November 5, 2013

Top Ten Sequels I Can't Wait To Get My Hands On

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by The Broke and the Bookish. This week we're discussing some of our most anticipated sequels.  

I consciously try to avoid reading too many incomplete series because, for someone who prefers to binge read a series like me, there's nothing quite as frustrating as reading one installment and then realizing that you have months (or years) to wait in order to see what happens next. So I haven't read enough unfinished series to complete this list with simply unpublished continuations. For that reason, I switched up my list a bit. First I listed four sequels I own but have yet to read, and then I listed six of my most-anticipated upcoming sequels.

Those I Own But Have Yet to Read:
The Crown of Embers (Fire and Thorns, #2) by Rae Carson
In my defense, I won this book unexpectedly. Not so much in my defense are the facts that I loved the first book, bought a physical copy of the first book after winning a copy of the sequel, and pre-ordered a copy of the third book. My bad.
Froi of the Exiles (Lumatere Chronicles, #2) by Melina Marchetta
I liked Finnikin of the Rock. And then I heard that the trilogy just gets better and better, so I decided to buy all three books in the series at once. I've been sitting on this one mainly because I want to do a binge read of all three in a row and haven't been able to justify the time that will take. Not yet, at least.
Jovah's Angel (Samaria, #2) by Sharon Shinn
I'm a little worried about this one, since it's not a direct sequel of Archangel, but it still takes place in the same world. I've read some of Shinn's other works, however, and have confidence in her writing abilities. Again, though, I'd prefer to re-read the first one before continuing on.
Days of Blood and Starlight (Daughter of Smoke and Bone, #2) by Laini Taylor
I adored Daughter of Smoke and Bone when I read it last fall. So much so that I decided to buy both it and the newly released sequel. Somehow my urgency in buying the sequel has not equated to me actually taking the time to read it, however.


The Up-and-Coming Releases:
Ruin and Rising (Shadow and Bone, #3) by Leigh Bardugo 
First of all, the official synopsis for this was recently released. And it sounds fantastic. Siege and Storm really cemented the fact that Bardugo has a lot of talent. While Shadow and Bone did rely on many typical fantasy tropes (enjoyably so), Siege and Storm was an even more impressive feat, and one that left me with confidence it will be upped again by the conclusion. 
Lair of Dreams (Diviners, #2) by Libba Bray 
Not crazy about the cover change here (is anyone a fan of it?), but I am excited to see where this particular story goes next. The Diviners was a rare case where the first book's main conflict wrapped up very well, and yet I'm actually anxious to see what's next in store for the teenager diviners.
World After (Penryn & the End of Days, #2) by Susan Ee
I enjoyed Angelfall but didn't love it. Still, I am looking forward to seeing what happens to Penryn and Raffe next, enough so that I pre-ordered an ebook when it went on sale. I'm just hoping that I can really come to appreciate Ee's awesomeness for myself here - and the advance praise seems promising!
Shadowscale (Seraphina, #2) by Rachel Hartman 
Seraphina was one of my favorite reads from last year. Absolutely everything about that novel was perfect to me. And in this instance, I'm happy that Hartman is taking her time between Seraphina's release and the release of Shadowscale; I'm sure the sequel will be that much better and more polished (if that's even possible).
The Winds of Winter (A Song of Ice and Fire, #6) by George R.R. Martin 
Obviously. Even though I haven't posted any reviews on here, I'm a big fan of the books and HBO's show Game of Thrones. Also, I always want to support efforts made to popularize the fantasy genre into mainstream culture. Write like the wind, George R.R. Martin!
Split Second (Pivot Point, #2) by Kasey West 
I was surprised by how much I actually enjoyed Pivot Point. Although I liked the ending it had, I am curious to see what happens next. I am also curious to see how West's decision to involve the dual narration of Addie and her friend Laila fares.

Agree with any of my choices? Let me know which sequels you can't wait to get your hands on!
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Amanda

Amanda loves few things better than sitting down with a cup of tea and a book. She frequently stays up far too late, telling herself she just needs to finish one more page. When she's not wrapped up in the stories of others, Amanda works as a children's librarian in a public library.

10 comments:

  1. So many wonderful books with sequels coming out. I had forgotten about Seraphina's sequel entirely when making my own list, but it's def. something I'm anxious for. Also agreed on The Winds of Winter. Winter is coming, but I wish it would RSVP.

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  2. Yes to Shadowscale, Ruin and Rising and Lair of Dreams! And I recently read World After and enjoyed it--it does a great job furthering along the story and keeps building that awesome world. It's also a bit darker and creepier than Angelfall. Hope you enjoy it when you get the chance to read it!

    And you have some great books waiting on you too, Amanda!

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  3. So excited for the 2nd Seraphina. I'm also looking forward to Unhinged, the sequel to Splintered.

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  4. I have yet to see anyone that likes the cover for Lair of Dreams. I can honestly say that had I not read The Diviners when it first came out, I wouldn't give these books a second glance because the new covers are hideous and I don't think they're representative of the series AT ALL. I'm very excited to read it, though, so somehow I'll just have to pretend that cover doesn't exist.

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  5. I'm so behind on even starting most of these series. I do love the Greisha books though. I know it's a while yet for the third *sadface*

    My Top Ten

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  6. Split Second made my list also!
    My TTT: http://theyabookbutterfly.blogspot.com/2013/11/top-ten-tuesday-7.html

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  7. Crown of Embers, Froi, and DoBaS are all fantastic - some of the best sequels out there. I can't wait for World After, Shadow Scale, Ruin & Rising, or Lair of Dreams myself - so excited!(: Great list, Amanda!

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  8. Pivot Point, Daughter of Smoke and Bone and The Diviners - these are all series starters that I am desperate to read! I have heard only wonderful things about all of them.

    Great list. My TTT.

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  9. I should really take a page from your book and not start so many series before they have completed or almost completed because I have so many series on the go right now that it's hard to keep track! But oh, you MUST read Days of Blood and Starlight soon! It's phenomenal and it somehow managed to blow the amazing Daughter of Smoke and Bone right out of the water, in my opinion. If only all sequels were like that! You've got a ton more series up there that I still have yet to start but really want to: The Lumatere Chronicles, Fire and Thorns, Diviners, Penryn, Seraphina. Umm, maybe I should wait until all the books are out though!!

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  10. I thought Froi of the Exiles (and Quintana of Charyn) were even better than Finnikin of the Rock, so you've got some great reading ahead of you!

    I did the same thing with Laini Taylor's book. I loved the first one and planned to immediately read the second. And now it's just sitting on my Kindle...

    I'm also really looking forward to Split Second! I was surprised by how much I enjoyed Pivot Point.

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