I’m so with you on Senlin. I’m impressed you even got through it. I tried it three (maybe four, it’s all a blurr) times and it put me to sleep over and over and over again. And you hit it exactly, how can a concept be this great and the reading experience be so very flat? I surrendered too. And Fourth Wing will undoubtedly win a Goodreads award but if there was an award for plot holes this book would be at the Nobel-level. There was no logic involved at any time by any character or by the author…but yes, the dragons were cool. LOL.
I skipped Fourth Wing because I thought it would be just like you explained. It makes me sad when people get so into “meh” books when there are so many amazing books out there.
I feel you! I know it's all subjective, but the hype for fourth wing this year has been interesting to say the least 😅 I'm happy ppl love it, though. It's also brought some new fantasy readers to the genre, which is nice!
I'm doing the same. I'm always so drawn in by other people's passions for a story but when my favorite book youtubers like Tori or PlantBasedBride have concerns, I know it won't be for me.
@@ToriMorrow I’m not very good at breaking down books but I’ll try! I think it’s mainly Sanderson doesn’t work for me because I have DNF Mistborn & Skyward as well after the first books. *spoilers below* - I’m more of a character driven reader and find this to be plot driven - Kaladin’s character arc is very repetitive and I’m not a fan of the ‘wounded soldier’ archetype. - Shallan was a bit more interesting so far in book 2… But she’s on the exact same journey as Kaladin was in book 1 which was boring the first time around, let alone the second. - the language is unexciting and bland and overall I find each character acts repetitively. - the plot meanders and falls flat. I feel like the core story is good but it’s hidden beneath too many pages. It feels complicated but also not complicated enough at the same time to draw out all of the plot lines. - the writing style is a bit to YA for me. It is sad though, I really want to like the series!
@@keller3647 oh I meant for the stormlight archive, I'm on rhythm of war right now. I got it on audible and I'm definitely enjoying the story. Idk if I'd enjoy it as much reading it tho, especially with all those seemingly random descriptions every chapter or so.
I commenting mostly for engagement, not because I have much to add. ♥ I actively avoided series this year because I am recovering from a long, difficult, grad-school induced reading slump, and I've found series move more slowly for me. I inherently feel the need to finish once I've finished the first book, and between incomplete series, long series, and series with slumps, it's just too much ;-; I am learning to DNF, but I'm gently easing myself into it and reading for fun again in general. Shame The Drowning Empire didn't hit well; I have been considering and eyeing the Bone Shard Daughter because it seemed neat.
This is so sweet, I appreciate you 🥹 And that’s so great you’re getting back into reading for fun! Still give the bone shard daughter a try, if it sounds interesting to you. You may end up really enjoying it!
I haven't started a series this year that I won't finish. However, I am not continuing with Twilight series (started in 2009) and Truly Devious series by Maureen Johnson (started in 2019).
I know it didn't come out in 2023, but are you planning on picking up Empire of the Vampire Book II next year when it comes out? I started it this year after watching your vlog/review of it - I'm absolutely loving it and it is totally my jam. ♡
Girl, you always make me laugh! I dont think i will continuing with Rebecca Roanhorse The trial of the lighting series 😕, but i will try more from her!
I haven't read any of these but I have DNF'd two series this year: Black Leopard, Red Wolf by Marlon James is probably my worst read of the year. Forced myself to finish it but it was a deeply uncomfortable read and I just couldn't see the purpose in any of it. The other is The Traitor Baru Cormorant. I read the first book in that one, thought it had a ton of potential, and then was SO bored all the way through book two. I picked up book three anyway hoping book two was a fluke and got half way through before finally DNFing. I loved all the concepts but just didn't care about the characters.
I dnf black leopard red wolf also. The bill was a very difficult book to read plus the second book is told in the witch point of view. That’s is a character that I didn’t like.
I'm surprised to say that I couldn't find any series I'm planning to DNF, at least from those I've read in 2023. Granted, I haven't read very many books in a series this year, but those that I did, I really enjoyed: The Adventures of Amina al-Sirafi, Emily Wild's Encyclopedae of Faeries, the House with the Golden Door. A lucky reading year, I guess!
I haven’t DNF’d any series this year but I just started rereading the Weather Wardens series by Rachel Caine again. It’s been about 6 years since I last read and interested to see if it still holds up for me.
Will not continue with The Book that Wouldn't Burn (Lawrence) or Age of Ash (Abraham) series. Just didn't find them very engaging. Just want to say: I really appreciate how you discuss books and your choices of books to discuss!
You were way too nice while talking about fourth wing 😂none of the plot or character motivations made any sense at all and the world building was ok but the society building was so bad! Like why would they spend so many resources on these dumb ass kids living in a boarding school just to kill off a ton before they can even be useful?? I thought they were fighting a super important 500 year war or something. I'm with you on DNF'ing that one
I am really sad that you have decided to DNF the fourth wing series. I really wanted to hear your interpretation of the next book. I love your recommendations. But I hope to her your recommendation of the Red God when it comes out.
- For Drowning Empire, imo the books each got worse as the series went on, unfortunately. - I hated Promise of Blood - 5 plotlines in one book ended by catching/finding the bad guy and then just letting them go. Over. and Over. and Over again.
I‘m weirdly glad to hear you disliked Senlin as well... I read it almost exactly 2 years ago and had only seen hype for it before reading it and considering it pretty objectively mediocre and subjectively bad. People praise so much about the book but I did not think any of those elements were executed well (middle of the road writing, predictable plot, superficial characters). I ended up forcing my way through because I couldn’t bear reading it for another day... :‘D
"the most interesting character was a mute" dang!! That says a lot!!
Yeah it’s so unfortunate! The character work in this book wasn’t the best 🥴
That part had me WEAK 💀
I love watching your videos, especially when trying to politely explain why something sucked 😂
Thank you lol! I really try to go in on these books without it coming off as rude 😭
I’m so with you on Senlin. I’m impressed you even got through it. I tried it three (maybe four, it’s all a blurr) times and it put me to sleep over and over and over again. And you hit it exactly, how can a concept be this great and the reading experience be so very flat? I surrendered too.
And Fourth Wing will undoubtedly win a Goodreads award but if there was an award for plot holes this book would be at the Nobel-level. There was no logic involved at any time by any character or by the author…but yes, the dragons were cool. LOL.
👍 Ah a questioning and less than glowing review of "Fourth Wing," before this I thought I was dealing with the reincarnation of Dante 😸😁
I did read Ascend Senlin then tried book two then DNF series. Fourth Wing Audiobook was good. Great videos
I skipped Fourth Wing because I thought it would be just like you explained. It makes me sad when people get so into “meh” books when there are so many amazing books out there.
I feel you! I know it's all subjective, but the hype for fourth wing this year has been interesting to say the least 😅 I'm happy ppl love it, though. It's also brought some new fantasy readers to the genre, which is nice!
I'm doing the same. I'm always so drawn in by other people's passions for a story but when my favorite book youtubers like Tori or PlantBasedBride have concerns, I know it won't be for me.
Close to DNFing Stormlight Archive! I feel like I’m really alone in not loving it
Ohh that's really interesting! 👀 I'm so curious to know what's not working for you??
Haven't read it but the audio book was really good!
@@ToriMorrow I’m not very good at breaking down books but I’ll try! I think it’s mainly Sanderson doesn’t work for me because I have DNF Mistborn & Skyward as well after the first books. *spoilers below*
- I’m more of a character driven reader and find this to be plot driven
- Kaladin’s character arc is very repetitive and I’m not a fan of the ‘wounded soldier’ archetype.
- Shallan was a bit more interesting so far in book 2… But she’s on the exact same journey as Kaladin was in book 1 which was boring the first time around, let alone the second.
- the language is unexciting and bland and overall I find each character acts repetitively.
- the plot meanders and falls flat. I feel like the core story is good but it’s hidden beneath too many pages. It feels complicated but also not complicated enough at the same time to draw out all of the plot lines.
- the writing style is a bit to YA for me.
It is sad though, I really want to like the series!
@@Jas-ly5fz which audiobook?
@@keller3647 oh I meant for the stormlight archive, I'm on rhythm of war right now. I got it on audible and I'm definitely enjoying the story. Idk if I'd enjoy it as much reading it tho, especially with all those seemingly random descriptions every chapter or so.
"Omg girl there's a billion dollars on the line here we gotta focus" had me dying 😅
I’m telling you she was stressing me OUT 😭
@@ToriMorrow I felt it 😄
I’m for sure dnfing This Woven Kingdom series. Wish I had DNF the first book. Ugh!
Oh boy I love your end of year videos. That's how I found you last year!
Aww I love that!! And I do remember you joining around this time last year ❤️ I'm excited to share another year of these videos with you!
I commenting mostly for engagement, not because I have much to add. ♥ I actively avoided series this year because I am recovering from a long, difficult, grad-school induced reading slump, and I've found series move more slowly for me. I inherently feel the need to finish once I've finished the first book, and between incomplete series, long series, and series with slumps, it's just too much ;-; I am learning to DNF, but I'm gently easing myself into it and reading for fun again in general.
Shame The Drowning Empire didn't hit well; I have been considering and eyeing the Bone Shard Daughter because it seemed neat.
This is so sweet, I appreciate you 🥹 And that’s so great you’re getting back into reading for fun! Still give the bone shard daughter a try, if it sounds interesting to you. You may end up really enjoying it!
I had the same experience post-grad. It took me 3-4 years to feel like I had the bandwidth for longer books and series. I wish you luck!
I haven't started a series this year that I won't finish.
However, I am not continuing with Twilight series (started in 2009) and Truly Devious series by Maureen Johnson (started in 2019).
This was fun! Looking forward to all your end of year vids!!
Thank you! ❤️
I know it didn't come out in 2023, but are you planning on picking up Empire of the Vampire Book II next year when it comes out? I started it this year after watching your vlog/review of it - I'm absolutely loving it and it is totally my jam. ♡
Girl, you always make me laugh! I dont think i will continuing with Rebecca Roanhorse The trial of the lighting series 😕, but i will try more from her!
I haven't read any of these but I have DNF'd two series this year: Black Leopard, Red Wolf by Marlon James is probably my worst read of the year. Forced myself to finish it but it was a deeply uncomfortable read and I just couldn't see the purpose in any of it.
The other is The Traitor Baru Cormorant. I read the first book in that one, thought it had a ton of potential, and then was SO bored all the way through book two. I picked up book three anyway hoping book two was a fluke and got half way through before finally DNFing. I loved all the concepts but just didn't care about the characters.
I dnf black leopard red wolf also. The bill was a very difficult book to read plus the second book is told in the witch point of view. That’s is a character that I didn’t like.
I'm surprised to say that I couldn't find any series I'm planning to DNF, at least from those I've read in 2023. Granted, I haven't read very many books in a series this year, but those that I did, I really enjoyed: The Adventures of Amina al-Sirafi, Emily Wild's Encyclopedae of Faeries, the House with the Golden Door. A lucky reading year, I guess!
That’s the best feeling! I’m so happy you’ve been having a good reading year! 🥰
I haven’t DNF’d any series this year but I just started rereading the Weather Wardens series by Rachel Caine again. It’s been about 6 years since I last read and interested to see if it still holds up for me.
Please give The Drowning Empire a chance. The Second book is really good.
That's good to hear! I won't write the series off just yet 😄
Will not continue with The Book that Wouldn't Burn (Lawrence) or Age of Ash (Abraham) series. Just didn't find them very engaging. Just want to say: I really appreciate how you discuss books and your choices of books to discuss!
I had Infinity Gate on my TBR list. 🤔
Still give it a try if it sounds interesting! You may have a better experience with it than I did
You were way too nice while talking about fourth wing 😂none of the plot or character motivations made any sense at all and the world building was ok but the society building was so bad! Like why would they spend so many resources on these dumb ass kids living in a boarding school just to kill off a ton before they can even be useful?? I thought they were fighting a super important 500 year war or something. I'm with you on DNF'ing that one
I dnf'd The Boneshard Daughter this year too. The storyline sounds interesting, but the characters weren't doing anything for me
Can I say 50 Shades of Grey? 🤣I started the series to finally see what all the hubbub was about - dear god, it was boring and repetitive lol
I despised Fourth Wing.
💀💀
Is your outro music Silent Hill?
No, but that'd be really cool 😭 It's just music from the creator library. But maybe some bars of it could've been sampled from silent hill? 🤔
I am really sad that you have decided to DNF the fourth wing series. I really wanted to hear your interpretation of the next book. I love your recommendations. But I hope to her your recommendation of the Red God when it comes out.
- For Drowning Empire, imo the books each got worse as the series went on, unfortunately.
- I hated Promise of Blood - 5 plotlines in one book ended by catching/finding the bad guy and then just letting them go. Over. and Over. and Over again.
📚🖤❌
❤️
I enjoyed Promise, but the non-stop action just wore me out.
I‘m weirdly glad to hear you disliked Senlin as well... I read it almost exactly 2 years ago and had only seen hype for it before reading it and considering it pretty objectively mediocre and subjectively bad. People praise so much about the book but I did not think any of those elements were executed well (middle of the road writing, predictable plot, superficial characters). I ended up forcing my way through because I couldn’t bear reading it for another day... :‘D