Everyone has that one series (or several in this case) that they started and something happens. Whether that be you just didn’t vibe with the story line, or the characters didn’t mesh with you, or even it just wasn’t your cup of tea–whatever the case may be, you’ve found yourself stuck in the middle of a series…and you just don’t want to finish it.
That is currently me with the list below. For reasons I will get into with each book separately later on in this post, I’ve found myself just not wanting or not even having the desire of completing the series these books belong too. And that is completely OK! (Past Sam is quaking in her boots that I think that, but it’s so true!) life is way too short and overly complicated to spend it on books that I’m not going to love. The author doesn’t deserve my rage reading their work just so I can say I completed it, and I don’t deserve the potential loss of brain cells by doing so (absolutely no shade whatsoever to any of these authors!).
With that said, before we dive into my lucious list, I’d like to post a disclaimer that we here at Fictionally Sam (that be me since I run this show) don’t yuck anyone’s yum. If you absolutely love these books that I’m going to mention. Good on you! I am absolutely so happy that these books found their audience. I am simply noting that I–unfortunately–am not in that audience; but I will keep cheering you on as you gush and rave about these books. I just…well can’t.
Now with that out of the way–get your popcorn out cause I got books to not read!
The Mortal Instruments series by Cassandra Clare
➡We honestly could put any Cassandra Clare book in this if I’m being honest. I’ve tried to like her writing and this series so many times, but I just couldn’t get past City of Glass every single time. Jace and Clary just were not it, and I don’t think the author’s writing style and I were jelling enough for me to press on–which really sucks, because I had literally every book.
Outlander series by Diana Gabaldon
➡I was OBSESSED with this series. It didn’t even matter that these books were like bricks and took me forever and a blasted day to finish one of them. I was in it to win it. The show? Even better. Could not get enough. But when the setting changed completely, I too lost interest. The books felt like they were leaning more into Historical Fiction than Historical Romance, and I got really tired of the same things happening over and over to Claire just in different settings. So I stopped reading it I believe with the fourth book, and I have no desire to continue it, which is a shame because I love me a good Scottish romance.
Shatter Me Series by Tahereh Mafi
➡This one is an odd ball because the original trilogy I’ve read in its entirety and really enjoyed; but these additional books or add-ons that she has recently written are the ones I just have no desire to read at all. To me the trilogy is complete and there isn’t any need for more.
The Folk of the Air Series by Holly Black
➡I can already hear some of the gasps already from some of you, but I really really didn’t like this series. I thought I was going to love this, and you guys hyped this one up SO WELL for me! But at the end of the day I wanted to claw my eyes out. I realized with this book that bully romances in any capacity are just not for me? Plus I did not care for any of our main characters, Jude and Hardin could have staked themselves and I wouldn’t have batted an eyelash. And lastly, I’m not that into Fae retellings that stick to the actual fae folklore script. Give me the sparkly bitches who are kind and have bat wings, please and thank you!
Hades x Persephone Saga by Scarlett St. Clair
➡This one really hurts my heart because there is so much hype revolving around it and for a brief moment I totally got the hype. But as the story went on the characters just were not developing in my opinion and I just couldn’t jive with the FMC anymore. It took everything in me to get to 60% of A Touch of Malice, and then I could no longer take it. I read the last chapter of it and saw what happened and realized I was that much more infuriated with the characters, so I decided self care was the best care and DNF’d it. I won’t be finishing the series, but if I come across a random booktube video of someone vlogging there time reading it, I’ll watch it–but that’s as far as I think I’ll go.
What series are you not finishing?
Ah that sucks!
But hey.. less book on your list of forever tbr! I’m not one to enjoy many series.. one/two books are fine for me. Many times I don’t even read the rest even IF there’s more books 😂
I really didn’t like the additional books in the Shatter Me series either!
I have to agree with the Hades x Persephone series. I LOVE Greek mythology, retellings, and stories based on Greek mythology characters, but that series just wasn’t it for me. I do love the Folk of the Air series, but I also get that it isn’t everyone’s cup of tea. And oddly enough, it’s the only bully romance I like. LOL
I totally understand Hades x Persephone Saga by Scarlett St. Clair. I tried the first book in Hades’ POV and it was such a let down. I was warned that the heroine could be annoying but I couldn’t stand her even in his POV.
It hurt my heart to see you mention Shatter Me series but even though I like the sequels I think they weren’t necessary either.
I liked The Folk of the Air Series by Holly Black when I read it when it first came out but I actually have been thinking of getting rid of them. I can like bully romances as I’ve learned since I started Rinaverse but this series just wasn’t it.
Some books I’m not going to be finishing are Sookie Stackhouse (Eric and Sooric fans deserved better), Covenant by JLA (student/ mentor just isn’t for me), Otherwold by Kelley Armstrong (really tried to like these because i loved the TV show but I was too bored), The Last Hours (I Loved The Infernal Devices but this series ruined James Herondale for me), ACOTAR (I’ve grew out of it and hated Nesta) And so many more.
We definitely need to normalise not finishing series!!
I have the same opinion on the Shatter Me series, I cannot re-read the original one to get back into the new books. For Cassandra Claire, I stopped at like The Lady midnight because I tried reading it thrice (even got through half of it) but I never could get myself to complete it lol. They’re just too much now.
ahh! I loved the original Shatter Me trilogy a lot but then it all went downhill. I’m actually not sure how I managed to read all of them anyways haha
I don’t think I’ll ever finish Scythe by Neal Shusterman, even though I really liked the concept and the first book, too. But I just lost interest for no real reason.
Eh, I think I’ll read Mortal Instruments soon. I’ll take a book or two per month and see how quickly I manage.
Maybe… near the end of this year. Or next year lol.
I’ve never read a shatter me book and just honestly, I won’t.