In Which Series Endings Disappoint Me // 3 Reasons Why I Didn't Like Winter

If you haven't read a) The Lunar Chronicles or b) Winter yet, then PLEASE BACK AWAY AND AVERT YOUR EYES BECAUSE THIS POST SHALL BE FULL OF SPOILERS.

You have been warned. 


In the past year, I've noticed my tastes have changed regarding books.  I've gotten picker as my selection has grown wider.  


Recently, I've been doing something I've never EVER EVER EVER done before....I'm finding myself unable to finish more and more books.  And not only do I not finish them, but I don't even get halfway through.  Usually the reason is because I was bored or irritated with the characters or just not getting into the writing style or something like that, but STILL. 

AND MOST OF THEM WERE HIGHLY ACCLAIMED BOOKS THAT BOOK BLOGGERS AND OTHER HUMANS HAVE RAVED ABOUT INCESSANTLY.  (Don't ask for titles because I can't remember them.  I have the memory span of a hamster, okay.)


So my pickiness has resulted in a lot of disappointment in books.  Especially series endings.  Authors almost never get series endings right, and it irks me to no end. 


How a book series should end example #1:  EVERYONE DIES AND THERE IS LOTS OF TEARS AND SUFFERING AND SADNESS AND YOUR HEART IS BROKEN.  (i.e. Les Miserables....*cough*)


How a book series should end example #2:  EVERYONE LIVES HAPPILY EVER AFTER EXCEPT THE VILLAINS WHO DIE A SATISFYINGLY TERRIBLE DEATH AND THE MAIN CHARACTERS GET MARRIED AND EVERYONE IS HAPPY.  HUZZAH.  DRINKS ALL AROUND.


I mean, if you're going to resolve a series, THEN DO IT LIKE A BOSS.  Don't be hesitant about it; scream the resolution into your reader's face and make it super sad or super happy YOU KNOW WHAT I DON'T EVEN CARE JUST MAKE IT SATISFYINGLY RESOLVING. 


Too often what I get instead is a really bland, limp noodle of an ending that is usually very confusing as to what the characters are even doing and why are they doing that, that is SO out of character for them!  No one is brave enough to propose and no one is brave enough to die, and it's rather boring. 

I WANT CHARACTERS TO DIE, OKAY.  After a series in which everyone miraculously stays intact and alive, the ending needs some death.  My Sherlock-the-high-functioning-sociopath side wants MURDER AND TEA AND PEOPLE JUMPING OFF OF ROOFTOPS TO SAVE THE PEOPLE THEY LOVE. 

Is that really too much to ask for? 


Unfortunately, authors as a rule don't cater to that kind of bloodthirsty reader, I've noticed.  Except for Victor Hugo, and he's dead.


So let's talk about the most disappointing series ending I've read so far.  (Keep in mind it's been about a month since I've read it, so I've forgotten some of it and so parts of what I'm ranting about might be wrong.  So apologies for that.)


Winter by Marissa Meyer

LOOKIT HOW GORGEOUS THE COVER IS THOUGH *SQUEEEEE*

Reason why I didn't like it #1:  The rest of the books in this series were AMAZING.  The plot was sound as could be and perfectly and insanely awesome, the characters were relatable and lovable and adorable, and the story rattled along nicely like an old roller coaster plummeting down a perilous track while we readers hung on for dear life.  (Not the best example but still.) 

So when I finally got Winter, I was expecting the same feel and tone.  Marissa Meyer had instituted a certain feel to the rest of the books, so I was really let down when this book felt TOTALLY DIFFERENT.  It was blander, and slower, and felt like nothing much was happening. 


Granted, it was also like 800 pages long, but STILL.  THIS WAS THE EPIC FINALE AND I WAS EXPECTING THE APPROPRIATE EPICNESS. 


Instead of an epic "going out with a bang" ending, it was more of a "meh" ending.  And if there's one thing I can't stand, it's a "meh" ending.


Reason why I didn't like I #2:  The ending didn't feel resolved.  Like, AT ALL.  With all the copious amounts of cliffhangers in the previous books, I thought they were building up to some catastrophic and amazing ending!  But...they weren't. 

Nothing really changed.  The book ended and no one had died except for the evil queen and some innocent bystanders and revolutionaries and evil soldiers.  THERE WERE LIKE 9 MAIN CHARACTERS.  9.  NOT ONE OF THEM DIED.  THAT IS UNACCEPTABLE.


Also, like all of them were in love with each other and only like ONE of them actually proposed...I think.  The proposals were very vague.  Then the other half of the couples were just like "Oh yeah, let's just keep going like this...maybe we'll start dating sometime later in the future....idk...s'all cool..."


WHAT.  NO.  NO NO NO.  I WANT RESOLUTION, NOT WATERY WIMPY INDECISIONS. 

KAI.  YOU LOVE CINDER, SO WHY ARE YOU WAITING??  YOU'VE JUST SPENT THE PAST 3 BOOKS SEARCHING FOR YOUR TRUE LOVE AND NOW YOU'RE BACKING OFF?  COME ON.  YOU'VE MARRIED HER AUNT FOR CRYING OUT LOUD AND NOW YOU DON'T HAVE THE GUTS TO MARRY THE GIRL YOU LOVE.


*breaks things*


Sorry.  I just have really strong feelings about this. 


No one got married, no one died, nothing really changed.  It was quite the anti-climax.


Reason why I didn't like it #3:  The past three books had all been fairytale reminiscent with starships and captives in satellites and magnificent balls and cute romances, and that touch seemed to be lacking in this book.  This one was more about war and dethroning and starting revolutions and such.  It reminded me more of a Hunger Games book then a Lunar Chronicles book, honestly.


Don't get me wrong, I love the "uprising/revolution/overthrow the evil ruler" books, but this just didn't fit. 


Cinder is not a ruler.  She is a mechanic who is in love with the emperor.  Cinder's whole character seems to change when she goes into Heir-to-the-throne-of-Lunar mode, and I don't like it.

So those are my biggest issues with Winter.  Please don't get me wrong, I LOVE The Lunar Chronicles!  They are one of my favoritest books in the galaxy.  It's just, the final book wasn't my favorite at all.  I still loved it, but I didn't LOVE it.  It made me a disappointed armadillo. 


But it's probably just me, because I have lots of friends who read it and LOVED it!  Maybe my expectations are just too high. 


Also, I think that while some authors can build up to the climax perfectly and it's like an atomic bomb of feels and tears and satisfaction, others get intimidated by the amount of pressure that is put on them from fans.  I think fans play a big part in how a series ends.  We establish theories, ships, and basically clamor to the author in masses that if so-and-so doesn't do so-and-so or if he DIES (heaven forbid), we shall all be sad and never read that author's writing ever again.  And authors don't like disappointing people.


So in the end, EVERYONE is let down.  In other words: DON'T BE A PEOPLE-PLEASER.  WRITE A FANTABULOUSLY HEARTCRUSHING ENDING OR MAKE IT MORE BEAUTIFUL THAN A FAIRY WEDDING AND I SHALL BE A HAPPY ARMADILLO.


What do you think?  Are you ever disappointed by series endings?  Did you like Winter or did you have problems with it, too?