maresuju's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Gun violence, and Mass/school shootings
Moderate: Child death, Murder, and Grief
everthereader's review against another edition
4.0
When I first started reading, I found it pretty cool that the author instead of going to college she was going to publish a book.Many people were confused a irritated with the whole two worlds thing where tehy were swiching between the book and Darcy. I actually found it pretty cool.
paizliibubs's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
inspiring
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Gun violence, and Mass/school shootings
nduhr10's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
esppperanza's review against another edition
2.0
This book is very unique and unlike anything I have read before. It only took me two weeks to read because Darcy loved to talk about her book and never let Imogen talk about Pyromancer. Also, Lizzie and Yamaraj's relationship annoyed me. I didn't ship them at all.
jnlletrry's review against another edition
3.0
http://youprobablywontagree.wordpress.com/2014/11/20/afterworlds-scott-westerfeld/
jadziadax's review against another edition
Ugh. I loved, loved the Leviathan books...but this? Nope. A. The love interest is five years older than the barely legal protagonist. Not really romantic. B. A 18 year old got an agent/made money? I wish. C. The writing just wasn't as strong.
Disappointing.
Disappointing.
somarostam's review against another edition
3.0
I've heard about Scott Westerfeld's Uglies series ever since I started blogging. It had a lot of fans, but I never got around to reading it. But when I was given this book for review, I thought it was finally the time to find out what all the hype about the author was.
Darcy is a writer. She's just written her novel, Afterworlds, and now she is moving to NY to fulfill her dreams. But being an author comes with a lot of expectations and insecurities that Darcy doesn't think she can handle. Lizzy's life changes when she survives a massacre by playing dead. Now, she can see ghosts and wondering things from other planes. It is definitely not what she expected her senior year to be.
This book is divided into two stories. There is Darcy's story, her normal natural life as an author in NY. And then, there is her novel, Afterworlds, which is told in alternating chapters throughout the novel. So we have Lizzie, the main character in Darcy's novel, and we read her story alongside Darcy's. That was kind of fascinating. Since one chapter, you are in a normal mundane world, then you are transported to a paranormal world filled with spiritual beings.
The thing is, I found myself liking Darcy's story much more than I did Lizzie's. Which is the reason I gave this book 3 instead of 5. I found myself reading Darcy's story and being intrigued with her. But when it was Lizzie's chapter, I couldn't wait to get it over with. I didn't want Darcy's chapters to finish just so I wouldn't read Lizzie's. And that really stopped me from enjoying this book as much as I hoped I would.
Another part that I loved was the references to the publishing industry in NY. It felt real, there were all these authors, and these reading parties, and launch parties, and author signings, and debutantes. It was so fascinating reading about all that. But the whole afterworlds and ghosts and paranormal beings didn't intrigue me.
The romance also plays a huge part in this novel. There is Darcy''s romance with her fellow author, which I am not going to mention. In order not to ruin the story, but the potential love interest was definitely not who I expected. Lizzie's love interest, Yama, was just as shallow as she was. I found their chemistry unbelievable and just plain weird.
Overall, I found myself really enjoying some parts of this book and despising the others. But I am pretty sure that there are readers out there who absolutely loved Lizzie. Now, I am definitely disappointed for Scott Westerfeld but I will be reading his Uglies series soon.. Although his book won't make it into my favorites, it was still a very enjoyable read.
Darcy is a writer. She's just written her novel, Afterworlds, and now she is moving to NY to fulfill her dreams. But being an author comes with a lot of expectations and insecurities that Darcy doesn't think she can handle. Lizzy's life changes when she survives a massacre by playing dead. Now, she can see ghosts and wondering things from other planes. It is definitely not what she expected her senior year to be.
This book is divided into two stories. There is Darcy's story, her normal natural life as an author in NY. And then, there is her novel, Afterworlds, which is told in alternating chapters throughout the novel. So we have Lizzie, the main character in Darcy's novel, and we read her story alongside Darcy's. That was kind of fascinating. Since one chapter, you are in a normal mundane world, then you are transported to a paranormal world filled with spiritual beings.
The thing is, I found myself liking Darcy's story much more than I did Lizzie's. Which is the reason I gave this book 3 instead of 5. I found myself reading Darcy's story and being intrigued with her. But when it was Lizzie's chapter, I couldn't wait to get it over with. I didn't want Darcy's chapters to finish just so I wouldn't read Lizzie's. And that really stopped me from enjoying this book as much as I hoped I would.
Another part that I loved was the references to the publishing industry in NY. It felt real, there were all these authors, and these reading parties, and launch parties, and author signings, and debutantes. It was so fascinating reading about all that. But the whole afterworlds and ghosts and paranormal beings didn't intrigue me.
The romance also plays a huge part in this novel. There is Darcy''s romance with her fellow author, which I am not going to mention. In order not to ruin the story, but the potential love interest was definitely not who I expected. Lizzie's love interest, Yama, was just as shallow as she was. I found their chemistry unbelievable and just plain weird.
Overall, I found myself really enjoying some parts of this book and despising the others. But I am pretty sure that there are readers out there who absolutely loved Lizzie. Now, I am definitely disappointed for Scott Westerfeld but I will be reading his Uglies series soon.. Although his book won't make it into my favorites, it was still a very enjoyable read.
awesomeeallyson's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
On a very superficial level, this was a pretty good book. I read it quickly and I was quickly invested in the plot and the dual storylines of both novels in this book. I think the premise was original and there was some interesting dialog and themes regarding the publishing industry and cultural appropriation.
That being said, while the dual storylines within this book are interesting, it's also what made this book not work when you really dive into it. You have two characters that are captivating on a surface level and two storylines with separate plots and side characters. But you never get enough time within each story to get to know the characters and the rest of the cast. This overall leaves the book lacking anyone for the reader to connect with. Jamie and the FBI agent both lack any real depth and the main romance in both stories lack any spark. I'm not going to even get into how the fact that the main character is Indian but they family rejects their culture to pass as American. Why even make their culture a plot element and character trait at that point? That whole aspect felt tacked on to add diversity at the last minute. The plots are both interesting in concept, but the pacing is very up and down. Some sections are really slow moving and boring while the other sections speed by.
I almost wish Scott Westerfield picked one story to really focus on and fully develop rather than squishing together two half finished books and making it one, which is what this book ends up feeling like.
That being said, while the dual storylines within this book are interesting, it's also what made this book not work when you really dive into it. You have two characters that are captivating on a surface level and two storylines with separate plots and side characters. But you never get enough time within each story to get to know the characters and the rest of the cast. This overall leaves the book lacking anyone for the reader to connect with. Jamie and the FBI agent both lack any real depth and the main romance in both stories lack any spark. I'm not going to even get into how the fact that the main character is Indian but they family rejects their culture to pass as American. Why even make their culture a plot element and character trait at that point? That whole aspect felt tacked on to add diversity at the last minute. The plots are both interesting in concept, but the pacing is very up and down. Some sections are really slow moving and boring while the other sections speed by.
I almost wish Scott Westerfield picked one story to really focus on and fully develop rather than squishing together two half finished books and making it one, which is what this book ends up feeling like.
marielaiko99's review against another edition
4.0
First book of the year!! Yay. I enjoyed it, and I really appreciated some of the references to the publishing business, particularly the YA division. It was pretty funny to read about BEA and ARCs from the other side of the literature industry.