Top Ten Tuesday: Best/Worst Series Endings

The Top Ten Tuesday this week looks at the top ten best/worst series endings. This wonderful meme is hosted every Tuesday by the Broke and the Bookish. I found creating a top ten of all best actually quite difficult so created one that includes a few of each. Considering I read a lot of series it was surprisingly difficult to choose for this list.

First some of my best series endings. These books were not only enjoyable but from a fans point of view the way the author concluded the series was satisfying rather than leaving that bad taste in the mouth thinking why did I read this?

1. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows

I still adore the way J.K Rowling concluded the Harry Potter series. This final story takes you on a massive concluding adventure that has you crying and laughing throughout. You start to see all the clever little things Rowling mentioned throughout the series that are now playing a key role. There is a fantastic monologue from Harry towards the end, they miss this out in the movie which is just a travesty as it’s a jaw-droopingly good speech that just makes you want to punch the air!

2. Inheritance by Christopher Paolini

Again another book then seems to be recurring on many of my top ten lists so far. I have to mention the final book in The Inheritance Cycle. I needed to read this book so unbelievably desperately that I risked missing a train to buy it immediately after I had finished Brisngr. It did not disappoint. I raced through it at lightning speed. As a reader I was extremely pleased with the way this series concluded although I actually wished he had written a fifth.

3. The Legacy by Gemma Malley

Although slightly predictable in places this series finishes strong. We finally get to understand a bit more about the resistance and about Pip and the mysteries get solved in a way you would not expect. A brilliant dystopian series for younger readers.

4. Voice of the Gods by Trudi Canavan

Yes I am mentioning this series AGAIN but I am a major fan. I loved the way it ended as well. Lots of the loose ends tied up but just enough questions left that the author could return if desired. I personally would love to see Auraya feature in another series as she is such a power house of a female lead.

5. The End by Lemony Snicket

Aptly titled The End this series conclusion was in true Snicket fashion and I loved it. It didn’t completely clear up all the unusual mysteries that Snicket had introduced throughout the story but it did answer some series question and the final twist was unexpected.

Now on to a few books that were sadly just let downs for me personally.

6. The Girl who Kicked the Hornet’s Nest by Steig Larsson

Obviously this is not a young adult book and I would strongly advise that those of a squeamish nature avoid this series as its graphic and brutal. Having said that I enjoyed the suspense of the first two books however, the third one did not keep the same pace. I personally feel that Larsson was actually planning to write more stories featuring Lisbeth and this could be why the story didn’t seem to finish.

7. Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins

I am sorry if you love this one but I was bitterly disappointed by the ending of The Hunger Games series. I felt Mockingjay was just a lot of rambling and didn’t pack the punch that the other two books had. It was a bit of a namby pamby finish to such a strong and fiery first two books. Plus like many others I feel she picked the wrong man!

8. Fyre by Angie Sage

I wanted to love this series so much. I wanted it to captivate me and be an amazing undiscovered fantasy series. The first one was good and age appropriate for younger fantasy fans. Sadly the rest of the series wasn’t. It was good but it wasn’t great and considering this seventh book was the conclusion to such a long series it was very dull and packed none of the punch you would expect from a fantasy series.

Finally these two books are on my list to read, one when it is released. I really hope they live up to my expectations and are as brilliant as I think they will be.

9. Light by Michael Grant.

When I finally get round to reading the next few in the series I really hope Light is just as fantastic as the first two have been and finishes by answering all the questions I am bound to have!

10. The Doors of Stone by Patrick Rothfuss

The Doors of Stone (or so I am led to believe) is the title of the final instalment of this epic fantasy series. I have some seriously high hopes for this book and I really hope it lives up to my expectations. I expect not to be able to put it down.