DNF

*sigh* Recently I had a couple of books that were DNFs for me. Normally, I wouldn't review those, but since I did agree to review, I shall give my reasons for not completing the book. You may enjoy it, but these books were just not for me. Well, it is a good thing we don't all like everything. There would be nothing to aspire to otherwise... nor would there be individual tastes. :)

Tris and Izzie by Mette Ivie Harrison

Description:

A modern retelling of the German fairy tale "Tristan and Isolde," Tris and Izzie is about a young witch named Izzie who is dating Mark King, the captain of the basketball team and thinks her life is going swimmingly well. Until -- she makes a love potion for her best friend Brangane and then ends up taking it herself accidentally, and falling in love with Tristan, the new guy at school.

I love the cover. It is what drew me in. Plus, I think I've enjoyed the variations of Tristan and Isolde more than I did Romeo and Juliet (sorry, Will...). So, I was excited to get to read this one. Well, the book opens up into a world I didn't expect. No problems, but it seemed to take off as if we already knew these characters. I mean that usually isn't a problem for me... *cough*readsinthemiddleofaseries*cough* but I just couldn't connect to the main character Izzie even after a few chapters. She was too immature and really got on my nerves. Okay, I'm all for character growth, so I just read on. She kept making one bad move after another until I could scream. As soon as her boyfriend, Mark, who was level headed and sweet started doing the whiney dance, I couldn't take it. I don't like my characters to de-evolve! I think I'd be fine with it if the other characters grew even when others might have "shown their true colors" or something like that, but it really didn't seem to move in that direction. So, I looked at my review tbr and decided it wasn't for me.

Now, I may have missed out on some great growth and conclusions as to why it happened, but I personally just needed a bit of it earlier in the story. Who knows, you may see something within the book  that just didn't gel with me. I may pick this one up as a library read later to see, but right now it was a dnf for me.

Deviant by Adrian McKinty

Description:

Danny Lopez is new in town. He made a mistake back home in Las Vegas, and now he has landed at an experimental school in Colorado for “tough cases.” At the Cobalt Charter School, everything is scripted—what the teachers say, what the students reply—and no other speaking is allowed. This supercontrolled environment gives kids a second chance to make something of themselves. But with few freedoms, the students become sitting ducks for a killer determined to “clean up” Colorado Springs.

Set in CO and it sounds creepy. Hey! No problem! Let me read! *sigh* Well, the first chapter was called Cat Killer. Which made me pause. I have a problem with any book that "shows" cruelty like that. If it was in the past... okay, might be central to the story, but don't make me "watch". Spoiler altert (for those like me who want to know what happens if they read it). The cat got away. AND it got away in such an entertaining way! So, I thought no probs, I can read this one. End spoiler alert!

Anyhoo... it started talking about the setting. I have family all over CO so I know the setting well. Cobalt was a fictional place so no problem, but what happened was that the actual town moved! I know the area he described but it changed from going north of CO Springs to the west to the southwest. Uh, what???? Okay, I know that most people wouldn't be bothered like that but sheesh... google maps, man! But what sealed the deal for me was the lingo. The locals called Colorado Springs, "The Springs" constantly. LOCALS! Uh, it's just "Springs" thankyouverymuch! It was to the point I almost threw the book. I even stopped and looked to see if the author spent time in CO at all. AH HAH! He did, but it was in Denver. There is a separation between north/south (and sometimes west) CO. In a way they are quite different regions. It actually made sense to me. Yes, that could be forgivable, but it is harder to forgive the map thing.

So, am I nit picking at what may be a great story? Possibly. I take full responsibility for this DNF. I just knew I couldn't get past these glaring mistakes. I really couldn't get past the moving town. It is totally my fault and I knew I couldn't judge the rest of the story based on my own prejudices that I have revealed.
I received both eARCs through NetGalley and no compensation for my review was received.