Top Ten Tuesday: Series & Authors I've Given Up On

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl.

This week's Top Ten Tuesday topic: 
Series and Authors I've Given Up On
Whether it's a series that didn't wow me or an author that I decided to break up with... you have to know when to say when.

T H E   S E R I E S
The Remnant Chronicles | Mary E. Pearson
I know a lot of people loved this trilogy but I read the first book and just didn't care enough to continue.
Sulfur Heights | M.S. Brannon
I made it through the first two books (Scarred Love and Tragic Love) when I just couldn't take the cheesy dialogue and over the top drama any more.
Wintersong | S. Jae Jones
I had high hopes for this one, but after making it through the slow-paced first book I couldn't work up enough interest to pick up Shadowsong.
Immortal Guardians | Dianne Duvall
I read the first book in this vampire series and I admit it was entertaining. But at the end of the day there just wasn't enough there to make me really want to continue the series.
Scorpius Syndrome | Rebecca Zanetti
I tried to read this one at what turned out to be the start of a months-long reading slump. So I'll never know if it was me or the book, but Mercury Striking turning out to be one of my very few DNF's. I gave up after roughly 50 pages and have no desire to try again or continue the series.

T H E   A U T H O R S
Jennifer E. Smith
After three of Smith's young adult contemporary novels, I gave up. All three stories felt so generic and forgettable to me.
Jane Green
This is a sad one because Green used to be one of my favorite go-to authors. Throughout the early 2000's I inhaled everything she read. But by 2010 things seemed to take a turn and her storytelling felt more generic, more bland and just uninspired. By the time I read 2014's Saving Grace I was done. It seems that I'm not alone because the GoodReads ratings for Green's last several novels are hovering around the 3.4 mark.
Jandy Nelson
It only took one book for me to realize that Jandy Nelson's writing is Not. For. Me. The number of 5 star ratings for I'll Give You the Sun is staggering, but the purple prose and artsy metaphors left me cold (or rolling my eyes). I won't be reading more from Nelson.
Debra Anastasia
I actually made it through the entire Poughkeepsie Brotherhood trilogy but by the second book it was mostly just so I could take copious notes for scathing reviews. Maybe Anastasia's writing is supposed to fall into the so-bad-it's-good category? But every character, every plot line and every line of dialogue was so absurd and so over the top that I just kept thinking "Is this woman for real?" 
Ann Brashares
The Traveling Pants series was a fairly entertaining YA contemporary series. Each of the four girls annoyed me to no end at times but it was okay. Then I read the miserable adult follow-up, Sisterhood Everlasting, in which Brashares turned every character into unlikable train wrecks. Then I tried her adult novel, The Last Summer, and almost DNF'd it multiple times. And finally came the hot mess that was YA dystopian The Here and Now. Ann Brashares, we're over.


What series or author have you abandoned?

18 comments

  1. I'm sure there are a lot of series where I read the first book or even the second and didn't continue because I just didn't have the time or didn't realize new books came out, so I probably won't finish a lot of those. HOWEVER, I am trying to actually read more series lately because I want to finish them or need to start them.

    I haven't read any of these series though; sorry they weren't for you!

    -Lauren
    www.shootingstarsmag.net

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    1. I definitely want to start finishing series that I have going!

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  2. I haven't read any of those series, but I gasped when I saw the authors you have given up on. I have been dying for a new Jandy Nelson book. I adored both her books, and keep hoping for more. I was not head over heels for JES's last book, but she has written many books I loved.

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    1. LOL I Knew Jandy Nelson would raise some eyebrows. :)
      And JES, I checked and I never rated one over 3 stars. Meh.

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  3. I’ve got so many series going it’s not even healthy anymore and quite a few of them are now on a “if I’m ever bored or fancy this particular story for a reason” pile. A lot of them YA that just didn’t grab me or mysteries that have 237 instalments and I just fancied reading a mystery. I have this weird little completionist living inside of me that won’t let me delete books from my tbr pile “just in case” so they wait for me all hopeful even though I’ll probably never go back to them.

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    1. Ugh, I know just what you mean, Olivia. They "Type A" in me wants to complete every book and every series I start. I then have the satisfaction of "checking those boxes" and seeing it thorough start to finish. But realistically there are many that I just don't care to continue with.

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  4. That's a unique take on the topic, to list authors you're done with. I haven't read any of those series yet myself.

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    1. I've actually done about three installments now of a Series I've Quit feature. It always makes me laugh because in the comments there's always someone who is saying, "Noooo! Don't quit that one! It's my favorite!" :)

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  5. Totally agree with you about the Scorpius Syndrome series. That first book was a DNF for me and I have never had the desire to pick up any others.
    I haven't read a Debra Anastasia book but your thoughts on her writing style is fascinating to me! I think she has a few in KU-maybe I will grab them just to see!!! I love a good train wreck sometimes :)

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    1. Oh wow, you too, huh? With Mercury Striking I just kept thinking, I don't even care what happens to these people. Not a good sign. LOL

      OMG, I would LOVE to see what you think of Debra Anastasia. But just watch, you'd probably love it and I'd be all, "Seriously?! It really is just me?" LOL

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  6. OMG - you are the first person I've seen who feels the same about Jandy Nelson. I...don't get it. lol I've tried two of her books and not for me.

    Same with Jennifer E. Smith although I did like the first book I read by her.

    Karen @ For What It's Worth

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    1. Oh my gosh, are we like the two loners or what?! Everyone raves about I'll Give You the Sun like it's the Best Book Ever and I just don't get it. Ugh!

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  7. Abandoning Wintersong is for the best, Shadowsong was tragic. I do have high hopes for her next series though! I need to eventually finish the Remnant series.

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    1. Yep, I haven't heard any really good feedback about Shadowsong. Glad I quit while I was ahead! lol

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  8. Sorry you didn't love The Remnant Chronicles --- that series is a favorite of mine, but I get that it's not for everyone.

    Nicole @ Feed Your Fiction Addiction

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    1. Yeah, I didn't dislike it by any means but it just wasn't a big hit for me.

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  9. I'm sad you didn't like the Remnant Chronicles :(( but that's okay!! Can't all love the same ones <3 I haven't read any of the others on your list

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    1. I didn't *dislike* the Remnant Chronicles (well, the one book I read) but it didn't thrill me, either. I know I'm definitely in the minority there! :)

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