Top Five Trilogies

What are your favourites?

If I chose a favourite format of books, trilogies would be my favourite. It is enough of a story to invest in the characters, but not so much that you are committing to years of reading a series. 

These trilogies I mention below were all originally marketed as trilogies. As I write this, I know two of them have written a fourth in the series; however, each is set in a completely different time. It is the same world, different characters. 

These are the original trilogies as the author published them before they went for the money and wrote more. Some you may agree with, some you may swear at me about. That is why I love reading it is so subjective. 

I will also say that all of these trilogies have been made into films or television shows, and all, except my second-placed trilogy, are awful versions. I sometimes wonder whether filmmakers read the books, but that is a rant for another day. 

So, starting from five, here are my five favourite trilogies. 

5 - His Dark Materials

The Golden Compass / The Subtle Knife / The Amber Spyglass

His Dark Materials by Philip Pullman is a captivating trilogy set in a world where people have animal companions called daemons. The story follows Lyra Belacqua as she uncovers a sinister plot involving missing children and mysterious forces. 

Along the way, she teams up with a boy from another world named Will Parry. Together, they journey through parallel universes, encountering talking bears and witches and uncovering the secrets of Dust, a mysterious substance. 

The trilogy delves into themes of power, destiny, and the essence of humanity, all wrapped up in a spellbinding adventure. From the first book, I was addicted and ploughed through the books at lightning speed. 

I can't wait for my girls to get to the age I can start this series with them. 

4 - Inkworld

Inkheart / Inkspell / Inkdeath

This is probably the least well-known trilogy, but this is a collection of books for book lovers. Each chapter starts with a quote from a childhood classic. The world-building in this story is simply excellent and so vividly described you are transported to another world. 

Inkworld by Cornelia Funke is a masterclass in creativity. In the story, you follow Meggie and her father, Mo. Mo has a unique gift; he brings the characters from the books alive when he reads. 

Their journey leads them into a world of danger and wonder, where fiction and reality intertwine with quests, prophecies, and the magic of storytelling.

This is another trilogy I can't wait to share with my children. 

3 - Millennium 

The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo / The Girl Who Played with Fire / The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest

What annoys me about this trilogy is I do not know who told me about it. But once I started reading it, I couldn't put it down. Millennium by Stieg Larsson introduces us to the determined investigative journalist Mikael Blomkvist and computer hacker Lisbeth Salander. 

Set in a world of corporate intrigue and dark secrets, the series starts with "The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo," as Blomkvist delves into the decades-old disappearance of a wealthy heiress. Lisbeth, with her exceptional hacking skills, becomes an unexpected ally.

As the series unfolds, Blomkvist and Lisbeth uncover interconnected mysteries that span corruption, criminal conspiracies, and personal vendettas. Once you start it, you can not put this down, especially as the characters are so well-written that you feel you know them. 

This is a must-read if you like gritty, well-written thrillers with twists and turns on every page. It may have ended up a series if the author had not passed away before it was published.

2 - Hunger Games

The Hunger Games / Catching Fire / Mockingjay

I know how predictable it is, but for me, this trilogy changed my life. Here is a quick synopsis for those who have not seen the films or read the books. The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins is set in a dystopian world divided into districts, some more wealthy than others.

The story follows Katniss Everdeen, a resident of District 12, an impoverished area. Katniss volunteers for the brutal Hunger Games in place of her sister. In the arena, she must fight to the death alongside fellow tributes. Each district selects two tributes every year. 

As the series progresses, Katniss becomes the symbol of a rebellion against the oppressive Capitol. Alongside Peeta Mellark and Gale Hawthorne, her fellow tributes and friends, Katniss navigates treacherous political games and challenges the Capitol's authority.

I loved the world-building in these books. Panem became a place we all thought we knew. Readers would debate which district they would like to visit if they visited this fantasy land. 

For me, it wasn't just this element; it was the characters that Collins wrote. Katniss was the perfect protagonist, flawed but willing to fight and grow. President Snow has to be one of the best villains ever written; you could feel his hatred seep out of every page. Alongside these was a supporting cast that could have taken the story over at any point. 

Even though Panem is the worst holiday destination, every time I feel down or tired, I reach for one of the books and go for a visit. 

1 - The Passage 

The Passage / The Twelve / The City of Mirrors

Despite everything I have said about the other four trilogies, there is no doubt which is my favourite trilogy ever. The Passage is not for the faint-hearted, as each book is massive, but it is worth every second of your time. 

The Passage Trilogy by Justin Cronin is an exciting blend of sci-fi, horror, and post-apocalyptic genres. I probably love it so much because these are all my favourite categories. It also has proper blood-sucking vampires, not these sweet boys that twinkle in sunlight. 

The first book sets the scene when a virus meant for creating super soldiers leads to a pandemic that turns people into deadly vampires; the world is destroyed as we know it. Surviving through this is a girl named Amy, who is the key to humanity's survival. 

If you have read The Stand, there are similarities between the book's first part and this. The book then takes a massive time jump to after the apocalypse, and we pick the story up from there. This time jump has received some negative comments, but these people are morons because this trilogy is perfect. 

Across the trilogy, Cronin crafts gripping stories with action, emotion, and deep human struggles, leaving a mark on post-apocalyptic storytelling. There is nothing like these books, and there has not been anything close to it.

If you take nothing else away from this article, I can not recommend you pick up The Passage enough. A quick tip: get the Kindle version if you have a Kindle. I nearly knocked myself out, falling asleep with the paperback. 

Honourable Mentions

I am sure there are some of you right now shouting at your computer, saying what about this one. This list started much longer, and although I always had my top two picked, the others were more difficult.

Lord of the Rings just got pushed out of the top five, more because I consider it more a quadrilogy, as The Hobbit is the start of the adventure than because of the writing. I also didn't mention one of my childhood favourites, The Magic Faraway Tree. 

So, rather than shouting at the computer, comment below. What are your top five trilogies?