this duology now and unleash your inner Sue Bowl!
4. Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo
I couldn’t write a list of duology recommendations and not mention Six of Crows and Crooked Kingdom by Leigh Bardugo. This is the fantasy duology of all fantasy duologies.
This is a tense action-packed high-stakes high-fantasy heist with an unconventional and unhinged group of teenage criminal misfits at the heart of it all. What’s not to love? The banter is incredible, the dynamics between characters are beautiful and frustrating, and heart-warming, and soul-crushing.
Let me leave you with this…
“Kaz had almost drowned that night in the harbour, kicking hard in the dark, borne aloft by Jordie’s corpse. There was no one and nothing to carry him now. He tried to think of his brother, of revenge, of Pekka Rollins tied to a chair in the house on Zelverstraat, trade orders stuffed down his throat as Kaz forced him to remember Jordie’s name. But all he could think of was Inej. She had to have made it out of the Ice Court. And if she hadn’t, then he had to live to rescue her.”
Six of Crows
5. King of Scars by Leigh Bardugo
King of Scars and Rule of Wolves don’t get the love they deserve. I’ll admit it took me some convincing to pick up this duology; I had finished and loved the Crooked Kingdom and was content to end my time with the Grishaverse there, but then the Shadow and Bone series came to Netflix, and with it, my revived obsession with Nikolai Lantsov.
Adapting to his new role as King of Ravka, Nikolai has a lot of secrets he needs to keep buried to ensure the security of his new rule after the Civil War. Secrets that are becoming harder to keep under control. With the help of his General, Zoya Nazyalensky, Nikolai must forge new alliances, rebuild the Grisha army, and keep Ravka a sanctuary to maintain the Grisha’s survival.
This duology is the most politics-focused of the three series within the Grishaverse, but it’s still a fun read, trust me. Nikolai is the main character, fun is a given. And I’m convinced that whatever your feelings are towards Zoya Nazyalensky, by the end of these books, you will feel nothing but love and admiration for her. She’s such a beautiful and complex character – so much more than what we see of her in Shadow and Bone and Six of Crows.
“Most women suffer thorns for the sake of the flowers, but we who wield power adorn ourselves with flowers to hide the sting of our thorns.”
King of Scars
6. The Miniaturist by Jessie Burton
Rarely a day goes by when I don’t think about this strange, unique, and engrossing duology. I can’t for the life of me remember who recommended it to me, nor why I bought it, but I’m so glad I did.
Amsterdam, 1686. Nella Oortman has left her childhood behind to begin a new life with her husband, Johannes Brandt, a wealthy merchant. A husband who seems determined to keep his distance, living a life of solitude. As a wedding present, Johannes gifts Nella a cabinet-sized model of their home. Nella begins writing to a Miniaturist, requesting items to fill the house with. Disturbingly, the Miniaturist’s creations begin to “ring eerily true…and she seems to hold their fate in her hands.” As Nella begins to uncover the secrets of the household she has married into, concerns over everyone’s safety increase.
I truly did not expect to love this series as much as I did, I don’t think any book has kept me as hooked as these did. They are so unlike anything I’ve read before, and I implore you to step out of your comfort zone and pick up this duology as soon as you can get your hands on it.
7. Sands of Arawiya by Hafsah Faisal
This is a duology my mind refuses to let me forget about. I read it three years ago (it’s time for a re-read!) and I still remember how beautiful and thrilling this story is. The main character, Zafira, still has such a special place in my heart.
“Zafira’s Umm always knew her daughter didn’t fear the Arz the way other children did. She would usher her to bed with whispers of the Sultana’s Guard instead, and Zafira would dream of them chasing after her with their silver hoods and stern faces. Umm was no storyspinner like Baba was, but mothers were always good at spinning fears.”
We Hunt the Flame
Forced to disguise herself as a man to hunt and provide for those she loves, Zafira knows what it means to take risks for her people. Crown Prince by day, and an assassin by night, Nasir is feared by his people. Both are legends in their own right. When Zafira is determined to bring back the magic to her suffering land and Nasir is sent “on a similar mission”, their paths cross, and unfortunately for both, won’t diverge until it’s too late…
Hafsah Faizal’s writing is so lyrical, and her world-building is so incredible that reading this duology is like reading a fairytale you will never want to stop reading. And Faizal has done it best by including a map and a glossary (with a pronunciation guide!!) at the back. Yes, I think it’s high time I re-read this duology.
8. Letters of Enchantment by Rebecca Ross
I am a complete sucker for epistolary narratives, so when I found out the letters in this book were between enemies who didn’t know they were writing to their enemy, you best believe I bought this book without a second thought!
Iris Winnow, an aspiring journalist, needs to win the columnist promotion at the Oath Gazette to maintain some semblance of control over her life and her family. With her brother fighting on the front lines of a war started by the Gods, she begins writing letters to him. Little does she know her letters are falling into the wrong hands. Namely, the hands of her handsome rival at the Oath Gazette, Roman Kitt. When a series of events forces them both onto the front lines of the war, is their bond strong enough to fight for a world the Gods are set on destroying…
“Do you ever feel as if you wear armor, day after day? That when people look at you, they see only the shine of steel that you’ve carefully encased yourself in? They see what they want to see in you – the warped reflection of their own face, or a piece of the sky, or a shadow cast between buildings. They see all the times you’ve made mistakes, all the times you’ve failed, all the times you’ve hurt them or disappointed them. As if that is all you will ever be in their eyes. How do you change something like that? How do you make your life your own and not feel guilt over it?”
Divine Rivals
Devastating. That’s what this duology is. Devastating. Do you ever feel like a book was written for you? As if the author pictured you in their mind when writing and got carried away, carefully curating each sentence to resonate with you so deeply. Divine Rivals and Ruthless Vows are just that for me. If you need your faith in love restored, please read this. Need a good cry? Please read this. Want to giggle and kick your feet over a man completely smitten? Read this.
Some more waxing lyrical…
So if it isn’t already obvious, I love a duology. More authors should stick to just two. Namely India Holton, so I could have included her in this list. I digress.
Would it be a hot take to say that duologies are underrated, both by readers and by authors? I just think they’re perfect for when you need more from the story, but aren’t willing to invest time and money into a 3, 7, or 15-part series.
For more book talk that isn’t about duologies, check these out:
- Reality TV But Make It Fiction: Why ‘The Villain Edit’ Should Be Your Next Read
- Are We Reading Books For The Plot Or For “The Vibes?”
- Writing Tips From Your Favourite Authors
- ‘Intermezzo’ By Sally Rooney Review: I Sat Down With A Writing Professor To Discuss
- 11 Gifts To Give The Bookish Person In Your Life
