Top 5… books that didn’t exceed my expectations
Good morning bookworms!
Today’s Top 5 Tuesday is top 5 books that exceeded my expectations… but, ahhh, if only I had read further down Shanah’s list than just the topic for the 4th last week… If I had, then last week’s post would have been… this week’s post!! So, instead I’m kind of swapping them around. *cough* Also, I’d like to apologise in advance, because I started off somewhat nice… and then end up in a screaming pile of shoutiness and finger pointing. (I don’t know what happened?!)
Top 5 Tuesday is hosted by the super lovely Shanah over at the Bionic Bookworm. You can visit her here, and join in for Top 5 Tuesday by checking out all the amazing topics that are coming up!
Books that didn’t meet my expectations
A Darker Shade of Magic – V. E. Schwab
Why yes, let’s start at the most recent one! ADSOM was… less eventful than I expected. Also, pretty predictable in the ways that it probably shouldn’t be… but also totally unpredictable in the ways that it shouldn’t be… Look, I just want to scream about the Dane twins some more, but also, spoilers… so I won’t.
The world building was cool. Schwab’s style of nothing is coincidental is cool. Kell was an unsalted, boiled potato wrapped in a wet blanket. Lila needed to be grounded, with double chores, no pocket money and detention for a month. Holland probably needed a nice tropical holiday.
LIFEL1K3 – Jay Kristoff
Honestly, I’m starting to wonder if it’s less “it’s not you, it’s me” and more that it’s Jay. Which is hard for me to say because I genuinely like what I have seen of Jay as a person – he’s a cool guy. But fuck me, this book was boring. Or maybe I just shouldn’t read dystopian books. Who knows?!
Anyway, I didn’t like Lemon Fresh, Cricket was too much of an annoying goody-two-shoes (yes, I know that it was deliberate because he’s supposed to be the Jiminy Cricket / conscience of the story but he took it TOO far), Ezekiel was borderline stalking, and there was just a lot of Christianity references. Eve and Silas were the most interesting characters, but then Eve became less interesting (the reveal wasn’t that surprising) and Silas won’t be back for book two. Also, I have an ARC of DEV1AT3 and I DNF’ed it. Also, in my head Preacher looks like McCree, so even though I want to hate him I kind of can’t.
King’s Cage – Victoria Aveyard
I still don’t know what this book was. Which was a huge shame because I really enjoyed Red Queen and Glass Storm. But it took like 400 pages and my will to live to massacre this series. The only thing that happened in King’s Cage was a freaking rehash of everything in the first two books. Mare finally stopped fucking whining, only for Cameron to start. And she did the exact same whining. Like, why are we getting a younger Mare when this one finally started getting better?!
Also, what the fuck is going on with Cal and Maven? Am I supposed to hate them both? Because I do. Shade was the only good character in this series and then look what happened to him. AGAIN.
I still haven’t read War Storm because I’m not sure my attention can last that long without me wanting to scratch my eyes out.
A Court of Frost and Starlight – Sarah J Maas
Oh. My. God. I apologise in advance, because every time this book is mentioned I start ranting. R-A-N-T-ing. Nesta was very poorly treated by Maas in this book and it BOILS MY BLOOD.
Just in case you can’t tell, Nesta is my fave of the Archeron sisters. By a mile. Feyre is annoying and preachy (she used to be cool), and Elain is a waste of ink and paper. But seriously, Maas took my sassy, smart-mouthed, sarcastic, snobby, RBF, witty queen – and slut-shamed and excluded her. How freaking dare you, Maas. As if Nesta isn’t dealing with her issues her own way. As if Nesta’s way is worse than Feyre getting drunk and spending her money. As if Nesta hasn’t been through hell and back and is dealing with her PTSD on her own terms. AS IF Nesta can’t use her body how she wants to, and if she wants to have sex, MORE POWER TO HER.
On a group chat with some friends we were talking about the new ACOTAR covers (awful) and inevitably the conversation turned to what have been dubbed the Nessian books. I may have started ranting, but in doing so, provided my friends with what I think Maas can do to apologise for that travesty of a book. In no uncertain terms, this is how I would plot the next book: Cassian takes Nesta to the Illyrian camp for “help” (Feyre’s term), Nesta sleeps with everyone at camp except Cassian, Cassian Hulk-rages out, they have massive fight, world discovers that what Nesta took from the Cauldron was more power than Cassian and Nesta gets to wear pretty jewels to help direct her power. Green ones to match her eyes. Then she emancipates all the women at the camps. The end. You’re welcome, Maas.
Darkdawn – Jay Kristoff
Oh yeah, we’re going there. So, I think I read a different book from everyone who loved the ending to the Nevernight Chronicle. Because there was no crying and no screaming and no hugging, which is very unlike me. Which leads me to believe one of two things happened: I was over-prepared for the level of “heartbreak, despair and anguish”, or I read a totally different book from everyone else. Even Mister Kindly was annoying in this one.
Maybe it’s because I’ve heard Jay say on NUMEROUS occasions that the ending to this series will end in total death and destruction. (I was prepared and even somewhat excited for this.) That this ending was the ending that Mia deserved. (No, Mia deserved better than that.) That of the THREE endings he drafted, this was the least DEPRESSING. (You know why, because it wasn’t depressing at all.) This was basically a HEA ending, and I FEEL CHEATED. Like, where’s my apocalyptic, end of the world, mayhem everywhere, world imploding ending? Fucking sitting on the edge of a lake making out. BOOOOOOOOOOOO!!
What was a book that you… weren’t quite as fond of as you had hoped to be?
Also, have you read any of these? Please tell me that I’m not alone!!
22 Comments
Veronika @ Wordy and Whimsical
Ugh, it’s the worst when an author promises death and destruction and doesn’t deliver. Cassandra Clare did that with the Mortal Instruments – she made a bloody video saying that FIVE important characters would die… and then the worst, most boring ones died. And their death was swept under the table by the end. Annoying. I feel like author don’t *have to* write the most disturbing, heartbreaking endings, but then don’t promise that?? I honestly hated Nevernight, BUT I have to say, based on the first book I’d definitely expect lots of death and heartbreak.
I feel you on the Red Queen books. I loved, loved, LOVED the first book, but – unlike you – I ended up giving up on the series during the second book. I was so angry, because I’d already bought the third book as well, but I just couldn’t make myself continue. I remember the MC’s best friend annoyed the hell out of me, he was so damn useless and just kept whining about it instead of DOING! SOMETHING!
Great post! 🙂
Meeghan reads
Thanks Veronika!! I didn’t realise CC had done a video about TMI, but like… I can’t even remember who died so they must not have been that important!!
Sofii @ A Book. A Thought.
I just published my reviews of the Red Queen series and I feel you … I loved the first book a lot, but from there it goes downhill. if helps, I enjoyed the last book a little more than the secuels, I still think it was quite disappointing, but it has very good action scenes and I LOVE Evangeline ?
Meeghan reads
Oooh, Evangeline’s POV in King’s Cage was the best thing about it. You’re convincing me to add it back onto my TBR, Sophie!! Also, I will get to your reviews!! I’m really behind on blog-hopping!!
Holly
Hahaha I love your descriptions of the characters in A Darker Shade of Magic–so true!
Meeghan reads
I was so cranky last night when I wrote that post… but also, ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
thepunktheory
If Maas doesn’t write the new book like that, do me a favor and do it yourself! I already love your outline.
Meeghan reads
SOLD!! My instagram friends said the same thing. I’ll start working on the fanfic now. We can pretend it’s canon!! ?
evelynreads1
I was also very disappointed with ACOFAS, it could have been so much better!
(www.evelynreads.com)
Meeghan reads
*sigh* It’s the dashed hopes that are the worst part!!
Monogamist Reader
I loved this post!! I felt the same about all those titles!! except LIFEL1K3 because I haven’t read it. But the Red Queen series… I have the last book on my shelf taking dust because I don’t have the strength to read it.
Meeghan reads
Saaaaaaame!! War Storm is just sitting on my bookshelf mocking me… (but I don’t care… but also I just want to be done with the series so maybe I care a little bit?!)
Monogamist Reader
I feel you!!
_tirilu
I heard that so often about Darkdawn. I think it’s one of those books where people either love it or hate it. I don’t know. I didn’t particularly like Mia in the first book, so I’m not even going there.
Same for ADSOM. Didn’t particularly like it. It took me three times to get into this book, a problem I have with VE Schwab’s books a lot. Which is sad, because the premises are always so good and I want to like them. I really do. And I loved City of Ghosts and Tunnel of Bones. There has to be something about those other books as well, right? ?
Meeghan reads
Uhhh, maybe?! I finished ADSOM on my fourth try reading it, and only because I was buddy reading it AND I pushed myself to finish it. It’s just got a really slow start!!
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Jess // Comfort Reads Book Blog
Every time I see someone mention A Court of Frost and Starlight it makes me very glad I never read it. 😛
Meeghan reads
As much as I enjoyed ACOTAR and even ACOMAF, I sometimes wished that I had never read ACOWAR or ACOFAS… ?
theorangutanlibrarian
hehehe I enjoyed that rant on ACOFAS (I really didn’t like that book either) Shame about ADSOM, but you’re very fair about it. Oh gosh I really agree with you about king’s cage!!
Meeghan reads
Hahahahaha, thank you!! I did get my rant on… but, so long as they are valid points!! ??
Rukky @ Eternity Books
I so loved reading this Meegs!! And Lila does deserve all that and so much more. I haven’t read any of the other books (yet…) but I have seen that Darkdawn seems to be an “either you totally love it or completely hate it” kind of book. And a book that recently didn’t meet my expectations at all is The Queen of Nothing. I have so much to say about that book and I should honestly probably review it next. I am so so so upset with how that series ended ?
Meeghan reads
Ooooh!! I’m intrigued!! I hope you do post your review soon (although I am obscenely behind on blog hopping…)