Okay, let’s face it – I’ve been horrible about putting together these posts lately. The books that I haven’t finished have been a lack of interest, not outright distaste, so I just set the book aside as still being ‘currently reading’ and just never picked them back up again. But it’s time to face the fact that I’m probably not going to be finishing them.
The Mermaid’s Secret by Katie Schickel
Genre: Urban Fantasy, Young Adult
Published by Tor (5.14.2016)
Paperback, 288 pages
Source: From Publisher
Life on land is suffocating for Jess Creary, who wastes her summers flipping burgers for tourists on a fishing boat off her quaint resort island home off the coast of Maine. After all, her older sister Kay died in a boating accident two years ago, her mother has disappeared, and her father isn’t exactly dealing with things so well. Surfing and the handsome Captain Matthew are about the only bright spots in her life.
Then, on her twenty-third birthday, Jess catches the perfect wave–a wave that transforms her into a mermaid. Under the sea, a startlingly beautiful, dark place, Jess is reborn into a confident, powerful predator with superhuman strength –finally she is someone to be reckoned with. Meanwhile, back on land, Jess’s relationship with Captain Matthew heats up, and so does her search for justice for Kay.
Jess has thirty days to choose between land and sea; legs and fins; her humanity and her freedom. Who could ignore the freedom of the sea? Yet, the ocean is a dark, wild, lonely place. Is this a gift or a curse? Will Jess choose family and love, forgiveness and truth, or will she be seduced by the wild call of the sparkling sea forever?
This wasn’t really a book I would have picked up on my own in the first place, because the cover isn’t all that great and I am a shallow creature. But I received it in the mail from Tor, so I thought I’d give it a try. Alas, it wasn’t for me.
I struggled to page 102 before I decided to call it quits. I had a very difficult time getting into this book – the concept was cool, but I found the delivery lacking. It seemed farfetched, even for a fantasy. Some parts seemed a bit silly, actually. Like I said, the concept was cool. But it wasn’t convincing. Also, I was bored to tears with it, which is pretty bad considering it’s only 288 pages. Time to move on, I’m afraid.
Mistborn by Brandon Sanderson
Series: Mistborn #1
Genre: Adult, High Fantasy
Published by Tor (7.17.2006)
Paperback, 643 pages
Source: I own it
Once, a hero arose to save the world. A young man with a mysterious heritage courageously challenged the darkness that strangled the land.
He failed.
For a thousand years since, the world has been a wasteland of ash and mist ruled by the immortal emperor known as the Lord Ruler. Every revolt has failed miserably.
Yet somehow, hope survives. Hope that dares to dream of ending the empire and even the Lord Ruler himself. A new kind of uprising is being planned, one built around the ultimate caper, one that depends on the cunning of a brilliant criminal mastermind and the determination of an unlikely heroine, a street urchin who must learn to master Allomancy, the power of a Mistborn.
This is one that I tried to read months ago, couldn’t get into, and just never got around to putting into a Books I Didn’t Finish post. Probably because I was seriously looking forward to it, and I didn’t want to admit that I wasn’t liking it one bit. With all the glowing reviews, and the fact that I’ve been jonesing for an Adult High Fantasy (that can compare to how I feel about the Wayfarer Redemption series), I was sure this one would be for me. But 128 pages in, I was bored to the point that stabbing myself in the eyeball would have been more desirable. I was SO freaking bored with this book I can’t even. Maybe it gets better, but I just couldn’t do it, man. Maybe one day I’ll try again, because it’s such a well-loved series…
His Majesty’s Dragon by Naomi Novik
Series: Temeraire #1
Genre: Adult, High Fantasy
Published by Del Rey (3.28.2006)
Paperback, 353 pages
Source: I own it
Aerial combat brings a thrilling new dimension to the Napoleonic Wars as valiant warriors ride mighty fighting dragons, bred for size or speed. When HMS Reliant captures a French frigate and seizes the precious cargo, an unhatched dragon egg, fate sweeps Captain Will Laurence from his seafaring life into an uncertain future – and an unexpected kinship with a most extraordinary creature. Thrust into the rarified world of the Aerial Corps as master of the dragon Temeraire, he will face a crash course in the daring tactics of airborne battle. For as France’s own dragon-borne forces rally to breach British soil in Bonaparte’s boldest gambit, Laurence and Temeraire must soar into their own baptism of fire.
This one is much like what happened with Mistborn. Well-loved, and fits my ‘jonesing-for-an-Adult-HF’ category. I made it to page 77 and was bored to tears. It’s very, very dry. (Just like Mistborn.) I was kind of intrigued by the idea of Temeraire (even though his parts were pretty boring too), so I do want to try again in the future. But after it sitting in my “currently reading” shelf for well over a month, I’ve decided it’s time to move on for now.
The Sin Eater’s Daughter by Melinda Salisbury
Series: The Sin Eater’s Daughter #1
Genre: High Fantasy, Young Adult
Published by Scholastic Press (2.24.2015)
Audiobook, 336 pages
9 hours, 3 minutes
Narrated by: Amy Shiels
Source: I own it
A startling, seductive, deliciously dark debut that will shatter your definition of YA fantasy. Sixteen-year-old Twylla lives in the castle. But although she’s engaged to the prince, no one speaks to her. No one even looks at her. Because Twylla isn’t a member of the court. She’s the executioner.As the goddess-embodied, Twylla kills with a single touch. So each week, she’s taken to the prison and forced to lay her hands on those accused of treason. No one will ever love her. Who could care for a girl with murder in her veins? Even the prince, whose royal blood supposedly makes him immune to her touch, avoids her.But then a new guard arrives, a boy whose playful smile belies his deadly swordsmanship. And unlike the others, he’s able to look past Twylla’s executioner robes and see the girl, not the goddess. Yet a treasonous romance is the least of Twylla’s problems. The queen has a plan to destroy her enemies-a plan that requires an unthinkable sacrifice. Will Twylla do what it takes to protect her kingdom? Or will she abandon her duty in favor of a doomed love?
I’ve been contemplating Mistborn for aaaages now. I think I’ll give it a pass. :/ To be honest, the synopsis has never done anything for me. The only reason I’ve even considered it is because everyone raves about it.
I really didn’t like The Sin Eater’s Daughter, for what it’s worth. LOL
I’m honestly not sure if you would like it or not. It could go both ways – you may be bored with it, but on the other hand you may differ from me and end up loving it. But if you’re not interested, maybe not!
I should have stayed away bahahaha.
Ah, I’m sorry you couldn’t get into these. I have a habit of forcing myself on with books I don’t like and rarely DNF because of it (it’s a miserable thing, really). I’ve heard some buzz about the Sin Eater’s Daughter but I haven’t heard of any of the others. I hope end up liking Mistborn if you give it another chance, since you were so excited for it :)
Aw that sucks! I used to do that. Then I came to a point in my life when I realized that life was too short to read books I don’t like bahaha! I’m sure I will eventually…if anything I’ll see if Recaptains has it and just skip to the next book!
Ah yes, I know the feeling of books I did not finish all too well.
Other than Mistborn (which I did love, actually ^^), I don’t know any of the other books you mentioned. But I totally get what you mean about abandoning a book in the middle with the intention of coming back to it, and… after some time realizing you’ll probably never actually pick it up again.
Making a books I DNF post is such a great idea! Great post! :)
My blog: http://magiverse.blogspot.co.il/?m=1
Bah, it seems like EVERYONE loved it but me :( Thank you!
That is why I am TERRIFIED to start Mistborn. I feel like I have too high expectations right now and I’m afraid it will be disappointing.. But I will start it at some point this year, because it is one of my 2016 missions, haha.
I know how that feels! Although, this kind of seems like a book that would be a Mel book. For some reason I feel like you would enjoy it! When you do get to it you’ll have to let me know what you think :)