Reading Prompt: The next book in a series you started #3

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Written by Norrie

I’m a notorious series-abandoner. Even the ones I actually like get dropped like hot potatoes, because I always feel like I need to take a break and then get distracted by other books. I have a few of these neglected darlings on my list, and this is the perfect time to pick them up again. When I say series, I mean those books that actually end with some sort of a cliffhanger, and you need to read the next book to find out what happens, and not those collections that have the same characters but would be good standalone reads as well.

Insurgent (Divergent #2) by Veronica Roth

I was super into Divergent, the first book in the series, to the point that I stayed up late on a work day just to finish it. It only started annoying me towards the very end, when things took a romancy turn, and I just wanted to slap the main character for being so childish.

I had to remind myself that she’s a 16-year-old girl, and as such probably not the model of maturity. I very much like the concept of the story though, so will definitely return to the series.

War is coming and the conflict between factions grow. Exciting!

Golden Son (Red Rising #2) by Pierce Brown


I totally fell in love with Red Rising. It was one of those rare books that made me cry. Because of this, I forgave some shortfalls, like Darrow being so bloody perfect, all the fucking time.

To my relief, there was no romantic story line per se, and if the second book is as action packed and bloodshedy as the first one, I know I will love it just as much.

As a bonus, I’ve only just finished it about three months ago, so pretty much still remember everything that happened.

Glass Sword (Red Queen #2) by Victoria Aveyard

Yet another dystopian series I’ve somehow got tangled up in. Red Queen, the first in the series, was a quick, but eye-roll-filled read to me.

I absolutely loved the idea of the powers the elite (and also Mare, the non-elite) main character possessed, but I just couldn’t get past the shallowness of most of the characters.

There was some rebellion going on in the background as well, but it was super vague. So, I guess one reason to continue is to find out more about this.

The Girl in the Tower (Winternight Trilogy #2) by Katherine Arden

The fist book, The Bear and the Nightingale, was not a suspenseful page turner, but a beautifully written, atmospheric tale, filled with Russian folklore, magical elements, and lovable characters – even if I had a hard time following who is who with all the nicknames.

The sequel, The Girl in the Tower, follows the story of Vasya, who is now a young woman fleeing her home to avoid having to choose between an arranged marriage or becoming a nun.

Both are pretty grim prospects if you ask me.

Black Heart (Curse Workers #3) by Holly Black

I’d say I made a pretty good progress in this series! I managed to read the first two books, White Cat and Red Glove, before giving it a break.

I don’t read a lot of urban fantasy, but this was pretty awesome. The series follows Cassel Sharpe, descendant of curse workers, and the only one in his family without any magical abilities, making him the odd one out. Curse work is illegal though, so that makes his family a bunch of criminals. It doesn’t make him feel any better though.

Black Heart is the last installment in the series and Cassel is now a wanted man. The Feds are willing to forget his past crimes, if only he would give up his entire family. Of course that is easier said than done.

Have you guys read any of these series? Which book was your favourite? Any series you abandoned for no reason whatsoever?

46 Comments

  1. I tried reading Glass Sword, but DNF’d if half way! Ah! I might pick it up again some time though.

    As for Insurgent, I wasn’t a fan. I enjoyed the first book, but felt like the trilogy just went downhill from there.

    I hope you enjoy both books more than I did! ❤️

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    2. I felt the same way about Insurgent and have not read the 3rd book yet as it just put me off the series.
      Somehow finished Glass Sword but it was a real struggle. I totally understand why Kelly dnf’ed it.
      Black Heart is on my tbr list. I loved the White Cat, thought the second book was alright and then got distracted..,
      I think I have an issue
      with books #3!!! 🙈😂😂😂
      The Girl in the Tower was enjoyable. It’s quite different from the first book – much more fast paced and full of action. Hope you enjoy it. 😊🍀

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  3. Series are my downfall, seriously. I should make a list with all the series I started and see how many I have left to finish so I can actually keep decent track of them.. I know some people who’ve actually created an Excel-file for that so maybe I should do it that way as well, haha. 😛

    Haven’t read any of these series yet; apart from the Divergent-series which I did finish (whoop!) but I know I’ve yet to finish reading the Throne of Glass-series; Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children; Daughter of Smoke and Bone and.. that’s all I can think of at the moment but there’s definitely more. :’)

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    1. I started writing them down in a notebook and added a little check box to the individual books… 😀 It’s looking pretty blank!!!
      Oh damn, i could have added Daughter of Smoke and Bone… i read the 1st book. I keep forgetting about it. Guess that’s not a good sign 😀

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        1. Ha! Indeed. I was supposed to go to Prague in March, but then stuff came up for my friend, and i settled to read that book finally, after having it for like 4 years 😀

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  6. Lol at Darrow! I completely agree. I really liked both Red Rising and Golden Son but couldn’t be arsed to continue with the series, not entirely sure why.😂 Darrow is very perfect though, the worst bit for me was, I could deal with him being perfect at things he knew but it was when he tried new stuff and straight away he was God like awesome at it.😂

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  7. I’m terrible as well. I can think of one that is so largely unresolved that I don’t know anything yet… I read the first NeverNever by Colleen Hoover and I have two to go and I have no clue really but the first one already felt like it had a fantasy angle and I was scared to find out more 🙂

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    1. Ha… i keep hearing about Colleen Hoover a lot of nice things. I’m very picky when it comes to fantasy and usually like the weird ones. Like Dark Tower, which is also horror and kinda western too, or The Name of the Wind, where magic is science… 😀

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    1. I’m like that with the Kingkiller Chronicles… the second book was already disappointing and now i’m just waiting and waiting for the 3rd one 😀

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  10. I won’t spoil anything about Insurgent, but I’ve read the trilogy and I was disappointed at the turn of the plot. Not only the romance – as you said it yourself, Tris is only 16, and a former Abnegation member after all… Insurgent kept me reading, but the last tome felt really long…

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  12. Hello Norrie!
    I haven’t read any of these series, however I heard lots of great things about Divergent and Red Rising so these are on my radar 🙂
    I am also terrible at finishing series (which is probably why I don’t start many of them haha). Usually I tend to do better with series that I love (such as the Illuminae series) rather than the ones that I am ‘meh’ about.

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  16. I’ve only heard amazing things about Pierce Brown’s and Katherine Arden’s books. But I totally feel ya. While I always end up finding series where the first book blows my mind, I always get distracted by OTHER series where the first book is JUST AS AWESOME…. How am I supposed to ever complete these series hahahah

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    1. I’m trying to restrain myself and not get into any more series until i finish at least one of them (well, would be hard with Arden, cuz the third book is not out yet), or give up on them officially 😀

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