Here we are, approaching the middle of January — and that means it’s time for me to think about my plans for reading series in the coming year.
Each January, I typically identify a few series that I want to prioritize in the coming year. At the moment, I only have one in mind that I know I want to read a lot of, or maybe even read all the way through to the end.
Meanwhile, there are a few series (completed or ongoing) that I’d like to at least start. If I like the first book, maybe I’ll decide to keep going… but in any case, I hope to sample a few series starters and then see how I feel.
My priority series to read in 2025 will be:
Rockton series by Kelley Armstrong: I read the first book late in 2024, and can’t wait to clear my reading obligation pile a bit so I can start bingeing more books in this series.
If I somehow manage to get through the remaining six books, I’ll likely want to start the follow-up series, Haven’s Rock… but that’s a big if, and I’m not going to plan on that right now.
Other series to sample or binge in 2025:
The Mary books (Lady Janies series) by Cynthia Hand, Brodi Ashton, and Jodi Meadows: I’ve now read the three Jane books, and would like to get to all three of the Mary books in 2025… but so long as I read at least one, I’ll feel pretty good.
Green Rider series by Kristen Britain: I’m planning to read the first book, and if all goes well, I hope to continue. I have high hopes — I’ve heard good things!
A pair of duologies round out my list for now — I’ve been wanting to get to these, and hope that 2025 will be the year when I make it happen.
The Stolen Heir duology by Holly Black: Technically, only one of these would be new to me. I read The Stolen Heir when it was first released, but I’d need to do a re-read before reading The Prisoner’s Throne.
Gilded duology by Marissa Meyer: I own hardcover editions of both books (don’t ask!), but have yet to pick them up. Maybe audio will be the way to go.
The “maybe” books:
And now, all my “maybe” choices — these are all series starters that I’m interested in. Maybe I’ll get to some of these in 2025, and then maybe I’ll want to read more from the same series… or maybe not. In any case, here are the other series starters that I’m considering this year, including several that are holdovers from 2024:
- Something Fabulous by Alexis Hall
- Pines by Blake Crouch
- Legendborn by Tracy Deonn
- Daughter of the Forest by Juliet Marillier
- Arrows of the Queen by Mercedes Lackey (because I feel like I absolutely should have read the Valdemar books by now)
- Children of Time by Adrian Tchaikovsky (which, yes, has been on my series-to-read list for several years now, but I haven’t given up!)
- Clean Sweep by Ilona Andrews (one of my holdovers — so if it doesn’t happen in 2025, it’s probably never going to happen)
- Never Fall for Your Fiancé (Merriwell Sisters, #1) by Virginia Heath
- Virgin River by Robyn Carr (because I’ve watched every season of the Netflix show, and it’s probably time to check out the original story)
- Dragonflight (Dragonriders of Pern, #1) by Anne McCaffrey (because how have I made it this far in my reading life without ever trying this series?)
Are you planning to start any new series this year? If you’ve read any of the series on my list for 2025, please let me know what you thought and if you have any recommendations!
Bookshelf Fantasies 
I love a good series!
Me too 🙂 I’ve had some years where I’ve found a series I’ve loved and read straight through. Not sure that’ll happen this year — but if I find one I love, who knows?
I really hope to start Green Rider this year, too!! 🤞 And on my last shopping spree I bought Daughter of the Forest so I hope to read that one too (but I am not sure it will be in 2025). Anyway, you mentioned a lot of intriguing series!! Good luck with your goals!!
Thanks so much! Green Rider really sounds amazing, and it’s been a while since I started a new fantasy series, so I do want to read at least book 1 this year. Good lu ck to us both!!
I’m definitely interested in the Rockton series too. And I think Virgin River is really long, like 15 books at least. I’ve heard it’s very different from the series, but that would be fun to check out.
Whoa, the author’s website says there are 22 novels in the Virgin River series!! I’m definitely not committing to that many… but I’d like to read at least the first. When I’ve posted about the TV show, I’ve heard from book fans who say that the books are superior and that the show changes the characters quite a bit. I’m at least curious to check it out! But yeah, Rockton is my #1 series goal. As soon as I get out from under my ARC overload for February and March, I’m planning to pick Rockton back up.
I am reading the Founding of Valdemar series at the moment as my starting point with Lackey – They are the most recent series I think, but they are prequels. I absolutely loved the first book!
That’s really awesome to hear! I’ve been at a loss about where to start with her books, and this one has been recommended to me as a good entry point, but I’m glad to hear that the newer books are working well!
Yes, I think it is where I will go after this trilogy.
Awesome post, I’m currently thinking of which series I want to focus on for 2025 too. I really want to read the Jane and Mary books. I’m still so sad about the My Lady Jane TV Show 😦
So many of your maybe books are on my TBR as well but I adore the Innkeeper Chronicles by Ilona Andrews and highly recommend it!
Ugh, so upset about the Lady Jane TV show! It was so good, definitely deserved another season! I’m glad to hear you’re a fan of the Innkeeper Chronicles! I came across the series after it was recommended by an author I follow — nice to hear a recommendation from a fellow reader 🙂
Right? I discovered it, fell in love with it, and found out it got cancelled all within the same month! 😭
Ah yes that’s exciting well I heard about it from a bookstagram friend who has similar tastes to me in some ways so I gave it a try and yes, it delivered!!!
I‘ve read Dragons of Pern many times as a teenager. A little dated, but still great.
Clean Sweep is ok, but not the best by the author. Kate Daniels is one of my favourite UF series.
Children of Time is one of my favourite SF series of all time.
I’m leaning more strongly toward Children of Time now, because it qualifies for a reading challenge I just joined 🙂 And I do feel like I should have read the Pern books long, long ago!
I hope you like them, if you pick them up!
Loving the look of your list and am eager to see what you think of several of them, including Dragonflight (if you get to it), which didn’t work for me but am curious to see how it goes for you anyway.
I’ve also decided to make series a priority this year too. My intention is complete or give up on as many of them as I can. I just checked how many I’ve started over the years with intentions to complete, and it’s almost 200 of them when I consider the comics too, smh. I’ve already marked some as DNF since I’ve lost interest and will try to knock out the others.
wow, 200? That’s incredible! If I’ve left a series for too long, I tend to lose interest and never come back to. Same with series where it takes years for a new book to come out. Chances are I’ve either lost interest already or have forgotten everything that’s already happens! I love finding a long series that hooks me right from the start, with plenty of available books so I can keep going 🙂 Good luck to both of us!
I misstated that number. That’s just the total series I started, not the total of those I want to continue with.
I’m just too good at being distracted by a new book series. So far, my buddy-reads have helped me to complete some.
Thanks!
The Rockton series is definitely worth it and I also loved the Clean Sweep series by Ilona Andrews.
I’m really excited to continue Rockton (just need more time to do it!!), and I’m glad to hear you loved Clean Sweep — I’ve heard good things, will really have to make a point of giving it a try. Thanks!
Good luck with getting to some of these series. I’ve had the first two Rockton books on my Kindle for years now and really need to get on and read them 🙈 although I may try Cainsville first as I know I can get all of those from the library and again I own part of it (this time in print but it was an ex library book and something ridiculous like 20p). Either way I must read one of her series this year and hope that you continue to enjoy the Rockton series.
I need to finish both of your duologys too. I’ve started both and adored them but somehow never read the sequels 🙈 with Gilded I truly don’t know why but with The Stolen Heir I joined Netgalley last year and got a bit distracted away from my owned books. Plus I had a while where I was trying to organise my TBR and wasn’t reading.
Ooh I actually really want to read Dragonflight this year too and have recently got the first ebook as I spotted it on offer. Some of the other books are ones I’m intrigued and at least one I now need to look up. Good luck catching up with series and I hope some of these end up being future favourites.
Thank you! I just borrowed the 2nd Rockton book from the library, so I hope to start that one in the coming week. I hope I can stick to my reading plans and actually get to these series during the coming year!
Ooh I hope it goes well. It looks like you’re off to a fantastic start having borrowed one already.