My 10 Most Disappointing Books of 2022

Mike talks about 10(ish) books that missed the mark for him in 2022.
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0:00 Introduction & Requirements
1:45 Most Disappointing Books of 2022
22:06 Final Thoughts
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#MikesBookReviews #Top10 #disappointment

[@RichardNellAuthor]

Alas! Man, I just need to say to your viewers: Mike and I know and like each other, and it must have been very tempting to just give this book a pass, but that's not how he rolls. You're a gem, sir. I'll get you with the next book...

[@mikesbookreviews]

(I clearly responded to the wrong comment last time, so let's try again!) I'm glad to know that you still like me after this.

[@RichardNellAuthor]

@@mikesbookreviews Give me an honest man every time, sir.

[@griffincooper8557]

Book #1 of Ash and Sand is on my shelf and very high on my TBR! Really looking forward to starting the series!

[@RichardNellAuthor]

@@griffincooper8557 Very pleased to hear it!

[@ShelfCentered]

This makes me want to read the series all the more, very gracious!

[@JacobLHooper]

It’s interesting how you say a book isn’t what you expected or “what you wanted.” I try to begin a book with few preconceived notions, few expectations. I try to allow the book to give me what it wants or what the author intended, rather than trying to get what I want from it. Just an observation. Love the channel, Mike! I look forward to watching in 2023.

[@cloudbloom]

Agreed, the only books I've read which I had any preconceived notions of were the LotR trilogy and the Dune novels, and this was before the movies were made (besides the 84 Dune film) because my best friend would not stop trying to convince me to read them when we were young. I just love picking up a book off the shelf at a bookstore having never heard of the author or the story and going in blind, however I try to remember how Mike is in the opposite situation because he has an active fanbase throwing out recommendations with synopsis & comparisons to other stories/authors constantly so I can't blame him for that. There's a benefit to having a community of avid readers who are supportive and enthusiastic, but it also is impossible to not have some sort of expectations set in place with such an influx of comments on youtube and the discord server. Overall i think he's done a more than excellent job of being transparent and honest with said expectations, hesitations and overall honesty from the beginning of his channel despite the overwhelming noise he must deal with online. Btw in no way am I trying to imply that you weren't giving him the same credit (hell, you and I share the same first name irl I can't be doggin on a fellow Jake🤝) I was just shitting out some thoughts after I read your comment is all😁✌️

[@michaelpolgar7420]

I started reading again after like a 15 year break. Ive only read for s couple of months now and read 7 books. I started with the ocean at the end of the lane by Neil Gaiman. I had heard alot of great things about it, but to me it was a total let down. I think I expected something else, not a bad book but it missed the mark with me. Read kings of the wyld right after, got blown away!!!

[@ad3673]

Mike, you mention that McCammon’s two best books are Boy’s Life and Swan Song. I agree with you that both are exceptional. But you should really put They Thirst (perfect Halloween read) and Stinger on your list for 2023. I have a suspicion they could push their way into your top 10 reads for next year. Personally, I think Stinger is his best book (McCammon did the “town caught under an alien dome” before Stephen King did, and he did it much better than Stephen King did). Just a thought as you assemble next year’s reading.

[@lauren_s9037]

Great video Mike. Totally agree w Fairy Tale, I felt like it was written in the 80s then dug out of a box and quickly updated a bit and released this year. Would've landed better back then maybe?

[@sherbear7612]

Sorry to hear that the Codex Alera series didn't work for you. I read them about 10 years ago and I remember enjoying them, it was my first introduction to Mr. Butcher and was recommended by a friend. I haven't read anything else by him but the Dresden Files is still on my TBR list for one day. Thanks for sharing your list with us.

[@8Epitaph8]

The highlight for me of Sojourn was Montolio Debrouchee. After what Drizzt had been through in the Underdark and to have this interaction between these 2 characters was really cool for me. I still need to continue on and start Icewind Dale.

[@mikesbookreviews]

I'll agree with that. Wish the whole book had been just those two.

[@barbarasenteney1011]

Hi Mike, I love the Shattered Sea series by Joe Abercrombie, it is my favorite work by him. Right now I am starting The Dark Elf series by R A Salvatore. I had read 3 books in the series way down the line and enjoyed it so I decided to start from the beginning, altho I realize the beginning is the second set of books. The world from the beginning is strange and intriguing, so I will go on and hopefully answer all the questions swimming in my head. Thanks for your videos

[@Bemolas2]

My most disappointing books of the year were the Green Bone books. There were some things I liked, but overall just felt like they didn’t click for me. I felt let down after reading them. I think I let myself get hyped up too much and then didn’t find them to be the earth shattering books I was led to believe they were.

[@mikesbookreviews]

Ah, that's too bad.

[@AnthemNotBanal]

Dark Elf Trilogy is one of my all time favorites. I get the feel of "Soujourn", though. "Exile" is amazing. "Between Two Fires" I went into reading with zero expectations, not even knowing it was horror 😅Where it lost points for me was over the top sexuality, but pretty awesome monsters.

[@charleysmith5849]

Honestly, I had a great reading year, too. I have to say I agree with Fairytale. I haven't read as much of King as I'd like to (I am currently making my way through his bibliography), but 11.22.63 and Salems lot are two of my favorite books I've ever read, and Carrie was short and effective. Fairytale lost it's way a little for me. I did love the ending, however! King's endings always get me! Another book that let me down honestly was The Atlas Paradox. I wasn't the biggest fan of the first book, but I loved the ending, so I was hoping, since book.2 would pick up from there, it would be better, but after the first few chapters, it fell into massive middle book syndrome for me. We all have books that let us down, and I agree, doesn't make them bad, just makes them not for you! Thanks for sharing, Mike! Always super interesting to hear your take!

[@RekindledReader]

Very well explained / articulated list! On to some bangers in 2023!

[@mikesbookreviews]

Hope so!

[@vajs6312]

I have the same gripes with Fsiry Tale as you. The above world part was top notch, but the gladiator part was too long and I feel King could’ve benefited by following Radar’s storyline after she got separated from the main character. At least for a short while.

[@stephentheshywarrior2759]

Great video Mike. Hope your family have a wonderful Christmas🙂

[@mikesbookreviews]

Merry Christmas!

[@alynam82]

One of my disappointments was the 3rd Mistborn book. I didn't particularly DNF, but I shelved it in favor of something else. Not that I thought it was bad, I just simply wasn't feeling it. I had just finished Assassin's Apprentice right before it, and it was tough changing gears

[@mikesbookreviews]

In hindsight I wonder if my ranking of the Mistborn books would change on a re-read.

[@safinan8008]

Hello, I’ve had ten disappointing books in 2022 aswell 😢😢 I don’t like DNFing a book.... I hope 2023 reads are better for you! Happy reading to you! 📽🎥

[@mikesbookreviews]

Thank you! You too!

[@ericmerrell8622]

I decided to read Michael Sullivan's Age of Myth....and then looked ok Goodreads and found not only had I already read it and didn't like it, but remember literally nothing from it.

[@mikesbookreviews]

Ha ha what a ringing endorsement

[@clarkkentnaruto4322]

Hi there Mike. How are you doing? I understand how you feel about the Codex Alera series. I tried listening to the first book and I got bored. I know that I have found a great series when, after I put the book down, I can't stop thinking about the characters and wondering are they going to do this or that. I forgot about the plot and characters so fast with that one. That's why I love the A Certain Magical Index light novel series so much. I am always wondering if certain things will happen. I am now about 12 hours out of 18:05 into the Scottish Prisoner by Diana Gabaldon, and I love the teamwork between Lord John Grey, Jamie Fraser, and Tom Byrd. I'm sure if you read that 4 book series, you would too. I have not listened to any of the other books that you talked about. However, I did read and listen to the first chapter of A Boys Life and I am definitely hooked. I will be listening to that and Go Tell the Bees that I Am Gone by Diana Gabaldon at the beginning of next year.

[@sandy23stories40]

I agreed with Fairy Tale, I had other expectations I haven’t finished yet but it has taken me long to read, great video.

[@mikesbookreviews]

Thanks for watching!

[@ravenbellebooks5665]

Our likes/and dislikes continues to align! That's 4 series that I'm stepping back from for me! I'm still going to read Richard Nell soon though - I've finally been able to order his first one, and now that I know not to expect the 2 lines to intersect, I'll adjust my expectations accordingly which should help! 😁 I'm going to catch you on a zoom call one of these days, 😆

[@mikesbookreviews]

I truly hope you do join us! Would love to chat.

[@chrisconrod6265]

I really only started my Stephen King journey last year and therefore Billy Summers was one of my first novels by him, and I enjoyed it for what it was and was ready to pick up another offering. I too was excited for Fairytale as I had a total of 15 King books read, and you're right, after reading a lot more of his earlier works this one was a bit of a let down. I'm about to pick up Wastelands very soon and I'm sooo excited! Happy Holidays Mike! Hope you and your family enjoy the season!

[@angelaholmes8888]

I hope you will enjoy the wastelands

[@mikesbookreviews]

Merry Christmas! I hope you enjoy your stroll towards the Tower.

[@donovanchilton5817]

I apologize on behalf of all King fans that you had to put yourself through reading Billy Summers.

[@Mako2401]

I love your honesty and directness.

[@mikesbookreviews]

I'm glad someone does! Ha ha

[@cloudbloom]

Same

[@Grimscribe732]

Man, Mike. Absolutely ruthless. Kings of Ash, Between Two Fires, Shattered Sea, and McCammon... 10 minutes in and you're still talking exclusively about stuff I really liked ^^ (though I gotta admit, Half a King is the best of the three Shattered Sea novels - specifically because of Yarvi). Codex Alera was pretty spot on though, I read the first four and the have to say book 3 & 4 are better than the first two, but overall it felt very much like something I've seen before.

[@totallysick88able]

Man I’ve been watching your channel for years and this is the first time I’ve had some disagreements with you which is pretty good actually lol. I love Kings of Ash and I think the pay off in book three is worth waiting for the two protagonists to meet. And the Shattered Sea really comes together nicely in book three. I really think you should finish that trilogy. You will see what I mean. 🤘🤘🤘

[@FactMan8]

Thank you for a great video, hope you have amazing holidays.

[@mikesbookreviews]

Thank you! You too!

[@spyroskampanos7965]

I am having a great reading year and I have to say kings of ash is one of the top books I read.

[@BooksWithBenghisKahn]

Loved this vid and the brutal honesty! I read all of Cradle this year, and you made a great choice bailing out after bk 2. The writing doesn’t change noticeably in quality until bk 6 for me, where things start to become a little more character focused and the magic system starts to make more sense. I can’t believe anyone thought this series would be for you! I do hope some of these go better for me like Shattered Sea and Codex Alera.

[@marcperri6168]

You’re not crazy mike I struggled through fairy tale as well. I barely finished, couldn’t wait to move on.

[@mikesbookreviews]

Such a shame, isn't it?

[@kevinwittmer522]

Fairy Tale was my first Stephen King ever and I'm happy to say it did not disappoint! I'd agree with you in that the first part was the best though. 🙂

[@PepsiPepe]

Omg thank you 😭😭 I did not like cradle at alllll!! I read book 1 twice and then got book 2 oof Couldn’t do it. It’s my friends favorite series but I couldn’t do it

[@RodgersReads]

I can see what you're saying about legends of the first empire, that was the one aspect of that story I didn't love but I really loved the world and many of the characters when it wasn't the same 2 characters coming up with random inventions lol. I still need to get to Fairy Tail, it's interesting because people seem to prefer the first half, I don't tend to love slice of life so I'm wondering if I will have the opposite feelings but who knows. Interesting take on Sojourn, tbh I can't remember what happened in which book earlier in the series. I'm up to date besides the 2 books currently available in the newest series so after ...I think 36 books I have read in that series I think I am allowed to be a fuzzy on deets. I hope you will expand beyond Drizzt and try some other things in the Forgotten Realms because for me War of the Spider Queen is still the best series in that world.

[@kriano2436]

My greatest problem with kings of paradise is the shifting focus I think the difference in relevance and enjoyment of the perspectives where to big

[@mikesbookreviews]

I can agree with that

[@kylerieman221]

The Postcard Killers by James Patterson Critical by Robin Cook The Colorado Kid by Stephen King. A few of the books that I read this year that were kinda just...ehh

[@alynam82]

I can see why Wolf's Hour didn't land for ya, if you're not interested into the whole espionage thing. It was my first McCammon, so I didn't have any expectations walking into it. But still, there's plenty of McCammon I know you'll enjoy. Matthew Corbett series will capture your heart and soul. Also, if you're chasing those Boy's Life vibes, there's Mystery Walk and The Listener

[@Redundant_underscore]

The listener was a giant disappointment.

[@CosmereConnections]

Read black tongue thief this year. Pretty good! Made me laugh

[@ryanlee6214]

Mike do you think you’ll ever do a review of more Star Wars EU. I’d love to see your take on the X-Wing books and even the Fate of the Jedi books.

[@mikesbookreviews]

I've yet to read either of those series, so maybe when/if I do, sure!

[@willharper1326]

I felt the exact same way about Shattered Sea. I was basically convinced it would be incredible, I mean it’s Joe Abercrombie. All of book 2, I was trying to convince myself in every way that I was enjoying the story. But after it was all said and done I was pretty disappointed. That map was my favorite part about it. The one time he does a awesome map for every book in the series! The first book was decent. The worst series by far for me recently is Poppy War. I’m sorry, but I could not stand what I managed to read of it. I can’t remember the last time I completely gave up on a book, even ones I don’t enjoy I try to always finish. Out of respect for the author’s time and effort.

[@hhumca]

That book collection is awesome. Brent Weeks...safe hehe.

[@Uppernorwood976]

Shattered Sea is my biggest disappointment too. I found out there’s a reason it’s not talked about anywhere near as much as the First Law series!

[@mikesbookreviews]

Bingo.

[@DrLynch2009]

I agree Half a King is the best of the Shattered Sea trilogy and i feel Joe sidelined Yarvi to not make him another Glokta.

[@stephentheshywarrior2759]

Is the half a trilogy worth picking up? I haven't read a lot of fantasy and feel it may be a decent entryway to Joe's work.

[@DrLynch2009]

@@stephentheshywarrior2759 is very low "fantasy". It's not Abercrombie grimdark but brutal things happen to the protagonist( no Mary or Gary here, all the character earn there scars) and reads fast. I think there is an edition that include the three books.

[@mikesbookreviews]

I hated that decision. I was all on board with Yarvi as the protagonist.

[@billshears6062]

Hey Mike. I’m a teen who has OCD and GAD. This is a really important question to me so I’d love if you could answer. It’s about Lord of the Rings. What do you think of the scene in The Lord of the Rings where Gandalf tells Frodo about the Ring right next to an open window and Sam overhears. Do you think this is an odd detail? For all their talk of care and secrecy, Gandalf talks right next to the window and garden and Sam is able to easily eavesdrop. He’s supposed to be thousands of years old! He can try a little harder to keep a secret! Or did you think Gandalf planned it/allowed Sam to eavesdrop so that he could send Sam with Frodo? What really triggers my anxiety and OCD is that I have not seen anyone post about this on the internet (except me) and one other guy! I’ve even looked through many many many Chapter Analyses of this chapter, and ALL of them criticize tiny little things about the chapter and then just go “oh yeah and Sam eavesdrops” and don’t comment about it AT ALL after that! Basically all day I wonder “do people not notice this?” It’s weird cause something so small makes me feel like I’m the only person who notices this massive “plot hole” …. And that seems crazy to me because Fantasy and Sci-Fi is FULL of plots about conspiracy and secrecy (Dune and ASOIAF are great examples). Imagine if any ASOIAF character talked about their schemes next to an open window with people outside! Even Wheel of Time has lengthy descriptions of how the characters AVOID EAVESDROPPERS. How could Fantasy fans not notice that Gandalf sucks at keeping his world-altering secret? I’m having a bit of an existential crisis over an open window in a book. I genuinely get a burst of anxiety whenever I hear about Lord of the Rings or fantasy now. It’s irrational but true. Even reading the word “secret” reminds me of this. I mean,think about this: what if every movie studio and book publisher let employees be that careless when talking about their new movie/book? Anyway, that’s all, if you could answer that’d be great

[@harrietimoukhuede3019]

I haven't read the Joe Abercrombie series that you're talking about but I absolutely LOVED the First Law Trilogy. One of my favourite fantasy series ever. So I think I would be also disappointed if anything else he wrote didn't live up to those expectations. My biggest disappointment this year was Black Prism by Brent Weeks. Really wanted to like it, thought the world and the magic system and the characters were really interesting but plot-wise it took so far into the book before I really had any understanding of where the story might be going and it seemed to be so slow to move on with the story so it just became really boring for me.

[@ShelfCentered]

Spot on for Shattered Sea. I just did not get along with the other characters in books 2 and 3 despite absolutely loving book 1. Never thought I'd say that about Abercrombie either. And yes, Codex Alera, I pretty much read the last two books just to finish the series. Huge disappointment to me. I was just bored.

[@sjholmesbrown]

It's funny you mention that Sojourn felt like a bunch of monster-of-the-week magazine articles mooshed together. IIRC, for at least some of the DnD books this is precisely what was done. Individual stories from Dragon magazine were gathered together with a loosely strung plot to hold them together and published as a book. I'd bet good money that's the vibe you were getting from this book, even if it wasn't literally just an anthology of short stories.

[@AndrewsWizardlyReads]

Yeah codex is one I read in my early twenties I haven’t been able to re read it since

[@dinocollins720]

Cradle, Legends by M J Sullivan, Fairy Tale, the last Malazan book you read, Joe Abercrombie's ya series, Codex Alera series. These are a couple guesses before I watch the video haha

[@mikesbookreviews]

You do your homework well!

[@dinocollins720]

@@mikesbookreviews haha yep taking notes every video haha 😂jk

[@ErikGuin]

Thats funny, the first thing I was waiting to hear you rant about was Night Angel and you gave him a pass right at the beginning lol!!😆

[@mikesbookreviews]

It's the holiday season. Brent deserves some happiness, too.

[@BillyChungus]

I had the same experience with Buehlman's other book, the Blacktongue Thief. You'd think with the way people speak about it that it's a book on par with A Game of Thrones or Lord of the Rings, but it was just...mid.

[@BookMaven9]

I completely agree with fairy tale, abandoned and the between 2 fires but definitely loved loved wolfs hour

[@mikesbookreviews]

Wolf's Hour certainly wasn't a bad book. Just not on par with the previous 2 books of his I had read.

[@rodhamm8484]

I did not see the problems mentioned about sojourn at all. But I did like the first two books in the trilogy better. Sojourn was very enjoyable mostly because it brought Drizzt out into the surface world and it was like a breath of fresh air, I thought the underground story had run its course and book 3 was what I was looking for to begin the saga to come. I am glad you are enjoying Icewind Dale, because I plan on getting into that trilogy in 2023.

[@Johanna_reads]

You articulated how I felt about Fairy Tale. That first chunk was so good! Given how so many of us felt that way, the book proves to me that there is a huge audience of fantasy readers who can actually love slice-of-life stories!

[@mikesbookreviews]

When it is done well, there's nothing better.

[@ScottnCarol4JC]

The Cradle is the hardest of hard magic systems. I’m surprised they thought you would like it.

[@Thaurnol]

Shattered Sea almost made me uninterested in Joe Abercrombie, but Mike made want to give him another shot. So I'll read the First Law, come January. I'm also halfway through Memory of Ice, so it's a journey... Malazan, Fist Law and Memory, Sorrow and Thorn will be my priority in 2023... also, i might look into The Realms of the Elderlings, so thanks Mike!

[@Uppernorwood976]

First Law is so much better than Shattered Sea it’s like a they were written by a different author. I think Joe was deliberately trying something different with Shartered Sea, whatever it was it didn’t work!

[@mikesbookreviews]

Happy to help! Hope you love them all.

[@reaper2r]

…The First Law is not comparable to Shattered Sea at all. Read The First Law.

[@KarmaSpaz12]

The shiny effects on the covers made me wonder if I had eaten something weird but no.

[@Ulmo90]

My biggest disapointment of 2022 was perhaps Artemis by Andy Weir or The Spider by Kepler, I had high expectations on both based on previous books and they were a bit underwhelming

[@darkelftwiggy4749]

Unpopular opinion, I decided to get caught up on the 2nd generation Mistborn this year for the release of the next book. nope should not have, struggled with book 4 and 5 then DNF’d book 6. so not bothered to continue!

[@andrewturner4873]

I loved between two fires. One my my favorite books ever

[@mikesbookreviews]

Yeah, I'm aware everyone loves it. I didn't hate it. Just...eh.

[@Rendref]

Excatly the problem I had with Legends of the First Empire. Though as I said before, I am bummed you did not read the 5th book in the series, because there you would have found yet another problem, maybe even bigger, that would have probably pulled on your nerves even more. As it did on mine.

[@metalcandycanechild]

I love hearing your best/worst lists! You’re very honest and transparent with your thoughts. My most disappointing book this year was The Child Thief by Brom. I was NOT prepared for the amount of sexual and physical child abuse there was in that book 😣 it upset me so much I DNF’d it halfway through.

[@timitnyre5831]

Yeah, I read The Child Thief about a decade ago, thinking it was going to be just a fantasy retelling of Peter Pan and was shocked by how dark it was. I actually ended up really enjoying it, but I totally get how the level of violence toward kids in the book could turn someone off. Since reading it, I've become a father and I'm not sure i could get through it now because violence against kids just hits much harder when I have my own child to add context.

[@harrietimoukhuede3019]

I haven't read it but child abuse is really not something I want to read about. Even before I had my own child.

[@timitnyre5831]

@Harriet Imoukhuede if I remember right, it's not traditional child abuse, it's more the Pirates treating the lost boys viciously (and vice versa).

[@SuzMordsith]

My fav is the chainfire triology from the sword of truth series. I think if I had started at the start of the series I wouldnt have enjoyed it so much

[@redjarl]

I felt so disappointed by Billy Summers and hearing out your opinion on Fairy tale I am glad that I haven't ordered it immediately.

[@AndrewsWizardlyReads]

I called it on Legends of the first empire… but what did it for me was creation of writing and the wheel in a couple chapters. I didn’t like that.

[@MarcusDalgren]

I think the treatment of Yarvi across the three books is very planned out and well executed. While I agrree with you that he's an awesome protagonist but it can be argued that he's actually the antagonist in book three. For me this shift in perspective and roles is one of Abercrombies hallmarks that keep challenging me when reading his books. Totally agree with the Lawrence-comparison and it took me out of the story as well.

[@helenasf1782]

Totally agree on Fairy Tale. Really loved the first part but the second bit just felt like a different book. I think the characters in the portal were 2D and the personal stakes were never as high. Also I wasn’t too keen on the world that was built there. To be fair it had an Alice in wonderland feel to it. Maybe that’s why I was unhappy with it. I wanted a portal fantasy and I got a fairy tale/ nursery rhyme type story. The ending was good but overall the portal bit took it from a 5 star to a 3 star read for me.

[@dominicaudy8479]

Fairy Tale got better reviews from people who weren’t huge King fans and went in without much expectations. My mom (who’s close to 80) and used to read King a lot once thought it was the best thing he’s written in the last two decades. I think you really have to be in a specific nostalgic frame of mind to fully enjoy it. There was a Clifford S. Simak old fashioned quality to it. The book is very meta, but in a very different way than the Dark Tower was. It’s really a book about King himself where he’s at the same time the teenager/future writer, the ex addict dad and the old man. I liked it more than you did, but it didn’t land perfectly with me neither.

[@mikesbookreviews]

It's been pretty mixed from the feedback I received on it.

[@dominicaudy8479]

@@mikesbookreviews My mom is the type of reader who was really delighted by the fact it’s a fairy tale within a fairy tale about fairy tales. That sort of literary devices appeal to her. The literary qualities are definitely there and maybe a bit more accomplished than usual for King, which some reviewers latched on, but as someone maybe more interested in stories and characters, I found some parts a bit “meh” (we differ a bit about which specific ones, if I remember you review, but we agreed on the first half being by far the best part). I feel like it’s one I might enjoy more on a reread one day. Or not.

[@manzanogianni4935]

I don’t know for sure if I would consider these disappointing but The Books of Earthsea by Ursula K. Le Guin and The Complete Chronicles of Conan both started to drag towards the end, for me. It might be because I read The Stormlight Archive and The Green Bone Saga this year that the others fell short, but finishing that edition of Conan and only the first four of the Earthsea books became a chore.

[@mikesbookreviews]

Bummer about Conan, but I can understand it not resonating with everyone.

[@Dragondarkness30]

I'm loving this even mentioning the master of horror Stephen King. Not every author is going to write a perfect book every time just like artists albums not every single album is going to be great. I have read some what I thought were boring books. Dracula was one of them I couldn't wait for that one to end.

[@plungeybabie]

Spot on with Drizzt book 3

[@matthewahearn5396]

I also DNF’d Cradle after book two. I’ve heard it gets better after book four….I don’t see me continuing.

[@samhoward8573]

Justice of Kings by Richard Swan let me down this year. Had strong reviews and a great premise. But when I read it, I definitely felt like it didn't deliver on the great premise and was average at best. Might just be me, but I felt it wasn't as great as other reviews have stated.

[@LivinNexus]

The Jackass shirt is VERY appropriate 🤣! If you're gonna be dumbbb, you gotta beeee toughhh!!! When you get knocked down, ya gotta get back up! 💯 *helps books up* 😆

[@raswartz]

Cradle comes as close as you possibly can to LitRPG without actually being LitRPG. I found them totally addictive.

[@gcates107]

Me too. I think it’s understandable to not be taken in by the first two, but it really is one that takes off so much more with the third book, sadly.

[@raswartz]

@@gcates107 Ghostwater is the one that finally hooked me.

[@gcates107]

@@raswartz I was definitely in after the first two but I felt the series was a bit superficial, but Blackflame and Skysworn showed me where Will was headed and Ghostwater was among the best fantasy I’ve ever read.

[@DB-pw9md]

Oooh man, i LOVED Between Two Fires. It was a B+ for me.

[@eshg44]

Hey Mike, I've recently suscribed and I watched about a dozen of your videos. I got a question for you regarding the horror genre. Now, I know it ain't related to this video but : Have you read Blackwater by Michael McDowell (1983)? If so, did you liked it? If not, I think you should read it, I currently am and I find it very interesting, different from anything I read and yet the southern gothic setting ain't that rare. I can see why Stephen King is a fan of McDowell's.

[@mikesbookreviews]

I haven't but have gotten several recommendations for it.

[@eshg44]

@@mikesbookreviews It's a pretty good book if you have the time one day! Love your channel by the way

[@samthomlinsonmusic]

Respectfully disagree about the shattered sea. If you read book three you really get to see it all come together. Yarvi plays a big part in that.

[@tomislavcalusic113]

I had a really great reading year but also had a few dissapointments. The biggest were Something wicked this way comes by Ray Bradbury, Pet semetary by SK, Children of time by Adrian Tchaikovsky and Dracula by Bram Stoker. The 3 horrors I expected to love but they all fell short. And COT I read after I read Cage of souls (which i loved) and it was much worse in my oppinion.

[@mikesbookreviews]

Ouch. Ha ha!

[@tomislavcalusic113]

Yeah... I usualy have a simmilar reading taste to you (both love Dune, Abercrombie, SK, McCammon). Probably because of that I expected so much out of those three books.

[@avsambart]

The one book that disappointed me this year is: Royal Assassin. And I know that's a very controversial thing to say on booktube.

[@LynxieDove]

Half a Series...heh. Yeah that works. Loved Half a King, the MC was really interesting...there was enough worldbuilding that got my attention but not so much I felt besieged by it. But Gods...Half a World, annoyed me so much. I liked the girl...she seemed cool, but the character that she hooked up with...he was annoying. Had hell of a time trying to finish that book. Then Half a Sea? DNF'd it. Unfortunately, I could not get into First Law at all...been thinking that as it goes, Grim Dark isn't for me. (I have been enjoying John Gwynne's The Faithful and The Fallen series, which is allegedly grim dark.) Tried Cradle by Will Wight years ago, but couldn't make heads or tails of it. Legends of the 1st Empire...Age of Myth was my 1st Sullivan book...a bit to long (Very Tolkienesque.) I had a mild like for it. But Age of Swords, I barely finished, and have been ambivalent about reading the rest. Now, The Riyria books...loving those so far...going to buy more with some Christmas money.

[@derekrunyan5582]

I remember really enjoying the first book of that Michael J Sullivan series, and then the problems you cited reared their head and I had to DNF.

[@mikesbookreviews]

I liked book 1, too! And 3. 2 and 4 were atrocious.

[@Man-With-a-Hat-Who-Reads]

I attempted Codex Alera years ago, and got through book three, but never went any farther. I am to the point I would have to start over if I were to try it again. Great video, Mike. It is always disheartening when a book lets us down.

[@mikesbookreviews]

I could tell Codex wasn't going to be bad, just nothing overly original.

[@Speed202]

Fairy Tale definitely let me down...

[@andrewathridge5821]

I couldn't agree with you more on the Cradle series. I was excited to read it after so many people gave it amazing reviews. I read the first two books and was wondering what they saw that I didn't. Some people say that it plays out like an anime? I say that's being too kind to the book, I don't think it even accomplishes that correctly. I agree that it had some promising ideas, but, not enough for me to continue reading past book 2.

[@mikesbookreviews]

I'm glad others love it so much, I just don't understand why they thought that I would.

[@Michigntiger08]

I agree on Fairy Tale, first half or so was really good and then it was a little underwhelming. The love interest wasn't in the book much and pretty much seemed to hate the main character. And I got really tired of him repeating "that's not what they said but it's what I heard", it was like "King, I get it, it's a different language". Though I really liked Billy Summers and enjoyed a bit of a different story from King.

[@michaelwinters2574]

Wasn’t too keen on Between Two Fires myself. It was not necessarily bad, but, the hype got to me. Did not really feel in the time and setting all that much. Decent, but not great by any means.

[@mikesbookreviews]

Yeah, exactly. Definitely not bad. But my expectations were high.

[@andrewkraus9339]

I made it through four Cradle books. Kept hearing each next book was better and they were decent breaks from longer books. Been months since I touched the series and probably won't return. Had a lot of the same thoughts.

[@mikesbookreviews]

I could already tell it was going to be a "just wait till the next book!" type of series I wouldn't enjoy.

[@FxSheikh]

@Mike's Book Reviews Hi Mike and Andrew, I have nearly finished three Cradle books and haven't really enjoyed the series so far. I wouldn't recommend this series for fantasy readers. I don't like the magic system and most of the characters, unfortunately.

[@andreamiller3578]

My biggest disappointment is not going to be a popular opinion, but I just can't get into Dune. I finished the first but am struggling my way through the second. This is my second attempt at this series. I just don't think it's for me. Oddly enough, I really enjoyed the movie and look forward to the second part. My second disappointment is Zelazny's Amber Chronicles. I read the first few books way back in high school and loved them. This time, I struggled through them and was often bored, and i have now reached the last three or 4 books that were new to me. Slightly fresher but I'm still reading them quite casually and mostly out of obligation to myself to finish them. OTH I've made it to Duat of Dreams and look forward to The Crippled God. And while it may not be anything new, I still enjoy Codex Alera. But different strokes and all that.

[@cmmosher8035]

I have been curious about Cradle but I really don't like the anime series like Dragonball. Looking into the idea of progression fantasy makes me think it's not for me either.

[@mikesbookreviews]

There is a big fandom for it, but it's certainly one that'll miss me.

[@imbored5951]

It depends on what you disliked about DragonBall. It has a lot of issues as a story.

[@cmmosher8035]

@@imbored5951 I dislike Shonen fighting anime as a genre. It is the story padding that comes from the power leveling, also I found that I find tournament arcs mindnumbingly boring. I like Jojo's though.

[@Ghostlyape123]

Exile for Between Two Fires opinion!

[@danielw8620]

So even though you were disappointed with Stephen King's Fairy Tale as someone who was born after Stephen Kings "golden era of writing" i.e. The Shining/Salem's Lot etc I am wondering if you will ever do a read along on the channel for his older works. I feel like many of the middle aged fans of the channel probably haven't read these books in decades and the millennials like myself have not read them at all. Just a thought.

[@NakiasHideaway]

You always have such good insight, Mike! Now... I'm on hold at my library for the audiobook for Fairytale and now I'm worried. 🙈 And I had a most disappointing Blake Crouch book this year... Upgrade. It just didn't do it for me and I loved Recursion and Dark Matter.

[@mikesbookreviews]

Hope you enjoy it!

[@eddya7894]

Just an FYI.... I can understand your view that some characters accomplish things too easily in LEGENDS OF THE FIRST EMPIRE, but if you read the last 2 books, you'll see a lot more struggles. Some characters fail, some die, some can't be redeemed, some give up, and the ending isn't what you'd expect. There is an Empire Strikes Back vibe to the end of the series. I'd recommend finishing up those last 2 books, but take what I say with a grain of salt. I love pretty much anything Sullivan writes (although, I will admit that AGE OF SWORDS was by far my least favorite.... we are of the same mind on that one!)

[@emilys5008]

I loved Fairytale but I think that's because I hated his other newer works

[@mikesbookreviews]

It was definitely better than anything he's written short of Later in a few years, I agree.

[@morleywritesbooks]

idk, with drizzt books, i like the first 2/3's of every book, but i don't vibe with any of the endings XD

[@whutzat]

Here's mine (not necessarily WRITTEN in 2022): The Midnight Library The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue His Dark Materials Trilogy The Three Body Problem The Secret History (!!!!) Neverwhere The Coldest Girl in Coldtown A Time To Kill (film SO much better!) The Winner's KissTrilogy

[@kflott]

I agree with many of these. Codex Alera wasn't bad just kinda forgettable in the end. Age of Myth just made me miss Royce and Hadrian the whole time; the characters didn't connect. I tried Cradle and very quickly got bored, it felt like Naruto. Fairy Tale was amazing until it wasn't...

[@mikesbookreviews]

No regrets bailing on Codex.

[@BuddhaMelffyQueen]

I'd say the only book I've read that let me down this year was Rule Of Two the second book of the Bane Trilogy. It was just BORING, like crap you follow up Path Of Destruction with Rule Of Two? I've already enjoyed Dynasty Of Evil more and I'm only 3 chapters deep.

[@deelak2329]

I really enjoyed the shattered sea trilogy

[@Wanderwilderreading]

I was sad to see how far Fairy Tale made it in the Goodreads choice awards (granted, the winner for fantasy was even more disappointing…) Just so many better fantasy books that were written this year.

[@mikesbookreviews]

The Goodreads awards make me feel like I'm living n another planet. Ha.

[@coleton7048]

That sucks to hear that Wolf's Hour was a disappointing werewolf book. But I just so happen to have recently read probably the best werewolf novel I will ever read, and it was Monster Hunter Alpha, book 3 in the Monster Hunter International series. So freaking good man, the series is straight dynamite. In book 1 the main threat was a group of ancient vampire sorcerers. Book 2 it was Cthulhu gods from another dimension. And book 3 was a super-werewolf cult. Shit is so freaking fire man. It's like Dresden Files if the main character was John Wick instead of a wizard, and from Texas. And it's epic world ending stakes from the very beginning of the series. Zero slow burn. When you get to it this series is gonna blow your socks off.

[@TheLudMeister]

I loved fairy tale!!