Scripted in Fantasy and Fiction discussion

What are some recent fantasy or sci-fi books that you haven't finished OR just didn't love? Why?

1. Gild by Raven Kennedy: Okay, I have really been enjoying The Plated Prisoner series, but book 1 (Gild) was hard for me to finish. I felt like it was rushed in some ways, but hen very slow in others.

2. The Dead Take the A-Train by Cassandra Khaw: This felt SO young to me. I couldn't make it past the first 100 pages.

3. The Stars are Dying by Chloe Penaranda: oof... the amount of times I had to re-read something to understand what was going on.... couldn't do it.

1. Fear of Flames: Felt very juvenile, especially the dialogue and the story fell flat for me. I was so disappointed as the concept had such potential! I know a lot of people loved it, so I think I just expected it to be more mature and was let down by it not being so.

2. House of Blood and Bane: It was entertaining enough to finish but I didn't connect with the characters, or the romance as much as I'd hoped... I didn't mind the setting and magic though!

I think for me was Kingdom of the Wicked by Kerri Maniscalco. I really liked the premise of the book with the deadly sins however most of the book just focuses on cooking and describing pasta recipies which is fine for a cookbook but doesn’t help advance the plot much :(

Book of Azriel - I have tried to read it a few times and simply can’t get ast the first couple of chapters. I hear “it gets better” and “keep at it until you’re further along” but I just cant!

ACOTAR- There were elements I really enjoyed, like the action scenes depicting battle or intense conflict, but otherwise I thought they were overhyped. I think my expectations were a little too high, because I thought the world building was mid and kinda lazy, and it followed way too many character cliches that altered and affected the quality of the story. I wouldn't qualify it as fantasy at all, but as drama and romance it's pretty good lol

Sun of Blood and Ruin- I had high expectations for this one too. The premise seemed AMAZING (it followed a FMC that was described as a female Zorro in an alternate reality where the indigenous Aztec tribes and the Spanish colonies co-existed (to some extent), and there was magic and swashbuckling adventure), but the writing was very juvenile and you could tell that the author was insecure about her work. She incorporated Nahuatl into the story (which I thought was amazing), but instead of letting it be and helping that flow the story along (ESPECIALLY since she had a glossary in the back of her book), she would over-explain within the prose why she would use that word. There was also an unnecessary love story that felt forced and cliche that I didn't enjoy.

Once upon a broken heart by Stephanie Garber. I know it’s a YA series but it was just too cringy for me. Predictable tropes and cheesy dialogue… I was so disappointed because I bought books 1 & 2. 👎🏼

A Dark and Drowning Tide. I really tried to stick it out, but often found myself distracted and zoning out while reading. The premise sounded really interesting, but I just couldn’t get into it.

How to Lose the Time War…. My first ever dnf🙃

Normally I can power through, but I can say this definitely pushed me off of trying sci-fi again for a long time.

5 broken blades....just terrible

dnf: Lies of Locke Lahore (will most likely comeback), Upon A Star Tide (Same will came book need to return), The familiar, not sure if I will come back to this nothing was g
happen to make me continue reading, and The Tempest of Tea, this book was trying too hard to be book like Mistborn and 6 of Crow, also nothing was happening for me to continue reading

A few years back I read ACOTAR along with everyone else when it came out.. I wonder if it's the passing of time, or maybe being jaded by the books I've read since being so much better to me--- but I recently listened to the full graphic performance of the audiobook.

Where I will say I thoroughly enjoyed the full cast and sound performance the story just seemed so immature! Like the sex kinda overdone hormone-driven and I didn't even want to finish!

I'm sure this will be unpopular but... maybe this is what a few more years reading does? I'm not sure🤷🏼‍♀️🤔

Olivia wrote: "ACOTAR- There were elements I really enjoyed, like the action scenes depicting battle or intense conflict, but otherwise I thought they were overhyped. I think my expectations were a little too hig..."

I wonder if we r the only 2 ppl? 🤔 between acotar & onyx storm. I feel like I should hide in a corner! 🤷🏼‍♀️🤭

I will go on record and say, While I did finish ACOTAR, I dont think the series will stand the test of time. The next generation will be less aware of it.

I saw this review recently.. it says what I was thinking. And wow apparently the 2000+ ppl who liked it agreed🤭 I love that we are free to disagree- but it I've gotta admit with so many ppl loving that book I wondered what I was missing!
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Im not feeling so bad about not reading any of her other series either 😌🤷🏼‍♀️

Fourth Wing. I really didn’t get the hype.

Never DNFd a book until Gothikana by RuNyx. The set was great! Loved that there was a mystery story but the romance, good lord that was cringy. The writing was a little basic after 100 pages in and just couldn’t bring myself to waste my precious reading time.

One and only dnf: Lies of Lena!
I can read and I read a lot of heavy books with difficult scenes that had a lot of trigger warnings, bit this one was justa deal breaker.
It just felt wrong.

Shields of sparrow, I gave up halfway through. the story is slow and nothing happens. maybe it needs more points of viewers.

I will try again with a physical book. I had a hard time with the voice narration of the Guardian.

I hear defense about massive worldbuilding and the author takes her time. Of course I understand that but right now, I am stuck in a tree in a treehouse 🙈

“The Deer and the Dragon” by CJ Piper
Reading The Deer and the Dragon is like being promised a five-star steak dinner and getting served cold tofu on a paper plate — while someone gives an unsolicited TED Talk on global politics you didn’t ask for and didn’t want to understand.
This book desperately wants to be profound, but ends up sounding like your conspiracy-theory-prone uncle trying to explain international relations at Thanksgiving — using only animal metaphors and vibes. Spoiler: it’s as painful as it sounds.
Let’s talk about the main character. I’ve seen more backbone in a jellyfish. Whiny, passive, and one existential crisis away from starting a “feelings journal,” they spend the entire book emotionally spiraling while accomplishing absolutely nothing. It’s like watching someone write angsty poetry in real time — except somehow less interesting.
And the hype? Laughable. This book was sold like it would revolutionize political storytelling. What we got instead was a slow-motion car crash of limp symbolism, vague threats, and dialogue that reads like it was drafted by a UN subcommittee terrified of offending forest creatures.
Pacing? Glacial. Action? Barely a pulse. Stakes? Lower than a limbo stick at a toddler’s birthday party. By the fifth scene of the protagonist thinking deeply about their feelings while still doing absolutely nothing, I was actively rooting for a plot twist — like a meteor, or spontaneous combustion.
If the deer represents the West, it's no wonder we're losing. And the dragon? Probably nodded off waiting for something — anything — to actually happen.
In conclusion: This book is a case study in wasted potential. A killer concept, buried beneath 300+ pages of whining, metaphors, and missed opportunities. 0/10. Would rather reread my spam folder — at least that gets to the point.

I recently read Blood of Hercules because I'd seen it everywhere and everyone was saying how funny it was. Also, anything with links to Greek mythology is usually a yes for me.

I can never bring myself to DNF a book but I was SO close with this one. The writing was so jolty with so many super short sentences and the over-use of new lines. I thought I could physically feel the author trying to deliver a funny line which ultimately just flopped every time. It just made everything feel a little childish.

I thought it was a shame because the story would have held on its own without the constant attempt of being funny!

This is How You Lose the Time War by Amal El-Mohtar & Max Gladstone

This book was so difficult to get through I quit. Each chapter felt different to me and I kept thinking it felt like a patchwork book that two authors put together. There was no understanding of the world or the war. I was genuinely confused in each new chapter. It might not be the book though, Im probably just not a sci-fi girlie 🤷🏻‍♀️

couldn’t finish iron flame i’m really sad but i just couldn’t, i just didn’t like how repetitive it all felt :(

so I've a list of recent dnf and the skimming books first dnf:

once upon a broken heart series by Stephanie garber

book of azriel by Amber v Nicole

Blood over bright haven by
M.l. Wang

and the skimmers

lady Macbeth by Ava Reid (one of my favourite authors)

Enchantra by Kaylie smith

Honestly throne of glass I did read the whole series but I didn’t think it was for me there was too much fighting and battles and the plot kinda just dragged on it didn’t really feel like a proper fantasy series for me personally