Posts
In a strange incidence of blogging convergence, this week's topic for Top Ten Tuesday fits in beautifully with my Series in September Feature! Top Ten Tuesday is a fun list-based meme hosted by one of my favorite blogs The Broke and the Bookish! Today's theme is Top Ten Sequels I'm Dying to Read. My list features some that have been out for a while that I've somehow just never gotten around to as well as some new releases and some that are still to come.
Series in September Meets Top Ten Tuesday:
Sequels I'm Dying to Read
1 & 2. First Among Sequels and One of Our Thursdays is Missing by Jasper Fforde
I've read and loved the first several books in Fforde's Thursday Next series, but I didn't manage to catch up with the last two releases. These two have been on market for a few years and months, respectively, but I have not read either yet. I think a reread of the entire series is probably in order and it's a matter of me just going as far as my at home bookshelf to revisit my favorite fictional Swindon once more.
3. Cold Vengeance by Douglas Preston and Lincoln ChildThis one is a slightly more recent release in Preston and Child's Pendergast saga. The last book in the series (Fever Dream) left off with a tantalizing cliffhanger and I'm eager to see how it's resolved in this book. Plus, Pendergast is the type of character that I never get bored with. Preston and Child could probably publish something along the lines of Agent Pendergast takes a Walk or Pendergast Reads the Phone Book and I would eagerly read the work, because no matter what situation the character is in, you know it will end up thoroughly engaging.
4. Desert Spear by Peter V. Brett
I chose Desert Spear because it's one that I've waited so long to read that I keep forgetting I actually really want to read it. The work is the sequel to The Warded Man (or The Painted Man) which I read as an ARC a few months before it was published. It's the book that's made me reluctant to read ARCs that are the first in a series. As bad as it is to wait a year or so for a book two, it's even harder to wait for book two if book one isn't even on shelves yet! Needless to say, the first book really was quite impressive, and I am interested to see what Brett did with the second in the series.
5& 6. The Fall and The Night Eternal by Guillermo del Toro and Chuck Hogan
Take everything I said about reading book one ARCs from #8 on this list and everything I said about not keeping up with a series in #1 on this list and you have a pretty good idea of where I stand with this trilogy. I was really impressed with book one (The Strain) but the rest of this series remains on my TBR list. So many books, so little time!
7. Vanish by Sophie Jordan
I read Jordan's Firelight last year as part of a multi-blogger event called Fall into Fantasy and my biggest gripe about the book was that it didn't turn out to be a complete story. If my biggest problem with a book is that I wanted it to be longer, you know I'm anxious to read its sequel. Vanish hits shelves today and though I probably won't get to it immediately, I'm definitely intrigued to continue Jacinda's story.
8. The President's Vampire by Christopher Farnsworth
Blood Oath was one of the surprise hits of 2010 for me. I picked it up knowing nothing about the author but loving the premise and really enjoyed the book. The sequel's been out for a little while now and I keep meaning to pick it up, but one of the things I loved about the first book is that it was a succinct story on its own. I'm eager to read the second, not because my favorite characters were left in mortal (or immortal) peril, but because I want to know how their stories continue.
9. Neverwinter by R.A. Salvatore
I have a yearly tradition of purchasing the latest Salvatore novel in October. In hardback. I'm not sure what I will do this year as my local Borders will not be there for me to excitedly dance into (*sniff, sniff*) but I know I still plan on acquiring this one close to its release date. I used an Amazon giftcard to purchase the last book Gauntlgrym,but part of me wishes I had continued my Borders tradition, especially as it will no longer be a book shopping option.
10. Clockwork Prince by Cassandra Clare
I blame bloggers for this one. I really didn't want to get swept up into Clare's work. I've been resisting getting pulled into The Mortal Instruments series despite having the first book teasing me from my TBR shelf. But earlier this year I read Clockwork Angel and despite some misgivings, I find myself eagerly anticipating the release of its sequel. I'm not sure if this should just fall under the guilty pleasure category but nevertheless, I know I want to read it.
11. BONUS The Winds of Winter by George R. R. Martin
I'm not sure if it's right to list this one since it isn't even written yet, and not even George knows when we can expect to hope for it, but truly it is my top choice at present for my most anticipated sequel. For those new to Her Book Self, I spent a large portion of the spring and summer rereading GRRM's Song of Ice and Fire series and the next in the saga can't come soon enough.
So with which books on my list do you agree or disagree? Does anyone else fall behind on series and find themselves having to reread several books before checking out a favorite author's latest? Are there series books that you find yourself eager to purchase as soon as they are released?
As always I'd love to hear your thoughts in the comments below! And for those that are stopping by Her Book Self for the very first time, thanks for joining me! Feel free to check out my previous Top Ten Tuesday entries here. Also, I'll be celebrating sequels (and sequels' sequels) all month long with my Series in September feature and I'd love to have you join the fun!
September 6, 2011 at 10:41 PM
I'm reading the 2nd Thursday Next book right now. I enjoy these books, but I feel like they're definitely better if you read them close together, which I have not so far. So maybe I should bump the rest of the series up on my to-read list :-)
September 7, 2011 at 12:31 AM
I'm of two minds about the Infernal Devices series. I'll probably make up my mind once all the books are out and make it easy on myself if I do fall in love with it.
September 7, 2011 at 1:35 AM
I'd really like to read Guillermo Del Torro's series too - I have a copy of The Strain on my shelf but am yet to pick it up - like you say, sooooo many books, so little time :-)
September 7, 2011 at 2:01 PM
I forgot about The President's Vampire.