Happy Tuesday, everyone! Top Ten Tuesday is hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl.
Hello! Today’s Top Ten is a freebie, and in light of my some feelings over continuing a series, or, well, even trilogies, I’m going to officially break up with these book sagas. There are a slew of different reasons, which I’ll go into more detail.
Because I love irony and this post is itself part two of a series, you can see my first list of series breakups here.
Who knows, I might end up turning back to these books at some point, but right now it feels good to let go.
Today, I end things with–
The Divergent trilogy
Books read: 2/3
Reason: Irreconcilable differences. I liked the first two books well enough, but the third book felt uneven. When I read what happens to Tris, I DNFed it right away. I felt like my time had been wasted.
The Vampire Academy series by Richelle Mead
Books read: 4/6
Reason: Time and distance. I love Rose and all her brash confidence, but it’s been too long since I finished Blood Promise, book 4, that I lost interest in seeing her story to the end. Still love Rose and Richelle Mead though.The Frostblood trilogy by Elly Blake
Books read: 1/3
Reason: Drama. I really liked the first book in the series, enough that I rushed out to get a finished copy after reading an ARC. By the time the second book came around, word started spreading that there was a possible love triangle in book 2. What?! Why?! The romance was good as is. Don’t add drama for the sake of drama.The Flame in the Mist duology by Renee Ahdieh
Books read: 1/2
Reason: Creative differences. The plot wandered. I couldn’t connect to most of the characters. My main gripe, however, is the number of sentence fragments used throughout. It left me irritated enough that I’m fine not knowing how the second book ends.The Wintersong duology by S. Jae-Jones
Books read: 1/2
Reason: I can’t force myself to love you. I REALLY wanted to like this series. It’s inspired by Labyrinth, one of my favorite fantasy movies! There’s an actual Goblin King in the book! So I was disappointed that Wintersong wasn’t my jam. Nothing happens a majority of the book’s length. Someone told me that the Goblin King barely makes an appearance in the second book, so I’m cutting ties. The Girl at Midnight series by Melissa Grey
Books read: 2/3
Reason: Again, but not better. This feels like a shadowy version of Daughter of Smoke and Bone, which is one of my favorite books. The similarities to plot points and characters found between DoSaB and TGaM are uncanny. DoSaB, in my opinion, is the better book.
The Seafire trilogy by Natalie C. Parker
Books read: 1/3 (only two books have been published to date)
Reason: Disconnection. Seafire is a strange book. It passionately tells the reader that it’s about sisterhood and friendship, but the writing is distancing, which is its weakness. Show me the sisterhood bonds, don’t tell me all the time.
The Mirage trilogy by Somaiya Daud
Books read: 1/3 (only book 1 has been published so far)
Reason: It’s me, not you. Mirage is a decent start to a series that promises peril and twists. With the right reader, this will be a hit. I’m unfortunately not that reader.The Pandava quartet by Roshani Chokshi
Books read: 1/4 (only books 1 and 2 have been published to date)
Reason: Time and space. I liked the first book. I liked the first book a lot, actually. Book 2 is sitting on my shelves. However, I’ve constantly reached for other books instead of book 2. I’ve realized I won’t be continuing the series any time soon. The Caraval trilogy by Stephanie Garber
Books read: 1/3
Reason: There are so many. Creative differences. Time and space. I can’t force myself to love you. It’s me, not you. I’m not going to continue the series, and I’m okay with that.
Have you ever broken up with a series? Which one was it? Do you finish a series til the end?
- {Review} You Should See Me in a Crown by Leah Johnson - July 30, 2020
- {Wednesday Weekly Blogging Challenge} Things on My Bucket List - July 29, 2020
- The Six of Crows Book Tag - July 24, 2020
Twitter: Feed Your Fiction Addiction
I have a hard time admitting to myself that I’m breaking up with a series. In my mind, I still think I might finish it someday. But most of the time it doesn’t happen. For me, it’s usually just a matter of losing interest after too much time has passed. I feel like I have to reread to jump back in, and that’s daunting. So it doesn’t happen.
I rarely break up with series intentionally but sometimes too much time has passed and I do lose interest, or I feel like I need to reread before continuing and I don’t make the time to do that. I will say, I loved the second Frostblood book too! There is a triangle but it’s not a very pointy triangle if that makes sense haha. That being said I still need to read the third book lol.
That does make sense. 🙂 I still have the second Frostblood book. Maaaaybe somewhere in the future. Right now though, I’m looking forward to checking out other books.
Twitter: ajsterkel
I hardly ever read series because I usually end up disappointed with them. I did finish Divergent, but I didn’t love any of the books. I didn’t let myself DNF back then.
I had a hard time DNFing in the past, too. Sometimes I still do, but then I think of other, better books out there.
Twitter: srbetler
Oh nooo, boo to random love triangles. I wanted to read The Frostblood trilogy, but forced love triangles for no reason is a pet peeve of mine. I actually liked Shadowsong better than Wintersong, but it depends why you’re going into the series. The first is romance, the second is more lore/paranormal and less romance, which I LOVE! It dove into the backstory behind different characters and the world and examined more of the lore. I had to break up with the Pandava Quartet, too, but I just wasn’t feeling the characters in the first one. The main character drove me bonkers. I love this series!
Hi! Long time no see! I still have Shadowsong, so who knows? Maybe a few years down the line, but right now, it’s breakup time.
There are might be more of these series posts in the future. XD
Love this post! I agree about Caraval; I hated it! I actually DNFd it – I tried it on audio, which didn’t work out, then bought a physical copy, which also didn’t work. I just could not follow or get into the plot. I can’t believe this book spawned a trilogy! LOL! Happy Tuesday! 😀
Thanks, Maggie!
I just ignore everything after chapter 50 of Allegiant. I rely on fanfiction to tell me what happened after that, LOL.
I probably won’t finish the Daughter of the Pirate King duology. It could have been the audiobook, but it was meh for me. I wasn’t a big fan of Illuminae either, but it could have been because I read it on Kindle (but I did get really mad at one of the plot elements so it could have been that too).
LOL! Please tell which which fanfic to check out.
Daughter of the Pirate King is one I let go of immediately after the first book. It was meh for me as well. I am still curious about Gemina (Illuminae book 2).
Determinant is probably my favorite Allegiant alternative, but I did a Top Ten Tuesday on Fanfiction last year where I list several of my favorite Divergent fanficion stories: http://www.brookereviewsnsweeps.com/2018/07/favorite-fanfiction-stories/
Thanks!
Twitter: TorontoLydia
I think it’s a very healthy thing to realize when a series isn’t working for you and to find something else that is instead. 🙂
My TTT.
It’s definitely those times when you have to do what you have to do. 🙂 Fortunately there are a few series I am still very interested in to see through to the end.
Nice take on this week’s topic! I typically try to finish a series til the end, but as I have less time to read, I’ve been trying to learn how to let go of books/series I’m not enjoying. I broke up with the Anita Blake series by Laurel K Hamilton a long time ago. I also broke up with the Undead series by Mary Janice Davidson. I kind fo wish I’d broken up with the Sookie Stackhouse series. I was majorly disappointed with the way it ended. Here is my Top Ten Tuesday.
The Anita Blake books are ones I’d been wanting to try, but that series just keeps happening, LOL! There’s no way I’d be able to keep up and from what I’ve seen about later books, it looks like it loses a lot of its magic.
Honestly, you’re making the right decision to leave some of these. I totally second Wintersong and Divergent.
Here’s my TTT:
https://thewordyhabitat.wordpress.com/2019/12/10/top-10-romance-reads-of-2019/
I have no regrets about ending things with these series at all. Thanks for stopping by!
Twitter: _jessticulates
Great list! I have definitely broken up with series in the past, and then there are other series (*cough*Delirium*cough*) that I wish I had stopped reading after the first book.
I broke up with the Delirium series, too! I knew right after the first book that I couldn’t go on.
Twitter: ICCO ROSEA
Awesome topic choice for this week’s freebie! I have finished a few of these but most I haven’t heard of 🙈 I also broke up with The Flame in the Mist duology though. I just wasn’t feeling it that much by the end of book one, even if it was enjoyable enough! I really have so many series to finish though haha
Great post, Leah!
My TTT post
Thanks, Dini! I do have a few series I’m still invested in, but it’s not as much as it was before, that’s for sure.
Twitter: Cindy_bohn
Het, sometimes it’s just not working out. I don’t get the people who keep reading a series after they don’t like book one. Life is too short!
I just started a series by Harlan Coben that I’d heard good things about, but I hated book 1.
Right? There are too many books out there to continue a series you’re not liking.
The Vampire Academy series is still very close to my heart, but I read those books as they came out. I feel the same as you with the Frostblood trio. I think I might end up finishing it, because I loved it so much. But love triangles aren’t my thing. Thanks for the post.
I enjoyed the first Frostblood book, but I heard about the possible love triangle. It just put me off.
Thanks for visiting!
Probably a smart choice to break up with the Divergent series. I wish I’d never read the last one. I haven’t read the final book in the Lord of the Rings trilogy. But that’s mostly because they’re so daunting. 😉
My TTT
I’ve seen so much regret from people who read Allegiant.
I have the utmost respect for people who have read LotR. I tried, but couldn’t make it past the first half of the first book.
Twitter: Greg L Hill
I never did finish Allegiant either!
Yay! I don’t think a lot of us did, LOL.
Twitter: RissiJC
I never did start the Caraval trilogy, but thought it sounded interesting. Totally know the feeling of not loving something for creative or sometimes trope-y reasons though. Fun topic and way to format this one!! 🙂
Thanks, Rissi!