Tag: books

FKC Faves: 5 Best YA Book Series for Adult Readers

Best YA Book Series to Read

Book Recommendations: YA Books Series to Read (Even as an Adult)

“Young Adult,” or “YA” is a strange way to label a massive genre of literature.  I find it a little misleading, limiting, and just plain odd. As an intense lover of books – VARIOUS types of books – and someone with a Master’s in English Literature, I consider myself fairy “in the know” about books.  So, I feel confident in my ability to say that if you are an adult, and you don’t read books labeled YA because you feel that you are not their target audience and therefore wouldn’t like them, you are likely missing out. 

I don’t believe in “guilty pleasures.” As the magnificent Dave Grohl says, “I don’t believe in guilty pleasures. If you fucking like something, like it. … That whole guilty pleasure thing is full of fucking shit.”  You heard the man. Don’t be afraid to like what you like. I take that advice all the time, and that is what led me to start down the rabbit role of reading YA literature, particularly YA Fantasy. 

Why YA Books Are For You 

And, once I started, I really couldn’t stop.  I have discovered so many creative, fun, and truly badass writers. I tend to prefer female authors, and I love me a strong female character.  I’m also a sucker for a love story of some kind, though I typically like there to be some adventure thrown in, too. Most of all, I want to read solid characters – round, developed characters with some top-notch dialogue.  That is what really sells me – if I can feel invested in the characters, I can feel invested in the book. 

That said, here is my list of the 10 Best YA Book Series for Adult Readers.  Clearly, I have not read all the YA Series out there, so this list is not really the “best of all time,” more like “the best I’ve read lately.” I like a series, because once I attach to characters, I want to be with them for a while, so I’ve excluded stand-alone books. 

Will you love all of them? Probably not.   Am I missing some really amazing series on this list? I fully expect I am.  So, be sure to tell me what you think – what you’d add to the list, especially, in the comments.

(This post contains affiliate links. See my full disclosure policy here.)

What to read

A Note About Formats – Audiobook vs. Ebook vs. Physical Books

There may not be anything I love more than holding a physical book in my hand, turning over the pages, and breathing it in.  I LOVE books. Actual books – especially the well-worn, slightly musty kind.

That said, I was reluctant to ever read an ebook or listen to an audiobook. But, I’ve discovered that there is a place and time for all three format in my life, and I’m not a traitor to my paper and ink if I pop in my Air Pods or swipe through an ebook in a waiting room. 

I love the ability to read a physical book – I love the look and feel of them – I like to be surrounded by them.  But I also like the convenience of being able to read on the go with just my phone – on a plane or waiting for my kids at Ninja class. So, I also download ebooks.  

Similarly, I am a knitter, crocheter, walker and puzzler.  So, I listen to a lot of audiobooks. I love the ability to combine my love of reading and my other hobbies.  So I listen to plenty of audiobooks, too.  

So, you’ll see that in my recommendations below, I’m also liking to the ebooks and the audiobooks.  Give them a try. I promise, you will learn to love all three formats.  

Try Audible for Free

Pro tip – signing up for an Audible membership has been the best thing I’ve done in a long time.  I utilize the digital resources from my local libraries – and I mean, I really utilize the heck out of them – my holds shelves are always full, but sometimes I cannot wait the 19 Weeks or whatever to get the next book in a series.  So, while I love the fact that I can listen to audiobooks and read ebooks for free from the library, I also sometimes NEED to listen to the next book in a series before it’s available. So, I signed up for Audible and I really love it.  So, if you want to give Audible a try, they offer a free trial (which is how they got me), which you can sign up for right here: Audible Free Trial.

5 YA Book Recommendations 

  1. A Court of Thorns and Roses Series by Sarah J. Maas

Books Included: A Court of Thorns and Roses, A Court of Mist and Fury, A Court of Wings and Ruin, A Court of Frost and Starlight

What it is: A fantasy adventure with romance and a lot of style. Sort of a fairytale “retelling,” but quite a bit more than that. 

Why I liked it: Honestly, the main reason I enjoyed the first book was because I wasn’t sure how it was going to end.  I was anxious to see where the series was going to go. Also, there were some characters that really intrigued me, and they proved to be even more intriguing as the series progressed. The second and third books in the series were the best, by far.

Notable quote: “Pity those who don’t feel anything at all.” – Sarah J. Maas, A Court of Thorns and Roses

A Court of Thorns and Roses Box Set
  1. The Infernal Devices Series by Cassandra Clare

What it is:  A prequel series to the City of Bones series about Shadowhunters, those who fight dark forces in the world. Supernatural underworld, swoon-worthy characters – you get the point.

Why I liked it: In my opinion, this prequel series is better than the original books, mainly due to the Victorian Era London setting and the character development.

Notable quote: “Only the very weak-minded refuse to be influenced by literature and poetry.” – Cassandra Clare, Clockwork Angel

The Infernal Devices Box Set
  1. The Selection Series by Kiera Cass

What it is:  A dystopian, elegant “bachelor” style novel that somehow manages to pull you in and keep you engaged. It’s a mix between a reality competition and the hunger games – if the hunger games contestants didn’t kill one another and wore ball gowns.

Why I liked it: I honestly didn’t think I’d like this series, but I got reeled in. I am a sucker for a good love triangle (or square, or rhombus, or trapezoid). Class differences and political scheming add layers of depth, making it an overall engaging read.

Notable quote: “I should have known that if any girl was going to disobey an order, it would be you.”― Kiera Cass, The Selection

The Selection Series Box Set
  1. Red Queen Series by Victoria Aveyard

What it is: The series follows Mare Barrow, a badass female warrior in a dystopian society that is comprised of two classes: the silver-blooded rulers and the red-blooded oppressed.

Why I liked it: I got a lot of Hunger Games vibes from this book, but it did some different things, too. There were some morally ambiguous characters, which I always love. Similarly, the abilities/powers of the characters were more sci-fi and different from what I’ve seen before.

Notable quote: “The truth is what I make it. I could set this world on fire and call it rain.” ― Victoria Aveyard, Red Queen

Red Queen Box Set
  1. Simon Snow Series by Rainbow Rowell

What it is: The Simon Snow Series, at the time I’m writing this, is two books, Carry On and Wayward Son. The third book, Any Way the Wind Blows, is apparently in the works. The series is a fantasy series about magical beings, a la Harry Potter, with plenty of mystery, drama, romance and humor.

Why I liked it: The DIALOGUE! The INTERIOR MONOLOGUE! This book was not something I was sure I’d enjoy, but man, did Simon Snow convince me with his narration. And then I met Baz, and it was all downhill from there. The characters are so alive, entertaining, funny and lovable.

Notable quote: “You were the sun, and I was crashing into you. I’d wake up every morning and think, ‘This will end in flames.” ― Rainbow Rowell, Carry On

So, tell me – which of these are you looking forward to reading? What would you add to the list? Let me know in the comments! 

Book recommendations for adults

Let’s Connect! 

Want to see what I’m reading or, better yet, keep track of your own reading and get some spot-on recommendations? Head over to Goodreads! You can “friend” me right here: http://www.goodreads.com/jerisswanhorst.

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Fandom Spotlight: Diana Peterfreund

Author Diana Peterfreund knits and crochets!

An interview with Author Diana Peterfreund about crocheting, writing, and fandoms.

When I started the Facebook group Fandom Knitting & Crochet – Group, I was pleasantly surprised to see oodles of talented knitters and crocheters quickly join the community. There were others out there – people that love to knit, crochet, and binge-watch TV with total abandon. Voracious readers, movie-goers and gamers, all who use those fandoms as inspiration for their yarn crafts.

What I didn’t expect was to find group members meeting creators of their own fandoms within the group. In one of those early weeks, a member, minding her own business and chatting crochet, was asked, “Wait…are you THE Diana Peterfreund?”

Yes, yes she is. And whether she likes it or not, she is a bit of a celeb for some of her fellow fandom yarnies. For those of you that don’t already know Diana and her work, she is a novelist, know for her Secret Society Girl Series, Killer Unicorn Series, Star Series, and the Omega City Series. She has also written short stories and non-fiction.

So, I went out and read one of her books, For Darkness Shows the Stars, and thoroughly enjoyed it. I asked Diana which of her books I should read first, and she sold me on this one by describing it as “angsty and romantic…a futuristic Austen retelling.” Totally fit that description – well worth a read.

The Interview

What I knew about Diana (from the group) was that she was a master at making fantastic crochet and knitwear to wear to conventions and for fun. So, I thought I’d ask her to share a bit about her writing AND her knitting and crochet in this interview.

She was kind enough to agree to answer some questions, so here is a good chunk of the interview. I hope you enjoy and find it as interesting as I do to learn a bit more about a fellow yarny fangirl.

Interview:

  • I think it was within the first few weeks of starting the group that a member said… “Wait…you are THE Diana Peterfreund??” It was pretty cool to see that we have an author in our group. So – how did a writer find herself in a knitting and crochet group?

DP: I’m actually in a couple of Facebook groups for crochet–but yours is by far the best! That was a great moment, I’ll admit. And it was so much fun because Crystal and I got to talking and she made me this awesome set of comic book art fingerless gloves and we met up at DragonCon. I love these gloves. I wear them all the time because my hands get cold on the keyboards in winter.

I was taught how to crochet by my grandmother when I was younger, and then I learned to knit (poorly) in college. I would make the occasional thing over the years, but then in 2017 I made a hat for the Women’s March for a friend and it was just such a huge stress reliever and very meditative and I became obsessed. I found the website Ravelry (I’m “dianablue”) at the same time, I realized that crochet was so much more than those sort of 70s patterns that I thought I knew, I learned I could teach myself new techniques with YouTube, I could join Facebook groups… it became a deeply important hobby for me.  

  • As a writer, you have taken inspiration from other writers (such as Jane Austen).  What writers inspire you most?

DP: One of the things I love about retellings or adaptations is the idea that you are connecting to the collective unconscious, these characters or storylines that have become the fabric of our society. Which is kind of what fandom is, right? This sort of wink and nod that you know what I know, and that’s whether or not you say “I’m writing this story based on Jane Austen” or you’re walking around in a Dr. Who scarf. It gives you this extra sense of connection with the people who also see it and recognize it and then you are starting from a place of commonality.

I think we’re all inspired by the life around us and by the stories we love, whether we’re explicitly writing a retelling or not. When I sat down to write Omega City, my middle grade series, I wanted to write a story for kids that gave me that same funny, adventurous treasure-hunting feel I got from watching The Goonies as a kid. So I can say to you, this is an adventure story, and you may know what I mean, but it would be better if I say, “It’s like the Goonies, but with spaceships” and then you remember the Goonies, and how it made you feel, and you understand I’m trying to create that same experience.

  • I was a literature major in college, too (though I certainly didn’t go to Yale! Holy impressive, Batman!) – was there one book or writer that really sparked you to say…”this is it.  I am going to be a writer”?

DP: I always wanted to be a writer. My 5th grade English teacher wrote YA novels on the side, and when I was in high school I knew that, say, Michael Crichton was a doctor before making it big as a novelist, so I always had it on my head that writing was what you did on the side, and I just intended that to be my plan, too. I’ve been very lucky in my career that I’ve been able to make it my main profession for the last decade or so.

I do a lot of school visits and students often ask me what they should major in to become writers, and I always say not to major in creative writing. That part you can pick up — you should study something worth writing ABOUT. I was actually a Geology major in college. I double majored. The literature one was because Yale doesn’t have “minors” and I realized that because I took so many of those classes I could basically add it in at the last minute for the price of a thesis.

  • I read For Darkness Shows the Stars, and I really loved it. I am an Austen fan, and I enjoy a good love story.  Throw in some sci-fi, and I am sold. Elliot is a fantastic character – is it a mission of yours to write strong female characters? [I personally think she is a great example of feminism – making her own choices for her own reasons.]

DP: Thank you! I had a real mission with Elliott. I had just come off four books writing about Amy Haskell, who is my loud mouth, in your face, Ivy League co-ed in the Secret Society Girl series, and then two books writing about Astrid Llewellyn, who is a badass warrior in the killer unicorn books, and I wanted to write about a different kind of strength. Elliot is not outspoken. She is not physically strong. I wanted to portray a woman who found her strength in another way. I think her counterpart, Anne Elliot, in Jane Austen doesn’t have the flash and sparkle of say, Elizabeth Bennet, and it’s easy to forget how strong she is. So I wanted to see if I could write someone like that.

  • For someone unfamiliar with your work, which book should she start with?

DP: I guess it depends on what they want to read. For funny, modern, chick litty type of stuff: Secret Society Girl. If they are a fan of urban fantasy (like Buffy the Vampire Slayer), the killer unicorn books Rampant and Ascendant. Jane Austen lovers or people who like post apocalyptic sci fi should go for For Darkness Shows the Stars. For a lush, glitzy sci fi novel, or if you can’t get enough Scarlet Pimpernel in your life, Across a Star-Swept Sea. And if you like the Goonies, Omega City! I know, I’m not a person who can stay in her lane.

  • Aside from the literary, what are some of your main fandoms (tv, movies, pop culture)? What was the last thing you got really hooked on watching?

DP: I’m a real TV addict. I think if I could go back in time, I’d go into television writing instead of novels. Current TV obsessions are The Good Place, because the marriage of Mike Schur and Kristen Bell is basically my dream team, and Schitt’s Creek. I’m waiting on tenterhooks for my beloved Game of Thrones to return. I just heard Jordan Peele is rebooting The Twilight Zone? There are some more obscure shows I was obsessed with, like the recent, totally-bananas BBC Dirk Gently adaptation and the trippy Legion starring my television boyfriend Dan Stevens (from Downton Abbey, which I also loved). For movies, almost everything I see is either Marvel or for kids, or both (Spiderverse was incredible!). I’m also obsessed with Riverdale but I haven’t seen the most recent season.

  • If you could knit or crochet for any three fictional characters from any fandom, who would they be and what would you make?

DP: This makes me think I should write some characters that knit and crochet. There are not enough characters that knit or wear knitwear in fandom! It’s like, Mrs. Weasley, and Jayne from Firefly, mostly. Nakia’s cowl from Black Panther made me gasp out loud in the theater. I loved all the attention to fiber and detail in that movie. I also love all Sabrina Spellman’s gorgeous sweaters. (I like the costumes more than the show!)

Because I cosplay at DragonCon every summer, I’m always looking for characters who could wear yarncraft. I made that Katniss cowl from Catching Fire, but it’s way too hot to wear that in August in Atlanta. You have to get creative. Last year, my friends and I did a group costume: Leiapalooza, and we did different versions of Leias as if she were at a music festival. (This is what we do — either mashups or twists on our cosplay. Another year we did Elsa and Anna on summer vacation, in bathing suits and sarongs.) I was Cloud City Leia and instead of her long white robe, I crocheted an airy, boho long white vest with the symbol of the rebellion on it. I designed it myself. I should probably put up the pattern somewhere.

  • What type of projects do you like to crochet/knit? What is your favorite knitted or crocheted project to date?

DP: I mostly do things I can wear. I get bored too quickly to tackle blankets, though my grandmother is an afghan goddess. I also like to make presents for friends that match their books. The best piece of advice I ever got was from my friend Katee Robert, who is also a novelist and the faster knitter I know, to not do easy, boring stuff, but to pick challenges that you really wanted, because it would push you to learn the skill to complete it. And this is so true. I learned continental knitting, color stranding, AND intarsia to make this Chewbacca-themed shawl (Fuzzball Bandolier is the name of the pattern) I made last summer. But I wanted that darn shawl. It was such a labor of love. My other favorite project was this beaded mermaid tail hat I made for my mermaid-obsessed daughter. Basically I just added beads and a few flourishes to a Osage County Crochet pattern (I believe Sadie is a member of the group too). Beading is shockingly easy for how fancy it makes your finished project look (I used the dental floss method). I encourage everyone to bead something if they have the chance.

  • What are you working on now (writing-wise and yarn-wise)?

DP: I’m so excited about my next series: a trilogy of young adult mystery novels based on the board game CLUE. I got to invent a new mansion, new formulations of the beloved characters, new motives for murder, everything! The first one will be out from Abrams this October, and it’s called IN THE HALL WITH THE KNIFE. You can read more about it here: https://www.bustle.com/p/a-clue-inspired-ya-novel-is-coming-out-this-year-start-reading-in-the-hall-with-the-knife-now-16978527

And I’m still working on a very complex colorwork scarf project that I picked up in order to learn more about colorwork. It’s supposed to look like the Maryland flag when it’s done. We’ll see!

A huge thanks to Diana for taking the time to share with us!

Let’s Connect!

If you aren’t already a member, and you like knitting, crochet, and/or fandom, join us in the “Fandom Knitting & Crochet – Group.” I’d love to see you there!

You should also hop over to the sidebar and subscribe to the newsletter to keep up to date on all the new patterns and fandom, yarny goodness.