By Jennifer Trend, Staff Writer
With winter break and the holidays coming up soon, here are some series to binge-read or add to your wish list.
“The Ascendance Trilogy” by Jennifer A. Nielsen
Sage is an orphan with nothing to his name but gets chosen by a lord to be groomed to play the lost Prince Jaron who was presumed dead years ago. Will he be able to become this puppet prince or will he die as a traitor to the throne?
Nielson managed to write a series about royalty that was unlike any other. The main character went on an interesting journey where he ended up deceiving other characters and even the readers. What I really enjoyed was how the characters never really changed but gradually showed their true personality and character. Instead of changing who they were because of internal and external forces, they adapted, never really straying from who they were at the core.
“The Mortal Instruments” by Cassandra Clare
Life turns upside down when Clary’s mother gets kidnapped and when she witnesses a demon’s murder. Suddenly realizing there’s a whole different world with demons and shadowhunters, can she adjust to this world to save her mother, or will the downworlders take her first?
There are multiple series and books spanning over Clare’s Shadowhunter world, so just when you think it’ll end, there are still more stories to be explored. It’s perfect for readers who want to enjoy a few stories or for those who want to read every story that the Shadowhunter world has to offer. The best part of it is that you can start with any series in the Shadowhunter world; you don’t need to start with “The Mortal Instruments”. These worlds are so familiar yet so fantastical that it’s simultaneously a comfort and an adventure to return to and read.
“Crown’s Game” by Evelyn Skye
With the empire on the verge of collapse, the tsar calls for the Crown’s Game, a way for the enchanters to be tested amongst each other to see who will prevail and work with the tsar. Vika Andreyeva and Nikolai Karimov are the only two in Russia, but when things between the two and other matters become complicated, what lengths will they go to become the tsar’s enchanter?
Magic is always a hard thing to write about because of the different ways it can be perceived and how similar it can be to the next book, but Skye creates this wonderful balance in her world. The story is seamlessly created with the magic, and, every time it was used, it was refreshing to see the different ways an author can use magic. The world and story was also so unique that each page stood out as a moment on its own.
“Throne of Glass” by Sarah J. Maas
Celaena Sardothien is chosen by the Crown Prince of Adarlan to compete with other criminals for a chance to become the king’s assassin. But when she arrives at court, competitors start dying. Is there more to this game than what everyone thinks?
If you’re looking for a more stressful and emotional book, then this is your series. The books are full of unexpected surprises and twists, constantly pulling at your heartstrings and getting you emotionally invested in the story. Just when you think something is going to happen or someone’s going to die, just be prepared to expect the opposite. Maas is known for her intricate foreshadowing, so it’s always astounding when they’re uncovered in future books.
