DNF Round-Up

All book bloggers know there are some posts that are a little harder to write than others, and this is definitely one of them. Yep, it’s time for another DNF roundup!

Anyway, even though I try my best to keep up with regular reviews, I know things have been a bit sporadic around here over the couple months. Ever since late summer, life has been a bit of a whirlwind. Both kids started new schools this year. My youngest is now in middle school and my oldest got accepted into a STEM high school program in another town, which has meant a whole new schedule of commutes and activities to juggle. It really has been a significant adjustment period for all of us as we’re settling into this new routine. Reading time has taken a hit again (so what else is new?) and you know what they say about life being too short to force yourself through a book you’re not enjoying.

More than ever, I just don’t have the time or patience to stick with books that aren’t grabbing my attention. The result? Quite a few additions to the DNF pile because I’ve been feeling a little more ruthless lately. But once again, just because a book didn’t work for me doesn’t mean it won’t work for someone else. Reading is subjective, and one of these titles might catch your eye and turn out to be a much better fit for you than it was for me.

I received review copies from the publisher(s). This does not affect the contents of my reviews and all opinions are my own.

The Inn at the Foot of Mount Vengeance by Chiara Bullen

Mogsy’s Rating: DNF

Genre: Fantasy

Series: Stand Alone

Publisher: Del Rey (July 7, 2026)

Length: 352 pages

An ambitious young historian is sent to a rustic inn at the foot of a legendary mountain to document the stories of adventurers attempting to reach its summit and confront the dragon said to live there, and as far as cozy fantasy premises go, this sounded very interesting. And it was perfectly pleasant, don’t get me wrong. But as much as I enjoy this genre, sometimes these stories can lean too far into the cozy side of things. I found myself wishing for a bit more excitementt or characters with a little more personality to grab my attention, but this book never quite got there. Again, it’s never much fun admitting defeat with a book, but ultimately this was a little too uneventful for my tastes, though I can see the appeal.

Songs of the Dead by Brandon Sanderson and Peter Orullian

Mogsy’s Rating: DNF

Genre: Fantasy

Series: Book 1 of The Strata Wars

Publisher: Saga Press (June 16, 2026)

Length: 455 pages

Oof. This one actually hurt a little to DNF because I love Brandon Sanderson, but unfortunately, just because his name is on the cover doesn’t necessarily mean it’s going to feel like one of his books. Songs of the Dead really didn’t, because I assume his co-author Peter Orullian took on most of the writing. While I could see some of Sanderson’s influence in the worldbuilding, particularly in the concept of a fantastical London with layers of history hidden beneath the modern city and music serving as a key to unlocking these different worlds, the sheer amount of exposition quickly became overwhelming and distracting. I also wasn’t feeling the subject matter or was that into the book’s the metalhead scene, which didn’t help. On top of that, the plot itself wasn’t doing enough to hold my attention and make me want to keep going, so as much as I hated doing it, I had to set this one aside.

The Hocus Pocus Handbook by Ann Aguirre

Mogsy’s Rating: DNF

Genre: Fantasy

Series: Book 5 of Fix-It Witches

Publisher: Sourcebooks Casablanca (September 1, 2026)

Length: 352 pages

What I didn’t realize when I accepted The Hocus Pocus Handbook for review is that it was actually a continuation of an existing series. Even though it was written and intended to function as a standalone book, in my view it really doesn’t, which is why I’ve catalogued it as the fifth book of Fix-It Witches. The story follows Thea Winter, a changeling raised by a hobgoblin, who finds herself on an unwanted quest to track down the man who abandoned their marriage arrangement. Honestly, even if reading the previous books wasn’t a prerequisite, I still felt like I was being dropped into the middle of an ongoing story without much context. I can see it working much better for readers who are already familiar with the series, since a lot of the character dynamics and worldbuilding would be more enjoyable with some prior investment. Not a bad experience by any means. I liked the writing and humor, but without that existing connection, I never quite found my footing.