DNF: The Burning Sky by Sherry Thomas

The Burning Sky by Sherry Thomas
The Elemental Trilogy #1
Release Date: September 17, 2013
Publisher: Balzer + Bray
Source: Publisher (Edelweiss)
Goodreads Stars: DNF
Rating: DNF

Pages Read: ~190 (41%)

It all began with a ruined elixir and an accidental bolt of lightning…

Iolanthe Seabourne is the greatest elemental mage of her generation—or so she's being told. The one prophesied for years to be the savior of The Realm. It is her duty and destiny to face and defeat the Bane, the greatest mage tyrant the world has ever known. A suicide task for anyone let alone a sixteen-year-old girl with no training, facing a prophecy that foretells a fiery clash to the death.

Prince Titus of Elberon has sworn to protect Iolanthe at all costs but he's also a powerful mage committed to obliterating the Bane to avenge the death of his family—even if he must sacrifice both Iolanthe and himself to achieve his goal.

But Titus makes the terrifying mistake of falling in love with the girl who should have been only a means to an end. Now, with the servants of the Bane closing in, he must choose between his mission and her life. - Goodreads

In the past, I never used to post reviews of books that I didn't finish. I didn't feel like I could write enough about them for the post to be considered a review. But I have changed my mind, and decided to give this a try. Please don't class this as an "official" review, more of my jumbled thoughts on the book and why I wasn't able to finish it.

I was very excited to read The Burning Sky, because I had heard great things coming from earlier reviewers. Everyone said that it was a fantastic fantasy novel with great world building to boot, but unfortunately I did not get the appeal.

The first couple of chapters were good, I will admit. I loved the prologue, and the author’s writing style sucked me in at first, and I even raved about it on Twitter. But after that things went downhill – slowly – and I wanted to quit reading. By 20% I was skim reading, and I made it about 40% of the way through before I finally had to give up, because I was so bored and I had no idea what was going on.

I was just so bored. That's the main reason that I end up giving up on books nowadays. I can handle offensive or ridiculous content, but I can't handle boredom. At least the stupidity entertains me. It felt like this book wasn't going anywhere, and we hardly had a chance to be introduced to the characters before they were shooting out lightning and flying around in the sky. Or whatever it is that they were doing. 

Like I said, the first couple of chapters were intriguing, until the prince's point of view was introduced and then it became very jumpy and I got confused. The world building wasn't very clear either. One minute they were in a fantasy world (or so I thought), and the next they were at Eton in Windsor, England. 

I didn't feel any chemistry between the two characters, nor did I feel either one was particularly interesting on their own. 

I should probably stop now before I find another way to reiterate that this book was dull. It's a shame, because I was so pumped for a great fantasy, and I hate being disappointed.