I just read a book this weekend that ended in a cliff hanger. It wasn't the second or third book in a series, it was the first one. In fact, I didn't even know it was a series when I started it. I literally finished the book and threw it down. I couldn't believe it ended that way. Now I have to wait a whole year before to find out what happens. Although the book was really good and the story intriguing, it kind of ticks me off. I know the Hunger Games left book two in a cliff hanger (which kind of ticked me off as well), but that was the second book. I really didn't expect it in the first book.
My CP Jessie wrote about falling out of love with series and I have to admit I kind of agree with, especially on mediocre books. It would be interesting to find out the sales numbers of series, to see how many go up with each book and how many go down.
I have a lot of book ones, a few book twos and even less book threes. I'm finding my love for series waning. Part of me likes to be done with the story.
How about you? Have you ever read a first book that ended in a cliff hanger and how did it make you feel? And what are you feeling on series? Do you still like them?
btw: great prizes over at Chantele's - just because she wanted to.
14 comments:
I hate it when that happens! This is why I like to know ahead of time if a book is part of a series.
I have to agree with you Patti. A cliff hanger in part one? Nope, don't like it. To me, part one should introduce the story, the characters and give the reader some intrigue. I just read a book one of a trilogy, I believe, and did like you...I threw it.
It pissed me off. The entire book drolled on and on with boring details and not enough story. Then right at the end, there's a few chapters of really good action and then BOOM...cliff hanger.
Don't like it at all.
As far as serieses are concerned, I'll never loose faith in them. I have a select few I keep up with and am always on the look-out for new ones.
Provided they don't do the cliff hanger deal.
Stupid cliff hangers!!! I kind of hate those, but ... I kind of love them too. If the book is good and ends on a high note.
Oh yes, I've read those books that irritated me like crazy. Then I get wrapped up in the characters and have to wait a whole year to find out what happens. I've vowed not to read a series until all the books are out. It doesn't always work well for me though.
I'm not too big on Series. The only one I can think of that I've read and enjoyed are Adriana Trigiani's. But other than hers, I prefer the story complete in one book, with the next something different.
I recently read a self published book that I was enjoying until I got to the cliff hanger ending. And it was the worst of the worse cliff hanger ending. It ruined the book, especially since the mc never finished her character arc. Or at least it wasn't obvious that she had.
I had this with Northern Lights. I was so frustrated that it didn't end I've refused to touch another Phillip Pullman.
We all knew the Harry Potter series was seven books long, but at least each book finished.
EEK! I kinda love cliffhangers. But it has to be an exceptional book. I'll agree with you there. But if I wasn't LOVING the story to begin with, I don't think a cliffhanger ending would bug me too much. I have put a few down knowing from about the middle I wasn't consumed with it and wasn't going to bother with the next in the series.
I say EEK because my current book leaves off without wrapping up completely. Don't get me wrong, it ends, I kept people like you in mind for that! But it definitely doesn't end with all the questions answered! lol
I definitely get frustrated by series. Can't you just read a book and be done anymore? I want the whole experience in ONE BOOK. I just read one of those first books, as well. And even though right now I am so wrapped up in those characters that I can't get them out of my head, by the time the next book comes out, I'm pretty sure that feeling will have subsided.
I guess the obvious solution is not to begin reading a series until all the installments have been released.
I have felt both way like, WHOA and CRAP!!! :D I feel hot and cold on series lately, but I do know it would be tough to WRITE one--EEEE!
Personally, I like stand alone novels best. Series are OK but I cannot stand cliffhangers at the end of a book. And a cliffhanger in the first one? That's just...well, ridiculous. :P
I think every book in a series should be able to stand alone. You can leave a hint of another book on the horizon but shouldn't leave loose ends. I thought that was something that was always frowned upon. Oh well. My opinion anyway.
I don't mind cliffhangers IF I don't have to wait long for the next book. A few month max. I'm sorry but if you write a cliffhanger it is just wrong to make us wait a year! Dabnabbit!
I hate it when that happens too. :( I've had one person tell me they didn't know my book was the first in a series so they were kinda bummed to come to the end and discover, it didn't really end.
I feel like I tried really hard to make the story complete. So that if you only read the first book, you'd pretty much know what you needed to know to have a measure of closure for the MC. But maybe I didn't do a good enough job. :P
I agree that even on series I really enjoyed, it's easy to never pick up that second book.
Sometimes I think that series are a gimmick used to pull in more money- like 3-D movies. However, my kids still love them and that makes it easy for me to find them books!
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