Top Ten Tuesday: 8 Series & Standalone Books I Wish Had More Books

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme created by The Broke and The Bookish and currently hosted by Jana @ That Artsy Reader Girl.

Top Ten Tuesday: 8 Completed Series I Wish Had More Books

This week’s TTT is all about completed series we wish had more books. I actually don't really read a lot of series, I'm more into standalones or if I do read series it takes me ages to finish them  and by that point I'm usually fine with them being completed. Here are 9 series and standalones that I do wish had another book to follow-up. Some of these series never actually got completed and I'm still wishing for a final book. 

1. the Annabelle Lee Series by Stacey Jay

This is actually not a completed series. There were two books with me fully anticipating a 3rd book that just... never came. I wish it would have been finished!

2. The Goddess Test Series by Aimee Carter

Before all of the Hades/Persephone retellings everyone loves now, the Goddess Test was one of the OGs of Hades/Persephone retellings. While Kate and Henry's story wraps up at the end of the trilogy, I thought there was going to be a spin-off series and I guess it just never panned out. It's a shame. 

3. Goodnight Series by Rosemary Clement-Moore

Surely there must be more Goodnights we could read about! I love this family so much for there to only be two books! PHIN! PHIN needs her own book! Please Rosemary???

4. Gravebriar by Casey L. Bond

Gravebriar is a standalone but I would love more books set in this world! Maybe about some of the other witch families?

5. The Thousandth Floor Trilogy by Katharine McGee

I don't even know where she would go with another book, but I love this series so much. 

6. Maybe This Time by Jennifer Crusie

Another standalone I wish would have a sequel. I would love to see Alice and Carter return to the house as adults. 

7. Clue Mystery Series by Diana Peterfreund

I don't know if I exactly like how the last book ended. I know things were mostly wrapped up but I'd love to see the crew solve more murders and see where they went after leaving Blackbrook Academy. 

8. Stormheart Series by Cora Carmack

Okay, Okay, I know this is unfair to really, really want the third book to come out considering the author has a ton of health problems, I just really hate to be left hanging and hope this trilogy gets completed someday. 

***

What completed series do you wish had more books? Did any of mine make your list? Let me know in the comments or drop a link to your TTT!

Happy Reading Bookdragons!

-Taylor

{Release Day Blitz} Chaos & Carnage by Stacey Rourke

Gallows humor and haunting delights meet in the continuation of the Death Diggers Saga! 

Chaos & Carnage by Stacey Rourke

About the Book:

Author: Stacey Rourke

Series: Death Diggers Handbook #5

Release Date: July 21, 2022

Format: eBook, Paperback

Pages: 127

Genre: Paranormal Fantasy

Blurb:

Sorrow haunts the Crane's Roost Inn,

Threatening all who step within.

An entity born of anguish and pain

seeks to expand its torturous reign.

Fueled by hunger that can never be sated,

with shifts in its form its victims are baited.

Malaria must find the host... much is at stake.

Lest a path of chaos and carnage lie in its wake.

Yet as her fragmented memories begin to return,

Horrific truths she soon will learn.

Will she flee to Carnage Crossing to escape the dark thrall?

Or join the lost souls wandering the hotel hall?

Buy the Book:

Amazon

{Book Review} A TOUCH OF DARKNESS by Scarlett St. Clair

  

A Touch of Darkness

Hades & Persephone Book 1

Scarlett St. Clair

Released: May 23, 2019

299 Pages

Blurb:

A Modern Hades and Persephone Retelling

Persephone is the Goddess of Spring by title only. The truth is, since she was a little girl, flowers have shriveled at her touch. After moving to New Athens, she hopes to lead an unassuming life disguised as a mortal journalist.

Hades, God of the Dead, has built a gambling empire in the mortal world and his favorite bets are rumored to be impossible.

After a chance encounter with Hades, Persephone finds herself in a contract with the God of the Dead and the terms are impossible: Persephone must create life in the Underworld or lose her freedom forever.

The bet does more than expose Persephone’s failure as a goddess, however. As she struggles to sow the seeds of her freedom, love for the God of the Dead grows—and it’s forbidden.

My Review:

I finally decided to pick up this book after seeing it so much on Bookstagram. I was afraid I wouldn't like it but I love the Hades and Persephone myth so much I had to give it a try. And I'm so glad I did!

It was interesting seeing this take on Persephone's relationship with her mother, Demeter. It's definitely unlike any other retelling I've read. This Persephone was kept really sheltered by her cruel, controlling mother until she left Olympus to attend college in New Athens in this awesome urban fantasy world where the Greek gods are modern day celebrities.

Persephone was warned by her mother to stay away from the gods, especially Hades, whom her mother hates. But when her friend gets on the list to go to Hades's club and she makes conversation with a handsome stranger Persephone finds herself face to face with the feared god himself. And in an iron-clad contract with Hades to create life in the Underworld. But Persephone is unable to grow anything and fears she will be stuck in the Underworld forever. 

I loved Hades and Persephone's chemistry, it was such a sexy read and I loved watching their relationship develop from Persephone hating and not trusting Hades to where they were at the end. I also really liked Hecate and the other characters we meet in the Underworld. 

I also really enjoyed the world building in this book and the modern spin on one of my favorite greek myths. 

I couldn't get enough of this book and I can't wait to see what will happen to my new favorite couple in book 2!

My Rating:

🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

5 of 5 Stars!

I Can't Wait For... Resurrection Road

Can't-Wait Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Wishful Endings, to spotlight and discuss the books we're excited about that we have yet to read. Generally they're books that have yet to be released.

I met Hannah through some of my instagram author friends and this book, perfect for fans of Supernatural, sounds amazing...

Resurrection Road

Series?

by Hannah Marae
eBook, Paperback
July 26, 2021 by Somewhere Press

Blurb:

For as long as she can remember, Eden has been on the run.
The open road is the only freedom she’s ever known, the only life she’s ever had. But when the road ends in a backwater town, a mysterious phone call sends her on a new journey.

Lazarus is no stranger to ghosts.
Shades and spirits are his constant companions, it’s the living that set him on edge. The decision to help a troubled mage will find him taking on more than he bargained for.

Becoming a hunter was never part of Zeke’s plan.
He finds himself stepping into all the dark places where horrors lurk and spirits roam free—until a job gone wrong shows him there’s more than one way to deal with a monster.

A missing friend.
A chance to prove himself.
A desire to keep the darkness inside at bay.
Together, the three set out on the long road east, each pulled by a secret.
But a powerful presence lurks in the shadows, eager to make a deal that will change their lives forever.

Add to Goodreads 

***

Will you be checking this book out? 

{Book Review} CORPSE QUEEN by Stacey Rourke

 

Corpse Queen

Death Diggers Handbook #1

Stacey Rourke with M. Rourke and E. Rourke

Urban Fantasy/Paranormal

164 Pages

Blurb:

With the king gone, the veil fell.
Thrusting Carnage Crossing into a fresh hell.

A city of the dead. A town built by demise.
Torn apart by the livings' whim to exorcise.

The lineage was tracked and followed to a royal heir.
The fact she had a pulse a shocking affair.

Whisked through death's door with grisly splendor,
Her reign will begin when ties to the past sever.

Yet secrets slither in with a venomous bite,
Threatening to destroy all when they come to light.


Will the truth revealed bring peace to the dead?
Or unleash the Corpse Queen to come for your head?

My Review:

Fans of Tim Burton, Beetlejuice, and Sassy Take-No-Prisoners Heroines will love Corpse Queen!

We meet Thades on the night of her sister Charlie's bachelorette party. They're visiting a psychic, it will be a night to die for. Suddenly dead from an Ouija board planchette to the throat (no, not kidding) Thades comes to in Carnage Crossing - the afterlife for the middle-of-the-road type who weren't super good or super evil in life. Not only that - Thades (now called Tempest Mortem) is apparently the daughter of their fallen king, Legaba and heir to the throne!

As Tempest adjusts to life in the dark, yet vibrantly described and constructed Carnage Crossing, makes friends, and comes to terms with leaving her old life behind and embracing her destiny we meet the colorful citizens of Carnage Crossing, explore the unique businesses, and learn about devastating exorcisms that have ripped citizens from their afterlife and made them well and truly dead. But who is performing the exorcisms? And how can Tempest stop them once and for all? One thing is certain, she's going to have step up and become the badass queen she was always destined to be. 

I loved Thades/Tempest and the characters she meets in Carnage Crossing. Lugosi was awesome and I swooned for Gideon. I don't at all trust Charlie and I'm interested to see if she'll become a problem in future books. Also, there's Ambrose. Who I hope Tempest is over. I don't trust him either.

There is a playlist at the beginning of this book, one song for each chapter (except 2 for chapter 16), and I found it enjoyable to pull up Spotify and let each song usher me into each chapter. It made the reading experience so much richer. 

Overall, I really loved this book, read it in nearly one sitting, and already I'm dying (hehe) to see what happens in the second book!

My Rating:

🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

5 of 5 Stars!

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? - 31 May 2021

#IMWAYR is a weekly meme started on J Kaye’s blog and then was hosted by Sheila from Book Journey. Sheila then passed it on to Kathryn at The Book Date.

Hey Bookdragons! Happy Memorial Day (or Happy Monday to everyone else!) I hope you're having a great day whatever you're up to. 

What I Read Last Week: 

Heartless by Marissa Meyer

I've tried twice but I just can't get into this book. I'm blaming this on the fact that I never really liked Alice in Wonderland and I haven't really enjoyed any of the retellings, by any author. It's really nothing personal to this author.

Corpse Queen by Stacey Rourke

If you like Tim Burton, Beetlejuice, and Sassy Take-No-Prisoners heroines you'll love this book! Full review will be posted Friday!  

Big Summer by Jennifer Weiner

This was a DNF book for me. It wasn't what I thought it was going to be going in and I probably won't read anything else by this author. 

One Year Gone by Avery Bishop

This book releases in August. The author sent me an advance copy and I devoured it last week. I liked how it was told in the mother's perspective after her daughter's disappearance and in the daughter's perspective before and leading up to her disappearance. The dual timelines worked for me.

Currently Reading:

Kingdom of the Wicked by Kerri Maniscalco

I feel like I've been sitting on this book forever. Everyone I know who has read it loved it but I put it off for some reason. I'm starting it tonight so we'll see how I fare. 

Next Read

Tentative First Week of June TBR

More Info:

The Wicked Aftermath by Melissa Foster (eARC)

Escaping from Houdini by Kerri Maniscalco (reread)

Her Dark Lies by J.T. Ellison (audiobook)

*** 

 What are you reading this week? Have you read any of my recent reads?

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? - 21 December 2020

#IMWAYR is a weekly meme started on J Kaye’s blog and then was hosted by Sheila from Book Journey. Sheila then passed it on to Kathryn at The Book Date.

Happy Monday Bookdragons! I find myself in a bit of a book slump this week. I have plenty of books to read yet I don't really feel like reading. I may start my annual end of the year reread early and set aside everything else. 

What I Read Last Week: 

Mother of Shadows (The Chosen #1) by Meg Anne

I started reading this book last week but I'm just not feeling fantasy right now. I mean the story seemed good, I just couldn't keep my mind on the page. I'm going to set it aside for now and come back later. 

Currently Reading:

In Between Books...

Next Read:

Texas Gothic by Rosemary Clement-Moore

I always reread this book around New Year's Eve but I think I'll get an early start on it this year since it's taking me forever to get through books lately.

*** 

What are you currently reading? Anything holiday related? 

If You Like That... Read These (Sleepy Hollow)

 

Hey Bookdragons! Fall is Coming! (although let's be honest, September 1st is the beginning of the fall season to me.) I don't know about you, but I have plans to read all kinds of thrillers, mysteries, and spooky books to get the feeling of the season. And one of my favorite classic books and it's movie adaptation is the perfect fall read...

Washington Irving's The Legend of Sleepy Hollow is the quintessential fall read and if you love it as much as I do you'll want to devour all the retellings. Retellings you say? Yes!! Retellings aren't just for fairy tales! There have been quite a few amazing Legend of Sleepy Hollow retellings and I'm here to tell you about them. Each of these are unique takes and reimaginings of the classic story. There's a little something for every reader. Most of these I've read and loved but there are a few that are still on my to-be-read list...

The Hollow (The Hollow Trilogy Book 1) by Jessica Verday

The Hollow trilogy by Jessica Verday is the first Sleepy Hollow retelling I read. It also blossomed my interest in perfume making. 

Wake the Hollow by Gaby Triana

While not my favorite Sleepy Hollow retelling, I did really enjoy this book. It's a standalone, so no cliffhanger endings. It also brings in one of my favorite female authors, Mary Shelley. Diversity alert: The main character Micaela is half Cuban. 

The Lantern's Ember by Colleen Houck

I almost don't want to include this book on this list since it was a near DNF for me but it is supposed to be a Sleepy Hollow retelling... before the author got sidetracked maybe? Anyway, I see some people on Goodreads liked it so I guess it's hit or miss. Like I always believe, you need to be the judge. You may love what I dislike and I may dislike what everyone else loves.

Crane (The Legends Saga Book 1) by Stacey Rourke

Crane is the most recent Sleepy Hollow retelling I've read and it's my second favorite after the Hollow Trilogy. Ireland is a spunky lead and I love that Stacey incorporated Washington Irving and Rip Van Winkle into the Legend's origin story. P.S. the second and third books bring in Edgar Allan Poe and H.G. Wells so if you love classic gothic lit you must read these books!

Before I move on to retellings I haven't read here's some Shameless Self Promotion...

Headless by Taylor Fenner

Headless is my new adult debut and much sexier than any of my other books. As for the retelling part, our heroine Cora is the Headless Horsewoman taking vengeance on the men of modern-day Sleepy Hollow. 

Grab a Copy!

The Spellbook of Katrina Van Tassel by Alyssa Palombo

This one sounds like an interesting historical fiction retelling and one of the few retellings I've seen set during the actual time period which The Legend of Sleepy Hollow takes place. And Katrina turning to witchcraft? Sign me up!

For all these books and more including tv show and movie novelizations visit:

Goodreads Listopia - Sleepy Hollow Retelling

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? - 25 May 2020

 

#IMWAYR is a weekly meme started on J Kaye’s blog and then was hosted by Sheila from Book Journey. Sheila then passed it on to Kathryn at The Book Date.

What I Read Last Week:

Dawn Till Dusk by Tyffany Hackett and Becky Moynihan

I went into this book both excited and nervous. Excited because I've been eager to read this one since I first heard about it. But also nervous because I've been in a reading funk where I can get so far into a book (usually 100 pages or so) and then my mood plunges and I don't feel like reading anything no matter how much I'm enjoying it. But this book kept me engaged and I loved both of the main characters.

Currently Reading
Bone Crier's Moon by Kathryn Purdie

I started this ARC at the beginning of the year but when I got to Bastien's first chapter I really disliked him as a character and set the book aside. But when Fairyloot started their read along on IG last week I decided to try again with my copy I got in their March box. I actually really got into it this time but I got behind on the read along so I'm hoping to have enough energy to finish it this week. I still hate Bastien by the way. And Jules. 
 

Up Next
Help Me Pick My Next Read!

A.) Fallen by Lauren Kate (reread)

B.) The Raven Boys by Maggie Stiefvater

C. Passenger by Alexandra Bracken

D. Recommend Me A Book!

What have you been reading lately? Are you reading more lately or less?

[Cover Reveal ] DAWN TILL DUSK by Tyffany Hackett and Becky Moynihan

Today I’m helping out two of my author friends - who both have amazing series individually - reveal the cover of the first book in their collaborative project the Genesis Crystal Saga...
Dawn Till DuskGenesis Crystal Saga Book 1Tyffany Hackett and Becky MoynihanMay 26, 2020New Adult, Urban Fantasy, Andventure, Romance
Blurb:

Discover Nathra City’s darkest secret.

Pain and hatred consume Tarik, the hot-headed Fae whose addiction to fighting shifters could be the death of him. Stuck in a city ruled by dragons, seeking vengeance is his only mission.

As a shifter, and the city’s Night Enforcer, Reagan’s job is to stop him. She quickly learns that trouble follows him at every turn, and keeping him alive leads her to make decisions that may have deadly consequences.

When a disastrous event forces these long-standing enemies to unravel a sinister plot, prejudice must be pushed aside. And lurking beneath the hatred is something neither of them are prepared for.
Preorder Incentive
Anyone who preorders a signed paperback or submits proof of an ebook preorder will be sent a swag pack! The pack includes two bookmarks—one for Reagan and one for Tarik—each featuring character line-art by Carrow Brown (@carrowbrown on Instagram) and also a print of Tarik and Reagan done by Gabriella Bujdosó (@gabriellabujdoso on Instagram)

Book Review: HOUSE OF EARTH AND BLOOD

House of Earth and Blood

Crescent City Book 1
by Sarah J. Maas

Publisher: Bloomsbury

Release Date: March 3, 2020

Genre: Adult, Fantasy

Blurb:

#1 New York Times bestselling author Sarah J. Maas launches her brand-new CRESCENT CITY series with House of Earth and Blood: the story of half-Fae and half-human Bryce Quinlan as she seeks revenge in a contemporary fantasy world of magic, danger, and searing romance.

Bryce Quinlan had the perfect life—working hard all day and partying all night—until a demon murdered her closest friends, leaving her bereft, wounded, and alone. When the accused is behind bars but the crimes start up again, Bryce finds herself at the heart of the investigation. She’ll do whatever it takes to avenge their deaths.

Hunt Athalar is a notorious Fallen angel, now enslaved to the Archangels he once attempted to overthrow. His brutal skills and incredible strength have been set to one purpose—to assassinate his boss’s enemies, no questions asked. But with a demon wreaking havoc in the city, he’s offered an irresistible deal: help Bryce find the murderer, and his freedom will be within reach.

As Bryce and Hunt dig deep into Crescent City’s underbelly, they discover a dark power that threatens everything and everyone they hold dear, and they find, in each other, a blazing passion—one that could set them both free, if they’d only let it.

With unforgettable characters, sizzling romance, and page-turning suspense, this richly inventive new fantasy series by #1 New York Times bestselling author Sarah J. Maas delves into the heartache of loss, the price of freedom—and the power of love.

Review:
Before I dive into my review of the contents of House of Earth and Blood I would like to make one comment on the cover of the book. While the illustration is pretty and the cover eye-catching, the fact that the actual title HOUSE OF EARTH AND BLOOD is in such small font it's barely noticeable on the cover and the name of the series Crescent City is in large, prominent font it makes it very confusing for the reader to distinguish which is the actual title of this first volume of the series without looking it up. The cover design department should really rethink that when tweaking the cover for the paperback edition likely to come.

Moving to the book itself, I was unsure if I would like this one based on other authors crossing over to other age groups with underwhelming attempts. But this book, if you've read any of the author's other works is easy to get engrossed in. 

In fact, as I sit here a week and a half after finishing the book I realize the reason it's easy to see similarities between House of Earth and Blood and her previous works is because they all have similar themes: a main character who seems to be nothing special at first glance but who possesses an immense, incomparable power, strong friendships, hate-to-love romance, and villains you'd really like to slap. 

So it's a safe bet if you liked the Throne of Glass books or the ACOTAR books you'll probably enjoy this adult debut... which is not really all that different content-wise from her other books. 

House of Earth and Blood is billed as epic fantasy but I actually would categorize it more as urban fantasy. While yes, the world in which Bryce lives is not based on any real cities it has a much more urban setting than what I consider high/epic fantasy. Plus there is modern technology... smartphones and computers and other advanced tech you wouldn't see in a high fantasy that always seems more inspired by the medieval era. 

While I can get behind the Bryce/Hunt ship my favorite character by far was Ruhn. And Ruhn's friends were pretty awesome. I hope they get more of a role in the books to come. The character  that made me scratch my head was Bryce's boss, who I couldn't tell if she had actual friendly affection for Bryce or not because the ending would lead you to believe so but before that she's constantly threatening to turn her into an animal of some sort if she steps out of line.

The other thing I couldn't get behind was Bryce's name. To me Bryce has always been a guy's name, not a gender neutral name so every time I came upon it I had to remind myself Bryce was a girl.

And last, while the world of House of Earth and Blood is filled with diverse species there's nothing readers haven't seen before... fae, mermaids, vampires, werewolves, witches, shifters, and more all crammed into one city with a smaller human population. And anyone versed in mythology will note the nods to Norse mythology throughout.

Overall, while this was a good read, I wouldn't say it was anything unique that blew me away. I honestly felt like the ending could be the stopping point and you wouldn't even need any further books but I'm sure there will be at least 6-7 more books if Crescent City follows the mold of the author's other two series. 

My Rating:
🌟🌟🌟🌟
4.5 of 5 Stars!

I Can’t Wait For... This Coven Won’t Break

Can't-Wait Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Wishful Endings, to spotlight and discuss the books we're excited about that we have yet to read. Generally they're books that have yet to be released.

The first book in this series was my first pick for the YA BOTM sub box and it became an instant favorite. I can’t wait for the second book to arrive this summer...

This Coven Won’t Break

(These Witches Don’t Burn #2)

by Isabel Sterling

LGBT, Urban Fantasy

eBook, Hardcover, 304 Pages

June 2, 2020 by Razorbill

Blurb

In this gripping, romantic sequel to These Witches Don't Burn, Hannah must work alongside her new girlfriend to take down the Hunters desperate to steal her magic.

Hannah Walsh just wants a normal life. It's her senior year, so she should be focusing on classes, hanging out with her best friend, and flirting with her new girlfriend, Morgan. But it turns out surviving a murderous Witch Hunter doesn't exactly qualify as a summer vacation, and now the rest of the Hunters seem more intent on destroying her magic than ever.

When Hannah learns the Hunters have gone nationwide, armed with a serum capable of taking out entire covens at once, she's desperate to help. Now, with witches across the country losing the most important thing they have—their power—Hannah could be their best shot at finally defeating the Hunters. After all, she's one of the only witches to escape a Hunter with her magic intact.

Or so everyone believes. Because as good as she is at faking it, doing even the smallest bit of magic leaves her in agony. The only person who can bring her comfort, who can make her power flourish, is Morgan. But Morgan's magic is on the line, too, and if Hannah can't figure out how to save her—and the rest of the Witches—she'll lose everything she's ever known. And as the Hunters get dangerously close to their final target, will all the Witches in Salem be enough to stop an enemy determined to destroy magic for good?

###

What do you think? Will you be checking this one out?