Most popular books you just didn't like

[Rhema P __(：з」∠)__]

So far it's The Warded Man. i think Urgh when anyone mentions it. The romance killed it for me.

[Lundos]

Throne of Glass What a crap story.

[Jenna, I'd be free if not for Temper & Edgewalker]

Lundos wrote: "Throne of Glass What a crap story."

Right?! I know a lot of people who do like it say they like it because it's an easy read, but she an assassin who doesn't kill anyone throughout the whole book! Many other complaints, but that's the worst.

[Scott , Karsa Orlong]

With Throne of Glass I think for me reading it with my daughter and talking about the plot line makes it enjoyable. To me it's a fantasy 101 series. I'd never recommend it an adult however if a parent asked me a good series to read with their young teenage daughter I'd give it high marks.

If you hated this one don't ever try Air Awakens or Shadow and Bone. I did the first book in each series and they were much worse than TOG. I told my daughter she was on her own after the first book.

[Tammie]

Scott wrote: "With Throne of Glass I think for me reading it with my daughter and talking about the plot line makes it enjoyable. To me it's a fantasy 101 series. I'd never recommend it an adult however if a par..."

I enjoyed the first three books in the Throne of Glass series. I was able to ignore the assassin stuff because there were other elements that I enjoyed. However, book four had me wishing I had never read the series, because the characters were not consistent with the way they were written in the previous books. And book five, from what I hear has gone over to NA territory with the romantic content which has kind of taken over the story. I'll not be going back and I agree that it's a crap series now, even though there are elements in books 1-4 that could have made for a really epic storyline. Too bad it was executed so poorly.

[Scott , Karsa Orlong]

Tammie wrote: "Scott wrote: "With Throne of Glass I think for me reading it with my daughter and talking about the plot line makes it enjoyable. To me it's a fantasy 101 series. I'd never recommend it an adult ho..."

I've heard from numerous people book 3 is the best of the series so I'll read that one but then nearly everybody says book 4 is the worst so I'm done after book three.

[Tammie]

Scott wrote: "Tammie wrote: "Scott wrote: "With Throne of Glass I think for me reading it with my daughter and talking about the plot line makes it enjoyable. To me it's a fantasy 101 series. I'd never recommend..."

I think book 3 is where it starts to feel more like an epic fantasy. Book 2 was actually my favorite, but that was probably because I was a huge Chaol fan.

[Scott , Karsa Orlong]

Tammie wrote: "I think book 3 is where it starts to feel more like an epic fantasy. Book 2 was actually my favorite, but that was probably because I was a huge Chaol fan.
"

Book two I almost quit at about 80 pages in. I thought it was aimless. Then the last 400 pages it was quite good.

[Margret, Caladan Brood Face]

I've liked all of them, book 3 most of all. It's kind of one of those guilty pleasure books for me because that's about as far as I'll venture into the romance category.

I don't like sex in books and the latest installment is no less cringeworthy than her other sex scenes. I almost spewed my water everywhere when she used the term "velvet-wrapped steel" lol. So maybe don't discuss those scenes with your daughter Scott if she decides to continue

I don't know why is torture, murder, etc is ok but talking about sex in YA is forbidden? Seems kind of backwards to me

[Scott , Karsa Orlong]

I don't recall anything like "velvet wrapped steel" in the first two books. If it's going that route I'll have to delay getting those for her for a while. The comment would go way over hear head but there's a moderate probability that she would google it to see what it meant which those search results would be way worse than the comment.

[Margret, Caladan Brood Face]

It doesn't get that way until Empire of Storms but Queen of Shadows is angsty and I don't think that'll be much better.

A Court Of Thorns and Roses is where her other sex scenes are.

Ah the joys of parenting. Won't hit that stage for a while lol.. Maybe she would like the original Shannara trilogy? It's very basic sword and sorcery style and mild enough for even young young readers

[Scott , Karsa Orlong]

Maybe. I haven't read Brooks either. I've done really well on kindle deals for stuff we both want to read. So there's lots in the queue. She still has to read three books I've read and really liked.

[Tosh]

I recently read Traitor's Blade and grudgingly made it about 3/4 of the way through. I couldn't force myself to care about the characters or the world.

And I see some other's mentioned here that I didn't get into either
The Name of the Wind
The Sword of Shannara
A Court of Thorns and Roses
Red Rising

[Jenna, I'd be free if not for Temper & Edgewalker]

Tosh wrote: "I recently read Traitor's Blade and grudgingly made it about 3/4 of the way through. I couldn't force myself to care about the characters or the world.

And I see some other's menti..."

It seems people either love or hate The Name of the Wind - not too many people in the middle.

[Scott , Karsa Orlong]

Tosh wrote: "The Name of the Wind
The Sword of Shannara
A Court of Thorns and Roses
Red Rising ."

I'm not a fan of the top or bottom and haven't read the middle two.

[Angela, I'm Silverfox lost]

I'm the same as Scott. Didn't like 1 and 4 and haven't tried the other two.

[Eric]

I also didn't really like red rising as much as other people. The whole color premise kind of put me off at first. Also the narrative style. I'm more used to third person books. I liked it a bit more after the academy/games part started.

[Tosh]

Eric wrote: "I also didn't really like red rising as much as other people. The whole color premise kind of put me off at first. Also the narrative style. I'm more used to third person books. I liked it a bit mo..."

I didn't like the color classes either. What really turned me off is that about halfway into the story it started to get very YA. That's not normally a bad thing, but the shift kind of irked me. I've heard the book gets a lot better after the training, but I never could bring myself to finish it.

[Luna. ✨]

Okay so I totally loved ToG series by Sarah j Maas then it turned shit like the worst shit to ever be produced

[Jenna, I'd be free if not for Temper & Edgewalker]

☽Luna☾ wrote: "Okay so I totally loved ToG series by Sarah j Maas then it turned shit like the worst shit to ever be produced"

That sucks...I hate when that happens to series I loved at the beginning. Blood Song is still one of my favourites, but I had a really hard time finishing the last book.

[Luna. ✨]

That book looks amazing btw ! Haha it is such a disappointment after the third book it wasn't even like reading the same series anymore !

[Tammie]

☽Luna☾ wrote: "Okay so I totally loved ToG series by Sarah j Maas then it turned shit like the worst shit to ever be produced"

Yep I agree. So disappointing and now I'm not sure whether to keep the books that I loved in the series or just get rid of them.

[Margret, Caladan Brood Face]

I'm so pulled into the story that I wanna know how ToG finishes.. it's turned into my cheesy guilty pleasure lol

[Dani]

Tammie can I ask why you had such a hard time finishing the series (Raven's Shadow)? I'm curious to know because the first of his new series (Draconis Memoria) is high on my tbr wishlist.

[Margret, Caladan Brood Face]

And the sex scenes--- should I cringe? Or be super disappointed that my sex life is obviously much more boring than the characters? I know it's a fantasy book but how can you not acknowledge the logistics of beach sex without a blanket? That would not be fun

[Tammie]

Dani wrote: "Tammie can I ask why you had such a hard time finishing the series (Raven's Shadow)? I'm curious to know because the first of his new series (Draconis Memoria) is high on my tbr wishlist."

I haven't read that series. I was referring to the Throne of Glass series. I do think I have Raven's Shadow on my maybe list. I've read mixed reviews on it, which is why it's on the maybe list.

[Tammie]

Margret wrote: "I'm so pulled into the story that I wanna know how ToG finishes.. it's turned into my cheesy guilty pleasure lol"

I felt that way at first too. Then I started reading the reviews of Empire of Storms and I just couldn't. I'm just going to read the spoilers from now on.

[Tammie]

Margret wrote: "And the sex scenes--- should I cringe? Or be super disappointed that my sex life is obviously much more boring than the characters? I know it's a fantasy book but how can you not acknowledge the lo..."

Oh my goodness, you are making me laugh! There would be sand in all sorts of inconvenient places. I really can't stand romance novel type sex scenes. It really bothers me that this is being marketed as YA too, because I think it sets up unrealistic expectations about sex.

[Scott , Karsa Orlong]

Dani wrote: "Tammie can I ask why you had such a hard time finishing the series (Raven's Shadow)? I'm curious to know because the first of his new series (Draconis Memoria) is high on my tbr wishlist."

You might be thinking of me. I only read the first two books. I liked but didn't love them and people who did love them like Jenna struggled with book three.

I'm in the vast minority so I wouldn't let that stop you from trying it. But to explain why I personally didn't love it the story was really well told. The characters and world very detailed. However being a GrimDark it was too much Grim and not enough Dark. They was no sense of camaraderie, no playful banter in the face of a bad situation.

[Margret, Caladan Brood Face]

I loved the first two raven's shadow books, the third wasn't all that interesting, very dragged out and there was the (mostly) absence of an awesome villain from Tower Lord. It wasn't terrible it was just kind of lackluster

[Luna. ✨]

Tammie I feel the exact same the sex scenes are so raunchy but it is being marketed as a teenage read ? I found it in the kids section in the library then was so shocked basically just a porn with fairies lol

[Luna. ✨]

Scott those things you just said are a deal breaker for me if a book is market as grim dark you expect some relief with a romance or a friendship if you don't get that then the book is just rubbish

[Tammie]

Scott wrote: "Dani wrote: "Tammie can I ask why you had such a hard time finishing the series (Raven's Shadow)? I'm curious to know because the first of his new series (Draconis Memoria) is high on my tbr wishli..."

I really try to stay away from grimdark, so maybe I should pass on this one, especially if there is nothing to lighten it?

[Dani]

Oh sorry Tammie, I mistook Jenna's comment for yours. My bad.

Scott thanks for your two cents. The way you're describing it, it may not be for me either. I like Grimdark but preferably with some balance between the seriousness and lighter stuff.

[Margret, Caladan Brood Face]

See I thought "grimdark" would suit me, I like all of the things it entails.. dark humor, battles, grey morals.. yet I couldn't finish the Broken Empire trilogy, gave up mid way through book 2 and hated the Black Company which is required reading i suppose if you're to like the genre. Maybe it's only certain writing styles I like? Not sure..

Don't get me wrong I loved ASoIaF and Gardens of the Moon, so maybe it's just I didn't mesh well with Mark Lawrence or Glen Cook?

[Scott , Karsa Orlong]

Margret wrote: "See I thought "grimdark" would suit me, I like all of the things it entails.. dark humor, battles, grey morals.. yet I couldn't finish the Broken Empire trilogy, gave up mid way through book 2 and ..."

I liked Broken Empire but it was only good and I haven't gotten to the others yet because of that. What really made me like Prince of Thorns was how Lawrence described grief. As a fantasy story it was just OK.

I haven't read Glen Cook.

BTW I've been fighting my lack of impulse control and copying some erotic fiction into a spoiler tag labeled for Margret only and then having a good laugh at you cringing on the read. :)

[Jenna, I'd be free if not for Temper & Edgewalker]

Margret wrote: "And the sex scenes--- should I cringe? Or be super disappointed that my sex life is obviously much more boring than the characters? I know it's a fantasy book but how can you not acknowledge the lo..."

LOL so true. Sand everywhere.... Everywhere....

[Jenna, I'd be free if not for Temper & Edgewalker]

Dani wrote: "Tammie can I ask why you had such a hard time finishing the series (Raven's Shadow)? I'm curious to know because the first of his new series (Draconis Memoria) is high on my tbr wishlist."

The last book, the main character's awesome character trait was not a part of the story anymore and he was not even the main character so it felt like a totally different series. None of the characters could really be distinguished from each other if you took out their names because they had just all become boring and two dimensional.

The first book was awesome though, so I would still read his books because I loved the first one.

[Jenna, I'd be free if not for Temper & Edgewalker]

Margret wrote: "See I thought "grimdark" would suit me, I like all of the things it entails.. dark humor, battles, grey morals.. yet I couldn't finish the Broken Empire trilogy, gave up mid way through book 2 and ..."

Yeah, Broken Empire was just okay for me and I didn't like Glen Cook or even The First Law series. Yet I love every other "grimdark" I have read and they are among my favourites.

[Margret, Caladan Brood Face]

Scott wrote: "Margret wrote: "See I thought "grimdark" would suit me, I like all of the things it entails.. dark humor, battles, grey morals.. yet I couldn't finish the Broken Empire trilogy, gave up mid way thr..."

Don't you dare. I made the mistake of reading an excerpt of 50 shades of grey... I think the overuse of commas was actually more horrifying than the sex lol..

No but seriously I've heard Kushiels Dart is a fantasy masterpiece and all but I honestly had to stop, they lost me after one of the courtesans was showing Phaedra around an S&M house and describing all the different..... items

[Dani]

There's a couple of sub-genres I generally like, but in choosing a read it's always the author's writing style that has the final say if I'll read it. And I used to feel I had to finish every book I picked up even if I hated it but I've since adopted the 'life is short - read the best books first' rule.

The Broken Empire sounds like another series that is dropping on my tbr pile now. Too bad but lucky for me there's still another 800 series to choose from :-).

[Jenna, I'd be free if not for Temper & Edgewalker]

Dani wrote: "There's a couple of sub-genres I generally like, but in choosing a read it's always the author's writing style that has the final say if I'll read it. And I used to feel I had to finish every book ..."

The Broken Empire was still pretty good. I actually prefer his other series, The Red Queen's War (I've only read book one so far).

[Margret, Caladan Brood Face]

I was one of the few who wasn't a fan of it, I felt like I was reading a different book than everyone else, so I'm in the general minority so I'd recommend you try it eventually anyways.

[Scott , Karsa Orlong]

For Margret

(view spoiler)[


(hide spoiler)]

[Margret, Caladan Brood Face]

Yes! Man I was worried about what was behind that spoiler tag. I was expecting some sort of cross between Buffalo Bill and a romance novel or somethjng

[Scott , Karsa Orlong]

Mission accomplished!

[Luna. ✨]

So I was just rereading these posts lol every book you guys hated I absolutely loved especially the way of kings and the blade itself !

I also thought prince of thorns was meh...

[Ahdam]

This thread seems dormant but I thought I might put in my cents into this for those who are interested

Shadow and Bone- I just wasn't feeling it I didn't like the main character and her attitude or the edgy prince and the love triangle which is the mind killer for me

The Name of the Wind- I'm not gonna lie but this book is WAY overhyped and while I liked it the hype definitely ruined my expectations for this book unfortunately

Air Awakens- I refer you to shadow and bone

As you can see YA isn't really doing it for me and I probably have more I cant think of so yeah this is it

[Scott , Karsa Orlong]

Ahdam wrote: "This thread seems dormant but I thought I might put in my cents into this for those who are interested

Shadow and Bone- I just wasn't feeling it I didn't like the main character a..."

3/3 i didn't like any of them either.

[Andrew]

I've got two: The Magicians by Grossman and Dresden Files by Butcher. Only read the first book in both series, and they were two of the least enjoyable reading experiences imaginable, albeit for different reasons. Magicians essentially tries to suck all the fun and joy out of the genre, and it does it rather successfully. The first Dresden novel is just bad...like fan fiction level bad.