My name is Lenore Appelhans and I have a problem. All too often, I start series and then never get to book two. I realized this as I was trying to find books to put on today's list.
The actual Top Ten Tuesday topic today is Top Ten Best Sequels Ever, but I've decided to list only sequels I liked MORE than the first book. You know, just because I like to complicate my life like that. That means no Catching Fire or Pandemonium or Scarlet because even though I love them, I still prefer The Hunger Games and Delirium and Cinder. I also couldn't include Lola and the Boy Next Door or Fire, because I haven't read Anna and the French Kiss or Graceling yet. (I know!)
BUT I did find seven books that fit my strict guidelines. So that's something.
The Likeness by Tana French. This second book in the Dublin Murder Squad series is still my absolute fave of the published four. Why? Because I love Cassie as a character and it contains one of my very favorite tropes -- impersonating a doppelganger. From my review: It's a murder mystery, yes, but it's also so much more: Author Tana French looks at class divisions and how history still effects the present, asks what "real life" really is, and explores the slippery nature of identity.
The Ask and the Answer by Patrick Ness. My favorite book in the trilogy. I love how complex this whole book is and we really get to know Mayor Prentiss, one of the best villains of all time. Also, no major animal deaths in this one! Yay! From my review: In KNIFE, they were pushed to their physical limits. In ASK they are pushed to their emotional and moral limits by two very ruthless leaders, each giving their arguments as to why they are the lesser of two evils.
Thumped by Megan McCafferty. Bumped was a close to perfect book for me, so intelligent and zany. But I loved Thumped just as much. And it looks like this may be the only instance I can think of where I loved books one and two of a series equally. From my review: These two books were so much fun, I wish Megan McCafferty would write 100 more books in the series.
Lost in a Good Book by Jasper Fforde. (Read before blog) To me, this is the best book in the entire Thursday Next series. I love the fact that she jumps into Poe's The Raven and that she's the target of threatening coincidences. It's just so much fun. I liked it more than The Eyre Affair (maybe because I never read Jane Eyre?)
The Queen of Attolia by Megan Whalen Turner. This series is out of my usual comfort zone, but I adore it so, so much, and a lot of that has to do with Gen's growth as a character (and the amazing twists of course). From my review: What I most enjoyed about the story though was Gen’s character growth. In book 1, he was clever, certainly, but also borderline unlikable for most of the book. Here he actually begins to grow into a swoonworthy romantic lead, and the transformation is stunning.
Rebel Heart by Moira Young. (My review + playlist) Hmmm... this one was a tough call, because there are certain things I liked more about Blood Red Road (Jack!), but De Malo is such a great adversary for Saba, that I'm going to go ahead and put this on the list.
The Forgetting Curve by Angie Smibert. (My review) I enjoyed this more than Memento Nora because I liked narrators Aiden and Velvet more than Nora and Micah. Plus the plot thickens and there's more conspiracy theory to dig into.
Honorable mentions:
Linger by Maggie Steifvater. Going to give a shout out to this book for introducing Cole St. Clair.
Prodigy by Marie Lu. I didn't put this on the list proper, because I still haven't gotten over my broken heart.
Star Cursed by Jessica Spotswood. Same reason as Prodigy. The end gutted me.
Which sequels did you like better?
The actual Top Ten Tuesday topic today is Top Ten Best Sequels Ever, but I've decided to list only sequels I liked MORE than the first book. You know, just because I like to complicate my life like that. That means no Catching Fire or Pandemonium or Scarlet because even though I love them, I still prefer The Hunger Games and Delirium and Cinder. I also couldn't include Lola and the Boy Next Door or Fire, because I haven't read Anna and the French Kiss or Graceling yet. (I know!)
BUT I did find seven books that fit my strict guidelines. So that's something.
The Likeness by Tana French. This second book in the Dublin Murder Squad series is still my absolute fave of the published four. Why? Because I love Cassie as a character and it contains one of my very favorite tropes -- impersonating a doppelganger. From my review: It's a murder mystery, yes, but it's also so much more: Author Tana French looks at class divisions and how history still effects the present, asks what "real life" really is, and explores the slippery nature of identity.
The Ask and the Answer by Patrick Ness. My favorite book in the trilogy. I love how complex this whole book is and we really get to know Mayor Prentiss, one of the best villains of all time. Also, no major animal deaths in this one! Yay! From my review: In KNIFE, they were pushed to their physical limits. In ASK they are pushed to their emotional and moral limits by two very ruthless leaders, each giving their arguments as to why they are the lesser of two evils.
Thumped by Megan McCafferty. Bumped was a close to perfect book for me, so intelligent and zany. But I loved Thumped just as much. And it looks like this may be the only instance I can think of where I loved books one and two of a series equally. From my review: These two books were so much fun, I wish Megan McCafferty would write 100 more books in the series.
Lost in a Good Book by Jasper Fforde. (Read before blog) To me, this is the best book in the entire Thursday Next series. I love the fact that she jumps into Poe's The Raven and that she's the target of threatening coincidences. It's just so much fun. I liked it more than The Eyre Affair (maybe because I never read Jane Eyre?)
The Queen of Attolia by Megan Whalen Turner. This series is out of my usual comfort zone, but I adore it so, so much, and a lot of that has to do with Gen's growth as a character (and the amazing twists of course). From my review: What I most enjoyed about the story though was Gen’s character growth. In book 1, he was clever, certainly, but also borderline unlikable for most of the book. Here he actually begins to grow into a swoonworthy romantic lead, and the transformation is stunning.
Rebel Heart by Moira Young. (My review + playlist) Hmmm... this one was a tough call, because there are certain things I liked more about Blood Red Road (Jack!), but De Malo is such a great adversary for Saba, that I'm going to go ahead and put this on the list.
The Forgetting Curve by Angie Smibert. (My review) I enjoyed this more than Memento Nora because I liked narrators Aiden and Velvet more than Nora and Micah. Plus the plot thickens and there's more conspiracy theory to dig into.
Honorable mentions:
Linger by Maggie Steifvater. Going to give a shout out to this book for introducing Cole St. Clair.
Prodigy by Marie Lu. I didn't put this on the list proper, because I still haven't gotten over my broken heart.
Star Cursed by Jessica Spotswood. Same reason as Prodigy. The end gutted me.
Which sequels did you like better?
