Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly feature/meme hosted by The Broke and the Bookish. This week’s topic is Ten Series I’ve Been Meaning To Start (But Haven’t).
Ten Series I’ve Been Meaning To Start (But Haven’t Yet)
The Queen’s Thief series by Megan Whalen Turner. I really do plan to read this MG fantasy series set in an analog of ancient Greece/Turkey, but other books keep getting in the way. Every review I’ve read has been positive, and my daughter loved the first book.
The Shades of London trilogy by V. E. Schwab. I actually did start the first book, but got distracted by other things before I’d read more than a few chapters, and haven’t managed to get back to it, so I’m counting this has “haven’t started.” But I definitely plan to read this trilogy about four alternate Londons, each of which has a different magic (or none at all.) And I want to read them before the television adaption is released, whenever that is.
The Blackthorn and Grim series by Juliet Marillier. Marillier weaves fairytales and Irish myths into this adult fantasy series about a healer and her ex-convict companion. This is another where I started the first book but didn’t get far, and although I keep meaning to start over, I haven’t done so yet. The chapter and a half that I read were very good.
The October Daye series by Seanan McGuire. I’m not sure if these will be too dark for me, but they sound amazing: fantasy/urban fantasy about a half-human, half-Fae changeling, a former knight who renounced the fae world but gets pulled back into it.
The InCryptid series by Seanan McGuire. This is McGuire’s most lighthearted and humourous series, an urban fantasy series about a family of cryptozoologists who try to keep the mundane world from finding out about all the paranormal creatures out there.
The Great Library trilogy by Rachel Caine. The premise is so cool: an alternate fantasy universe in which the Library of Alexandria survived, but it controls all books and content, and personal ownership of books is outlawed. Now that all three books are out, I can start it without having to wait a year for the next installment. Except that I just discovered there may be more books coming…
The Leviathan trilogy by Scott Westerfeld. Another of Robin’s recommendations, and it sounds terrific: a YA steampunk/gaslamp alt-WWI-history in which the heir to the Austro-Hungarian throne is on the run, accompanied by a British girl disguised as a boy (and he doesn’t know she’s a girl for at least a book or two.)
The Books of Bayern by Shannon Hale. I don’t know why I haven’t read this MG fantasy series yet, especially since Robin loves them. And the first, at least, is is a loose retelling of a fairytale — and I love fairytale retellings.
The Cotswold Mysteries by Rebecca Tope. England, Cotswolds, mystery. That should be enough to entice me right there. And if it weren’t, the fact that I’ve had four or five of them on my TBR shelves downstairs for about two years means I really should have started this series already.
The Kurland St. Mary mystery series by Catherine Lloyd. A Regency-era mystery series: think Jane Austen crossed with Agatha Christie. Sounds delightful, doesn’t it?
* * *
There are at least eight or ten more mystery series I’ve been wanting to read, and several romance series as well, but these are the ones that first jumped to mind when I started working on the post. I’m taking that as a sign that they are the ones I’m most interested in reading!
Angela
I started The Great Library series and while I liked it and thought the premise was really interesting and unique, I haven’t felt the pull to continue with it. I have the Shades of London series on my TBR, hopefully I’ll get to it someday!
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Lark_Bookwyrm
Interesting—I think you’re one of the first people I’ve come across with that reaction. A few didn’t like the first Great Library book at all, while others liked it. I love the premise, but I’ve had your experience before: liking the premise but not being pulled in by the book itself. I guess I’ll see when I finally get around to it!
Greg
I had trouble getting into October daye, and I read the first InCryptid and it was good but I had like zero motivation to continue. Not sure why that is. But then I read her killer mermaid novella and liked it. So who knows?
Blackthorn and Grim sounds good. That one’s caught my eye a few times. I read a Marillier, Daughter of the Foret maybe, and was bored. Boy I’m just a bundle of positivity today, aren’t I? lol
The Cotswold Mysteries though do sound good. How could they not? 🙂
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Lark_Bookwyrm
I liked Daughter of the Forest when I read it ages ago, but I can see where it might not be everyone’s taste. I think Marillier’s adult books are slower, deeper, and more thoughtful than a lot of the YA fantasy I’ve been reading; I suspect it will take a little while for me to adjust to that pace again. As for Seanan McGuire, she writes several series, each with its own style, so I’m sure—well, I hope—that at least one of them will appeal to me!
kimbacaffeinate
Awesome list. The Great Library is a series though. Right now there are 5 books planned. I love McGuire writing as Grant. I need to try her October Daye series.
kimbacaffeinate recently posted…A Twist in Time by Julie McElwain
Lark_Bookwyrm
Yes, I realized The Great Library series was going to go on a bit longer after I wrote the post… but that’s just more to look forward to, right? 😉
Lark
I shouldn’t read these lists any more…it only adds more books to my own! ;D
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Lark_Bookwyrm
I hear you! I have the same problem… but what a great problem to have! 😀
Stephanie @ Don't be Afraid of the Dork
I love this list. The ones on here that I have started I love (Shades of London, Books of Bayern, The Great Library trilogy), many of the others I’ve heard of and am right there with you wanting to start and then there are a couple I wasn’t aware of and they sound fantastic!! The Incryptid series sounds like a blast and totally up my alley. The Cotswold mystery series also caught my eye! Great list!
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Lark_Bookwyrm
Oh, I’m glad to have your recommendation on the Shades of London, Books of Bayern, and Great Library series! And I agree; the Incryptid series sounds like a whole lot of fun. 🙂