New Series I've Started (And Whether I"ll Continue)
This is the post where you'll discover just how much I love a good series. Yes, I've started all these series in the last 18 months, all in the search for a new series to fall in love with. I am obviously insane.
The Scarlet Series by A.C. Gaughen
Books Read: 1 out of 3
About: Robin Hood retelling from Maid Marion's perspective.
Current Feeling: This series is not for me. I disliked the first book a lot.
Verdict: Stop Reading
Books Read: 2 out of 3
About: Fantasy-Distopia about a strong queen in an extremely difficult situation.
Current Feeling: GIVE ME MORE TEARLING. I'm loving this character-driven, suspenseful series.
Verdict: Keep Reading!
The Illuminae Files by Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff
Books Read: 1 out of 3
About: Spaceship zombie apocolypse meets some pretty intense family drama
Current Feeling: Original and intense, I liked the first one. Though something's holding me back from committing to the rest of the series.
Verdict: We'll see how the reviews for book 2 pan out before deciding.
The Lynburn Legacy by Sarah Rees Brennan
Books Read: 1 out of 3
About: Paranormal mystery with a sarcastic protagonist and a controversial romance.
Current Feeling: Meh. It had all the right ingredients, but it fell flat for me.
Verdict: Stop Reading.
Six of Crows Duology by Leigh Bardugo
Books Read: 1 out of 2
About: Ocean's Eleven meets the Grisha (Plus some crazy apothecary stuff going on.)
Current Feeling: I liked the first one. Didn't love it, but I liked it. I'm not sure I'd continue if it were a trilogy, but I think I might be able to read book 2 since it's just one more book for closure.
Verdict: Probably Keep Reading
The Magicians Series by Lev Grossman
Books Read: 1 out of 3
About: Parallel fantasy series with every trope turned upside down and all the happiness sucked out of the world.
Current Feeling: I like how Grossman messes with the tropes, but book 1 was waaaaaaaay too depressing for me.
Verdict: Stop Reading
The Second Selection Series by Kiera Cass
Books Read: 1 out of 3
About: The Selection gets a whole new cast with this next generation featuring America's daughter.
Current Feeling: It's the same kind of light and fun popsicle as the previous Selection series. Which means I'll read the whole thing between seasons of The Bachelor.
Verdict: Keep Reading
An Ember in the Ashes Series by Sabaa Tahir
Books Read: 1 out of 3
About: ... I have no idea since I can hardly remember a thing about it.
Current Feeling: Why should I keep going if the first book was obviously forgettable?
Verdict: Stop Reading
A Court of Thorns and Roses Series by Sarah J. Maas
Books Read: 1 out of 3
About: Beauty and the Beast gets a highly suspenseful and grown up retelling in the masterful hands of Maas.
Current Feeling: I loved book 1 SO MUCH. *drools*
Verdict: Keep Reading
The Wrath and the Dawn Duology by Renee Ahdieh
Books Read: 1 out of 2
About: A new and intense take on the A Thousand and One Nights tale.
Current Feeling: GIMMEEEEE. Why Have I not read this yet? It's been out for at least a month.
Verdict: Keep Reading
Red Queen Series by Victoria Aveyard
Books Read:1 out of 3
About: Take the gist of every YA fantasy/dystopia you've ever read and you'll know what this book is about.
Current Feeling: I enjoyed it well enough, but it wasn't original enough to inspire me to keep reading the series.
Verdict: Probably stop reading, unless the reviews for book 2 convince me otherwise.
Books Read: 1 out of 3
About: Girl in a love triangle. I forget the rest.
Current Feeling: This series is not for me. I (clearly) couldn't get past the love triangle trope.
Verdict: Stop Reading
Kushiel's Dart by Jacqueline Carey
Books Read: 1 out of 3
About: Insanely original grown up fantasy with one of the most fully imagined worlds I've ever read.
Current Feeling: Fantastic world building, but you have to be in the mood for the rest. The characters and the world really come to life, but the plot is soooo complicated and slow. That's not a bad thing, but good to know ahead of time. Also, being told this story through the eyes of a courtesan was original, if slightly disconcerting at times.
Verdict: Undecided. Maybe I'll go back to it one day.
Four Sister's Series by Elissa Sussman
Books Read: 1 out of 4 (I think)
About: Fairy tale setting with a far from fairy tale-esque political system.
Current Feeling: Book 1 was a huge letdown. Huge.
Verdict: Stop Reading.
To All The Boys I've Loved Before Series by Jenny Han
Books Read: 1 out of 2
About: Endearing young girl does some growing up and finds some romance along the way.
Current Feeling: There's a lot of love out there for book 1. I thought it was just okay though. I didn't fall in love, and don't really care to continue.
Verdict: Stop Reading
Pennyroyal Academy Series by M.A. Larson
Books Read: 1 out of 3 (I think)
About: I honestly can't remember. Apparently this book did not leave a mark. I think there may have been something about dragons...??
Current Feeling: Again, I don't have the energy to continue a series if the first book is forgettable.
Verdict: Stop Reading
Sevenwaters Series by Juliet Marillier
Books Read: 1 out of 6
About: Book 1 was an atmospheric Scottish retelling of the goose girl legend. It will leave you believing in a more conniving, duplicitous kind of magic, but also in love.
Current Feeling: Book 1 was solid, but really, really, really long. I liked it, but I'm not sure I liked it enough to read 5 more books of that length and pace.
Verdict: Probably Stop Reading
Previous Posts in The Series Series:
Series I've finished (and whether I'd recommend them)
Series I've started, and whether I'll continue
Series I haven't read (that I'm considering starting)
Discussion defending the series format
Guest posts by Bridget, Jessie, Cassie, Kami, and Kathy
Follow-up to Series I've finished (and whether I'd recommend them)
Series I've finished (and whether I'd recommend them)
Series I've started, and whether I'll continue
Series I haven't read (that I'm considering starting)
Discussion defending the series format
Guest posts by Bridget, Jessie, Cassie, Kami, and Kathy
Follow-up to Series I've finished (and whether I'd recommend them)
Whoa! Lots of series started here. I hated Scarlet too. No desire to finish the series. Don't want to finish The Magician series either.
ReplyDeleteHigh five! I love how we are almost always on the same page.
DeleteThese posts are SO HELPFUL. Scarlet has been sitting in my amazon cart for weeks and I am now going to take it out. There are too many good books to read.
ReplyDeleteYay! Glad you like the posts. I'd definitely skip Scarlet in favor of something else.
DeleteWhy did you like Scarlet? I'm just curious because it's been on my TBR for a while. I'm sad you didn't like Defy. It's one of my favorite series. I need to read the last book still, though.
ReplyDeleteI think I'm going to repost these series again because I deleted them when I started over with my blog in March and now I miss those posts, lol.
Regarding Scarlet, the book uses the trope where the protagonist (Scarlet, in this case) is rude and antagonistic to everyone around her, and yet everyone around her can't help but fall in love with her. Which was really annoying and unbelievable, I thought. That's my least favorite trope (even worse than love triangles!) and it really bothered me. I also didn't like Scarlet's insistence on using improper grammar. It's a little thing, but everytime I read dialogue it distracted me. That being said, I thought the villain was well written, so I didn't hate everything. Just most things. :)
DeleteI hope you do write these posts again sometime! I'm thinking I'll do an annual series update, and I think you totally should too, if you want to. :)
I love this post! I want to read Scarlet, and I still hope I like. I couldn't finish the Red Queen because I had just finished Red Rising, and I felt like it was too similar. I will probably pick up Red Queen again. The romance in the Defy series gets a bit lame, but I still want to read the last book.
ReplyDeleteWho knows? Maybe you will like Scarlet. Red Rising and Red Queen are totally similar, not just in name. I don't blame you! If you do, let me know if I should continue the series. I'm not totally sold on that series. Hope the last book gives you closure on the Defy series.
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