Jennifer Lawrence and Liam Hemsworth in The Hunger Games (Image: Starz Entertainment/Lionsgate Films/Videocine)
Readers have been voting for the best book series ever written over on Goodreads. From disturbing vampire romances to fantasy lands set far in the past or even further in the future, you will no doubt have read at least one of these books. With The Hunger Games trilogy coming out at number three, what will come out on top? Here are the top 10 book series according to readers.
10. Vampire Academy by Richelle Mead
Vampire Academy by Richelle Mead introduces Rose Hathaway, a dhampir (half-vampire, half-human) guardian-in-training, and her best friend Vasilisa “Lissa” Dragomir, a Moroi (mortal vampire) princess. After being in hiding for two years, they return to St. Vladimir’s Academy where they face dangers and vampire polictics. The story also explores a forbidden romance.
9. The Infernal Devices by author Cassandra Clare
The Infernal Devices trilogy by author Cassandra Clare is a prequel trilogy to The Mortal Instruments series, set in Victorian London. The books tell the story of Tessa Gray, a young woman who discovers she has a rare ability and is drawn into the world of Shadowhunters, demon hunters who’s job it is to protect humans from supernatural threats.
8. The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien
The Lord of the Rings story revolves around The One Ring, a powerful artifact forged by the Dark Lord Sauron, and so it becomes hobbit Frodo Baggins’ mission to destroy it. This journey, with the help of the Fellowship, is what the novels follow and is crucial in attempting to defeat Sauron and saving Middle-earth. The books were made into films that had huge critical and commercial success and it is still widley considered as one of the most influential movies ever made.
7. A Game of Thrones by George R. R. Martin
Game of Thrones is an impressively engaging fantasy dseries set in the fictional world of Westeros, where noble families vie for control of the Iron Throne and the Seven Kingdoms. The story revolves around political power, warfare, and the looming threat of winter and mythical creatures, with various characters and families involved in the fight for power, betrayals, and quests for dominance. The books were adapted for TV, which brought huge success to the franchise and featured stars such as Kit Harrington and Emilia Clarke.
6. The Twilight Saga series by Stephenie Meyer
The entire Twilgiht Saga was adapted for film and was a great success amongst teenage girls of the 2010s. Meyer held the ability to keep the reader spellbound with her incredible New York Times bestselling Twilight Saga. The series has received criticism in recent years but the books remain bestsellers and a successful film series was created and also launched careers for several actors including Robert Pattinson.
READ MORE
I’ve read 1,000 books and here’s 12 that you should re-read every single year
Nigella Lawson names her favourite book – ‘more savage’ than Pride and Prejudice
Robert Pattinson and Kristen Stewart starred in Twilight (2008) (Image: Getty)
5. Divergent by Veronica Roth
Veronica Roth’s Divergent series, is a young adult dystopian fiction set in a post-apocalyptic Chicago where society is divided into five factions based on human virtues: Abnegation (selflessness), Dauntless (bravery), Amity (peace), Candor (honesty), and Erudite (intelligence). The story follows Beatrice Prior, a 16-year-old as she figures who she is and who what faction she fits into.
4. The Mortal Instruments by Cassandra Clare
The Mortal Instruments series by Cassandra Clare follows Clary Fray, a teenager in New York City, who discovers she is a Shadowhunter, a human-angel hybrid who has to hunt demons. Her life is turned upside down after her mother disappears and she witnesses a murder. The series follows her learning to navigate her new world world. The series explores themes of love, betrayal, and the fight between good and evil.
3. The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
Suzanne Collin’s Hunger Games trilogy explores the post-apocalyptic nation of Panem and 16-year-old Katniss Everdeen, who lives in District 12. She volunteers to take the place of her younger sister in the annual Hunger Games, which is a televised battle to the death involving two people from each of the 12 districts. It explores themes include poverty, suppression and the effects of war. The film franchise was hugely successful and catapulted the career of Jennifer Lawrence among others.
2. Percy Jackson & the Olympians by Rick Riordan
Rick Riordan’s Percy Jackson & the Olympians series, follows 12-year-old Percy Jackson as he discovers he’s a demigod, the son of Poseidon. The series is based on Greek mythology and blended with a modern setting. Percy must navigate quests, battles with mythical creatures and powerful enemies, all while learning to control his powers and understand who he is and what he must fulfill. destiny.
1. Harry Potter by J.K. Rowling
J.K. Rowling’s novels still cast a spell of classically influenced, enchantment more than two decades later. The books appeal to both adults and children and remain the most popular franchise of all time. The books went on to be made into films that fans love to watch time and time again. The main characters were Harry (Daniel Radcliff), Ron (Rupert Grint) and Hermione (Emma Watson) who we met in the first film, which was a major success, becoming the highest grossing film of 2001.