A single tear slid down my cheek as I gingerly placed the book on the counter. Cherry, my personal Book-a-Holic Salesperson, lowered her head in sadness, for she knew what I was about to say.
"Cherry," I spoke in a hushed voice, "I...don't need these books anymore."
"Would you like cash or trade credit?" she whispered.
"What I'd like...no...NEED...is peace of mind," I responded.
"What happened?" she asked, the timbre of her voice wavering with the emotion of the moment.
"I really liked Gardens of the Moon...and Deadhouse Gates was very solid. But I began to grow estranged from the series even during that second book. The enormous number of characters, the strange names, it all became so confusing, even with an index of names. And some of my favorite characters appeared and disappeared...it caused so much pain..."
I looked down at the floor, trying to collect myself.
"When I started Memories of Ice, I never would have dreamed I would close that cover forever without finishing the book. I wouldn't have dared guess I would come here with the fourth book completely unread..."
Cherry gave me a look steeped in compassion, "The Malazan Book of the Fallen series is famously intricate and detailed...and long. No one will blame you for stopping."
"I need no one else's forgiveness...only my own," I replied, my eyes betraying my sorrow.
"I can give you $3 for all these."
"Sweet," I replied, "that happens to be the price of my regret."
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