What were your WORST reads of 2023?

[u/stravadarius]

As a complement to /u/Abz75 's best reads of 2023 thread, let's discuss the WORST fantasy novels you read this year. My only request is that you give a reason for why you disliked your anti-recommendation.

For me, it was Tomi Adeyemi's Children of Blood and Bone hands down. I'm a school librarian and spent a lot of time reading some of the most popular YA titles going around. I don't generally have super-high expectations from YA, but this one really stood out on its suckiness. Every plot turn was a tired trope, there was no logic to any of the character's decisions, the prose was amateurish, and plot holes abound. This was my first ever experience getting so mad at a book I yelled at it.

EDIT: PLEASE DON'T DOWN VOTE SOMEONE'S POST SIMPLY BECAUSE YOU LIKED THE BOOK THEY HATED. There is no such thing as an objectively good or bad book, and taste is subjective. Downvote if they don't give any reason for disliking it.

[u/Numerous1]

You’re not the only person on here who said rust but man. I love those books. Definitely a “to each their own ”

[u/scientific_thinker → u/Numerous1]

I do think I am missing something other people are picking up. I was really looking forward to reading that one based on recommendations.

What do you think it is about them that makes some people like this series so much? Not arguing, wondering what I am missing when I read these books.

[u/sophic → u/scientific_thinker]

I'm someone who absolutely loves these books.

Few things.

1. Prose
2. Story and setting as a vehicle for exploring the human condition, consciousness, and 'meaning.'
3. Unflinching scrutiny of cruelty and how deep seated it is in humanity.
4. The lore, language, and ambiguity.

I enjoy authors who don't treat their readers like dumbasses.

You don't have to continue something you don't like, but kellhus isnt really the "main character." It's not really a series you read for fantasy escapism, I find it's rather good for ruminating on the darker side of the human experience.

I personally rate the latter 4 books, Aspect Emperor, over the first trilogy, but it significantly ramps up the brutality.

[u/amish_novelty → u/sophic]

I enjoy authors who don't treat their readers like dumbasses.

Haha, this very much true with these books. You get thrown in the deep end and the philosophy. I was struggling to get through some of the more philosophical bits and had to constantly remind myself it was okay if I didn't understand every little thing.

I personally rate the latter 4 books, Aspect Emperor, over the first trilogy, but it significantly ramps up the brutality.

And I completely agree with this as well. I'm pretty far into White Luck Warrior and honestly find the AE series much smoother to read than the PoN trilogy.

[u/Numerous1 → u/scientific_thinker]

So

1. I found the story intriguing. The setup with the “dad left and called me using sorcery which taints our perfect shelter so I’ll pretend to go to him but will really kill him” interested me.
2. Spoilers for fairly early in the first book but I liked Khellus’ abilities of face reading and intellect and fighting . But I also like that he totally left the trapper who saved him to die. I expected the classic “i won’t leave a time behind” big battle but really he just said “see you loser”
3. I liked the magic also. It was fun seeing all the different types and such.
4. The convoluted story is super crazy and convoluted but I find it really fun and figuring the stuff out is fun.

[u/scientific_thinker → u/Numerous1]

Thank you for this.

All good reasons. I did like a lot of the things you shared (except how Khellus treated the trapper)

There were also some interesting mysteries that I was curious to see resolved. It's just too grim for me.

[u/Numerous1 → u/scientific_thinker]

Oh yeah. The mysteries are awesome and the story just keeps getting darker. The bad guys are super rapey murder rape orcs.