Friday, August 1, 2014

Discussion Question: Can You Love A Series That Doesn't End Happily Ever After?

I have to admit, I want to read books with happy endings and I can't love a series unless the main characters get their happily ever after.  I don't care if it's unrealistic, that's what I want.  It really kills me when I read a series, when I've become invested in the main characters, when they have gone through all kinds of trials and tribulations, especially to finally figure out that they love each other, and then one of them dies in the last book.  What?????  

I recently read a book where this happened.  Again.  This is the second series I've read this year where one of the main characters dies. What were these authors thinking?  Why is that the choice they made?  It is their choice, but I still have the right to hate it.  For one of these series, I already had the first two books in hardback and I refuse to buy the last book.  I don't even want to see it on my shelf.  And the other series, I was planning on buying it in hardback (I had it on my Kindle) and now….no.  I'm not going to buy it.  And should I recommend either series?  I have to say, I can't say I love either series now.  Can you love a series that doesn't end happily ever after?  And how do you even rate it?  How many stars do you take off for a crappy ending?

Some of you may disagree with me and think that it's realistic that one of the main characters should die, especially in these paranormal/dystopian/fantasy books where there are big battles, etc.  And yes, you're right, but I still don't care.  If it's a world with magic, with zombies, with vampires, etc. I'm really not concerned with realism.  If a character dies, bring him/her back to life.  Have the character get really wounded, lose a leg or something, but the character should get to live after going through all of that trauma drama.  I want to close the book and feel satisfied and happy.  If I want to feel sad, I'll watch the news.  The real world has enough sadness and death and not happily ever afters that I don't need it in my fiction.  So I'm seriously considering finding out ahead of time if the final book in a series ends happily and if it doesn't, I'm just not reading it.  I'm done.


Posted by:  Pam

10 comments:

  1. I'm with you-even if an ending isn't exactly what I was hoping for, things still need to end on a positive note, or I get pissy, lol.

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  2. I can handle things not ending on a positive note, although I do prefer my happy endings. It's when I follow a series for years only to have a open ending. Now that will get me upset hahaha. I remember wanting to throw Requiem across the room when I finished it. I have to have my closure :)

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  3. Hmmm. That's an interesting question. There have definitely been a couple of books that I was loving only to have something tragic happen that made me want to throw it across the room...but I can also think of a book where the main character died completely unexpectedly which made it so good because it was just such a twist to the story (non YA), so I'm torn. I do kind of think that certain books have an expectation to be happy ever after, so when they are not, it is incredibly disappointing. Great post!

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  4. I am actually in agreement with you. I still haven't read Allegiant because I heard such bad things about the ending. I will eventually. I think the thing about a bad not-happily-ever-after ending is that it turns it into a series I would never re-read, so why would I add it to my shelves? I loved how Leigh ended Ruin and Rising because it still was realistic and fit the story, but was also happy. I can handle bittersweet endings. Just not unhappy ones, if that makes sense. The right guy must also get the right girl too. Yep. I'm a romantic like that. ;)

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  5. I have definitely felt this way with one particular series. I adored these books and the last book ruined the entire series for me. I can't even recommend them to people anymore because the last book was so awful. I think the author is free to creatively do whatever they want, but it doesn't mean that fans will celebrate it. <3

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  6. That's a really good question. I have to say that I don't mind one person dying - making the story sad, but it has to be done right. Sometimes I feel like someone dies for shock value or to do something different. There has to be a lot leading up to the character dying for me to like the end. That said, I am in the middle of reading a series right now where I think one of the main love interests will die and I'm totally heartbroken that this may happen. Good question!

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  7. I feel the exact same way!! This is why I read spoilers for series endings, because I want to make sure that the main couple ends up together. I will not read it if one of them dies - nope. And I think I know which two series you're referring to. Like you said, I'm not going to invest my time in these characters and relationships only to have one of them die - I mean, that ending is forever, so to picture one of them without the other the rest of his/her life is just so sad. Can't do it! I'll take the happy ending over the sad/realistic/open ending every day of the week.

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  8. I agree. I think it sucks when main characters die. I mean, it's the authors choice, but as a reader, I think that we commit to these characters and love them and fight with them for however many books there were only to have them die? It feels so unfair.

    I am super curious about the other book you read where one of the main characters dies...

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  9. LOVE THIS! I have a few exceptions where I have become okay with an ending like that because the series continues and it gets so good that I almost, almost, completely forgive it.

    But most series that END like that... NOPE! I AM DONE TOO! I hate it. I am the same as you, I have two books in a dystopian series, one that recently had it's movie adaptation released, but I completely refuse to buy the third and final one. IT WAS AWFUL! Not just because of the rubbish ending. It was just a truly awful and horribly written/paced book. It's never ever going on my shelf... EVER! It totally ruined the whole series for me.

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  10. So I think there is a fine line here. I obviously like a happy ending but I like a realistic ending too, but I don't like stupid endings where something major happens for the sake of being unpredictable and dramatic like pointless deaths.

    I actually really like George R. R. Martin because he isn't afraid to kill off main characters. Yes it has lead to some serious heart break but I think it is the most true fantasy story I have read. And it keeps me more interested because I know that anything can happen. No one is safe. I love it.

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