Top Ten Tuesday is a feature hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl. This week’s theme is: Winter 2018 TBR
(I am not doing that topic though, because I wanted to do this one instead! This fun one about books that just were not for me in 2018!)
I did this last year, and it was heaps of fun! So, I wanted to do it again this year! Fun fact, there is a book that I just read that will make this list, but since I haven’t reviewed it yet (and will!) I didn’t add it. Intrigued, aren’t you? Now, I suppose I could read some real stinkers between now and the end of the month, but I guess we’ll just have to save ’em for next year!
I’m going to list these in chronological order of when I read them. Links are there. And click “my thoughts” if you want to read my reviews! (Some of them are kind of amusing tbh.)
Read: March 16 (Guess things were pretty good til this point, eh?)
Rating: 
Starting this off nice and controversially! This, incidentally, is the highest rated book on the list, but also probably the one that bummed me out the most, because I was so sure I’d love it. And like I said, it wasn’t terrible or anything- I just found it wayyy too easy. Especially considering how epic the first two books are. Pitchforks down, please!
Read: March 19 (Idk guys it was a bad week I guess?)
Rating: 
Actually, I didn’t even end up reviewing this one cause I didn’t have a ton to say. I adore Louise O’Neill and have had nothing but glowing praise and awesomeness for her books… until this one. I rave to anyone who will listen about Only Ever Yours. The importance of Asking For It cannot be understated. This… isn’t those. I hated the main character, and was just bored the whole way through. I didn’t connect to the MC, or any decision she made, and just… sadness.
Read: March 31
Rating:
Le sigh. I generally adore unique formatting, but alas, this one wasn’t a win. In fact, the formatting may have actually worked against the thing, because when characters with no personality to distinguish them are texting and emailing and such… well how the heck am I supposed to tell them apart? The little development they did have was just to tell me I didn’t like them. Nor did I care about the story because it was predictable but also I could not have cared less about the characters. Oops?
Read: April 10
Rating: 
This was sadness too. The thing is, there are parts that I genuinely did like about this book! The characters were really well done, and I did find the world fascinating. It was just so, so slowwww. It took me so long to get through it that I was starting to get angry. Plus, I think that it didn’t help that we legit find out what happens to at least half the characters within the first few pages. Took away a lot of the excitement for me. That said, I wouldn’t fully rule out reading the next book? Or at least giving it a try.
Read: April 12
Rating:
A road trip book that I did not love? Womp womp. Here’s the reason: The hate, especially the Muslim hate. I even asked my pal Rashika to let me know if I was outside my lane here, because I am not in this community, but she seemed inclined to agree that hate is just not okay. The straight up vitriol thrown at Muslims, especially more conservative/religious folks, really rubbed me the wrong way. And it was definitely not just Muslims who were hated on- though they did bear the brunt. I just couldn’t. Maybe I missed some kind of bigger message, but… nope I got nothing.
Read: May 15
Rating:
I really enjoyed the first book in this series! So I was looking forward to this one. But alas, this was just a yawn fest. I didn’t like the plot as much at all, it was just… meh. Kind of generic fantasy? And the “ship” was not at all what I was hoping for- and I didn’t really feel anything, so.
Read: July 4
Rating:
Could not suspend disbelief. Basically nothing the MC did made any sense to me- and not just like “hm, she made choices I wouldn’t have made”, more like “hmmm, she made choices that no human being with a basic survival instinct and a handful of brain cells would make”. I usually love survival stories, but this one was just too much. Also, I hate hate hate the “lies of omission/communication would have solved everything in Chapter 2” trope.
Read: July 11
Rating:
Idk, not much happened! There was some creepy “bonding” for at least the first half of the book. Where are my space adventures!? Of course, the last say, 10% of the book had to go and be bonkers incredible, so now I kind of want to give the next book a try. We’ll see!
Read: July 17
Rating:
The story itself was quite interesting, in a “wow, let’s capitalize on Handmaid’s success ASAP” sort of way. Point is, I was definitely intrigued and wanted to keep reading. The problem? The insufferable MC and her decisions that made zero sense on any level. Also the end was wayyyy too easy and I hate that.
Read: July 19
Rating:
Oh wow I just did not care about anyone in this book. I didn’t hate the MC, but all her friends were trash and I didn’t even care that she didn’t talk to them anymore. There was an actually decent twist but I was so apathetic and bored that by that point, I gave so, so few fucks.
Read: July 21
Rating:
I just have no idea what happened here. There were some animal-human bonding things, and family… stuff? The author clearly put a lot of love and soul into this world, and it showed. I will definitely pick up his next book, even if I have no freaking clue what went on in this one.
Read: August 24
Rating:
Hi, how is a Frankenstein book super dull? I have no idea, but this made me the saddest little bird of ever. And like, all the characters were garbage which I was fine with, but did they have to be boring garbage? That was my issue. Please bring me only interesting trash heaps, please and thank you.
Read: September 18
Rating:
A lot of people loved this! I just… happened to not be among them? Look, the writing was lovely, as was the atmosphere, and I will definitely give this author another go. This book just didn’t work for me. Maybe I didn’t “get it”? All I know was that nothing happened and I have no idea why anyone wants to be in World War Narnia ?♀️
So, how about you all? Which book(s) have really bummed you guys out this year?
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I’ll admit, I’d love to visit Narnia, but only if the good guys were on the throne. The White Witch must be gone! 😀
I liked ‘Dark Descent’ fine, but it wasn’t my favorite book.
Hope 2019 has all kinds of good reads in store for you, Shannon! 🙂
The thing is, in THIS book there was no actual fleshing out of the Narnia-type land. Like- that was what bugged me, it was never really described, so I couldn’t wrap my head around why the MC wanted to be there- the only thing we are shown is a crappy war?
I think my expectations for Dark Descent may have factored in a bit here ?
LOVE this! I hate it when books let us down. I felt the same way about All Of This Is True. Wanted to love that one, but no…
I feel like we are NOT alone based on a lot of reviews I have seen. Shame, though!
Obsidio- I kinda get that. I mean I liked it but Gemina was the high water mark of that series for me, and there was a big thing that happened late in Obsidio that later was… undone, for want of a better word? You probably know what I mean haha, but yeah that killed some of my enthusiasm and buy-in. The Other Side Of Lost I’m just skipping, even though I liked her previous book.
Blackfish City… yeah.
YES that is exactly it! What was the point then? Why did I read ALLL of that? Plus, I KNEW that was going to happen. It was too predictable! I mean- for a series that started out so awesome, it fell far for me. Even though I feel like most people still enjoyed it.
The Other Side of Lost… yeah- just keep the nice memories of the last book ? Actually- did you read Things We Know By Heart? THAT is a good one. And I know people RAVE about Golden, I think was her debut?
I high key felt guilty putting Blackfish City on this list but… I had to be honest!
Sometimes one needs to be a bit controversial, haha. 😉 I was pretty bummed out by Valiant. One of two 1 star reads for me this year.
Aw NO that stinks! It’s always sad when a book is THAT rough!
I remember reading your review of The Other Side of Lost earlier this year. There were a few books that I didn’t really care for that I read too. I think Furyborn could have done without the Prologue. I’m personally interested in how it gets to be that way, but maybe a twist would be more interested (I’m currently in the middle of the audiobook).
YES that is exactly it! Whyyyy do a prologue in this case? I mean- I actually wanted to know too, but it just got so LONG that I stopped caring as much? I do hope you enjoy the rest of it though! I DO think it picked up a lot but it could have been shorter hahah
“Please bring me only interesting trash heaps” hahahaha I’m dying??. I did kind of like that book though?? It did drag at times though– I totally agree. Maybe I just liked it because it was short. I always like shorter books better.
I totally agree about ALL OF THIS IS TRUE though. I should’ve listened to you and NOT even tried it. Worst book I read all year. Bad writing, bad twists, bad characters– just bad. And I almost liked SEE ALL THE STARS, but I knew what was going on with the best friend. I’m usually not good at knowing the twists, but that one was obv to me the moment she talked to her at school in the present. So yeah– if I know the twist that early the book is totally ruined.
I completely love reading posts like this. My Slytherin heart loves hearing the rants 🙂
That;s the thing, it DID drag and for a book that short… you shouldn’t be dragging! Maybe my expectations were too high, honestly!
All of This Is True. I am still stabby! And Idk why but I was so BORED by See All The Stars! I felt kind of bad not liking that one.
I feel like I have more Slytherin in me than I thought I did, because I DO love a rant! ?
Oh bummer. I remember liking Obsidio, maybe not as much as the previous books since it had been too long since I read them before reading this one. But I liked it. I tried reading Furyborn since there was SOOO much hype surrounding it, but I honestly didn’t make it past the prologue because I could tell right away that the book wasn’t going to be for me.
Nice topic change! Though I feel like I wouldn’t really be able to do this one well! At least not with the whole 10 picks! Which I guess is also good!
Here’s my Tuesday Post
Have a GREAT day!
Old Follower 🙂
Aw thanks! And I think most people liked Obsidio a LOT more than I did, which I am glad about! And like I said, it wasn’t BAD, it just… was a bummer hahah. Probably a good call with Furyborn- it took me literal weeks to finish!
Some well lauded books up there. I see two of my favorites on your list, which makes me sad. I have to agree with you about Mariam Sharma. I had liked the author’s previous book, but Sharma was so negative. I did love Umar, and I saw glimmers of their great friendship, but I need things to be a little more positive and upbeat, and I ended up DNFing this one.
AW sad! I know you enjoyed some of these, which I am quite happy about- I’d rather you like them and us disagree 😀 Miriam Sharma was REALLY upsetting to me. I mean, I get that Muslim people can be annoyed with other Muslim people and that’s totally legit! We all get irritated by certain things aspects of our culture- especially when it comes to younger. more liberal people versus a more conservative sect. But I also felt like that was ALL it was, and it started to really rub me the wrong way! And then add in the slut shaming and the girl-on-girl hate and NOPE so much nope.
Noooo I loved Obsidio.?But like fair enough! I found a lot of books disappointed me this year, and I’m not sure if my expectations were too high or if half the time I just expected something ELSE. (How dare u books not read my mind. Sheesh.) And yeah All Of This Is True was awful and Furyborn was really … nope.? I still have to read The Light Between Worlds and Elizabeth Frankenstein (sheesh I CANNOT spell that title) but I’m a little bit nervous about them tbh. I haven’t heard great things.?Another of my disappointments was Iron Gold…and also Mirage unfortunately.
I am REALLY glad that most people love Obsidio, and I am glad you did! I kind of hate being the black sheep on this one hahha. I also REALLY hope you end up liking The Light Between Worlds and Elizabeth Frankenstein. The writing of The Light Between worlds is absolutely lovely, and I WILL be reading the author’s next book, this one just reaaallly wasn’t for me. Idk what happened with me and Elizabeth, guess we didn’t click? Mirage was okay for me- not terrible but not mind-blowing either. Sigh, you’re right, books should read our minds!
I’m impressed that you kept track of the books you read and disliked. Generally, I don’t keep track of stuff like this. It’s a smart idea, though.
Here is our Top Ten Tuesday.
Aw thanks! I probably would not have remembered if it wasn’t for Goodreads hahah. But I scrolled through the entire 2018 Challenge Books list and was able to jar my memory 😉
So, a couple of these, the only ones I’ve read actually, we’ll have to agree to disagree on. 🙂 I actually enjoyed Furyborn, although it definitely took a while to get into, so I’ll give you that. And I also just finished The Dark Descent of Elizabeth Frankenstein, and enjoyed it as well. But I can see the issues you had with it as well. I haven’t read any of the other books on your list, although I have read the Illuminae Files first book, and enjoyed it, need to read on. A little disappointed to hear Obsidio didn’t live up. But we’ll see when I get there. Great post! I might have to do a post like this myself!
I am glad that you ended up liking them! Honestly I hope it is just me, because I WANT people to enjoy them- especially since they aren’t problematic or anything, just didn’t happen to work for me. And hey, you may end up liking Obsidio too, lots of people did! You should make a post like it, I’d love to see which books disappointed for you!
Gahhh. So sorry you didn’t like Obsidio?! Not getting out the pitchforks, but I do think it’s a pity. Not everyone can like the same book though – and that’s perfectly okay, haha!
As for The Raging Ones.. SKIES. I remember being torn about it? The ending made up for a LOT but there were to many other things that got on my nerves. Especially how all three characters have such different backgrounds and yet they succeed at talking / thinking in the same sophisticated way? It didn’t make sense. [But I have this thing where I need to FEEL the difference between POV’s and that simply wasn’t the case with that one, haha.]
Furyborn, The Other Side of Lost, Vox and The Dark Descent of [..] are all on my TBR still. Now I’m.. quite curious to see how I’ll end up thinking about those.. Hm..
I was VERY sad to not like Obsido! But I am glad you did! YES I agree with you SO MUCH about Raging Ones. UGHH and then the ending had to go and be fabulous which makes me want to read the next one but it was mostly NOT good so… I am torn too! I hope you end up loving them! They were mostly just personal preferences that made me dislike them, though I’d be VERY curious to see what you think of Vox especially (because I think that one was more of one that would irk more people than just me hah!)
I hate when books bum me out!! I still need to get to Obisidio but I have already lowered my expectations so hopefully it doesn’t bum me out.
Aw I really hope Obsidio ends up working well for you! If not… well you know who to rant to ?
Oh no! I have Dark Descent out from the library right now! I don’t have high expectations so hopefully I won’t be disappointed. I’ve seen a lot of good things about Vox but it doesn’t sound like the book for me so I think I’ll be skipping it. Especially after seeing it here.
I hope you enjoy Dark Descent! It has its merits, it was just too slow for me. Vox… I mean there ARE definitely positives, but the negatives are pretty huge too!
Wow, you read some terrible books. Don’t worry, I did, too. I’m sad to see Vox and Obsidio on this list. I hope I like them more than you did. I’m planning on reading both of them in some century.
I hope you like them too, in whichever century you read them! I definitely need to know your thoughts too- especially on Vox!
Sorry you had some dud books this year. I keep seeing Vox absolutely everywhere, but it doesn’t interest me at all. I am sad about Obsidio being on here though, but I guess I can handle it being three stars. LOL I really want to re-read the first two before reading that.
-Lauren
Hopefully you will LOVE Obsidio much like everyone else does! And Vox… UGH I want people to read it only so I can discuss it with them but that seems unfair ?
It’s always sad when a book ends up disappointing us. Hope you have a great week.
It really is! And thanks, you too!
I totally agree on Almost Love, I loved Asking For It, but I felt like Almost Love was a bit of a let down, I also tried Only Ever Yours this year and couldn’t get through it, so I’m hoping that Louise O’Neill wasn’t a one trick pony for me! Other disappointments: Sea Witch, I was really excited for a Ursula origin story, but it was just boring. I also tried All The Crooked Saints and couldn’t finish it, so that was a disappointment because I loved The Raven Cycle by the same author. Midnight by Derek Landy was kind of a disappointment too, as I love the Skulduggery Pleasant series and it just wasn’t as good as some of the previous books. Hero At The Fall was a big disappointment as I was expecting more from that series finale, and The Burning Maze also just wasn’t as good as I’ve come to expect from Rick Riordan. Days of Blood and Starlight and Crooked Kingdom were also kind of letdowns as I had enjoyed the first books in the series a lot more.
My TTT: https://jjbookblog.wordpress.com/2018/12/18/top-ten-tuesday-190/
Oh NO I am so sorry that you didn’t love Only Ever Yours! I found it to be phenomenal, but I know not everyone agrees- and I DO hope that the author’s books work for you in the future! UGH Sea Witch, I didn’t read it even though I loved the sound of it and wow, I am glad I decided not to! I have a feeling I won’t love All the Crooked Saints, either, sad. Hero at the Fall REALLY saddens me- kind of makes me want to not bother even reading the second book now! Seriously, why are series SO hit or miss? Makes me nervous to even get invested!
I dnf’d more this year so I avoided most of that and I’m being super wimpy in that I haven’t read my most anticipated books yet because I’ve heard bad things lol
Karen @ For What It’s Worth
HA good for you for DNFing! I just DNFed my first book in over a year and a half- so rest assured it’ll be on next year’s list hahha. I feel you with the wimpy thing- especially since said DNF WAS a super anticipated one, ugh. WHY are books so hard!?
Ugh, totally agree about All of This Is True. The description made it seem like I should have loved it, but I couldn’t stand the characters and it was way too slow of a story for a “mystery/thriller.” There was kind of an interesting twist at the end, but 400+ pages to get to a just okay twist? Bleh.
YES that is exactly it- it was awesome in THEORY but… that’s it. ?
I haven’t read any of these, thank glob. I don’t know how you are going to feel about this. True story, I was about to download both Vox and The Dark Descent in Netgalley but then I checked your reviews both times beforehand. I trust your reading tastes enough that I know not to start reading a book that you don’t recommend. So how should I put this, sorry that these books turned out to be disappointments for you but thank you because your early reviews averted a reading crisis for me.
It’s a good reading year for me, overall. My only low star ratings for 2018 are So Glad to Meet You by Lisa Super and Watch You Burn by Amanda Searcy.
AWWW you are the best! I feel like I DEFINITELY saved you from Vox because some of the stuff would have made you stabby hahha. And I was just so underwhelmed by Dark Descent! Which was a huuuuge disappointment because I was fully expecting to love it. Glad you avoided them though!
And WOW that is AWESOME. I hope next year is just as great for you!
I was also really bummed out by Obsidio and Furyborn. They were two of my really highly anticipated reads of the year and both really let me down. I’m still eager to read The Light Between Worlds though!
I hope you enjoy The Light Between Worlds! The writing is incredible, if that helps! And UGH same. I am so sorry that they didn’t work for you, too.
How is a Frankenstein book super dull? I blame the original Shelley creation. Which was SUPER dull. Maybe it just emulated the source material too well? Haven’t read any of these. I did wind up with a number of 1-star reads this year, but I don’t know that many of them bummed me out? They were usually my “reality tv” reads and I wasn’t expecting much, you know? Although now I think of it, I’m still ticked over Lake Silence. Five brilliant books followed by that…grr. So maybe more enraged than bummed? Close enough? 🙂
Confession: I did not read the original Frankenstein, so. WHOA I didn’t even have any 1 stars (well- not YET because I just finished one that might be getting a 1.5, and another that I DNFed ha) Ooooooh no, was it that bad? UGH why do series have to DO THIS!??
I can’t say I recommend it. Though I do have a fun review/summary of it populated by Emperor’s New Groove gifs if you need to get the general feel for comparison purposes. 😉 In the books’ defense, my one-stars might be other people’s two stars. I’m still not exactly sure how that works, but I know my stars tend to be lower than most people’s. (Like 3 stars = I liked it. Looks like just about everyone else uses 4-5 stars for that.) And yes, Lake Silence was unfortunately THAT bad. I think I still gave it 2 stars for “okay,” but it was such a letdown in so many ways, I had to write a little Goodreads rant for myself. (Didn’t want to clog the blog with that much negativity. I try to restrict my rants there to semi-humorous ones.)
I haven’t read Obsidio yet Shannon, or even Gemina for that matter but for much the same reason that you didn’t like Obsidio. I love the writing duo of Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff but I feel like they’re just churning out the same storylines for each book, like Meagan Spooner and the Shattered World series. Yes, there’s a new couple introduced in each book but it just feels so incredibly tired. I love the Starbound series but all the other series are starting to feel the same for me.
Oh I’ll be burnt at the stake for this ?
DUDE that is it! Like- Illuminae was my first from either author, and i LOVED IT. But Gemina, while still decent, was a little less of a win for me, and Obsidio felt like a regurgitation, and I wanted some twists and such! Now I wonder if the Starbound series will feel stale for me since I read Illuminae first- I really hope not because I want to love it! And I read Lifelike (or however that’s spelled) and was suuuuuuper underwhelmed. (YEP we’re both being attacked for this ??)
One of my biggest bummers this year was The 7 1/2 Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle. I was so disappointed in it and it took me three months to read.
Oh NO that is so sad! And wow, three months?! You are a champ for finishing it!
“Bookish Bummers” – I love the title. I do. So sad these books didn’t work for you, but I guess there’s no such thing as time wasted reading.
My TTT: https://dinaratengri.com/2018/12/ten-books-i-want-to-read-this-winter/ (I hope none of them are bummers)
Aw thanks! And I totally agree with you- there’s merit even in the crappy ones! I hope none of your books are bummers too!
Too bad you were disappointed in The Dark Descent of Elizabeth Frankenstein. I was looking forward to reading that one!!
I sincerely hope that you have better luck with it! It definitely had its positives, so you might!
The Raging Ones and See All the Stars didn’t work for me either…
Lauren @ Always Me
Oh this is a great idea for a post, I love it! Though I am sad to see that there are many books that bummed you out this year :/ I’m sorry to hear about Obsidio – I haven’t read that one just yet, I’ve been curious and impatient and also so, so, very nervous to get around to it and… I just haven’t haha. I really want to read The Other Side of Lost, but… it’s good to hear about the protagonist not making realistic decisions, that tend to annoy me a whole lot :/
Wonderful post! 🙂
Okay, I’m sad that you didn’t like Obsidio because I really loved it, and this book is doing something wonky to our book twinness. Maybe I went in with lower expectations? I’m not that surprised about Furyborn, though I gave it a full star more than you—I listened to that one, and slow books work WAY better for me this way. In fact, I specifically saw that you thought the book was slow and decided to listen to it, so I have you to thank for the fact that I liked it as much as I did. The storyline was tough to follow because of the back-and-forth as well, but I loved some of the worldbuilding and the daughter character (I long ago forgot their names).
Noooo so sad to hear about Obsidio! Oh man, Furyborn was on my most disappointing list as well especially through all the hype. AND YES IT SPOILT ITSELF I was so salty. All of This Is True was so disappointing as well! Great list Shannon!