So many young adult novels these days come with this little fella attached: "(The blah blah Series, #1)." It's so ubiquitous that it's almost a foregone conclusion now that any YA fantasy or paranormal will be part of a series. (That being said - to the recent crop of standalones - we love you!)
But before we all became young adult junkies, we had a different sort of series. More mature. More intense. More gory. And sometimes, even more pointless and repetitive.
So here they are in all their beautiful/ugly glory: the adult series we love (and the ones we've lost).
But before we all became young adult junkies, we had a different sort of series. More mature. More intense. More gory. And sometimes, even more pointless and repetitive.
So here they are in all their beautiful/ugly glory: the adult series we love (and the ones we've lost).
When the topic of this post was suggested, I became quite excited - I thought, I read a lot of series, so picking my favorite adult ones would be a piece of cake. That is, until I opened my Goodreads account and looked at my shelves dedicated to series. Let's just say, in reality, the number of series that I liked in their entirety or am still following is only a tiny fraction of those that I abandoned after or during book one or at some later point in a series. The ability of authors to destroy their once great creations is staggering.
The easiest, albeit the most prolonged, parting with a formerly beloved series is definitely the one with the Stookie Stackhouse books. (It took me 11 books to finally realize it's time to pull the plug.) If there is any author who knows how to ruin her series, it's Charlaine Harris. The moment she loses interest in one of her stories, you know it - the books become in-your-face awful. This happened both to her Harper Connelly and Lily Bard series (I have no idea why, but I enjoyed Aurora Teagarden series from start to finish, even though it was plagued by continuity errors and all kinds of signature Harris mess), and it happened to Sookie books as well. In her greedy dash to add more books to this series she no longer had any interest in and make more money, Harris has gradually demolished everything we used to love about Sookie and the gang. (The butchering of Eric will never be forgiven, that's for sure.)
There are some series that are still lingering on my shelves, but I pretty much don't have any emotional connection to them any more, and, truth be told, I doubt I will actually complete them. Give me a few more months, and I will remove them from my shelves during one of my occasional TBR-clearing sessions.
Diana Gabaldon's Outlander and Lord John series are on their way out. These books are getting harder and harder for me to read. They've become too long and too plot-less. Unlike Harris, who gets sick of her characters, Gabaldon is too in love with hers and doesn't know when her stories become over-indulgent and when they need editing. Gabaldon seems to be her own biggest fan and, having her publishers eat out of her hands, she has every opportunity to continue writing 1000-pages long fanfiction based on her own characters and stories.
Diana Gabaldon's Outlander and Lord John series are on their way out. These books are getting harder and harder for me to read. They've become too long and too plot-less. Unlike Harris, who gets sick of her characters, Gabaldon is too in love with hers and doesn't know when her stories become over-indulgent and when they need editing. Gabaldon seems to be her own biggest fan and, having her publishers eat out of her hands, she has every opportunity to continue writing 1000-pages long fanfiction based on her own characters and stories.
Women of the Otherworld series by Kelley Armstrong is in a precarious position. There is only one book left in this series, and I will undoubtedly read it. While I haven't been in love with any book in this series since book #10, I haven't hated any of the books either. But this series has lost its steam, it's clear. I'm glad it's almost over.
Now, on to the series I still love and look forward to reading more of. It is, sadly, a very short list.
First (and it feels blasphemous to call these books a series) I really hope to one day read a 3rd book in Margaret Atwood's cycle of dystopic novels called (by someone) MaddAddam Trilogy. After seeing this YouTube video, I am more hopeful that this book will be completed, because with Atwood you can never be 100% sure. She herself never knows if a book can be written until is is written in full.
Now, on to the series I still love and look forward to reading more of. It is, sadly, a very short list.
First (and it feels blasphemous to call these books a series) I really hope to one day read a 3rd book in Margaret Atwood's cycle of dystopic novels called (by someone) MaddAddam Trilogy. After seeing this YouTube video, I am more hopeful that this book will be completed, because with Atwood you can never be 100% sure. She herself never knows if a book can be written until is is written in full.
Second, I am very interested in reading a follow-up to M.K. Hobson's The Native Star and The Hidden Goddess. Hobson is currently leading a Kickstarter campaign to finance the publication of the 3rd book in this gloriously named series Veneficas Americana. Fingers crossed, it succeeds. (UPDATE: Yes, it's a success!)
Downside Ghosts and Dublin Murder Squad are on this list as well. Catie will speak more eloquently about these two. For these authors I just hope that they will know when to stop while they are ahead and not follow the mistake of other series writers.
Downside Ghosts and Dublin Murder Squad are on this list as well. Catie will speak more eloquently about these two. For these authors I just hope that they will know when to stop while they are ahead and not follow the mistake of other series writers.
And the last, but not least, of my favorite series! I am sure you can guess, I've talked so much about it it's not even funny. FEVER!
This series is both finished and unfinished. I am apprehensive and excited about the new planned additions to the already completed story arc. This extension can be a huge failure or a lot of fun. At this point, I choose to be optimistic about it. This is the only attitude a Jericho Barrons addict like moi can afford.
This series is both finished and unfinished. I am apprehensive and excited about the new planned additions to the already completed story arc. This extension can be a huge failure or a lot of fun. At this point, I choose to be optimistic about it. This is the only attitude a Jericho Barrons addict like moi can afford.
I am a lover of series but I am also terrible at keeping up with them. I've probably started no less than thirty or forty different series at one time or another but the ones I am still keeping up with I can count on one hand. Er, maybe two.
Jasper Fforde is like that new person you meet at a party who you are instant best friends with--I love these people. They like all the same things you like, they listen to the same music, they read all the same things and you end up talking to them for hours. That's what I love about Jasper Fforde. When I read one of his books, I feel like I am just jumping onto the same wavelength and enjoying the ride. I am keeping up with his Thursday Next series, about a literary detective who can read herself in and out of books, and his Shades of Grey series, about people who live in a world where social status is determined by how much of the color spectrum you can see. I really can't think of many authors I'd describe as wacky and/or zany, but Jasper Fforde is sure one of them.
Jasper Fforde is like that new person you meet at a party who you are instant best friends with--I love these people. They like all the same things you like, they listen to the same music, they read all the same things and you end up talking to them for hours. That's what I love about Jasper Fforde. When I read one of his books, I feel like I am just jumping onto the same wavelength and enjoying the ride. I am keeping up with his Thursday Next series, about a literary detective who can read herself in and out of books, and his Shades of Grey series, about people who live in a world where social status is determined by how much of the color spectrum you can see. I really can't think of many authors I'd describe as wacky and/or zany, but Jasper Fforde is sure one of them.
Like Tatiana and Catie, I also enjoy the Dublin Murder Squad books, though I've only read one and a half of them so far. (I know, no need to shun me.) Two other crime-related series that I've kept up with are the Gretchen Lowell/Archie Sheridan books by Chelsea Cain and the In Death series by J.D. Robb (Nora Roberts). The Heartsick series is addicting but I wasn't the biggest fan of the last book and I'm really hoping it comes back together when the next one comes out in August. Cain snagged me in book one when she had Lowell taking a hammer and nail to Archie's ribs on the first few pages. I'm about three books behind in the In Death series but considering the series is almost to thirty-five books, I think we can all agree that I'm keeping up with it.
For quite a while, I was following several paranormal romance series. I kept up with the Argeneau Vampires by Lynsay Sands and the Dark Ones series by Katie Macalister for years and I still get excited when I see them in stores or at the library, but they've both let me down several times in recent history so I've mostly given them up. I still hold out hope that Macalister will pick her Aisling Grey: Guardian series back up because I really enjoyed all four books in that series. As an attempt to fill that void, I grimaced through a few books in the offshoot Silver Dragons series and then jumped off that ship. My cobloggers have already and will mention that we all mourn the loss of the Sookie series but I'd also like to throw another series into the pit of despair: the Undead books by MaryJanice Davidson. Contrary to the trend with many series where each subsequent book gets longer, pretty soon the Undead series will just be printed on leaflets. In terms of reading them right when they are released, I think the only paranormal series I'm following devoutly is Chicagoland Vampires. That series is reaching it's awkward puberty years and I spend more time daydreaming about whose story in the Chicagoland universe might come next when that series comes to its end. I have lots of (unsolicited and unwanted) suggestions!
For quite a while, I was following several paranormal romance series. I kept up with the Argeneau Vampires by Lynsay Sands and the Dark Ones series by Katie Macalister for years and I still get excited when I see them in stores or at the library, but they've both let me down several times in recent history so I've mostly given them up. I still hold out hope that Macalister will pick her Aisling Grey: Guardian series back up because I really enjoyed all four books in that series. As an attempt to fill that void, I grimaced through a few books in the offshoot Silver Dragons series and then jumped off that ship. My cobloggers have already and will mention that we all mourn the loss of the Sookie series but I'd also like to throw another series into the pit of despair: the Undead books by MaryJanice Davidson. Contrary to the trend with many series where each subsequent book gets longer, pretty soon the Undead series will just be printed on leaflets. In terms of reading them right when they are released, I think the only paranormal series I'm following devoutly is Chicagoland Vampires. That series is reaching it's awkward puberty years and I spend more time daydreaming about whose story in the Chicagoland universe might come next when that series comes to its end. I have lots of (unsolicited and unwanted) suggestions!
And lastly, the series I am dying to read and/or finish. Like I said earlier, I have a horrible tendency to just read one book in a series and put off the rest or to just flit around despite trusted reader/friend recommendations to light a fire under my butt and get going. Most of these series are already on my 110+ Books I Want To Read Next list, but they bear repeating here. These are the adult series I have read one book in and want to finish or no books in and want to complete: the Mary Russell series, Newsflesh, Grant County, Logan McRae, Sirantha Jax, Veneficas Americana, Mistborn, and yes, I have yet to read the Song of Ice and Fire books. I don't know what's preventing me from jumping back into some of these series. Really, that's the appeal of series in general. We've already done all the work in book one. Anything after that is like adding oil to a well-functioning machine. But we all know that every machine has a usable life. (I just had a nightmare thinking about tax law class and our discussion about depreciation of assets.)
For better or worse, I read a ton of series. There’s something so appealing about being able to return to the same cast of characters over and over again. It’s like revisiting old friends, or old lovers (hey, these are adult series after all). When considering the adults series that I’ve had committed relationships with, they seem to naturally fall into these categories:
Dead to me: These are the series that have jumped the shark so horrifically that I don’t think they’ll ever be redeemed. Or maybe they were always bad and my taste has just evolved. Either way, I won’t be touching these with a ten-foot pole. Doesn’t mean I don’t enjoy the snarky reviews for them though…
The Sookie Stackhouse Series by Charlaine Harris – I feel so justified in dropping this series after reading the recent reviews of Deadlocked. It’s such a disappointment because I used to look forward to these whenever a new one was released. Unfortunately, I think the author lost her passion for the series and its characters long ago and instead of just ending it, she’s apparently decided to take everything we once loved and just burn it to the ground.
The Stephanie Plum Series by Janet Evanovich – I’m pretty sure that these were always bad. Still, when I first picked this series up at age 21, I thought it was pretty hilarious. Then I realized that the author was actually just re-writing the exact same book over and over again. This realization took approximately eight years to form but at least I finally got there. I guess I have matured somewhat in my adult years. Hurrah!
The Sookie Stackhouse Series by Charlaine Harris – I feel so justified in dropping this series after reading the recent reviews of Deadlocked. It’s such a disappointment because I used to look forward to these whenever a new one was released. Unfortunately, I think the author lost her passion for the series and its characters long ago and instead of just ending it, she’s apparently decided to take everything we once loved and just burn it to the ground.
The Stephanie Plum Series by Janet Evanovich – I’m pretty sure that these were always bad. Still, when I first picked this series up at age 21, I thought it was pretty hilarious. Then I realized that the author was actually just re-writing the exact same book over and over again. This realization took approximately eight years to form but at least I finally got there. I guess I have matured somewhat in my adult years. Hurrah!
It’s not you; it’s me: These are the series that I feel like I may have outgrown. It’s not that their overall quality has lessened (much); it’s just that I find I’m no longer interested in reading them.
The Kate Daniels Series by Ilona Andrews – I read the newest one last year and it just wasn’t clicking with me. I think this series is great – one of the best, even. But honestly I’m not sure if I’ll continue with it. Hopefully all of my amazing reviewer friends out there can convince me one way or the other!
The Outlander Series by Diana Gabaldon – Yes, these have gotten extremely long-winded and detailed but I actually think they’re still great. I am just not feeling as connected to the characters as I once did. I may or may not read the new one. Again, it will be up to my trusted reviewer friends to sway me.
The Kate Daniels Series by Ilona Andrews – I read the newest one last year and it just wasn’t clicking with me. I think this series is great – one of the best, even. But honestly I’m not sure if I’ll continue with it. Hopefully all of my amazing reviewer friends out there can convince me one way or the other!
The Outlander Series by Diana Gabaldon – Yes, these have gotten extremely long-winded and detailed but I actually think they’re still great. I am just not feeling as connected to the characters as I once did. I may or may not read the new one. Again, it will be up to my trusted reviewer friends to sway me.
Don’t call me. I’ll call you: I love these series and I will definitely be continuing with them, but I just don’t have that insane urgency to pick up the next one. These are like my rainy-day reads – there for a good time whenever I’m bored but otherwise placed on the back burner. It’s a good thing that books can’t dump readers.
The Peter Grant Series by Ben Aaronovitch – I love Peter and I love his hilarious shenanigans as a magician/constable. I am actually really looking forward to reading the third book, which I’ll be reviewing here in the next month or two.
The Sirantha Jax Series by Ann Aguirre – Sirantha Jax ranks among my all-time favorite kick-ass female heroines and I LOVE that this series is like a magical hybrid of urban fantasy, romance, and sci-fi. It’s something different in a genre which can easily become stale.
The Hollows Series by Kim Harrison - more than any other series, the cast of this one feel like my old friends. This was the very first urban fantasy series I ever read and even though I was a bit disappointed in the last one, I'll definitely be coming back for more.
The Peter Grant Series by Ben Aaronovitch – I love Peter and I love his hilarious shenanigans as a magician/constable. I am actually really looking forward to reading the third book, which I’ll be reviewing here in the next month or two.
The Sirantha Jax Series by Ann Aguirre – Sirantha Jax ranks among my all-time favorite kick-ass female heroines and I LOVE that this series is like a magical hybrid of urban fantasy, romance, and sci-fi. It’s something different in a genre which can easily become stale.
The Hollows Series by Kim Harrison - more than any other series, the cast of this one feel like my old friends. This was the very first urban fantasy series I ever read and even though I was a bit disappointed in the last one, I'll definitely be coming back for more.
Whenever I see you out with someone else, I die a little inside: whenever I see the new books in these series going out with reviewer friends of mine (you know who you are!) I become so overwhelmed with longing and jealousy that I have to take a deep breath and resist the urge to grabby grab grab grab. Some of these I have ARCs for, which I am insanely excited about, but I’m trying to be a good reviewer and not read them until a month from their release dates and it is OH SO HARD. These are the series that I am still very addicted to.
The Newsflesh Series by Mira Grant – The very kind people at Orbit sent me an ARC of this which arrived today and it has taken everything that I have not to drop everything in my life and dive in eyeballs first. In fact, I’m actually rushing through this post right now so that I can get to reading it more quickly.
The Downside Ghosts Series by Stacia Kane – Why oh why does Chasing Magic not come out until the end of June?* And how the hell have I managed to resist reading the ARC that’s currently mocking me from the front page of my kindle library? I’ll tell you: I enlisted a sponsor. This series is so addictive that I need help in resisting it. Regina from Badass Book Reviews has kindly offered to keep me honest. Until the end of May. At which point you all won’t be hearing from me for approximately 6-8 hours.
*P.S. How hilarious is it that I'm complaining about this when Sacrificial Magic was released only a month ago?
The Dublin Murder Squad by Tana French – When I saw that the ARCs for this were restricted to booksellers and librarians, I wept a little. (Okay, no, I didn’t. But there was probably a melodramatic sigh of some kind.) To say that I am highly anticipating the twisted mental journey that her latest Broken Harbour is sure to take me on would be a severe understatement.
The Newsflesh Series by Mira Grant – The very kind people at Orbit sent me an ARC of this which arrived today and it has taken everything that I have not to drop everything in my life and dive in eyeballs first. In fact, I’m actually rushing through this post right now so that I can get to reading it more quickly.
The Downside Ghosts Series by Stacia Kane – Why oh why does Chasing Magic not come out until the end of June?* And how the hell have I managed to resist reading the ARC that’s currently mocking me from the front page of my kindle library? I’ll tell you: I enlisted a sponsor. This series is so addictive that I need help in resisting it. Regina from Badass Book Reviews has kindly offered to keep me honest. Until the end of May. At which point you all won’t be hearing from me for approximately 6-8 hours.
*P.S. How hilarious is it that I'm complaining about this when Sacrificial Magic was released only a month ago?
The Dublin Murder Squad by Tana French – When I saw that the ARCs for this were restricted to booksellers and librarians, I wept a little. (Okay, no, I didn’t. But there was probably a melodramatic sigh of some kind.) To say that I am highly anticipating the twisted mental journey that her latest Broken Harbour is sure to take me on would be a severe understatement.
How about all of you? Have you had any major adult series disappointments? Are there any that you'd kill for the next installment of? Let's chat in the comments!
