Book Review: Afterlife by Claudia Gray

SUMMARY:

The fourth book in this electrifying vampire series has all the romance, suspense, and page-turning drama that have made Claudia Gray’s Evernight books runaway successes.

Having become what they feared most, Bianca and Lucas face a terrifying new reality. They must return to Evernight Academy, Lucas as a vampire and Bianca as a wraith. But Lucas is haunted by demons, both personal and supernatural. Bianca must help him fight the evil inside him, combat the forces determined to drive them apart—and find the power to claim her destiny at last.

Readers have fallen in love with Bianca and Lucas, and they will be thrilled to read this exciting conclusion to their romantic adventure.

OPINION: 4 STARS

Note: Review is spoiler free for the *series*

The Short Version:
Picking up right where Hourglass left off, Afterlife sticks with the series trend of overall being a great story, holding several twists, and a mostly steady pace. Bianca and Lucas have undergone some big changes, and the way they handle it isn't always perfect which adds a very realistic and amenable aspect to the book. Everything is pretty much tied up by the end of this book, closing out the series on a bittersweet note, but it is an ending I love and completely understand the purpose of.

The Extended Version:
Bianca is struggling to deal with the aftermath of Hourglass, learning her new boundaries and confines while still trying to hold on to Lucas, who is struggling even more than she is. The push and pull of their natures and relationship is truly tested in this installment, holding a very realistic, endearing and beautiful note not only towards the romance but the story in general. Both characters show the same level of intense commitment to each other and unadulterated emotion that was seen in Hourglass, and it is, to me, one of the most notable features of the series.

The plot has the same pacing as the previous books, with plenty of world and story building that comes in somewhat lengthy breaks in the action. If the pacing bugged you before, it will probably still bother you, but if you enjoy getting more of the characters just being characters and seeing the world created in action, it's enjoyable. Humor is mixed in, sometimes at just the right moment to break the tension, and there isn't quite the same overall air of painful emotion that captivate Hourglass.

Gray's writing as definitely grown as the series progressed, giving some very beautiful descriptions and having an easy flow that will appeal to many readers. Some things from earlier books that has maybe been overlooked or forgotten by readers comes back up in Afterlife, and there really are no loose ends or blatant questions left unanswered. The climax of the book is as explosive and action filled as seen in the previous books, and new and shocking reveals come flying out of nowhere at a few key places. Overall, this is a bittersweet but well done closing to an enjoyable series with some strong characters.

Details:
Source: Netgalley
Reading level: Young Adult
Hardcover: 368 pages
Publisher: HarperTeen (March 8, 2011)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0061284424
ISBN-13: 978-0061284427