Comments on: Which YA Series Were Worth Your Time? http://yannabe.com/2009/06/03/ya-series-worth-time/ Book reviews & writing tips from a wannabe YA writer Thu, 02 Sep 2010 10:36:15 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0 By: Laurenkaye01 http://yannabe.com/2009/06/03/ya-series-worth-time/comment-page-1/#comment-5617 Laurenkaye01 Thu, 05 Aug 2010 21:47:09 +0000 http://yannabe.com/?p=1059#comment-5617 "recommendations"...need to stop typing so fast... “recommendations”…need to stop typing so fast…

]]> By: Laurenkaye01 http://yannabe.com/2009/06/03/ya-series-worth-time/comment-page-1/#comment-5616 Laurenkaye01 Thu, 05 Aug 2010 21:46:11 +0000 http://yannabe.com/?p=1059#comment-5616 as a former high school teacher and hard core YA devotee, i would second all the recommendation for Tamora Pierce's collection of series..."Song of the Lioness" is my favorite (probably bc it's the first one i read) but they are all fantastic...also, "Mortal Instruments" and "Tithe" are amazing series..."Ender's Game" and "Ender's Shadow" are books i recommend to everyone i know, even non-SF fans--i don't really read any SF and i loved them...also, i'll give a shout out to the "Marked" series--they are total fluff but lots of fun... as a former high school teacher and hard core YA devotee, i would second all the recommendation for Tamora Pierce's collection of series…”Song of the Lioness” is my favorite (probably bc it's the first one i read) but they are all fantastic…also, “Mortal Instruments” and “Tithe” are amazing series…”Ender's Game” and “Ender's Shadow” are books i recommend to everyone i know, even non-SF fans–i don't really read any SF and i loved them…also, i'll give a shout out to the “Marked” series–they are total fluff but lots of fun…

]]> By: Nat http://yannabe.com/2009/06/03/ya-series-worth-time/comment-page-1/#comment-5538 Nat Thu, 18 Mar 2010 00:45:16 +0000 http://yannabe.com/?p=1059#comment-5538 So, I’m pretty much a series nut, ever since I was actually in the YA age-range. Many of the series I recommend (Warrior Heir, Trickster duet) are ones where I went through the exact same agony you hate, as I waited for the second/third book. I’m gonna try to limit this to series which are now complete, and which I don’t see on your Library Thing list. We have middling compatibility; we disagree strongly on a few books but agree strongly on a lot more, and I seem to read a lot more SF&F (YA) and a lot less gen (YA) than you do. I hope this is at least a little helpful!<br><br>I’m going to come down in favor of the ‘Tithe’ (Holly Black) series, but with a YMMV clause. Ditto on the Cassandra Clare ‘Mortal Instruments’. On the other hand ‘Uglies’ (Scott Westerfeld) gets an unreserved yes.<br><br>My devotion to Tamora Pierce’s ‘Song of the Lioness Quartet’ is illogical; this series formed my reading habits. If you like it, I suggest both her ‘Daine’ books (quartet) and the ‘Trickster’ books (duet). Note: I heard Kristin Cashore speak last year, and she said she had read ‘Song of the Lioness’ while working on “Graceling”. I would recommend Graceling to anyone who liked SotL, and vice-versa!<br><br>Cinda William’s Chima “The Warrior Heir” and its two sequels (which form a complete, arcing trilogy) is always on my list of recommended books for people who like high fantasy, action, strong women, urban-fantasy, or YA in general. It is a little violent in the service of action, but I’m fine with that.<br><br>Diane Duane’s ‘Young Wizards’ is classed as both YA and middle-grade; it is a very, very long series, and it is not, technically, finished. However: I would recommend it because it is not as much of an arcing series. Each book can be read at any point in time, so long as they are read more or less in. It got recommended a lot as a ‘Harry Potter’-eqsue series, but the only thing they have in common is secret wizardry. There is a real-world setting surrounded by magical mysticism that some people love and some people hate, but I am definitely in the first category.<br><br>Lastly, Sherwood Smith’s “Crown Duel” was originally published as a duet, though now it is a single book. Additionally, she’s published “A Stranger to Command” which is a sort of prequel. Smith has done a lot of writing in this world, and I do love it- but these books stand alone successfully. Completely alternate universe magic-containing faux-medieval setting. So, I’m pretty much a series nut, ever since I was actually in the YA age-range. Many of the series I recommend (Warrior Heir, Trickster duet) are ones where I went through the exact same agony you hate, as I waited for the second/third book. I’m gonna try to limit this to series which are now complete, and which I don’t see on your Library Thing list. We have middling compatibility; we disagree strongly on a few books but agree strongly on a lot more, and I seem to read a lot more SF&F (YA) and a lot less gen (YA) than you do. I hope this is at least a little helpful!

I’m going to come down in favor of the ‘Tithe’ (Holly Black) series, but with a YMMV clause. Ditto on the Cassandra Clare ‘Mortal Instruments’. On the other hand ‘Uglies’ (Scott Westerfeld) gets an unreserved yes.

My devotion to Tamora Pierce’s ‘Song of the Lioness Quartet’ is illogical; this series formed my reading habits. If you like it, I suggest both her ‘Daine’ books (quartet) and the ‘Trickster’ books (duet). Note: I heard Kristin Cashore speak last year, and she said she had read ‘Song of the Lioness’ while working on “Graceling”. I would recommend Graceling to anyone who liked SotL, and vice-versa!

Cinda William’s Chima “The Warrior Heir” and its two sequels (which form a complete, arcing trilogy) is always on my list of recommended books for people who like high fantasy, action, strong women, urban-fantasy, or YA in general. It is a little violent in the service of action, but I’m fine with that.

Diane Duane’s ‘Young Wizards’ is classed as both YA and middle-grade; it is a very, very long series, and it is not, technically, finished. However: I would recommend it because it is not as much of an arcing series. Each book can be read at any point in time, so long as they are read more or less in. It got recommended a lot as a ‘Harry Potter’-eqsue series, but the only thing they have in common is secret wizardry. There is a real-world setting surrounded by magical mysticism that some people love and some people hate, but I am definitely in the first category.

Lastly, Sherwood Smith’s “Crown Duel” was originally published as a duet, though now it is a single book. Additionally, she’s published “A Stranger to Command” which is a sort of prequel. Smith has done a lot of writing in this world, and I do love it- but these books stand alone successfully. Completely alternate universe magic-containing faux-medieval setting.

]]> By: andrea http://yannabe.com/2009/06/03/ya-series-worth-time/comment-page-1/#comment-5528 andrea Sat, 06 Mar 2010 19:37:59 +0000 http://yannabe.com/?p=1059#comment-5528 I'd recommend Philip Pullman's His Dark Materials, the Artemis Fowl books, Jonathan Stroud's Bartimaeus trilogy... I'd recommend Philip Pullman's His Dark Materials, the Artemis Fowl books, Jonathan Stroud's Bartimaeus trilogy…

]]> By: HollyES http://yannabe.com/2009/06/03/ya-series-worth-time/comment-page-1/#comment-5353 HollyES Tue, 26 Jan 2010 22:24:15 +0000 http://yannabe.com/?p=1059#comment-5353 I loved The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau-Banks by E. Lockhart. The audiobook version was terrific! I loved The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau-Banks by E. Lockhart. The audiobook version was terrific!

]]> By: Kelly http://yannabe.com/2009/06/03/ya-series-worth-time/comment-page-1/#comment-5195 Kelly Fri, 08 Jan 2010 01:59:19 +0000 http://yannabe.com/?p=1059#comment-5195 Keira, thanks for the thorough list! I'm sorting through it now and updating my to-read series list. :-) Keira, thanks for the thorough list! I'm sorting through it now and updating my to-read series list. :-)

]]> By: Keira http://yannabe.com/2009/06/03/ya-series-worth-time/comment-page-1/#comment-5183 Keira Thu, 07 Jan 2010 21:34:08 +0000 http://yannabe.com/?p=1059#comment-5183 Switch that bit on Artemis and Percy. Read Percy first, because PJ is an average hero with dyslexia and ADHD. Artemis is a boy genius who is outwitting adults before he's even 11 (though the story starts at age 11). The last book in AF series (out so far) is so amazingly good. .-= Keira's last blog: <a href="http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/ReviewRomanceNovel/~3/ElZ3ebjTp7A/" rel="nofollow">Darcy & Elizabeth: Finding New Aspects of Their Characters to Explore</a> =-. Switch that bit on Artemis and Percy. Read Percy first, because PJ is an average hero with dyslexia and ADHD. Artemis is a boy genius who is outwitting adults before he’s even 11 (though the story starts at age 11). The last book in AF series (out so far) is so amazingly good.
.-= Keira’s last blog: Darcy & Elizabeth: Finding New Aspects of Their Characters to Explore =-.

]]> By: Kelly http://yannabe.com/2009/06/03/ya-series-worth-time/comment-page-1/#comment-5186 Kelly Thu, 07 Jan 2010 20:59:19 +0000 http://yannabe.com/?p=1059#comment-5186 Keira, thanks for the thorough list! I'm sorting through it now and updating my to-read series list. :-) Keira, thanks for the thorough list! I'm sorting through it now and updating my to-read series list. :-)

]]> By: Keira http://yannabe.com/2009/06/03/ya-series-worth-time/comment-page-1/#comment-5170 Keira Sat, 02 Jan 2010 19:51:36 +0000 http://yannabe.com/?p=1059#comment-5170 1. Percy Jackson (book 2 - 5 are better than book 1 imho)<br>2. Artemis Fowl (read before Percy Jackson or the Lightning Thief will drive you insane because the kids behave fairly idiotically...)<br>3. Half Magic (stand alone - fairly old)<br>4. Harry Potter - feel free to never read 7<br>5. Twilight Saga - feel free to never read 4 lol<br>6. Hunger Games (my sister and her friend both rec this)<br>7. I'm starting Septimus Heap series (Magyk, Flyte, Physik, Queste, and Syren)<br>8. Spiderwick (is very very young and I wish all 5 books were actually 1 novel, but as a whole I give the series a 3 out of 5)<br>9. Bran Hambric (is about to have it's second book published and the first is pretty decent)<br>10. Ella Enchanted (favorite Cinderella story to date, not a series though.)<br>11. Underland Chronicles (younger audience again) is recced by my sister's friend<br>12. Loved Ender's Game, haven't had a chance to read the others yet. I'm told Ender's Shadow (the series that follows Bean) is more like YA fiction than Ender's story.<br>13. I like the first ten books of the Anita Blake series pretty well. It keeps going and sort of declines on quality. I'm hoping the next few books pick it up again.<br>14. I do not rec the Bartimaeus trilogy. I thought the kid entirely too whiny. You might like it though because a lot of people seem to.<br>15. I read the first two books in the Inheritance trilogy and they're okay, not fantastic. I need to finish the set sometime soon. 1. Percy Jackson (book 2 – 5 are better than book 1 imho)
2. Artemis Fowl (read before Percy Jackson or the Lightning Thief will drive you insane because the kids behave fairly idiotically…)
3. Half Magic (stand alone – fairly old)
4. Harry Potter – feel free to never read 7
5. Twilight Saga – feel free to never read 4 lol
6. Hunger Games (my sister and her friend both rec this)
7. I'm starting Septimus Heap series (Magyk, Flyte, Physik, Queste, and Syren)
8. Spiderwick (is very very young and I wish all 5 books were actually 1 novel, but as a whole I give the series a 3 out of 5)
9. Bran Hambric (is about to have it's second book published and the first is pretty decent)
10. Ella Enchanted (favorite Cinderella story to date, not a series though.)
11. Underland Chronicles (younger audience again) is recced by my sister's friend
12. Loved Ender's Game, haven't had a chance to read the others yet. I'm told Ender's Shadow (the series that follows Bean) is more like YA fiction than Ender's story.
13. I like the first ten books of the Anita Blake series pretty well. It keeps going and sort of declines on quality. I'm hoping the next few books pick it up again.
14. I do not rec the Bartimaeus trilogy. I thought the kid entirely too whiny. You might like it though because a lot of people seem to.
15. I read the first two books in the Inheritance trilogy and they're okay, not fantastic. I need to finish the set sometime soon.

]]> By: Kelly http://yannabe.com/2009/06/03/ya-series-worth-time/comment-page-1/#comment-2838 Kelly Mon, 28 Sep 2009 10:26:53 +0000 http://yannabe.com/?p=1059#comment-2838 Heather, I just realized I never responded to this amazing list of your favorite series! Oops. THANK YOU so much for taking the time to put this list together. :-) I added everything to my TBR list with a couple exceptions. I'm not a big hardcore SF fan, so I left off The Ender Saga. And I didn't love Wicked Lovely, so I decided to bow out of that series. Sooo hard to do for me with a series, but I'm trying to be strong so I can get thru my <a href="http://yannabe.com/2009/09/25/my-dirty-little-tbr-secret/" rel="nofollow">too-large TBR list</a>! Heather, I just realized I never responded to this amazing list of your favorite series! Oops.

THANK YOU so much for taking the time to put this list together. :-) I added everything to my TBR list with a couple exceptions. I’m not a big hardcore SF fan, so I left off The Ender Saga. And I didn’t love Wicked Lovely, so I decided to bow out of that series. Sooo hard to do for me with a series, but I’m trying to be strong so I can get thru my too-large TBR list!

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