Top Ten Worst Reads 2014
These are the books I recommend you skip over (even if they were free; you will lose hours you could never get back). Most of these books were cursed by lack of editing and/or proof-readers. A couple may have shown potential, but they fell flat. Thankfully, unlike 2012, there were no 1-star books on my reading list. I credit this to reading the "Closer Look" on Amazon before downloading both paid and free books.
10. Fierce Awakenings, Kristy Centeno (Rating: 2.5)
I wanted to like this book and was looking forward to reading. Unfortunately, it failed to deliver. The writing is redundant (she says the same thing, using different words or phrases in many cases), and the word usage is unusual, reminding me of someone who has a thesaurus on hand. The author selects words that convey the base meaning of the word, but not the nuance of the sentence it's used in-- it was very distracting (I suspect English is not the author's first language, as the word choices were strange enough to halt my reading flow). The plot premise is good, but the author's use of repeated words and phrases close enough together was distracting (pummel, passion and desire, etc), as was the unpolished grammar. With a good editor, this has potential to be 4 or 5-star quality. In its present form, it is a 2.5 for me.
9. Rock the Viper, Sammie J (Rating: 2.5 )
I downloaded Rock the Viper as a free book from Amazon. I am crushed (not to mention confused by the 5-star ratings for this book). Such a great storyline, but frustrating when you have a great premise mired down in redundancies, more redundancies, and then some duplicated words and phrases on top of that making things kinda... well, redundant? The author needs a better editor and possibly an expository writing course to learn 'more is not always better' when it comes to describing events as they are unfolding. I swear every character 'strolled' rather than walked. And by the fifth chapter, I was ready to pull out my own red pen and go to town. WAY too much wordiness. There was also a lack of character development (they all spoke in similar voice for their narrations). The lack was especially evident when there was a PoV shift and I didn't catch it until I was a couple pages into the chapter; usually when the person I thought was (still) narrating is now 'strolling' into the room. And don't get me started on the PoVs-- the three Main Characters (MCs) duplicated the same events (as if the writer felt obligated to stick to a formula to tell the incident from all three people, rather than the one or two who made a difference to the progression). There was nothing new added to the plot with the PoV shifts, they were simply a rehash of what we already knew from the first PoV-- in triplicate. A frustrating read because of the grammar and overly detailed sentences (instead of “she pulled out a chair and sat”, the author may write “she strolled to the table and pulled out one of the chairs and sat in a seat at the table” -- yeah, I made that up, but it gives a good example of the issue I have). This is a “tell” rather than “show” writer, but I think her writing style may work if she gets a good editor. Grammar and punctuation are your friends. An awkward read, but the foundation for an excellent novel if it received some polish and tighter editing. I love this plot, and while there is room for improvement, the author's imagination to create wonderful tales is evident. 2.5 rating rounded up because of intriguing plot.
8. Written in Stone, Jennifer Smith (Rating: 2.5)
Okay, I don't get this one at all It's as if two completely different (and possibly unrelated) novellas were sewn together with a thin thread… each story on its own was pretty good (I actually liked the twist for how vampires started), but the romance was rushed (yeah, it’s a novella, but I still have expectations). Well written, but a bit clumsy on presentation. I don't understand the cover choice or title selected; they don't reflect the horse and carriage timeline the main part of the story is set in. This was a freebie I downloaded, and while I enjoyed the story(ies)- I wish the last part was its own novel(la), there was enough meat to really take off with the idea.
7. The Witch, the Wolf, and the Vampire, AK Michaels (Rating: 2.5)
This one was Very disappointing, partially due to horrific editing and the partialy due to poor writing skills (not cleared up by the editor). I am tempted to rate this a two, due to incomplete storyline, also known as a cliffhanger, except the reader isn't left with a heart-stopping ending- the story just stops, and you're encouraged to buy book 2. What did I hate? a. Editing. There is missing punctuation (Lots!), misspelled words, and not because the book is written in British English, and bad grammar (so obvious, I had to shake my head, and I almost stopped reading to return the book to Amazon). b. Book is set in US with supposedly American characters, although, I will admit, it was never specifically mentioned, only implied. The author, who writes as if from the UK, uses British slang instead of American. The one stand out was using mom (instead of mum), right in with the use of boot (trunk), bin (garbage can)... well, you get the idea. I have a bias against writers that write about other regions, and don't change their vernacular to match the story. Word of advice, the proper use of mom was not a big enough red herring to detract from the improper slang/dialect usage. c. Wordy. In writing, less is more powerful. The author had a tendency to overstate the obvious (as if the reader isn't smart enough). This ups the word count, but takes away from strong writing. It made the novel seem like a creative writing project for a high school student- somewhat immature, but sparks of promise shine through. And, that brings me to the real important question: Why didn't I give this a 1-star rating, or even the 2 I was tempted to downgrade to? Even with the somewhat immature writing style, there is a good story beneath the fluff. Was the book worth 2.99? No, due to the lousy edit, I feel gypped. With the abrupt ending, I feel irritated. This author shows potential, and a few books down the line, I may read some Closer Looks on Amazon to see if she tightens up her (I assume female) writing style. I would suggest potential readers look at the Sample or Closer Look offered on Amazon before making a buying decision on this one. I did read it all the way thru, so I won't return it, but I was tempted. Very tempted.
6. Shapshifted, Cassie Alexander (Rating: 2)
While I had some hope after book two that the series may improve with reading, I really struggled to finish book three. The premise behind the series is great- but the execution is sadly lacking in any real character advancement and the storyline never caught my interest. I also had the same problem as with book one, where areas were not clear on what was happening n the story- there IS such a thing as too vague. Unfortunately, this is the last one I'll be reading. I'm happy I decided to get the series on loan from the library.
5. Witch Who Cried Wolf, Sarah Makela (Rating: 2)
I downloaded this book free on Amazon. Oh man, I really wanted to like this one-- great plot, but that was the only thing that kept my interest. Characters were unlikeable: Main female weak and indecisive, Best friend flaky and defensive. There was a lot of unrealized potential in the story, but the author would build a sense of urgency, then suddenly, the characters would say, I don't have time for this, we'll talk about it later. Really? Later? If it were me, I would have been demanding answers now, not waiting until tomorrow. Much of the story felt disjointed and unresolved. Rather than anticipation, I was frustrated and annoyed for most of the book. This could be reworked to a longer novel (the story line is there, and filling some of the holes could make this a sharp piece of work), but as is, it felt lacking.
4. A Shiver of Light, Laurell K Hamilton (Rating: 2)
I borrowed this book from my local library (thank goodness).I never imaged giving a poor rating to a Laurell K Hamilton book, but this was a disappointing addition to the Meridith Gentry series. No driving plot, just a series of incidences strung together-- often repetitious-- recapping and rehashing the prior story lines (the author failed to take into account, those of us reading this far into the series, already KNOW the storyline). This book also didn't have a polished feel, it was almost sloppy in the editing. It would have been better to have waited another few years until her heart was more into the novel.
3. Hellhounds are For Suckers, Jessica McBrayer (Rating: 2)
Free novella I picked up on Amazon. The story was trite, with a simple plot; and a surfeit of humor, which wore thin after a few chapters. Redundant. I struggled to finish.
2. Pixie and the Lion Tamer, Georgette StClair (Rating: 2)
Terribly disappointed in this one. It seemed like a vehicle driven solely by Pixie's (not always clever) one liners. The lion had no, well, let's say he would have been more appropriate hanging out with Dorothy and a few flying monkeys, The plot was outrageous- Really. Just when you thought it was too far out there, the author added another impossible layer. In cases where I give a 2-star, it's due to thin storyline- in this instance, the plot was so thick I wanted to take a machete to it. Ending was wrapped up really quick with a bunch more... ready for it? Impossibly coincidental reveals. A wasted 2 hours of my time, not to mention 99cents
1. Collared For the Night, Susan Arden (Rating: 2)
I struggled to finish this one- not so much because it was poorly written, but it was so redundant. The same protests and insecurities appeared in every chapter, a good editor would have chopped the book down to novella size. Alpha Leopardess- yeah, I get it. Why Shane had to train her? Still no clue. How he helped her? Still no logical answer. It was the same dialogue reworded and extended over WAY too many pages. Sorry, this lost my interest 20% thru and I only got more irked as I neared and passed the 80% mark. It was a relief to be done. Writer has great potential, but needs to give readers credit for catching the nuances the first time, even a second time to reinforce, is okay, but the writer gave no credit to reader savvy. I hate when an author assumes I’m stupid.. argh.
10. Fierce Awakenings, Kristy Centeno (Rating: 2.5)
I wanted to like this book and was looking forward to reading. Unfortunately, it failed to deliver. The writing is redundant (she says the same thing, using different words or phrases in many cases), and the word usage is unusual, reminding me of someone who has a thesaurus on hand. The author selects words that convey the base meaning of the word, but not the nuance of the sentence it's used in-- it was very distracting (I suspect English is not the author's first language, as the word choices were strange enough to halt my reading flow). The plot premise is good, but the author's use of repeated words and phrases close enough together was distracting (pummel, passion and desire, etc), as was the unpolished grammar. With a good editor, this has potential to be 4 or 5-star quality. In its present form, it is a 2.5 for me.
9. Rock the Viper, Sammie J (Rating: 2.5 )
I downloaded Rock the Viper as a free book from Amazon. I am crushed (not to mention confused by the 5-star ratings for this book). Such a great storyline, but frustrating when you have a great premise mired down in redundancies, more redundancies, and then some duplicated words and phrases on top of that making things kinda... well, redundant? The author needs a better editor and possibly an expository writing course to learn 'more is not always better' when it comes to describing events as they are unfolding. I swear every character 'strolled' rather than walked. And by the fifth chapter, I was ready to pull out my own red pen and go to town. WAY too much wordiness. There was also a lack of character development (they all spoke in similar voice for their narrations). The lack was especially evident when there was a PoV shift and I didn't catch it until I was a couple pages into the chapter; usually when the person I thought was (still) narrating is now 'strolling' into the room. And don't get me started on the PoVs-- the three Main Characters (MCs) duplicated the same events (as if the writer felt obligated to stick to a formula to tell the incident from all three people, rather than the one or two who made a difference to the progression). There was nothing new added to the plot with the PoV shifts, they were simply a rehash of what we already knew from the first PoV-- in triplicate. A frustrating read because of the grammar and overly detailed sentences (instead of “she pulled out a chair and sat”, the author may write “she strolled to the table and pulled out one of the chairs and sat in a seat at the table” -- yeah, I made that up, but it gives a good example of the issue I have). This is a “tell” rather than “show” writer, but I think her writing style may work if she gets a good editor. Grammar and punctuation are your friends. An awkward read, but the foundation for an excellent novel if it received some polish and tighter editing. I love this plot, and while there is room for improvement, the author's imagination to create wonderful tales is evident. 2.5 rating rounded up because of intriguing plot.
8. Written in Stone, Jennifer Smith (Rating: 2.5)
Okay, I don't get this one at all It's as if two completely different (and possibly unrelated) novellas were sewn together with a thin thread… each story on its own was pretty good (I actually liked the twist for how vampires started), but the romance was rushed (yeah, it’s a novella, but I still have expectations). Well written, but a bit clumsy on presentation. I don't understand the cover choice or title selected; they don't reflect the horse and carriage timeline the main part of the story is set in. This was a freebie I downloaded, and while I enjoyed the story(ies)- I wish the last part was its own novel(la), there was enough meat to really take off with the idea.
7. The Witch, the Wolf, and the Vampire, AK Michaels (Rating: 2.5)
This one was Very disappointing, partially due to horrific editing and the partialy due to poor writing skills (not cleared up by the editor). I am tempted to rate this a two, due to incomplete storyline, also known as a cliffhanger, except the reader isn't left with a heart-stopping ending- the story just stops, and you're encouraged to buy book 2. What did I hate? a. Editing. There is missing punctuation (Lots!), misspelled words, and not because the book is written in British English, and bad grammar (so obvious, I had to shake my head, and I almost stopped reading to return the book to Amazon). b. Book is set in US with supposedly American characters, although, I will admit, it was never specifically mentioned, only implied. The author, who writes as if from the UK, uses British slang instead of American. The one stand out was using mom (instead of mum), right in with the use of boot (trunk), bin (garbage can)... well, you get the idea. I have a bias against writers that write about other regions, and don't change their vernacular to match the story. Word of advice, the proper use of mom was not a big enough red herring to detract from the improper slang/dialect usage. c. Wordy. In writing, less is more powerful. The author had a tendency to overstate the obvious (as if the reader isn't smart enough). This ups the word count, but takes away from strong writing. It made the novel seem like a creative writing project for a high school student- somewhat immature, but sparks of promise shine through. And, that brings me to the real important question: Why didn't I give this a 1-star rating, or even the 2 I was tempted to downgrade to? Even with the somewhat immature writing style, there is a good story beneath the fluff. Was the book worth 2.99? No, due to the lousy edit, I feel gypped. With the abrupt ending, I feel irritated. This author shows potential, and a few books down the line, I may read some Closer Looks on Amazon to see if she tightens up her (I assume female) writing style. I would suggest potential readers look at the Sample or Closer Look offered on Amazon before making a buying decision on this one. I did read it all the way thru, so I won't return it, but I was tempted. Very tempted.
6. Shapshifted, Cassie Alexander (Rating: 2)
While I had some hope after book two that the series may improve with reading, I really struggled to finish book three. The premise behind the series is great- but the execution is sadly lacking in any real character advancement and the storyline never caught my interest. I also had the same problem as with book one, where areas were not clear on what was happening n the story- there IS such a thing as too vague. Unfortunately, this is the last one I'll be reading. I'm happy I decided to get the series on loan from the library.
5. Witch Who Cried Wolf, Sarah Makela (Rating: 2)
I downloaded this book free on Amazon. Oh man, I really wanted to like this one-- great plot, but that was the only thing that kept my interest. Characters were unlikeable: Main female weak and indecisive, Best friend flaky and defensive. There was a lot of unrealized potential in the story, but the author would build a sense of urgency, then suddenly, the characters would say, I don't have time for this, we'll talk about it later. Really? Later? If it were me, I would have been demanding answers now, not waiting until tomorrow. Much of the story felt disjointed and unresolved. Rather than anticipation, I was frustrated and annoyed for most of the book. This could be reworked to a longer novel (the story line is there, and filling some of the holes could make this a sharp piece of work), but as is, it felt lacking.
4. A Shiver of Light, Laurell K Hamilton (Rating: 2)
I borrowed this book from my local library (thank goodness).I never imaged giving a poor rating to a Laurell K Hamilton book, but this was a disappointing addition to the Meridith Gentry series. No driving plot, just a series of incidences strung together-- often repetitious-- recapping and rehashing the prior story lines (the author failed to take into account, those of us reading this far into the series, already KNOW the storyline). This book also didn't have a polished feel, it was almost sloppy in the editing. It would have been better to have waited another few years until her heart was more into the novel.
3. Hellhounds are For Suckers, Jessica McBrayer (Rating: 2)
Free novella I picked up on Amazon. The story was trite, with a simple plot; and a surfeit of humor, which wore thin after a few chapters. Redundant. I struggled to finish.
2. Pixie and the Lion Tamer, Georgette StClair (Rating: 2)
Terribly disappointed in this one. It seemed like a vehicle driven solely by Pixie's (not always clever) one liners. The lion had no, well, let's say he would have been more appropriate hanging out with Dorothy and a few flying monkeys, The plot was outrageous- Really. Just when you thought it was too far out there, the author added another impossible layer. In cases where I give a 2-star, it's due to thin storyline- in this instance, the plot was so thick I wanted to take a machete to it. Ending was wrapped up really quick with a bunch more... ready for it? Impossibly coincidental reveals. A wasted 2 hours of my time, not to mention 99cents
1. Collared For the Night, Susan Arden (Rating: 2)
I struggled to finish this one- not so much because it was poorly written, but it was so redundant. The same protests and insecurities appeared in every chapter, a good editor would have chopped the book down to novella size. Alpha Leopardess- yeah, I get it. Why Shane had to train her? Still no clue. How he helped her? Still no logical answer. It was the same dialogue reworded and extended over WAY too many pages. Sorry, this lost my interest 20% thru and I only got more irked as I neared and passed the 80% mark. It was a relief to be done. Writer has great potential, but needs to give readers credit for catching the nuances the first time, even a second time to reinforce, is okay, but the writer gave no credit to reader savvy. I hate when an author assumes I’m stupid.. argh.
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I know, right? And the editing was atrocious and the story was one big recap. The next Anita Blake is due out in a few months, and I'll be getting it from the library too
Extremely disappointed especially with the ending.