SOS: Serious Overload of Series discussion

I just joined and so far I am loving it.

I just joined. Checking it out. I think this will be a nice companion to Rick's site as it is easier to check quickly. We'll see once I get it all current.

Do Thenia's website & Rick's app still work wtih the new GRs format? I realize GRs is a cosmetic interface change, but you never know what it might have messed up.

Marla wrote: "Do Thenia's website & Rick's app still work wtih the new GRs format? I realize GRs is a cosmetic interface change, but you never know what it might have messed up."

Books on Track (booksontrack.net) is still up and running since it's independent of GR or any other site.

Looking at the posts above, I just realized I missed the 3 year anniversary last week... 😅

I have a good excuse however: I am currently developing librarian features to allow our helpful librarians to update and add missing data to the site!

Thanks Thenia! I will look at your site.

Happy 3 years, Thenia!

I stumbled on this yesterday: https://www.booknotification.com
It's very similar to FictFact; you can upload your GR export and they'll compile your data for you. They have a book release calendar, send emails for new releases for authors you follow, etc.

Interesting. I'll check it out.

👍🏼 I haven’t poked around everything yet, but I did upload my GR file.

Yep same!!! 😁

😊

I have an actual physical journal for every year. I have several lists in there. Series I own all of the books in, and need to read (237 for 2025), series I own 1, or 2 books in and need to read one to see if I want more (52 for 2025, this was my 2024 focus, I made it through 316 series with some DNFs), new releases to keep an eye out for, series to try, and challenges I’m playing.

I also have an extensive cataloging system on my Kindle. Collections are coded with icons. 👀 before the title are read series. * are series I own all of the books in. ❤️, are favorites I would / have reread. 👍 are series I’ve read at least one book in and want to read on. ZZZ DNF 🤮 shunts them down to the bottom.

Nice sorting, Zoi 😊 I got overwhelmed with by my collection folders on my kindle, so a few years ago I switched to sorting by “downloaded, unread”. I only keep ~ 20 books on there at a time, those I’m most interested in reading for the month.

I’m a compulsive organizer and my books are no different. I’ve been using BookPedia on my computer for years, before GR even, and I continue with that in addition to GR and my digital book journaling. My database built on BookPedia is my most expansive and has a great series sort. It’s been the most helpful for me keeping track of my series.

I’ve never looked at Bookpedia. I have a StoryGraph, but it’s not great…. [runs to check out Bookpedia]

Sorry, should’ve put a link. It’s an app. They have an iOS app, which I have, but it’s not as convenient for me so I generally stick with the Mac app. Love it. It’s very customizable with filters and folders and such. —> https://www.bruji.com/bookpedia/

I just read the BookPedia creator’s post; he’s taking a hiatus with no promise to return and new sales halted. Guess I need to look for a backup in case my app stops working. 😣

FYI: I found this one (https://booktrack.app/) and will likely take it for a (5 book free) spin as a possible alternative.

Bookpedia sounds great, but I'm not really keeping track. I just try to remember where I stopped. Or there's a few where I know I am not going back, so it doesn't matter

what happens with me is, I cannot remember from one book to the next what's going on. It's a year later, and the new book is published, and I cannot remember (sometimes it's a week later in a already published series and I cannot remember). By the time a series is in the 5th or 6th book, I'm lost when I pick up the next one.

And even if a series is older . . . I stopped October Daye after about the 5th book when I realized I could not remember how she became the boss over some elven household or something. I was reading October Daye between lots of other books and I just could not remember and did not feel like going back and rereading because I wasn't that crazy about books 3 & 4

How do you guy combat this?

Gotcha. And I definitely suffer from that, too. I’ve found a kinda-sorta helper by highlighting a lot. While I’m reading I’ll highlight not just favorite quotes, scenes and such, but also wanna remember bits that’ll help me refresh before the next book.

I don’t really have that problem. I gave up October Daye after book 16, just because I didn’t like where the storyline seemed to be going. Shame, because I love the world building.

I think that if I was you, I would have to stick to marathoning finished series. Like, don’t even touch it, until it’s done. Or, series that the reading order isn’t really relevant, that can be read as stand alones, like Magical Romantic Comedies With a Body Count. There are only 3 of 20-something that need to be read in order.

I've been reading more completed series in last couple years. It's always nice(r) when I find one that I can stand reading back-to-back. Some have too many info dumps in each book for me to do that, but when I can, I enjoy it.

Zoi wrote: "I would have to stick to marathoning finished series. Like, don’t even touch it, until it’s done. ."

This may be the only solution to my problem

Have you tried Keri Arthur’s Lizzie Grace series? Some of her series are PNR heavy on the smut, but Lizzie is UF with a clear romance element. I think it’s really well done, and the last one came out last year.

Sandra & I love that series. It’s completed and one we’d definitely recommend.

I have the first book right here! Yay! I have some other stuff to read but I will try it soon

Kateblue wrote: "...
I cannot remember from one book to the next what's going on. It's a year later, and the new book is published, and I cannot remember...
even if a series is older . . . I stopped October Daye after about the 5th book when I realized I could not remember how she became the boss over some elven household ...

How do you guy combat this?I..."

If it is a great series I will reread time to time or read the last or last 2 book as I probably reread the beginning enough to remember the necessary parts. I reread the whole series every once in a while of several series. If it is a good series but you don't want to do rereading over and over, wait until there are several book or the series is finish. I stopped Alex Verus and plan to do a marathon read now. I have to get a time to do a marathon read.

I don't like to read more than usually 3 books in a row of any series as I get tired of the genre or world so I'll go and read a book or two in between every 2 or 3 marathon books. I don't forget in that time frame, you just have to keep it close, like in the month. I forget so much of the nuance so rereading doesn't bore me.


Zoi wrote: "Have you tried Keri Arthur’s Lizzie Grace series? Some of her series are PNR heavy on the smut, but Lizzie is UF with a clear romance element. I think it’s really well done, and the last one came o..."

I read two of Keri Arthur's Riley Jensen series and it just didn't pull me to go on. I read her dragon duology that was OK but not much better than Riley, Myth & Magic. Then I ended up reading her dystopian book, Unlit which I liked better but wasn't my thing.

So after being recommended Lizzie Grace, again and again, I finally read another book by her and wow what a difference. I actually ran through them. Luckily Hoopla here had them all up to Killing Ground. I have that in my Audible. It really is IMO her best series and definitely a UF, it does have a romance element but more the overarc. So I'm with you in recommending it to UF lovers.

Yes, Lizzie Grace is probably my fav of KA as well. I've given up on quite a few of her series in the past.

I did read all of Riley Jensen, and have quite a few of the spinoff, but haven't even touched any of them yet. And yes, read the Dragons, who doesn't like dragons?

Will read lizzie grace as soon as I get out from under some other books in the queue, (2 of which I'm supposed to be reading now but am not.)
The Maid and the Crocodile
A Canticle for Leibowitz. I swear, I need to do 1 chapter a day
How to Summon a Fairy Godmother next Monday
Emily Wilde's Compendium of Lost Tales next Tuesday, but this is probably not happening as I am 43rd in line at the library.

Also, the second in that Luna wolf Buroker series some time soon.

Amyiw wrote: "Kateblue wrote: "...
I cannot remember from one book to the next what's going on. It's a year later, and the new book is published, and I cannot remember...
even if a series is older . . . I stoppe..."

I have read and/ or tried pretty much all of her series apart from Riley Jensen. I’m hesitant, because I expect to be disappointed. I did not like her Dark Angels, or Souls of Fire series. Very little plot, massive amounts of sex that felt either strange (to me) in context, or just gratuitous. In the case of Souls of Fire it was just constant and with ANYONE. I don’t mind smutty, but between my MMC and FMC, and I need more plot than sex. Anyway, I’ve heard things about Riley that makes me think it’ll be like those.

BUT, I have read and liked: Spook Squad, Nikki and Michael, Damask Circle, Kingdoms of Earth and Air, Outcast, Ripple Creek Werewolves, Lizzie Grace and Relic Hunters.

My favorites by a lot are Lizzie, Relic Hunters and Outcast.

I will start with Lizzie and think about it later. Some people like the smut, but been there, done that. Bored now.

The ones listed under “read and liked” are low on the smut scale.

Kateblue wrote: "Some people like the smut, but been there, done that. Bored now."

😆

Kateblue wrote: "...what happens with me is, I cannot remember from one book to the next what's going on. It's a year later, and the new book is published, and I cannot remember (sometimes it's a week later in a already published series and I cannot remember). By the time a series is in the 5th or 6th book, I'm lost when I pick up the next one...."

Kateblue, I have the same problem since reading 2-3 books in a series in a year is a binge for me. So I use GRs and hide enough information about the book and series so I can just review my review of the previous book and I'm caught up enough to read the next book. I am always behind on my reviews since they take me a while to write, but it helps me when I'm reading the next book in a series.

Marla wrote: "just review my review of the previous book

Yes. What a great idea

I get so lazy and don't always review mine. 😝

I haven't been on GRs much because I had to catch up on my reviews since my library account was locked because of all my overdue books. * sighs *

Oh no!

Steph wrote: "I get so lazy and don't always review mine. 😝"

If you don't at least put a one word review, your rating gets lumped into "name1, name 2, and 3 others gave this 3 stars" If you just put... "3 stars solid"... "3 1/2 bump down"... or something like that it becomes a lot easier to be seen by your "GR friends".

Marla wrote: "I haven't been on GRs much because I had to catch up on my reviews since my library account was locked because of all my overdue books. * sighs *"

My libraries still aren't giving out late fees and they renew your material for you. This was a Covid implemented policy that... I guess they decided to keep?

Hadn't thought of that, thanks.

Nice!

If only our libraries did that ....... late fees are now over $7 for my library *sigh*

I’d be broke. 🤣

Thank god I can renew online twice. If I haven't read it by then I just return them or go beg the librarian to renew it for me. Unless someone else has reserved it, and that's fair enough :)

Im lazy, a total mood reader, and don’t have a lot of patience as far as waiting for books. So, basically relying on the library doesn’t work for me. I’m super excited that Amazon has finally made it so you can use your Amazon points toward digital content! It’s a game changer. I have multiple wish lists, and tend to collect books as they go on sale, unless I’m actively reading a series I don’t own all of the books in. It is helping me whittle down those lists though. Amazon points and Kindle rewards points.

That's basically a US thing ~ amazon points or kindle rewards points.

Our market would be too small to make it profitable, plus they know we'd pay full price for something we want.

I pay full price for new releases in series I’m invested in, otherwise, I already own SO many series I haven’t read yet, so collecting books in new series tends to be points, mostly. Or, on sale. I simply buy/read too many books. Perhaps when I go back to work that will change, but for now that’s where I’m at.

I haven't paid attention to the points. I think I'll stick to KU with Amazon or get it some where else. I'm a bit peeved at Amazon, don't like their Android app very much, and they could make it a lot better but want to force people to their Kindles and the ads that ALL Kindles have, even the no ad version as the HOME screen is one big ad. Since the update that took away the back button and the opt out of their home screen, I will not buy another. If they change their policies someday I might, but I like my BOOX and can use the Kindle app on it even though it isn't great as the BOOX native reader, works well enough. When I am home I can use the older Kindle I have that is "online". So I don't think I'll be using points for ebooks.

Zoi wrote: "I pay full price for new releases in series I’m invested in, "

So. can you tell me what series you are invested in, please?

My list of new releases for 2025 is for:

Jacky Leon by KN Banet
Honey Badger Chronicles by Shelly Laurenston
Psy Changeling by Nalini Singh
In Death by JD Robb
Guild Hunter by Nalini Singh
Alpha & Omega (also Mercy when it’s her year) by Patricia Briggs
Devil’s Cradle by Suzanne Wright
The Body Shop by Hailey Edwards
Everwood Falls by Kat Kinney
Haven’s Rock by Kelly Armstrong
Relic Hunters by Keri Arthur
Southern Ghost Hunters by Angie Fox
Dark Protectors by Rebecca Zanetti
Starfall Point by Molly Harper
Valkyrie Bestiary by Kim McDougall
Stope Packs by Rebecca Zanetti
Magical Romantic Comedies by RJ Blain
Dream Harbor by Laurie Gilmore

But, there are a few more I don’t see release dates for anything yet, like Anne Bishop’s The Others, or Suzanne Wright’s Dark In you, or Martha Wells’ Murderbot.

Zoi wrote: "My list of new releases for 2025 is for:

Jacky Leon by KN Banet
Honey Badger Chronicles by Shelly Laurenston
Psy Changeling by Nalini Singh
In Death by JD Robb
Guild Hunter by Nalini Singh
Alpha &..."

Zoi, we should be friends! Those are some of my favorite series and authors.