I, Matthew, have a problem. There, I admitted it. I absolutely positively cannot resist a good series of books. Are you a standalone? I hope not, because I don’t believe in one night stands – neigh, I need to be reading a series; I crave them. Can a book really be over in three-hundred pages? Most of the time, no, it can’t be. How can a story just end? Given that the characters live – there are a few exceptions in which I don’t see that the story should go on, especially after an emotional rollercoaster that only goes down… *cough* Me before You by Jojo Moyes *cough* - their life doesn’t just end there. Are you an addict like me? Check out these amazing book series below!
The Falling Kingdoms Series by Morgan Rhodes
The Falling Kingdom series is a YA fantasy series similar to George R.R. Martin’s books. They follow Cleo, Jonas, Lucia, and Magnus, four teens whose worlds have been changed completely by one event brought on by Cleo’s “friend”. Political intrigue, romance, and kickass fighting scenes are aplenty in these books and I definitely recommend them for those dipping their toes into the fantasy genre.
Currently, the Falling Kingdoms series by Morgan Rhodes includes Falling Kingdoms, Rebel Spring, Gathering Darkness, and Frozen Tides. The fifth installment, Crystal Storm is set to release this fall.
A Song of Ice & Fire Series by George R.R. Martin
Also known as the Game of Thrones series, these books were largely made popular by the HBO show Game of Thrones. They’re massive high fantasy books, and currently, there are five books out in the series, which are A Game of Thrones, A Clash of Kings, A Storm of Swords, A Feast for Crows, and A Dance with Dragons.
These books are known for their massive cast, multiple points-of-view, and awesome world building. From Westeros to Winterfell, to Braavos, the scenery described in these books are hauntingly beautiful, and no character is safe. Yes, they’re massive books, clocking in at around a thousand pages each; however, so far they’ve proven to be worth it. Martin is currently working on the sixth – and probably final – book in the series, however, it’s been pushed back, and so we aren’t sure when it will be released.
The Kingdom Keepers Series by Ridley Pearson
I am a huge Disney fan, and have been since I was a small child. Years ago, when Walden’s Books was alive and well, I visited our local location and found Ridley Pearson’s Disney after Dark, the first book in the Kingdom Keepers series. Ever since, I have steadily accumulated each book every year until the seventh and final installment was released. The premise is this: a group of kids have been chosen to become hologram hosts for the Disney World theme parks. They mysteriously find themselves waking up in the Magic Kingdom as their hologram selves, and are faced with a task much bigger than they could ever imagine. The Overtakers - Maleficent and her group of villainous friends – are real and hell bent on taking over the parks. If the kids can’t solve the riddles and trials presented to them, then Maleficent will rule and the world will be at stake.
It’s a little farfetched, but I can’t help but love its inclusion of many of the beloved Disney characters I grew up with. The series takes place in all four parks in Orlando, FL, on the Disney Dream Cruise Line, and concludes at Disneyland in Anaheim, CA. The series includes seven books: Disney at Dark, Disney at Dawn, Disney in Shadow, Power Play, Shell Game, Dark Passage, and The Insider.
The Peculiar Children Seriesby Ransom Riggs
If you’re a fan of Tim Burton, I highly recommend that you check out this book series whose first book, Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children, will be hitting the silver screen this fall in Burton’s adaptation of the bestselling series.
The books follow Jacob, a young boy trying to figure his life out; in his journey of self-discovery, he’s led to a small island off of Wales which houses a plethora of children with mysterious peculiarities, headed by Miss Peregrine. However, soon things turn grim and it’s a race for his life as he and his newfound friends must face adversity and the repercussions of World War II. The series is a trilogy, which include Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children, Hollow City, and Library of Souls.
The Asylum Series by Madeleine Roux
This book series is downright creepy. A boy finds himself staying in a dorm at a summer program that was once an asylum, and things start to go wrong. He and his new friends search for clues as to what really happened here all those years ago, and their life is changed forever. Each book of the series has a sort of “theme”, the first being the asylum, the second being a carnival, and the third being New Orleans.
I personally started the series last fall and I ate them up. If you’re a fan of horror and/or creepy vintage images, I definitely recommend this series, which is made up of Asylum, Sanctum, and Catacombs.
