Top Ten Books I Thought I'd Like MORE/LESS Than I Did

Top Ten Tuesday is hosted by The Broke and The Bookish.  This week the chosen topic is the ten books I thought I'd like more/less than I did.  It was really hard to whittle the list down to ten this week, as rarely do books meet my expectations.  I am either very surprised or completely disappointed, which probably mean my instincts based on blurbs are completely unreliable.  

5 Less

Charley Davidson Series - Darynda Jones

   I wanted to expand my paranormal reading beyond the tales of witches, vampires and werewolves.  The blurb for FGOTR sounded good, what with a female Grim Reaper who just also happens to be a PI.  Let the exciting hijinks ensue!  Yet, no.  After the finishing the first book, I remember this wave of disappointment rolling over me.  This whole series could have been so much more than it currently is.  I've read four of the Charley Davidson books now (the fourth one I was tricked into reading, tricked I tell you!) but I'm not going to be carrying on with the series. I just can't look past the awful writing, the annoyingly clichéd characters and, most of all, the terrible message that men can do what ever they want to you for no good reason.
 

Intrusion - Ken Macleod

  Intrusion had an interesting concept, but that was all it had.  All I remember is being very bored.
 

Across the Universe - Beth Revis

 I think I got more excited about the idea of Across the Universe.  I mean, SF YA? Let me at it!  I think the only reason I liked ATU less than I thought I would was because of Amy.  Get rid of her and you'd have no story, but get rid of her and you'd have 99% less whinging.     
 

Fated - Benedict Jacka 

 I get it, my hopes were too high for this British version of the Dresden Files.  Fated was okay, just a little bland with a touch of an identity crises.  With my expectations now in check, maybe the next book in the series, Cursed, will surprise me?
 

Breathers - S.G Browne

I read this about 2 years ago now, and I can't remember much about it.  I just remember that the blurb made it sound more interesting than it actually was... 

 

And now onto the good stuff!

5 More

Katya's World - Jonathan L. Howard

I don't know why, but I had completely ignored Katya's World on its release.  It wasn't until I saw a review on i09 stating that it was a romanceless YA, that I stopped reading said review and quickly ordered myself a copy.  In Katya's World I found a great action tale with a non-self centred teen that just happened to be set on another planet that's pretty much all water.  I don't know why I didn't expect this to be great, as all of the other titles that I have read from Strange Chemistry have been fantastic.  I'm hoping the day never comes where one of their titles ends up on my 'less' list.
 

Anna Karenina - Leo Tolstoy

 I'm not going to lie: reading Anna Karenina was hard work.  However, deciding to finally read this Russian masterpiece was one of the best reading related decisions I have made in a long time.  I was surprised that I made it past the first few chapters, and then even more surprised when I started to become invested in the story.
 

Ready Player One - Ernest Cline

 I knew this one was going to be good, I just didn't know it was going to be that good!  If you haven't read Ready Player One, drop everything immediately.  Now, go out to the bookstore/library, get a copy and start reading it as soon as you find a place to sit down.  Or if you can read while walking, don't waste time!  What are you doing still reading this sentence?!  Go!
 

Hell Train - Christopher Fowler

 There were doubts about this one, but in the end how could I not possible fall in love a book called Hell Train?!
 

A Million Suns - Beth Revis

So Across the Universe was a disappointment but I had already ordered a copy of A Million Suns.  I went into reading the sequel not expecting much and ended up realising that this was a much better book.  In fact, I got the book I wish that Across the Universe would have been.
 

 Who was on your list this week?