Why Would You DO THAT???

In my weary research for a good new urban fantasy series to read, I recently found one that was actually written pretty well. The protagonist wasn't a complete idiot, bumbling into things until the powerful alpha male had to come and rescue her all the time (which I had to torture myself into reading in my search for a good urban fantasy series)—although it was a bit cliché—newly turned vampire and the master of the house of vamps, incidentally also her sire. Then again, which paranormal series doesn't at least have a cliché or two? The trick, with good authors, is in making that cliché interesting enough to readers who have already read it.

Called the Chicagoland Vampires, it was a bit slow in the mystery department as the main protagonist also dealt with her newly changing life, and the side characters that involved themselves into her life. I really loved how Chloe Neill wrote them—they had dimension, depth, and their own interesting little side-stories (that were sometimes, to me, more interesting than the protagonist's—but that's just because I'm mainly a matchmaker at heart).

Predictably, I consumed the entire five books that were in the series (as of present) within a span of three days. Sometimes, when a series gets really interesting, I'm unable to do anything—eat, sleep, or work—until I finish it. Yes, I have an addictive personality. Yes, I'm working on fixing it. But I digress. This was one of the few series that actually consumed me so. And, God, it's been such a long time since I've found an interesting series that didn't become too much of the same thing (the only others I've found to be so are the Dresden Files, Kate Daniels, Cassandra Palmer and Dorina Bhasarab, Night Huntress, the Mercedes Thompson and Alpha & Omega series, the Fever series, and—usually, as I'm not much of a fan of Blaze of Memory—Psy/Changeling and Guild Hunter). Sherrilyn Kenyon disappointed me. Gena Showalter disappointed me. Jacquelyn Frank started to bore me. Christine Feehan—God, I don't even want to talk about her. I liked the Drake sisters... until it got progressively worse with each book. I even gave the Carpathians a chance. But the rape scene in one book was too much for me. I could've handled it if the antagonist, or the villain had done it. But it was the hero. Just because he couldn't help himself. The fact that she was condoning rape... No. Just no.
And... I've gotten off-track again. I seem to do that a lot when I rant.

Anyway, while reading this series, I was really rooting for the canon couple. Sure they seemed to have the typical clichéd tension-ridden breakup-up-and-back-together-again cycle of a relationship, but, you know what, the protagonist actually had some serious concerns over the realtionship—which made it serious. It wasn't simply the fact that she was stubborn and refused to commit over a stupid reason (which is surprisingly common in many novels—of all genres).

Yesterday—well, tonight, actually—I had nearly reached the ending of the fifth book when a twist just stopped my mind. I kept going over the words again and again while my thoughts screamed out a verbal, "NOOoooooo!!!" I just... I'm in shock. All I'm thinking is, "WHY?" I mean, this was completely unexpected because you can't just... do that! It's, like, taboo for authors. And it's just so random. It's like going up to a complete stranger and punching him/her in the face. Yes, Chloe Neill has just metaphorically punched her readers in the face.

Now I'm frustrated and confused, just in time for my summer school test this morning. And I'll probably stay frustrated and confused (and, dammit, still slightly hopeful that what I read actually didn't happen) until November, which is when the next book in the series will come out.

I fucking hate cliffhangers.

Cliffhangers

Yes, I'm back. And here to talk about the BANE of my life. CLIFFHANGERS.
You know, every time I read a series that I really get into, it always ends in a cliffhanger. It's like there's this secret society with the best authors out there that blackmail other authors to end their most recent books in a cliffhanger. I'm going to follow one of my friend's example, and picture the scene:

"Oh, Rai, we love you!" The famous author shut the door against the screaming fans. With her back to it, her chest heaving, she frowned. She hadn't realized that her last book, The Billionare's Blackmailed Bride, would become so popular.

"So you're the famous author, Rai Tore."

Rai looked to the side of her, and saw a hooded figure covered in the darkness of the corner of the room. Who wore cloaks in the summer? "Um, obviously. I'm, like, famous and everything. It's totally awesome. Haven't you read any of my über-famous books? They're, like, totally awesome."

"...Riight... Anyway, I'm here to tell you to put in a cliffhanger for your next book... or else."

"Or else what?"

"Or else we, the Society of Super-Famous-Awesome-Totally-Cool authors will ruin you." Dun dun dunnnn....Without saying anything else, the figure faded back into the darkness, never to be seen again. Rai wished she could do that. With a sigh, she opened the door and turned back to her adoring fans, trying to wade through the crowd.

Okay, so I fail at humorous scenes. I may have overdone it. Maybe it's just not my style, even though I'd love to write a parody for once. Did you notice the Harlequin title? They're hilarious! I love to make fun of them.
Anyway, I just hate cliffhangers! It even happens in movies and shows now! What is with writers today? Can't they ever show closure in the show/movie/book? So what if the episode/movie/book was really good? It's the ending that makes a story!
I'm just griping about this because Jim Butcher's latest book, Changes, ended in a cliffhanger, all of Karen Marie Moning's Fever books end in cliffhangers (which just get to me, but I can't stop reading the most recent ones, cause they're so good), and now Supernatural's season finale (one of the reasons I hate season finales, even though they're usually the best episode in the season) ended in a cliffhanger!
Why do all of the good series/episodes/movies end in cliffhangers?
It's as if it's some sort of marketing campaign, to make sure people buy the next book that comes out almost instantly, or watch the new episode/movie almost instantly when it comes on.

Okay, now I'm done ranting. I just needed to get it out of my system. Thank god for blogs. You know what, now that summer's coming nearer, I'll probably be posting more now. Hopefully. Probably. Maybe.