For a long time, I was terrible at finishing series. To be honest a lot of this was down to the fact that, when I reached for series, I was reaching for the books that everyone was reading instead of reaching for books I actually wanted to read, but I know Lauren Oliver’s Requiem also played a big part in me falling out of love with series.
That finale was so frustrating and disappointing that, for a few years, I lived on standalone novels and I really enjoyed it! I still love a good standalone, but over the past couple of years I’ve begun to rediscover both my love for big epic fantasies and for series. I’ve remembered that feeling of being so excited to see characters I love again.
To make sure I don’t fall back into my old habits of being a terrible finisher, today I thought I’d talk about some of the series I’d like to finish this year if I can!
The Diviners by Libba Bray
The Diviners was on my TBR for years and I finally read and loved it in October 2019, and then managed to get through Lair of Dreams, which has been my favourite book in the series so far, and Before the Devil Breaks You in 2020. The King of Crows came out last February and it’s the one finale on this list I’ve started, and I’ve liked what I’ve read so far, but I’ve been in a reading slump throughout the majority of February and I don’t want to force my way through the final book in one of my favourite series just in case my current mood makes me not like it as much as I could. I’m hoping to pick this one up again soon!
The Falconer by Elizabeth May
I read The Falconer years ago, and liked it well enough, but I only got around to reading The Vanishing Throne last year, so I’d like to get to The Fallen Kingdom before I forget everything that happened in the second book. I don’t think this series is going to be a favourite by any means but it’s enjoyable enough, and if you’re a fan of fae books this is a series that could be worth your time.
The Winternight Trilogy by Katherine Arden
I received a copy of The Bear and the Nightingale via NetGalley, and enjoyed it, and then borrowed The Girl in the Tower from the library and finally crossed it off my TBR in January. I love Arden’s writing and the way she brings medieval Russia to life, but I think I’m going to wait until December and borrow The Winter of the Witch from the library—these books make for perfect winter reading—because while I do enjoy this series, I don’t think I love it enough to warrant buying copies of the books for my shelves.
The Divine Cities by Robert Jackson Bennett
I read both City of Stairs and City of Blades in 2019, and loved them both, but for whatever reason I still haven’t picked up City of Miracles. I think it could be because I’m not quite as interested in the point of view character in the third book, but I’m hoping I’ll be pleasantly surprised and I don’t want to leave this trilogy unfinished forever.
I adore the Winternight trilogy and I thought the finale was incredibly strong. The Diviners and The Falconer are both series that I’ve meant to pick up for ages. I bought hardcopies of all 3 Falconer books but need to start.
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I need to read The Bear and The Nightingale. I have a lot of series to finish, I need to read The Dark Artifices in the Shadowhunters, want to finish the Folk of the Air series, the Brown Sisters trilogy and read The Broken Earth series (I’m stuck in The Fifth Season, the story’s really interesting but I’m struggling with the 2nd person POV). Happy reading, Jess!
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Great list! I need to finish that Katherine Arden series as well, although I need to reread book 1 first, haha. Good luck!
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I do need to get back to the Diviners series! I’ve only read the first book, so I’d have to start all over again. In terms of other series, I want to at least get further in the Expanse series. The books are so big that I’m not sure it’s realistic to think I’ll read more than a couple this year. 🙂
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These all look great. I remember wanting to read the May series as well…
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A disappointing finale to a beloved series is the worst, I can see why it would put you off! The series on my high priority list is the Poppy War trilogy. I still havent read the final book!
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i hope you can finish all of these! The Winternight trilogy is one of my faves!
(www.evelynreads.com)
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I hope I can finish The Diviners series this year too. Hope you enjoy Winter of the Witch!
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I’m really bad about finishing series, too! There are a couple I keep up with, but too often I just read the first book and that’s it! I really love the covers on the Winternight series!
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I saw Katherine Arden on a historical fiction panel a few weeks ago and listening to her made me want to read the Bear and the Nightingale.
I’ve got lot of series on the go arc the minute but there’s def a few where I’ve only got one or two books to read to finish so probs gonna prioritise them. I’ve only got one more Witcher book to read! And then I can finally watch the Netflix series 😄
Also I still haven’t picked up The Unbound Empire, the last book in Melissa Caruso’s Swords and Fire trilogy. Who know stupid cos I loved the first two books.
And finally, I’ve only read book one so far, but I really want to read the rest of Lara Elena Donnelly’s Amberlough Dossier books. I don’t think I’ve seen anyone talk about Amberlough in the blogosphere, which is a crime because it’s SO GOOD. It’s a spy thriller about a double agent trying to protect his on-off drag queen smuggler boyfriend in the midst of a rising fascist coup. I think it’s described as John le Carré meets Cabaret and I actually think you’d like it Jess, look it up 🙂
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The Bear and the Nightingale is the perfect book to curl up with in the middle of winter! It’s so atmospheric.
I hope you enjoy The Witcher series! I wasn’t sure what I’d think of Henry Cavill, and tbh I still think Geralt is the least interesting character in the story, but I think he did a pretty good job.
Amberlough is on my TBR! I’ve heard really good things about it and I love the 20th century Berlin/Cabaret vibes I get from it. While I do love a good magic system, I do also love fantasy stories in which the fantasy is that the story takes place in a completely different world and magic doesn’t play a part at all. I bought a kindle bind-up of the trilogy last year, so I’ll have to give it a try this year!
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