And they all lived happily ever after, didn’t they??
8 October 2013
Filed under Book Reviews
Tags: The Broke and the Bookish, Top Ten Tuesday
Okay, it may seem like I’ve just posted a Top Ten Tuesday – but it was late. I’ve had a rather unorganised period, ahem, so now trying to be, or appear to be, organised. In which case I will keep this short and sweet!
Top Ten Tuesday is hosted by The Broke and the Bookish – they have some pretty interesting topics so you might want to stop on by and check them out. Plus I always give a high five to Mega Mad 4 Books whose lovely blog enticed me over there in the first place.
This week – Top 10 Best and Worst Series Enders
Best first :
- Lord of the Rings, JRTolkien – no comments necessary methinks.
- The Broken Empire Trilogy by Mark Lawrence (Prince, King and Emperor of Thorns) (Thanks to the Little Red Reviewer for putting me onto this!)
- The Forest of Hands and Teeth series by Carrie Ryan (including the Dark and Hollow Places and the Dead Tossed Waves) – I loved this, zombie apocalypse and the ending was spot on.
- The Foundation Trilogy by Isaac Asimov – such a clever series and so intriguing. (respect to Carl at Stainless Steel Droppings for hosting a readalong for this which made it really interesting and without which I probably wouldn’t have picked it up!)
- The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo – I loved this whole series and thought the ending was amazing plus Lisbeth is such a great character.
Worst :
- The Hunger Games series, by Suzanne Collins – loved the first book, liked the second, disappointed with the third.
- Breaking Dawn by Stephenie Meyers – yes, I read these! Breaking Dawn was a bit surreal for me personally.
- Charlaine Harris’s Sookie Stackhouse – this is a great series and I’ve really enjoyed it – but I thought the ending was slightly meh!
- River Marked by Patricia Briggs. Okay, a bit of a cheat because this isn’t the end of a series but it is the last book I read in the series and it went off track I thought. Might try the next one just to see if it was a fluke.
- Infernal Devices by Cassandra Clare – again, I liked the first but thought the second was totally flat and I probably won’t finish this series.
Two things did this post reveal: (1) I found it easier to come up with series endings that I enjoyed than disliked and (2) I’m astounded at how many series I’ve actually started and not finished yet – I think I have some sort of hang up about finishing a series! I NEED HELP!!
Books and travelling with Lynn 
You need to write a Top Series to Finish post, then we can link to each other. :p Maybe some more friends will join in.
Haha, that’s bloody brilliant – you must be a mind reader! I just said exactly the same thing to another blogger buddy. I think I have some sort of avoidance issues when it comes to the ending of a series.
We should link it up.
Lynn 😀
Lord of the Rings and Dragon Tattoo, yes! The others have not read.
Well, they are two rather excellent series.
Lynn ;D
Yes indeed, good movies too! Have a great day, Lynn!
Ditto – I can now end the day thinking of the lovely Aragorn!!!
Lynn 😀
I agree with you on The Hunger Games! I had absolutely no idea what was going on in the third book.. I felt it was completely unnecessary!
Yeah, a bit of a shame – I really didn’t enjoy the ending of the third. Plus, it felt rushed! And, I hate rushed endings.
Lynn 😀
Ahh I have to finish The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo series! Well actually I have to finish a lot of series. Ah well. Great list 🙂
I know, so many unfinished series. I really do think I’ve got a problem!
Lynn 😀
So with you on Hunger Games! I actually liked Breaking Dawn (in a “why do I like this?” kind of way)…felt like the characters got a *little* more depth by the last book…
I completely understand about having multitudes of unfinished series–want to hear about my list of 21 unfinished series I counted up? 🙂 I’ve been working on it for the last two years, and I’m down to 3, plus some ongoing series I’m waiting on new books for. So recovery is possible!
I also liked Breaking Dawn in an I’m-embarrassed-that-I-liked-this sort of way. I remember liking the third Hunger Games the most of the three, but I read it over a year ago so I no longer remember exactly why I felt that way.
Ha ha, don’t be embarrassed – it just didn’t do it for me is all. I was super curious to see how she’d manage the ending. The Third Hunger Games I felt the ending was a bit disappointing – like you, it’s been a while and so if you really tried to pin me down as to why I think I’d be in a dilemma to give you an answer. n 😀
Lynn 😀
Actually I think you win with 21 series remaining unfinished – maybe I’ll go away and count them to make sure – in fact I’m sort of considering this for a post and playing tag – I might list mine and then pass it on! Breaking Dawn – it just felt like the writing was different. I actually think SM was abducted by aliens and the publishers finished the story!
Lynn 😀
I’ve been eyeing the Broken Empire trilogy for a while. It’s worth picking up, then?
I’ve read The Forest of Hands and Teeth, but not the other books in the series. The first book felt pretty self-contained and while I liked it, I didn’t fall in love with it, so I just left it at that.
I’m one of the few people who actually liked the third Hunger Games book, although it did feel a bit rushed in places. Also, could have done without the epilogue. I loved the final lines before the epilogue.
The Forest of Hands and Teeth is one of those series that had mixed reviews. To be honest the first book is the worst. I was quite gripped with the second and third!
The Broken Empire is an absolute must read. I have no hesitation – so long as you don’t have a weak stomach and you like your grimdark really grim and extra dark. Seriously it’s a great series. Have you read Lynch?? I noticed you had Rothfuss up on your site to be read – another excellent choice. Different style though. I need to stop on by and check out what else you enjoy reading.
I’m probably a bit harsh on the Third Hunger Games novel but I just felt really let down by the ending and it definitely felt rushed to me which is a particular pet hate!
Lynn 😀
I have both Lynch and Rothfuss on my TBR list! I actually have both the Name of the Wind and The Lies of Locke Lamora on my shelves just waiting to be read. I can’t decide which one to read first! I really enjoy Robin Hobb, George RR Martin, Neil Gaiman, and Caitlín R. Kiernan, among others.
I also don’t have a problem with grimdark. So Broken Empire goes on my list…
Woah, we’re practically related our tastes are so similar! I love Neil Gaiman – I’m not a total stalker mind because I don’t love everything he’s done! Robin Hobb’s Assassin’s Apprentice – read the first this year and thought it was amazing. I’ve got book 2 now waiting.
I really hope you read Broken Empire. It’s a great read. The only thing I will say is when you first start, you might have a little ‘wtf’ moment (well I did anyway) but you’ll soon get over it and Jorg is such a character.
If I had to call it between Lynch and Rothfuss I just don’t think I could! Really I don’t. By a hair’s breath, I’d probably say Name of the Wind but I do love the cleverness of the Gentlemen Bastards.
Lynn 😀
I was very disappointed with Breaking Dawn–did everyone have to have a happy ending?
Yeah, Breaking Dawn – so many things that I didn’t like about it. I mean, partly I think it’s up to the author and if she wants a happy ending then it’s her pigeon, if she wants little green men to land their spaceship on top of Edward or Santa Claus to visit Bella then ditto. It just felt a little too neatly packaged. And the scene with the little twee cottage – vomit bag anyone?
Lynn 😀
Publishers should include a vomit bag for stuff like that. Just tuck it in the back of the book.
That’s a cunning plan that you’ve got right there!
Lynn 😀
I’m sad and happy I haven’t read any Cassandra Clare yet. She’s made a lot of these lists for Tuesdays. AH!
I admit that I liked the first series (Mortal Instruments) which felt quite unique so if you still fancy CC then try City of Bones. But, the prequels started off okay and then became a sort of repeat of the MI series and the same with the latest 3 books (which continue after the Mortal Instruments). They all feel a little too similar/familiar.
Lynn 😀
I totally agree about The Hungers Games. While I’m so pleased to hear I’m not the only one who thought Breaking Dawn was just a little surreal and over the top!