My Pick of Top 5 Series
This post was a little more difficult because I don't read many
series. Therefore I've included ones that I've read recently and ones
that I read years ago but that stuck with me. Here is my pick of top 5
series for fictional novels in any genre.
1. The Seven Sisters by Lucinda Riley
Lucinda Riley is killing it! I am addicted. The series is still ongoing, with the first four novels released, the fifth coming out in February (next month!) which you can pre-order here. There will be seven books in total, one for each sister. The books begin with six sisters (one is "missing") who were each adopted from various parts of the world by a billionaire whom they call Pa Salt. They grow up in a mansion in scenic Geneva, Switzerland, but find themselves coming home under difficult circumstances when Pa Salt passes away unexpectedly. He has left each of them a personal message, a token (or a clue) to their heritage, and the coordinates to their birth place, should they choose to pursue it.
The first book, "The Seven Sisters" tracks Maya's journey to Brazil, with the theme of art (including the building of Christ the Redeemer) woven throughout. The second book, "The Storm Sister", follows Ally, a professional sailor, who travels to Norway to find her family, with the theme of music throughout.
The third book, titled "The Shadow Sister" is about shy, beautiful Star, who goes to England to find herself in a bookshop with some interesting characters as she develops her own identity and her love of writing. The fourth book, "The Pearl Sister", is about Cece, who has always felt different, too bold, too loud, too outside-the-lines. She goes to Australia where she develops her talent and love for painting, builds relationships, and learns to love herself, while also learning about her connection to the pearling industry.
The newest book, "The Moon Sister", follows Tiggy who lives in Scotland where she works at a deer sanctuary, before she finds herself connected to Spain. This new book seems to have a theme of dance, specifically flamenco dancing. I can't wait to read it! Each book is interwoven slightly, and leaves you with questions that will hopefully be answered by the last book!
2. Outlander by Diana Gabaldon
Outlander is amazing. Diana Gabaldon is even more amazing. I don't know how she does it, but her writing is always a masterpiece. She always manages to keep me on my toes, and has made the characters feel as real to me as my friends and family. This series, if you've never read it, is made up of eight very long books (so it's not for the faint-hearted!) with each book being at least 900-1000 pages, some many more.
The books are about a woman, Claire, who is sent back in time through standing stones in Scotland to the 1740's where she meets a Scottish warrior, Jamie. Women, prepare yourselves to fall in love, because Jamie Fraser is every girl's dream boy. He's tall, he's strong, he's protective, and he's got a heart as big as the red mop on his head. Plus he wears a kilt - I mean, who doesn't love that? Claire - a nurse, turned healer, turned surgeon - soon finds herself falling in love with Jamie, but many, many things happen that disrupt their chance at a normal life, like Jamie being arrested, the battle of Culloden which threatens to take away the highland life, a shady (and sadistic psychopath) redcoat by the name of "Black Jack" Randall, Jamie being arrested again, and about a million other inconveniences that riddle their lives. But what separates them most is time; for Claire is pushed back to the 1940's while Jamie remains in his own time, hoping and praying that she will return to him. Through it all, they remain hopeful that one day they can live freely and have a happy family.
Now, I haven't finished reading the series, but I was instantly in love when I read the first book. It's incredibly detailed, it's bold, it's imaginative to no end, and it takes a new spin on the age-old tale of traveling back in time 200 years. If 1000+ page novels aren't your thing, then I suggest giving the TV series a try. The first three seasons are available on Netflix and it's got great actors who completely capture the deep emotion and characteristic traits of Jamie and Claire, Randall and Murtagh, as well as everyone else. You absolutely won't be disappointed with this series, in book or TV!
3. The Uglies by Scott Westerfeld
The Uglies is a fantastic YA series that I read a few years ago now, but it stuck with me because I loved not only the story and the characters, but the message it sends (that uniqueness is beautiful!). The Uglies is a science-fiction series about futuristic people who are all considered "ugly" until they turn sixteen and get a full-body plastic surgery makeover to become "pretty". Yes, that's right: natural-looking people, the children and young teens, are referred to as "the uglies". And then "the pretties", well, their lives are a constant party. But basically these people live in a bubble. They don't leave their city, they don't think for themselves, and they don't have any problems. They are completely complicit. Tally can't wait to turn sixteen in a few weeks so that she can become pretty as well, but when she meets Shay, everything changes. She and Shay ultimately run away into the forest (actually they ride away on hoverboards) and find a group of people who are living in seclusion and refusing to get the surgery. As it turns out, there is more to the surgery than meets the eye. As the series progresses, we are also introduced to another type of people called "the specials" which are individuals who get another surgery to look more intense and super-human, and who are agents dedicated to finding these hideaways. I never got around the reading "The Extras" so I can't comment on that one, but the trilogy is excellent! It's a great series, really fast-paced and exciting, and makes you think about what it means to be pretty. I recommend this for the younger audience, around 12+, but it's also a great read for adults who enjoy a little YA in their reading pile.
4. A Great and Terrible Beauty by Libba Bray
I've always thought that the titles of these books didn't do justice to the incredible story that unfolds before us. This is often referred to as the "Gemma Doyle series", referring to the main character, a young clairvoyant who is sent to finishing school in England in 1895 after her mother is killed by a "darkness" of sorts. It's there that she strikes up an unusual friendship with three very different girls: Felicity, Pippa, and Ann. After receiving a clue that tells Gemma of an evil woman named Circe, she is tasked with finding out the woman's connection to her mother's death. Gemma and her three friends create an Order in which she is able to lead them into a dreamland referred to as "the realms". It's here that the girls are able to experience magic and have anything they want: Gemma sees her mother, Felicity gains power, Ann becomes beautiful, and Pippa finds love. It's tempting for them to stay in the realms and leave their real lives behind. But when they are leaving the realms one night, the same darkness that consumed Gemma's mother makes it's way back into the real world with them and they must fight to save themselves and others from it's deathly grasp.
The trilogy is so gripping and a great way to get younger audiences interested in reading historical fiction. The first book is only around 400 pages, the second 550, and the third is over 800, so the books really grow in size as the series progresses. It's got many mysterious aspects that allow readers to make predictions and keep us guessing the whole time. I loved this series and so did my mom, so I definitely recommend it. Again, it's a YA series so keep that in mind, but it makes for a fantastic read!
5. Call the Midwife by Jennifer Worth
Oh my goodness, these books were sooo good! I got the version that was all three in one big book, and as you probably already guessed this IS the inspiration for the show of the same name, Call the Midwife. If you loved the show as much as I did, then you should definitely read the books. However, I will say this - some of the stories, especially from the first book, as almost identical to the show. But I still enjoyed the read, regardless, and found really interesting stories that weren't depicted in the show as they were in the book, particularly with the second book, "Shadows of the Workhouse".
For those of you who haven't seen the show or read the books, Jenny Lee (as she was called before she was married) was a young midwife in the 50's in Poplar, the East End of London. These books are her memoirs, recollections of her time spent working out of a nunnery. The nuns were all registered nurses and midwives, dedicated to serving the poor city of Poplar and the women who gave birth. Jenny experiences a huge shock when she sees the conditions that the families live in. Roaches and rats, communal bathrooms, mold and smog, houses with no electricity or no running water, and almost always over-crowded conditions. These were the women who had numerous children in a time before the birth-control pill, and some even took desperate measures to rid themselves of their 6th, 7th, or 8th baby.
Jennifer Worth is an incredible writer and an even more incredible woman. I don't know how she did it - I could never be a midwife, especially in the 1950's in a very poor community. She was one tough young lady, as were her friends and co-workers. Each story is heartfelt, deep, and eye-opening. Jenny delves deep into the lives of those who are recovering from the Blitz or workhouses, or those who have suffered losses from WWII. She attends to those having their first baby or their 20th, those who have crippling diseases, war wounds, or pregnancy-related illnesses. She powers through the unimaginable and creates hope for those who have lost everything. These stories are poignant and real, and I absolutely recommend giving them a read.
1. The Seven Sisters by Lucinda Riley
Lucinda Riley is killing it! I am addicted. The series is still ongoing, with the first four novels released, the fifth coming out in February (next month!) which you can pre-order here. There will be seven books in total, one for each sister. The books begin with six sisters (one is "missing") who were each adopted from various parts of the world by a billionaire whom they call Pa Salt. They grow up in a mansion in scenic Geneva, Switzerland, but find themselves coming home under difficult circumstances when Pa Salt passes away unexpectedly. He has left each of them a personal message, a token (or a clue) to their heritage, and the coordinates to their birth place, should they choose to pursue it.
The first book, "The Seven Sisters" tracks Maya's journey to Brazil, with the theme of art (including the building of Christ the Redeemer) woven throughout. The second book, "The Storm Sister", follows Ally, a professional sailor, who travels to Norway to find her family, with the theme of music throughout.
The third book, titled "The Shadow Sister" is about shy, beautiful Star, who goes to England to find herself in a bookshop with some interesting characters as she develops her own identity and her love of writing. The fourth book, "The Pearl Sister", is about Cece, who has always felt different, too bold, too loud, too outside-the-lines. She goes to Australia where she develops her talent and love for painting, builds relationships, and learns to love herself, while also learning about her connection to the pearling industry.
The newest book, "The Moon Sister", follows Tiggy who lives in Scotland where she works at a deer sanctuary, before she finds herself connected to Spain. This new book seems to have a theme of dance, specifically flamenco dancing. I can't wait to read it! Each book is interwoven slightly, and leaves you with questions that will hopefully be answered by the last book!
2. Outlander by Diana Gabaldon
Outlander is amazing. Diana Gabaldon is even more amazing. I don't know how she does it, but her writing is always a masterpiece. She always manages to keep me on my toes, and has made the characters feel as real to me as my friends and family. This series, if you've never read it, is made up of eight very long books (so it's not for the faint-hearted!) with each book being at least 900-1000 pages, some many more.
The books are about a woman, Claire, who is sent back in time through standing stones in Scotland to the 1740's where she meets a Scottish warrior, Jamie. Women, prepare yourselves to fall in love, because Jamie Fraser is every girl's dream boy. He's tall, he's strong, he's protective, and he's got a heart as big as the red mop on his head. Plus he wears a kilt - I mean, who doesn't love that? Claire - a nurse, turned healer, turned surgeon - soon finds herself falling in love with Jamie, but many, many things happen that disrupt their chance at a normal life, like Jamie being arrested, the battle of Culloden which threatens to take away the highland life, a shady (and sadistic psychopath) redcoat by the name of "Black Jack" Randall, Jamie being arrested again, and about a million other inconveniences that riddle their lives. But what separates them most is time; for Claire is pushed back to the 1940's while Jamie remains in his own time, hoping and praying that she will return to him. Through it all, they remain hopeful that one day they can live freely and have a happy family.
Now, I haven't finished reading the series, but I was instantly in love when I read the first book. It's incredibly detailed, it's bold, it's imaginative to no end, and it takes a new spin on the age-old tale of traveling back in time 200 years. If 1000+ page novels aren't your thing, then I suggest giving the TV series a try. The first three seasons are available on Netflix and it's got great actors who completely capture the deep emotion and characteristic traits of Jamie and Claire, Randall and Murtagh, as well as everyone else. You absolutely won't be disappointed with this series, in book or TV!
3. The Uglies by Scott Westerfeld
The Uglies is a fantastic YA series that I read a few years ago now, but it stuck with me because I loved not only the story and the characters, but the message it sends (that uniqueness is beautiful!). The Uglies is a science-fiction series about futuristic people who are all considered "ugly" until they turn sixteen and get a full-body plastic surgery makeover to become "pretty". Yes, that's right: natural-looking people, the children and young teens, are referred to as "the uglies". And then "the pretties", well, their lives are a constant party. But basically these people live in a bubble. They don't leave their city, they don't think for themselves, and they don't have any problems. They are completely complicit. Tally can't wait to turn sixteen in a few weeks so that she can become pretty as well, but when she meets Shay, everything changes. She and Shay ultimately run away into the forest (actually they ride away on hoverboards) and find a group of people who are living in seclusion and refusing to get the surgery. As it turns out, there is more to the surgery than meets the eye. As the series progresses, we are also introduced to another type of people called "the specials" which are individuals who get another surgery to look more intense and super-human, and who are agents dedicated to finding these hideaways. I never got around the reading "The Extras" so I can't comment on that one, but the trilogy is excellent! It's a great series, really fast-paced and exciting, and makes you think about what it means to be pretty. I recommend this for the younger audience, around 12+, but it's also a great read for adults who enjoy a little YA in their reading pile.
4. A Great and Terrible Beauty by Libba Bray
I've always thought that the titles of these books didn't do justice to the incredible story that unfolds before us. This is often referred to as the "Gemma Doyle series", referring to the main character, a young clairvoyant who is sent to finishing school in England in 1895 after her mother is killed by a "darkness" of sorts. It's there that she strikes up an unusual friendship with three very different girls: Felicity, Pippa, and Ann. After receiving a clue that tells Gemma of an evil woman named Circe, she is tasked with finding out the woman's connection to her mother's death. Gemma and her three friends create an Order in which she is able to lead them into a dreamland referred to as "the realms". It's here that the girls are able to experience magic and have anything they want: Gemma sees her mother, Felicity gains power, Ann becomes beautiful, and Pippa finds love. It's tempting for them to stay in the realms and leave their real lives behind. But when they are leaving the realms one night, the same darkness that consumed Gemma's mother makes it's way back into the real world with them and they must fight to save themselves and others from it's deathly grasp.
The trilogy is so gripping and a great way to get younger audiences interested in reading historical fiction. The first book is only around 400 pages, the second 550, and the third is over 800, so the books really grow in size as the series progresses. It's got many mysterious aspects that allow readers to make predictions and keep us guessing the whole time. I loved this series and so did my mom, so I definitely recommend it. Again, it's a YA series so keep that in mind, but it makes for a fantastic read!
5. Call the Midwife by Jennifer Worth
Oh my goodness, these books were sooo good! I got the version that was all three in one big book, and as you probably already guessed this IS the inspiration for the show of the same name, Call the Midwife. If you loved the show as much as I did, then you should definitely read the books. However, I will say this - some of the stories, especially from the first book, as almost identical to the show. But I still enjoyed the read, regardless, and found really interesting stories that weren't depicted in the show as they were in the book, particularly with the second book, "Shadows of the Workhouse".
For those of you who haven't seen the show or read the books, Jenny Lee (as she was called before she was married) was a young midwife in the 50's in Poplar, the East End of London. These books are her memoirs, recollections of her time spent working out of a nunnery. The nuns were all registered nurses and midwives, dedicated to serving the poor city of Poplar and the women who gave birth. Jenny experiences a huge shock when she sees the conditions that the families live in. Roaches and rats, communal bathrooms, mold and smog, houses with no electricity or no running water, and almost always over-crowded conditions. These were the women who had numerous children in a time before the birth-control pill, and some even took desperate measures to rid themselves of their 6th, 7th, or 8th baby.
Jennifer Worth is an incredible writer and an even more incredible woman. I don't know how she did it - I could never be a midwife, especially in the 1950's in a very poor community. She was one tough young lady, as were her friends and co-workers. Each story is heartfelt, deep, and eye-opening. Jenny delves deep into the lives of those who are recovering from the Blitz or workhouses, or those who have suffered losses from WWII. She attends to those having their first baby or their 20th, those who have crippling diseases, war wounds, or pregnancy-related illnesses. She powers through the unimaginable and creates hope for those who have lost everything. These stories are poignant and real, and I absolutely recommend giving them a read.
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