Top Ten Tuesday

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by the Broke and the Bookish.

This week's theme? Top Ten Best/Worst Series Endings

Spoilers may be included. Beware. 

 The Good

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows by J.K. Rowling

This was the wrap up of a childhood (and middle grade aged, and high school aged, and college aged) long obsession for me and I don't think that Rowling could have done a better job. Besides the mini-Potters' cringe worth names (Albus Severus? Seriously?), I can rest easy at night knowing that the holy trinity lived relatively happily ever after. Because... all was well.

Night's Child by Cate Tiernan (The Sweep Series)

The Sweep series was yet another series that I followed through out much of my adolescence... and I adored how Tiernan handled Morgan's (and Moira's) story. All through out her teen and young adult years, Morgan faced a lot of crazy stuff... and although it seems improbable that one person would be dealt such a crap hand in life, it wasn't likely that her adult years would be a walk in the park. I could have stood to have her and Hunter's relationship be a bit easier but hey, it made sense for them. 

Clockwork Princess by Cassandra Clare (The Infernal Devices)

Clockwork Princess was literally the most satisfying wrap up to a love triangle that I have ever read. Each team had their needs met (for the most part) and I haven't cried that much in a YA series epilogue... Hell, I didn't even shed a tear during HP's epilogue. I think that Clockwork Princess is the pinnacle of Clare's work thus far and I am so happy that I decided to give TID a try. 

Love, Stargirl by Jerry Spinelli

You may think that I'm over reacting, but I kid you not - this book got me through a break up. In the sequel to Stargirl, we get a novel long response to Stargirl's time with Leo after moving away. She reflects on their relationship, her feelings towards Leo, what it all meant to her, and finally, her conclusions about it. This book was incredibly uplifting and just what I needed to read after going through a really hard time. 

The Not SO Bad (but still not great...)

Perfect Fifths by Megan McCafferty (The Jessica Darling series)

Don't get me wrong - I didn't hate the wrap up to the Jessica Darling series... To be perfectly honest, I think I still had a very, very sour taste in my mouth from Fourth Comings. I had a lot of emotion invested in Jessica and Marcus (oh, Marcus...) and hated how things left off in book #4. I walked into Perfect Fifths with low expectations and my guard up... and it was just... okay. I just need to know - do they live happily ever after?! 

Son by Lois Lowry (Giver #4) 

This book leans a lot towards the really bad rather than the not so bad. I had really, really, really high expectations... and I just... ugh. First of all, I had no idea that Gathering Blue and The Messenger even existed... and those stories played a huge part in Son. I went into the book expecting to learn what happened to Jonas and Gabriel after the events of The Giver and technically, I did find out... but only after reading half of the book. I could have done without reading this and I hate to say that because I loved The Giver. I guess that's what you get when you wait 13 years for a sequel.

And the Ugly...

Walking Disaster by Jamie McGuire (Companion to Beautiful Disaster)

I know that Walking Disaster isn't >technically< a wrap up to a series but we're going to go ahead and let that go because apparently, I haven't read that finished enough series for this topic. Okay, where do I start? I loved Beautiful Disaster. I loved it. As in, despite my enormous TBR pile, I made the time to re-read it (a month after I initially read it) in the span of a day. And when Walking Disaster was announced, I immediately pre-ordered it and it went to the number one spot on my 2013 most anticipated releases. I should have listened to all of my friends when they said, "Alyssa, you do realize that this will be the exact same story just from another character's perspective? I think that you're setting your expectations a little too high." And you know what? Dammit, they were right. There was a lot of controversy surrounding the character of Travis Maddox and I felt like McGuire used Walking Disaster as an opportunity to justify him. It just... it wasn't necessary, Jamie. We who read Walking Disaster already loved Travis. I couldn't buy a version of Travis who was a great guy that Abby just misunderstood (For instance - When Travis beat the guy up who hit on Abby during the Halloween party? Oh, no, I didn't care that he bought you a drink... However, I am concerned that you were talking to a potential date rapist and couldn't be more concerned for your safety.... /eyeroll.). Let's be real - he could be a total dick and had an anger problem. There was just so much potential and... I just... I can't anymore. 

Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins (The Hunger Games)

The only thing that I can remember from reading Mockingjay is that I had no idea what the hell was going on. That is all.

Breaking Dawn by Stephenie Meyer (Twilight #4)

I loved Twilight as much as anyone else and so was reasonably excited for the release of Breaking Dawn... and the entire time I was reading it, I kept asking, "Wait, what?" First of all, what the hell kind of name is Renesmee? Renee Esme would have been a beautiful name and Steph could have even kept the nickname Nessie. Damn it, Edward - never let Bella name a child, I don't care how dire the circumstances. And Jacob imprinting on her? I was so creeped out by the whole he'll be her over protective brother for now but fall in love when it's age appropriate. Okay, listen - I grew up with a brother who was plenty protective of me and that brother-sister love did not translate into romantic love in any way shape or form. I don't care, I don't buy it. And the non battle at the end of the book? Who ever directed Breaking Dawn Pt. 4 had the right idea. That is how the ending should have gone. Not, "Hmm, okay, lol, jk, we'll talk later mmk bai!"

Okay, apparently I can't think of one other series... so we'll call this Top Nine Tuesday, yah?