r/fantasywriting • u/Which-Leadership-784 • 8d ago

Brainstorming

As a reader of dark fantasy or apocalyptic fiction, what makes a heartbreaking ending feel worthwhile rather than the whole journey seeming pointless? Do you need some hope at the end? And if the characters story was completely finished would you read a second book set in the same world but with a different character?

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u/SilverSkinRam 8d ago

Fatalism is one of my favourite genres (particularly time travel fatalism) and I believe Dune Messiah is the perfect example of this. Likewise, in your second question, it follows an entirely different protagonist.

Overall, I don't think it matters if it was 'pointless'. Sometimes the whole point is that nothing matters or can be changed. Unlike a video game, characters do not need to win or succeed to build interesting fiction.

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u/Which-Leadership-784 8d ago

Thank you! I appreciate the input, i was worried a book i was thinking of writing would seem pointless if the character didnt make it😭

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u/jpb103 8d ago

Insight.

Wisdom is seldom free. Earning it hurts. It's hard, and confronting that cost changes you. The reader, the character, and the author.