What are your random pet-peeves in books that seems to bother only you? Me? It's when a prologue that covers something in the past doesn't seem to have anything to do with the main story. Here's an example: Prologue: 1099 AD, Jerusalem [We are introduced to a cast of characters, slowly learn about them, maybe even like them and want to root for them, etc. It ends with them making a fateful charge at the gates or swearing an oath to protect some valuable artifact like, I dunno, a holy locket said to have been work by Mary Madgalene in which contains what is said to be a strand of Jesus' hair] Chapter One: 1999 AD, Atlanta, Georgia [Random bunch of people suddenly! They're...doing mundane things! Having life problems that has nothing to do with what I just read! WTF?!?] I mean, even if Joe McSmith has that said locket in his attic, I just feel so taken away from the feels and tension and have to get used to a bunch of new clowns that I don't care about. So, that was mine. What are yours?
Prologues themselves that could easily have just been Chapter One. Authors who write exactly the same book over and over and seem to expect to be admired for each (though that may be mostly the fault of readers). Sue Grafton and Janet Evanovich, I'm looking right at you.
Series heroines/heros who repeatedly do ludicrously stupid things that get them into ludicrously dangerous situations. (Nevada Barr, looking at you and Anna Pigeon, among way too many others.)
Plot complications that could be solved by the simple expedient of characters actually talking to one another when it makes sense to do so.
Mainly in young adult books, but when the author makes up fake swear words. A great example would be the Maze Runner, or Foundryside. I just don't see the plus side to it ever, I guess it could be an attempt at making the world seem unique or something, but it always makes me cringe. Like if you wanna use swears, use them. If you don't, don't. Don't make something up that doesn't exist just so the character can say something reflecting a swear.
I don’t like it when a chapter or section starts with the character in the aftermath of something, but then immediately flashes back and relives it all in exact detail but past perfect tense. Why not just cut the first paragraph and rewrite in regular past tense?
Forgot to mention the James Patterson Money Grab. Well-known authors who put their names (always above the title) on books they didn't write. Most of the big guys (and gals) are doing it now.
