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Top Ten Tuesday:
Ten of the Best and the Worst Series Finales –
and a few I’m horribly afraid of!
(please see a super great giveaway
at the bottom of this post)
THE BEST
1. The Chaos Walking Trilogy by Patrick Ness.
If you know me at all, you know that this is my favorite.
You can’t touch Patrick Ness and his sheer genius with this series. It is written so well – the themes, the characters, and the way he has no fear writing about war and revolution and what it does to make Monsters of Men.
This series is perfect. It ends perfectly. It hurts at times and it makes my heart swell at times. It gives me chills just writing about it. That last book – it isn’t easy but MAN OH MAN, so brilliant. FANTASTIC ending to a wonderful series.
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2. The Iron Fey Series by Julie Kagawa.
Julie Kagawa can do no wrong, and this is when I realized it.
Actually, it was solidified at one particular moment – on one particular page –
in The Iron Queen. SIGH SIGH SIGH.
I love this series so much that during my first read, I couldn’t even blog about it.
Perhaps on the re-read!
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3. The Lost and Found Series by Nicole Williams.
I CANNOT EVEN SAY HOW MANY THINGS I LOVE ABOUT THIS SERIES WITH PERFECT CHARACTERS, PERFECT SETTINGS, RANCHES, HORSES, AND COWBOYS.
SO. MUCH. LOVE.
PERFECT ENDING.
(If I find out that this isn’t the ending and there is more to come,
I will dance around my house like a crazy person. I promise.
Until then, I will re-read this one hundreds of times.)
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4. The Chemical Garden Trilogy by Lauren DeStefano.
This series is such a wonderful blend of beautiful prose and lovely language with stark darkness and a horrifying dystopian and apocalyptic future. I read this absolutely in awe of the way Lauren DeStefano crafted her story, and then when I finished it, I realized that it ended perfectly – there are no loose ends, there is hope, and there are so many things hidden throughout the three books that you are kept on your toes no matter how many times you re-read.
PERFECTION in BEAUTIFUL DUST JACKETS.
Everyone that stopped after Wither, I encourage you to pick it back up!
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THE WORST
5. The Delirium Trilogy by Lauren Oliver.
I read this entire trilogy and all of the novellas that go with it.
I loved Delirium – ALEX! – and was hopeful going into Pandemonium.
I didn’t like it and I had my reasons. Then Requiem?
Requiem, to me, was better than Pandemonium, but
OH YEAH THERE IS NO ENDING!
So I’m just laying that out there for you.
There are open endings, and then there is Requiem.
This book feels absolutely incomplete. Because it is. Oh snap.
I WILL SAY that there is one redeeming thing about this series:
The audiobook narrator is AMAZING. Sarah Drew.
Highly recommend her work.
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6. The Unearthly Series by Cynthia Hand.
I LOOOOVE highly discussable series. Many on this list belong in that category.
But this series is discussable until the last few pages when it kind of goes CRAZY.
As in, WHAT ON EARTH AND IN HEAVEN/HELL JUST HAPPENED?
Because View Spoiler »!!!!!!
And why did that even have to happen, seriously? WHY?
Makes no sense at all.
My friends and I have come up with alternate endings that would’ve been
wonderful and amazing and MADE SENSE.
Pfst, whatever.
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9. The Hunger Games Trilogy by Suzanne Collins.
Yeah, I know. Most everyone loves this series.
I love this series.
BUT WHAT HAPPENED TO MOCKINGJAY?
Y’all know what I’m talking about.
No further comment needed.
Craaaaazy!
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I’M SCARED OF THESE!
7. The Shatter Me Series by Tahereh Mafi.
It isn’t often that I’m so invested in a series AND AND
that I’m so invested in a series ALONG WITH FRIENDS.
Guys, there is serious discussion that goes along with this series – the characters,
conspiracy theories, predictions – along with some wonderful reading friends from across the country and WE ARE ALL NERVOUS about where this series is going!
But only because we love these characters and Tahereh Mafi so much!
EEK!
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by Laini Taylor.
OH HOW I LOVE THIS SERIES SO MUCH!
In fact, Daughter of Smoke & Bone is one of my comfort reads,
one of those books I randomly pick up when I can’t figure out what to read,
when I’m stressed out, etc. I can pick it up and just flip open to any page and start there, read for a little while, and close it – totally happy with whatever snippet I just ingested. And that goes with the audiobook as well – I don’t have to re-listen to the entire thing to FALL IN LOVE ALL OVER AGAIN. Total comfort listen.
I loved the second book as well, even though it is VERY DIFFERENT.
WHAT LIES AHEAD FOR US WITH THE THIRD BOOK?
I have no idea and it absolutely frightens me.
It will take a village of my reading friends to get me through it.
That is NOT A JOKE.
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10. His Dark Materials Trilogy by Philip Pullman.
Yeah, I know this IS NOT a new series.
But I cannot read the last book because I’m too afraid.
I love these books so much and a friend of mine told me once that
if you don’t cry when you read the third book, you’re a robot.
And so my series finale fear is only intensified with this series.
OH I DO LOVE IT SO!
Perhaps I’ll gather the courage at some point.
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What makes YOUR list of the best and the worst?
Do you have any that you’re just plain ole’ afraid of?
OR IS THAT JUST ME?
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About Asheley
Asheley is a Southern girl. She loves Carolina blue skies, Ben & Jerry's ice cream, and NC craft beer. She loves all things history but prefers books over everything.
You can find her somewhere in North Carolina, daydreaming about the ocean.
Find Asheley on Litsy @intothehallofbooks!
Asheley – I didn't like Mockingjay either! I don't know what happened, but it was so disappointing! Also, I love The Amber Spyglass myself and am so excited for Dreams of Gods & Monsters, mostly because I just CANNOT predict where this series is headed. Great list!(:
I agree with the Iron Fey series, i loved it and was happy with the Ending, especially with the new series out with Ethan, you can really get closure. I need to read the Chemical Garden series it seems, but i'm having trouble locating the books, all in good time 🙂 I completely agree with Mockingjay, what a great series and then boom, i mean what happened in the last book?
My TTT
Great choices. I still have to read the Knife of letting go. I've started it twice, but things just get in the way. Maybe I'll give it a third try. Oh, and you have to finish His Dark Materials, it is sooo good.
My fear is the Gone series by Michael Grant. It's weird and strange, but absolutely wonderful and I can't bring myself to pick up the last one.
YES!! Completely agree with The Hunger Games (what was up with Katniss constantly falling asleep/knocked out and the depressing end-end? Gah!). And with the Delirium trilogy, too. But so many GREAT endings — I'm adding Rae Carson's series to that. WOOT!
Oh man. Totally in agreement with you on the books you're scared of. Eeep!
I really liked Sever too! I feel like a bunch of people were disappointed with it. I wasn't my all time fav series ender but I think it was really good!
I actually resolved a lot of my Mockingjay issues with a re-read so that was a pleasant surprise! Still mad about Requiem….
I totally relate to your series finale fear, BUT YOU HAVE TO READ THE AMBER SPYGLASS! You will probably cry, but it's okay, I swear. It's so worth it, and I'm not a fan of books that leave me weepy. But The Amber Spyglass is one of the best series enders ever!
So I have read Unearthly and Hallowed, but never Boundless. And now I NEED TO KNOW what happened that you didn't like. I'm probably not going to read the book (I wasn't thrilled with Hallowed).
So many of your favorites I haven't read (or finished!) Still need to tackle Monsters of Men. It means a lot that it's your favorite but the last book KILLED me and I know it will only get worse :(. I also have the Chemical Garden trilogy and Lost & Found books on my list per your recommend. Loved the Iron Fey as well. We're definitely in agreement about Boundless UGH. I'm avoiding Requiem FOREVER. But I actually LOVE Mockingjay. I really want you to read The Amber Spyglass so we can discuss it, but I'm guessing you will re-read first. Biting my nails about Ignite Me and the last Taylor book. AAAHHH.
Oh, The Iron Fey series would have made my best list if only it had ended at bk 3–which I adored and think is a fantastic, epic, book. But The Iron Knight rubbed me wrong! (So it made my worst ender list –harsh, I know.)
I STILL need to read the remaining 2 in The Chemical Garden trilogy (no surprise they made your best of list) and I'm SCARED of reading the remaining Chaos Walking series like you're scared of the Mafi and Taylor!
I don't know that I will EVER read Requiem now–so many people are listing that book on their worst of list…might have to bypass that altogether!
I still haven't read anything by Patrick Ness – I do have the Chaos Walking series on my Kindle, and I've got More Than This checked out from the library.
Boundless and Mockingjay both made my best list. I'm seeing those two all over bests and worsts today.
I could easily have included the Iron Fey series on my best. You are right that Julie can do no wrong.
Stephanie @ Inspiring Insomnia
I also loved the Chemical Garden trilogy! I know many people stop halfway through, but I just kept reading and ended up loving them.
I'm scared for the ending of Shatter Me and Daughter of Smoke and Bone, too. Eek!
My TTT
I love your commentaries! I'm one of the peeps who loved mockingjay but to each his own, makes blogging interesting.
New follower
My Best & Worst
I really need to read the Chaos Walking trilogy. Really! I'm pretty sure I'll love it. Maybe I'm putting it off because my expectations are so high? Regardless, I'll try to read that one soon, as I've heard nothing but praise for it. I didn't like Delirium very much and wasn't planning on continuing with the series, but now I'm curious as to what's gotten everyone so upset haha. I could just make someone give me a synopsis of the final 2 installments instead of actually reading it though… Same with Unearthly series, although I probably will actually take the time to experience that disappointing ending for myself.
And Asheley, you need to finish His Dark Materials. I promise you, the ending is really good and totally does justice to the first two books in that series! It is really freaking sad, I agree. It's actually one of those books I turn to when I want to read something sad but beautiful. So give it a chance! Just be prepared for some waterworks. 🙂
I haven't read all of these but I like seeing Boundless on the worst list as there were quite a few things that upset me (particularly the handling of the "losing" love interest) so I certainly don't think it belongs on the best list.
I really liked the ending to the Chaos Walking trilogy – but I also liked the ending to Delirium. Yeah it wasn't an ending exactly, but I thought the point was that life does go on and they have to move on … so I didn't mind too much 🙂
Tanya Patrice
Girlxoxo.com
I really have to finish the Hallowed series and the Wither series. I just read book 1 and 2 of both. Oops >.< And I just started Chaos Walking Trilogy on audiobook. I'm about 40% in the first book and it's freaking weird as hell but I like it!
I just started Days of Blood and Starlight on audio today…omgravy! My love of this series is description-less right now!
GIRL. You are my people. Obviously we have forever bonded over Todd Hewitt and Prince Ash.
I am SO INTERESTED to see how the Shatter Me series wraps up! EEEEEEK.