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Author: Holly Black
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Today I am going over books that I thought I would LOVE but turns out I really hated them. To be honest, I wasn't sure that I should do this post because I feel like I am promoting books that I definitely do NOT recommend, but I also think it is important to tell you why I didn't like some of these - especially because some of them are based on portrayals.
I included Goodreads links and Purchase links, but, again, I don't necessarily recommend these books.
Thank you to Theresa for suggesting this as a list!
SKY IN THE DEEP
Author: Adrienne Young
Series: N/A
Source: eARC via Publisher
Publisher: Wednesday Books
Publication Date: April 24, 2018
Rating: 2.5/5 stars
Summary:
Part Wonder Woman, part Vikings—and all heart.
Raised to be a warrior, seventeen-year-old Eelyn fights alongside her Aska clansmen in an ancient rivalry against the Riki clan. Her life is brutal but simple: fight and survive. Until the day she sees the impossible on the battlefield—her brother, fighting with the enemy—the brother she watched die five years ago.
Faced with her brother's betrayal, she must survive the winter in the mountains with the Riki, in a village where every neighbor is an enemy, every battle scar possibly one she delivered. But when the Riki village is raided by a ruthless clan thought to be a legend, Eelyn is even more desperate to get back to her beloved family.
She is given no choice but to trust Fiske, her brother’s friend, who sees her as a threat. They must do the impossible: unite the clans to fight together, or risk being slaughtered one by one. Driven by a love for her clan and her growing love for Fiske, Eelyn must confront her own definition of loyalty and family while daring to put her faith in the people she’s spent her life hating.
Purchase:
Why Is It On This List?
This definitely isn't the worst book on this list - I am easing everyone into it. I just thought it was boring. It also probably shouldn't be listed as "Fantasy" because there are no fantasy elements to it, per se. I think it would have been better off being listed as Historical Fiction. Much like IVORY & BONE by Julie Eshbaugh, this is listed under Fantasy because it is "outside" of what is typical for YA Historical Fiction. I just wanted more in general from SKY IN THE DEEP, but I guess my reason for disliking it is a case of "you were labelled wrong."
THE CRUEL PRINCE
Author: Holly Black
Series: The Folk of the Air #1
Source: Audible Daily Deal Purchase
Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
Publication Date: January 2, 2018
Rating: 1/5 stars
Summary:
Of course I want to be like them. They’re beautiful as blades forged in some divine fire. They will live forever.
And Cardan is even more beautiful than the rest. I hate him more than all the others. I hate him so much that sometimes when I look at him, I can hardly breathe.
Jude was seven when her parents were murdered and she and her two sisters were stolen away to live in the treacherous High Court of Faerie. Ten years later, Jude wants nothing more than to belong there, despite her mortality. But many of the fey despise humans. Especially Prince Cardan, the youngest and wickedest son of the High King.
To win a place at the Court, she must defy him–and face the consequences.
As Jude becomes more deeply embroiled in palace intrigues and deceptions, she discovers her own capacity for trickery and bloodshed. But as betrayal threatens to drown the Courts of Faerie in violence, Jude will need to risk her life in a dangerous alliance to save her sisters, and Faerie itself.
Why Is It On This List?
I should have known I wouldn't like this from the get-go but I had heard SUCH good things from ... well, everyone. So when I saw it was an Audible Daily Deal, I jumped on the chance to read it for less than $5. This was the most boring book I’ve ever had the pleasure of listening to. There was barely any plot and the “main” plot got so buried under tangent lines and webs that I was stuck wondering why I was still listening. I don’t understand the hype around this one or the people who are like ~omg Jude and Cardan!!!!~ I was bored to tears and none of the characters were remotely interesting.
I immediately returned this audiobook.
RULE
Author: Ellen Goodlett
Series: Rule #1
Source: ARC via Publisher
Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
Publication Date: September 11, 2018
Rating: DNF @ 26% (page 112 of my ARC)
Summary:
Three girls with three deadly secrets. Only one can wear the crown.
The king is dying, his heir has just been murdered, and rebellion brews in the east. But the kingdom of Kolonya and the outer Reaches has one last option before it descends into leaderless chaos.
Or rather, three unexpected options.
Zofi has spent her entire life trekking through the outer Reaches with her band of Travelers. She would do anything to protect the band, her family. But no one can ever find out how far she's already gone.
Akeylah was raised in the Eastern Reach, surrounded by whispers of rebellion and abused by her father. Desperate to escape, she makes a decision that threatens the whole kingdom.
Ren grew up in Kolonya, serving as a lady's maid and scheming her way out of the servants' chambers. But one such plot could get her hung for treason if anyone ever discovers what she's done.
When the king summons the girls, they arrive expecting arrest or even execution. Instead they learn the truth: they are his illegitimate daughters, and one must become his new heir. But someone in Kolonya knows their secrets, and that someone will stop at nothing to keep the sisters from their destiny... to rule.
Magic, mystery, and blackmail abound in this sensational and striking fantasy debut.
Why Is It On This List?
I started and stopped this one a few times because the magic system is based on self-harm. Every character has to cut themselves to access magic and it is stated in detail. So if that is triggering, please don’t read. In addition, each girl sounded exactly the same and that wasn’t made any better by the fact that we cycled through all three girls and POVs back to back to back about the same topic. I thought because of the Huge Aspect to the secrets and the fantasy, this would really keep my interest but I’m very bored and I don’t want to keep reading and getting triggered so I’m done.
IF YOU DON'T HAVE ANYTHING NICE TO SAY
Author: Leila Sales
Series: N/A
Source: ARC via Publisher
Publisher:
Publication Date:
Rating: 0/5 stars
Summary:
Before we go any further, I want you to understand this: I am not a good person.
We all want to be seen. We all want to be heard. But what happens when we’re seen and heard saying or doing the wrong things? What then?
When Winter Halperin—former spelling bee champion, aspiring writer, and daughter of a parenting expert—gets caught saying the wrong thing online, her life explodes. All across the world, people knows what she’s done, and none of them will forgive her.
With her friends gone, her future plans cut short, and her identity in shambles, Winter is just trying to pick up the pieces without hurting anyone else. She knows she messed up, but does that mean it’s okay for people to send her hate mail and death threats? Does she deserve to lose all that she’s lost? And is “I’m sorry” ever good enough?
First and foremost a novel about public shaming in the internet age, If You Don’t Have Anything Nice to Say is also an exploration of the power of words, the cumulative destructiveness of microaggressions, and the pressing need for empathy.
Purchase:
Why Is It On This List?
This is the reason for this list, to be honest. This book is the epitome of good idea but poor execution. The book's main theme revolves around callout culture and how the Internet can "blow things out of proportion." And I feel like we could have sorta gotten there with Winter because I have seen worse tweets that are more blatantly racist (because if I didn't know the context of the tweet in this book, I probably wouldn't have thought too much of it). But there were some "examples" and people that were part of the rehab arc that either WERE shitty people who deserved to be called out or people who should have taken legal action against those who ruined their reputation.
This tried to look at internet shaming and how it can be "bad" because not everyone has "malicious" intent - and that is true. However, when people are called out and do not change their behaviour, but rather try to justify that behaviour? No thanks.
And like I said, I could have sorta gotten there with Winter UNTIL the end. The end was THE WORST part of this entire book. I am going to spoil it for you because NO ONE should read this. After her "rehab," Winter starts to find others who are called out publicly and sends them emails and messages saying "don't worry!!!! it'll get better!!!!!!!" INCLUDING to a journalist who is catfishing gay politicians to EXPOSE THEM FOR BEING GAY. No thank you!!!!! That is BAD!!! I hope anyone who ever does that rots in hell and has their reputation ruined forever.
Look, there is a difference between Kim Kardashian calling Taylor Swift a snake for lying and sending out a racist tweet. If you don't know the difference, don't write a book about internet call out culture.
Some of these synopsis' sound really good! It's disappointing you thought they were boring. (Especially the first one because that cover is also super cool.) Thanks for being brave enough to write the list!
ReplyDeleteOh my God, seeing Sky in the Deep and The Cruel Prince is scaring me because these are one of the first books I"m gonna pick up in 2019 so it's kinda making me sceptical. Though, I hope you love all the books you look forward to in 2019 :D
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