Why I DNFed These Books:

Shadow and Bone

Shadow and Bone, now a highly popular NETFLIX tv-show, was tough to read. The setting of the first book of this series has a very dark and “shadowy” theme, but it was challenging to follow. Almost right off the bat, we witness Alina being abducted and continue with this anonymous and confusing plot as we don’t know any more than she does about what is going on. Leigh Bardugo, the author of Shadow and Bone, wanted me to feel and understand the same things Alina was feeling at the kick-off of the novel, but instead, the first-person writing just made it very confusing. I had no clue what was going on. Honestly, if I hadn’t watched the TV show years later, I would have forever thought this book was

about some scary evil guy capturing a girl, and then she finds out she has magical powers and kills him.

ACOFAS

I will never understand why this book was published, and I full-heartedly believe that Mass only did this because of the die-hard ACOTAR fans crying that the trilogy was over. I adored the trilogy, but it makes you feel like a glass half full at the end as the closure doesn’t feel like closure. Had this book been an actual novel, perhaps I would have been able to read it. Instead, it was a highly dull book I’d refer to as a short story if it’s worthy of that title. A trilogy suddenly produced another book shortly after its completion, and it honestly depleted the value of its predecessors. While trying to read this clump of chapters, I constantly tried to convince myself that someone took over for Sarah, and she wouldn’t have written something so disappointing, but I’ll have to admit it was one of the most significant letdowns ever. Still, I bought the books after this one, as her trilogy suddenly became many novels in which she is changing points of view and giving her characters much more depth. I have no doubt someday I’ll pick these up and find them enjoyable, but that day is further into the future.

Furyborn

Furyborn is classified as an immediate success, somehow managing to quickly hit the bestseller list after its release. How? I have no idea. I loved the plot idea of having two female leaders throughout a novel, but I cannot even ponder how this book would have reached any popularity. I originally heard of this book through BookTok, and honestly picked it up because it had a pretty cover. Even reviewing this book, I don’t remember much, and I started it literally on Sunday (2/6). The start of the book is great and meant to be climactic, but I feel that when comparing it to other books I’ve read, it just didn’t stand out.

City of Ashes

I didn’t come remotely close to saying I read City of Ashes, although I was successful in reading its prior novel, City of Bones. I’m not a fan of the whole “incest plot,” as introduced in the first book. I find it interesting and unique, but I also feel that Cassandra Clare put it into her books because she knew that something so off-the-wall and uncomfortable would draw readers to review her book in a positive way, claiming it’s “different” and “shocking”. Whether a plot twist is good or bad, it’s still a plot twist, which usually brings in more readers when they hear about a novel that shocks others. Perhaps this is because they want to see if it’s something they can predict, I don’t know. Fans of The Mortal Instruments (TMI) books and Cassandra Clare (the author) herself are massive defendants of this plot, (incest)as they say the main characters eventually find out they aren’t siblings… so it’s ok. Still, I don’t understand why they would continue on their path as love interests while they fully believe they are siblings. I guess I shouldn’t judge too harshly as a Game of Thrones fan, and it’s widely known that two of the main characters are lovers as well as siblings, but I’m a softie for them in comparison to Clary and Jace from TMI. I honestly did love the idea behind The Mortal Instruments books, and I adored the movie based on the first book, but the mass of novels that went into the story didn’t have enough spark for me to push through and read them all. It just wasn’t for me; however, I do highly recommend it to newer YA fantasy readers or anyone that seeks out something unique they can’t find in oh-so-many books.

Shatter Me

I have promised myself to try rereading this book, as the series is top-rated on BookTok and throughout the YA community. I love the idea of having a main character who has a “touch of death” where she can make contact with anyone because they’ll die. After all, the author portrayed her perfectly and included a great romance plot. I genuinely believe that if I manage to push myself to read past the beginning, I’ll enjoy this series, but the kick-off is quite confusing, and it reminds me of Shadow and Bone in the way that I can’t picture anything going on. I try to imagine it as Juliette being in a sort of insane asylum, but nothing helps me fall into the book as I do with other literary pieces. Someday, I’ll pick it up again, and I’m sure I’ll love it. In the meantime, I recommend that anyone searching for a decent romance read - try it in my stead.