# The 6 Most Disappointing Book Sequels Ranked

> Why some book sequels fail to recapture the magic of their predecessors.
- Title: The 6 Most Disappointing Book Sequels Ranked · Collider
- Summary: Why some book sequels fail to recapture the magic of their predecessors. The Lost Symbol, Sandworms of Dune, Allegiant, Go Set a Watchman, Ready Player Two…
- Keywords: the lost symbol, sandworms of dune, allegiant, go set a watchman, ready player two, harry potter and the cursed child, dune, divergent, to kill a mockingbird, ready player one, harry potter, cursed child
- Source: Collider — https://collider.com/most-disappointing-book-sequels-all-time-ranked
- Author: Luc Haasbroek
- Published: 2026-10-21T21:29:14+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: the lost symbol, sandworms of dune, allegiant, go set a watchman, ready player two, harry potter and the cursed child, dune, divergent, to kill a mockingbird, ready player one, harry potter, cursed child
## The Lost Symbol (2009)
The Lost Symbol follows Dan Brown's The Da Vinci Code but lacks the excitement of its predecessor, selling over 80 million copies.

> The secret is how to die.
## Sandworms of Dune (2007)
Sandworms of Dune, written by Brian Herbert and Kevin J. Anderson, feels like shallow fan service rather than a true sequel to Frank Herbert's Dune.

> The universe is full of surprises.
## Allegiant (2013)
Allegiant, the final Divergent book, muddies the series' mythology and steps on earlier installments, with Tris' death dismissed as pointless shock value.

> Life damages us, every one. We can't escape that damage.
## Go Set a Watchman (2015)
Go Set a Watchman depicts Atticus Finch as a supporter of segregation, shattering his idealized image from To Kill a Mockingbird.

> Every man's island, Jean Louise, every man's watchman, is his conscience.
## Ready Player Two (2020)
Ready Player Two is a tedious cash-grab sequel to Ready Player One, with Wade Watts becoming an unlikable tycoon.

> Sometimes the only way to find your way home is to get completely lost.
## Harry Potter and the Cursed Child (2016)
Harry Potter and the Cursed Child trashes key moments from the original series, with adult Harry acting inconsistently with his character.

> Those we love never truly leave us, Harry.
## Key takeaway

The Lost Symbol, Sandworms of Dune, Allegiant, Go Set a Watchman, Ready Player Two, and Harry Potter and the Cursed Child are the most disappointing sequels due to formulaic plots, character betrayals, and unfulfilled potential.