I have even more bookish pet peeves for you today. If you haven’t already, you can check out parts 1 and 2.
Self-righteous, self-important MCs
I’m looking at you, Mare Barrow! Okay, I’ve never liked this type of characters, but after reading Glass Sword, I absolutely can’t stand this type of characters. Like, I am liable to beat my book with a spiked baseball bat in hopes that the character will feel it. Just no. Stop. I am a giant ball of rage when it comes to these characters.
Whiny characters
Characters that constantly whine about how much their life sucks, how much they’ve sacrificed, how nobody’s ever loved them blah, blah, blah. We get it, your life sucks. This whole book is about how your life sucks. Now shut up already.
Missing glossaries, maps and other annexes
I read a lot of high fantasy. And I mean a lot. And if you’ve read high fantasy, you know that often the names are weird, the worlds are confusing and sometimes, there are even made up languages. Now, those are all awesome. I love complicated fantasy worlds and I love the added layer of complexity and authenticity that a made up language brings to it. But do NOT start putting phrases or words in your made up language unless you also give me a translation. I cannot begin to describe how infuriating it is when that happens. Also, maps are incredibly helpful. Because otherwise I have no context for your world and you can tell me that kingdom X is south of kingdom Y and that kingdom Y is north-east of kingdom Z, but unless I see it on a map, it’ll be confusing and frustrating.
Series that are unnecessarily dragged out
I love reading series. But a lot of the times, they’re just so dragged out. Especially with YA. Don’t get me wrong, I will happily read a 10 book series, if the story is interesting. If I can see that each book was necessary to the story and not just a dragged out exposition for the next book (this mostly happens with the second book in trilogies).It really pisses me off when that happens and it may determine me to just drop the series altogether.
A Book Nerd 
I don’t mind not having a glossary or a book map, but I agree so much with your other two points! Whiny characters make me go “ugh” and just want to roll my eyes (Mare Barrow is actually also one name that comes to mind), and series that get unplanned sequels and novellas just make me a bit wary because I’m never sure if it’s going to be good or if the author is writing just for the sake of publishing new things.
I don’t doubt that in some cases the story works out, but I try to have low expectations regardless. 😛
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For me, it depends on the author. Some authors get the benefit of the doubt. Also, it depends what the additional book is.
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Yeah, I agree. I dunno though, I’ve never really liked novellas in general. 🤔
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All I can say to this post is “YESSSS!!!” to all of these! Nailed it for me 🙂
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Glad to know I’m not the only one!
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Was that ‘spiked baseball bat’ a Walking Dead reference?
I will rate a book one star lower if the main character is whiny. I cannot stand them. I also hate when series drag on.
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I don’t watch The Walking Dead, but I do know there’s a spiked baseball bat in it lol Although mostly, I was just thinking about how to make a baseball bat even more painful.
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I think the Whiny Characters is the one that bothers me the most. Especially when the protagonist is whiny or bitchy, it can be quite annoying. Great post!
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Yes to all of this post!! Especially the whole map situation, ugh that infuriates me to no end. Or I’ve seen maps inside a book but when reading the book, the map makes absolutely NO SENSE! AHHHHHH. I also cannot stand whiny characters, it gets on all my nerves.
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