DNF&Y [39]

 

DNF&Y is used to explain why I gave up on certain books, and what about them just didn't work for me. What I disliked about a book might be something you love, so it helps to share your thoughts even when they're negative! If you would like additional information, please click on the DNF&Y tab at the top. If you want to join, you can link up at the bottom!

Burntcoat by Sarah Hall

Synopsis (via Goodreads): An electrifying novel of mortality, passion, and human connection, set against the backdrop of a deadly global virus—from the “astonishing, miraculous” (Daisy Johnson) Man Booker–nominated writer

You were the last one here, before I closed the door of Burntcoat. Before we all closed our doors . . .

In an unnamed British city, the virus is spreading, and like everyone else, the celebrated sculptor Edith Harkness retreats inside. She isolates herself in her immense studio, Burntcoat, with Halit, the lover she barely knows. As life outside changes irreparably, inside Burntcoat, Edith and Halit find themselves changed as well: by the histories and responsibilities each carries and bears, by the fears and dangers of the world outside, and by the progressions of their new relationship. And Burntcoat will be transformed, too, into a new and feverish world, a place in which Edith comes to an understanding of how we survive the impossible—and what is left after we have.

A sharp and stunning novel of art and ambition, mortality and connection, Burntcoat is a major work from “one of our most influential short story writers” (The Guardian). It is an intimate and vital examination of how and why we create—make art, form relationships, build a life—and an urgent exploration of an unprecedented crisis, the repercussions of which are still years in the learning.

I received an ARC from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. My thoughts and opinions are my own. Any quotes I use are from an unpublished copy and may not reflect the finished product.

It only took me a few pages to realize Burntcoat wasn't going to work for me. I'm not sure if it was the writing style or how the story was being portrayed, but it failed to capture my attention. I honestly had no idea what I was reading (and not for a lack of trying). It was like the words were unable to make a connection in my mind; they were just letters on paper. No story - simple or otherwise - unfurled behind my eyes. (★★☆☆☆)

Never Saw Me Coming by Vera Kurian 

Synospis (via Goodreads): Meet Chloe Sevre. She’s a freshman honor student, a leggings-wearing hot girl next door, who also happens to be a psychopath. Her hobbies include yogalates, frat parties, and plotting to kill Will Bachman, a childhood friend who grievously wronged her.

Chloe is one of seven students at her DC-based college who are part of an unusual clinical study for psychopaths—students like herself who lack empathy and can’t comprehend emotions like fear or guilt. The study, led by a renowned psychologist, requires them to wear smart watches that track their moods and movements.

When one of the students in the study is found murdered in the psychology building, a dangerous game of cat and mouse begins, and Chloe goes from hunter to prey. As she races to identify the killer and put her own plan into action, she’ll be forced to decide if she can trust any of her fellow psychopaths—and everybody knows you should never trust a psychopath.

Never Saw Me Coming is a compulsive, voice-driven thriller by an exciting new voice in fiction, that will keep you pinned to the page and rooting for a would-be killer.

I received an ARC from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. My thoughts and opinions are my own. Any quotes I use are from an unpublished copy and may not reflect the finished product.

Never Saw Me Coming was so fucking frustrating. I kept picking it back up hoping it would miraculously get better, but it never did. The synopsis makes you think you're going to be reading the story from Chloe's perspective, but fails to mention the handful of other POVs the author tosses at you without warning. There were no chapter headings or titles to give you any indication of who was speaking. You just had to keep reading until you figured it out, which felt like a huge waste of time. I want to know who's perspective I'm reading from before I'm two pages into the chapter, okay? Thanks.

Additionally, I felt like the author tried to put a huge emphasis on the one black perspective. She was constantly referring to his skin color, and only mentioned other people's race or color when the focus was on him. I want to learn about a character without being spoon-fed information that should be obvious from the writing and story itself. Andre is black. And? Does that mean he automatically points out the race of every single person he encounters?

"He came inside Tyler where three bubbly white girls were..."

"Andre knocked on the door of 615 and an older white man..."

"He was white, with muscular, hairy forearms."

"White like me or white like Deever?"

It's like Andre's entire existence revolved around his skin color and the skin color of others. He couldn't just be another character in the book. The author made him stand out by having him focus on something that none of the other characters did. No one else mentions their race or ethnicity. It pulled me out of the book and prevented me from being able to see Andre as just another person in the story. It was like the author was trying too hard to make him her Black character, who talks about Black issues, and is concerned with Black politics. She failed to just let him be a person. I'm not saying the issues and politics aren't important, but they weren't addressed or brought up in a way that left an impact. It was more like she was using him solely to say, "Hey! Look! My book has diversity!"

It also made zero sense that Andre - a freshman in college - wouldn't tell his parents that he'd watched another student die while trying to save him. He literally had someone else's  blood on his hands, was questioned by the police, experienced something traumatic, yet didn't tell his parents. Right. Okay. 

Also, wtf is FOMO? Am I that old or is this some new slang that I just haven't heard?

"Reek seemed surprised when I made a beeline..." Reek? How very Game of Thrones... 🙄

I didn't even make it halfway through this one, which is really disappointing. I had high expectations and the cover is stunning, but the story flopped. The characters were unlikeable and uninteresting, I didn't care about the murders or murderer, and I was more annoyed than anything else while reading it. (★★☆☆☆)

Wintersong (Wintersong, #1) by S. Jae-Jones

Synopsis (via Goodreads): "Darkly romantic and atmospheric in all of the best ways, this book reads like a fever dream you never want to wake from." —Emily A. Duncan, New York Times bestselling author of Wicked Saints and Ruthless Gods

Dark, romantic, and unforgettable, Wintersong is an enchanting coming-of-age story for fans of Labyrinth and The Cruel Prince.

The last night of the year. Now the days of winter begin and the Goblin King rides abroad, searching for his bride…

All her life, Liesl has heard tales of the beautiful, dangerous Goblin King. They’ve enraptured her mind, her spirit, and inspired her musical compositions. Now eighteen and helping to run her family’s inn, Liesl can’t help but feel that her musical dreams and childhood fantasies are slipping away.

But when her own sister is taken by the Goblin King, Liesl has no choice but to journey to the Underground to save her. Drawn to the strange, captivating world she finds—and the mysterious man who rules it—she soon faces an impossible decision. And with time and the old laws working against her, Liesl must discover who she truly is before her fate is sealed.

Rich with music and magic, S. Jae-Jones's Wintersong will sweep you away into a world you won’t soon forget.

If I wanted to be petty, I'd say I should have known better based on who blurbed it (Emily Duncan's books have never worked for me), but instead I'll take the blame for wishing Wintersong would be more than what it was. I think whoever compared this book to Labyrinth and The Cruel Prince did a disservice to them both. Wintersong paled in comparison. All they managed to do was set a bar so high this book never stood a chance. The author would have had to produce something truly breathtaking to even come close to the feels and emotions Labyrinth and The Cruel Prince elicit. 

My biggest complaint would have to be Liesl herself. She's constantly talking about how plain she is compared to her sister, and I hated how frequently she put herself down. What about the teenagers reading this book? Are they supposed to relate to her feeling inadequate because of her looks? Are they going to look up to someone ordinary if she is unable to see the beauty in herself? The fact that Liesl needs a man - sorry, the Goblin King - to make her feel beautiful, is absurd. She should have found strength in herself instead of relying on it from others.

Also, the musical aspects of this book were snooze-worthy. I wanted to skip over them, but they took up the bulk of the book. I get why music played a large role in Liesl's life, but I was bored to tears trying to read through pages and pages of her playing music, composing music, or just talking about music in general. Her brother's music, her father's music, etc. It was a lot.

I never understood what the point of the story was. Were Liesl and the Goblin King playing a game? What was the game? Did they like or dislike each other? The rules were weird and not properly explained, and eventually I got tired of trying to figure it out. The story itself wasn't believable, and the characters were dull and unlikable. 

I started this book back in July and I'm just now 32% into it? Hard pass, thanks. Clearly, Wintersong wasn't a good fit for me, so I'm going to stop trying to fit a square into a triangle. (★★☆☆☆)

Mexican Gothic by Silvia Moreno-Garcia 🎧 Narrated by Frankie Corzo

Synopsis (via Goodreads): After receiving a frantic letter from her newly-wed cousin begging for someone to save her from a mysterious doom, Noemí Taboada heads to High Place, a distant house in the Mexican countryside. She’s not sure what she will find—her cousin’s husband, a handsome Englishman, is a stranger, and Noemí knows little about the region.

Noemí is also an unlikely rescuer: She’s a glamorous debutante, and her chic gowns and perfect red lipstick are more suited for cocktail parties than amateur sleuthing. But she’s also tough and smart, with an indomitable will, and she is not afraid: Not of her cousin’s new husband, who is both menacing and alluring; not of his father, the ancient patriarch who seems to be fascinated by Noemí; and not even of the house itself, which begins to invade Noemí’s dreams with visions of blood and doom.

Her only ally in this inhospitable abode is the family’s youngest son. Shy and gentle, he seems to want to help Noemí, but might also be hiding dark knowledge of his family’s past. For there are many secrets behind the walls of High Place. The family’s once colossal wealth and faded mining empire kept them from prying eyes, but as Noemí digs deeper she unearths stories of violence and madness.

And Noemí, mesmerized by the terrifying yet seductive world of High Place, may soon find it impossible to ever leave this enigmatic house behind.

Silvia Moreno-Garcia is quickly becoming one of my favorite authors! Gods of Jade of Shadow was my first book by Moreno-Garcia, and I absolutely loved the Mayan mythology that was woven in throughout the story. Mexican Gothic was equally enchanting with its ghosts and many mysteries, and I really enjoyed Noemí as a main character. I'm already looking forward to reading my copy of Certain Dark Things and Velvet Was the Night. I'm pretty sure I have The Beautiful Ones on NetGalley, too. (See? Obsessed.) If you haven't read anything by this author yet, you don't know what you're missing! 

I ended up listening to an audiobook for Mexican Gothic (despite starting with a physical copy), and I'm really happy I did! Frankie Corzo was an amazing narrator that really brought Moreno-Garcia's story to life. Every character had a unique voice and presence within the book, although I was particularly fond of Noemí and Francis. Noemí was very strong-willed and undaunted by the weirdness of the Doyle family. She endured their silence, their judginess, and their unwillingness to accept her presence within their home. She cracked and wavered, considered giving up once or twice, but stayed committed to helping Catalina (her cousin) and to figuring out the house's secrets.

It's clear from the start that something weird is going on, and that Catalina's sickness isn't normal. Her husband, Virgil Doyle, is as disgusting as his father, Howard Doyle. The apple doesn't fall far from the tree, and I despised the two of them instantly. They both spoke like they were above everyone else, and they had a superiority complex that was nauseating to read about. The way they spoke to Noemí, how they treated the women in their own family - UGH. I hate that everyone just accepted their behaviors because that's how things were done. The mind games they played were awful, too. They would say one thing when they meant another, and they seemed to enjoy making Noemí feel like she was imagining certain things. Their sick sense of humor made me feel stabby and violent. I wanted something terrible to happen to both of them.

Francis was the only descent member of the Doyle family, although he seemed fine with being a sheep for most of the book. I would have appreciated more of a backbone from him, but I can also understand and appreciate the characteristics he had. He had been raised a certain way and been burdened with knowledge and expectations that no sane person would want. I think he did his best to help Noemí and Catalina, but his family also had a very firm grip on his life and actions. No secrets were safe in High Place, and you could never be sure who was listening, or even if what you were seeing was actually happening.

Moreno-Garcia really messed with my head throughout Mexican Gothic. I never knew what was real and what was imagined, and I struggled along with Noemí to sort dreams from reality. I really loved how this story developed and the way the author chose to reveal certain chunks of information. It gently unfolded in the most unexpected ways, and I thoroughly enjoyed the experience. I also really liked how the book ended, because while this particular story is over, it still felt like there was something unfinished about their individual lives. How will they recover after everything they've been through? What will their lives look like now? While I love a good epilogue, I think not knowing really suited this book. (★★★★★)

Blood & Honey (Serpent & Dove #2) by Shelby Mahurin 🎧 Narrated by Holter Graham & Saskia Maarleveld

Synopsis (via Goodreads): After narrowly escaping death at the hands of the Dames Blanches, Lou, Reid, Coco, and Ansel are on the run from coven, kingdom, and church—fugitives with nowhere to hide.

To elude the scores of witches and throngs of chasseurs at their heels, Lou and Reid need allies. Strong ones. But protection comes at a price, and the group is forced to embark on separate quests to build their forces. As Lou and Reid try to close the widening rift between them, the dastardly Morgane baits them in a lethal game of cat and mouse that threatens to destroy something worth more than any coven.

The hotly anticipated sequel to the New York Times and IndieBound bestseller Serpent & Dove—packed with even steamier romance and darker magic—is perfect for fans of Sarah J. Maas.

If Serpent & Dove was an ocean – full of life and possibility – then Blood & Honey was a stagnant puddle of water – muddied and unremarkable.

I just finished Blood & Honey by Shelby Mahurin and I am so disappointed. I'm definitely not okay with how it ended, and I felt like the entire book was pointless in regard to the progression of the story. Everything happened over a span of what? A week? It felt like the characters were rushing from one thing to the next, but without any of the character development and plot devices from the first book. In Serpent & Dove I fell in love with Lou and Reid, Ansel and Coco. They grew individually and developed as a group, but both aspects were absent from Blood & Honey. Everyone basically stayed the same, and their repeated arguments were exhausting to read about. 

What happened to all of the characters I fell in love with? Lou and Reid kept fighting over the SAME things, and most of the time their arguments were superficial and lacked any real substance. Reid still struggles with magic and Lou by association. He hates himself for various reasons, yet is unwilling to look at anything differently (despite everything he’s been through and everything that’s happened). His mother, his wife, one of his companions - they all use magic, but he's too stubborn to set aside his beliefs and antiquated notions. All of the characters were unbearably obnoxious and whiny, and the story dragged despite everything happening in a very short timeline. Lou took things too far, Reid avoided everything he needed to face, and the others simply watched events unfold like little kids watching their parents fight.

I also hated how Ansel was treated the entire book. He more than earned their respect after everything he did in Serpent & Dove, yet they still saw him as a child that needed to be protected. They laughed at him when he tried to learn how to defend himself, and always viewed him as a liability. Over and over again he gets looked over and pushed aside, and I will never forgive Lou for the things she said to him towards the end. I don't care what her reasons were, she was needlessly cruel and should have kept her damn mouth shut. What Coco did to him wasn't any better, and her justifications only made me roll my eyes and sigh with disappointment. She shouldn't have toyed with him, and now the damage is done. Beau was always obnoxious when it came to Ansel. Reid didn't outright make fun of him or belittle his efforts, but he wasn't a staunch supporter either.

BEAU! I really thought we'd learn more about him during this book, but he's still a sadly underdeveloped secondary character. I thought his position and attitude would make him a more interesting character, but he rarely interjected with anything interesting to say. His childish behaviors and commentary got old really fast.

A lot of what happened felt like it was done for shock value, and not necessarily because it needed to happen. I really wanted to love Blood & Honey as much as I loved Serpent & Dove, but the second book lacked everything I enjoyed about the first. Yes, there were several awesome fight scenes, and the conflict between Lou and her mother was still there, but other than the addition of a few interesting new characters, this book didn't really add anything to the overall story. It was definitely a filler book, and I wish this series had remained the duology it was originally meant to be.

Pro: Listening to the audiobook was so much better than reading it on my own! I really struggled with the French words and pronunciations in Serpent & Dove, and having a narrator meant I didn't have to worry about butchering anything in Blood & Honey. Holter Graham and Saskia Maarleveld were amazing, despite Graham not really have the voice I imagined for Reid. Oh, and this one ends with a really annoying cliffhanger. You've been warned. (★★⋆☆☆)

*this post has been backdated

Something to Talk About by Meryl Wilsner 🎧 Narrated by Jorjeana Marie & Xe Sands

Synopsis (via Goodreads): A showrunner and her assistant give the world something to talk about when they accidentally fuel a ridiculous rumor in this debut romance.

Hollywood powerhouse Jo is photographed making her assistant Emma laugh on the red carpet, and just like that, the tabloids declare them a couple. The so-called scandal couldn't come at a worse time--threatening Emma's promotion and Jo's new movie.

As the gossip spreads, it starts to affect all areas of their lives. Paparazzi are following them outside the office, coworkers are treating them differently, and a "source" is feeding information to the media. But their only comment is "no comment".

With the launch of Jo's film project fast approaching, the two women begin to spend even more time together, getting along famously. Emma seems to have a sixth sense for knowing what Jo needs. And Jo, known for being aloof and outwardly cold, opens up to Emma in a way neither of them expects. They begin to realize the rumor might not be so off base after all...but is acting on the spark between them worth fanning the gossip flames?

I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. My thoughts and opinions are my own. Any quotes I use are from an unpublished copy and may not reflect the finished product.

Something to Talk About was a S L O W B U R N romance that I mostly enjoyed. I thought their conflicts (they never really argued with each other) were petty and didn't warrant the level of avoidance and annoying childlike behavior that occurred, so that alone was super frustrating. One of my biggest bookish pet peeves is when something can be resolved with a simple conversation, so I hated that these two managed to make a misunderstanding - or maybe just a lack of shared information - last for weeks. It felt unnecessary and didn't really add anything to the overall story. 

Emma gets her feelings hurt and doesn't tell Jo why she's upset. I'm still not convinced what she was upset about was really that big of a deal. It's not Jo's fault Emma never went to a baseball game, and her relationships outside of work really weren't any of Emma's business. Emma feeling slighted by not being told Jo was sitting at games with her sister... ugh, it was obnoxious. She ignored Jo and acted like a recalcitrant child. If the author didn't want us to think the age difference between the two was a big deal, Emma shouldn't have had the maturity of a teenager going through puberty. Jo eventually apologizes for not telling Emma, but it's still not something I think she should have had to do to appease her assistant. Additionally, Emma kept mentioning that she "deserved better," which is why she waited for Jo to apologize a second time (apparently the first time wasn't good enough), and it made Emma seem pretentious. 

I also didn't like how long it took for the two of them to acknowledge their feelings for each other and actually act on them. Everyone can see that they're attracted to each other. We know what they're both thinking and feeling because of the dual POVs, but they don't discuss those feelings with each other because of their work relationship and power dynamic. Jo doesn't want to seem like she's taking advantage of her employee, and Emma doesn't know what her feelings really are until the very end. Despite her making awkward comments and being clumsy around her boss, she remained oblivious until the last few chapters. The thoughts were there, but it took her sooo long to admit anything to herself. 

This book would have ended much sooner if Jo and Emma had been able to have honest conversations with one another. I really liked their relationship and the setting for the story (though I wish we'd seen more from the secondary characters), and thought their romance was sweet and subtle. However, I wanted more romance between the two of them, not restraint and unvoiced thoughts and feelings.

I really liked the concept Jo had for helping women who have been sexually harassed in the workplace (Hollywood specifically), and wish that had also been expanded on. I wanted to really dive into how that would work, and what it would take for women to feel safe coming forward with their experiences. I felt like it was mentioned for a few pages, but then never really addressed again.

Also, other than Evelyn and Avery, the secondary characters were flat and mostly off-the-page. Emma and Jo mention people occasionally, but it's mostly about Emma and Jo. If we were going to be stuck in their awkward, not-going-to-address-the-elephant-in-the-room brains, it would have been nice to see things outside of their immediate circle. A few times it felt like the author was going to branch out in a different direction, but then we'd come right back to all of the things Emma and Jo weren't saying to each other.

I thought the narrators (Jorjeana Marie and Xe Sands) were amazing! They really brought Jo am Emma to life and made me want to keep listening despite being annoyed with what was happening in the story. It's a short audiobook (a little over nine hours), which is probably why I listened to the whole thing. Wilsner created wonderful characters, but Emma's childlike behavior, their reluctance to talk about their feelings, and how long it took for the two of them to get together really diminished my overall enjoyment. (★★★☆☆)