I finished the Hero and the Crown

I finished reading The Hero and the Crown two nights ago. And like most of McKinley's work that I have read, I found it to be good, but just like one drop to short of satisfactory. But I know that given the chance, I would add that one drop to the book. I think it's the lack of completely mental satisfaction with her books that keeps me reading them. They are great stories and so entertaining, but it's like the main character never quite manages to find that 'happily ever after' kind of life. They end up happy and their lives are good, but there is alway some aspects of her stories that she lives be. I love that she does this, because it makes her books more realistic. She doesn't add to much sugar or cover bad things up with a quick happy ending wrap up. She leaves them be and you just have to deal with reading a book that makes you think about the characters and ponder their lives and choices a little longer than you normally would. I felt that way with The Hero and the Crown.  I keep wondering about the Aerin's (the main character) decisions and life after the story ends. I don't how it is for everyone else, but for me that is the mark of a good book.