Pendragon by DJ MacHale is one of the best series I've ever read.

Submitted by nucleartaco130 t3_126sn5s in books

This book series is amazing!! It was recommended to me by someone on another sub and I'm so glad I tried it.

I'm almost 23, but I love young adult books the most, and this one is one of my favorites. Some might consider the writing kinda "cringe" because the main characters are younger and what not, but I love it. I really like the writing style, like how it's done in the perspective of a journal. The characters are amazing and I've grown more attached to them than almost any other characters in other books. The world building is incredible and fascinating. I love how information is slowly given so it makes you want to keep reading. The plot twists are great.

I love how I consider it a mix of my favorite genres like dystopian, sci-fi, and fantasy. I also really like how there is barely any romance in it (no offense to those who do like it, it's just not really my thing).

The books have made me laugh, cry, smile, and get angry at the characters situations more than any other book I've read.

I'm in the middle of the last book and I don't want it to end!!

I even bought the 3 other books that are about the other characters back stories before the events in the main series take place and I'm really looking forward to reading them.

Idk the ending yet so please no spoilers LOL, but I'd love to hear everyone's thoughts on it. And to anyone who hasn't read it, I really recommend.

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Comments

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starrfast t1_jeasj35 wrote

I was so obsessed with this series when I was younger. I reread the first book when Covid first hit because I was terrified and just needed a good comfort read. I'd really love to reread the whole series again someday. The characters are just so great (Spader is my favourite), and the worlds are so fun and imaginative. The whole thing is just so fantastic.

If you're looking for something to read when you're done with the series, I really recommend Sylo by the same author. It's more of a sci-fi based, but it is really good.

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nucleartaco130 OP t1_jeasvfz wrote

Omg yes I love Spader!! I also really like Mark, he's so cute.

Thank you for the recommendation, I'll check it out!

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mikarala t1_jebevob wrote

I'm pretty sure Spader is solely responsible for book 2 being my favourite.

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tearsoftheringbearer t1_jeetyj6 wrote

I love Spader too, I couldn't get enough of him even when he wasn't in the series for ages.

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lydiardbell t1_jeap6ll wrote

I never finished the series, but it was one of my favourites when I was a teen. My one gripe was that there were three different Earths - I wanted more of the fantasy realms, especially >!the cat dimension!<

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nucleartaco130 OP t1_jeasijh wrote

Honestly fair, I have mixed feelings about that part, too. It was cool to see earth in 3 different timelines and how events from one affected the others. But I agree, I also kinda wish there were more of the crazy worlds.

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mikarala t1_jebfiq8 wrote

That and the "lead traveller" being from our world kind of bothered me. In retrospect I think it would have been fun to follow someone from a different planet interacting with our world for the first time lol.

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Exploding_Antelope t1_jefx7fb wrote

I didn’t mind because Third Earth was my favourite territory. A proper optimistic future is rare to see, and the fleshing out of it made it all the more impactful when it began to crumble. I liked the scariness of how failure on First Earth could ripple through time as well.

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TarikeNimeshab t1_jeas7vi wrote

I read it a long time ago and enjoyed it a lot. All the different and interesting new worlds we get introduced to in each book were quite fun. I specially remember that game world thing fondly. If you haven't read it before, try Demenata series by Darren Shan. It's YA and has some of that traveling to other worlds thing.

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nucleartaco130 OP t1_jeasovw wrote

Yes, the game world is one of my favs!! And thank you for the recommendation I'll check it out!

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mikarala t1_jebej8y wrote

I read it in middle school. Loved the concept, but the last two books a huge let down, at least from what I remember. In general I feel like the earlier books were a bit more tightly plotted.

Although, hey, maybe I would actually enjoy how convoluted it got more if I read it again as an adult?

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THC__Lab t1_jeeo5wt wrote

Hobey ho, let’s go.

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animagus_kitty t1_jebynko wrote

I discovered the Pendragon series in middle school (06-07ish) and kept them with me when I got married in 2013. They're in a box now due to a downsize, but I really enjoyed them for a very long time. They were a big part of my love for large books, alongside Tamora Pierce's Tortall novels and the Harry Potter series.

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lebarflen t1_jed0tbs wrote

I’d love to hear your final thoughts. I’m considering re-reading them but it’s a big commitment (time and to purchase all the books). I remember loving some snippets but if you can provide your thoughts on the final book— spoilers or without, doesn’t bother me either way— I’d really appreciate it!

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nucleartaco130 OP t1_jed1da7 wrote

I haven't gotten to the end yet so I'm not sure about that but up until now I think it's worth it. It finally reveals the big answer to what the travellers are all about and everything and I thought it was rly cool and interesting. There are some plot twists that I didn't see coming. So far I'm enjoying it. Ik you said you don't care either way but I don't wanna spoil it cause I think it's worth reading again:)

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tearsoftheringbearer t1_jeeudme wrote

At least where I live the first five books are really easy to pick up used, so you might have luck there. Of course the later ones are a bit trickier to locate but worst come to worst you could always order them in.

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ilovevospader t1_jebuvs6 wrote

it's always great to see people getting into pendragon, as it's been my favorite series and really my favorite thing ever for around six years. it's not always easy to find other people interested in the series (since it's relatively old and obscure) so just to point you in the right direction, i'd recommend r/Pendragon or our discord server if you're ever interested in discussing the series!!
also, i recommend reading the other books by the same author, particularly morpheus road :)

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nucleartaco130 OP t1_jebwrnc wrote

23 years on this planet and I only heard about it a few months ago! So glad I did. Damn there really is a subreddit for everything! Definitely joining.

Yes I bought Morpheus road as well! Excited to read it.

Love your username btw, Spader is the best.

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loofleaf t1_jece28j wrote

I read them when I was in highschool, I'm 27 now. I've been rereading books I read back then and I'm putting these at the top of my list now because of this post. ^-^

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naterothstein t1_jecovn9 wrote

I read these in middle school and I'm now 28. This is still the go-to series I recommend to young people looking to love reading again after high school. It was formative to my world view as a kid, and holds up in its philosophical storytelling.

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rubberducky1212 t1_jed33w0 wrote

I discovered that series when there were only 3 or 4 out. I never finished it because I lost interest in reading before they were all published. I should try again. I loved 2 and 3.

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Xantayu t1_jedcl7l wrote

D J MacHale was also the creator of Are You Afraid of the Dark! Multi talented for sure!

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10vernothin t1_jedqz19 wrote

Watching planeswalkers navigate through SAO worlds and 1930s and cats was cool.

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then it got jesus-y

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PsilocybinDreamz t1_jee1zxk wrote

Thank you for reminding me of the series I never finished! I need to buy these books immediately!

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tearsoftheringbearer t1_jeetv46 wrote

I just joined this subreddit and...I was not expecting to see this series here, and I mean it in the best way possible.

I absolutely adore this series too, anyone reading this that is even remotely interested should check it out!

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Y_Brennan t1_jebd097 wrote

I read it when I was 11 and I thought it was kind of bad.

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nucleartaco130 OP t1_jebdi9y wrote

I respectfully disagree

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Y_Brennan t1_jebebpk wrote

I will just say that if this is your favourite series you need to read more.

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nucleartaco130 OP t1_jebesg3 wrote

I literally read every day but ok

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MDogFlex t1_jec6mkm wrote

Read what you want, my dude. I loved the Pendragon series growing up too - it doesn't need to be a literary masterpiece to enjoy it.

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Y_Brennan t1_jebfr5u wrote

like what you like. I thought the writing was really bad when I was in the target demographic. What I am saying is maybe branch out a bit. Maybe Pendragon truly is the peak of literature but I highly doubt it.

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boofoodoo t1_jeeela1 wrote

Why are people downvoting this? It’s just your opinion.

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Y_Brennan t1_jeeevkd wrote

People get attached to books from thier childhood. And they don't want to hear that people didn't like the series when in the targeted demographic.

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nucleartaco130 OP t1_jeevwvn wrote

I didn't downvote the first comment, people are more than welcome to their opinions, hence why I said I respectfully disagree. But then they started getting kinda rude so.

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