I recently shared all of the book series that I am in the middle of and want to continue on with, so today I am talking about all of the series I have decided to DNF. I just have to many series on the go to commit to a series I am not invested in!
Chaos Walking
I actually really enjoyed The Knight of Never Letting Go when I read it years ago, but something happened that made me so mad and broke my heart. I haven’t been able to continue on with the series and I know I never will at this point. It is being adapted, which I am a little bit weary about but I am also very curious. I will have to look up some reviews of it before watching!
A Darker Shade of Magic
![Top 10] Ten Reasons Why You Should Read The Darker Shade of Magic Series by V.E. Schwab – faerieontheshelf](https://s2982.pcdn.co/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/A-Darker-Shade-of-Magic-VE-Schwab-Series-Book-Covers-1024x513.png?w=640)
I don’t know what it is but there is just something about V.E. Schwab’s writing that I don’t connect with. I absolutely loved the premise of A Darker Shade of Magic, but I never found myself deeply invested. The books are just way to long for me to end up just thinking that they are okay.
Cassidy Blake
Another series from Schwab! In theory I should love these books but City of Ghosts was not my favourite. I loved the setting, the atmosphere, and the characters, but again I just think it is something about the writing style that doesn’t work for me.
The Lunar Chronicles
The Lunar Chronicles is another example of loving the premise more than the execution. A SciFi retelling of classic fairytales has so much potential, but I never connected to any of the characters. I read both Cinder and Scarlet before realizing that the series was ultimately not for me.
The Raven Cycle
Ah I know that The Raven Cycle is so beloved and many people’s favourite series, but Maggie Stiefvater is another author whose writing style I cannot get into for some reason! That pains me because I love the idea of The Raven Cycle and I also read The Scorpio Races where I had similar feelings. I really should sit down and explore why certain writing styles don’t work for me!
The Simple Wild
I know that this is going to be controversial because I see The Simple Wild everywhere but I really did not like it, especially as a romance. I was more intrigued by the setting and the main character’s relationship with her father than I was by the love story. I thought that it was an example of hate-to-love that went too far!
Stalking Jack the Ripper
As much as I did enjoy Stalking Jack the Ripper, I am happy to think of it as a standalone! I don’t think I need to read more from this world or these characters.
Montague Siblings
While I did enjoy The Gentleman’s Guide to Vice and Virtue when I first read it, the author has since done some things that I am uncomfortable with and I don’t think I am missing anything by choosing to DNF the series!
Simon Snow
I recently unhauled Carry On, which pained me because of how beautiful the cover is! However, I just did not enjoy this book at all. I struggled to get into it and is one I probably should have DNFed. Safe to say I never planned on finishing the series!
All the Stars and Teeth
What is it about mermaid books that always sound so good but rarely ever work? I wouldn’t have read All the Stars and Teeth if it were not for a buddy read on Instagram, and, sadly, none of us enjoyed it. It is one of those books that I forgot about as soon as I was finished!
The Belles
The Belles had such a great premise and I did think the book was good, just not memorable enough for me to want to continue on with the series! There are so many series I am in the middle of, so I need to make sure I focus on the ones I am most interested in.
DC Icons
I love the concept of the DC Icons series and thought that Bardugo did some interesting things with Wonder Woman as a character, but I think I am realizing that I don’t care to read about superheroes! I will stick to the movies!
Legend
I absolutely adore Marie Lu, but I think I came to the Legend series too late. I would have loved it if I had read it when it came out and when everyone was raving about it! It is a series that feels very much of its time.
Red Queen
I actually read the first three books in this series and own the fourth book, but War Storm is just so long and I am not sure that I care enough about the characters to want to spend that much time with them.
Gemma Doyle
This is a series that I could be convinced to carry on with, but I would have to reread A Great and Terrible Beauty. I love the setting and the atmosphere, but the books are huge! It would be quite a time investment!
Tiny Pretty Things
Tiny Pretty Things is a duology, so I really should read Shiny Broken Pieces at some point. I thought the first book was fun and dramatic, but I am not sure I will ever actually prioritize it!
So that is it! Those are all the series I am giving up on! I would love to hear your thoughts on any of these!
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The only series I own from this list is The Raven Boys which I have owned for about 5 years now /cough/ unread. I’m having the same issue as you do, there is something in the writing that I just can’t get into! I’m going to give it a last try this year and if I can’t, I will donate the books🤔
I think that’s a good plan. There are a few books I want to do that with this year!
I LOVED the Cassidy Blake series! I audiobooked it though and the reader was fantastic. So I think that’s what made me love it even more. I’ve tried to pick up The Red Queen several times and I just… don’t care about what’s happening even though the idea sounds super interesting.
I should try the audiobooks!
I don’t think Red Queen is worth it. The first book is the only one that I really liked, so if you can’t get into that one it’s not worth it!
I’m so glad I’m not the only one who doesn’t connect with VE Schwab! I gave up on the Red Queen series after the second book; Mare was just starting to get too ridiculous.
I wish I loved VE Schwabs writing because her premises are amazing!
I can’t believe I even read the third book after the second one. It was just not good!
I actually loved the Legend series when I read it, but then again that was probably two years ago now. I might just find things different if I reread it!
I agree with you on the DC Icons. I read Wonder Woman: Warbringer and it was *alright* (Bardugo is much better at GrishaVerse novels, I think) but I don’t think I really connected with it. Maybe one day I’ll read the Batman one since I love Marie Lu, but not yet! 😅
Great post (:
Thank you! I enjoyed Legend but just wasn’t invested enough for whatever reason. I do love Marie Lu though. So the Batman book is tempted to me a little bit!
Tiny Pretty Things is on my TBR and maybe one of these days I’ll get to it. Maybe I should read it soon actually haha. I also had to add City of Ghosts to my TBR I’ve never read a Schwab book and I wouldn’t mind giving that one a try. I love the cover and the story sounds interesting enough. 🙂 I definitely loved reading this post and how you felt about some of these popular series. Happy reading!
So glad you enjoyed it!
I feel like City of Ghosts is the perfect way to get a taste for Schwabs writing!
You have no idea how refreshing it is to see someone else who has a hard time with VE Schwab’s writing. There’s just something about it that grates and I don’t know what it is. I constantly feel disconnected with the characters and the worldbuilding feels shallow (it’s not, but I feel like I’m missing a crucial connection).
It’s funny because I have talked to a few people who felt the same about her writing and can’t quite put it into worlds. I think you are right about not connecting with the characters and I’m such a character driven reader!
I pushed through The Red Queen just to finish it. I will say that War Storm was my favorite just because Evangeline was more present in the book and she’s my favorite
Ohh interesting. I do like Evangeline. It’s just such a long book 😂
I see you are dnfing the Raven Cycle, which is a pitty because it is really good, if you ever rethink keep reading one of these series i would definitly go for that one! Book it’s awesome that you can decide what to dfn like that! Awesome!
That’s good to know! I do have the audiobook for The first book so maybe I will try it again one of these days!
I’ve actually started several of these book series and own quite a few of them as well, but I think they’re also ones where if I didn’t finish them when I started them, then I’m probably not going to finish them at all.
That is exactly how I feel!
We had the same feeling about The Belles. We’re sad that you’re not continuing with SJTR series. The second book is actually are favorite.
I thought I had given up on the Gemma Doyle books — but then after a few years went by, I listened to the audiobook of the 1st, got interested all over again, and finished the trilogy. It was worth it! I also really enjoy the Simon Snow books, but I know people’s tastes vary. I seem to have issues with MAggie STiefvater as well — I like the writing usually, but not certain plot points. Never made it past the first book in the Raven Cycle, because the story didn’t actually match up with what I thought the focus would be.
Gemma Doyle is one that I would consider trying again! I hadn’t considered listening to the audiobooks, but that is a good idea!
I agree with The Raven Boys. I just didn’t get where the story was going!
Great list. I sometimes feel like I ‘should’ like books because so many other readers have, but there are many that, despite popular acclaim, just don’t work for me. As a note, I read the Gemma Doyle series years ago, and actually really liked it. If you can make it through Book 1, I recommend pressing on.
I am the same way!
Someone recommended the audiobooks, so I might try that!!
I gave up on the Lunar Chronicles too, although I keep toying with the idea of returning to them at some point. I liked Cinder but have disliked each book after that and haven’t yet read Winter.
The Belles didn’t captivate as I hoped, so I gave up on that too.
I liked Cinder too but really struggled with Scarlet!
I gave up on The Lunar Chronicles too! Cinder and Scarlet were great. But halfway through Cress I gave up. I HATED Cress as a character lol. I’m also not continuing The Raven Cycle. I really didn’t like the first one >.< I totally agree with SJTR. I enjoyed that one but now there are 4 books total and I'm just like what I thought it was a standalone lol There are a couple others on here that I gave up on after book 1 too. I like how you said Legend is definitely a book of it's time – I did finish it and LOVED it but idk if I would today. It's what happened with my reread of Shadow and Bone. It was crazy how much YA fantasy has progressed since S&B that it made me kind of dislike it when I reread it!
I have heard that about Cress! It is part of why I just never continued on.
It is so interesting to see how much YA fantasy has changed in such a short time!
I just recently read and finished the Raven Cycle. I loved The Raven Boys but after that first book it was all kind of meh to me. I really only finished them because I had the audiobooks from the digital library.
I think that audiobooks are so helpful for getting through series!