The ending of Jacob's arc

[Alex]

My biggest complaint is the ending of Jacob's arc. Please share what you feel about it. It's 10 days since I finished the book, and it keeps nagging at me even though I liked the book. I will try to be as vague and spoiler-less as possible just in case (you'll know what I mean if you've read the book), yet spoilers ahead.

(view spoiler)[For me, Jacob's return from what he had become in the final battle lacks important elements. His happy return (or "resurrection" if you will) is too easy and has no weight. Almost unearned. His actions become inconsequential and are immediately rewarded with "resurrection". But I as a reader I didn't have time to be horrified, to grieve, to accept the consequences. Neither did Jacob. There's only a shadow of sacrifice. And so, when he "comes back", there's no stand up and cheer moment, only a feeling of missed opportunities for a strong ending. It only works to some extent because it's not the ending of the book.

What could it be instead of a rushed happy ending? Well, Jacob stays what he has become of course, ha-ha! Forever. Bearing the consequences of his heroic actions. And he has come to terms with it. This ending is tragic but cathartic, and people are shouting at Ransom Riggs all over the Internet.

Or maybe Jacob stays as an integral part of peculiar community in his new form, respected and accepted (as Benthom said: "[they were] even respected by some". But now even more so!). How inclusive it would have been, so modern! Better then Julius+Horace queerbaiting.

Another option is for Jacob to "resurrect", but not right away. Give us (and Jacob's friends, and Jacob himself) time to grieve and cry, to accept the consequences, feel the sacrifice and tragedy, and feel he did it right nevertheless. And then let him find his "way back" and let us cry again and feel the miracle of his return.

Can I be so drastic and use Christian story for comparison? I can. Look at Crucifix and Resurrection of Christ not in a religious context but as a piece of storytelling. There's time, tears, and dismay between Crucifix and Resurrection. Ransom Riggs didn't give us that. (hide spoiler)]

[juli]

Everything under spoiler tab for... obvious reasons. (view spoiler)[ yeah i agree; i'd have prefered if Jacob stayed a hollow. although, to be fair, I don't know how much I liked Jacob to begin with. (hide spoiler)]

[Dean Ryan]

I love how his arc ended. It is a mix of bitter and sweet. If allowed to compared, it is a better ending than Harry Potter.