How do I tell if a book is a sequel or series?
Answer
Sometimes it's hard to tell the difference between a series and a sequel.
Basically, a sequel is a book that follows a book whose story has ended. (Example: the mystery was solved or the main character died.) The sequel then rides on the laurels of the first book by examining a twist in the plot, a minor event, or using different characters. Also, a sequel is often written by a different author.
A series is an ongoing story told throughout more than one book. A series that has 2 books is just a books with a sequel; with 3 books it is called a trilogy; with 4 books it is called a saga or sometimes a cycle; and beyond that it is just called a series. All of the books in the series are written by the same author.