Sometimes as a reader you don’t want a giant 14 book series, but a stand-a-lone just won’t cut it. That is where duologies come in. Below I have compiled a list of duologies I have read and would highly recommend to any reader. A lot of the books I’m recommending below are for fantasy readers.
1. One Dark Window by Rachel Gillig
One Dark Window is a dark, atmospheric fantasy about a woman with forbidden magic bound to an ancient spirit, who becomes entangled in a dangerous quest to save her kingdom—and herself.
While I did enjoy the first book more then the second (As is normal for me) I will say that the series in itself was really good and entertaining. It became a Tik Tok sensation pretty much over night and is highly recommended for any fantasy reader.
Here is the link for anyone interested
2. These Violet Delights by Chloe Gong
It is a captivating young adult fantasy novel set in 1920s Shanghai. This reimagining of Romeo and Juliet follows Juliette Cai and Roma Montagov, heirs to rival gangs—the Scarlet Gang and the White Flowers—entangled in a brutal blood feud. When a mysterious contagion causes madness and death across the city, the two must set aside their grudges to confront a monstrous threat that endangers both their families and Shanghai itself.
This series was on my shelf for the longest time and only the first book. Yet as soon as I read the first book I had no patience to wait for the second book to arrive so I had to buy it on my Kindle…immediately. That alone should be recommendation enough to convince you to read this series if you’re a big fantasy reader.
Link Below!
3. Uninvited by Sophie Jordan
It is a gripping young adult dystopian novel that explores themes of identity, free will, and societal prejudice. Set in a near-future society, the story follows Davy Hamilton, a talented and popular high school senior with a promising future at Juilliard. Her life is upended when genetic testing reveals she carries the Homicidal Tendency Syndrome (HTS) gene—dubbed the “kill gene”—which supposedly predisposes individuals to violence. As a result, Davy is expelled from her prestigious school, abandoned by friends and family, and marked as a potential threat despite never having committed a crime. She is placed in a special class with other HTS carriers, where she meets Sean, a fellow carrier who challenges her perceptions and becomes an unexpected ally. Together, they navigate a world that treats them as criminals-in-waiting, questioning whether one’s genetic makeup truly dictates destiny
This is an older novel (published in 2015) and not a really well known one. But I devoured this series and I loved that it was only two books. Some authors would have tried to force it into a trilogy, but the author did great and knew that the story was done after two.
Link Below
4. Reign of Shadows by Sophie Jordan
In a kingdom shrouded in perpetual darkness following a catastrophic eclipse, Luna, the blind and hidden princess of Relhok, has spent her life concealed in a tower to protect her from the usurping chancellor who murdered her parents. Yearning for freedom and purpose beyond her confinement, Luna’s world changes when she encounters Fowler, a brooding archer navigating the treacherous woods. As monstrous creatures known as dwellers roam the land, Luna and Fowler embark on a perilous journey together, facing deadly threats and uncovering secrets that challenge their survival and their hearts. This dark, romantic fantasy offers a unique twist on the classic Rapunzel tale, blending suspense, danger, and a slow-burning romance in a richly imagined world.
Another Sophie Jordan Duology? Shocker. I love that this author knows exactly when to end a series and how to not over do it. Again this is an older series, and one I truthfully haven’t heard much about, but it was really good when I read it years back.
Link Below
5. Reboot by Amy Tintera
It is a fast-paced young adult dystopian novel set in a future where a deadly virus, KDH, causes some teenagers to return from death as “Reboots”—stronger, faster, and less emotional than before. The longer a person is dead before rebooting, the less human they become. Wren Connolly, who rebooted after 178 minutes, is considered the deadliest Reboot in the Republic of Texas
This is again an older duology, but it is so so good. It is definitely a young adult novel and I did originally read it when I was in my teen years. I have read it a few times since then and did enjoy it just as much as the first time.
Link below to grab your own copy (don’t forget to buy the second book because you’re going to want to read it right away.)
These are some of my favourite fantasy duologies and I would recommend all of them.
-Fallon
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