What ruins a good fantasy story?

[worthlesshadow]

It's hard sometimes to think of what ruins a relaly good fantasy story/novel, but it can happen. Thoguh, I haven't seen any really good fantasy stories coming out bad because of something that totally crushed the whole plot. If you have read something that ruins the whole story...I'm sorry. What would ruin a realy good story?

Post and tell 3nodding  

[NightIntent]

I know a few good ways to ruin fantasy books. A couple would ruin any genre of book. For example, having a god-awful ending. That just kills any enjoyment I had from that book. Or a bad sequel to a book. A good first book in a series means nothing if you can't keep it up to that standard. This will sound weird, but a good way to ruin fantasy books for me would be to make it too unrealistic, if it's set in modern-day Earth. For (a random) example: a meteor is about to crash into the earth and all of a sudden little run-of-the-mill Bob, a mediocre spell caster, stops it, gets all the hot chicks, even though he's a fat, greasty, ugly, rude man, and becomes Earth's hero. That's going overboard on my part, but you get the idea. I've never read one like that, but I've seen the first two happen, on a number of occasions. Bad plot points make me cringe, but I won't stop reading it. I mean, if I stopped reading books every time I saw something that either annoyed me or made me question something about the plot, I don't think I'd have finished all that many books. Though if something stupid happens early on in a book, I'll stop reading a book and try to finish it later.  

[FaeDreamer]

I've been reading a book that I thought was ok; it had some interesting plot twists. But the main characters personality was bothering me, the way he reacted to some situations was completely different than what I expected, but annoyingly so. Then over halfway through the book they finally introduce the potential love interest. He naturally starts falling immediately in love and then completely flips out when she isn't the poor servant he thought she was. (Which incidentally was foreshadowed the entire small amount of time they were together) Uggh....I think when they give the main character an annoying personality that is what kills the book for me. domokun

Incidentally that book is sitting on my book shelf....I keep looking at it going...I really should finish that...then I cringe and decide I don't want to deal with it. *sigh* crying sweatdrop  

[worthlesshadow]

NightIntent

I know a few good ways to ruin fantasy books. A couple would ruin any genre of book. For example, having a god-awful ending. That just kills any enjoyment I had from that book. Or a bad sequel to a book. A good first book in a series means nothing if you can't keep it up to that standard. This will sound weird, but a good way to ruin fantasy books for me would be to make it too unrealistic, if it's set in modern-day Earth. For (a random) example: a meteor is about to crash into the earth and all of a sudden little run-of-the-mill Bob, a mediocre spell caster, stops it, gets all the hot chicks, even though he's a fat, greasty, ugly, rude man, and becomes Earth's hero. That's going overboard on my part, but you get the idea. I've never read one like that, but I've seen the first two happen, on a number of occasions. Bad plot points make me cringe, but I won't stop reading it. I mean, if I stopped reading books every time I saw something that either annoyed me or made me question something about the plot, I don't think I'd have finished all that many books. Though if something stupid happens early on in a book, I'll stop reading a book and try to finish it later.

I feel taht example is a great way how to ruin a book. especially some guy named Bob who is fat and and all that stuff. though, there would, for me to ruin it moreover, more fluff crap that doesn't really belong in the story.  

[worthlesshadow]

FaeDreamer

I've been reading a book that I thought was ok; it had some interesting plot twists. But the main characters personality was bothering me, the way he reacted to some situations was completely different than what I expected, but annoyingly so. Then over halfway through the book they finally introduce the potential love interest. He naturally starts falling immediately in love and then completely flips out when she isn't the poor servant he thought she was. (Which incidentally was foreshadowed the entire small amount of time they were together) Uggh....I think when they give the main character an annoying personality that is what kills the book for me. domokun

Incidentally that book is sitting on my book shelf....I keep looking at it going...I really should finish that...then I cringe and decide I don't want to deal with it. *sigh* crying sweatdrop

thats sad!! I hate that too....it really sux. what is the name of that book? I'd like to read all about it mrgreen  

[FaeDreamer]

It's called the Dragonbone Chair by Tad Williams I like part of it, I'm over halfway, but it just bugs me. Especially in the beginning the main character is so flighty as to be almost stupid. *shrug* and he doesn't really seem to give the characters the depth that I would expect from a book this long...I don't know, maybe it's just me. sweatdrop  

[worthlesshadow]

FaeDreamer

It's called the Dragonbone Chair by Tad Williams I like part of it, I'm over halfway, but it just bugs me. Especially in the beginning the main character is so flighty as to be almost stupid. *shrug* and he doesn't really seem to give the characters the depth that I would expect from a book this long...I don't know, maybe it's just me. sweatdrop

lol, each book is different to every person. sounds good xD i'm sure you can find otehr books taht interst you more than a book that bothers you blaugh  

[FaeDreamer]

Of course...concidering I'm reading about 3 other books also....including Harry Potter 6 rofl  

[worthlesshadow]

FaeDreamer

Of course...concidering I'm reading about 3 other books also....including Harry Potter 6 rofl

heh. I'm readin harry potter too xd seems pretty good....heard it's darker  

[Wordstreamer~Nifty Fairy~]

Too much foreshadowing--when the author foreshadows something up to the point where you actually know what happens before you get to the end of the book, just because it's so blatantly obvious. That's happened at least once in something I read--I don't remember what, but it was awful. sad  

[worthlesshadow]

Wordstreamer

Too much foreshadowing--when the author foreshadows something up to the point where you actually know what happens before you get to the end of the book, just because it's so blatantly obvious. That's happened at least once in something I read--I don't remember what, but it was awful. sad

ugh. that is horrible. when reading ANYTHING like that, it pretty much is telling you the future, and knowing the future ruins reading the book and finding it out in the exact chornological order. I don't think you can call it forshadowing anymore, its pretty much telling gonk  

[Flux_o_color]

I don't like it when a book goes way to indepth with the politics. I love adventure and action and romance, but when you read a whole chapter about the politics, I sometimes lose interest.  

[Wordstreamer~Nifty Fairy~]

Oh..... And I remember one series, was almost entirely centered on religion. 've got nothing against religion in fantasy, but it went into depth--and depth--and more depth--on religion. It started to bore me, and I finally started skimming through the book. It got better, though. Plus side. xd  

[NightIntent]

Flux_o_color

I don't like it when a book goes way to indepth with the politics. I love adventure and action and romance, but when you read a whole chapter about the politics, I sometimes lose interest.

Really? Politics from certain books can be really interesting. Like Through Wolf's Eyes. It's a really good book, and there's action mixed with politics. The whole plot of the book is about who will get the throne after the current king, whose children all died, dies. I love it. The politics can get a bit confusing sometimes, but it's so interesting. And I don't know why. Normally I hate politics.  

[worthlesshadow]

Wordstreamer

Oh..... And I remember one series, was almost entirely centered on religion. 've got nothing against religion in fantasy, but it went into depth--and depth--and more depth--on religion. It started to bore me, and I finally started skimming through the book. It got better, though. Plus side. xd

too into depth with one subject, like religion (neither am I against religion) kinda makes it boring. its like a commentary. ick...commentaries....

pretty much based on all one's particular interest and opinion. 3nodding