We Are Never, Ever Getting Back Together

I was going to try to write something funny, but I failed. It’s one year since that fateful day when The Book That Shall Not Be Named was released worldwide (you can check out our initial reactions here). All we had asked for was an ending that would remain true to the characters we had come to love over a long, long period of time.

all we asked

Spoilers had already leaked about how the series would end. Spoilers some of us were grateful to have known. Spoilers some of us didn’t believe could be true. I was one of the latter. Believing that there was no way the rumours could be true. The first set of spoilers had us going :

And by the time people we trusted had read the books :

Our (mostly awesome) fandom was large, yes mainly Eric and Sookie lovers. However that wasn’t solely why we read the books. We knew Eric was a vampire and Sookie a human. We knew Sookie had no desire to be turned. Yet we trusted that the author could find a way to leave both characters with a satisfactory ending. A ending that would make sense given all the characters past history. It turned out we were wrong. We felt betrayed. Attacked by some quarters. We acknowledge that an author can write what they want. Of course they can. But that doesn’t mean we have to buy it, read it, accept it! (And it sure as hell doesn't mean we should be called crazy for even airing our opinions.) And from the 7th of May 2013 we have followed this policy.

SOOKIE STACKHOUSE IN MEMORIAM .

The 7th of May marks one year since that tragic, crushing day. 

As soon as we saw those spoilers.

It was the day that I had my heart ripped from from chest. Ripped or perhaps it leapt out of me in disbelief. It is one year since I swore (as did many others) that the author would never again see a cent from me. I have better things to spend my money on. Yet I am still here, mourning for what could have been. I'm still disappointed and gutted in out the series ended. I wish for brain bleach to erase books #11, #12 and #13 from my mind. The series should have ended then, yet it did not.  Part of me wishes I had never, ever read this series. So I ease the pain with a bottle of red / white or top shelf. Take your pick, I'll be drinking Sauvignon Blanc Rose, but perhaps cheering that today I am a little wiser in trusting where an author is trying to lead me. I'll try to keep a bit in reserve, so that if I'm not happy with where a story is taking me, I won't be so gutted.

The morning after May 7th

Sookie Stackhouse devastator of fandoms, destroyer of dreams. The final chapter showed that Sookie Stackhouse had come full circle and in fact this meant she had come to a dead end. A brick wall that lead to no personal development and no acceptance of the world around her. Thirteen books of mystery, intrigue and romance for the main character to only end up back at the beginning of her journey where nothing had changed. I suddenly realized I had read thirteen books of lies. What happened to Sookie's pluck and courage? What happened to her sticking up for her friends? It ended down the toilet, it ended in a drain. What a waste of time. Your ending was unsatisfactory, it left me hollow. I wanted a refund for the years of lies. I followed your story with dedication for years only to have the final book crush my dreams into crumbs at your feet.

(and there were MANY)

What was the point of the bullet sucking scene, the gravel in the driveway and the red coat? If they were red herrings than I was certainly fooled. I felt like the biggest sucker in the world to be lead a merry dance. I was like a puppet on a string, dancing to the authors beat. Was I in it for the romance? Yes partly. However the larger part was the story. I was invested in the characters. I was invested in Sam the friend, Jason Stackhouse the brother and even crazy Arlene, the bigot.

*Sigh*
Bad writing is traumatic

I cried with Sookie, I laughed with her. I fist pumped the air for her. I had her back and I thought she had mine. Sadly, I was wrong, wrong, wrong. By book #13 I was groaning, eye rolling and forcing myself to read on. Forcing the torture upon myself. Hoping again hope that things would be okay in the end. I trusted the author. More fool I.

My beloved hero was sold into slavery. Yes, this was his satisfactory ending. The was the ending I was meant to cheer for? WTF. Slavery? Forced marriage? My alpha made to seem like an a-hole? Beloved Eric, with your strong and graceful presence and hours of joy you gave me. Reduced to nothingness on the editing floor. What happened to the lover, the fighter and the leader? Sold out to a plot line that I never saw. Whack me with a ten pound hammer and perhaps it would make sense. If it's not making sense a year later, it never will. I was a fool to believe that the series would end in a way I could live with. I was a fool to believe the written word. Eric, I still love you. I'll pretend you staked Freyda and that you are living in Europe far from the mess that surrounds Bon Temps.

We know, we know. The author and all her fans say the Eric fans are crazy, rabid, nuts, obsessed. Yada, yada, yada. And you know what, there are some that are. The nutjobs who made death threats and crap. We were not them. We just checked out of the fandom after this fiasco. No drama. No nothing. Which was how the majority of disappointed readers reacted. How's that for crazy, rabid, Eric obsessed old women?

What they made people think all Eric fans were like

Beloved characters were reduced to ashes. I shook my head trying to catch glimpses of the characters I had fallen in love with. The characters I had rooted for through thick and thin. They seemed to be absent and I still can't find where they went. I think they went to fanfiction. What happened to BAMF Pam? She was reduced to an OOC (out of character) part for me, that I did not recognize her. She had a bit part in the final installment, when she had been so crucial previously. A mechanical doll whose awesomeness was diminished. Take that reader, don't expect that authors are going to please you. You were tricked. I shake my head sadly that your tale ended so. Pam would not have taken any of this lying down.

Where was Bubba? Why did he not make make the final curtain call. Every other man and his dog did too, so surely he deserved his moment to shine, or maybe, just maybe The King knew what a disaster this would be and removed himself in order to avoid embarrassment. A wise king. May his character be remembered as he was, a lover of cats.

I guess we should admit we were clearly as delusional as some fans called us. And congratulate the author for completely duping us with the narrative for the last 13 books!

We really were, but only because that's
 exactly where the books were taking us.

The distance of time has not diminished my sadness. Some called for book burning or donating the series to libraries. As yet my books remain on my book shelf. I'm unable to make the final cut. One day I will be, but that day is not today, nor is it likely to be tomorrow. They say there are five stages of grief, denial, anger, bargaining, depression and acceptance. I'm afraid I haven't made it to acceptance yet. I may be stuck in anger. Perhaps that is unhealthy. I don't know. I'm still enjoying my anger phase.

Drink up my friends. Celebrate the friendships you formed over the years in this fandom. Toast your real and online friends. Remember that while this series was the cornerstone on which your friendships formed, it was not the cement which held it in place. Remember all the other great fandoms out there. Thank goodness we found each other (and other amazing series to fangirl over.) Together we mourned, we laughed and we analysed to death this series. We made it through these dark days and survived. In the end we found each other and that's probably the most important thing of all. Love you Wenches.

just for some Alex eye candy
for the Wenches

We were loyal and we were betrayed.

Lead a merry dance were we.

Never again we cried.

RIP Sookie Stackhouse.

We are never, ever getting back together.

Not even for a reread.

It's only logical.

Have you recovered? Will you ever? Do you take a more pragmatic approach to fandom now? Let us know below how you overcame your disappointment one year later.