Why you’re in the wrong place if you crave happy endings

I get it. I really do. You read fiction for escapism, not realism. You yearn for justice and a world that rewards the righteous and punishes the wicked. Where the good guys are guaranteed a win and the bad guys get their just desserts.

I don’t write that sort of book. You won’t turn the last page and find a happy ending, wrapped up neatly with a pretty bow, just for the sake of it. But nor do I write a sad ending just for the shock factor or to subvert expectations.

Welcome to my world. Here’s what you’ll find if you choose to stay.

“Oh, that’s dark.”

Forgotten Skye, my upcoming novel in my YA romantasy series, The Ruined Skye Trilogy, is an example of me unleashing my full darkness on the world.

It’s perfect if you love:

• a FMC who stabs first and asks questions later
• flawed, messy characters
• an eerie setting where the Isle of Skye feels like a character in its own right
• charismatic villains
• an ending that hurts in the best way

It’s NOT perfect if you love:

• a happy ever after
• redemption for the villain
• a comfort read

Case in point: Mirrordom

I don’t write cosy fantasy. I write books that challenge the perception of who is really good. In The Mirrordom Legends, I have the perfect playground to explore that question. In this world, everyone is born Good, with all the constraints and stereotypes that brings to mind. But everyone has a Mirror twin, with no limitations on how they can and cannot act. The entire series asks the question what really makes us good? Who decides the standard for goodness? What happens when a Good person does something terrible?

There are no easy answers. And no redemption. (Unless we’re talking about Cobalt. And even then I haven’t quite decided.)

What will the future hold for Cobalt? Find out when Quiver and Arrow releases later this year.

Exceptions to every self-imposed rule

It’s quite hard to talk all things ending without giving away massive spoilers. However, I will say if you are looking for something a little gentler among my books, The Boy With Wings For Hands probably* won’t wreck you emotionally. It’s due out this year.

Something for everyone?

For me, creativity means experimentation. Having the privilege and the freedom to try new things.

One of my novels, Funeral For A Robot, comes out this year and, in it, I do something I’ve never done before. There are two different endings and it’s up to the reader whether they want to read the second one or not.

I also like this idea because it gives the reader a sense of agency. You get to decide whether you want to turn the page and gamble with your emotions. You get to decide if the lure of the unknown beckons you onwards.

I’m so grateful to Fire and Ice YA for giving me the creative freedom to do something bizarre.

So what will you get from my books?

I know I’m in the minority when I believe that some happy endings are an insult to the characters and the reader. Equally, so can be an ending where everyone dies. Unless handled carefully, both of those opposites can feel like a cop-out. (Note: I am in no way saying this kind of writing and the readers who enjoy it are “wrong”. These are my personal opinions and I’m sharing them with you so you can make an informed decision about the books I write.)

For me, the sweet spot lies somewhere in the middle. An ending where survival comes at a steep price. Where the main characters get what they wanted, but it wasn’t what they expected. Where the story surprises you with one final, lingering twist.

In other words, if you pick up one of my books, you can expect:

• Endings that feel more like a gut-punch than a cosy hug
• Relatable villains, who may or may not be alive and thriving at the end of the book
• A rollercoaster of emotions, culminating in an ending that will make you feel something. (And if that something is that you want to hurl the book across the room, stamp on it eight times, burn it with fire and then come and have stern words with me, then I consider that a job well done.)

If you’re a reader, what do you prefer when it comes to endings? If you’re an author, what do you find most satisfying to write?

*Disclaimer: there are no absolute guarantees you won’t be wrecked emotionally by my books.

Further disclaimer: all thoughts above are my own opinions. I mean no disrespect to any other reader or author who loves happy endings – and my post is not intended as an attempt to convince you to read anything that makes you uncomfortable or unhappy. Look after yourself, first and foremost.