Books I Didn’t Finish in 2017

Posted by Jessi (Geo) on December 30, 2017 | 6 Comments


I had a terrible year in reading! I was in a massive reading slump for months on end, and during those months I picked up countless books and couldn’t get into anything. I was going through 4-5 books before I found something I could stick to.

On the bright side, I rated books much higher because I DNFed the ones I wasn’t enjoying. I may have only read 20 books, but out of those only 3 of them were under 4 stars. That is insane for me, honestly. I’m a very picky rater so my 5 stars tend to be few and far between! Letting go of books I’m not into has really improved my reading experiences this year.

Here’s just a few of the ones I didn’t finish – there were even more than this that I didn’t even add to Goodreads updates because I didn’t make it more than a few pages.

 

 

Defy the Stars by Claudia Gray
Series:
 Constellation #1
Genres: Science Fiction, YA
503 pages
See on Goodreads

DNFed at page 25

Claudia Gray’s writing style just grates on my nerves. I don’t care for her prose to begin with, but on top of that it was in present tense, third person. With switching POVs. Couldn’t do it!

 

 

 

First We Were IV by Alexandra Sirowy
Series:
 n/a, standalone
Genres: Mystery, YA
448 pages
See on Goodreads

Put down a few pages in

Just wasn’t feeling it! May try again later.

 

 

 

 

Hunted by Meagan Spooner
Series: n/a, standalone
Genres: Fantasy, Retellings, YA
384 pages
See on Goodreads

Put down a few pages in

The beginning starts of SUPER slow and boring. I definitely want to try again later though, it was one of my most anticipated reads!

 

 

 

Song of the Current by Sarah Tolcser
Series:
 Song of the Current #1
Genres: High Fantasy, YA
373 pages
See on Goodreads

DNFed at 100 pages

This one felt super generic and I was just bored with it.

 

 

 

 

Roar by Cora Carmack
Series: Stormheart #1
Genres: High Fantasy, YA
380 pages
See on Goodreads

Put down at 20 pages in

The romance was HORRIBLE. They went from hating/resenting each other to “I fight for what’s mine, Princess” in the span of 10-15 pages. I did hear that it actually ends quickly, so I may try again!

 

 

 

Daughter of the Pirate King
Series: Daughter of the Pirate King #1
Genres: Fantasy, YA
308 pages
See on Goodreads

Put down a few pages in

The main character’s attitude toward men was grating on my nerves. And it was so ridiculous. I really want to try again when I’m in the mood for something ridiculous!

 

 

 

Dark Breaks the Dawn by Sara B. Larson
Series: Untitled Duology #1
Genres: Fantasy, Retellings, YA
320 pages
See on Goodreads

Put down a few pages in

I didn’t like the writing style at all, and I highly doubt it’s something I’d enjoy. Not sure if I’ll ever try picking it up again.

 

 

 

Etched in Bone by Anne Bishop
Series: The Others #5
Genres: Fantasy, Adult
397 pages
See on Goodreads

Put down at 9%

I think this was also a mood thing for me. I mean, I loved this series! Will definitely try again!

 

 

 

 

Wayfarer by Alexandra Bracken
Series: Passenger #2
Genres: Science Fiction, YA
532 pages
See on Goodreads

Lost interest at 217 pages

This book was SO. SLOW. It wasn’t nearly as good as the first book, and it was taking me ages to get through so I simply lost interest. Maybe some day I’ll try to finish it.

 

 

 

RoseBlood by A.G. Howard
Series: n/a, standalone
Genres: Fantasy, Retellings, YA
432 pages
See on Goodreads

Put down a few pages in

I think this was a mood thing for me, although it does have really terrible reviews. I may try again later, I loved Splintered!

 

 

 

Everless by Sara Holland
Series: Untitled Series #1
Genres: High Fantasy, YA
336 pages
See on Goodreads

Put down a few pages in

This just felt like your run-of-the-mill, generic High Fantasy to me. I may or may not try again.

 

 

 

A Court of Mist and Fury
Series: A Court of Thorns and Roses #2
Genres: High Fantasy, YA
626 pages
See on Goodreads

DNFed the audio at 8%

It’s honestly a miracle I started at all. Of course the book kicked off with an awful, gag-worthy “steamy” scene, which on audio was about 30 minutes long. *eye roll* I may try again some day with the regular book to see if it really is better than the first book like everyone keeps telling me.

This was also a peer pressure read XD

 

 

Wintersong by S. Jae-Jones
Series: Wintersong #1
Genres: Fantasy, Retellings, YA
436 pages
See on Goodreads

DNFed at page 111

So, SO boring. Too much music theory/history for me. Nothing was happening and it was super dry.

 

 

 

 

Heartless by Marissa Meyer
Series: n/a, standalone
Genres: Fantasy, Retellings, YA
453 pages
See on Goodreads

DNFed at 50 pages

I was bored as hell with this one. Not sure I’ll ever try again.

 

 

 

 

The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss
Series: The Kingkiller Chronicle #1
Genres: High Fantasy, Adult
662 pages
See on Goodreads

Put down at ~100 pages

I was so bored!! It has crazy high reviews though so I want to try again when I’m in the mood.

 

 

 

Children of Blood & Bone by Tomi Adeyemi
Series: Legacy of Orisha #1
Genres: High Fantasy, YA
544 pages
See on Goodreads

Put down at page 267 in the ARC

I was SO excited for this one – I mean, LOOK AT THAT COVER. I was intrigued by the culture in the book and the concept. Unfortunately, this one wasn’t as unique as I’d hoped. It felt quite generic, actually – aside from the fantastic culture, it didn’t feel like it had anything new to add to the genre. I was hella bored and it just dragged on and on and on. It says 544 pages, but the ARC is actually 600+ so it felt so drawn out.

I do still want to try again in hopes that it gets better because I wasn’t hating it or anything. It just wasn’t holding my interest.

 

 

The Final Six by Alexandra Monir
Series: n/a, standalone
Genres: Science Fiction, YA
352 pages
See on Goodreads

Put down at 33%

Another one I was bored to tears with. I mean, 33% and basically nothing had happened. No thanks.

 

 

Jessi (Geo)

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6 responses to “Books I Didn’t Finish in 2017

  1. I wasn’t a fan of Roar when I read an excerpt earlier in the year, but I did love Heartless. I listened to it on audiobook and read about 1/4 of the actual book. The audiobook narration was great. I also picked up Roseblood and put it down this year. I think I read 6 pages and never picked it back up. Definitely was a mood thing for me. It wasn’t bad. I just wasn’t in the mood for it.

  2. Some really pretty covers and engaging names, so it’s a shame they didn’t live up to their covers.
    I had the same reaction to The Name of the Wind. People loved it, so I tried it, but I can barely remember the few pages that I did read. I might give it another go.
    Good luck for this year.

  3. I’m sorry Heartless didn’t work out for you! I’ll admit it was a lot slower than the Lunar Chronicles, but I powered through since the premise was so unique what with it being a villain origin story. I know Roseblood has some bad reviews but I read it in early 2017 and I actually really enjoyed it! Not everything in it worked for me but I did really enjoy the Phantom of the Opera retelling aspect, and I loved the setting!

  4. I feeel you with Hunted and Wintersong! I did finish both but it was such a struggle! It took me forever because it felt like wading in mud, never really making any progress. And I’d hoped to completely fall in love with them.

    I have heard good things about Roar, and I was hoping to try it this year. So here’s to it actually turning out to be great!

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