I was watching a video recently about The Lord of Rings that mentioned that the main goal of part II of a trilogy is to get from part A to part B (setting up the big finale).

In part, I think that’s true. Part II of a trilogy, of course, should also be its own complete story, I hold. (To be fair, that video also mentioned this).

(I’m NOT a fan of cliffhangers at the end of a book, but that’s another post there).

I think it’s when you focus too much on getting from point A to part B and not enough on making part II its own story that things get rough.

No wonder part II of whatever trilogy you want to name often falls a bit flat!

I’m a bit worried about reception of part II of my trilogy just because it’s different.

Parts I and III are much more similar in tone and action. Their threats are of a similar scope and nature. There are big magical battles. There is a heavy (heavier, at least) use of magic.

My part II is more of a coming of age story. Although, yes, the king’s kids have been kidnapped (not a spoiler, that’s literally on page one), and there is a magical battle and sorcerer villains, which is my thing, the villains aren’t nearly as impressive as my other villains.

I’m fully aware of that. It’s intentional.

What threat book II’s initial villains pose is not the focus of the story, and it isn’t meant to be. That’s more of a subplot. I still worry, though, because Zalski Forzythe in book I is just SO much fun and dynamic. He’s SO intriguing and interesting. He could carry his own story, easily.

I have no idea where he came from, but I feel like I struck gold with him.

It would be hard to top Zalski, so I didn’t try. I went a different route.

My part II is a coming of age story, as I’ve mentioned. Rather than being a fantasy action-adventure, like book I (and book III), book II is more of a slow-burn political thriller, if anything (with fantasy elements, of course).

While book II is different from book I, in every aspect but the villains I think it’s my favorite of my trilogy.

It’s definitely its own story, and it definitely moves the characters from point A to point B–in ways so neat even I didn’t realize what I was doing when I first wrote it. I had no idea what I was setting myself up for!

What do you feel should be the aim of book II of a trilogy? Should it have particular aims apart from other books or the trilogy’s other installments?

My book II, “The Magic Council: The Fight for Home” is with beta readers now. I’m hoping to have it back by the end of September, and to my editor by October. We’ll see!