Well I don’t know about you but sometimes I feel like I’m playing a never ending game of catchy-up when it comes to what I need to read. There are some real whoppers that I’ve yet to delve into and then there are also those books that you buy thinking: Yeah! I’ll read all of these as soon as I get home! And next thing you know, it’s two years later . . .
Perhaps your prioritisation of your reading schedule isn’t as neglected as mine, or maybe it is, but I seem to be constantly making these lists and never actually reading them. You might recall a while back I said I have 140+ books to read – I still do. How? I have no idea, but I’m going to blame the library . . .
So today I thought I’d share with you the 7 sore thumbs on my TBR list that I am absolutely determined to get round to. My university exams finished yesterday *party* so I no-longer have any excuse: summer, we’re taking down this list together.
Number One: A Song of Ice and Fire (by George R. R. Martin)
Despite being a self-proclaimed fantasy fanatic and hardcore fiction-lover, this is perhaps the most shameful and absurd series on this list. My sister has read it, my dad has read it, even my mum has read it – oh, and the rest of the world, too. I haven’t watched any of the TV series, and despite being spoilered to several plot twists I still don’t really know what the series is about. Which I suppose is a good thing. It’s just such a big series and so . . . intense, so I think I’m safe to blame my non-reading of it on it’s intimidating complexion.
Summers span decades. Winter can last a lifetime. And the struggle for the Iron Throne has begun.
However! To redeem myself here, I do actually plan to read this, well, now. As I said before, exams are over, and I’ve been promising myself for the last 6 months that I would finally pick A Game of Thrones up the moment I got back from my last exam. So I may or may not be a grand total of 12 pages into the first book now . . .
Nonetheless, this definitely comes in at number 1 for the most ridiculous and shameful non-read series on my TBR. Boy am I glad to finally be amending that.
Number Two: The Lunar Chronicles (by Marissa Meyer)
Yup, that’s right folks, I have not read The Lunar Chronicles yet. And I really should have. This series has been wildly popular but I’ve been too busy swimming against the tide of my already overwhelming TBR to get to it. I haven’t even bought it yet . . .
Humans and androids crowd the raucous streets of New Beijing. A deadly plague ravages the population. From space, a ruthless lunar people watch, waiting to make their move. No one knows that Earth’s fate hinges on one girl.
The series, as my understanding goes, is essentially a weaving together of traditional fairy-tales (Cinderella, Rapunzel, etc) with some form of a twist. Which is 10,000% up my alley. Sigh. I know that this should absolutely be a priority for me to get on to so I’ve made a pledge with myself that after Christmas (as you might recall from this post) Cinder is going to be one of the first books I buy and hopefully read very quickly.
I’m hoping it’ll turn out even better since I’ve left it so long to jump on the bandwagon – although to be honest I’ve mostly missed the wagon and will be eating the dust of a hastily developing fandom – but I am determined to love this series and to become a Lunian . . . no I’m just kidding, I have no idea what the fans of this series are called (although ‘Lunian’ is pretty great, no?).
Number Three: The Kanin Chronicles (by Amanda Hocking)
This might be a series that you are less familiar with, depending on your addiction to Amanda Hocking’s work. I absolutely adored her Trylle trilogy and I’m in the process of (slowly) reading the Watersong quartet as well. She’s recently (as in, it’s be out for at least a year or two . . ) released another series into the world and I do own the first book: Frostfire. It looks stunning, it sounds stunning, and the sequels are being pumped out at a rather alarming rate. I honestly don’t know why I haven’t gotten around to this yet but it is certainly a series I am keen to read.
Bryn Aven is an outcast among the Kanin, the most powerful of the troll tribes.
It’s a spin-off the Trylle trilogy so really, any excuse that I have for not reading it is null. That being said, I have an inkling that I’ll continue to put this off for a bit longer. Christmas is coming and I will no doubt be swamped in a glorious book haul consisting of presents, but mostly my own purchases, that I’ll be even more eager to read. So don’t be surprised if I read those goodies-to-come before I get to this series. One day, Hocking, one day I’ll read your books faster than at a snail’s pace . . .
Number Four: Talon (by Julie Kagawa)
I hang my head in shame, I really do. Kagawa is one of my favourite authors ever – I love the The Iron Fey series so much. Ash is the love of my life. But I have yet to pick up Talon, and I honestly do not know why. I do own a copy of this one, but so far it’s just been sitting on my shelf looking pretty . . .
Long ago, dragons were hunted to near extinction by the Order of St. George, a legendary society of dragon slayers. Hiding in human form and growing their numbers in secret, the dragons of Talon have become strong and cunning, and they’re positioned to take over the world with humans none the wiser.
This series is about dragons – one of my favourite things in the world – and I still don’t have the motivation to just read it already! This is definitely a series that I am hoping to get around to soon. Because I cannot believe that I haven’t read it yet, and it’s so popular! (And let’s not even start on the drool-worthy covers).
Number Five: The Mortal Instruments (by Cassandra Clare)
The shame, guys, the shame. This is actually one of those series that I avoid conversation about whenever I can – if you say you haven’t read this to someone who has and who loved it, well, it’s like you haven’t read Harry Potter or something . . .
When fifteen-year-old Clary Fray heads out to the Pandemonium Club in New York City, she hardly expects to witness a murder― much less a murder committed by three teenagers covered with strange tattoos and brandishing bizarre weapons. Then the body disappears into thin air. It’s hard to call the police when the murderers are invisible to everyone else and when there is nothing―not even a smear of blood―to show that a boy has died. Or was he a boy?
If I’m being honest, I have no reason that I can think of as to why I’m yet to read this. I believe my sister does own the series so I’ll probably steal that off her at some point in the future. People just seem to rave and rave about this series but I just get that weird feeling that this is going to take a long while for me to get through. Do you know that feeling? I do intend on picking this series up at some point, but, if I’m being honest, I seriously lack the motivation to do so right now. I think I must be the only person in the universe who has not read something by Cassandra Clare yet . . .
Number Six: Discworld (by Terry Pratchett)
Okay, so maybe this one isn’t as shameful as the others, or maybe it is. I’ve read one book from this series, Wintersmith, at least 10 years ago, and I remember basically nothing. I do own The Colour of Magic, and I have tried to read it many moons ago, but I just didn’t get into it. Therefore I still count the Discworld series are one of the big uns that I haven’t read.
Since the release of the final book after Pratchett’s death talk about the books has swirled through the book ether more noticeably than usual and got me thinking about it. I just get the feeling that I probably should get onto this and read some Pratchett soon . . . before someone finds out.
On a world supported on the back of a giant turtle (sex unknown), a gleeful, explosive, wickedly eccentric expedition sets out. There’s an avaricious but inept wizard, a naive tourist whose luggage moves on hundreds of dear little legs, dragons who only exist if you believe in them, and of course THE EDGE of the planet…
Like, it sounds marvelous. The blurb always gets me excited. So why don’t I just pick it up and read it? Who knows. That’s a very good question. I don’t hear as much about Discworld, I have to say, which makes me feel like it’s okay to not have read. But then again, I think people just assume that you’ve read a good chunk of the books. So shhh, don’t tell anyone.
Number Seven: The Maze Runner (by James Dashner)
I’ve seen the first two movies, and I’ve loved them. I even stole a copy of the book from a friend (okay, she gave it to me). Have I ever picked it up? Nope. This series sounds completely awesome, it’s an original pocket of dystopia, which I love, and I think when I do get onto it I’m going to demolish the books.
If you ain’t scared, you ain’t human.
When Thomas wakes up in the lift, the only thing he can remember is his name. He’s surrounded by strangers—boys whose memories are also gone.
Dystopia has always been such a fun genre for me, so I think I really could do with motivating myself to get on to this series. It’s actually a little ridiculous that I haven’t read this yet. Plus, I feel like I’m committing a sin watching the movies first . . .
Hopefully this will be a series I get around to this summer but I guess we’ll have to wait and see. I’m really excited to find out how the books compare to the movies because there seemed to be a fair share of discontent with the second movie among fans.
Well, I think I’m going to stop there for now before I lose too many friends. Hey, at least I’ve read Harry Potter and Twilight – I feel like they’re two series that you really should have read by the time you get to my age (not that I’m super old or anything). I could mention some others, like the Vampire Academy series, but these are my top 7 series that I personally feel the most shameful for not having read yet.
As I’ve said, I have made a start on this list with good ol’ Martin and I’m hoping that I continue to be motivated to get onto these and finally catch up with the world. Although I’m sure by the time I do that there’ll be a brand new batch of series that I need to read. I will read these, and I will hopefully do it by the end of next year . . . My TBR is definitely getting out of control – but what’s the fun in being a book lover if your TBR is zero, right?
So there we have it. The top 7 series that I really ought to read. I won’t get started on stand alone books that I need to read, though . . . *cough*The Book Theif*cough* . . . Thanks for reading and I’ll see you again soon.
Are there any series that you think I should get around to ASAP? Let me know in the comments below!
Arrivederci tutti and happy reading!
~ Kirstie
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