I'm always looking through and editing my Goodreads shelves, trying to give myself reasons to talk about the books I've read. So I thought today, with the new year approaching very soon, would be a good time to share the series I've decided to stop reading.
It's time to move on to better things, says the girl who has SO MUCH TROUBLE putting that into practice. I hate the feeling of leaving a book unfinished. In 2015, I read a third of The Scorpio Races by Maggie Stiefvater, put it down, and picked it back up EIGHT MONTHS LATER. Just couldn't let it go, even though it initially put me in a reading slump.
I've learned to be pickier about the books I choose to read since I only have so much time in one day. My tastes have definitely changed since I started book blogging, and I've gotten to know myself and my preferences much better after trial and error.
Here are the nine series I've started but will not continue:
YOU SERIES BY CAROLINE KEPNES
The first book, You, stands strongly on its own, and I'm not invested enough in Joe's story to continue on.
THE TIME QUINTET BY MADELEINE L'ENGLE
I read A Wrinkle in Time back in March to prepare for its movie release (I shared some thoughts in my Books I Read in March post) and sadly didn't enjoy it like most people have. A lot of the hidden themes didn't make sense to me—I can't imagine how it would be for younger readers. Perhaps I just enjoy books that don't leave things open-ended? Also, I still haven't seen the movie ... 👀
THE REIGN OF SHADOWS DUOLOGY BY SOPHIE JORDAN
There wasn't anything I extremely disliked in Reign of Shadows, I just have no interest in following this story anymore. I feel this way about a lot of the books on this list—they're not downright dreadful, I just have many more better books to read.
THE MADMAN'S DAUGHTER TRILOGY BY MEGAN SHEPHERD
I listened to the first book in this series and cringed the whole way through ... the narrator would make these raspy/growling voices, which added to the atmosphere but definitely gave me second-hand embarrassment. In addition, there were bad cases of insta-love, AND a love triangle. (I normally don't mind either, but only if they're done well.) I can't decide if it would've been different had I read the book instead, but either way I'm okay with leaving this series behind.
THE ARCANA CHRONICLES BY KRESLEY COLE
This is another series I started by listening to the first book, Poison Princess, and I felt the same way as I did while listening to The Madman's Daughter. I don't know how to describe these characters in a coherent way—all I can say is: I can't even. It might just be the way the narrators spoke, but even so I don't want to read on because the "romance" was bad. And I think paranormal isn't for me so I should probably stay away. This is why I no longer read fiction via audiobook, lol.
THE NIGHTSONG TRILOGY BY SOPHIE JAFF
Love is Red was the featured book during my internship at HarperCollins Publishers three years ago. We got to see the cover process, its publicity package, and even meet the author. It was an experience I'll always be grateful for, but still I did not like this book. It was poetic, and creepy, and fantastical, and thrilling—the list could go on and on. I have no problems with books that can be categorized under multiple genres (Ryan Graudin is the best at this!) but it felt more like she couldn't decide what to write.
A WICKED THING SERIES BY RHIANNON THOMAS
A Wicked Thing takes place right after the Sleeping Beauty we all know wakes up from true love's kiss. But what happens after? I'm all about fairy tale retellings (thank you, Disney) but the execution for this story was, I hate to say, disappointing. Not much happens because Aurora is locked up in her room most of the time, and the lack of action/plot made it dull.
THE MAZE RUNNER SERIES BY JAMES DASHNER
I read the first book in this series, The Maze Runner, a LONG time ago on recommendation from one of my college housemates who loved it way before the movie was even announced. It's just been too many years since I've been in that world, and now there are many more dystopian stories I'd rather pick up. I could probably be convinced to watch the rest of the movies (if you've seen them, please tell me if they're worth it or not) but I'm okay with not knowing what happens next. Maybe I'll look on Wikipedia if I get curious 😂
THE SALT & STORM DUOLOGY BY KENDALL KULPER
Salt & Storm is another book with details that escape me. (I did, however, read it four years ago so I don't feel too bad about that.) I know the story was somewhat interesting because I finished it, but it moved slowly so it was hard to get through. Like I mentioned earlier, my reading tastes have changed—or rather, I know the type of books I like now, so I'm okay skipping out on Drift & Dagger.
🖤🖤🖤
Are there any series you're not reading anymore?
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