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The Gabbers  Amanda"I read anything that holds my attention past the first 100 pages, primarily genre fiction of all types, ’serious’ literature, classics and travelogues." read more...
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Dude, Where’s My HEA?
« My Romance Year in Review | Home | What is romantic? »  [Author Note: My apologies for the title. Just couldn't help myself.] Over the weekend I read and enjoyed Halfway to the Grave, the debut novel by Janiene Frost (see my review here). This is the first in a series featuring Catherine Crutchfield, a half-vampire, half-human who hunts vampires. Although there is a romance front and center, the book does not end with the couple together. In the review that got me to buy the book, Bev (QB) notes that although it will take a few books, Frost has promised that the heroine and hero will get their HEA, or happily ever after. Siterunner Sybil commented that a book marketed as romance should not take six books to get to the happily ever after. Good point. Should a book that doesn’t end with “happily ever after” be called a romance? Is the promise of a future HEA enough? And is it misleading to readers to place such books in the romance section? This isn’t an unknown phenomenon, either. I’ve been reading the “Undead and…” series by MaryJanice Davidson and the Aisling Grey series by Katie MacAlister for several years now, both of which feature the development of the main couple over the course of a number of books. I believe that Karen Marie Moning’s Darkfever series can be picked up in the romance section as well. Venturing out of the paranormal, Brenda Joyce’s Deadly series is a historical example (and I believe the heroine’s love interest changes over the course of the books), and in the contemporary realm Suzanne Enoch has a series featuring a thief and a billionaire. This is just off the top of my head. Although the boundaries of the romance genre are ever expanding, it seems like the one thing most everyone agrees on is the necessity of an HEA. Isn’t that why one reads romance? To experience the thrill of two character’s journey into love and enjoy the satisfaction of seeing that love come to fruition. It doesn’t have to be marriage or babies, but I like finishing a romance and feeling like the couple will be together forever. Earlier this year, Dear Author had some posts which revealed that yes, indeedy, romance readers and authors like their HEAs (see here, and here ). Many of us read other genres, like urban fantasy, mysteries, or fantasy. Some of these books contain romantic elements. As a reader of these subgenres, one can wait what seems like an interminable number of books to see a romantic subplot come to head (causing me, in particular, great agony waiting for the next book). So some romance readers are may be more amenable to a less cut and dry ending. But the question remains, should an ongoing series like Frost’s or MacAlister’s, which feature an ongoing relationship, be put in romance rather than, say, fantasy? Looking at the books/series with which I am most familiar, I think that there is more emphasis on the featured romance than in urban fantasies like those of Kelley Armstrong or Kim Harrison, in which more emphasis is on the world building and other plot threads. Is the development focused on the character’s individual journey or the characters’ journey to each other? If it is the latter, then I don’t have a problem with the book being placed in romance. The dragging out of a romance over the course of several books has led to other issues for me, in some cases, but it doesn’t bother me. On the other hand, I can see how a person might feel cheated if they were to pick up a book, only to find that they have to buy another book to find out if the hero and heroine will end up together. Hmmm…what do ya’ll think: A trend that should stop now? No big deal and the reader should have done their research beforehand? If you buy a romance, you should get your HEA? Man, that chick overthinks stuff? Or perhaps a combo of the above? This entry was posted by Devon on Thursday, January 10th, 2008 at 6:00 am. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site. 12 Responses to “Dude, Where’s My HEA?”Leave a Comment |
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January 10th, 2008 at 6:44 pm
The promise of a future HEA might be enough…but I finished Halfway to the Grave feeling cheated by the marketing and branding of the book, because for me, there wasn’t even a promise at the end. [I had other issues with the book, but that was the biggest for me.] Same with Colleen Gleason’s series — read the first, won’t be picking up the next books. SPOILER: dude, having the heroine kill off her husband while newly married at the very end of the book? When he (ostensibly) was her chosen HEA? Pissed me off.
If I had known before picking either book up that it wasn’t a genre romance, that it didn’t conform to the genre rules, my expectations would have been different. But the “romance” on the spine engenders certain expectations in me as a reader, which neither book fulfilled. Put “fantasy” or “general fiction” on the spine and I’d've been perfectly happy. Frankly, to me, labeling a book as a genre romance when it isn’t one is a cheap marketing ploy — Here, let’s get romance readers to buy the book even as we ignore the rules of the genre. They won’t notice. And even if they do, too late, we’ve got their money.
January 10th, 2008 at 7:12 pm
That’s exactly what I’m talking about. It certainly seems like a ploy to get more $$ out of the reader. I feel the same way, it’s one thing if you know in advance…
Did you review Halfway to the Grave? Off to check.
January 11th, 2008 at 3:29 pm
I tried reading a few of those you used as an example (MJD + KJ) but was disappointed. When I buy a romance I want at least one couple in the story to end up with a HEA or it isn’t a romance to me. I don’t mind if the main couple take afew books to get there but no HEA at all is a no brainer
January 12th, 2008 at 2:42 pm
Hi Devon. First, I wanted to say glad you enjoyed my book. That’s always nice to hear.
You asked: “should an ongoing series like Frost’s or MacAlister’s, which feature an ongoing relationship, be put in romance rather than, say, fantasy?”
As with most authors, it wasn’t up to me to decide where my book(s) would be shelved. However, as romance is my first love, I’m more than proud to be in romance. Furthermore, to me, the relationship between my characters is the force that drives the entire series. It’s the motivation for everything that happens, even if a lot of bodies fly around the couple in the meantime :). It’s also why I made a statement on my website and blogs that yes, this hero and this heroine will get their HEA (pause to thank Sarah from Smart Bitches for helping me with the wording of that statement). I have a complete story in my head that ends happily for Cat and Bones, but it takes more than one book to tell it. My publisher knew this when they bought my books, so perhaps that’s why they felt comfortable shelving me in romance versus fantasy.
You also asked, “Is the development focused on the character’s individual journey or the characters’ journey to each other?”
I’d like to think both. Characters grow as people individually, and that growth can enhance or cause conflict in a relationship. For example, Cat grew a lot as a character from the beginning of HTTG to the end of it, and that affected her relationship with Bones. But as an author, I don’t intend to drag out their relationship troubles and end every book with them apart, until the last one. Some of the books in my series will end with “happy-for now”s for Cat and Bones. In my opinion, some of the biggest battles we face in life are faced AFTER we’ve gotten together with our lover/husband/significant other, not only during the first blush of a relationship.
Still, I know some readers won’t want to commit to a series to get that final HEA, and I respect that. As an author in romance, I can only promise readers who do choose to follow my series that their trust for a HEA won’t be in vain. Beyond that, it’s up to readers to decide whether an ongoing romance series is something they want to invest in.
Sorry for the long reply, but thanks for such a thought-provoking post.
January 12th, 2008 at 10:22 pm
You know, I don’t think a romance necessarily has to have an HEA. I don’t want it to end in tragedy and despair, but an ending where the H&H don’t end up together - I’m not entirely averse to the notion, if it’s well done. It might even be refreshing once in a while.
The Brenda Joyce series you mentioned has always intrigued me. Switching heroes like that in the middle of the series is very daring, and if it works then kudos to Joyce. And the Gleason novel sounds intriguing!
To be honest, my biggest peeves are protracted, turgid triangles and series that don’t ever end. If I know there are a finite number of books planned for a series - such as Gleason’s - then (if I enjoy the writing and the characters) I won’t mind the prolonged wait. If there’s no such payoff in sight, I’m not interested. I’ve learnt my lesson (looking at you, Evanovich).
January 12th, 2008 at 10:32 pm
Thanks for posting, Jeaniene! You made some very good points.
I figured that authors don’t have much say in where their books are shelved. Other debates have shown that. I can only hope that authors are happy with where the books ends up and that it gets to the most readers who will enjoy it.
I agree that character development should involve the character’s individual journey as well. That’s what I like to see as a reader. I should have worded it better. Perhaps it is a matter of emphasis? Does the development of the relationship has an effect on the development of the individual? How much emphasis is on the relationship development. One of the things I particularly enjoyed about your book was Cat’s development as an individual, a lot of which I felt was due to her relationship with Bones, first as an adversary, then as a friend and finally as a lover.
Series in which the relationship develops over time may not be for everybody, but some have become quite popular. My concern is that readers might be disappointed if they don’t know the whole story, so to speak. Do you get concerned that your book may not be reaching other readers who aren’t interested in “Romance?”
Ilona–I’ve found with some of the other series I’ve followed that the central romance loses momentum and chemistry along the way, no?
January 13th, 2008 at 1:41 pm
I want an HEA. That’s part of why I read and write romance.
January 13th, 2008 at 3:43 pm
Hmmm: I didn’t realize this one didn’t have a HEA at the end. Although since the author promises us one, chances are I will give this a try. But in most cases, I’m not going to invest in a book that doesn’t have one. Having said that however, Naked in Death didn’t actually end with Roarke and Eve together. There was the promise of them together and they did get married in book 3. But then, they weren’t marketed in the romance section at least where I get them so I can’t say anything. Bottom line I suppose - I don’t know. Not much help there am I?
I suppose if I knew for absolute sure that it would be an HEA and I didn’t have to wait too long I might give it a try.
This reminds me of a three book series and I can’t remember the author at the moment, but I’m pretty sure it was marketed as romance, but in the final book, the hero dies. If I had invested in that series, I would have been livid and screamed from here to kingdom come.
January 13th, 2008 at 7:13 pm
“Do you get concerned that your book may not be reaching other readers who aren’t interested in “Romance?””
Devon, I get emails that occasionally read like this: “Good book, but can you scale back the romance and focus more on the action?” I’ve noticed these emails are usually from people who say they bought my book on Amazon, or in another place where they didn’t know it was “romance” (yes, paranormal romance is right on the spine, but I guess not everyone looks at that). My response is no, I can’t scale back on the romance. Again, I feel it’s the driving force behind my characters. Conversely, I’ve gotten complaints that my book has too much action for it to truly be called a romance. My response is similar - can’t really scale back on that, either. Cat’s world is filled with danger, and in the position she puts herself in, she’s pretty much daring that danger to come out and play. So to tone down the consequences doesn’t make sense with Cat’s environment, job, and personality. In summary, this series may not appeal to hard-core urban fantasy fans because of all the romance in it, and it may not appeal to hard-core romance fans because of all the urban fantasy in it. I’m hoping it will appeal to readers who like urban fantasy action with their romance, but who also want the guarantee that there will be an eventual happily-ever-after for their hero/heroine. We’ll see how it goes.
January 13th, 2008 at 11:10 pm
I think that Amazon and online retailers, as well as e publishers add something different and good by taking away the physical dimension. What I mean is that there are other ways to looks for and find books that fit one’s taste without them being relegated to a certain section of the bookstore. I can’t help thinking of the ongoing blogland discussion of the marketing of AA romance, and the whole idea of marketing a book to a certain niche limiting it’s exposure.
Jeaniene–the mix of action and romance worked quite well for me. In fact, it’s the first book in recent memory that I was thinking of passing on to my husband. There was plenty of romance for my taste, but I think there is also enough fighting for his tastes
I think the book has a wide appeal.
Kristie–I think the books were Candace Steele or Cameron Steele or something. It’s in one of the Dear Author links above. People definitely felt gypped.
Meriam & Georgie Lee–I think romance is sooooo much about the HEA. If I wanted a love story that ended sadly, I’d read literary fiction
Like I said, it doesn’t have to be marriage and babies, but I want to believe it’s forever. Oh, and the Brenda Joyce series–I thought the heroine was super annoying in the ones I read, but it seemed like it was part of her character arc. I just lost patience.
January 15th, 2008 at 5:41 pm
I like an HEA in my romance, but sometimes I’ll settle for an “HEA for now.” Like, with Naked in Death, where Eve and Roarke’s relationship has moved substantially forward to where I assumed they would continue as a couple, that made me feel complete for the time being.
The important thing for me is that it is not a “tune into the next book to see what happens” cliffhanger situation. To me, that is half a book, where you’re left with burning questions. I want the book to stand on its own for the action part and the relationship part, and for me to put it down feeling satisfied and somewhat settled with the coupling, even if it’s not FOREVER
The Kushiel’s Dart series does this well. Phedre and her guard guy, I forget his name, are together at the end of the first book, and it is a HEA that’s totally satisfying, but you know it could evolve later.
That said, I do read and enjoy “who will she pick” books, and I rather relish a well-done triangle, or the trilogy with the HEA at the very end, but I don’t consider those HEAs.
November 12th, 2008 at 9:28 pm
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