Welcome to Top Ten Tuesday! This is a weekly feature hosted by The Broke and the Bookish, where a new top ten list hits the web every week!
This week our topic is …
TEN BOOKS I LOVED LESS THAN I THOUGHT I WOULD
10. EVERFAIR
As an alternative history reader and lover of genre blending stories, this book seemed like a perfect fit for me. It was billed as a “Neo-Victorian alternate history novel” where steam power came to the Congo early; this scenario helping to create an Africa very different from our own. Unfortunately, it did not completely fulfill my high expectations. Read my review if you wish to know exactly why I say that.
9. URBAN FANTASY
I’m not picking on Harry Dresden here, by any means. Actually, I enjoyed the first book in the series, Storm Front. But since he is the poster boy for the genre, I felt he would be the perfect representative for all the urban fantasy novels I have tried the last four years. And I have tried numerous different flavors. The Iron Druid Chronicles. Justis Fearsson. Black City Saint. Deadly Curiosities. Several others. Some I’ve enjoyed immensely. Others not so much. But the simple fact is urban fantasy just has not sunk its claws into my soul and made me want to read it.
8. V FOR VENDETTA
As a fan of many of Alan Moore’s works, I really looked forward to reading this graphic novel. It was a classic after all. But once I got into it I found myself floundering around attempting to find someone, anyone to care about. It seemed both sides of this conflict were as bad as the other; at least, in my eyes, they were. I did enjoy the movie adaptation a little bit better, but it still isn’t a favorite of mine. Not sure why Watchmen with a similar pessimistic view of humanity hit all the right chords with me, but V didn’t. My Review.
7. THE MIRROR EMPIRE
Having heard wonderful things about Kameron Hurley books and having thoroughly enjoyed her 2013 essay “We Have Always Fought’: Challenging the Women, Cattle and Slaves Narrative”, my anticipation was very high for this book/series. Alas, it was not meant to be. Why? Read my review if you really are interested in the answer to that question.
6. LEVIATHAN WAKES
How I wanted to love this series. With so many fans and numerous volumes to read, I desperately desired to be sucked into this science fiction space opera and swept away to untold wonders. This initial volume left me with a Meh feeling however. Nope, I didn’t hate it, but I didn’t really enjoy it either. So, naturally, I haven’t ever returned to it. My review for anyone interested.
5. THE DESERT SPEAR
The Warded Man was a great read. Peter Brett’s world of demons and humanity quite spectacular. Arlen an outstanding protagonist to be my guide through it. And, I was very excited to begin book two. Then I found it was mainly about Jardir. Can’t say I understood why, but I tried to go with it. It worked . . . sort of. I didn’t like it as much as I did book one though, which might or might not set me apart from other fans of the series. My review.
4. THE LAST COLONY
I became a fan of this series after loving Old Man’s War, and I was eager to return to The Last Colony, since I was going to get to see more of John Perry. And Scalzi didn’t let me down initially; the narrative filled with witty sarcasm and exciting adventure. Then the ending left me cold. I mean, John Perry was a great guy, but Scalzi turning him into an ordinary guy who can outwit a whole galaxy was a bit too much for my tastes. I know others loved this one. Wish I had as well. My review
3. AGE OF MYTH
Along with all fans of Hadrian and Royce from the Riyria books, I couldn’t wait for this series to begin. I mean, a chance to see how this world came to be sounded like a can’t miss. And I did enjoy it. Just not as much as I hoped I would. A fact which really disappoints me. My review
2. READY PLAYER ONE
I read so many glowing reviews of this novel. So many of my friends personally loved it. So I read it. I wanted to love it. I mean, who doesn’t like to hop aboard the newest bandwagon of fandom, but — I didn’t like this book at all. Many reasons why. I don’t want to recall them all now, so if anyone wishes to know the issues I had with this popular book you can take a look at my review.
1. JOE ABERCROMBIE BOOKS
Lord Grimdark was probably the author I was most excited to read once I returned to the fantasy genre after a decade of absence. I started my journey out with Half a King and did not find grimwhine to my liking. But everyone told me not to be discouraged just try The Blade Itself. Well, I did. It was a fine read, but not the mind-blowing story I was expecting. So, now, I find myself watching as yet another fan bandwagon rides by without me upon it.
Do you feel the same way about any of these books? What books have left you cold when you desperately wanted to love them?
Advertisements Share this:- More
