These 3 Series are NOT Worth the Hype

Thank you for visiting I Rant About Books!

DISCLAIMER: My reasons are quite petty, and I know so.

The book series (serieses?) I will be writing about are severely overrated. You can try to change my mind, but I don't think you'll be able to. As a refresher, here is my criteria for a good book.

1. Character

2. Plot

3. Setting

4. Writing Style

I'm not trying to offend anyone with my opinion; everyone can like what they like. Also, I am only criticizing the novels, not the authors themselves. These books are not necessarily bad, but they do not deserve the amount of love they receive!

Without further ado, here I go.

1. Divergent by Veronica Roth

Description Credit: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13335037-divergent

In Beatrice Prior's dystopian Chicago world, society is divided into five factions, each dedicated to the cultivation of a particular virtue—Candor (the honest), Abnegation (the selfless), Dauntless (the brave), Amity (the peaceful), and Erudite (the intelligent). On an appointed day of every year, all sixteen-year-olds must select the faction to which they will devote the rest of their lives. For Beatrice, the decision is between staying with her family and being who she really is—she can't have both. So she makes a choice that surprises everyone, including herself.

Rating: 2/10

ARP Points: 16

In my very first post, I mentioned how much I despise Tris from Divergent. I've only read the series once, over a year ago, but I still remember cringing at her so much. I distinctly recall the first time I was annoyed by her. When she changed her name from Beatrice to Tris, I thought "wow, you're not like other girls, huh? you have to be DifFerEnT." Honestly, I don't know why that ticked me off, but it really did.

Over the course of the trilogy, Tris only continued to become more frustrating. For example, at the beginning of Insurgent, the second novel, she is racked with guilt about something she could have totally avoided. It basically becomes her whole personality. "Boo-who I'm guilty and that's my whole life now. I'll just continue to be whiny and annoying!"

However, its irritating protagonist is not the only reason why Divergent is overrated. The whole plot could use work, especially after the first book, which was the best of the three. It's almost as if the author ran out of ideas and decided to lose the whole purpose, the whole theme of the series, just so it could be published sooner. I cannot say much without spoiling, but a quick google search of the last book's plot would explain everything.

The setting was okay for a dystopian world, but overall average. Almost as if Hogwarts Houses were turned into a society. Romance was meh, kinda boring and unrealistic. Lastly, Roth's writing style was not my favourite. Not particularly descriptive, rich, or beautiful. Overall, Divergent is an average dystopian trilogy, except for its horrendous main character.

2. The Inheritance Games by Jennifer Lynn Barnes

Description Credit: https://ppld.org/book-reviews/inheritance-games-3

Inheritance Games is about a teenage girl, Avery Grambs, who grew up with very little money to her name. Soon she learns that she has inherited most of the multi-billionaire, Tobias Hawthorne's wealth and land, and has no connection to the family entirely.

Rating: 5.5/10

ARP Points: 13

Okay, okay, okay. This one isn't too bad. The plot is incredible, and the characters are all interesting. The writing style is decent, and the setting is mediocre at best. My problem with it is the romance.

It just seems so utterly fake, so staged and scripted. The main character, what's her name, ummmmm, I got it! Avery is good enough, but not that likeable in the scheme of things. Why do Grayson and Jameson like her; there's no discernible reason. The romantic scenes always feel rushed and lacking, like the author put them in there just to fill up space. In short, I wouldn't be sad if Grayson died. Avery and Grayson just didn't have enough of a connection.

If I compared the romance of Harry Potter with that of The Inheritance Games, I would prefer the former, which is really saying something. It's saying that even though Harry Potter is about schoolchildren with magical powers, it still incorporates believable romance better than a series that is literally described as a mysterious "Cinderella Story" by toppsta.com.

3. Keeper of the Lost Cities by Shannon Messenger

Description Credit: https://shannonmessenger.com/keeper-of-lost-cities/keeper-of-the-lost-cities.html

Twelve-year-old Sophie Foster has a secret. She’s a Telepath–someone who can read minds. It’s a talent she’s never known how to explain. Everything changes the day she meets Fitz, a mysterious (and adorable) boy who appears out of nowhere, and who can also read minds like her.

Rating: 1/10

ARP Points: 14

Sophie is the worst protagonist ever to exist. Why do people like her? Why do Fitz and Keefe like her? I don't know. She's a spoiled brat who doesn't deserve any abilities, let alone the 5? (I don't want to know) she actually has. At least Tris wasn't dumb.

I read this series in grade 3, so 5 years ago. KotLC is the only series I have ever stopped reading; the only series thus far, actually. (Although there's a book club book I don't want to read right now.) Even at 8 years old, I could recognize that Sophie was like a lottery winner who was already rich. That doesn't make sense, and yet, it does.

I don't even remember much, but I have a feeling of hatred when I think of that little blonde chimp. I remember reading multiple of the books just to see if Fitz would die and Sophie and Keefe would end up together, even though Sophie doesn't deserve a happy ending. I thought Fitz had no personality besides being attractive, by the way. I do not have the slightest idea what he saw in Sophie.

I know that was just Character, but even that was enough to ruin KotLC for me. I don't even remember the main plot. I can't bring myself to research. I guess you can tell by now, but I HATE when authors try to make their main characters special. It comes out as extremely pretentious and stuck-up. I literally seethe, which means to be filled with intense but unexpressed anger. Sometimes, I look like I'm trying to destroy my fists, even when I'm only thinking about a book.

Thank you for reading this post! I hope you enjoyed it. Sorry if it got a little rant-like; I'm just very passionate about books. (Since my last post was positive, it took a week to write, while this one only took an hour.) Also, sorry if you've told me you liked one of these books and I didn't say anything negative or positive in response.

As always, you can contact me @lara_murakami on Instagram, in the comments section below, by messaging me, or even in person!

Love, Lara