I've been having trouble with my books lately. Six books abandoned, one after 70%, although I may return to that one.
Recently finished.
"The orphaned Elsie Camden learned as a girl that there were two kinds of wizards in the world: those who pay for the power to cast spells and those, like her, born with the ability to break them. But as an unlicensed magic user, her gift is a crime. Commissioned by an underground group known as the Cowls, Elsie uses her spellbreaking to push back against the aristocrats and help the common man. She always did love the tale of Robin Hood."
There were parts I liked, but overall, something didn't quite work for me. I didn't care for Holmberg's earlier series, but decided to give this one a try. Evidently, most readers are fans of the author's The Paper Magician and like this one as well.
NetGalley/47 North
Fantasy. Nov. 1, 2020. Print length: 284 pages.
My attempts at finding something a little spooky for the season were again met with disappointment. This one had so many blind alleys, and the open-ended conclusion left me unsatisfied.
Purchased.
Mystery. Nov. 1, 2020. Print length: 330 pages.
------The following book worked better for me. :)
I read The Silent Quarry a few weeks ago and liked it. Frozen Minds is the second book featuring DI Winter Meadows and set in Wales.
from description: "Bethesda House is a haven for vulnerable adults, those with complex mental disabilities. Their safety is dependent on those who care for them, and their wellbeing centres on routine.
When a body is discovered in the freezer at Bethesda House it is easy to shift the blame on the residents. Inside the house, they see and hear everything.
Who would believe them?"
Winters and DCI Edris have a good relationship and the rest of the team is developing character. The residents and their carers are only some of the suspects as there has been financial misconduct as well. I'll be reading the third book in the series soon.
Kindle Unlimited
Police Procedural. 2016/2020. Print length: 225 pages.
I hate when you hit a string of books that don't quite work...or disappoint. It seems to happen every once in awhile. Hope your next round of books is better! And I love that cat poster. So funny. :D
ReplyDelete:) I hope the next round is better, too!
DeleteI know exactly what you mean. I recently had a string of four books in a row that I ended up being disappointed in (though I finished each of them)...even to the point of creating a new "category" labeled "Disappointment" on LibraryThing and GoodReads so that I could track them all. Hate when that happens because I really do start wondering if its just me being in some kind of bad mood that's causing me to dislike so many books in a row.
ReplyDeleteSeldom works the other way for me - where I absolutely love five or six in a row.
I love the idea of a "Disappointment" category. Sometimes, of course, mood and circumstances influence my interest, and sometimes the books are simply not what I expected.
DeleteTotally understand your feelings about abandoned books, Jenclair. We all have those moments at some point. Hope your next round of reading will be better.
ReplyDeleteI think I'm pretty easily entertained, but my many of my choices lately haven't managed to entertain me. I don't usually abandon books this often, but I've abandoned quite a few lately.
DeleteIt isn't easy, but the sooner the realization a book isn't working for the reader, the better. I really dislike endings that feel like the author raced through finishing the book to get it over with.
ReplyDeleteI don't like rushed endings, either. I don't mind an open-ended conclusion if it is well done, but dislike those where the author thinks it's a clever way to end a mediocre book. Bah. I'm pretty negative right now.
DeleteIt's so frustrating to be in such a bad book slump. I was actually debating about getting those first two books, but now I'm rethinking them. I read a little excerpt for Spellbreaker and it didn't grab me like I thought it would. Hope your next batch of books is better. :)
ReplyDeleteSpellbreaker had a lot of potential, and I liked Elsie and the idea of spellbreakers, but somehow the book didn't feel cohesive. Also, it doesn't really have a conclusion--more of a cliff hanger for the second book.
DeleteI, too, understand your frustration. I seem to go from being very engaged in books to the opposite. Happily, I've been able to find things to read lately. I will say that I am using the read/listen mode a lot. One book on audio and another in print has been tough. So now I'm looking around at books that I already have one type and can check out the other type from the library, be it audio or print. It's working for me. I have that Kate Moretti book to read at some point. We'll see how I fare when I get to it. I've read others by her that I liked. Love the cat poster. LOL
ReplyDelete:) Obviously, this is not an unusual problem, especially during this particular time period. I will look to see what you think of the Moretti book when you get to it, Kay. Yeah, the cat poster is on target for a lot of us!
DeleteI think a lot of my problem has been my choices, but there is also the fact that times are tough and tension is high. It takes some skill to involve and keep a reader interested when there is so much going on. Yes, I want pleasure while reading and satisfaction at the end. :)
ReplyDeleteahhh I am so sad Spellbreaker isn't as promising as the premise sounds! I love the sounds of it otherwise!
ReplyDeleteIt was one of those books that had some interesting characters and some good parts, but it also left me feeling a little cheated. :(
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