Technical series question for prolific readers
— what I’m after —
I’ve read only a few of the Romantasy trope books (and series at that) meaning historically I’ve only read standalone books in other genres and they didn’t consist of series. So, I’m new and HOOKED and trying to figure something out here as I plan what I’m going to read. Put another way, how to think about series as I move forward.
— background —
I followed one of the reading orders for Throne of Glass series. And I can see that the discussion was immensely helpful. I enjoyed others’ takes and logic like publication order vs emotional damage vs plot-based chronologically focused. And for this series, it was simple with only assassins blade (either #0 or #1 or inserting after #2/3 reading order). There weren’t any x.5 designations.
— actual inquiry —
So given this, I’ve also seen an innumerable amount of series that have several #0 or 0.5 or 4.5 and 7.5. Like almost every book I see suggested here have that type of lineage/progression/naming convention.
In your experience, do you start a series you’re unfamiliar with at #0, if there is one? As a rule? Or do research online? Like if you come across a recommendation for a book and find out it is # 2 in a series, do you start back at 1 or 0
— if it’s a contiguous plot line that necessitates previous books’ world-building?
And relatedly, as a rule, have you found that any x.5 book is essential in order?
Or is this a moot point bc there is no traditional or conventional numbering system and each is specific to each author. And the best way is to read what others have done?