I'm pretty good at knowing what I'm going to like before I read it. I don't take a lot of "chances" and when I do, I'm not afraid to just stop reading something long before I feel compelled to start publicly dumping on it.
Now having said that, Robin Hobb's Soldier Son trilogy should consider it a present if I give it a 2.5
I've enjoyed other works by her, but the main protagonist in that series was one of the most frustrating, annoying turds I've ever had the displeasure of reading about (this coming from a guy who actually
likes Thomas Covenant). It was quite maddening really. I only kept reading because I sure redemption was nigh. Turns out it wasn't nigh at all.