2023 reading year | Bookshelf Fantasies

At the start of each new year, I write a post about my intended series reading — which series I want to start, which I want to finish, and maybe even some that I want to devour all in one big reading binge.

Now that we’re at the end of December, it’s time to check back in and see if I actually accomplished any of my series reading goals for 2024.

So how did I do?

In 2024, my priority series to read were:

Tita Rosie’s Kitchen Mystery series by Mia P. Manansala:

Status: NOPE. Every time I pack for a trip, I throw my paperback copy of Arsenic and Adobo into my bag… and yet I still haven’t read it. That’s one well-traveled book! I do intend to read at least the first book eventually, but I seem to be missing the motivation to actually do it. I’ll keep book #1 on my TBR list… but can’t see myself making this a priority in 2025..

A Stitch in Time series by Kelley Armstrong:

Status: DONE! I’d read the first book a few years ago, but started again at the beginning, and read them all (plus the novellas that fit in between). Amazing series! I just wish there were more books still to read…

The Lady Janies series by Cynthia Hand, Brodi Ashton, and Jodi Meadows:

Status: YES, I DID! I read the three books above, and had so much fun with them. There are still more to go — not officially “Janies”, as the next three each focus on a different Mary — but they’re part of the same overall Janie-verse (in a way), and I’m definitely going to continue.

Innkeeper Chronicles or Kate Daniels series by Ilona Andrews:

Status: NOPE. I never got around to starting either one, and despite having these books recommended to me quite a few times, I don’t see myself reading them anytime soon.

Eye of Isis by Dana Stabenow:

Status: TWO out of THREE. These books are so interesting… but two felt like enough for me in a single year. I look forward to coming back for book #3 at some point in the future (and there’s a 4th book set for publication in 2025, so there will be even more to look forward to!)

The Dark is Rising by Susan Cooper:

Status: TWO AND DONE. I liked the first book in the series, but found the second a bit boring. Maybe I’ve just read too many children’s quest books at this point in my reading life, but I couldn’t find any reason to keep going with the series.

Maybes:

I mentioned a whole bunch of “maybe” series on my list for 2024… and didn’t read a single one! I’ll have to give serious thought to whether any of those will still be maybe-reads for me in the coming year.

Besides all the books mentioned above, I read a few other books from series during the past year, including a book that starts a series that I’m super excited to continue in 2025. I’m going to try not to overplan or overcommit, but that makes at least one series for sure that will be on my next list!

That’s it for my 2024 series reading. How about you?

Did you read any series in 2024? Any particular favorites?

Check back in January, when I’ll set a new batch of series reading goals for the new year.

Now that we’re at the end of December, it’s time to check back in and see if I actually accomplished any of my series reading goals for 2023.

So how did I do?

In 2023, my priority series to read were:

Children of Time by Adrian Tchaikovsky:

Status: NOPE. For the second year in a row, I listed this series as a priority read, and for the second year in a row, I utterly neglected to even start it. I do still want to read these books! I’ve enjoyed the short fiction I’ve read by this author, and I’ve heard great things about these books. Still, they do seem like a big commitment, and I suppose that’s why I haven’t gotten started. I’ll keep these books on my TBR list… but maybe leave them out of my series planning for 2024.

The Locked Tomb series by Tamsyn Muir:

Status: ONE AND DONE. I read Gideon the Ninth toward the end of 2022, and despite not loving it, I thought I’d want to continue and see where the series went. As it turns out, I was wrong. Every time I thought about picking up the next book, I realized how uninterested I was. At this point, I can safely say that I’m done.

Wayfarers series by Becky Chambers:

Status: DONE! I read the first two books in the series in late 2022, and finished the other two early in 2023. I absolutely loved these books! I just wish there were more. I have a feeling I’ll be going back for a re-read at some point.

The Lady Janies series by Cynthia Hand, Brodi Ashton, and Jodi Meadows:

Status: NO PROGRESS… but not giving up. I meant to continue with this series (I read the first book in 2022)… and just didn’t get around to it. I still intend to! Maybe 2024 will be the year to make it happen.

The Boyfriend Project by Farrah Rochon:

Status: DONE! I listened to the audiobook editions of this romance trilogy, and really enjoyed all three books. (Recommended by my daughter, who has excellent taste.)

The Dark is Rising by Susan Cooper:

Status: NOPE. But not for lack of interest. I’d still like to get to this series, and have no particular reason why it hasn’t happened yet. I’ll probably carry this series over for my 2024 list.

Regency Faerie Tales by Olivia Atwater:

Status: DONE. I managed to read all three of these books, although I liked each one a little less than the one before, so stopping after the first book really might have made the most sense. Overall, a fun little fairy tale series, even though my enjoyment didn’t last all the way through.

Maybes: I included two “maybe” series on my list for 2023:

The Kitty Norville series by Carrie Vaughn
Inspector Gamache series by Louise Penny

Status: NOPE. I didn’t touch either one. Maybe someday…

I read a few other series/trilogies/duologies during the year, some of which will end up included in my Best of 2023 list (when I get around to putting it together…). My absolute favorite series of 2023 (and a top contender for my list of all-time favorites series) is… (drumroll, please)…