When I don't want to spend my time finishing a series I didn't really enjoy, but am still interested in knowing what happens, I just read a book summary! That way I can satisfy my curiosity but spend whatever precious reading hours I have left in my lifetime focusing on books I really love
Yeah I know what you mean. I did for lots of books and felt satisfied reading a full detail summary. The only thing if it’s a newish book then it takes me a while to find a a good summary. Also the part that bothers me of DNF a book it’s the money I spent. If the book is bad I feel robbed also the hours 😂
I think as I've gotten older I've gotten much pickier about what kind of YA I read. Which is why I do not reread my favorite childhood YA series anymore lol I know I would probably be meh about them now.
I always struggle with quitting on series since I prefer purchasing books and i don't want to have wasted money. If i give up on series, it's normally because I didn't love the first one and it'd only be 10-20 bucks. Props on you for knowing what you like and not wasting time and money on what isn't doing it for you!
omg same!! I’m also from a small third world country and buying books is harddd. Even then I buy complete series (esp bc shipping is difficult so I just get them all at once) so it’s such a waste not only of money but of effort. Bc of that I can’t bring myself to dnf books/series 🥲
I also buy all my books, and I buy "in bulk" (ie, I tend to buy the whole series). But if I end up not liking a book, I take it to Powell's and get store credit. Of courae, it's a different story if it's an ebook...
Read it from the library or a partnered app with your library. If you really like it you could buy the series. That's what I'm doing now. I like book shopping and so far there's been one book I was disappointed with. I keep seeing all these dnf videos and feel like it's a waste of money to buy so much and risk not liking a majority of it.
I decided to dnf wheel of time after reading the first two, since I can't stand Rand at all and I don't see it changing soon. The series and the books are too long to continue on with this and I'm not really that interested in what is going to happen. I also let me down on a few things that I had hoped for after reading the premise. Also the the name of the wind after the reading a wise man's fear. The second one was such a let down, but it's easy to decide that since no one is actually expecting a final book.
Although I enjoyed From Blood and Ash for the most part, I ended up selling my copy because of everything I'd heard about the following books in the series. I can't devote that much time and energy when there's so many other books I want to read lol
Yeah, trust me you're making the right choice on that lol. The series is really good, but it's annoying how often the author changes what Poppy is and certain plot lines became fan service
i completely dnf'd For The Wolf. i thought id be getting a very naomi novik/Uprooted experience and... i did, kinda, but it was more like all of the parts of Uprooted i didnt like XD
I really liked Paolinis' Sea Of Stars, except for the excessive number of battle scenes, and the ending. The ending reminded me; very strongly; of the movie 2001 Space Odyssey. I liked Book Of Night, dnf'd House Of Sky And Breath because of too many characters and plot lines that didn't advance the story; liked Crown Of Feathers and am currently stalled on the second book; read and struggled to finish Daughter Of The Moon Goddess but I have pre ordered the sequel.
Oh no, your killing me. I loved To Sleep in a Sea of Stars. 😢. But I get it. A recommendation for you, The Broken Sword by Poul Anderson. Short book, but must listen to as well as read it.
I'm in the middle of To Sleep in a Sea of Stars right now and am enjoying it immensely. I finished Architects of Memory last week and was in the mood for more space stuffs and it's definitely scratching that itch.
I read the first in the Crescent Series but it wasn't enough to get me to read book 2. I just didn't care about the characters or the story. It didn't help that A Court of Frost and Flames ruined that series for me and put me off the author it seems.
I also think I’m going to give up on the From Blood and Ash series. There’s going to be six books but I feel like the first three are unnecessarily long and they are all the same! I definitely feel you on this one!
@@sfhenne I actually enjoyed book 1 but the rest of the books are pretty much the same. The characters are also super juvenile. You’re not missing much 😂
I felt bad dnf’ing this series after only the first chapter of the first book. 💀 I’m seeing spoilers and opinions of how the series is going so I’m glad that it wasn’t going to be something I loved lol.
The first book in my SF series came out the same week as To Sleep In A Sea of Stars. Oh, how I wish I had the same marketing push as Christopher Paolini! If you'd like a copy of Fearless and/or the sequel Resilient, let me know and I'll speak to my publisher.
There are a few I am not finishing as well: Sword Of Truth, because it's absolute garbage...offensively bad; The Name of thw Wind, because Kvothe is a fucking idiot and deserves whatever hell he brings on himself; Song of Ice and Fire, because it is crude and I have no faith that Martin will ever finish the series; The Expanse, because there are too many and they're only just interesting enough to struggle through the first fourl.
I'm no longer interested in anything by SJM, I even donated all my books of hers to a library. I don't want to get into it because this is not the place, but my feelings for her as a person and her stories/characters have changed exponentially. It's kind of disheartening knowing she, like Colleen Hoover and Jay Kristoff, will continue to be popular, but at least I can say I'm no longer a fan.
I realized that 10 page of good story is absolutely not worth reading 700 pages of bad writing. If the last 5 pages of a 800 page book is good, it's not a good book, the author is not a good writer.
In my experience most books by Christopher Paolini's books are very boring and repetitive. At least for me anyway. I tried to love Eragon, but it was so poorly written. Granted he was a child at the time, but I honestly feel like his parents basically paid off his way to get that book published rather then helped him learn the skills needed to write good books. It felt unpolished. Yet again, this is my opinion. I'm glad people adore the Eragon series, but I just couldn't get past the child like essay style writing. Sad to see he hasn't changed since entering adulthood.
When you said Daughter of the Moon Goddess I finally felt some inner peace! I've been struggling with that book in the last two months and for the exact same reason! I actually felt that it was extremely slow and boring, but maybe that's because the author's writing style (very calm and beautiful) does not fit with all the things happening one after another. At this point if I'm able to finish it before the year ends I'll feel like a goddess myself lol
House of Sky and Breath was such a letdown after the first Crescent City book!! I completely agree on everything you said. Huge flop, and really need the next book to redeem it.
I got halfway through it and stopped. There are too many characters that do not matter to me, and too many things happening that don't move the plot forward.
I was surprised that I also started and read most of these series. I also was surprised that I felt the same way you feel about them. Excellent review.
@@elainamcclendon5593 Finally someone who agrees with me! 😊 I keep hearing how it's the best series and how amazing it is. I started thinking something was wrong with me for despising it.😬🤣
I agree with For the Wolf. I actually enjoyed the first book but I have heard mixed things about the sequel and have been told it should be treated as a standalone, so that's what I'm going to do!
I read For the Wolf and For the Throne and I actually liked them both. I wasn't sure I was going to bother with the 2nd book since I didn't think the first book was AMAZING, but I did and I liked it much more than I expected. The two books are pretty different and I found the 2nd one a lot more suspenseful and creative, it also took concepts from the first book and added depth to them. Together they made a great pair.
Ah I'm ditching From blood and ash too. After that whole bonding whatever it was called scene and Poppy and Keiran's weird affair while Cas is imprisoned. So much BS. So much for soul mates blessed by the gods. 🤢
The Unseelie Prince (maze of shadows) by Kathryn Ann Kingsley. I honestly read the whole series but truly WISHED I had DNF’d this series since i haven’t seen many critical reviews. Everyone was one dimensional, weak fmc, love interest is a bully, zero character development, and so much more lol.
I also started From Blood and Ash. After the second book I was unsure if I should buy the third book because I had the exact same thought as you... I still bought it because a friend of mine loves the series so much and I wanted to give it a second chance. Turns out there is even less plot in the third book. While the begining and the ending were interesting, the rest of the book was boring. I now kinda regret buying the third book but at least I now know I will 100% not buy the 4th book because I don't want 10 pages of plot and 400pages of whatever else to read.
HOEAB was one of my favorite books of all time but HOSAB was the worst SJM book to date and I’m a little concerned for the future books 😅 book 3 has some serious work to do to redeem the series for me
Series I gave up on: the Drizzt saga, Silven Chronicles, Ka'vaedan (I don't know if I am even spelling that right, but the writing was just so incredibly bad).
I started reading "Fallen" by Lauren Kate and I was so excited to fall in love with a teenage angst story. When I got to page 200 and nothing was really happening I was like "ok, is something happening soon?" So I skipped ahead another 150 pages and did a little Recon, only to find that nothing happens. 🤨 This poor book has been DNF'd as well as the whole series. I then went on Good Reads to see the ratings, and I see my favorite Book-tubers rating was 2 ⭐, and I was like "oh." lol 🤣
I read these as a teen! There isn’t much plot at all and things not explained sadly. The last book is probably the best one out of them all . But I think the relartionships in the books are abusive. I donated all 4 books.
You guys suck lol. Joke i loved the series for years as a teenager and I still cherish my copies. No it is not a copy of Twilight as per the publication and the plot. I feel we just out growned those books, and prefer something even darker or smuttier. Its a struggle to go back though
@@edenjamesis2398 I feel like maybe I would have been super interested when I was 13, but with my age now I think the book didn’t hit me right. Some books I re-read when I’m older and am struck by how simple the writing is, but I don’t remember it being like that when I read it the first time. New experiences all the time. Keeps life interesting.
I'm actually sorry to say that I will probably never finish The Poppy War trilogy. I thought the first book was written very very well, but I just wasn't inspired to continue. Sigh!
I didn't like To Sleep in a Sea of Stars AT ALL! I gave my SIGNED copy away because of how much I disliked it.. lol 😆 I love The Inheritance Cycle though!
How about when the author gives up first? Looking at you George R. Martin. I cut my literary teeth on sci-fi and fantasy, but I'm kind of over it now, so i haven't started any of the series mentioned below. Fantasy has mostly turned into Supernatural themes & I don't need any more vampires or werewolves, and I prefer adventure and solid story to romance. And too many authors are naming their books like they are part of A Song of Fire and Ice.
Acotar for me. It’s just not spicy enough for romance, detailed enough for political intrigue, world building enough for fantasy. It’s just mild of the road and I’m done wasting my time reading them. I read the first four.
I didn’t realise it was a series but I listened to this as an audiobook ended up having to increase the speed bc it was so hard to get through (and so long)! Also I got super confused with all the different names/species
The Wheel of Time is actually one of the best series ever written. It takes a while to get into, because it’s not an easy read. It has so much satisfying depth!
I'm almost done with them, started in January and now on book 13 💪 It's been a struggle, but I don't regret at all, I've even bought them all 😁 Sanderson saved it a bit for me 😅
Your take on thrillers is so facinating to me because (first of all, valid take) I'm such a thriller junkie and part of my enjoyment is trying to figure it out before the main character does, almost like a race and it feels rewarding rather than cheap if I got it right or wrong.
I’m undecided about Daughter of the Moon Goddess. I’ve DNFed Mistborn era 1, I’ve since spoiled myself for book 2 & 3 and am really glad I didn’t continue. And Name of the Wind. It seems this style of high fantasy is typically not my fave.
I am so nervous to read Maas' Crescent City series. It seems like so much effort for a satisfying last couple of pages. I am having a hard time thinking of series I have dnf'd. I did read "The Sanatorium" by Sarah Pearse and I really do not see myself reaching for the sequel. I read the first Crave book and devoured it. I started the second one and I rolled my eyes a lot in the beginning and heard about a couple things that happen in future books and got rid of them.
You shouldn't be nervous to read Crescent City series. I was too, especially because these books are so long. But I loved them! If you're curious about them then I would highly suggest you to give a them a try. They were so different from what I imagined they would be. I think the first might be my favorite SJM book. The second book was slightly slower, but in my opinion the whole book was still great (especially the ending).
very valid to be nervous about, after forcing myself through the second (CC) hoping it would pay off like the first I was not thinking it was worth it. I would borrow from a friend or library tbh ahahah save ur $$
I felt the same about Sanatorium. It was ok as a stand alone but the MC was just meh. I really don’t need to read any more about her as a detective or even have any interest in what was happening with the open ending
I actually loved the second book (And the first one too). If you liked other Sarah J Maas books I think you should definitly try reading it if you want. There are soo many different opinions for books, so there is good chance you will like it
I DNFed the 'Wheel of Time' series because though I was intrigued by the first book and liked at least some of the characters, eventually there were so many characters that I didn't like that hogged most of the book that the effort to reward ratio made reading them a slog. It didn't help that I hated the abuse-is-good-for-you morality of the Aes Sedai. I realized that I was only reading to find out how the central problem of male magic being poisoned was going to be resolved, which didn't look like was going to occur any time soon. So I just quit. I just Googled, so I now have a vague idea how it ended. I'm glad I didn't finish it.
Gave up on the Dresden Files about 13 books in. It's just really changed too much, and seems to just be misery torture porn for the last several books, seeing how miserable they can make Harry Dresden's Life.
The crown of feathers series is one I think that definitely depends on mood and drive. (Not full knowing by any understanding) but personally I’m super pumped about books and excited for fantasy series with cool concepts over all specifically at the start of the year so I read the first one when it came out at the start of whatever year it was and loved it. Then read the second book at the start of last year and liked it too ( not as much but still). Then this fall before I started the last, I wanted to re read and I realized that… 1) I think this is a book list for when you’re excited about concept v concept development or world dynamics etc 2) more importantly I think this is one of those unfortunate series that you don’t reread. It’s fun and a cool idea the first time but definitely not one that re-sparks any of the until excitement because it’s very much one of those that once something happens, you can’t imagine how you didn’t see every aspect coming before.
Not gonna lie, I loved Daughter of the Moon Goddess, but I understand why one wouldn't. For anyone in the comments, I hope people at least try the first book. It ends well enough that you you won't feel too much of a cliff hanger if you don'y continue to the 2nd book.
Totally agree on For the Wolf. Such potential and lots of atmosphere but the execution was not there. The timeline through the centuries and the magic situation itself made literally no sense. Red's decisions get worse and worse through the story until the whole situation with the sister and the villain killed any hint of an interest I had left.
Book of Night was such a surprise. I’m actually from the town right next to Easthampton (where it takes place) and I think it’s totally ruined the book because it mentioned so many things I was familiar with and it wasn’t necessarily accurate. When I picked this up, I had no idea what it was about but it was just so underwhelming!!
Oh my gosh, this is me any time I read a book set in New Orleans and it’s obvious the author hasn’t spent a significant amount of time there. Simple things like geography being off, or the way people refer to things being wrong can ruin a whole book for me.
For great fantasy romance have you ever checked out The Seven Realms series? 12/10 for both plot and slow burn/hidden identity/actually healthy relationship romance
I so appreciate your deliberate use of “for me.” Also yay for letting go of series that you aren’t loving. Life is too short and there are too many books to waste time on ones we’re not enjoying, imo.
I am so glad that you made this video. I just tried to read Rosewater and I just don't want to keep going. No offense to the author. There are some amazing fun concepts and the point of view... but it's just not for me. Certain things keep taking me out of the story.
It’s good to know you stop reading if your not enjoying it that’s something I always feel super guilty about and it’s good to know that it’s ok to put the book down if you don’t enjoy it
Instantly subscribed, I've always matched before with booktubers because of books we do like, you're the first I've insta-followed for books we match on not liking enough to finish reading :D
I don’t think I’m going to finish the crown of feathers series either. I read the second book and gave it three stars after giving the first book five stars and loving it. I feel the same about book of night. I referred to it as ninth house light like it could have gone farther or had a bit more grit.
that one stormlight archive book at the back escaping from the shelf 😅 I DNFd the Chronicles of the Bitch Queen Series by KS Villoso. All tell no show, but I see a lot of 5 star reviews so it's probably just me.
I can never guess any ending, so I guess P. Djeli Clark is safe with me? I thought the writing was very good and I enjoyed reading about these amazing people in the story and about their world. Sorry that Peruse Project didn't enjoy guessing an ending early. ^_^
I DNF'd Christopher Paolini's Inheritance Cycle back in the day. Other than that I just got back into fantasy a few months ago and have yet to DNF anything. Though I'm sure I will. EDIT: I forgot about King Killer Chronicles. Unless book 3 is loved by people who didn't love book 2, I have no desire to continue that series.
I dnf'ed leviathan wakes at 70% which really broke my heart because the first chapter was fantastic, but the lack of world building and character development really bothered me. Can anyone tell me if it gets better and I should power through it, or should I just give up if I didn't like the first book???
Must disagree with her review of 'A Master of Djinn'. I've only recently discovered the world of steampunk, and I read this novel because I loved P. Djeli Clark's novella, 'Ring of Shout'. So, for me, Master of Djinn did not disappoint. Excellent writing, imaginative story, and strong female characters. I moved through this novel quickly because I found it intriguing. So I give 'A Master of Djinn' two thumbs up.
I'm currently reading the 'House of Sky and Breath' by Sarah J.mass. Finished almost 200 pages in and I'm not thrilled as I thought I would be. I just the tension between Hunt and Bryce feels unnecessary. And I am seriously starting dislike Danika. She's not a great friend to Bryce. That's all I'm saying. Now that I know that the fast few chapter's are going to be worth it. I will definitely continue because for me the ending always matters the more. And also Ioved first two chapters as well. Daughter of Moon Goddess sounds intriguing. Maybe I will try it. I like fast paced books so might as well give it a try. Great concept for the video. Nice work. This reminds me I need to organize my reading. I have no idea what series I have read or dnfed.
I feel you with from blood and ash. The fourth book was such a disappointment. I can’t take the fact that there isn’t a plot in these books anymore. I stayed four books too long in this series. I know it won’t get any better. There is a prequel series as well. It is so unnecessary, and it seems like a cash grab. JLA has no clue what is happening in her own books because they don’t have plots.
Probably for the best with Crown of Feathers. I was pretty let down by the finale and based on what you noticed on your re-read, I think you would have been too.
@@CarolCabrita I know people who really enjoyed it but to me it felt like both sides of the final battle wouldn’t commit, which took away the tension and character development. But I hope you end up disagreeing with me haha!
