October 15, 2011

Best Young Adult Paranormal Series

Of course, my first list has to be all about paranormal romance...my favorite genre and such a guilty pleasure!! This first post is all about series, because I really believe there is a completely different reading experience for a book that is part of a series and one that is a stand alone. Here goes (all the photos and descriptions are from Barnes & Noble):


1. Twilight


About three things I was absolutely positive:
First, Edward was a vampire.
Second, there was a part of him–and I didn’t know how dominant that part might be–that thirsted for my blood.
And third, I was unconditionally and irrevocably in love with him.

Isabella Swan's move to Forks, a small, perpetually rainy town in Washington, could have been the most boring move she ever made. But once she meets the mysterious and alluring Edward Cullen, Isabella's life takes a thrilling and terrifying turn. Up until now, Edward has managed to keep his vampire identity a secret in the small community he lives in, but now nobody is safe, especially Isabella, the person Edward holds most dear. The lovers find themselves balanced precariously on the point of a knife -- between desire and danger.




2. Vampire Academy 



This is the first book in Richelle Mead's thrilling Vampire Academy series, like you've never seen it before! Now with stunning, iconic new cover art and a premium mass market trim size, this edition is bound to draw in legions of new crossover fans - while also becoming an instant collector's edition for the series' devoted followers. With our new spinoff series Bloodlines about to launch, this is the perfect entre into the world of Richelle Mead.





3. Mortal Instruments 

When fifteen-year-old Clary Fray heads out to the Pandemonium Club in New York City, she hardly expects to witness a murder—much less a murder committed by three teenagers covered with strange tattoos and brandishing bizarre weapons. Then the body disappears into thin air. It’s hard to call the police when the murderers are invisible to everyone else and when there is nothing—not even a smear of blood—to show that a boy has died. Or was he a boy?
This is Clary’s first meeting with the Shadowhunters, warriors dedicated to ridding the earth of demons. It’s also her first encounter with Jace, a Shadowhunter who looks a little like an angel and acts a lot like a jerk. Within twenty-four hours Clary is pulled into Jace’s world with a vengeance, when her mother disappears and Clary herself is attacked by a demon. But why would demons be interested in ordinary mundanes like Clary and her mother? And how did Clary suddenly get the Sight? The Shadowhunters would like to know. . . .




4. Blue Bloods


Schuyler Van Alen is confused about what is happening to her. Her veins are starting to turn blue, and she’s starting to crave raw meat. Soon, her world is thrust into an intricate maze of secret societies and bitter intrigue. Schuyler has never been a part of the trendy crowd at her prestigious New York private school. Now, all of a sudden, Jack Force, the most popular guy in school, is showing an interest in her. And when one of the popular girls is found dead, Schuyler and Jack are determined to get to the bottom of it.




5. Daughters of the Moon



There wasn't a description on the Barnes & Noble page, but this series is amazing! It's about four girls who find out they are connected to the Greek goddess Selene and are each gifted with a unique mystical power. They have to survive high school as well as the ancient evil trying to kill them. Gripping read!





6. Sweep



Morgan and her best friend, Bree, are introduced to Wicca when a gorgeous senior named Cal invites them to join his new coven. Morgan falls for Cal immediately— and discovers that she has strong,inexplicable powers.







7. Faeiriewalker 

It’s all she’s ever wanted to be, but it couldn’t be further from her grasp…
Dana Hathaway doesn’t know it yet, but she’s in big trouble.  When her alcoholic mom shows up at her voice recital drunk, again, Dana decides she’s had enough and runs away to find her mysterious father in Avalon: the only place on Earth where the regular, everyday world and the captivating, magical world of Faerie intersect. But from the moment Dana sets foot in Avalon, everything goes wrong, for it turns out she isn't just an ordinary teenage girl—she's a Faeriewalker, a rare individual who can travel between both worlds, and the only person who can bring magic into the human world and technology into Faerie.  




8. Laurel 

Laurel was mesmerized, staring at the pale things with wide eyes. They were terrifyingly beautiful—too beautiful for words.
Laurel turned to the mirror again, her eyes on the hovering petals that floated beside her head. They looked almost like wings.
In this extraordinary tale of magic and intrigue, romance and danger, everything you thought you knew about faeries will be changed forever. 







9. Trylle



When Wendy Everly was six-years-old, her mother was convinced she was a monster and tried to kill her. It isn't until eleven years later that Wendy finds out her mother might've been telling the truth. With the help of Finn Holmes, Wendy finds herself in a world she never knew existed - and it's one she's not sure if she wants to be a part of.







10. Mediator   


Suze is a mediator — a liaison between the living and the dead. In other words, she sees dead people. And they won't leave her alone until she helps them resolve their unfinished business with the living. But Jesse, the hot ghost haunting her bedroom, doesn't seem to need her help. Which is a relief, because Suze has just moved to sunny California and plans to start fresh, with trips to the mall instead of the cemetery, and surfing instead of spectral visitations.
But the very first day at her new school, Suze realizes it's not that easy. There's a ghost with revenge on her mind ... and Suze happens to be in the way.




Notable absences: 
  • Fallen - I actually really loved the first book, but haven't had the time to catch up to the series! I'll definitely review it once I have the chance to read all the books. 
  • House of Night - I loved the first few books, but I have this problem with series that go on for a ton of books. I just lose interest. I think the perfect amount is 4 books, which allows for a complete arch without having to throw in ridiculous scenes to keep up the excitement. 
  • Immortals - Again, I enjoyed the first book, but there were other books that drew me in more so I never got around to reading the rest. I might later. 
  • Wicked Lovely - I read a bunch of these, and thought they were a good fun read, but just not my favorite. 
  • Wolves of Mercy Falls - I loved the first book, but I didn't love some of the plot twists. I still think the books are great. I would read them based on writing style alone. 
And, there are a few series I've been meaning to read that I haven't even been able to start like: Iron Fey, Tiger's Curse and Beautiful Creatures.

I'd love to hear what you think of my top ten list! What are your favorite paranormals?? 



12 comments:

  1. THANKS FOR YOUR ADVICE

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    1. No problem! Thanks so much for reading the post! I'd love to hear if you ended up reading some of these - what'd you think?

      Thanks again!

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    2. I love the Iron Fey series and Follow up series. Julie has a way of spinning a story you can't put down. I must admit I read Twilight based on Stephenie Meyer's book The host (also a good read). Twilight was not on my favorites list I hate girls who are weak characters. Bella just annoyed me honestly. I came across your book on Amazon for free and read all of the books quickly. I'm looking forward to SCORCH! The Mortal Instruments series took me forever to read because everytime I picked it up I couldn't get past the first page. I made myself keep reading and I started and finished the City of Ashes today. That's now on my FAVORITES LIST. The Evernight series by Claudia Grey was great or at least the first two were. Divergent was great haven't read the rest of that series yet. Hunger Games was AMAZING another couldn't put down series. I'm guessing this post is getting way to long.

      Thanks for new recommendations. Looking Forward to Scorch!

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  2. Great Post! I stumbled upon it when looking for a few new YA series to check out. I added at least half of the list to my "soon to be read" list lol. I've read Twilight and Vampire Academy and absolutely love both. I've heard good things about Blue Bloods and Mortal Instruments. Can't wait to check them out.

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    1. So happy to help and thanks for commenting! I'd love to know which ones you read! I would suggest starting with Mortal Instruments!! Cassandra Clare is a GREAT writer!

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    2. Other than Twilight and Vampire Academy most of the ones I've read were on the Notable Absences list :-). I went to get Mortal Instruments for my kindle today, but ended up grabbing Ignite instead. About half-way through and loving it. Almost was late for my husbands birthday party because I was having trouble putting it down lol. I'll have to grab Mortal Instruments next.

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    3. Aw thank you so much!! I hope you love it! And lol about the bday party!

      I'm reading 'Bloodlines' by Richelle Mead now, but I'd love a suggestion for when I'm done! Anything on my notable absences you think I should revisit or start? I've heard really great things about "Beautiful Creatures" and "Iron Fey"!

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    4. Finished Ignite. Love it! Can't wait until the next one to see where it goes from there. Hope it will clear up a few questions.
      OMG I love Richelle Mead. Her two YA series are amazing and her two Adult series are equally awesome.

      I just started the House of Night series again. Like you there are a few too many books in there, I've heard that they get better towards the last few so fingers crossed it gets better.

      The Fallen series has gotten better. I'd wait until the last book comes out and just read them all at once. Immortals I have mixed feelings on. I just finished Cynthia Hand's Unearthly series. Well the first two books of it and I absolutely loved it. Highly recommend it.

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  3. The Summuning by Kelley Armstrong is good and ist short series it has 3 book but has another series that's from the same paranoormal world the first book its called the gathering

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  4. kiera hudson series by tim o'rourke its the best i've read

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  5. I love the Vampire Academy series and I recommend reading the follow up series Bloodlines as well. The Iron Fey series is amazing as well as Mortal Instruments, I can't wait for the movie!! The list has alot of great titles. I've heard about Blue Bloods and I think I will start the series once I finish all the books I have at home.

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  6. The Mortal Instruments and the Infernal Devices by Cassandra Clare are amazing reads, I have read the series twice now. I also suggest reading the Blue Blood series. Born at Midnight is one of my favorite series I highly suggest reading it. I recently watched the Mortal Instruments movie and ,though it was not in line with the book, it was still a really awesome movie.

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