Top Ten Tuesday: Series I’ve Given Up On

Thanks to That Artsy Reader Girl for another great Top Ten Tuesday!

Indiana’s Five:

This one was tough for me because I’m usually pretty stubborn and like to finish books that I’ve started. But I admit, there have been series that I’ve let fall by the wayside.

Outlander by Diana Gabaldon

There’s a slew of reasons I don’t think I’ll have the patience to continue with this series. I just finished the first and there will be a review to come all about it.

Divergent by Veronica Roth

This one made a big splash a few years ago and I read it hoping to see what all the fuss was about. I couldn’t really get into it unfortunately and stopped after the first one.

Children of Blood and Bone by Tomi Adeyemi

Not sure if this one is actually going to be a series but I have a hunch that it will be and I don’t think I’ll be continuing it.

City of Bones by Cassandra Clare

I liked this one but I kinda forgot to keep going with the series, which is probably a sign that I didn’t enjoy it as much as I thought I did.

The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson

I absolutely loved the first three books. But with all the controversy going on after his death and with his family, I couldn’t bring myself to read the new book, which was written by someone else. It seem disingenuous.

Pete’s Five:

I’m the opposite of Indiana when it comes to finishing series. I have no problem quitting a series if it’s not working for me—and most of the time, this is after the first book.

The Expanse by James S. A. Corey

While I enjoyed the first book, Leviathan Wakes, I have never felt the pull to read the second one. Leviathan Wakes was a fun sci-fi mystery, but none of the characters grabbed me enough to read on.

Gentleman Bastard by Scott Lynch

I didn’t like anything about The Lies of Locke Lamora. It may be my least favorite fantasy novel of all time, mainly because I found Locke grating and never cracked a smile at Lynch’s attempts at humor. The characters were indistinguishable and passionless, and the book lacked conflict or progress. Have I gone too far? No, I don’t think I have. I’ve also heard that the sequels are disappointing—I find that hard to believe.

The Dandelion Dynasty by Ken Liu

The Grace of Kings was palatable, but the only characters I cared about were either killed, forgotten, or corrupted. The story also felt complete after just one book. I hear the sequel is better, but there’s nothing that would lead me to pick it up.

The Broken Earth by N. K. Jemisin

I was so excited for The Fifth Season after all I’d heard about it. It has a fascinating and unusual world, and characters I cared about quickly. However, the plot was meandering, and I never had a good sense of the stakes if the characters failed. This book was fine, but there are other series I’d rather finish.

Howl’s Moving Castle by Diana Wynne Jones

I liked Howl’s Moving Castle and found it stronger than the movie in some ways and weaker in others. The plot somehow slipped by me, and while I might read this one again, I don’t think I’ll read its sequels.