Reading as a Stand Alone Book

[BrianCollins]

I almost always start with the first in a series, although I hesitate to call myself an expert on books that aren't standalones anyways. The only exception I can think of would be David Brin's Uplift series, where I started with the second entry, and I only got away with that because the books barely connect with each other.

[Howlan]

The earlier books of the series depict the bond that these group of friends i.e Jamie, Jacko and Cook share and how they bonded over their first mission together in Cairo. In also sheds light on the romantic developments which we merely glimpse n the third book. So we will be missing a lot if we think about only reading the third book.

[LyorBoone]

With added clips of foreign tongues, I imagine a term defined in the first book might not be defined in sequels. But I could see the first time it’s used getting redefining. So this, being the third in the series, I imagine it might have more terms or phrases that you feel the need to google.

[Faithmwangi]

Completion is something that I appreciate. Previous books in a series tend to have a build up that leaves you understanding the current book more. That being said, I haven't had the chance to read the previous books and hope to get to them soon.

[faint9]

The manner in which Greg Kater has connected the three books is professional. One cannot feel or detect the flow disconnect. He’s done it so well that one would mistakenly dare say it’s a standalone book. There are two books prior to Skills of the Warramunga i.e. The Warramunga’s War and The Warramunga’s Aftermath of War. The three are historical fiction books.

Being a very suspenseful book, one would feel like reading over and over again without having any feeling of boredom. Nevertheless, having squeezed the juicy part of the story, it is in order and urge to read the other two series. It’s irresistible. After having read this book, one cannot avoid the other two. You have to go back if you’ve not yet done so.

[Halima Lawan]

I really think this book could be read as a stand alone. I haven't read the previous books in the series, this is the only one I have read so far but the author wrote the story in a way you wouldn't feel the need to check the other books for recaps. He included all the necessary information you need to know for this book.

[e-tasana-williams]

This is the first of the series I’ve read. While I can follow the story fine without having read the first two books, I think I would have felt more invested in the main characters faster if I’d read the first installments.

The author did a good job of supplying sufficient background info, but I kept having a feeling of being late to the party.

[briellejee]

For any series, there should be sufficient flashback to understand role of any characters. Also some events from previous books should be explained in short, if these things are included, surely that book will stand alone.

I think there is in this book, but of course to better understand the relationship and also to help the readers be invested enough in the characters is to read the series. Somehow I believe that books in a series that can be considered stand-alone should be well-written enough to interest readers in going back to the previous books. This one surely does, I think so.

[Nuel Ukah]

Despite being third in a series, some reviewers have said that Skills of the Warramunga could be read as a stand alone book, while other reviewers expressed some confusion because they didn't read the first two books.

Personally, I have a hard time not reading a series in order. What important details does a reader need to know if they are picking this book up without reading the two prior books in the series? Or would you say that this is truly a stand alone novel?

Reading series from the first book gives better understanding. But this one can be read as a standalone because it is a new mission entirely. That's the author's concept. He's not continuing one particular mission in all the series. Each book has a unique mission, but with the same characters and setting.

[Howlan]

Despite being third in a series, some reviewers have said that Skills of the Warramunga could be read as a stand alone book, while other reviewers expressed some confusion because they didn't read the first two books.

Personally, I have a hard time not reading a series in order. What important details does a reader need to know if they are picking this book up without reading the two prior books in the series? Or would you say that this is truly a stand alone novel?

Reading series from the first book gives better understanding. But this one can be read as a standalone because it is a new mission entirely. That's the author's concept. He's not continuing one particular mission in all the series. Each book has a unique mission, but with the same characters and setting.

Though its certainly true, you will not be able to enjoy the characters as much as you would have if you would have if you had read the whole series in order.

[Howlan]

Completion is something that I appreciate. Previous books in a series tend to have a build up that leaves you understanding the current book more. That being said, I haven't had the chance to read the previous books and hope to get to them soon.

Yes, I would really love to read the whole series. If I am not wrong, in the first book the mission is in Cairo and the other one in Australia. I will really appreciate learning the first interaction of these characters.

[Howlan]

Most of the comments I think provide a good argument, The story doesn't hinder you in any way to break the flow of the story and again we get the feeling of a void when the characters are concerned

[LV2R]

I thought that this book was a good stand-alone book because the author did include some information about previous missions that Jacko and Jamie had in Egypt and other places. I have not read the other two books in this series and did not have trouble with this book at all.

[Nuel Ukah]

Despite being third in a series, some reviewers have said that Skills of the Warramunga could be read as a stand alone book, while other reviewers expressed some confusion because they didn't read the first two books.

Personally, I have a hard time not reading a series in order. What important details does a reader need to know if they are picking this book up without reading the two prior books in the series? Or would you say that this is truly a stand alone novel?

Reading series from the first book gives better understanding. But this one can be read as a standalone because it is a new mission entirely. That's the author's concept. He's not continuing one particular mission in all the series. Each book has a unique mission, but with the same characters and setting.

Though its certainly true, you will not be able to enjoy the characters as much as you would have if you would have if you had read the whole series in order.

Well, I agree to an extent.

[Anna Maria 86]

I read the first one in the series and I loved it. Unfortunately, I missed out on the second book (will make up for it though, surely). However, I didn't really get confused while reading the third, simply because the events from both previous books were skillfully introduced during some dialogues. It wasn't detailed, so it didn't feel as if the author was repeating himself, but contained just enough info for me to undertsand the parts that I didn't read. I think it may be read as a stand alone book, but you'll miss a lot not reading the series because these books are amazing, in my opinion.