I love book series. They’re a staple of fantasy fiction, and almost all of my favorite books are actually series of books. I have a (probably) huge post brewing in my mind about book series and fantasy, which I’ll write one day (you’re all very excited, I’m sure).

This is not that post. Instead, I wanted to highlight a few series conclusions being published this year that I actually plan on reading. As the years have gone by, I’ve become much more likely to abandon series I don’t love. Much like standalones, there’s no obligation to read until the end – life is too short. This is especially true for stories that are made up of three or more books.

But 2014 is looking good for some exciting series conclusions. Below are a few I’m looking forward to.

Infinite by Jodi Meadows (January 28)
This is a rare series where the second book is better than the first. I love the concept of a people whose souls never die, simply being reincarnated into new bodies – memories intact. Ana, as a newsoul with no previous lives, is a fascinating protagonist. Meadows handles the relationships between Ana and the other centuries-old people in a deft way, without eliminating the necessary complexity. I’m interested to see where the third book goes. Previous reviews: Incarnate, Asunder

The Shadow Throne by Jennifer A. Nielsen (February 25)
This
is standout upper middle grade fiction, fantasy without magic or
fairies. Jaron has a great voice, sarcastic and vulnerable at the same
time. He’s saddled with an incredible amount of responsibility as a
teenager. Sometimes he’s smart, and sometimes he’s just smart-mouthed.
Previous reviews: The False Prince, The Runaway King

 
Dreams of Gods and Monsters by Laini Taylor (April 8)
Confession:
I have yet to read the second book, Days of Blood and Starlight. I’m
going to; I’m practically guaranteed to love it, based on friends’
reviews. But for many months, I’ve been yearning for more light-hearted
reads. Daughter of Smoke and Bone drew me in so fully, made me feel so
deeply for these characters who are put through so much. It can be
difficult to handle sometimes. I’m waiting for the right time to dive
back in. Previous review: Daughter of Smoke and Bone

The Klaatu Terminus by Pete Hautman (April 8)
I’m
such a cheerleader for these books, which are among the most creative
and strange I’ve ever read. This third and final volume will be written
from Kosh’s point of view as a teenager in the 90s, and of course it
will overlap with Tucker’s and Lahlia’s stories from books 1 and 2 in
interesting and important ways. Worth reading is Hautman’s brief essay on what kind of trilogy this is, as compared to other trilogies (like the Hunger Games). Previous reviews: The Obsidian Blade, The Cydonian Pyramid

Graduation Day by Joelle Charbonneau (June 17)
I love
these books, probably more than they deserve. They’re fast-paced,
exciting, and thoroughly engrossing. They’re perfect readalikes for
Hunger Games fans – possibly because they are so similar, but also
because they cause the same sort of frantic page-turning,
can’t-look-away, try-not-to-breathe feeling in the reader. Previous
reviews: The Testing, Independent Study

What series conclusions are you excited about?