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On my last post, I discussed series I haven’t finished yet but plan to. Today I’m focusing on the flip side of this— series I will not, under any circumstances, be finishing. I’ve read at least one full book in each of these series, but couldn’t stomach any more.
Over the years, I’ve watched these series thrive from conception to completion. And, in the case of many of them, I can’t fathom reading them in their entirety. Okay, so I don’t think that little of them. Everyone has different tastes and that’s cool. But for me, it would be a waste of time to try and finish them. So I won’t.
As many other reviewers have pointed out, this series is very much a mashup of YA’s Greatest Hits. Add in the annoying characters and you’ve got yourself a series I’m not interested in. I actually really liked some of the short stories and novellas, but I really don’t like the main series. I got maybe a quarter into book two before I had to jump ship. And now there’s a big red X over it in my mind.
Long-time readers of my blog know about my animosity for this series. The first book was fine enough for the novelty, but the sequel drove me up the wall. It’s basically the same story as the first with even more hateful characters. It made the issues with the series glaringly obvious. I’ll be filing this series under N for “No Fucking Way.”
I was actually once a huge fan of this series, but it really isn’t as good on reread. I realized that I really don’t like Maas’ writing style or character development at all. It was the spoilers for Empire of Storms that convinced me to finally drop the series for good. Maas took the story in a direction I really didn’t like and my love for this series shattered like glass.
Guys, there’s literally one book left in this series and I refuse to read it. While I enjoyed the first four books, the fifth book really let me down. I hated the direction the romances and story were taking. And, in all honesty, the series was never that great to begin with. It’s just easily digestible. Honestly, it’s really no surprise the series fell out of my favor.
Dennard is a writer I just don’t get on with. In the case of her Witchlands series, I can easily say the problem is with me. But with this series? Well, let’s just say it’s very obviously a debut. And the only thing deadly about it is my disdain.
I adored this series in high school and read the first six books at least a dozen times. However, I never made it beyond that point because I lost interest. Now, having reread the first two books and thoroughly loathing them, I know for sure I will never try to finish this lengthy series. Smith doesn’t even write them anymore. No, this is one diary I don’t want to read.
Despite enjoying the first book when I read it, I later realized there’s lots of plot holes in the story. Caraval is a game where nothing is real, but everything is treated as though it is. Why should I care when there’s no actual consequences? I guess the real Caraval is the disappointing books we read along the way.
What are some series you started but won’t finish? Why? Let’s discuss in the comments!
Strange Storyteller 
I dropped ToG too. I hated QoS to the point that I don’t think I’m ever going to pick up a book by her ever again.
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Shamefully, I like QoS when I first read it. But, like I said, it did not hold up on reread. But I’m with you on not reading her books anymore. I’ve made the same decision.
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I don’t know if this is too much of a reach but I remember back in middle school reading the book “Magyk” by Angie Sage and saying “nope” to the sequels. It was so long ago I can’t say if it had anything to do with the writing style or characterization, it just freaked me out! XD Most series I read these days go on the “to be finished” list.
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I actually quit reading Harry Potter in third grade because the dementors freaked me out so bad. I did eventually pick it back up in middle school, but I totally get dropping a book or series for that reason.
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Interesting about Illuminae! I actually hadn’t heard of it until very recently, and found a copy in a charity shop so I’m intrigued to see if I like it!
Also – for my unfinished series: years ago I read Matched by Allie Condie and I quite liked it, it was in the height of the dystopian trilogies. The second one was painfully bad and I think I DNF’d it like 3/4 of the way through. Biggest disappointment ever. (And I had already bought the 3rd book – a mistake I now don’t make haha)
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I’m definitely in the minority when it comes to Illuminae. Most people who read it love it. I never read Matched but, given what I’ve heard about it, I’m glad I didn’t.
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Ah interesting! Yeah imo, it’s definitely not with your time!
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