Reading Meme, Day One

Day One – Your favorite series of books (with more than 3 in the series)

For my answer, I'm going to go with two series because there is no way I can pick just one. I am (more or less) caught up with both of these, which is a minor miracle in its own right. I get so emotionally involved with the leads in both series so it really is a blessing that new volumes come out only once a year. Each is expertly written with strong, well-defined characters.

First up: The Dresden Files by Jim Butcher

It all started with Storm Front, introducing Harry Dresden, Chicago wizard and smart-ass extraordinaire. Harry's adventures have been produced for television (albeit ill-produced and short-lived) and in a comic book series of original stories, Welcome to the Jungle, as well as the comic book adaptation of Storm Front. James Marsters, aka Spike from BtVS, is narrating them for audiobook and he has truly come to own Harry Dresden's soul.

These books are smart, extremely funny, and filled with action. I always know that when I sit down with one of these books I am in for a wild ride. With each book, Harry breaks my heart a little more. Changes changed everything - nothing will ever be the same for Harry and his friends. I can't wait to see what happens with book thirteen, Ghost Story, out on March 29, 2011.

And second: Charlaine Harris' Southern Vampire series

I love Sookie Stackhouse. Charlaine Harris writes Sookie about as real as possible and I think she's one of the coolest chicks in modern fiction today. A mind-reading waitress, Sookie is a favorite of the vampire and were populations in and around Louisiana. She interacts with and gets wrapped up in the troubles of all kinds of supernatural folks. Sookie is a forthright and down-to-earth southern girl who still lives in her grandma's house and works at a local bar. My favorite thing about Sookie is that she always tries to do the right thing, even if it hurts.

Charlaine Harris created a monster with Sookie that turned into a going on eleven volume book series and a highly successful show on HBO called True Blood.

Dead Reckoning will be out on May 3, 2011.