Discussion: Heroes Vs Villians

I did a post last year about the Top Ten Villains of 2012. It got me thinking- What is a villain? Is the line between villains and heroes so thick after all?

When I think of villains, I think of evil people with a penchant for killing. Lord Voldemort often comes to mind. However, not all villains are like him. Some are just ordinary people in drastic situations. People are such complex things.

Here's an example that I think many of you can relate to: Sydney Sage from The Golden Lily by Richelle Mead. She's the heroine of her story. Strong-willed and willing to do anything for her friends. Even if it means protecting the enemy: Adrian. Because even if Adian is her friend and a good guy, she is betraying both her family and her cause by questioning her beliefs. She's the opposite of what her dad and the Alchemists (people who hate vampires like Adrian) want.

I know this is controversial. But I want you to think about it. Think about your favorite heroine. Do they have factors that make them a villain, too? Also, something I've found is that some stories have kind of one-dimensional villains. Sometimes the only thing I see about villains is how evil they are because that's all I'm told. Like with Severus Snape. Until the seventh book he was a bad guy. A really bad guy. Then I, as a reader, was given more of an insight into his life. I realized he'd made mistakes but turned out not so bad after all.

Which got me thinking. I know there are people out there that are truly evil. But some villains aren't. Some of them  just  needed a Dumbledore in their life to become a hero like Snape. Some of them needed a second chance. People make mistakes.

That's my rants on heroes and villains. I just feel like it's such a two-sided topic. There are so many stories to a person. I've realized in reading how things aren't always black and white. Often (not always) villains are just scared and alone. I watched an episode of Vampire Diaries about a month ago that summed up my feelings perfectly. If you haven't watched the  Diaries one of the main characters is a character named Stefan. He used to be a mass murder but the help of his family pulled him through his dark times and helped him find a better path. In the episode I watched he said something about the villain, Klaus. He said the only difference between him and Klaus was that he had people he could count on to keep him sane.

In conclusion, I just wanted to get my opinions out there. What are your opinions on this topic? Do you feel that villains don't deserve a second chance or that things often aren't as they seem?

Disscussion: Sequelitis

I've been seeing a lot of talk lately about people getting sick of sequels. I understand why people hate series, I really do.  Yet I'm not one of those people. I love series!

I'll admit it, one of the main reasons I love series is because when I put down a book for the last time I feel sad. I don't want it to be the last time I see that character or hear about said character's adventures. So knowing there's two, four, six more books left with the same people and the same world, I get excited. I become attached to the characters I read about and don't want to let them go. I don't like saying bye.

Getting my hands on a sequel is... I don't know how to explain it. It's like one of the best feelings in the world. Because if it's the sequel to a good book then I'm eager to read more.

Another plus of series is that often, after the first book, most of the world building's done. I mean sure there might be a little introduction in the next book but that's only for a couple pages. The reader already knows what's going on after the first book, so the focus is on the plot. There's less room for boredom this way and more room for action.

I don't think there's enough time for everything (at least what I want) in stand alones. Building up worlds and lives takes time. Reading a standalone, I often feel like something's missing. With one book, it's hard to get to know the characters as well. A lot of things might be skimmed over that can be brought to light with a sequel.

The year long wait for a sequel is what makes the book even more worth it. All year long, I'm left anticipating the book. To me, it builds up excitement. If there wasn't a wait and each book was just shelled out, one after another, people would get sick of it. Many people wouldn't be able to keep up with the series and reading about the same people day after day could get boring. I have the release date marked down in my calendar, so there's no way I can forget it. I can also discuss the book on goodreads or with a friend, to make the book even more unforgettable.

Even better is that because of the wait, I have more time to save up money for the next book if need be. I don't have to buy six books at once.

Another thought I have is that there aren't very many standalone dystopias. It's too much world building for one book. Which is another case where sequels come in handy.

So... what if the next book isn't as good as the last one? I do hate getting disappointed by sequels. I especially hate filler books. If there's not a plot then I won't be happy. However, as long as the book isn't awful, I'll still enjoy it. I mean, there's no way to tell that your favorite author's standalone will be amazing. It's a chance I'm willing to take. Any book might not live up to expectations. Not just sequels.

Yes, I do think that if the book wasn't good then it shouldn't have a sequel. However, that shouldn't turn anyone off of  series. Just don't read the next book. It's as simple as that.

I guess what I'm trying to say is that I absolutely love series. The more books in a series, the better. I don't know what I'd do without my series. They're like the love of my life... just kidding (kinda ;))

*Looking back on this discussion, it seems like I'm argueing with someone. I'm not. I guess you could say that I'm argueing with myself as weird as that seems. I just wanted to make sure I wrote a convincing discussion on the pros of series. To do that, I felt the need to counter the cons.

Do you guys agree with me? Are sequels the love of your life or the bane of your existence?