Not every book can be a winner, and some just didn’t live up to my expectations this year. While I always try to find something positive in each story, these books either frustrated me, left me bored, or just didn’t deliver what I had hoped for. Here are the seven books that left me disappointed in 2024 and why they didn’t work for me.
7. Emily Wilde’s Encyclopaedia of Faeries by Heather Fawcett
The Cambridge professor, Emily Wilde, excels in many aspects: she is the leading expert on fairies, a brilliant scholar, and a meticulous researcher who is writing the first encyclopedia on fairy studies. She struggles with human interaction and prefers the company of her books, her dog Shadow, and the fairy folk. When she travels to the snowy village of Hrafnsvik for her research, Emily has no intention of befriending the gruff locals. Likewise, she has no desire to spend time with her academic rival, Wendell Bambleby, whose unbearable charm manipulates the villagers, interferes with Emily’s work, and utterly confuses her. However, as Emily delves into the secrets of the hidden fairy folk, she unravels another mystery: who is her colleague Wendell Bambleby, and what does he truly want? To uncover the answer, she must first unravel the greatest mystery of all – her own heart.
This book started with so much promise. The idea of a socially awkward scholar studying faeries in a remote, atmospheric village was delightful, and I enjoyed Emily’s quirky personality and the eerie setting. The darker moments, with their hints of danger, were a pleasant surprise in what I thought would be a cozy fantasy.
Unfortunately, the pacing ruined it for me. Suspenseful moments were resolved far too quickly, and Wendell, the male lead, failed to charm me. Their supposed love-hate dynamic felt forced, and the lack of tension made it hard to stay invested. While the concept was unique, the story didn’t live up to its potential, and I don’t feel compelled to continue the series. Read my Review here.
6. Fathomfolk by Eliza Chan
In the semi-flooded city, humans are, quite literally, on peering down from skyscrapers and aerial walkways on the fathomfolk — sirens, seawitches, kelpies and kappas—who live in the polluted waters below.
When the extremists sabotage the annual boat race, violence erupts, as does the clampdown on fathomfolk rights. Even Nami realises her new friends are not what they seem. Both she and Mira must decide if the cost of change is worth it, or if Tiankawi should be left to drown.
The idea of a half-submerged city where humans and deep-sea creatures coexist fascinated me. The world-building was imaginative, and I loved the mix of modern architecture and underwater fantasy. The book tackled themes like prejudice and oppression through its “sea people” metaphor, which added an interesting political layer to the story.
However, the plot felt too simplistic and predictable. Nami, the young water dragon, was a promising protagonist, but her naive decisions became frustrating as the story progressed. Mira, the half-human siren, added some depth, but she didn’t leave a lasting impression. Despite the intriguing setting, the lack of complexity in the plot and characters left me underwhelmed. Read my Review here.
5. The Sky on Fire by Jenn Lyons
Anahrod lives only for survival, preferring to thrive in the jungles of the Deep with the titan drake she keeps by her side. When an adventuring party saves her from capture by the local warlord, Sicaryon, she is eager to return to her solitary life, but this is no ordinary rescue. Anahrod’s past has caught up with her. And these cunning misfits intend to spirit her away to the cloud cities, where they need her help to steal from a dragon’s hoard. There’s only one in the cloud cities, dragons rule, and the hoard in question belongs to the current regent, Neveranimas―and she wants Anahrod dead. Enjoy this page-turning adventure with conniving dragons, high-stakes intrigue, a daring heist, and a little bit of heat.
The first fifty pages of this book were gripping, with excellent world-building and an intriguing setup that promised an epic story. I was excited to see how it would unfold. But as I continued, the narrative became disjointed, and the lack of a clear thread made it hard to follow or care about the story.
Moments that should have been impactful were drowned out by unnecessary dialogue, which dragged down the pacing. The potential for a fascinating tale was there, but it wasn’t realized. By the end, I was left feeling like this book had all the ingredients for success but couldn’t bring them together cohesively.
4. Half a King by Joe Abercrombie
Betrayed by his family and left for dead, prince Yarvi, reluctant heir to a divided kingdom, has vowed to reclaim a throne he never wanted. But first he must survive cruelty, chains and the bitter waters of the shattered sea itself – all with only one good hand. Born a weakling in the eyes of a hard, cold world, he cannot grip a shield or swing an axe, so has sharpened his mind to a deadly edge. Gathering a strange fellowship of the outcast, he finds they can help him more than any noble could. Even so, Yarvi’s path may end as it began – in twists, traps and tragedy.
As a huge fan of Joe Abercrombie, this book was an emotional letdown for me. I love his other works for their rich character development and immersive storytelling, but this felt completely different. The fast-paced nature of the book didn’t give me enough time to connect with the characters or the plot.
I missed the depth and nuance that I usually associate with Abercrombie’s writing. Events felt rushed, and I couldn’t attach myself to the story in the way I hoped. It was particularly disappointing because I’ve adored everything else he’s written, which made this one hurt even more.
3. Age of Assassins by R.J. Barker
Girton is on the brink of becoming one of the country’s best assassins, as he apprentices under his Master, a living legend in the business of death. One night, Girton and his master are summoned to the royal court: Within the thick stone walls of Maniyadoc Castle, whispers abound of a planned assassination on the crown prince. True to the motto “To catch a murderer, you must send a murderer,” the queen hires the two assassins to prevent the attack. Neither Girton nor the Master suspect that the attempt on the prince is just the beginning of a series of conspiracies and intrigues that could plunge the entire kingdom into a horrific war, sparing not even loyal assassins…
Assassins are one of my favorite tropes, so I was excited to dive into this book. The mentor-apprentice dynamic and the promise of a mission infiltrating the nobility intrigued me. Girton, the protagonist, had potential with his endearing mix of innocence and cold-blooded professionalism, but the execution fell flat.
The characters felt underdeveloped, and the interactions lacked emotional depth. The assassin theme didn’t live up to its promise, as the missions were simplistic and the plot predictable. The world-building had interesting elements, like magicians as villains, but it wasn’t fleshed out enough to make the story engaging. Despite its potential, this book felt too shallow to leave a lasting impression. Read my Review here.
2. The Spellshop by Sarah Beth Durst
Kiela has always had trouble dealing with people. Thankfully, as a librarian at the Great Library of Alyssium, she and her assistant, Caz—a magically sentient spider plant—have spent the last decade sequestered among the empire’s most precious spellbooks, preserving their magic for the city’s elite. When a revolution begins and the library goes up in flames, she and Caz flee with all the spellbooks they can carry and head to a remote island Kiela never thought she’d see again: her childhood home. Taking refuge there, Kiela discovers, much to her dismay, a nosy—and very handsome—neighbor who can’t take a hint and keeps showing up day after day to make sure she’s fed and to help fix up her new home. In need of income, Kiela identifies something that even the bakery in town doesn’t have: jam. With the help of an old recipe book her parents left her and a bit of illegal magic, her cottage garden is soon covered in ripe berries. But magic can do more than make life a little sweeter, so Kiela risks the consequences of using unsanctioned spells and opens the island’s first-ever and much needed secret spellshop.
I picked this up hoping for a cozy, slow-paced fantasy that would let me unwind. The world and characters were cute, and there were moments where the charm shone through. Unfortunately, the fast pacing worked against it, rushing through events without giving me time to connect with the characters or immerse myself in the setting.
What I love about cozy fantasy is its ability to slow everything down and make me savor the story, but this book didn’t deliver that. While it had the potential to be a delightful escape, it ended up feeling rushed and shallow. A missed opportunity for a truly cozy experience.
1. Belladonna by Adalyn Grace
Signa is touched by death. Since her parents died, her relatives believe she is cursed. Until one day, Signa is invited by her cousin to the beautiful Thorn Grove mansion. The lavish balls and elegant guests fascinate Signa, but the glamour hides a dark secret. The daughter of the house, Blythe, was poisoned, and the perpetrator is closer to the family than suspected. When Death himself appears to help Signa solve the mystery, he awakens forbidden feelings in her that could plunge her into a dark abyss…
This book was, without a doubt, the most frustrating read of my year. I had high hopes for a dark fantasy mystery, but it failed to deliver on every level. The main character, Signa, was incredibly naive and shallow, making it impossible for me to connect with her. Her actions often made no sense, and her sudden desire for independence felt completely unearned.
The romance was another major issue. The relationship dynamics were uncomfortable, with the love interest feeling more like a predatory figure than a romantic partner. Add to that a plot full of holes and a lack of real fantasy elements, and I was left wondering why I even finished the book. Despite my frustration, I pushed through—and now I know for sure that I won’t be picking up anything else by this author. Read my Review here.
Looking Ahead to 2025
While these books didn’t work for me, they’ve taught me more about what I value in a story. Even the flops help refine my reading tastes and remind me to appreciate the books that truly resonate. Here’s to a new year filled with fewer misses and more unforgettable reads!
The Reading Stray 