R: Redemption

R:  What makes a great fantasy tale?  Well, lots of things but one of the common themes we hope to see is redemption for the lead character.  We want to see that hero or heroine step up the plate when the dire choice in before them.  We read, hoping despite the difficulties to be faced and the sacrifices that must be made, the hero will make the right decision.  He or she will save the world, the kingdom, the city or perhaps just the family or loved one.

The quest for redemption works great as a plot driver in dark fantasy which I'll define tomorrow.  Often the book plots that stay with the longest are the ones where the hero traveled a long journey of challenges and eventually becomes the person we'd hoped he be though changed by the sorrows and loses he suffered along the path.  If he never makes the correct choice, never reaches the point of redemption, the reader may feel cheated.  The reader can be left with a nagging feeling the story wasn't complete.

Do you enjoy books where the main character searches for redemption? Have you read a book you enjoyed where the hero or heroine never managed to find their final redemption?