How could this happen? How could something I was so excited about fizzle out? These are the things I want to discuss today.
I had recently talked about finishing series, and that made me think about some series I DNFed. I just left them and never looked back.
One series that I abandoned is Red Queen. I LOVED the first book. I was so sad that I had to wait to find out what happened next. I was giddy with anticipation when I had Glass Sword in my hands, but that enthusiasm fizzled fast. I plodded through the book, but the ending was pretty good, so I put my name on the hold list for King's Cage. It was months until my hold came through, but when it did, I found I really didn't want to read it.
My reasons why
- The second book took me what seemed like forever to finish. I just checked the page count - 444. That book should have taken me two weekdays worth of reading time to finish, but it took me 3 work days and a Saturday. I remember putting the book down a lot and distracting myself. It felt like a chore to me. Why didn't I DNF the book? I was encouraged by so many positive reviews, I had adored the first book, and I was giving it time to get better (which it did).
- When I finally got the third book, I looked at the over 500 pages, and asked myself if I really wanted to invest more time in this series or use my time on other books.
- I went and looked at the reviews. Readers were all over the place on this one, but the reviews that caught my attention were from people who had loved the previous books, and suddenly had no love for the series. Seeing this brought me back to point 2: do I want to read over 500 pages more of this series, which declined for me in the second book?
- I thought this was going to be a trilogy, and now there is a forth book. Do I want to commit to another book? I think with series, you reach a point where you are in so deep, you cannot quit, because you just need to know what happens.
- I just felt like I lost interest in the series. I didn't like the direction it was going, and I didn't find myself invested in the future of these characters. There are so many books I want to read. I cannot bring myself to read out of a sense of obligation.
I used Red Queen as an example, but I covered many of the reasons I have abandoned series. I would love to hear any and all thoughts on you have on this topic. Do you always finish series? What would make you abandon a series? Have you never abandoned a series? Inquiring minds want to know.
**Note: Just because I didn't like this series, doesn't mean others won't enjoy it. It just wasn't for me.
Have you ever abandon a series? Why?
Let us know in the comments!
As soon as I saw the title Red Queen was the series that came to my mind!! I loved the first book and couldn't even make it through the second. I have a lot of series I want to get to but I know there are a couple I won't. Great post!
ReplyDeleteI found the second book so painful, and I had recently been burned by another series, that I felt like was a waste of time to finish when I lost a lot of love for it during book 2. Now I more readily cut and run.
DeleteTo be honest, I don't think I've ever had this happen before. What *does* happen is that I'll abandon a series after book one. That has happened a lot. I read the first book and know that it's not for me, or I just don't have enough interest to continue (Raven Cycle and Mara Dyer to name just two). But I can't think of a time I loved the first book but was let down by the second. I think I prefer my way... at least I didn't have to waste time on a second book. Ha!
ReplyDeleteBtw, the In Living Color gif is CLASSIC. :) Hated it! Their movie reviews were epic. Ah, memories. LOL
I have definitely not continued with a series after having a tepid response to book 1, but I loved the first book of this series. It seemed natural to want to read more. It was a huge disappointment, and sadly, not the only series that had done this to me.
DeleteI love that you understand the pop culture side of me. 😘
DeleteSo I have only read the first book in the series and did enjoy it. I just felt like there was so much hype and amazing in the first book for some reason I just had a gut feeling the second one wouldn't keep up. I have the second one on my shelf still waiting to be opened.
ReplyDeleteThis was definitely hyped, but book 1 dazzled me. Early reviews for Glass Sword were great, and why would I want to continue a series for a book I loved. It was a let down for me, and couldn't find enough desire inside to continue. I think this was one of the first times I did this, but now I do it more often. I don't care how many pages I have read, I need to read books I enjoy and not just books to prove my follow through.
DeleteI get distracted and forget to go back to a series quite often. The only series that I have stopped wanting to read that I can think of is the Fever series by Karen Marie Moning. I love the first 5 books and have read most of them 3 times. It was only supposed to be 5 books. Then a 6th book happened....and I didn't care for it. I think there have been 2 more since then but I have no interest. I will just stick with the original 5.
ReplyDeleteYes! There are series I had forgotten about, because of gaps between books or just waiting for the library to get the book. And yes, the ever-growing series can also be a turn off. I have to commend your dedication to the Fever series (which I am going to check out -- 3 times each!).
DeleteGreat post. I've been debating abandoning Red Queen too. I loved the first book but thought the second book was just average and haven't touched the latest book yet. I may still read it at some point but like you said, I have little to no enthusiasm for it now.
ReplyDeleteI hate that this happened, but you know, too many books, too little time. I had to make a decision. I have looked at the series I have abandoned, and a few are "maybe someday", but quite a few are "nope. never". I just cannot bring myself to push through and then end up even more disappointed.
DeleteSometimes I get so excited about a series sequel that I psych myself out and it just sits on my shelf. I do that A LOT. The Raven Cycle series is a good example of that. Other times it's because my memory is shit and I cannot remember details. I'm a slow reader so constantly having to reread books isn't something I ever really care to do so again, even though I loved the first book they will sit on my shelves. I've been trying to wait on some and such binge read a series all at once. I love that doing that. It's how I read The Lunar Chronicles and Vampire Academy.
ReplyDeleteI haven't read Red Queen yet but I was interested. I didn't realize they were so long!
I was just talking about memory issues and series with my co-blogger not too long ago. She would always re-read prior to a release, but then life got busy. The authors for most of the series I have read, do a good job re-capping throughout early chapters, and it comes back to me. I read a lot of series in binges too, because I was late to the game, but sometimes I have FOMO issues or I am paranoid of spoilers, but there are a few series I probably wouldn't have gotten so involved in if I had waited and seen what people said about the last book, *cough, Divergent, cough*. And yep, the Red Queen books get longer and longer with each book.
DeleteI can 1000% relate to this post, because a) it's really freaking hard for me to give up on a series I've had a lot of love for and/or put a lot of energy into, and b) I'VE BEEN READING GLASS SWORD SINCE FEBRUARY. I kid you not, FEBRUARY. I barely have any chapters left, but I just can't bring myself to finish, because I'm bored out of my mind. What the heck happened to the author's story-telling skills??? Red Queen was FANTASTIC. I loved it so damn much, but Glass Sword sucks. Unfortunately, I already own all three books, so that's why I'm pushing myself. But if the third one is bad, I'll definitely not buy the fourth. God, what a disappointment this series is. Great post!
ReplyDeleteVeronika @ The Regal Critiques
Glass Sword was such a chore for both me and my co-blogger, Kiersten. I know people who loved this book, but I, like you, was bored. I will say, the ending was strong, and I will keep my fingers crossed for you that King's Cage is more enjoyable.
DeleteOh, that's a shame. I've had that happen to me with the sequels of Blood Red Road (why do they always name the series differently?? I can never remember a fourth name when I already have to remember three book names xD) I did end up finishing it - cause like you say, I just had to know what happens. But I was honestly so disappointed with those things, when they happened :/ truly a shame!
ReplyDeleteI used to push through and finish, because like yourself, I at least wanted to know how it ended. But I got burned several times doing that, and now I am a total cut-throat reader. I know it doesn't seem that way, because I only post reviews for books I finished and generally liked. Wait! I just looked up Blood Red Road. Maybe this is a dystopian thing (kidding).
Delete100% here for the Linda Richman meme. This is so hard. I *should* quit series like this, tbh. But I do not. What I DO do is insist that I will read them one day, hold on to ALL the books in the series, and then moan that I don't have any room on my shelves and/or money. Such a mess. I spent 725+ pages of my life reading City of Heavenly Fire even though I almost DNFed the two books before it! That is not smart, Sam. NOT. SMART. You did the right thing, teach me your ways please?
ReplyDeleteYour argument there is the same one my co-blogger, Kiersten gave me, for why she had to read Allegiant. She had heard all the rumblings, but she felt like after reading the first two books and some novellas (over 100 pages), she had to see it through. So, I totally understand that. Ahhh, no secret, it's just that, as we age, we start to have less and less EFs to give. Sometimes, I feel the pull, especially if I actually bought the book, but then I remember that I read for fun and entertainment. This is not my job, and thus, I do not have to suffer through the parts I don't like.
DeleteI kinda hate it when that happens! I love a book one but then get disenchanted or just weirdly lose interest in the series. I see why some people wait to read a series until all the books are out, because that year or two wait can realy wreak havoc with my enthusiasm.
ReplyDeleteI have found myself reading more and more stand-alones and companions lately. Maybe it is my subconscious trying to keep me from wasting more of my life on things that don't make me happy. I do think that the series I enjoyed the most were the ones I read after they were completed, now that I think about it. Sometimes it's good to be late to the party.
DeleteI used to be the person that would ALWAYS, without exception, read EVERY book I started until the very bitter end. Don't even get me started on the amount of 4 or 5 book series that I put myself through only to resent the characters and the author in then end. Nowadays, I've gotten to a point in my life where I've come to the conclusion that if I'm not enjoying what I'm reading then it doesn't deserve my time. My biggest pet peeve in the books I put myself through would be how the author would do a complete 180 on character personalities from one book to another without any explanation for it.
ReplyDeleteExactly! And *high five*
DeleteI know exactly what you mean. I got approved for the third book in the Red Queen series on netgalley and kept finding excuses not to. I finally accepted I just wasn't interested in that series anymore. I found the second book to be a chore it was just so angsty and annoying. In the end, I never read that Netgalley ARC and it annoys me it affect my reading percentage but some series you have to give up on before they become a chore.
ReplyDeleteI am happy to report that my ratio is back up to 80% *applause, applause*, but anyhow, I agree - angsty, annoying, plodding, and I was impressed I finished the second book. It was because I loved the first one, but I could not bring myself to continue. Cutting losses and opening up time for reading books I will enjoy.
DeleteI've abandoned a couple of series, one because the author got lazy and just regurgitated the same story over and over and one because the series went from a kick ass urban fantasy to erotica. No regrets on leaving either one!
ReplyDeleteWow! I could totally see that as a good reason for tapping out. You sign up for urban fantasy and end up with something totally different. Glad to say that never happened to me, but sorry it happened to you.
Delete