“One minute the teacher was talking about the Civil War. And the next minute he was gone.”
First line in Gone by Michael Grant
Reading tastes can change a lot throughout your life, so most people have books that used to be their entire world but aren’t anywhere near that today. I have recently thought about some of the books I used to love when I was younger and found myself wondering whether my reading tastes might have changed too much for me to still love them. So those are the books I’m talking about today. Books that I’m considering rereading because they used to be my favorites but now I’m afraid I might hate them. Here they are!
Percy Jackson and the Olympians by Rick Riordan
I read these books back when they came out and I was the appropriate age for them. According to Goodreads, I must have really liked them because I rated them all between 4 and 5 stars. Today I remember absolutely nothing besides what the two movies included, but I’m still afraid to reread them. The reason being that I as an adult have tried to read Riordan’s follow-up series, The Heroes of Olympus and only got three books in before I had to give up. I kind of took it as a sign that Middle Grade and I don’t do well together because Riordan is so popular. So I don’t want to ruin the vague but fond memories I have of the first series by rereading it.
The Shamer Chronicles by Lene Kaaberbøl
Another series I read as a child but this I remember much more clearly. Probably because I at one point was just switching back and forth between rereading this one and Harry Potter. The reason I’m afraid to reread it now is actually because I did try and reread it about two years ago but had to quit during book two. For some reason it surprised me how juvenile it was, so I stopped to not ruin my memories of the rest of the series. I remember the third one being my favorite, so a part of me does want to try again. Especially also because they’ve now been translated into English and I want to try those.
Shades of Magic by V. E. Schwab
No, I’m not just going to talk about Middle Grade books. Shades of Magic was one of the first Adult fantasy series I read right when I discovered BookTube, but since then, I’ve become well-versed within that genre. I’m afraid my interest in this series might have been influenced by the novelty of Adult fantasy at that point in my life. There’s also a part of me that’s looking at my ratings of all the other Victoria Schwab books I’ve read since then because none of them has gotten five stars and a few have gotten three. Am I falling out of love with Victoria Schwab? If that is confirmed through a reread of Shades of Magic, I’m afraid of being cast out of the bookish community. Finally, I also already know that an eventual reread would mean skimming Lila’s chapters and that feels like cheating but I simply can’t go through that again.
Gone by Michael Grant
This is a YA dystopian series I read back when those where really popular, but I only made it through two of the six books. The first one, Gone, became an obsession for me, so much that I went out and bought the second book because my library didn’t have it. I still own that one, even though I never continued with the series. I remember thinking that the plot had been drawn out a lot at this point so it is unfathomable to me that it went on for four more books. And it was weird! Still, it could be fun to go back and read that first book again and see if I can make it through the series now.
(this was published in 2008 if that cringey cover didn’t tell you that)
Deltora Quest by Emily Rodda
This series is probably the one I’m the least afraid to reread because I just remember having so much fun with it when I was younger. It’s Middle Grade, but I distinctly remember that there were sections of these books that I skipped during my many rereads because they were too scary. Which is why it’s very appealing for me to go back to see how scary it actually was. And reading them in the original English would be cool too. Still, I’m afraid to ruin my memories of it, but I don’t think the risk is very high.
Angelfall by Susan Ee
Angelfall is the first book in a YA dystopian that also has paranormal elements such as angels, although they’re evil angels. It has a great enemies-to-lovers romance and a somewhat unique plot that made sure I was obsessed with this book. However, it’s the first book in a trilogy, so when I didn’t love the second book and actually had a very hard time getting through that one, I never read the final book. The completionist in me think it could be fun to reread the first two and then find out how it all ends. But I don’t know how much adult me is into paranormal YA books.
These books were all fundamental in making me the reader I am today, so I’m probably always going to think about them fondly, whether or not I actually reread them. But let me know if you have books you used to love but that you’re now unsure about. Any you’ve tried to reread? What was your experience? I’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments!
First Line Reader 
This is such an interesting topic! Even though I reread almost everything (that I didn’t hate), I know exactly which feeling you are talking about 😅
For example, before I discovered Harry Potter, my favorite book was Cornelia Funke’s Dragon Rider. For some reason, I’m terrified that whatever I loved so much about it as a child won’t ensnare me in the same way as an adult, so I haven’t reread it since middle school 😅 But since a sequel was published quite recently, I really think I’m going to have convince myself to do that reread eventually!
Also, even though I own a copy, I have never reread An Ember in the Ashes… I absolutely adored it back when I read it, but found the sequels so mediocre that I’m really scared I might no longer love the first book as much upon a reread, either 🙈 I guess I’m just a bit weird 😂
Regarding Percy Jackson, though – to this day, I love the original series way more than Heroes of Olympus. Maybe part of it is nostalgia, since I’ve also reread it way more often, but I genuinely think the first books are much better. Heroes of Olympus gets very formulaic after a while, and there are just so many characters that I don’t feel as though the books have as much depth… So maybe it’d be worth giving the original series another try? 🤔 (Seriously, you can’t base your memories on those awful movies!!)
It’s also fascinating to me that you would want to read an English translation of the Shamer Chronicles when you know the original language. It already takes up quite a bit of convincing to get me to even pick up a translation because I just know it’s never going to reach the greatness of the original. I guess part of me still clings to the hope that I will one day learn the original language and be able to read the book in that 🤣 But I would never actively seek out a book in English that was written in German, or vice-versa. So your thought process has me extremely intrigued! 😂
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I do hope Dragon Rider isn’t a disappointment for you because yes, when your favorite childhood book gets a sequel, you just have to read it.
I don’t think I would be afraid to reread An Ember in the Ashes despite not loving the last two books but it’s an interesting perspective. The fact that later books can destroy your perception of the first ones. I’m probably more likely to view the first book as a standalone if I didn’t like its sequels 😅
And it’s good to know you feel that way about Heroes of Olympus! I felt I had read the same book three times and I was so bored, and also so weirded out because they focused so much on 14-15 year-olds being in romantic relationships. I couldn’t take it seriously 😂 So maybe Percy will get another chance.
Part of my interest in reading the English translations of the Shamer Chronicles is rooted in curiosity. Like, did they do a good job? Also, it would be fun if I were able to make a Lost in Translation post based on it. Sort of doing it the other way around and see if English translators are as bad as the Danish ones I’ve been looking at so far. I have some serious doubts whether there would be anything to talk about but I don’t know until I read it. But I do understand your reasoning! I’d never dream of doing it if I hadn’t already read the books.
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Normally, I also tend to view books as standalones if I didn’t like the sequels, but I think parts of what I liked about An Ember in the Ashes were all the possibilities it promised for future books. So maybe now, knowing that many of them went in a completely different direction than I would have hoped, I might not love it as much anymore 😅 I do think I’ll reread it eventually, though.
And I definitely wouldn’t be opposed to another Lost in Translation post!!! 🤗🤗🤗 Maybe you could even convince me to read the series since then I’ll know better what you’re talking about. Apparently, there is a German translation, although the titles are already so different – the first one is called “Dina in der Drachenburg”? 🤔 – that I’m already confused as to whether it really is the same series… But it might be fun to check them out!
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Omg that German title 😂😂 That basically describes the plot so I’m pretty sure it’s the correct series. And based on what I do remember about them, I do think you’d like them.
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Well, I guess that means I have to read it, then 😂
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I really want to reread ADSOM, since I loved it when I first read it! But I’m also afraid I won’t love it anymore ahah!
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Rereads can be a scary thing!
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It’s very natural to be scared to reread stuff. Looking back on some of my favorite books, I do think even I might not enjoy them as much as I did before. Our opinions change a lot over the years. I did reread pjo tho and it was cool 😁. Lovely post!!
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Thank you! I’m glad I’m not the only one who feels this way, and the comments I have gotten have made me less afraid to reread Percy Jackson at least 😊
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Oh my goodness I relate to this so much. I have so many series I loved when I was younger that I’m now terrified to revisit. I wasn’t thinking critically back then, I was just having a great time. I’m afraid I would ruin them for myself if I went back!
I’m actually considering reading Percy Jackson at the moment. I also had a tough time with Heroes of Olympus, but I’m hoping nostalgia might help me enjoy the Percy Jackson books again?
I read most of the Gone books and am also confused as to how Michael Grant dragged them out for so long. I was not a fan.
And Angelfall! I loved book one, enjoyed book two and have always meant to get to book three, but it’s been so long I think I’d have to reread the first two now for it to make sense.
Great post, I’m glad I’m not alone in feeling this way!
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Yes, I’m also afraid that it didn’t take that much to excite 11-year-old me 😅 But the comments on this post has taught me that Heroes of Olympus isn’t all that great, so putting our trust in nostialgia about the Percy Jackson books might not be such a bad idea. I might attempt it at least.
I haven’t come across anyone else who has read the Gone books, so I’m glad I’m not the only one who’s confused about the six books.
Thank you for such a great comment! 😊
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