Thursday, 23 December 2010

FIVE Great Series

Richelle Mead's The Vampire Academy.
I started off highly sceptical with this series and with every title fall more in “fun” with it. I have not had the pleasure of reading the final edition of the series but I have high hopes. The steamy scenes, the tightly wound world of politics, social hierarchy and racism are presented through the eyes of a protagonist who constantly deals with the unusual but remains pleasingly pragmatic. (Persnickety Snark review.)

Jenny Han’s The Summer I Turned Pretty series
This is a series of books that became less and less impressive with each title. The first is particularly strong and managed to emotionally engage me to the point where I was propelled into reading the next two. While most readers will no doubt be captivated by the brothers, I found Belly’s relationship with her mother to be the most compelling. Subtle, nuanced and prickly - this series has a wonderful lilt and sunlight to its story of one girl, two brothers and a changeable summer. (Persnickety Snark review.)


Prophecy of the Sisters series - Michelle Zink
Boy do I want to read the final title after closing Guardian of the Gate. I came into the second title having not read Prophecy of the Sisters for well over and year and I was able to pick up without 1) having the author plunking through Babysitter’s Club-esque character recaps and exposition and 2) being completely lost. That’s hard to do, people. Zink’s series is one of the densest in terms of the building of the world, its inhabitants and the prophecy itself. There is an attention to detail (and logic) that surprisingly works well with the more mystical aspects of the events. Hanging out for title three! (Persnickety Snark review.)

Theatre Illuminata series - Lisa Mantchev
What the heck is going to happen to Bertie, her parents and the fate of the theatre? Plus…how many more fantastically wicked insults can those delightful faeries spout? How many more insults can I steal from fictional faeries to use in everyday life? Mantchev’s novels are so jam packed with frivolity, shenanigans and catastrophe that it is easy to overlook her wonderful use of language (though the faeries and their foul mouths are well known). She has managed to present a world that lends from Shakespeare and modern life that is beautiful and endlessly entertaining. (Persnickety Snark review.)

Endless Summer - Jennifer Echols
The Boys Next Door was a fabulous little read that I stumbled upon in the beginning days of PSnark. It looked like a harmless little thing with its cartoonish cover art and somewhat generic title…and yet I completely loved every moment. Echols has a fantastic ability to bring humour and angst into the same breath and we empathise with all the players that populate this story. I have one brother so I am endlessly fascinated by brother interplay and loved the way it offset the story of the protagonist and her love interest. The sequel wasn’t on par with the first title BUT it definitely presented the idea that working out who you love doesn’t automatically equate to happily ever after. Love takes work…and some craft machinations. (Persnickety Snark review.)

What were your thoughts on the great series revisited this year?

Tomorrow - FIVE Great Re-reads

10 comments:

Unknown said...

I haven't read any of these series... Yikes! My absolutely favorite series of this year (and ever) has been the Chaos Walking trilogy. Patrick Ness created a world that only got more intriguing with time. Todd and Viola are two of the best characters I've ever read!

Adele said...

I have yet to read the final volume but I am sure it would have made my list had I read it this year. I didn't put The Hunger Games on as I found the final book to be a bit blah.

Tez Miller said...

I've done more cheating ;-) Not all of them are published in 2010, but I glommed them this year. 1 adult, 1 MG, and 3 YA.

Alex Bennett from Electrifying Reviews said...

I've only read VA and PoS. I'll have to check out the rest of these!

Anonymous said...

The only book/series on your list that I've read is Han's Summer series.

I know you didn't like the second one as much as the first (nor did I), but I'm really excited for the third title out this spring.

Missie, The Unread Reader said...

These are all on my TBR list. I can't believe it haven't read any of them yet.

Melissa @ Mel's Books and Info said...

Unfortunately the only one of those I have read is the Prophecy of the Sisters. I will have to add the others to my TBR list. Thanks!

Pixie said...

Great list, I LOVE some of those and can't believe I didn't think of them when making my list.

Michelle said...

I read the two books in Han's series last week back to back, just loved them. I also just picked up Endless Summer yesterday. I'm thinking I might pick it up next. I've been in a very "summer fun" kind of mood with my reading lately.

Anna said...

Jumping in to the party a few days late. I LOVED reading your lists and now making my own. So fun!