I think the tropes that make me turn away from books/stories are always "chosen one" and anything even hinting at a love triangle. So over both of them.
Heir is an interesting spinoff/sequel because it does feel like its own story in a way but then also continues from the previous series. As someone who read AEITA fully, I was surprised with how unique it felt while being familiar. So I would definitely recommend reading Ember fully first!
I do not understand where the marketing of Heir went wrong, but I've heard many booktubers say that you need to read An Ember in the Ashes first... And then we have instances when it is being translated into a foreign language, without ever having translated the original series... How is that going to go? :D
I think people get upset when other people don't like what they like because it makes them feel inadequate somehow. We didn't all need to like the same stuff. Personally I liked One Day in December, but I get why others don't. It's ok .
I’m so done with “the special” or “the chosen one” idea, especially when there’s really no basis for it other than “I’m the child of a god” or whatever ridiculous reason. I want my heroes to work for their goals. I want the struggle to be balanced by goodness and the will to do what’s right. I’m old school, I get it. I’m also not a fan of “snarky and bitter because life is tough”. Okay, fine. Life is tough. Give me a character who despite life being tough is still kind and loving! I don’t mind snarky from time to time but if that’s their whole personality, I’m done.
Education of Malice is a retelling of Carmilla. And the attractions between characters was one of the main points of this story if I remember correctly.
Things that will make me put a book back on the shelf immediately when reading the back- a murder mystery, a horror book where it’s basically a grief journey, “traditional” biographies where we spend a lot of time with the subject as a kid (a love a book about a person but the biography format can be so boring)
I’m also not really into magical realism, and I think it’s because lack of world building/logic. It’s like you’re just supposed to accept what is and there’s no explanation, so I can’t tell what’s true and what’s not.
The plot device I hate is in fantasy when there's a kingdom that has outlawed a certain type of creature or people because of some "dangerous" magic and it either goes one of two ways: the prince/princess either secretly has this magical ability that's illegal and runs away to join the other "rebels" OR the prince/princess meets someone and they fall in love and find out that their new bf/gf has said illegal powers. Both cases usually end up with a revolution of sorts and I hate it so much. It's too thinly veiled for our own world and I'm reading fantasy to read about a made up world, not our current issues but with magical creatures. I've read it like 5 times and I always just sigh and stop reading the book now when that happens. It's just not the plot for me.
The thing I dislike most about not liking a premise or something like that: so many people want to give suggestions for exactly that kind of thing. "Oh but this one is so good I'm sure you will love it this time"
I actually learned something interesting about The War of Lost Hearts series a while back. Apparently it's not the first series she wrote in that world. She has other books that she pulled from print stating that she wasn't happy with how they currently are and had intentions to rewrite them. IDK if she's still going to be doing that, as I haven't found much beyond that initial statement.
I loved your holiday romance video. I watched another booktuber's video almost immediately after it and I found it hilarious that the book you ranted about how much you disliked the book ended up being ranked in their S tier for the year. This just shows how each of us loves or hates a book for certain reasons.
I really loved the relationship building in Radiance but that was it. It was good but everything else besides the main characters took a backseat and I also feel like I’m not missing much from continuing.
I read the Ember in the Ashes quartet in preparation for the Heir release. I definitely recommend reading first! I can see how Heir could stand on its own, but it glosses over a lot of character/world-building details that enrich the story. Also, I am not a fan of first person present tense, which was used in Ember in the Ashes. Pleasantly surprised to see a shift to third person in Heir.
Idk if there's a specific premise that annoys me. A good author can sell me any idea, basically. As soon as i see "for fans of SJ Maas" on the back, I put it down. 😂💀 Havent read one worth the money yet.
As soon as I hear 'strong female lead' I put it down. I nearly bought Priory of the Orange Tree until a quote on the back said 'Feminist Lord of the Rings' I'm so tired of aggressively unlikable girls being described as 'strong' and ruining the whole book.*cough*ACOTAR*cough*
@@BestSharkis I resonate with this. I now feel uneasy with female main characters because they will 9/10 be pushing the "strong female character", Mary sue archetype, or I have so many flaws and I just need help because I'm quirky.... There is no hero story for female characters nowadays. It is very sad. I end up putting down books that have female characters now and don't purchase them.
There are several tropes that make me quit books, but the biggest one is when it gets political. Like when the first book was all about them saving the world/country/city/etc., and the second book is all about the repercussions of it. The Witch/Warrior books by Marie Brennan was one where I DNF'd the second book because it became all about politics. Not big on politics in real life, not big on it in fantasy.
20:40 I completely agree about Radiance. I actually read the second book as well (and enjoyed it too) but decided not to continue on with the series. Ultimately, the main characters’ relationship was the main draw for me to that series.
I think the reason why magical realism is hard for you it may be (from what *I'm* hearing from what you're saying) is the perspective you're having it with it. You're going in wanting a secondary world, even when you're aware it's our world, but you don't "get it" why it's *not* in the secondary world. And I'm not saying you're dumb for not understanding but that's the perspective you're going in with it. Because you *can* have a lot of the conversations that the magical realism talks about in a secondary world, but I feel like the reason they don't is because they want to *focus* on that specific point with the magic without the need the Secondary world has to build up to to make you feel like it's a living world. And with Horror it's easier for you to make the "switch" in your head of accepting that it doesn't have to be in a secondary world because Horror kinda thrives on having these hyper focused topics with the supernatural elements and you feel like Magical Realism isn't nesscary due to Horror already having that neiche. Again this is from what I'm understanding from how you're trying to process why you don't like it. It's what I was getting with your dislike of Pirnasi, it's literarly Magical Realism that is *connected* to the secondary world and you wanted more of the secondary world that you feel like the magical realism killed the magic for you when it was revealed that it was that. I would argue A House of Good Bones and The Crane Husband is the closest to magical realism but they're under the Horror genre instead, so thus it helped you make the switch in your head. (I haven't read some of the other stuff that would be under this as well that you've read but I've read those two at least)
Its so funny you brought up concepts that you just dont enjoy I was just telling my husband how much the amnesia trope annoys me like oh your just forgot and know you remember cause someone pretty walked by made your brain tingle... sighs from deep in my soul happen every single time I come across it. An of course the miscommunication trope that causes wars, and breaks up couples, and is used as a device to separate characters for any major length of time. Just talk to each other people! lol
Personally I enjoyed Slaying the Vampire Conqueror more then The Serpent and the Wings of Night. It is somehow in the same series/world, bet can be totally read as a standalone.
For me, Student Teacher romances makes me feel gross. I just cannot. I don't want a mentor... to fall for his/her student. It isn't for me. Every once in a while i stumble across it, and it immediately turns me off from the book. The other thing I hate in books, is when the "sassy female lead" is actually just a mean and terrible human. So many people confuse "banter" with being Rude and mean, and having a slew of unoriginal 'comebacks' that the author will interpret as "witty sarcasm".
Couldn't agree more with your opinion on Daughter of No Worlds by Carissa Broadbent. I have had it happen twice with her books now (this one and Serpent and the Wings of Night) that I have not been able to sustain interest past book one of the series (despite book one being great). Something always starts slipping plotwise, and I (like you) cannot really pinpoint exactly what. Her character and romance building are excellent though, which will always make me reach for her books. I also agree with your opinion on Radiance. I, unfortunately, was not very invested in the plot other than the romance. So, I also stopped reading after book one.
Same! I just commented on the same reason for not continuing Radiance. You also perfectly described how I felt for Serpent and the Wings of Night. I can't pinpoint either what it is even thought I did enjoy the first one.
@veroc86 is it perhaps that the plot isn't properly woven into the whole of the book? Maybe, since Broadbent devotes the first half or so of the book to the romance aspects mainly, the fantasy aspects just lack? I feel like it was a little bit better in serpent and the wings of night. So, maybe it gets better over time
Maybe you just haven't found the right magical realism yet :) I am a huge fantasy nerd, but I also enjoy magical realism like Alice Hoffman, Sarah Addison Allen, Evie Woods... I recommend Alice Hoffman to start, if anyone is wanting to try it. She has many of these books, but Practical Magic and The Red Garden are some of my favorites.
I feel guilty/silly even asking this but have you already donated all those books to the library? I'm just curious because I had that particular copy of A Ladys Guide To Fortune Hunting. I liked the hardcover better than the paperback but I lost all my books in a house fire early last year and I've been on the lookout for a copy of it in good condition. I've ordered a few books I had before used but some of them are not in the condition they are described as being.
Not everything works for everybody. If a certain type of story doesn't work for you, i say just skip 'em. The types of stories you do like are just as worthy. It's good to give things a chance, but if you've done that a few times with the same result, you've done more than enough.
If I read on the back of the book that it’s about a young (usually teenage) girl who has special powers that only she has and she alone must save the day - Immediately back on the shelf. I’m so tired of following whiney girls who don’t know how to use their powers and also somehow makes every guy she interacts with just fawns over her; it’s just annoying!! SHES BORING.
It’s a personal preference, but if the summary of a book boasts about a female assassin in a fantasy book I am immediately turned off. I just feel like the stabby FMC is overdone. 🤷🏻♀️
Just because you don’t like certain premises doesn’t mean you’re dumb! Everyone has their own preferences ❤
I think the tropes that make me turn away from books/stories are always "chosen one" and anything even hinting at a love triangle. So over both of them.
Heir is an interesting spinoff/sequel because it does feel like its own story in a way but then also continues from the previous series. As someone who read AEITA fully, I was surprised with how unique it felt while being familiar. So I would definitely recommend reading Ember fully first!
I do not understand where the marketing of Heir went wrong, but I've heard many booktubers say that you need to read An Ember in the Ashes first... And then we have instances when it is being translated into a foreign language, without ever having translated the original series... How is that going to go? :D
I can't stand trials anymore... I loved hunger games back in the days but it just irritating me now
I still love trials of every kind
Same. I'm not even slightly interested.
Saaame. I'm so tired of seeing trial-trope books. I know some people do enjoy them and that's fine -- but there are so many it's becoming ridiculous.
I burst out laughing when you brought out One Day in December. Not surprised, bhahahaha
Same! Her descriptions of that book crack me up!
The following tropes will put me off a book: amnesia, the missing/evil twin, the chosen one, an assassin/thief MC.
I think people get upset when other people don't like what they like because it makes them feel inadequate somehow. We didn't all need to like the same stuff. Personally I liked One Day in December, but I get why others don't. It's ok .
Yes! There's a reason so many different types of books and genres exist. We all like different things and want different things out of stories.
I’m so done with “the special” or “the chosen one” idea, especially when there’s really no basis for it other than “I’m the child of a god” or whatever ridiculous reason. I want my heroes to work for their goals. I want the struggle to be balanced by goodness and the will to do what’s right. I’m old school, I get it. I’m also not a fan of “snarky and bitter because life is tough”. Okay, fine. Life is tough. Give me a character who despite life being tough is still kind and loving! I don’t mind snarky from time to time but if that’s their whole personality, I’m done.
Education of Malice is a retelling of Carmilla. And the attractions between characters was one of the main points of this story if I remember correctly.
Things that will make me put a book back on the shelf immediately when reading the back- a murder mystery, a horror book where it’s basically a grief journey, “traditional” biographies where we spend a lot of time with the subject as a kid (a love a book about a person but the biography format can be so boring)
For me, it’s anything that’s pandemic related. I recently DNF’d The Blue Hour because of this
I’m also not really into magical realism, and I think it’s because lack of world building/logic. It’s like you’re just supposed to accept what is and there’s no explanation, so I can’t tell what’s true and what’s not.
The plot device I hate is in fantasy when there's a kingdom that has outlawed a certain type of creature or people because of some "dangerous" magic and it either goes one of two ways: the prince/princess either secretly has this magical ability that's illegal and runs away to join the other "rebels" OR the prince/princess meets someone and they fall in love and find out that their new bf/gf has said illegal powers. Both cases usually end up with a revolution of sorts and I hate it so much. It's too thinly veiled for our own world and I'm reading fantasy to read about a made up world, not our current issues but with magical creatures. I've read it like 5 times and I always just sigh and stop reading the book now when that happens. It's just not the plot for me.
Things I immediately put back on the shelf: super model, CEO billionaire, movie star, idol, etc. I have no interest in superstar celebrities.
The thing I dislike most about not liking a premise or something like that: so many people want to give suggestions for exactly that kind of thing. "Oh but this one is so good I'm sure you will love it this time"
I felt the same with Radiance. I liked it or at least their relationship building, but I also didn't feel the need to know what happens next.
For me a set up I dislike is magic schools haha, I know, I'm by myself here
I actually learned something interesting about The War of Lost Hearts series a while back. Apparently it's not the first series she wrote in that world. She has other books that she pulled from print stating that she wasn't happy with how they currently are and had intentions to rewrite them. IDK if she's still going to be doing that, as I haven't found much beyond that initial statement.
I loved your holiday romance video. I watched another booktuber's video almost immediately after it and I found it hilarious that the book you ranted about how much you disliked the book ended up being ranked in their S tier for the year. This just shows how each of us loves or hates a book for certain reasons.
I really loved the relationship building in Radiance but that was it. It was good but everything else besides the main characters took a backseat and I also feel like I’m not missing much from continuing.
I read the Ember in the Ashes quartet in preparation for the Heir release. I definitely recommend reading first! I can see how Heir could stand on its own, but it glosses over a lot of character/world-building details that enrich the story. Also, I am not a fan of first person present tense, which was used in Ember in the Ashes. Pleasantly surprised to see a shift to third person in Heir.
Idk if there's a specific premise that annoys me. A good author can sell me any idea, basically. As soon as i see "for fans of SJ Maas" on the back, I put it down. 😂💀 Havent read one worth the money yet.
As soon as I hear 'strong female lead' I put it down. I nearly bought Priory of the Orange Tree until a quote on the back said 'Feminist Lord of the Rings' I'm so tired of aggressively unlikable girls being described as 'strong' and ruining the whole book.*cough*ACOTAR*cough*
@@BestSharkis I resonate with this. I now feel uneasy with female main characters because they will 9/10 be pushing the "strong female character", Mary sue archetype, or I have so many flaws and I just need help because I'm quirky....
There is no hero story for female characters nowadays. It is very sad. I end up putting down books that have female characters now and don't purchase them.
For me, what irritates me at this point is the setup where the MC has to go through trials, I’m sick of it 😭
There are several tropes that make me quit books, but the biggest one is when it gets political. Like when the first book was all about them saving the world/country/city/etc., and the second book is all about the repercussions of it. The Witch/Warrior books by Marie Brennan was one where I DNF'd the second book because it became all about politics. Not big on politics in real life, not big on it in fantasy.
I put back anything with time travel or a love triangle, immediate no-goes for me!
20:40 I completely agree about Radiance. I actually read the second book as well (and enjoyed it too) but decided not to continue on with the series. Ultimately, the main characters’ relationship was the main draw for me to that series.
I think the reason why magical realism is hard for you it may be (from what *I'm* hearing from what you're saying) is the perspective you're having it with it. You're going in wanting a secondary world, even when you're aware it's our world, but you don't "get it" why it's *not* in the secondary world. And I'm not saying you're dumb for not understanding but that's the perspective you're going in with it. Because you *can* have a lot of the conversations that the magical realism talks about in a secondary world, but I feel like the reason they don't is because they want to *focus* on that specific point with the magic without the need the Secondary world has to build up to to make you feel like it's a living world. And with Horror it's easier for you to make the "switch" in your head of accepting that it doesn't have to be in a secondary world because Horror kinda thrives on having these hyper focused topics with the supernatural elements and you feel like Magical Realism isn't nesscary due to Horror already having that neiche. Again this is from what I'm understanding from how you're trying to process why you don't like it. It's what I was getting with your dislike of Pirnasi, it's literarly Magical Realism that is *connected* to the secondary world and you wanted more of the secondary world that you feel like the magical realism killed the magic for you when it was revealed that it was that.
I would argue A House of Good Bones and The Crane Husband is the closest to magical realism but they're under the Horror genre instead, so thus it helped you make the switch in your head. (I haven't read some of the other stuff that would be under this as well that you've read but I've read those two at least)
Its so funny you brought up concepts that you just dont enjoy I was just telling my husband how much the amnesia trope annoys me like oh your just forgot and know you remember cause someone pretty walked by made your brain tingle... sighs from deep in my soul happen every single time I come across it. An of course the miscommunication trope that causes wars, and breaks up couples, and is used as a device to separate characters for any major length of time. Just talk to each other people! lol
Personally I enjoyed Slaying the Vampire Conqueror more then The Serpent and the Wings of Night. It is somehow in the same series/world, bet can be totally read as a standalone.
Thank you for the clarification on Heir.
For me, Student Teacher romances makes me feel gross. I just cannot. I don't want a mentor... to fall for his/her student. It isn't for me. Every once in a while i stumble across it, and it immediately turns me off from the book. The other thing I hate in books, is when the "sassy female lead" is actually just a mean and terrible human. So many people confuse "banter" with being Rude and mean, and having a slew of unoriginal 'comebacks' that the author will interpret as "witty sarcasm".
Groundhog day trope - I hate it, will never read it on purpose! 😤😂
Couldn't agree more with your opinion on Daughter of No Worlds by Carissa Broadbent. I have had it happen twice with her books now (this one and Serpent and the Wings of Night) that I have not been able to sustain interest past book one of the series (despite book one being great). Something always starts slipping plotwise, and I (like you) cannot really pinpoint exactly what. Her character and romance building are excellent though, which will always make me reach for her books.
I also agree with your opinion on Radiance. I, unfortunately, was not very invested in the plot other than the romance. So, I also stopped reading after book one.
Same! I just commented on the same reason for not continuing Radiance. You also perfectly described how I felt for Serpent and the Wings of Night. I can't pinpoint either what it is even thought I did enjoy the first one.
@veroc86 is it perhaps that the plot isn't properly woven into the whole of the book? Maybe, since Broadbent devotes the first half or so of the book to the romance aspects mainly, the fantasy aspects just lack? I feel like it was a little bit better in serpent and the wings of night. So, maybe it gets better over time
The tropes that I especially dislike are "time travel" and "amnesia". Idk I just never could like it.
In a Holidaze sounds a bit like a knock off of Groundhog Day (movie), but less fun.
I had the same issues with education in malice.
I am sorry honey witch didn’t work out for you Elliot I loved it 🎉🎉🎇🎇🎆🎆🎆🎆🎇🎉🎊🎉🎇🎆🎆🎆🎆🎉🎇🎆🎉🎊🎊🎇🎆🎆📖📖📙📚📚📚📚📚📙📚📚📚📚📙📖📙📚📚💜📚📙📙📖📙📚📚
I like magical realism and urban fantasy. I seem to have trouble with romantasy. Maybe its because I'm older? My favorite series is The Others.
Maybe you just haven't found the right magical realism yet :) I am a huge fantasy nerd, but I also enjoy magical realism like Alice Hoffman, Sarah Addison Allen, Evie Woods... I recommend Alice Hoffman to start, if anyone is wanting to try it. She has many of these books, but Practical Magic and The Red Garden are some of my favorites.
Sarah Addison Allen’s “Other Birds” is fantastic!
I’m so over magical realism, I’m even getting sick of historical fantasy (unless it’s got a lot of world & magic building like the Daevabad series)
I feel guilty/silly even asking this but have you already donated all those books to the library? I'm just curious because I had that particular copy of A Ladys Guide To Fortune Hunting. I liked the hardcover better than the paperback but I lost all my books in a house fire early last year and I've been on the lookout for a copy of it in good condition. I've ordered a few books I had before used but some of them are not in the condition they are described as being.
Oh no.... I read Heir but have not read An Ember the Ashes series. Should I not read Ember?
Not everything works for everybody. If a certain type of story doesn't work for you, i say just skip 'em. The types of stories you do like are just as worthy. It's good to give things a chance, but if you've done that a few times with the same result, you've done more than enough.
If I read on the back of the book that it’s about a young (usually teenage) girl who has special powers that only she has and she alone must save the day -
Immediately back on the shelf. I’m so tired of following whiney girls who don’t know how to use their powers and also somehow makes every guy she interacts with just fawns over her; it’s just annoying!! SHES BORING.
I have an arc of gods below but I haven’t read it yet 😵💫
It’s a personal preference, but if the summary of a book boasts about a female assassin in a fantasy book I am immediately turned off. I just feel like the stabby FMC is overdone. 🤷🏻♀️
Overall I don't like ya it's rare that I find one I like and it's bc it doesn't read ya like the crimson moth
First!