Hey everyone! This blog is not only going to be a bit long, but also is going to be a preview for the next blog I’ll do! I’m also planning the next blog to be a podcast soon (if Abby decides so lol), so take advice from Amber (Fire Emblem Engage) and keep your eyes perked up and your ears pointed both ways, just like an alpaca (nasal alpaca speak).
So, why am I here today? Well, I recently finished reading the book Nightshade by Andrea Robertson, a book about shape-shifting wolf creatures called Guardians. It was really good! So then I thought to myself:
“Hmmm… should I write about the books I love in my next blog?
…Nah. I don’t really know what I like anymore so-“
Eventually, I decided to mix the two together to create today’s blog! Isn’t that great!
This blog is simple. I list a book series and show why I like or don’t like it. Easy! So starting off:
3 (bad): The Bad Guys by Aaron Blabey
Okay. This book series wasn’t all that bad at first. It was actually really good at first! The cast of characters were entertaining, had their own personalities, and the overall concept was really good! The ending of the 10th book really was a proper way to end the series.
But then the ‘second arc’ started and ruined everything. Gosh.
WHY did they have to add another ten books! Why???!!!!
The actual ending in the TWENTIETH book (called One Last Thing) was a TERRIBLE way to end the series. Yeah, I like the way how they reveal Snake’s name and Wolf’s past, but those weren’t needed for the series!! They seemed completely unnecessary.
That is why I do the respectable thing of only having the first ten books and blocking out the hint of another arc at the end of the tenth book! Simple!
3 (good): Harry Potter by JK Rowling
To be honest here, who HASEN’T heard of Harry Potter?? If you haven’t, you probably know the characters Ron Weasley or Draco Malfoy.
This book series was may CHILDHOOD. I read the whole series before I was in middle school, and I loved the series so much!
Years later, as an 8th grader, I watched the Broadway play Harry Potter and the Cursed Child. I knew people said it was bad, so I kept my hopes low, and I thought it was going to be bad too.
Man, I was WRONG. I loved that Broadway play so much, it took me back to my childhood! I deeply recommend this play (not the script play) to the most faithful Harry Potter fans!
2 (bad): Dog Man by Dav Pilkey
Just like The Bad Guys, I actually loved the first books of Dog Man! The scenes were so action-packed, the jokes were clever and the characters had to be the best ones ever!
I read the first six books like I was eating candy. But then the seventh book came out and… kinda-sorta damaged the reputation of the series?
And then the eight and all the other books (there are 13 so far in the series as I am writing this). And uhhhh…
My reaction can best be described by this meme linked here.
To be fair, I like Petey’s redemption arc! It’s really sweet and shows all the upbringing that this sweet feline has! But with the inclusion of annoying brain-rot characters such as Lil’ Petey, Molly and Big Jim, and the insignificance of the ‘main character’ Dog Man (who has now at this point just been demoted to The Load) the only way for this series is down! I already made a blog about how much this series has become so check it out!
(btw I actually liked Lil’ Petey and Molly at first but then they got Flanderized so-)
2 (good): Captain Underpants by Dav Pilkey
Since I now hate Dog Man so much, I decided to shift my focus to a different series made by Dav Pilkey that I have the opposite effect on me: Captain Underpants!
…omg this series was my childhood.
The main characters (George and Harold) are so lovable! The running gags also never got old in the series too! When I read the series back again, I still sometimes find myself giggling at the humor that can be one of three things:
- potty humor
- a clever joke or hilarious picture
- both
I know the series did receive some controversy but I DON’T CARE!
The way how they ended the story was also so heartfelt! It made me wonder what George and Harold would do next in the future as we let the series fly off into the sunset…
Okay. Just as a head’s up, for the last two, I will put my ‘good’ series choice first. You’ll see why at the end of the log.
1 (good): DeadEndia by Hamish Steele
This book series stands out. First of all it is aimed more at teens. But also because it was adapted into a TV series!
…that got cancelled after two seasons. Maybe because Netflix loves canceling the best TV series on their platform and replacing them with bad ones. A lot like another company I know (cough cough Disney cough).
This series is ONE OF THE BEST THINGS I HAVE EVER READ!!!
The characters are so lovable. some scenes are so heartwarming, they can make you cry! This book series is the peak of the sci-fi/supernatural books mountain.
Pugsley was one of my favorite characters. Who doesn’t love a talking pug?
If you want to watch the TV series, go on Netflix (if you have it, which I don’t) and search up Dead End: Paranormal Park. Then, binge!
And now… the moment you probably were never waiting for…
1 (bad): Geronimo Stilton: The Kingdom of Fantasy by Geronimo Stilton (the pen name of Elisabetta Dami)
I love Geronimo Stilton. I watched the TV series every day as a kid. And I also love fantasy books! Diving into imaginary worlds is one of my favorite things to do! So when my little kid brain found out that there was a series that combined the two, I was ecstatic
Basically, I liked reading these books as a kid. Remembering this, I decided to read some of the books again! For old times sake!
And… I hated it. Geez.
But, I have realized, the list of everything wrong with this series is too long.
So, that’s the topic of next week’s blog! And also the podcast episode I might host (maybe)!
Stay tuned!
– Nova S.