I find myself having more and more ‘did not finish’ books as the years go by. I’ve finally learnt to give up on a book if I’m not enjoying it and I do feel better for it. Already this year I have had nine DNFs, which is more than my entire life before 2024. Either I’m getting more analytical of books or I keep picking up bad ones.
The Near Witch by Victoria Schwab
I attempted to read this book on two different occasions and I think both times I stopped reading it because it was taking too long and my Kindle Unlimited subscription ran out. I’ve never thought about picking it up again as the story didn’t capture my attention. I couldn’t even tell you what happened in the half of the book I actually did read.
For some reason, I never tracked this book on my Goodreads so I did forget about it until now. I was thinking to myself the other day if there were any books I’ve DNF’d that I hadn’t included in these posts yet and this sprang to mind. I think I came across the photo I took for it years ago that I actually hate now. The cover is not good.
Synopsis: The Near Witch is only an old story told to frighten children.
If the wind calls at night, you must not listen. The wind is lonely, and always looking for company.
And there are no strangers in the town of Near.
These are the truths that Lexi has heard all her life.
But when an actual stranger-a boy who seems to fade like smoke-appears outside her home on the moor at night, she knows that at least one of these sayings is no longer true.
The next night, the children of Near start disappearing from their beds, and the mysterious boy falls under suspicion. Still, he insists on helping Lexi search for them. Something tells her she can trust him.
As the hunt for the children intensifies, so does Lexi’s need to know-about the witch that just might be more than a bedtime story, about the wind that seems to speak through the walls at night, and about the history of this nameless boy.
Allegiant by Veronica Roth
This is another book I attempted to read on several occasions. The first I genuinely lost interest in it and by the second attempt I’d had the ending spoiled. When this series first came out I was obsessed with it, so having the ending spoiled was massively disappointing. These days I realise that this series just wasn’t very good to begin with and the ending is stupid.
Synopsis: The faction-based society that Tris Prior once believed in is shattered – fractured by violence and power struggles and scarred by loss and betrayal. So when offered a chance to explore the world past the limits she’s known, Tris is ready. Perhaps beyond the fence, she and Tobias will find a simple new life together, free from complicated lies, tangled loyalties, and painful memories.
But Tris’s new reality is even more alarming than the one she left behind. Old discoveries are quickly rendered meaningless. Explosive new truths change the hearts of those she loves. And once again, Tris must battle to comprehend to complexities of human nature – and of herself – while facing impossible choices about courage, allegiance, sacrifice, and love.
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