Top Ten Tuesday (95)

Top Ten Favorite Sequels

Friends, I LOOOOOVE series books. I’m one of those people who doesn’t like to let things go, so when I find out that there’s a new series coming out that I can get good and invested in, I just get jittery with excitement. I took this week’s Top Ten Tuesday pretty literally and chose my favorite second books in a series. Let’s get fangirly!

I just loved the first book in this series, LEGEND. Day is charming and flirty and confident and loyal, and June is smart, courageous, clever, and not afraid of doing the right thing. PRODIGY takes their struggle against the Republic and expands it, both geographically and personally. AND THEN! THE END! THE THING THAT HAPPENS! Love it.

GUYS. THIS BOOK. I liked book 1 quite a bit, but CROWN OF MIDNIGHT really knocked the story of Celaena, Chaol, Dorian, and the kingdom of Ardalan out of the park. Like, really far out of the park. This story is so much bigger now. I’m really excited that there are four more books. I’m ready.

This is not the first or only book on this list that takes a solid beginning in book 1 and ups the ante in a huge way. THE DREAM THIEVES  is even better than THE RAVEN BOYS. Plus, there’s LOTS of Ronan, and that’s always a good thing.

Marissa Meyer’s Lunar Chronicles is hands down one of my favorite series out right now. There was so much about SCARLET that makes this already awesome series better: I loved the setting in France and Paris, I LOVED Scarlet and Wolf (WOLF!!), and I loved Thorne and Cinder and the way they interacted. Also, Wolf. And also Thorne.

I am constantly slayed by this series. By the writing and the world-building and the characters. I’m heartbroken for Karou and Akiva and for the time they spend dealing with some harsh, devastating things. SIGH. This book is gorgeous, and we get to see lots more of Eretz, the home world of the Angels and the Chimera. It’s as stunning as you would imagine.

SYBELLA AND BEAST OMG. Talk about two gruff, broken people finding each other at just the perfect moment and slowly coming together and dealing with death and adversity and so many personal demons. So excellent.

Friends, if you don’t know DJ Schwenk, I honestly think you need to correct yourself. She’s just about one of the best main characters ever. She’s frank and hard-working and genuine. Her relationship with Brian takes a few turns in book 2, and her family issues are far from resolved, but I’m a forever fan of hers.

I enjoyed this whole series, but CATCHING FIRE was probably my favorite. It had the action and twistiness and PEETA and drama. Plus Katniss remains her complete BAMF self.

If historical romance isn’t your thing, I think this series is a great place to start. It’s fun and sexy and quick to read. In book 2, we get to hang out with my FAVORITE couple of the whole series, Miles and Henrietta. They’re just so perfect and funny and adorable.

OK. So if we’re talking about favorite sequels in favorite series, this one has to be VERRRRRY close to the top. SO much drama and emotion and danger. And and and! The ending is like, “OMG my heart was just RIPPED OUT of my CHEST.” SO EFFING GOOD.