The Worst Books of 2021
It’s my favourite time of the year! I love reading (and writing) all these yearly wrap-up posts, but one of my favourites has to be the worst books of 2021. Books and reading are very subjective, and I enjoy seeing what people disliked. One man’s trash is another man’s treasure and all that. As long as it’s done in a respectful way, I see nothing wrong with listing out books you didn’t love.
These are in no particular order, so let’s jump in!
The Worst Books of 2021
Sweet & Bitter Magic by Adrienne Tooley
Synopsis: Tamsin is the most powerful witch of her generation. But after committing the worst magical sin, she’s exiled by the ruling Coven and cursed with the inability to love. The only way she can get those feelings back—even for just a little while—is to steal love from others.
Wren is a source—a rare kind of person who is made of magic, despite being unable to use it herself. Sources are required to train with the Coven as soon as they discover their abilities, but Wren—the only caretaker to her ailing father—has spent her life hiding her secret.
When a magical plague ravages the queendom, Wren’s father falls victim. To save him, Wren proposes a bargain: if Tamsin will help her catch the dark witch responsible for creating the plague, then Wren will give Tamsin her love for her father.
Of course, love bargains are a tricky thing, and these two have a long, perilous journey ahead of them—that is if they don’t kill each other first…
The more I think about it, the more I dislike this book. Everything about it just fell flat for me. I wasn’t invested in any of the characters and I didn’t like their personalities at all. The plot was pretty cookie-cutter, it was nothing ground-breaking. Overall it just wasn’t for me.
The Reckless Afterlife of Harriet Stoker by Lauren James
Synopsis: What if death is only the beginning?
When Harriet Stoker dies after falling from a balcony in a long-abandoned building, she discovers a group of ghosts, each with a special power.
Felix, Kasper, Rima and Leah welcome Harriet into their world, eager to make friends with the new arrival after decades alone. Yet Harriet is more interested in unleashing her own power, even if it means destroying everyone around her. But when all of eternity is at stake, the afterlife can be a dangerous place to make an enemy.
This book was so disappointing. I loved Lauren James’ The Quiet at the End of the World. So I picked Harriet Stoker for our May book club pick and it’s safe to say we didn’t enjoy it. Harriet was insufferable, and the story turned out to be a bit convoluted. The premise sounded great, but it didn’t pan out.
Join the Read Better Book Club here!
Lakesedge by Lyndall Clipstone
Synopsis:
There are monsters in the world.
When Violeta Graceling arrives at the haunted Lakesedge estate, she expects to find a monster. She knows the terrifying rumours about Rowan Sylvanan, who drowned his entire family when he was a boy. But neither the estate nor the monster are what they seem.
There are monsters in the woods.
As Leta falls for Rowan, she discovers he is bound to the Lord Under, the sinister death god lurking in the black waters of the lake. A creature to whom Leta is inexplicably drawn…
There’s a monster in the shadows, and now it knows my name.
Now, to save Rowan—and herself—Leta must confront the darkness in her past, including unravelling the mystery of her connection to the Lord Under.
Another book that made me mad. I was excited for this one because I wanted to tip my toes into the gothic genre but ultimately it was disappointing. In a word, this book gave me the uneasiest feeling (and not in a nice way). The characters were practically 12, and they acted like it too. This could have been a standalone book in my opinion. There’s not enough meat for another book, but I might be wrong.
Read my Lakesedge review here!
The Maidens by Alex Michealides
Synopsis: Edward Fosca is a murderer. Of this Mariana is certain. But Fosca is untouchable. A handsome and charismatic Greek Tragedy professor at Cambridge University, Fosca is adored by staff and students alike—particularly by the members of a secret society of female students known as The Maidens.
Mariana Andros is a brilliant but troubled group therapist who becomes fixated on The Maidens when one member, a friend of Mariana’s niece Zoe, is found murdered in Cambridge.
Mariana, who was once herself a student at the university, quickly suspects that behind the idyllic beauty of the spires and turrets, and beneath the ancient traditions, lies something sinister. And she becomes convinced that, despite his alibi, Edward Fosca is guilty of the murder. But why would the professor target one of his students? And why does he keep returning to the rites of Persephone, the maiden, and her journey to the underworld?
When another body is found, Mariana’s obsession with proving Fosca’s guilt spirals out of control, threatening to destroy her credibility as well as her closest relationships. But Mariana is determined to stop this killer, even if it costs her everything—including her own life.
This book followed the wrong protagonist, and the “twist” at the end came out of absolute nowhere. Mariana has no reason to be in this book and I didn’t find her compelling at all. The only reason I didn’t DNF this was because I was listening to the audiobook and I was still commuting over two hours to work. This book just did not work for me.
Witches Steeped in Gold by Ciannon Smart
Synopsis: Iraya has spent her life in a cell, but every day brings her closer to freedom – and vengeance.
Jazmyne is the Queen’s daughter, but unlike her sister before her, she has no intention of dying to strengthen her mother’s power.
Sworn enemies, these two witches enter a precarious alliance to take down a mutual threat. But power is intoxicating, revenge is a bloody pursuit, and nothing is certain – except the lengths they will go to win this game.
This book was arguably my biggest disappointment of 2021. I had been looking forward to it since it was announced, and I was so excited to finally have it. It was nothing like I expected. The synopsis did not match the book at all. The writing was hard to read, and literally, every important plot point or development happens off-page. I think the publisher and the marketing team did this book dirty, and I will always be bitter about it.
Read my Witches Steeped in Gold review here!
There you have it! My worst books of 2021.
Let’s Chat!
What are your worst books of 2021?
Pin This!
Of this list Witches Steeped in Gold was definitely my hugest disappointment. I was really looking forward to it!!
Me too! And it has such great potential. I’m still sad about it and I read it in June.
The way that I own 3 of these books but haven’t read them yet and am so nervous. So sorry these didn’t work for you!
Sweet & Bitter Magic is on my TBR. I just love that cover so much, sorry to hear it disappointed you! I’ll probably still give it a shot though I could also just as easily skip it, given that I’m not keen on YA or romance at the best of times haha.