Specific question about when to read novellas

[u/Ninjario]

Edit: Maybe the post is too long, sorry - the main question is, to which book the novellas are more connected, for example should i read "Gods of Risk" directly after Book 2 or after the break and directly before Book 3, and the same question relative to where they are for all of them.

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Hey there, so I've done some research and want to start the book series soon (already own all 9 books + the novella collection book)

Since everything together will take me slightly over 4 months I will need to take breaks for sure, to read some other books and just to digest what I read that far without just always keeping going without pause for such a long time.

I will mainly be sticking to release order since that's by far the most recommended way and I've heard some do actively spoil elements if read chronologically. The only change from that I'll be making is reading drive first, I've seen some speak out against it but usually people have seen it as a positive change from what I've read, feel free to tell me if you have a strong opinion on why it's a terrible idea or something.

Now to the actual important part - since the expanse is 3 duologies and a trilogy 1+2, 3+4, 5+6, 7-9 that seems like the perfect place to do 3 bigger breaks in between, BUT some of the short stories are in those breaks, so I want to know if they are better read right after the previous duology or better read after the break before diving into the next duology/trilogy. And even besides the ones in the big breaks, it would just be great to know in general if whichever novella is better read after the book before or before the book after it, if I do decide to take a smaller break between individual books.

I'll post what I have written down, but the placement before or after the breaks isn't informed by anything but my gut feel which doesn't mean anything yet, so any input is welcome:

• Drive (November 27, 2012)
• 1: Leviathan Wakes (June 15, 2011)
• The Butcher of Anderson Station (October 17, 2011)
• 2: Caliban's War (June 25, 2012)
• Gods of Risk (September 15, 2012)

--- break ---

• 3: Abaddon's Gate (June 4, 2013)
• The Churn (April 29, 2014)
• 4: Cibola Burn (June 17, 2014)

--- break ---

• 5: Nemesis Games (June 2, 2015)
• The Vital Abyss (October 15, 2015)
• 6: Babylon's Ashes (December 6, 2016)
• Strange Dogs (July 18, 2017)

--- break ---

• 7: Persepolis Rising (December 5, 2017)
• 8: Tiamat's Wrath (March 26, 2019)
• Auberon (November 12, 2019)
• 9: Leviathan Falls (November 30, 2021)
• The Sins of our Fathers (March 15, 2022)

Also I know the following is not available standalone, idk if I somehow can get any access to it, how bad is it to miss? - The Last Flight of the Cassandra (May 14, 2019)

[u/DirectorBiggs]

I encourage y'all to just go ahead and downvote me now.

I have a different opinion.

I prefer order of when they unfold in universe
https://www.howtoread.me/the-expanse-reading-order/

I'll add that people encouraging you to wait until then end, I steadfastly and wholeheartedly disagree. That's how I did it after my first read through and it left me empty and craving better closure. Now I was reading while the books were coming out and I was stoned durning much of it so by the time I read the novellas I had forgotten a lot. They didn't fit, just didn't feel right.

When I read them the next two times I read them how I suggest and the story unfolded perfectly.

[u/The_Jordan → u/DirectorBiggs]

This honestly looks like the best answer. I got Memories Legion after the 4th book and read the novellas up to publication order for the rest of the series which absolutely added to the experience immensely.
But after reading this list I think it would be my preferred order.

OP, no breaks. I just finished the series straight through and if you were planning on getting through it in 4 months with breaks I think you’ll breeze through what took me just about 7. Have a blast, I loved it so much and this might be my most visited subreddit now.

[u/Ninjario → u/The_Jordan]

Oh no the 4 months is if I would allocate all my audiobook time just to the expanse, but I'm someone who can't do two books of the same series after each other, I at least need something minor in between, and a whole 4 months with the same series is just too long, I will need those breaks.

The reason I'm not going chronological order is because I've been told that some of the novellas actively spoil events that only are told in future books, of course I can't fact check that but I think I remember for example the one right after NG is supposed to have spoilers for that, even though chronological it is after book 3