Top 10 Book Series to Read Over the Holidays

Are you looking for something to keep you entertained over the holidays? Take a look at our favourite book series to see if there is anything that takes your fancy. We have a bit of everything, from a series about a quirky upstart detective agency to the magical adventures of Harry Potter and his friends.

A Song of Ice and Fire

By George R. R. Martin

We have all heard of the hit TV series Game of Thrones, but we can’t forget about the source material - A Song of Ice and Fire. Based primarily on the continent of Westeros, A Song of Ice and Fire is a complex and captivating narrative that toys with a global power struggle in a fantasy world rife with mischief, betrayal, and War.

Books in Series:

• A Game of Thrones (1996)
• A Clash of Kings (1998)
• A Storm of Swords (2000)
• A Feast for Crows (2005)
• A Dance with Dragons (2011)
• The Winds of Winter (TBA)
• A Dream of Spring (TBA)

The Twilight Saga

By Stephenie Meyer

Consisting of six books, the Twilight Saga follows the later teen years of Bella Swan after she moves to a sleepy town in Washington. Quickly Bella falls in love with Edward Cullen, a 104-year-old vampire. Throughout the series, Bella and Edward's relationship grows and is eventually tested by a selection of newcomers and by their difference their own differences.

Books in series:

• Twilight (2005)
• New Moon (2006)
• Eclipse (2007)
• Breaking Dawn (2008)
• The Short Second Life of Bree Tanner (2010)
• Midnight Sun (2020)

Harry Potter

By J. K. Rowling

This much-loved book series has been a must read for all ages since its first release back in 1997. The series follows the exploits and adventures of Harry, Ron, and Hermione after they receive their invitation to study at the Hogwarts School for Witchcraft and Wizardry. Throughout the series, they learn to master their magical abilities and face down foes who would otherwise seek to bring darkness to the world.

Books in series:

• Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone (1997)
• Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (1998)
• Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (1999)
• Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire2000)
• Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (2003)
• Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (2005)
• Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows (2007)

The Wheel of Time

By Robert Jordan

The Wheel of Time is a high fantasy novel series set both in the future and the past. The series takes its inspiration from various different religions, folklores, and legends from both European and Asian cultures. The series revolves around the Wheel of Time - an intangible device that controls the threads of time and spun by a mystical power called the ‘One Power’. Some people even have the ability to wield this ‘One Power’, being able to turn into a tool for good or evil.

Books in the Series:

• The Eye of the World (1990)
• The Great Hunt(1990)
• The Dragon Reborn (1991)
• The Shadow Rising (1992)
• The Fires of Heaven (1993)
• Lord of Chaos (1994)
• A Crown of Swords (1996)
• The Path of Daggers (1998)
• Winter’s Heart (2000)
• Crossroads of Twilight (2003)
• New Spring (2004)
• Knife of Dreams (2005)
• The Gathering Storm (2009)
• Towers of Midnight (2010)
• A Memory of Light (2013)

His Dark Materials

By Philip Pullman

His Dark Materials is a fantastical collection of novels that tells the story of two children, Lyra Belacqua and Will Parry as they travel across parallel universes confronting their advisories and embarking on grand adventures. This magical yet perilous series features all manner of weird and wonderful characters from witches to talking polar bears in suits of armour.

Books in the series:

• The Golden Compass (1995)
• The Subtle Knife (1997)
• The Amber Spyglass (2000)

Outlander

By Diana Gabaldon

Written by American Author Diana Gabaldon, Outlander follows the story of Claire Randall, a nurse in the British Army during the Second World War. She is enjoying her second honeymoon in Scotland when she is suddenly thrown back in time, all the way back to 1743. Caught completely unaware she is forced to adapt and start a new life 200 years prior to her intended timeline.

Books in the series:

• Outlander (1991)
• Dragonfly in Amber (1992)
• **Voyager **(1993)
• Drums of Autumn (1996)
• The Fiery Cross (2001)
• A Breath of Snow and Ashes (2005)
• **An Echo in the Bone **(2009)
• Written in My Own Heart’s Blood (2014)
• Go Tell the Bees that I am Gone (2021)

Robert Langdon

By Dan Brown

This ground-breaking series by dan brown revolves around the character Robert Langdon. Langdon is a professor of religious iconology and symbology at Harvard University. Thanks to his expertise in the ancient and the cryptic he is repeatedly finding himself being thrown into harm’s way because he is the only man who can solve some of the world’s most guarded mysteries. There are 5 action-packed books in the series, 3 of which have even been adapted into film with Tom Hanks playing the lead role.

Books in the series:

• **Angels & Demons **(2000)
• The Da Vinci Code (2003)
• The Lost Symbol(2009)
• Inferno (2013)
• Origin(2017)

The Hunger Games

By Suzanne Collins

The Hunger Games is a series of young adult dystopian novels based in the continent of Panem. The key protagonist of the series is Katniss Everdeen, a young woman whose story begins when she volunteers in her sister’s stead for the Hunger Games. The Hunger Games itself is an annual event in which each of the 12 populated districts must give up a boy and a girl between the ages of 8 and 18 to fight to the death to produce one victor. This is a gripping series that you won’t want to put down.

Books in the series:

• The Hunger Games (2008)
• Catching Fire (2009)
• Mockingjay (2010)
• Prequel – The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes (2020)

Divergent

By Veronica Roth

The Divergent series is a science fiction dystopian novel series written for young adults. Set in a futuristic Chicago, Tris - the sixteen-year-old protagonist of the series, must learn to survive and make the most out of her life within the deeply floored ‘perfect society’ that she has been raised in.

Books in the series:

• Divergent (2011)
• Insurgent (2012)
• Allegiant (2013)
• Four: A Divergent Collection (2014)

The No.1 Ladies Detective Agency

Alexander McCall Smith

The final book series on our list is by British-Zimbabwean author Alexander McCall Smith and follows the exploits and mishaps of the aspiring detective Mma Precious Ramotswe. With its first book release back in 1998, The No.1 Ladies Detective Agency has since seen twenty-four novels added to the series. The series follows Ramotswe as she moves the Gaborone to buy a house and some office space to start up her new detective agency. This series is as much about the people and the way they live as it is about the investigations themselves.

Books in the Series:

• The No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency (1998)
• Tears of the Giraffe(2000)
• Morality for Beautiful Girls (2001)
• The Kalahari Typing School for Men (2002)
• The Full Cupboard of Life (2004)
• In The Company of Cheerful Ladies (2004)
• Blue Shoes and Happiness (2006)
• The Good Husband of Zebra Drive (2007)
• The Miracle at Speedy Motors (2008)
• Tea Time for the Traditionally Built (2009)
• The Double Comfort Safari Club (2010)
• The Saturday Big Tent Wedding Party (2011)
• The Limpopo Academy of Private Detection (2012)
• The Minor Adjustment Beauty Salon (2013)
• The Handsome Man's De Luxe Café (2014)
• The Woman Who Walked in Sunshine (2015)
• Precious and Grace (2016)
• The House of Unexpected Sisters (2017)
• The Colours of All the Cattle (2018)
• To the Land of Long Lost Friends (2019)
• How to Raise an Elephant (2020)
• The Joy and Light Bus Company (2021)
• A Song of Comfortable Chairs (2022)
• From a Far and Lovely Country (2023)

And that concludes a collection of our favourite book series to read over the holidays. Now, we don’t expect you to be able to read an entire series over your holiday but having a go-to option that you can always come back to is a gift that just keeps on giving.

If you have finished the last book in the series, why not make some of your money back by selling your old books through the WeBuyBooks App?

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