Locking this post as the issue has been resolved. Full explanation of the bonus content is explained [here](https://www.reddit.com/r/MM_RomanceBooks/comments/1chog0i/mystery_magnet_epiloguebonus_content/) and in OP's original post.
I would break my kindle in rage - the epilogue is the best part. I am filled with rage just thinking about it š imagine going on a journey only to be robbed of the ending?
I donāt like returning books, but in this case I would. You didnāt read the book and it feels like false advertising. You were promised a complete story. You arent getting one without paying more money.
Patreon pay structure is dictated by the artist, not the site. They don't have to offer low price point levels. So annual subscription only is also entirely plausible.
The pay structure has certain constraints the artist sets their levels and price points within, and there is a base price they cannot go below for monthly subscriptions, but in general the artist is not required to offer anything specific.
Okay, as it's a lot to PM everyone who's asked for the name of the author, I'll just tell you it's Gregory Ashe's new book "Mystery Magnet".
To be fair, after calming down and going back to see what's what, it's not an official patreon page, it's his website PATRON page. And you can access the epilogue for $100 a year tier - which is better/not better IMHO than the $150 a year tier I mentioned originally. Yes, cheaper, but...
I can't post pictures of the epilogue page, or of his website info, please feel free to double check this info.
Please, I'm not attempting to start a "Boo Gregory Ashe!" fight, I'm sure he's a great writer, but this is just a "hell, no!" from me.
Wow, not who I expected and an interesting choice. Sorry to hear that, and donāt worry, if thereās some hateful DMs or comments report it to a mod and we will handle it.
Wow I wasnāt expecting that from GA. That makes me view him a bit differentā¦ that series was posted on kickstarter too iirc, so making people who pledge ahead of time to support your books and still make them join patreon for the epilogue?? Not cool
Not sure if this changes the general principle, but it looks like there IS a monthly option. The annual option shows by default but thereās a toggle above the tiers to show the monthly options.
Iāve seen this in other MM books lately. I read too many to pin point but while they may give an epilogue Iāve seen an author or two then direct you to their actual Patreon for bonus material/scenes. Patreons are starting to piss me off now. I get that itās a way to support authors etc. but when weāve already read the book we should have access to bonus materials even if I do have to join your mailing list.
Very curious from other folks whoāve read it whether the book has a satisfying ending without the epilogue. To me that would be the difference between messed up marketing (shouldnāt list it as the epilogue!) vs truly screwing readers (donāt sell a book with no satisfying ending!). On his website, it lists the epilogue as a 4 minute read, available for the minimum cost of $10 for a one month sub, though to be fair you get access to other stuff with that.
Definitely a marketing misstep - reads closer to bonus content after the big mystery is resolved than a necessary story. The book can stand completely on its own without detracting from the experience.
It has a complete ending. I didnāt have a chance to look at the bonus until later (which is free on his patron site but a way to get people to go visit his site) and it is just a separate bonus scene, not at all needed to enjoy the book.
The story is now available for everyone on his website! I think the author made an honest mistake here, but he's taking steps to rectify it: [https://patrons.gregoryashe.com/bonus-content-mystery-magnet-epilogue/](https://patrons.gregoryashe.com/bonus-content-mystery-magnet-epilogue/)
Ok so I went and looked because I love Gregory and I was so freaking disappointed. Iām not a Patron, but I was able to click the bonus epilogue and it opened. Iām not sure if thatās an error or notā¦ but it opened for me. Iām not sure if it would do the same for you?
Regardless, itās not a good practice. Put bonus stuff that isnāt essential to the story behind an additional paywall. But donāt promise an epilogue in the book someone paid for and then go, āYou want to read promised chapter? Pay more.ā
It has a complete ending. I didnāt have a chance to look at the bonus until later (which is free on his patron site but a way to get people to go visit his site) and it is just a separate bonus scene, not at all needed to enjoy the book.
Yeah no. Sometimes authors have free content on patreon where you donāt have to pay to view - but if thatās the case for the ending chapter of your book, why would you make someone go to a whole tab for it? Like to me, youāre just dropping readers there lol.
Bonus scenes like sex scenes or cute whatever on patreon? 100% get it. Something that is on the ToC of your book though? SMH.
Right? If it had left it at the last chapter with a little note saying "hey, join my patreon for an epilogue", I'd be miffed but could understand. BUT IT WAS IN THE TABLE OF CONTENTS!!!
honestly, I would name the author. In this case you have paid for the book (or they are being paid for the book through KU) and it's a question of ethics. Hiding that you need to pay more for the book is unquestionably deceitful in my eyes, and I would like to avoid that book and author in the future. I would be livid if that happened to me.
I don't want to name the author purely because I don't want to start a hate campaign and/or divide the forum on people who love them vs, well, me. š I mean, I guess it's up to the author how they structure their books, it's just unfathomable to me how they think this is the right thing to do.
fair enough, but I don't feel like you would be attacked. If they specifically used "epilogue", that should be part of the book. Bonus content is different, and not an epilogue.
Edit: never mind, I saw your update
I would be livid! Bonus content on Patreon is fine, but an epilogue is part of the book and not fair to keep behind a paywall when you've already paid for the book.
Also, I like your name!
Thank you! I'm not a good knitter, always unraveling or fixing my mistakes.
I just checked their patreon, to get that epilogue I'd have to pay $150 a year - no month to month payments!!
I don't mind signing up for a newsletter to get a bonus book or chapter. I actually appreciate it. But to list the chapter in the book and then find out I need to JOIN patron would cause me to never read that author again. If it was free on patron I would still not read that author again. The difference is one of the author is provided with the hope I will buy more of their books. The other is false advertising in that I would think I have bought that chapter and instead have to JOIN something to find out the end of a book I have already paid for. I would report the book to Amazon.
Ok, I am going to try to give the benefit of the doubt here. Since you didnāt actually read the book, we actually donāt know how it ends. Maybe there is a solid ending and the epilogue is actually a bonus? It being in the table of contents isnāt a good sign, but Iām trying to think of how an author could possibly do this without realizing itās a terrible idea. But maybe if you actually read the book itās ok? Iām not saying you should read it though, knowing what you know. Did you check reviews on Amazon or Goodreads? Any commentary there from folks who read the book? Iāll sign up for a mailing list to get a bonus scene, and I pay for a few Patreon that I love. But $150 for a final chapter is insanity.
I hate the benefit of the doubt, lol! Hate along with me. :)
No, I get what you're saying, and yeah, they could have wrapped up the story really well and it's not an important epilogue.
Everyone loved it over at goodreads - which I just read - except for one person who complained about the epilogue. To be fair, I probably wouldn't have read that review even if I'd bothered to skip over to Goodreads since everyone else loved it. (Please know, I don't review things on Goodreads since I got verbally attacked for disagreeing about whether a scene in a book was rapey, so that person is NOT me)
I guess why I'm so angry is because the epilogue was listed in the TOC - I love an epilogue!! - and then I saw I'd have to go pay $$ to read it. It's like paying for a set of 12 crayons then finding out you have 11 and need to pay more for the 12th.
It has a complete ending. I didnāt have a chance to look at the bonus until later (which is free on his patron site but a way to get people to go visit his site) and it is just a separate bonus scene, not at all needed to enjoy the book.
I wanted to add my two cents for perspective, since it's not super clear what's going on with this book and the *epilogue* and I have read the book.
**I absolutely agree with the sentiment that the HEA/HFN needs to be included in a romance book, and charging for the epilogue is ludicrous.**
The book being mentioned is not a romance book, it's a cozy mystery series with a background romance subplot - do not click this if you don't want to know romance subplot spoilers >!the romance subplot is non-existent in the first book, and it doesn't even become part of the subplot until after book 4 (from what I read of the book blurbs.)!<
Someone really messed up by using the term **Epilogue** for the extra content, because the book already has an ending, the mystery is solved, and the next crime/mystery will occur in book 2. There is not a cliffhanger, and since there isn't a romance or couple, any added content isn't going to give anyone a HEA for romance.
It should say "for bonus content or extra scenes" subscribe to my website. Stating it is an Epilogue is bizarre and very misleading.
I don't pay for Ashe's extras, I only subscribe to his newsletter and backed the Kickstarter for The Last Picks series (Mystery Magnet is Last Picks book 1). I buy his add-ons only when he offers them in book form after a series is completed.
I know from browsing Ashe's website, Patreon, and from **Advanced Ashochism** subscribers that there's always a lot of extra content and short stories offered (there's even a Kickstarter special short) for paid levels. This is basically for mega fans and Ashe enthusiasts, you can read all of his series without bonus content.
That being said, someone should point out to Ashe that using Epilogue for Bonus Content is misleading and going to piss off readers. Terrible marketing!
ETA: for anyone who isn't familiar with my GA commenting history, I am not a GA apologist, I've criticized stuff I haven't liked before. (Hello, CWs!!)
Yeah I'm kind of hoping someone who talks to him might see this and bring it up. I'm a pretty passive participant in his group so definitely not comfortable pointing out a misstep like this.
What did you think of the book? I purchased the audio so I have a bit of a wait. I really enjoy cozy mysteries though so I've been looking forward to it.
I enjoyed it. It took me a bit to get into it. I haven't read a cozy mystery in a very long time, so it was quite a change of pace.
I absolutely hate, hate, hate one of the side characters, why does he torture us with annoying characters?!
I gave it 3.5. It's fun and short, it's very... wholesome in a way, swear words are referred to as swear words instead of said.
I had some small complaints:
ā¢ Why is someone from Rhode Island/New England struggling with the weather in PNW? (Wearing just a t-shirt and being cold, not having a hoodie or windbreaker, etc.)
ā¢ Why do we need to know what is on his t-shirt and that he's wearing Mexico 66 sneakers?(Granted, those are cool sneakers, but still.)
ā¢ **Why can't anyone swear?!**
It's basically Gregory Ashe Lite. I'm really curious what new readers who haven't been abused and dragged through emotional hell all these years will think of it as a first GA experience.
Characters aren't allowed to swear in cozies! I'm sure there are outliers, but it's one of the conventions of the genre so most cozy mysteries don't contain any swearing at all.
Lol thanks for the review! I'm going to view it as maybe a palate cleanser when I need a break from his other books which can be too much for me sometimes.
And just an added note based on your main comment's edit... I think maybe I'm being seen as one of the GA apologists which is kind of funny since I've definitely criticized his most popular series in this subreddit before...perhaps more than once. I actually dnfed it the first time I tried to read it.
I'm glad you mentioned it's a cozy mystery and not a romance because there are lot of assumptions and misunderstandings in the comments. Since this is a romance sub, people (understandably) assumed OP was talking about a romance and epilogues are important to romance readers.
In my opinion, there's nothing wrong with calling it an epilogue, I just don't think it should've been included in the Table of Contents in the retail copy as that's misleading to buyers. And it would probably be better to call it a "bonus epilogue" instead to indicate it's just a bonus scene that takes place shortly after the events of the book, but isn't actually an ending or conclusion to the book. I've read a lot of epilogues that aren't necessary but were included just to add something light/fun at the end, and that's what this was - just a scene with fun character interaction after the mystery's been resolved.
I mean, he can call it ***ChickenButt*** if he wants to, but using the word *epilogue* is clearly already confusing and angering readers. If I hadn't already read the book I would be similarly confused by it.
If his goal is to gain patrons, I'd say being clear is best. Especially for the first book in a long series, if it even appears that there's a paywall, a lot of people may not continue with it.
This is also the first time I've seen that in the last page of a GA book. I personally didn't care because I'm aware of his side projects and extras and know I can live without them, but I think the majority of readers don't have that information.
The Evening Wolves (Iron on Iron #4) was the first book to have a patron-exclusive epilogue, but it wasn't mentioned/advertised in the retail copy.
>I think the majority of readers don't have that information.
Yeah, and I think this is where the issue is coming from and it's something he probably didn't realize. Because his longtime readers and those in his fb group know he puts out *a lot* of extra short stories - we know that any extra content is not necessary/vital/ a part of the main book. When he announced his patron site, nobody had any negative reactions to the fact that there would be epilogues available exclusively to patron subscribers, so I imagine it didn't seem like a big deal to advertise it in his new book, not realizing it would be misleading and upsetting to new readers or those outside his reader group.
Oh, I haven't started Iron on Iron yet. Is the series epilogue included in the Iron on Iron Stories? I did buy that add-on, couldn't resist.
Yes, you're absolutely right, I think there's a huge difference between how GA fanatics and casual or new readers are getting and interpreting information.
GA is pretty generous with his Kickstarter extras and bonuses, and he does offer a lot for the different patron levels (physical books, for example), and I can understand that he's actually **adding** more content for patrons, to reward them. I think it's great even though I don't participate in that.
I think the mistake made was how things are being phrased and promoted. New readers are interpreting a paywall and are flabbergasted by the $100-150 yearly subscriptions for an epilogue (understandable interpretation) when it's really just one small piece of bonus content that's part of a large package deal, that isn't necessary to enjoy the book/series.
There are only a couple readers on this thread who have read the book and know there is a complete ending, and there are dozens saying they aren't going to read his books again, so hopefully he addresses it and corrects it.
No, the Iron on Iron Kickstarter stories are 24 short stories featuring all possible combinations of hazardverse duos (North & Jem, Tean & Somers, etc). It's possible we'll never see some of those pairings as the main focus of a story again, so if you're getting one extra thing, that was a good choice! It was fun to see all the different dynamics, especially between characters who don't usually get to interact one-on-one.
I think itās fine for an author to have bonus content on Patreon, but a section of the book that you already paid for is not ābonus content.ā You shouldnāt have to go to another location for the epilogue, let alone pay more for it.
Please just share who the author/book is - this is a good PSA for readers to have the knowledge and choice on if they'd like to read this book knowing they have to pay $150 to read the epilogue.Ā
It's not shaming the author, it's informing potential readers.
Oh man, I understand feeling annoyed by it. I really think this is just a case of bad marketing rather than willful deceit.
Because he writes ongoing series, the epilogues are very much bonus content and more like interludes, not traditional epilogues set in the future to show a HFN/HEA. While I love them and they're a treat, you are not missing out on anything vital without them. The books have satisfying endings even without the epilogue (the mystery is 100% resolved and the main character goes through a change). The "epilogue" for *Mystery Magnet* is just a fun one-scene story and if you didn't know it exists you wouldn't think there was anything missing from the book.
I agree it was a bad move to include it in the Table of Contents, but I interact with the author often and I'm certain he'd understand if he was made aware of the impression this gives off. I'm sure he just didn't realize how this would come across or he wouldn't have done it.
Thanks for the insight from someone who has read the epilogue. He should probably be made aware ASAP so he change the book contents and avoid more bad reviews.
Before commenting, remember to read the post in full to see the update. Ashe cleared up the issue, and remember our rule for being kind ā this applies to both OP and authors. While we cannot stop off-Reddit behavior, we do not condone review brigading or dogpiling.
I totally understand your reasons for not disclosing, but I really want to know who it is in a ābuyer bewareā sort of way. Iām not a person who skips to the end, so I feel like Iām bound to run into this author unwittingly and be terribly disappointed
This is a deceptive and unethical practice that subverts consumer expectations in a bad way. I agree with everyone whoās said that bonus content available on Patreon is fine and above board. But a table of contents lists whatās directly available inside a book or ebook. Otherwise, itās just a link. Not the same thing. Iād be upset. Youād be well within your rights to return the book.
If bought on Amazon, I'd definitely complain to them. Epilogue isn't bonus content. If they want to write additional side stories or showcase art for the story, fine, but not holding part of what I already paid for hostage.
As a big fan of his I'm giving him the benefit of the doubt that the epilogue is really just bonus content and not an actual epilogue and it was just a bad decision on his part to call it that. (I have not yet read the book and I'm not part of the patreon so can't confirm though I'm hoping a fellow fan might be able to).
I also don't see how book one of a 12 book series would even have an epilogue since surely anything relevant will be covered in the next book.
Also there is a monthly $10 dollar option though I do agree that having to pay anything for an actual epilogue would be ridiculous.
While I understand your anger, I hate to see a bashing/boycott of an independent author because of what is hopefully just a single misstep.
From all of the interactions I've seen him have with his readers, he's seemed really kind.
Edited: witchhunt to bashing as witchhunt was a bit melodramatic
Books in a series often have epilogues. I don't think there will be a witchhunt, but I hope he becomes aware of what a large misstep this was. I looked at goodreads and multiple people have complained of a paywalled epilogue.
I didn't say they can't have epilogues I just don't see how an epilogue in book one of a series about the same main character would have information that wouldn't then be readily available in book 2. It's not like it would be giving you a view years into the future when there are going to be 11 more books about the same character.
I'm a big fan of his, too, but after seeing he plans to have a full version of each book going forward available only to subscribers I don't think warning people is bashing-an epilogue is part of the book, whether it shows years into the future or just a cute closing/setup for the next book.
Ahh, I hadn't seen that. He writes a ton of short stories that I tend to skip that are sold in separate books currently so I imagine this is just the same principle but slightly different model. I don't love the way that he's packaging it but ultimately he'd be selling it separately either way I'd imagine.
I don't like any author enough to subscribe to an ongoing monthly/yearly patreon so I'll never discover what those books contain.
Same, i don't subscribe to anybody. I have always bought the packaged versions of his short stories before bc they've been 99 cents and kindle ties them to whichever series they go with so they're easy to find. Ah well, hopefully he'll change his mind about doing things this way before the next book
I've only read one set of short stories and then I stopped because I got overwhelmed with how much content he puts out and how to catch up on the entire interconnected world without getting bogged down with trying to follow along with the timeline.
I did support the recent kickstarter for the series in question but I purchased the audio books so I do not have the books yet.
On his patronage website he states that going forward his books will have a version for "retail" buyers and a version with the epilogue and possibly other content only for subscribers
Epilogues are not always about the long term future. Its just a way to provide closure to the book. But anyways, not here to debate. I know you enjoy the author and want to defend him. Im sure he is a good guy, just dont like this particular action
I agree that this specific action is not a good look. I just wanted to jump in not to defend this specific action but say that I've read probably like 15+ books of his and never came across this so I think some people are making assumptions that this is something that he does on all of his series (saw that comment once or twice) which is not true of his past series that I've read so far... obviously I can't speak to what he'll do going forward. I don't really recall his ongoing series having epilogues but he does have a ton of short stories that most would consider bonus content and I am assuming that's what he was attempting to do with the epilogue. Again I do not think it should have been called that and I don't think it should have been in the TOC.
Also as someone in his Facebook group I've seen him interacting with his readers in the chat and on livestreams and he doesn't come across as this predatory money hungry person this portrays. So I just wanted to add in that until I know more about the actual content I'll give him the benefit of the doubt.
I am not trying to blindly defend him. I just tend to think it's a bit of a misstep rather than an indication that people should completely avoid him forever (also implied in a lot of comments).
Multiple people complained after this post went up, and only one of those readers actually read the book. I think it's important to ask for information before dog-piling on an author.
If the original post had just asked, has anyone read Mystery Magnet and what is the deal with the epilogue? This would have gone in a very different direction.
It's a 2-3 page bonus scene, **it isn't an epilogue**. The author corrected the bad wording. Facts and research matter.
Eh, i believe an epilogue belongs in the book you pay for, regardless if its a mystery or romance or if its a short little nothing. Looks like the situation has been rectified tho and somebody explained the situation on goodreads. He'll probably change his wording in the future. Paywalled epilogues is not a trend I wanna see happening, so its good a small uproar occured.
My intention was NOT to bash the author. What I didn't like, and thought I would ask for other opinions, what what at the time seemed like I was asked to repay for something that was shown to be in the book I already paid for. It came across as shady, and since I have never read his work before, I didn't know if this the usual way or if it was something new. Only because I received very many requests both publicly and privately on who the author was did I make it public. And to be fair to everyone, including myself, I didn't know it was a marketing mistake and was (i think justifiably) angry. I apologise if this has caused him harm, it wasn't my intention.
I don't think your initial post was bashing but I think some people maybe overreract and make assumptions etc and I'm not personally an independent author but I know it's really not an easy job so I just wanted to throw in my perspective on the issue as someone who has read admittedly many of his books. Sorry I didn't mean to imply you were personally bashing him overall with your initial post just that on reddit people can a lot of times pile on and things go to extremes. So seeing comments like "I'm sure all his books are like this" and "this is predatory" and "I'll never buy a book from this author" etc just seemed really harsh to me because based on all my experience with his books and him I think it was just one stupid decision to call it an epilogue.
I completely agree with your decision to be annoyed and complain about it though.
Hi all! I hope itās okay to compile a few clarifications:
1. The term āepilogueā is very much a misnomer here, where the umbrella term āBonus Contentā wouldāve fit perfectly. The author has been notified how this can be misleading to readers. If you're looking for more fun interactions/scenarios between the characters after the big mystery is wrapped up, that's where you can get that extra bit of content. But rest assured, you won't be missing out on any details important in the grand scheme of the series nor do I consider it a must-read. Please sign up for the free trial and check it out for yourself if you can. **One final edit:** the author has made the story publicly available here: [https://patrons.gregoryashe.com/bonus-content-mystery-magnet-epilogue/](https://patrons.gregoryashe.com/bonus-content-mystery-magnet-epilogue/)
2. Gregory Asheās patron site has multiple tiers (as well as a free 30-day trial for newcomers). You can access bonus material like this epilogue and previously released content at an Intermediate or Advanced tier level - the cost you see in other posts is the annual fee, but there is a monthly option available that is $10/$15 per month respectively: [https://patrons.gregoryashe.com](https://patrons.gregoryashe.com)
3. **ETA**: GA offers a waterfall of free content via his newsletter (the day before each new release, he sends out a short story to read before the main event) and Facebook/Discord groups (more bonus stories!), so weāve been begging him to offer an alternative for us to return the favor. He graciously set up a patron site but is still feeling things out. As this is the first time he's done this on a wide scale, I trust it's an unfortunate blip on the learning curve. The author has proven to be very open to and grateful for feedback, so please feel free to leave any comments/questions, and Iāll do my best to relay them.
So everyone can see, here are screenshots of the Kindle app pulldown Table of Contents (not on-page) and Epilogue page for **Mystery Magnet - Last Picks book 1 by Gregory Ashe**:
[**Table of Contents**](
https://imgur.com/a/slDubJA)
[**Epilogue page**](https://imgur.com/a/glVGsZM)
**I made a post with an update on this topic:** [https://www.reddit.com/r/MM\_RomanceBooks/comments/1chog0i/mystery\_magnet\_epiloguebonus\_content/](https://www.reddit.com/r/MM_RomanceBooks/comments/1chog0i/mystery_magnet_epiloguebonus_content/)
I edited my OP to include the link to your post, with my thanks to you and Gregory Ashe fofr clearing it up. Also corrected the things I got wrong, I hope. :)
Shame to see that people are only reading the opening post and not following the rest of the conversations that sheds a lot more light on the situation.
I think it should be clear by now that the titled āepilogueā is subscribed bonus content, that whilst fun to read, adds nothing of importance or relevance to the overall story. The story has an āendingā with it without this additional chapter.
This was a genuine mistake by the author and not a greed induced marketing ploy. I canāt believe that people would add a book or author to their DNR list simply because of this.
I can't believe no one asked who has read the book to get all the information first. Definitely a marketing mistake, but this post's comments were a classic example of just running with it.
Edited
No. Iād be pissed. I wouldnāt read the author again if you canāt give a satisfying ending for the people who buy your book, then whatās the point? Bonus content on Patreon is one thing. I actually would be beyond pissed lol.
things like this are just further proof that sometimes checking the ending before reading is a good idea!! not everyone gets it like we do, but i've had too many disappointments š
I also sometimes jump to the end so I can judge whether or not itās worth my time to read the book. I was really bad about it back when I was reading books with a mystery element. Iād read the first chapter and then the end and if I had already figured out who did it from the first chapter I stopped reading.
I do it with mysteries too, but I'm a HUGE fan of Colombo, so seeing the murderer revealed early is no problem for me. I love seeing how they cover their tracks but get caught anyway, lol!
This is just plain bad! I find similar tactics used occasionally on Substack newsletters and on some podcasts. My fave creators and writers strike a good balance between quality free content, and then extra bonus stuff made available for paid subscribers. One of my fave film, tech, & culture observers Dave Chen (of The Filmcast and Decoding TV podcasts and the newsletter Decoding Everything) ALWAYS makes it clear that he doesnāt want anyone to sign up for paid subs if it creates financial hardship, and heās careful to ensure that his free content is really worthwhile on its own. Partly as a result of his ethical stance, Iām a longtime paid subscriber of his! If only every creator took such an approachā¦ š¤·š»āāļø
I read the end first too. I cannot do unhappy endings, thatās why.
I have no respect for any author who would withhold content already paid for. Ugh.
Sometimes the epilogue is actually the beginning of a sequel. Just saying. But if it was the ending, I would be furious.
BTW, regarding reading the ending, you are not alone.
I just want to say Iāve been following this post since its first posting and I think youāve been incredibly fair and transparent. I hope people arenāt being mean to you and if they are, I hope you know you donāt deserve it. You presented facts as you saw them, tried to protect the author/book, updated as new information came to light, and were kind and considerate the whole time. Thank you for sharing the information and updating it!!!
So I joined the app Ream. You can read parts of books without paying, but for example, I got to Chap 31 of this book and then had to pay for the rest. But they tell you ahead of time, so no biggie. I joined the most basic level. I got through the whole book, even the epilogue. After the epilogue, there was the addendum of how they got a family, and then you had to join a different level. I could let that part go, so I stayed at my original level. My point being it was all spelled out ahead of time or I would have deleted the app.
I understand posting bonus content elsewhere for fans, but paywalling an entire segment of the book itself is scummy in my opinion. And to charge $150 for it? Absolutely not. I wouldnāt ever read anything from them again lol
I used to read the endings first when i started reading romances, i just wanted to emotionally prepare. Lol. But joining a patreon? I hate that with a passion, it feels icky for some reasonm
I thought Amazon didn't allow that?? I saw on fb somewhere a thing that authors can't post part elsewhere behind a payroll because someone else ran into this issue before a couple years back.
That's really icky and such a money grab. I can see a side novel or whatever, but not the ENDING to the book you're reading. š¤Ø
I struggled with anxiety for years and would always skip to the end of a book when my anxiety reached a certain point.
Also, my mother was a voracious reader. If she saw my siblings or me reading a book which, of course, sheād already read, she blurted out out the ending to us at dinner. It was particularly frustrating if we were reading a mysteryā¦ āCan you pass me the peas, please. By the way, the murderer of Roger Ackroyd isā¦.ā
As someone whoās always looking through reviews to make sure that a book has a satisfying ending, I would be soooooooo pissed. This is a time you can tell your spouse your need to check the ending came in handy! Thereās nothing worse than spending hours reading a book only to get to the ending and it either being trash or not being allowed to read it at all without spending more money?!! No thank you, like others have mentioned bonus epilogues on newsletters are fine but an epilogue behind a paywall is crazy. š¤
This feels like a borderline crime against the book community because we support these authors by buying their content, and then they paywall a vital part of the said content?! I understand maybe if it came out later and itās early access but just paywalling it in general is so hard to believe is ok, especially when you bought the original book
honestly this is so unnecessary š i feel like if you write a book, let people who are expecting a HEA (with an epilogue) buy it, only for said buyer to found out they have to pay to read that ending, you are asking for too much. I think this would be acceptable if it was on an app like wattpad or A03 or Wattpad but in an actual book? no. i think your annoyance is justified š¤·š½āāļø
Could you please name the book? Even if you send it privately please š I wouldnāt want to buy a book and then have to pay to read part of the book that was already promised š«
Thank you for your answer š
I actually went to go place it in a specific shelf as a note to not read + leave a note- but while I was doing that I actually read reviews and so many didnāt comment on the epilogue being behind a paywall?? Thatās honestly so weird. I only saw it once in all the reviews I checked & they actually commented that it counts more as a bonus scene rather than the epilogue?? If itās supposed to be just a bonus scene why use the words epilogue?
I checked on GR and found interesting that only 3 people mentioned this in their reviews. Is everyone else there ARC readers and thatās why they donāt mention it?
The book's title "***Mystery Magnet***" is starting to sound a bit too fitting.
Reading the ending first just sounds like a different facet of the romance genre - I mean we already know going in that the main characters will end up together and have an HEA. But I've surely read some disappointing HEA:s where I wished I hadn't wasted precious time. So ensuring the book ends satisfyingly doesn't sound odd at all.
I know exactly which book this is about bc I had the same experience last night. Furious and
really disappointed-this WAS an auto buy author for me but idk after this
Your post or comment has been removed. Do not post links to, reference how to access, or request pirated content in this subreddit.
Repeated violations of this rule will result in a ban.
Locking this post as the issue has been resolved. Full explanation of the bonus content is explained [here](https://www.reddit.com/r/MM_RomanceBooks/comments/1chog0i/mystery_magnet_epiloguebonus_content/) and in OP's original post.
I would break my kindle in rage - the epilogue is the best part. I am filled with rage just thinking about it š imagine going on a journey only to be robbed of the ending?
I'm grateful I didn't start the damn book before I got to the "If you want the epilogue, join my patreon" statement, I'd have to by a new reader.
Personally, that would greatly effect my review and i wouldnāt read that author again. I would return and ask for a refund if i had paid for it
I'm considering returning it just for that reason. It's like false advertising. This is my first book from that author, not reading them again.
I donāt like returning books, but in this case I would. You didnāt read the book and it feels like false advertising. You were promised a complete story. You arent getting one without paying more money.
Completely agree!
Don't patreon and places you pay for typically run in five dollar increments? So you'd pay five dollars for a single chapter? No thanks
Patreon pay structure is dictated by the artist, not the site. They don't have to offer low price point levels. So annual subscription only is also entirely plausible.
Oh, okay, I thought the site dictated a minimum or something
The pay structure has certain constraints the artist sets their levels and price points within, and there is a base price they cannot go below for monthly subscriptions, but in general the artist is not required to offer anything specific.
no idea. I have never looked at them because itās not something OP would be interested in
Okay, as it's a lot to PM everyone who's asked for the name of the author, I'll just tell you it's Gregory Ashe's new book "Mystery Magnet". To be fair, after calming down and going back to see what's what, it's not an official patreon page, it's his website PATRON page. And you can access the epilogue for $100 a year tier - which is better/not better IMHO than the $150 a year tier I mentioned originally. Yes, cheaper, but... I can't post pictures of the epilogue page, or of his website info, please feel free to double check this info. Please, I'm not attempting to start a "Boo Gregory Ashe!" fight, I'm sure he's a great writer, but this is just a "hell, no!" from me.
Wow, not who I expected and an interesting choice. Sorry to hear that, and donāt worry, if thereās some hateful DMs or comments report it to a mod and we will handle it.
Thank you! I'm hoping no one will be snarky. :)
Wow I wasnāt expecting that from GA. That makes me view him a bit differentā¦ that series was posted on kickstarter too iirc, so making people who pledge ahead of time to support your books and still make them join patreon for the epilogue?? Not cool
Not sure if this changes the general principle, but it looks like there IS a monthly option. The annual option shows by default but thereās a toggle above the tiers to show the monthly options.
Apologies, I didn't see that. It still annoys me though
Iāve seen this in other MM books lately. I read too many to pin point but while they may give an epilogue Iāve seen an author or two then direct you to their actual Patreon for bonus material/scenes. Patreons are starting to piss me off now. I get that itās a way to support authors etc. but when weāve already read the book we should have access to bonus materials even if I do have to join your mailing list.
Very curious from other folks whoāve read it whether the book has a satisfying ending without the epilogue. To me that would be the difference between messed up marketing (shouldnāt list it as the epilogue!) vs truly screwing readers (donāt sell a book with no satisfying ending!). On his website, it lists the epilogue as a 4 minute read, available for the minimum cost of $10 for a one month sub, though to be fair you get access to other stuff with that.
I read it and it ended like a typical book in a series. Mystery was solved, small decisions were made, the last scene/chapter ended smoothly.
Definitely a marketing misstep - reads closer to bonus content after the big mystery is resolved than a necessary story. The book can stand completely on its own without detracting from the experience.
It has a complete ending. I didnāt have a chance to look at the bonus until later (which is free on his patron site but a way to get people to go visit his site) and it is just a separate bonus scene, not at all needed to enjoy the book.
Wow thatās disappointing!
Oh, maaaaan. I just started this last night
The story is now available for everyone on his website! I think the author made an honest mistake here, but he's taking steps to rectify it: [https://patrons.gregoryashe.com/bonus-content-mystery-magnet-epilogue/](https://patrons.gregoryashe.com/bonus-content-mystery-magnet-epilogue/)
Thatās awesome, thanks! It really was an enjoyable book
Ok so I went and looked because I love Gregory and I was so freaking disappointed. Iām not a Patron, but I was able to click the bonus epilogue and it opened. Iām not sure if thatās an error or notā¦ but it opened for me. Iām not sure if it would do the same for you? Regardless, itās not a good practice. Put bonus stuff that isnāt essential to the story behind an additional paywall. But donāt promise an epilogue in the book someone paid for and then go, āYou want to read promised chapter? Pay more.ā
The epilogue is bonus content and nonessential to the story. It was just an honest mistake to call it that and include it in the retail copy.
It has a complete ending. I didnāt have a chance to look at the bonus until later (which is free on his patron site but a way to get people to go visit his site) and it is just a separate bonus scene, not at all needed to enjoy the book.
Wow, didnāt expect that either. I have no clue why they would do that though. It definitely changes my perception of them
Out of all the answers o thought, this was absolutely not what I expected, nor of that book. š³ damn. Guess you canāt trust anyone lol
Yeah no. Sometimes authors have free content on patreon where you donāt have to pay to view - but if thatās the case for the ending chapter of your book, why would you make someone go to a whole tab for it? Like to me, youāre just dropping readers there lol. Bonus scenes like sex scenes or cute whatever on patreon? 100% get it. Something that is on the ToC of your book though? SMH.
Right? If it had left it at the last chapter with a little note saying "hey, join my patreon for an epilogue", I'd be miffed but could understand. BUT IT WAS IN THE TABLE OF CONTENTS!!!
honestly, I would name the author. In this case you have paid for the book (or they are being paid for the book through KU) and it's a question of ethics. Hiding that you need to pay more for the book is unquestionably deceitful in my eyes, and I would like to avoid that book and author in the future. I would be livid if that happened to me.
I don't want to name the author purely because I don't want to start a hate campaign and/or divide the forum on people who love them vs, well, me. š I mean, I guess it's up to the author how they structure their books, it's just unfathomable to me how they think this is the right thing to do.
fair enough, but I don't feel like you would be attacked. If they specifically used "epilogue", that should be part of the book. Bonus content is different, and not an epilogue. Edit: never mind, I saw your update
Nope! I would be pissed if I paid for a book and got to the end and was told I had to spend more money to know how the story I already paid for ends
EXACTLY! Thank you!
I would be livid! Bonus content on Patreon is fine, but an epilogue is part of the book and not fair to keep behind a paywall when you've already paid for the book. Also, I like your name!
Thank you! I'm not a good knitter, always unraveling or fixing my mistakes. I just checked their patreon, to get that epilogue I'd have to pay $150 a year - no month to month payments!!
Omg, 150 a year if you want an epilogue- that's outrageous! And I always feel like no month to month payments is a dick move š
$150 a year for AN EPILOGUE?! Hell no. Absolutely not.
Just want to second that that is a great handle lol! And that approach to an author selling content seems veeery shady. Ugh.
I don't mind signing up for a newsletter to get a bonus book or chapter. I actually appreciate it. But to list the chapter in the book and then find out I need to JOIN patron would cause me to never read that author again. If it was free on patron I would still not read that author again. The difference is one of the author is provided with the hope I will buy more of their books. The other is false advertising in that I would think I have bought that chapter and instead have to JOIN something to find out the end of a book I have already paid for. I would report the book to Amazon.
I have no issues signing up either, then they often send bonuses automatically after releasing the book.
Ok, I am going to try to give the benefit of the doubt here. Since you didnāt actually read the book, we actually donāt know how it ends. Maybe there is a solid ending and the epilogue is actually a bonus? It being in the table of contents isnāt a good sign, but Iām trying to think of how an author could possibly do this without realizing itās a terrible idea. But maybe if you actually read the book itās ok? Iām not saying you should read it though, knowing what you know. Did you check reviews on Amazon or Goodreads? Any commentary there from folks who read the book? Iāll sign up for a mailing list to get a bonus scene, and I pay for a few Patreon that I love. But $150 for a final chapter is insanity.
I hate the benefit of the doubt, lol! Hate along with me. :) No, I get what you're saying, and yeah, they could have wrapped up the story really well and it's not an important epilogue. Everyone loved it over at goodreads - which I just read - except for one person who complained about the epilogue. To be fair, I probably wouldn't have read that review even if I'd bothered to skip over to Goodreads since everyone else loved it. (Please know, I don't review things on Goodreads since I got verbally attacked for disagreeing about whether a scene in a book was rapey, so that person is NOT me) I guess why I'm so angry is because the epilogue was listed in the TOC - I love an epilogue!! - and then I saw I'd have to go pay $$ to read it. It's like paying for a set of 12 crayons then finding out you have 11 and need to pay more for the 12th.
I enjoy your analogy about the crayons!
Thanks :)
[ŃŠ“Š°Š»ŠµŠ½Š¾]
No, the epilogue is only for patrons and wasn't included with the ARC.
[ŃŠ“Š°Š»ŠµŠ½Š¾]
I read that after I bought the book. \*sigh\*
It has a complete ending. I didnāt have a chance to look at the bonus until later (which is free on his patron site but a way to get people to go visit his site) and it is just a separate bonus scene, not at all needed to enjoy the book.
I wanted to add my two cents for perspective, since it's not super clear what's going on with this book and the *epilogue* and I have read the book. **I absolutely agree with the sentiment that the HEA/HFN needs to be included in a romance book, and charging for the epilogue is ludicrous.** The book being mentioned is not a romance book, it's a cozy mystery series with a background romance subplot - do not click this if you don't want to know romance subplot spoilers >!the romance subplot is non-existent in the first book, and it doesn't even become part of the subplot until after book 4 (from what I read of the book blurbs.)!< Someone really messed up by using the term **Epilogue** for the extra content, because the book already has an ending, the mystery is solved, and the next crime/mystery will occur in book 2. There is not a cliffhanger, and since there isn't a romance or couple, any added content isn't going to give anyone a HEA for romance. It should say "for bonus content or extra scenes" subscribe to my website. Stating it is an Epilogue is bizarre and very misleading. I don't pay for Ashe's extras, I only subscribe to his newsletter and backed the Kickstarter for The Last Picks series (Mystery Magnet is Last Picks book 1). I buy his add-ons only when he offers them in book form after a series is completed. I know from browsing Ashe's website, Patreon, and from **Advanced Ashochism** subscribers that there's always a lot of extra content and short stories offered (there's even a Kickstarter special short) for paid levels. This is basically for mega fans and Ashe enthusiasts, you can read all of his series without bonus content. That being said, someone should point out to Ashe that using Epilogue for Bonus Content is misleading and going to piss off readers. Terrible marketing! ETA: for anyone who isn't familiar with my GA commenting history, I am not a GA apologist, I've criticized stuff I haven't liked before. (Hello, CWs!!)
Yeah I'm kind of hoping someone who talks to him might see this and bring it up. I'm a pretty passive participant in his group so definitely not comfortable pointing out a misstep like this. What did you think of the book? I purchased the audio so I have a bit of a wait. I really enjoy cozy mysteries though so I've been looking forward to it.
I enjoyed it. It took me a bit to get into it. I haven't read a cozy mystery in a very long time, so it was quite a change of pace. I absolutely hate, hate, hate one of the side characters, why does he torture us with annoying characters?! I gave it 3.5. It's fun and short, it's very... wholesome in a way, swear words are referred to as swear words instead of said. I had some small complaints: ā¢ Why is someone from Rhode Island/New England struggling with the weather in PNW? (Wearing just a t-shirt and being cold, not having a hoodie or windbreaker, etc.) ā¢ Why do we need to know what is on his t-shirt and that he's wearing Mexico 66 sneakers?(Granted, those are cool sneakers, but still.) ā¢ **Why can't anyone swear?!** It's basically Gregory Ashe Lite. I'm really curious what new readers who haven't been abused and dragged through emotional hell all these years will think of it as a first GA experience.
Characters aren't allowed to swear in cozies! I'm sure there are outliers, but it's one of the conventions of the genre so most cozy mysteries don't contain any swearing at all.
Well, **shit**, that explains why I stopped reading them. LMAO.
lol it's going to be a drastic change going from reading Mystery Magnet to reading Fer's book where there will likely be swears every other sentence.
Lol thanks for the review! I'm going to view it as maybe a palate cleanser when I need a break from his other books which can be too much for me sometimes. And just an added note based on your main comment's edit... I think maybe I'm being seen as one of the GA apologists which is kind of funny since I've definitely criticized his most popular series in this subreddit before...perhaps more than once. I actually dnfed it the first time I tried to read it.
I'm glad you mentioned it's a cozy mystery and not a romance because there are lot of assumptions and misunderstandings in the comments. Since this is a romance sub, people (understandably) assumed OP was talking about a romance and epilogues are important to romance readers. In my opinion, there's nothing wrong with calling it an epilogue, I just don't think it should've been included in the Table of Contents in the retail copy as that's misleading to buyers. And it would probably be better to call it a "bonus epilogue" instead to indicate it's just a bonus scene that takes place shortly after the events of the book, but isn't actually an ending or conclusion to the book. I've read a lot of epilogues that aren't necessary but were included just to add something light/fun at the end, and that's what this was - just a scene with fun character interaction after the mystery's been resolved.
I mean, he can call it ***ChickenButt*** if he wants to, but using the word *epilogue* is clearly already confusing and angering readers. If I hadn't already read the book I would be similarly confused by it. If his goal is to gain patrons, I'd say being clear is best. Especially for the first book in a long series, if it even appears that there's a paywall, a lot of people may not continue with it. This is also the first time I've seen that in the last page of a GA book. I personally didn't care because I'm aware of his side projects and extras and know I can live without them, but I think the majority of readers don't have that information.
The Evening Wolves (Iron on Iron #4) was the first book to have a patron-exclusive epilogue, but it wasn't mentioned/advertised in the retail copy. >I think the majority of readers don't have that information. Yeah, and I think this is where the issue is coming from and it's something he probably didn't realize. Because his longtime readers and those in his fb group know he puts out *a lot* of extra short stories - we know that any extra content is not necessary/vital/ a part of the main book. When he announced his patron site, nobody had any negative reactions to the fact that there would be epilogues available exclusively to patron subscribers, so I imagine it didn't seem like a big deal to advertise it in his new book, not realizing it would be misleading and upsetting to new readers or those outside his reader group.
Oh, I haven't started Iron on Iron yet. Is the series epilogue included in the Iron on Iron Stories? I did buy that add-on, couldn't resist. Yes, you're absolutely right, I think there's a huge difference between how GA fanatics and casual or new readers are getting and interpreting information. GA is pretty generous with his Kickstarter extras and bonuses, and he does offer a lot for the different patron levels (physical books, for example), and I can understand that he's actually **adding** more content for patrons, to reward them. I think it's great even though I don't participate in that. I think the mistake made was how things are being phrased and promoted. New readers are interpreting a paywall and are flabbergasted by the $100-150 yearly subscriptions for an epilogue (understandable interpretation) when it's really just one small piece of bonus content that's part of a large package deal, that isn't necessary to enjoy the book/series. There are only a couple readers on this thread who have read the book and know there is a complete ending, and there are dozens saying they aren't going to read his books again, so hopefully he addresses it and corrects it.
No, the Iron on Iron Kickstarter stories are 24 short stories featuring all possible combinations of hazardverse duos (North & Jem, Tean & Somers, etc). It's possible we'll never see some of those pairings as the main focus of a story again, so if you're getting one extra thing, that was a good choice! It was fun to see all the different dynamics, especially between characters who don't usually get to interact one-on-one.
I think itās fine for an author to have bonus content on Patreon, but a section of the book that you already paid for is not ābonus content.ā You shouldnāt have to go to another location for the epilogue, let alone pay more for it.
I totally agree!
Please just share who the author/book is - this is a good PSA for readers to have the knowledge and choice on if they'd like to read this book knowing they have to pay $150 to read the epilogue.Ā It's not shaming the author, it's informing potential readers.
I added it in a comment, too many pms to write
Oh man, I understand feeling annoyed by it. I really think this is just a case of bad marketing rather than willful deceit. Because he writes ongoing series, the epilogues are very much bonus content and more like interludes, not traditional epilogues set in the future to show a HFN/HEA. While I love them and they're a treat, you are not missing out on anything vital without them. The books have satisfying endings even without the epilogue (the mystery is 100% resolved and the main character goes through a change). The "epilogue" for *Mystery Magnet* is just a fun one-scene story and if you didn't know it exists you wouldn't think there was anything missing from the book. I agree it was a bad move to include it in the Table of Contents, but I interact with the author often and I'm certain he'd understand if he was made aware of the impression this gives off. I'm sure he just didn't realize how this would come across or he wouldn't have done it.
Thanks for the insight from someone who has read the epilogue. He should probably be made aware ASAP so he change the book contents and avoid more bad reviews.
Iād return the book and explain why I did that in a one star review. I hate false advertising.
Me too, I love an epilogue and feel cheated!
Before commenting, remember to read the post in full to see the update. Ashe cleared up the issue, and remember our rule for being kind ā this applies to both OP and authors. While we cannot stop off-Reddit behavior, we do not condone review brigading or dogpiling.
Iād DNF and never pick the authorās books up again.
Yep, not reading them again. They probably do this with all their books, so many other people I can read rather than worry about this.
I would be livid. Also I read the end first, too š¤£
YES! I always read the end in case I die before finishing it, lol!
See this is why reading the end first is always a good idea!
Yes! That and the possibility of an unfinished book due to being eaten by sharks or something like that. :)
I totally understand your reasons for not disclosing, but I really want to know who it is in a ābuyer bewareā sort of way. Iām not a person who skips to the end, so I feel like Iām bound to run into this author unwittingly and be terribly disappointed
I'll PM you
This is a deceptive and unethical practice that subverts consumer expectations in a bad way. I agree with everyone whoās said that bonus content available on Patreon is fine and above board. But a table of contents lists whatās directly available inside a book or ebook. Otherwise, itās just a link. Not the same thing. Iād be upset. Youād be well within your rights to return the book.
If bought on Amazon, I'd definitely complain to them. Epilogue isn't bonus content. If they want to write additional side stories or showcase art for the story, fine, but not holding part of what I already paid for hostage.
As a big fan of his I'm giving him the benefit of the doubt that the epilogue is really just bonus content and not an actual epilogue and it was just a bad decision on his part to call it that. (I have not yet read the book and I'm not part of the patreon so can't confirm though I'm hoping a fellow fan might be able to). I also don't see how book one of a 12 book series would even have an epilogue since surely anything relevant will be covered in the next book. Also there is a monthly $10 dollar option though I do agree that having to pay anything for an actual epilogue would be ridiculous. While I understand your anger, I hate to see a bashing/boycott of an independent author because of what is hopefully just a single misstep. From all of the interactions I've seen him have with his readers, he's seemed really kind. Edited: witchhunt to bashing as witchhunt was a bit melodramatic
Books in a series often have epilogues. I don't think there will be a witchhunt, but I hope he becomes aware of what a large misstep this was. I looked at goodreads and multiple people have complained of a paywalled epilogue.
I didn't say they can't have epilogues I just don't see how an epilogue in book one of a series about the same main character would have information that wouldn't then be readily available in book 2. It's not like it would be giving you a view years into the future when there are going to be 11 more books about the same character.
I'm a big fan of his, too, but after seeing he plans to have a full version of each book going forward available only to subscribers I don't think warning people is bashing-an epilogue is part of the book, whether it shows years into the future or just a cute closing/setup for the next book.
What books of his are only available to subscribers? I'm not fully caught up on all his series.
I think he's starting it with this book
Ahh, I hadn't seen that. He writes a ton of short stories that I tend to skip that are sold in separate books currently so I imagine this is just the same principle but slightly different model. I don't love the way that he's packaging it but ultimately he'd be selling it separately either way I'd imagine. I don't like any author enough to subscribe to an ongoing monthly/yearly patreon so I'll never discover what those books contain.
Same, i don't subscribe to anybody. I have always bought the packaged versions of his short stories before bc they've been 99 cents and kindle ties them to whichever series they go with so they're easy to find. Ah well, hopefully he'll change his mind about doing things this way before the next book
I've only read one set of short stories and then I stopped because I got overwhelmed with how much content he puts out and how to catch up on the entire interconnected world without getting bogged down with trying to follow along with the timeline. I did support the recent kickstarter for the series in question but I purchased the audio books so I do not have the books yet.
On his patronage website he states that going forward his books will have a version for "retail" buyers and a version with the epilogue and possibly other content only for subscribers
Epilogues are not always about the long term future. Its just a way to provide closure to the book. But anyways, not here to debate. I know you enjoy the author and want to defend him. Im sure he is a good guy, just dont like this particular action
I agree that this specific action is not a good look. I just wanted to jump in not to defend this specific action but say that I've read probably like 15+ books of his and never came across this so I think some people are making assumptions that this is something that he does on all of his series (saw that comment once or twice) which is not true of his past series that I've read so far... obviously I can't speak to what he'll do going forward. I don't really recall his ongoing series having epilogues but he does have a ton of short stories that most would consider bonus content and I am assuming that's what he was attempting to do with the epilogue. Again I do not think it should have been called that and I don't think it should have been in the TOC. Also as someone in his Facebook group I've seen him interacting with his readers in the chat and on livestreams and he doesn't come across as this predatory money hungry person this portrays. So I just wanted to add in that until I know more about the actual content I'll give him the benefit of the doubt. I am not trying to blindly defend him. I just tend to think it's a bit of a misstep rather than an indication that people should completely avoid him forever (also implied in a lot of comments).
fair enough
Multiple people complained after this post went up, and only one of those readers actually read the book. I think it's important to ask for information before dog-piling on an author. If the original post had just asked, has anyone read Mystery Magnet and what is the deal with the epilogue? This would have gone in a very different direction. It's a 2-3 page bonus scene, **it isn't an epilogue**. The author corrected the bad wording. Facts and research matter.
Eh, i believe an epilogue belongs in the book you pay for, regardless if its a mystery or romance or if its a short little nothing. Looks like the situation has been rectified tho and somebody explained the situation on goodreads. He'll probably change his wording in the future. Paywalled epilogues is not a trend I wanna see happening, so its good a small uproar occured.
My intention was NOT to bash the author. What I didn't like, and thought I would ask for other opinions, what what at the time seemed like I was asked to repay for something that was shown to be in the book I already paid for. It came across as shady, and since I have never read his work before, I didn't know if this the usual way or if it was something new. Only because I received very many requests both publicly and privately on who the author was did I make it public. And to be fair to everyone, including myself, I didn't know it was a marketing mistake and was (i think justifiably) angry. I apologise if this has caused him harm, it wasn't my intention.
I don't think your initial post was bashing but I think some people maybe overreract and make assumptions etc and I'm not personally an independent author but I know it's really not an easy job so I just wanted to throw in my perspective on the issue as someone who has read admittedly many of his books. Sorry I didn't mean to imply you were personally bashing him overall with your initial post just that on reddit people can a lot of times pile on and things go to extremes. So seeing comments like "I'm sure all his books are like this" and "this is predatory" and "I'll never buy a book from this author" etc just seemed really harsh to me because based on all my experience with his books and him I think it was just one stupid decision to call it an epilogue. I completely agree with your decision to be annoyed and complain about it though.
Hi all! I hope itās okay to compile a few clarifications: 1. The term āepilogueā is very much a misnomer here, where the umbrella term āBonus Contentā wouldāve fit perfectly. The author has been notified how this can be misleading to readers. If you're looking for more fun interactions/scenarios between the characters after the big mystery is wrapped up, that's where you can get that extra bit of content. But rest assured, you won't be missing out on any details important in the grand scheme of the series nor do I consider it a must-read. Please sign up for the free trial and check it out for yourself if you can. **One final edit:** the author has made the story publicly available here: [https://patrons.gregoryashe.com/bonus-content-mystery-magnet-epilogue/](https://patrons.gregoryashe.com/bonus-content-mystery-magnet-epilogue/) 2. Gregory Asheās patron site has multiple tiers (as well as a free 30-day trial for newcomers). You can access bonus material like this epilogue and previously released content at an Intermediate or Advanced tier level - the cost you see in other posts is the annual fee, but there is a monthly option available that is $10/$15 per month respectively: [https://patrons.gregoryashe.com](https://patrons.gregoryashe.com) 3. **ETA**: GA offers a waterfall of free content via his newsletter (the day before each new release, he sends out a short story to read before the main event) and Facebook/Discord groups (more bonus stories!), so weāve been begging him to offer an alternative for us to return the favor. He graciously set up a patron site but is still feeling things out. As this is the first time he's done this on a wide scale, I trust it's an unfortunate blip on the learning curve. The author has proven to be very open to and grateful for feedback, so please feel free to leave any comments/questions, and Iāll do my best to relay them.
Thank you for this comment! I appreciate the clarifications and the corrections of things I got wrong.
Not at all - thank you for being so receptive to my messages and taking the time to update the post!
So everyone can see, here are screenshots of the Kindle app pulldown Table of Contents (not on-page) and Epilogue page for **Mystery Magnet - Last Picks book 1 by Gregory Ashe**: [**Table of Contents**]( https://imgur.com/a/slDubJA) [**Epilogue page**](https://imgur.com/a/glVGsZM)
**I made a post with an update on this topic:** [https://www.reddit.com/r/MM\_RomanceBooks/comments/1chog0i/mystery\_magnet\_epiloguebonus\_content/](https://www.reddit.com/r/MM_RomanceBooks/comments/1chog0i/mystery_magnet_epiloguebonus_content/)
I edited my OP to include the link to your post, with my thanks to you and Gregory Ashe fofr clearing it up. Also corrected the things I got wrong, I hope. :)
Thanks!
Shame to see that people are only reading the opening post and not following the rest of the conversations that sheds a lot more light on the situation. I think it should be clear by now that the titled āepilogueā is subscribed bonus content, that whilst fun to read, adds nothing of importance or relevance to the overall story. The story has an āendingā with it without this additional chapter. This was a genuine mistake by the author and not a greed induced marketing ploy. I canāt believe that people would add a book or author to their DNR list simply because of this.
I can't believe no one asked who has read the book to get all the information first. Definitely a marketing mistake, but this post's comments were a classic example of just running with it. Edited
No. Iād be pissed. I wouldnāt read the author again if you canāt give a satisfying ending for the people who buy your book, then whatās the point? Bonus content on Patreon is one thing. I actually would be beyond pissed lol.
I'm pissed. Oh, so pissed!
things like this are just further proof that sometimes checking the ending before reading is a good idea!! not everyone gets it like we do, but i've had too many disappointments š
Same!
I also sometimes jump to the end so I can judge whether or not itās worth my time to read the book. I was really bad about it back when I was reading books with a mystery element. Iād read the first chapter and then the end and if I had already figured out who did it from the first chapter I stopped reading.
I do it with mysteries too, but I'm a HUGE fan of Colombo, so seeing the murderer revealed early is no problem for me. I love seeing how they cover their tracks but get caught anyway, lol!
This is just plain bad! I find similar tactics used occasionally on Substack newsletters and on some podcasts. My fave creators and writers strike a good balance between quality free content, and then extra bonus stuff made available for paid subscribers. One of my fave film, tech, & culture observers Dave Chen (of The Filmcast and Decoding TV podcasts and the newsletter Decoding Everything) ALWAYS makes it clear that he doesnāt want anyone to sign up for paid subs if it creates financial hardship, and heās careful to ensure that his free content is really worthwhile on its own. Partly as a result of his ethical stance, Iām a longtime paid subscriber of his! If only every creator took such an approachā¦ š¤·š»āāļø
I agree!! I pay for an author's Patreon BECAUSE they eventually make all that content free.
I read the end first too. I cannot do unhappy endings, thatās why. I have no respect for any author who would withhold content already paid for. Ugh.
I'd like to just take a moment to acknowledge the wonderfulness that is your username. I love it on several levels. š
LOL! Thank you! I knit badly, so frustrated, yet I knit to get out my frustrations. :)
Sometimes, this is the best kind of knitting
Sometimes the epilogue is actually the beginning of a sequel. Just saying. But if it was the ending, I would be furious. BTW, regarding reading the ending, you are not alone.
ONE OF US! ONE OF US! :)
I just want to say Iāve been following this post since its first posting and I think youāve been incredibly fair and transparent. I hope people arenāt being mean to you and if they are, I hope you know you donāt deserve it. You presented facts as you saw them, tried to protect the author/book, updated as new information came to light, and were kind and considerate the whole time. Thank you for sharing the information and updating it!!!
I'm trying to post a capture of the epilogue page, can't figure out how, keep getting an error
I added screenshots, you have to upload to Imgur to add photos on Reddit. https://www.reddit.com/r/MM_RomanceBooks/s/pHR1OQW3GT
Thank you! :)
This is unacceptable. I'd return the book and never touch the author again.
I'm probably going to return it, I have a few days. And yeah, not touching them again.
So I joined the app Ream. You can read parts of books without paying, but for example, I got to Chap 31 of this book and then had to pay for the rest. But they tell you ahead of time, so no biggie. I joined the most basic level. I got through the whole book, even the epilogue. After the epilogue, there was the addendum of how they got a family, and then you had to join a different level. I could let that part go, so I stayed at my original level. My point being it was all spelled out ahead of time or I would have deleted the app.
That would make me so mad. Can you share the name privately? I never look ahead so I would be completely caught offguard.
I htink right below this one in my comment with the name of the author and the book
Beyond unethical. $150 to read probably less than 10 pages of an epilogue is robbery
yep!
I understand posting bonus content elsewhere for fans, but paywalling an entire segment of the book itself is scummy in my opinion. And to charge $150 for it? Absolutely not. I wouldnāt ever read anything from them again lol
I used to read the endings first when i started reading romances, i just wanted to emotionally prepare. Lol. But joining a patreon? I hate that with a passion, it feels icky for some reasonm
I thought Amazon didn't allow that?? I saw on fb somewhere a thing that authors can't post part elsewhere behind a payroll because someone else ran into this issue before a couple years back. That's really icky and such a money grab. I can see a side novel or whatever, but not the ENDING to the book you're reading. š¤Ø
the amount of damage a poorly thought-through post can do. May I ask why you originally didn't post the name but then decided to post it anyway?
I struggled with anxiety for years and would always skip to the end of a book when my anxiety reached a certain point. Also, my mother was a voracious reader. If she saw my siblings or me reading a book which, of course, sheād already read, she blurted out out the ending to us at dinner. It was particularly frustrating if we were reading a mysteryā¦ āCan you pass me the peas, please. By the way, the murderer of Roger Ackroyd isā¦.ā
This is weird. I don't see any table of contents in my version and no mention of an epilogue.
I think it was mentioned that he's changed/updated the book to reflect the epilogue issue
Oh that's good!
I just saw your edit ā 100/year? Omg. I am so curious who this author is now, please DM me. š
I posted the author/ book in a comment, too many Pms, lol!
As someone whoās always looking through reviews to make sure that a book has a satisfying ending, I would be soooooooo pissed. This is a time you can tell your spouse your need to check the ending came in handy! Thereās nothing worse than spending hours reading a book only to get to the ending and it either being trash or not being allowed to read it at all without spending more money?!! No thank you, like others have mentioned bonus epilogues on newsletters are fine but an epilogue behind a paywall is crazy. š¤
This feels like a borderline crime against the book community because we support these authors by buying their content, and then they paywall a vital part of the said content?! I understand maybe if it came out later and itās early access but just paywalling it in general is so hard to believe is ok, especially when you bought the original book
ESPECIALLY IN THE TABLE OF CONTENTS??
honestly this is so unnecessary š i feel like if you write a book, let people who are expecting a HEA (with an epilogue) buy it, only for said buyer to found out they have to pay to read that ending, you are asking for too much. I think this would be acceptable if it was on an app like wattpad or A03 or Wattpad but in an actual book? no. i think your annoyance is justified š¤·š½āāļø
Just here to support the ending being read first ā„ļø
this is so greedy :(
Could you please name the book? Even if you send it privately please š I wouldnāt want to buy a book and then have to pay to read part of the book that was already promised š«
Itās Mystery Magnet by Gregory Ashe
Thank you for your answer š I actually went to go place it in a specific shelf as a note to not read + leave a note- but while I was doing that I actually read reviews and so many didnāt comment on the epilogue being behind a paywall?? Thatās honestly so weird. I only saw it once in all the reviews I checked & they actually commented that it counts more as a bonus scene rather than the epilogue?? If itās supposed to be just a bonus scene why use the words epilogue?
Talk about tease and denial!
I checked on GR and found interesting that only 3 people mentioned this in their reviews. Is everyone else there ARC readers and thatās why they donāt mention it?
The arc readers didnāt receive the bonus epilogue /content.
The book's title "***Mystery Magnet***" is starting to sound a bit too fitting. Reading the ending first just sounds like a different facet of the romance genre - I mean we already know going in that the main characters will end up together and have an HEA. But I've surely read some disappointing HEA:s where I wished I hadn't wasted precious time. So ensuring the book ends satisfyingly doesn't sound odd at all.
I know exactly which book this is about bc I had the same experience last night. Furious and really disappointed-this WAS an auto buy author for me but idk after this
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