Inquiring minds wanna know...

Posted by Rachel Vincent at 8/20/2010 02:36:00 PM
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I've been hearing a lot of talk online lately about cliffhangers in books. This is not new. It's one of those recurring topics (like love triangles, the direction of the publishing market, and whether or not ebooks will eventually replace print books). But this time, it's made me wonder...

Recently several people have referred to the ending of My Soul To Keep as a cliffhanger. I, respectfully, disagree. My reasoning is this: the plot of the book is completely resolved, with no threads left dangling. Yes, the romance is left without a definite conclusion, but that wasn't intended to be a manipulative "hook." It was (hopefully) the realistic, healthy conclusion of a sixteen year old girl who's just been badly burned by love.

So I leave it to you, readers. And, of course, you're free to disagree with me. I welcome discussion. ;)

If you've read the book, please take my poll!






Warning, comments may contain Soul Screamers spoilers!!!
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15 comments:

Meaghan
Fri Aug 20, 02:54:00 PM 2010

I have to agree with you Rachel, while the ending was sad for Kaylee, it was resolved. Well, the plot was resolved, but the characters relationship is an on going work in progress and I expect some bumps in the road in their relationship.

I think I would have been more upset if she just forgave him and went running back to Nash and the relationship had a "happy resolution" in the book. That would have been unrealistic because he messed up big time and it is going to take some serious time for them to work through it, well if they work through it I guess. Only you have that knowledge ;)

 
~Jenny~
Fri Aug 20, 03:11:00 PM 2010

I can’t answer a yes or no for that question. The main storyline had a final end to it. However they were some little bits that people might call cliff-hangers such as, are Kaylee and Nash getting back together, Is Nash going to be able to break his addiction to dream breath. What does there families think about it all. What’s going to happen about Eden’s soul? I will admit I thought when I heard the title for the next book (MStSteal), I thought it could have been about trying to steal back Eden’s soul, therefore making it a small cliff-hanger in my eyes. Well that was up until I heard the plot for it.

But for me, maybe it isn’t a true cliff-hanger, but it feels like one, as I’m eager to read what happens next. I’m all excited to see how all my little unanswered questions are answers.


(Posted this on FB as well, didn't see the link)

XxX

 
Kate
Fri Aug 20, 03:26:00 PM 2010

You are right Rachel. Technically a cliffhanger would be if the actual plot line was left at a standstill before resolution. I think series' dont need to resolve all of the character plot lines because then where would the rest of the books go? I think it was a good ending and left me wanting more..which I think is the point, right? :)

 
ajkulig
Fri Aug 20, 04:18:00 PM 2010

I voted YES it was a cliffhanger, not for the plotline of the book but for the series. It can be both ways.

 
Tere Kirkland
Fri Aug 20, 04:42:00 PM 2010

Haven't read MSTK, but if it only left one sub-plot thread (Unless the book is a straight-up romance, I consider love-interests a sub-plot) unfinished, I would not call it a cliffhanger.

I just finished The Summoning, and while I really liked the story and how fast-paced it was, I didn't like that it just... ended. Like, right in the midst of the rising action.

I'll probably read the next book in the series eventually, but cliffhangers to short books like that really reek of an overly-long novel that's been cut in half.

I need to feel satisfied by an ending, even if it is a bit cliff-hangery, like in The Hunger Games or Uglies. The first books in both serials managed to deal with enough loose ends to satisfy, and leave enough open to keep me wanting more. It's a fine line, I guess, but I'd rather be kept wanting more than feel like I'm being tricked into buying the next book.

Thought-provoking post!

 
Jess (The Cozy Reader)
Fri Aug 20, 04:53:00 PM 2010

Google Chrome doesn't mesh well with widgets and apparently poll widgets too. :(

I vote no but with a slight yes though because like a previous commenter stated I have a bunch of unanswered questions that don't necessarily involve Nash and Kaylee's relationship. But it ended well enough. :)

 
Anonymous
Fri Aug 20, 06:59:00 PM 2010

i absolutely agree with you Rachel, i loved the endingof MSTKeep and although the relationship between Kaylee and Nash is at a stand still i really enjoyed how you ended that book so i voted NO :) Happy writing! XxX

 
FICTION STATE OF MIND
Fri Aug 20, 10:05:00 PM 2010

I agree it's not a cliffhanger, maybe people feel its that way because they feel Kaylee and Nash are going to reconcile. you always take exciting twists in your books :0 I'm now thinking Tod may be a good match for Kaylee !

 
Little Nightmare
Sat Aug 21, 02:04:00 AM 2010

I'm a sucker for the happily ever after moments when it comes to my relationships, so while I do agree with Rachel on the ending being resolved I also have this annoying little person screaming "No! Why must you leave us with a cliffhanger on the goings-on with Kaylee and Nash?!"

Although while I love my happy endings, I would have been unhappy if Kaylee forgave Nash and went running back. The issue that caused the rift between them was too big to be forgive right away, without thought of the repercussions that could follow.

 
Jessica
Sat Aug 21, 07:51:00 AM 2010

I agree with you Rachel. Just because the relationship was unresolved doesn't make the ending a cliffhanger. It's just an unresolved relationship. A cliffhanger leaves the reader in the midst of the action with the ending, like when watching a TV show and it's just getting to the good part, then the dreaded "To Be Continued" flashes on the screen. That is a ciffhanger. When the action is still taking place and there is no resolution.

 
hermionehphg
Sat Aug 21, 08:25:00 AM 2010

WARNING!!!! SPOILERS OF THE PRIDE BOOKS
- -- - - -

Hello Rachel!!
I'm brazilian and i will already excuse me for posting this in here, cause i didn't know a better place that i'd known you would not take long to read
I'm reading Stray and I am loving your book as much as I loved the Soul Screamers ones, but you see i reached the point that the mysteryous stray cat is said to be brazilian...i don't have nothing against the villain being of my nation mind you, but i would like to clarify to you thet we do not speak any tipe of spanish language...My country was colonizated by Portugal so we all speak portuguese n here, except some tribes in the midle of the forest, but they have their own languages...
it's a very common mistake and i don't blame anyone for this but when i'm mistakem in something i like to people to tell me so i feel myself in obligation to do the same see? Besides it's cool to know new things, so my apollogies if i look rude, or pretentious, it's not my intention, right the opposite...now i will continue your book cause i'm rally curous and you've got me hooked!!!
By he way i don't think the end of My Soul to Keep was a cliffhanger, the love story and what happens in it it's part of a bigger plot and so must be handled, or so i think.
Excuse for my poor grammar and ohter mistakes, i am kind of an autodidact.

 
hermionehphg
Sat Aug 21, 09:51:00 AM 2010

Ohhhhh my biggest mistake ever and i am soooo happy to be wrong...you made me very very very happy with this little sentence rachel: "First of all, mi amor , my ass, as you say, is
Brazilian, not Mexican. But mi amigo , here, does not understand
Portuguese, so we are limited to Spanish and English for our
conversations."
I apologize for my lack of patience... ;D

 
Rachel Vincent
Sat Aug 21, 10:04:00 AM 2010

Hermioie, I'm so happy you're pleasesd with it. :)

 
Anonymous
Sun Aug 22, 06:01:00 PM 2010

- - - No, Not a Cliff Hanger - - -
It was not a Cliff Hanger, however,
many Readers are probably uncomfortable
that the story ended on a Sour/Hurt note
a.k.a the Breakup,
I don't think Tod or anyone else would be as perfect for Kaylee
as Nash is, maybe they need a little time apart and
maybe she might become distracted with someone else..
However, let's not forget the real Reason why Nash was in his current predicament, which was
following Kaylee around and trying to help her as usual.
Go Team Nash ! =)

 
Anonymous
Mon Aug 30, 12:17:00 PM 2010

I always thought that Nash was too good to be true. I liked Tod from the beginning of the series. As for where Kaylee goes from here, though, I'm unsure of.

 

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