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serendipitysbooks's review against another edition
challenging
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.0
Life After Death was not the book for me. It’s street lit, not my typical genre. But I do like to read widely and consider myself a fairly open-minded reader. However, this novel was several steps too far. Upon her release from a 15 year prison sentence Winter Santiaga, daughter of a drug kingpin, has big plans for a reality tv show but instead is shot dead and ends up in purgatory. I found Winter a really unlikeable character, very egotistical, self-centred and seemingly addicted to conspicuous consumption. I could have dealt with that. The real turn-off for me was that the bulk of the book was didactic preaching on the need to be a good Muslim and how it was essential Winter follow “The One” if she was to move out of purgatory. As if that wasn’t a big enough turn-off for me the book was also very anti-choice and woman-shaming on the topic of abortion and it included many explicit sexual scenes, including bestiality. I knew early on I should DNF but wanted to complete the challenge I set for myself. Perhaps I would enjoy another book by this author but I can’t see me being tempted to find out.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Drug abuse, Gun violence, Racism, Sexual content, and Abortion