With winter break fast approaching, book lovers are eagerly awaiting the month-long vacation to catch up on their reading list. Since school can get us behind on reading book series that may take a while to finish, winter break is the perfect time to catch up – or to discover new series. Here are my top three series you should consider reading or putting on that to-read list this winter break.
“The Great Library”
Imagine a world where the Library of Alexandria didn’t burn down and has morphed into a great library that controls all knowledge. This is the futuristic world that Rachel Caine puts readers in her “The Great Library” series. This book has a huge cast of characters but mainly follows Jess Brightwell as he gets admitted to the library to compete to become a scholar. When there, he realizes the frightening power of the library and its leaders’ motives.
This series consists of five books and explores the power books can have on the world and what lengths people will go to for books. It’s a fast-paced read and an underappreciated one too.
“The Lunar Chronicles”
Marissa Meyer’s “The Lunar Chronicles” puts a spin on some of our beloved fairytale characters and places them inside a futuristic, sci-fi world. This is a four-book series that follows four main characters, all based on fairytale characters. While each character has their own subplot, the overarching plot is to take down a ruthless leader from space, while simultaneously avoiding an outbreak of war. Meyer does a good job of crafting futuristic fairy tales while also providing something new and unique for readers.
“A Darker Shade of Magic”
In V.E. Schwab’s “A Darker Shade of Magic” trilogy, there are three Londons – each in different dimensions – and main character Kell Maresh is a rare magician, called an Antari, who can travel between the different dimensions. In this series, Kell ends up on the run from someone who is out to kill him, and with his companion Delilah Bard, they unravel a dangerous plot and rush to save the magic of their respected Londons. This series is heavy on political worldbuilding while maintaining a healthy magical side that is easy to get immersed in.
The idea for a series like this hasn’t been done before and I cannot imagine anyone else doing it besides Schwab. When thinking about new fantasy series to try, add “A Darker Shade of Magic” to that list.
