I'm starting to see a pattern, and I wonder if I'm all alone. Here's the scenario-
Guy and girl fall in love. They face overwhelming obstacles, death on every side, they risk their lives, their reputations, their futures so that they will have a chance to be together. Then they win, and realize that they can't be together because of such and such small problem.
Bull crap.
I've been in love. I still am. NOTHING would have kept Mr. Bryson and I apart. Not a stupid job, not some political intrigue, not the pursuit of some esoteric knowledge. I just don't buy it.
You want examples? Okay. Here goes-
Poison Study- an excellent book, one I might even read again. They fell in love, won their battles, they're so happy, now they can have a happy life together, then a political figure shakes her head no, and they say goodbye. I know that everything isn't going to be perfect for them, but at least let me think they will fight to stay together. There had be a darn good reason why they part ways after the whole book has led to their being together.
Graceling- I loved this book- a yong woman blessed with the Grace to kill, and she is good at it. She and another Graced warrior try to change the political landscape (lots of bad kings in Graceling). this author really pulled me in. She made me think that maybe I DO want a guy with gold rings in his ears and tattoos that only a wife is meant to see (they're on his arms, but they're to please his future wife, so he says. And I believe him.) It was a great book. Until the last page. There was no reason they couldn't be together. None. If authors want to pull junk like that, death has to be the only other option. Not, "Well, I want to start some schools to teach girls how to fight in the seven kingdoms. I guess I'll see you around." Bull-oney. 
Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrel- this one could almost get away with it because Jonathan Strange was distant and preoccupied during his whole marriage, but I was hoping that after he fought to free his wife from the fairy entrappment, that he might, you know, care about her. Ol' Jonathan gave her a peck on the cheek and disppeared into the mystical darkness, dreaming of books on magic. Stupid ending. Seriously, where is the happily ever after? I guess I need that. Maybe not everyone does. 
Dragonfly- a YA novel about an arranged marriage, kidnappings, and love- had great resolution. I wish the princess had been a little more proactive and not been willing to let some political/religious figures ruin her life, but at least the guy knew that he wasn't willing to live without her! It was more satisfying to me, even though it wasn't quite as perfectly written. Dear blog friends, I want you to know that I would never do that to you. I would give them their happy ending, then introduce conflict in the second book of the series. Seriously, this bothers me so much that I want to rewrite the last few pages of these books. Like Un-fanfic. Like, you got this wrong Ms. Author, even though you're brilliant and you got published and you're miles ahead of me, but you got it wrong.
Glutton for Punishment?
