Dangerous Hero Addict Support Group discussion

This week's question was suggested by Rachel-Snap-Dragonness. Thanks, Rachel!

I only find it necessary if its the last book, and the author has left unanswered questions. I'd the author tidies it all up at the end, then I'm done too.

Lisa

Most of the time I like epilogues. To me they bring closer and even more warm fuzzy feelings for me to enjoy with the characters. I like to see that things work out for everyone.

I generally like them. Like prologues they can fit in information that is or isn't necessarily related to the story that just wrapped but related to the characters to give closure or whet the appetite for the next installment.

As a stand alone a epilogues is a must. A stand alone is for me a moment it time. But as a series, hmmmm... I just need a ready ready good ending. Epilogues in a series are like saying " I love you" and then taking it back. My mind starts to wonder back to what ifs and seems like to much of a good bye for me. Just make a clean cut, walk away. Just tell me you Love me and go! Lol
A series is more then a moment in time, it's a life time of investment.
Deep I know. Lol

I like epilogues. There may be one or two in the past that didn't add much to the story but I like going to a future point in the couple's lives and seeing how they are doing. Especially some special event like a birth or marriage. There have been a few books that ended on more of a HFN (Happily For Now) note that I felt needed an epilogue to let us know they had their HEA (Happily Ever Atfer).

I understand how an epilogue might not work so much in certain series that continue the story line anyway. (i.e. Virgin River series by Robyn Carr).

I love epilogues! Once you get to the end of a novel and feel some type of closure with loose ends tied up (hopefully!) I love to see how they normalized (having kids, careers, etc.) Gives me that warm happy feeling of them having overcome adversity :-)

Even though I find most of them to be similar (e.g. She's pregnant! Or, she had a baby!) I still usually like them if the story calls for it. If its a continuing series, it's not as necessary since the authors frequently refer back to other characters. For stand alone romances however, I want one.

I enjoy epilogues if they bring closure to a story, but if they are used to establish a cliffhanger, not so much.

I always enjoy and expect to read an epilogue.

I'm actually okay with the HFN, and usually just assume they ended up as an HEA.

I don't need the epilogue, but sometimes it's necessary if maybe the h didn't think she could get pregnant, or had miscarried in the past. In those cases it's nice to revisit the couple a bit in the future.

Thanks for using my question!

Jessica wrote: "Most of the time I like epilogues. To me they bring closer and even more warm fuzzy feelings for me to enjoy with the characters. I like to see that things work out for everyone."

I like them. They give a peak into the future and have to agree with Jessica's warm fuzzy comment.

It depends on what the epilogue consists of and what came before it.

Sometimes endings are abrupt and leave things unfinished, unexplored, unanswered.. From what I've read, I think it's because the author is trying to make up space for the epilogue and so the conclusion, if there is one, ends up being an unpleasant experience and in my opinion an undeveloped and undelivered conclusion. Furthermore, the epilogues in these case usually don't even answer the questions posed. They're just average 'lovey dovey' moments with the h and H or else unsatisfactory not-in-depth answers to the questions. Might as well not have written the epilogue.

I don't like epilogues that are written to replace or substitute for an ending of a story. Sometimes my overly critical insensitive self questions whether authors have a full understanding of what an epilogue is because I've read several stories where there is no ending but there is an epilogue and that's what's to be treated as the ending. An epilogue is "a comment on the conclusion" of a story or whatever happened. It is not the actual conclusion. If some stories I've read hadn't had an epilogue I genuinely think the ending would have been much better/less painful to read since an absence of an epilogue allows more space to write up a great/satisfactory conclusion to a potentially great story. The ending would be complete, tidy, and insightful.

I also have a love-hate thing going on for epilogues that aren't about the main characters but about the next h/H, if it's a series. More than once I've read stories where the focus of a book is all about the UPCOMING main character/s and not the CURRENT main character/s, which is not what I paid to read. So when the epilogue is also advertising this splendorous next h/H, my tolerance levels erupt and I find myself saying 'forget it, good riddance, you wish I would read you.' Overly critical and harsh, that is me.


The epilogues I enjoy are usually the ones that come after a really good ending. Because then, it's like I get strawberry sauce on top of my ice cream, an additional burst of delicious sweetness.

I like epilogues and prologues, especially if it's a book I like because it's just more of the story.

Malakoka wrote: "Goge (BARRONS) le Moning Maniac, wrote: "It depends on what the epilogue consists of and what came before it.

Sometimes endings are abrupt and leave things unfinished, unexplored, unanswered.. Fr..."

LMAO xD

Carolyn F. wrote: "I like epilogues and prologues, especially if it's a book I like because it's just more of the story."

I love prologues! When there is one. When I read a book I read the published date, author's name, title, author's notes (love these), dedication notes (love these), table of contents, then prologue and finally the first chapter.

For example, I'm reading Enslave Me Sweetly by Gena Showalter right now and I haven't gotten to the first chapter yet because I'm busy reading her dedication and author notes:

"People often ask me where I get my ideas. Well, I blame the lovely ladies mentioned above (Jill Monroe, Sheila Fields, P.C. Cast). Without them, this book would have been about a depressed assassin who smells like sterile air cleaner when she happens upon a man with a normal penis. Thanks, ladies." :)

I read all that too. Sometimes you find out secrets that I find fascinating.

Goge (BARRONS) le Moning Maniac, wrote: "It depends on what the epilogue consists of and what came before it.

Sometimes endings are abrupt and leave things unfinished, unexplored, unanswered.. From what I've read, I think it's because t..."

I completely agree with your point epilogues being used as ending substitutes. That's when I feel like the epilogue is a bit of a cop out and not as satisfying. There are times though when an author ends well and then uses the epilogues as snap shots of the couple in the future which I personally love - it really makes the HEA more solid in my mind and with some books I love the extra page time with the characters.

I love a good epilogue that adds to a story. I agree that an epilogue should not substitute for good, conclusive storytelling in itself. It should merely add to the story. Since I love the 'they lived happily ever after' type stories, I like when the epilogue shows the couple with a couple of kids or pregnant and blissfully in love.

Lady Danielle aka The Book Huntress wrote: "I love a good epilogue that adds to a story. I agree that an epilogue should not substitute for good, conclusive storytelling in itself. It should merely add to the story. Since I love the 'they lo..."

I agree. I like a good epilogue if it adds to the story.

I like epilogue a because they usual are little bits of regular life for the characters outside of the story and I like watching their real lives that's why I love anthologies so much cuz they usual are little snippets of a characters day to day life

Good point, Feige. I agree.

I like epilogues when they add to the story and are good.

I like epilogues, I definitely enjoy the closure, seeing the happy ever after with a family and stuff. Sometimes the author doesn't make it that great, but usually I'm all for em.

I have found lately that I am thoroughly annoyed and disappointed when a book doesn't have an epilogue. I've almost come to expect it and I become a little grumpy when it's not there. As someone else mentioned, I think it gives a lovely little look at the characters when they are removed from the hustle and bustle of the story.
With that being said, I have read some epilogues that seemed a little pointless. A good epilogue should give a small, private peek at the characters; something special about them and a look at what their lives will be like together.
For book in a series an epilogue isn't necessary until the end of course.

I have to agree, IMHO-C. I too feel disappointed with a lack of an epilogue in romance books.

I love epilogues. It's the prologues that aggravate me. I have read a few prologues that were good but for the most part they dont even make sense until you get into the story and find out what is going on.

I feel the exact opposite about prologues Kj. I love when the book begins with no apparent correlation with the prologue and you have to wait until further into the book to see the relevance. Maybe it's just me :-)

IMHO~C wrote: "I feel the exact opposite about prologues Kj. I love when the book begins with no apparent correlation with the prologue and you have to wait until further into the book to see the relevance. Maybe..."

I like that too! Gives me like an incentive, that's not exactly the word I'm looking for, but y'know.
I read a lot of series romances, and I have to read them in order, so I like the epilogues that lead into the next book too. And prologues that set up the series, etc.

If the book leaves unanswered questions and loose ends, I think it should have one.

A good prologue hooks the reader. So I definitely like them.

Oh I love them. Done right and lush I love them.

For me the epilogue is the "and they lived happily ever after". I read mostly paranormal romances so it's nice to see the characters when someone isn't trying to kill them anymore.

Traci L. wrote: "...it's nice to see the characters when someone isn't trying to kill them anymore."

Lol! This is very true.

One of my favorite books is and I was really surprised that it didn't have an epilogue. Especially considering events that happened towards the end of the book. I still enjoyed the story but would have like to have had more :)

I love them. I am so disappointed when a book doesn't offer one. On the other hand, in the epilogue, I prefer to see a more distant point in the future than the next month or few months. I want to see five years down the road. Creed my Kristin Ashley has the most awesome one ever! KA is the epilogue QUEEN!