Hopefully the final DNF roundup of the 12 months, however based mostly on how crappy this fall has been thus far, perhaps we’ll get another? In my private life, it’s been making an attempt instances for the reason that season began, and my October took one take a look at the dumpster fireplace that was my September and mentioned, “maintain my beer.” Anyway, I’d actually love for the final two months of the 12 months to interrupt this pattern. There’s been lots on my plate, a few of it good and a few of it unhealthy, however mentally I’m exhausted and now greater than ever I’m trying to my books as an escape. People who aren’t maintaining my consideration get put apart. Temper studying: I’m all in.
However as at all times, please take my opinions with a grain of salt. It’s potential you may take pleasure in these books for the very causes I didn’t. Regardless, I discover it helps me drastically to course of my studying experiences to to articulate why a guide didn’t click on for me, in order that’s the place these DNF critiques are available in.
I acquired evaluate copies from the writer(s). This doesn’t have an effect on the contents of my critiques and all opinions are my very own.
Purple Rabbit Ghost by Jen Julian
Mogsy’s Score: DNF
Style: Horror
Collection: Stand Alone
Writer: Run For It (July 22, 2025)
Size: 384 pages
After a few years, Jesse Calloway returns to his eerie and repressive hometown to uncover the reality about his mom’s mysterious loss of life. I actually needed to love his story, and although issues have been gradual at first, I’d hoped it could finally draw me in. Sadly, regardless of the attention-grabbing setup, the plot by no means fairly discovered its footing. It didn’t assist that there was no hook. The pacing dragged, the characters felt distant, and the setting–which was alleged to seize the boring grind of small city life–might have achieved its job a bit too effectively. Purple Rabbit Ghost is a horror novel however I discovered no frights and even stress in it, simply tedium.
The Two Lies of Faven Sythe by Megan E. O’Keefe
Mogsy’s Score: DNF
Style: Science Fiction
Collection: Stand Alone
Writer: Tor Books (June 3, 2025)
Size: 345 pages
Faven Sythe is a spacefaring navigator who charts the starpaths between worlds, and when the guide begins we see her getting down to discover her lacking mentor. The plot is slick with loads of sci-fi intrigue, however I’ll be trustworthy–I used to be extra confused than captivated. The world-building felt extra like windowdressing and the sense of place by no means materialized for me, and neither did a cohesive narrative. I discovered it tough to remain , and although the writing flowed easily and the characters felt strong sufficient, not one of the concepts had time to cook dinner. The politics and relationships lacked weight, and after some time, I got here to the conclusion that my funding and need to proceed had fully fizzled. Dissatisfied that I needed to abandon this one however I don’t remorse it.
Mogsy’s Score: DNF
Style: Fantasy
Collection: Stand Alone
Writer: Tordotcome (October 7, 2025)
Size: 144 pages
Cinder Home reimagines Cinderella as a ghost story, following sixteen-year-old Ella who was murdered by her household and is now trapped haunting her father’s home. It’s a deliciously darkish idea with all of the makings of a haunting and romantic gothic fantasy, and but it couldn’t have made me any extra ambivalent. The writing is gorgeous however felt hole, and the environment by no means fairly landed. Actually, it ought to inform you a large number that whereas that is solely a novella, I nonetheless couldn’t end it. In technical phrases, the whole lot felt high quality, however the expertise nonetheless felt soulless. As I sat there rereading the identical part 3 times and nonetheless couldn’t something to register, I spotted it was time to name it quits.
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