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A review by annettebooksofhopeanddreams
Afterlife by Claudia Gray
4.0
I should have read this book about a week ago, but some other book called Kingdom of Ash came and it meant that this one was postponed for a little while. But that was not because I wasn't looking forward to it. Because this series has very quickly become one of my favorite vampire series ever and I don't regret buying all books at once at all. I'm actually a little sad that the main story is over now, although I have some more to look forward to.
What I loved most about this book, was the fact that being a vampire wasn't glorified or made seem easy. It focussed heavily on the downsides, on what it could do to someone, on the burden it was and why most sane vampire would never choose that faith for themselves. Lucas struggles with himself, with what he had become and with the future that was waiting for him, were really refreshing and amazing to read.
And so was the last part of Bianca's journey, who also faced a different future as she had wanted for herself. It totally made sense for her to hold onto the love of her life for as long as possible, but I did enjoy her journey, how she came to accept herself and her new future, how she learned about her abilities and what she could and should do with them. I also loved how this book was about more than her relationship with Lucas, but also focussed on her relationship with her parents and her friends.
I do think that this last book contained a lot of mythology and world building. Maybe for me it was a little too much in the very last book of the series, although I understand we couldn't get it any sooner. But therefore a lot of it was just explaining and not really experiencing and showing. I'm also not entirely sold on the final conclusion. It was foreshadowed and explained, but it still felt like an "easy" way out, where the previous books had surprised me by NOT going for those easy ways.
But, all in all, I'm a very happy reader with a new favorite series on her shelf!
What I loved most about this book, was the fact that being a vampire wasn't glorified or made seem easy. It focussed heavily on the downsides, on what it could do to someone, on the burden it was and why most sane vampire would never choose that faith for themselves. Lucas struggles with himself, with what he had become and with the future that was waiting for him, were really refreshing and amazing to read.
And so was the last part of Bianca's journey, who also faced a different future as she had wanted for herself. It totally made sense for her to hold onto the love of her life for as long as possible, but I did enjoy her journey, how she came to accept herself and her new future, how she learned about her abilities and what she could and should do with them. I also loved how this book was about more than her relationship with Lucas, but also focussed on her relationship with her parents and her friends.
I do think that this last book contained a lot of mythology and world building. Maybe for me it was a little too much in the very last book of the series, although I understand we couldn't get it any sooner. But therefore a lot of it was just explaining and not really experiencing and showing. I'm also not entirely sold on the final conclusion. It was foreshadowed and explained, but it still felt like an "easy" way out, where the previous books had surprised me by NOT going for those easy ways.
But, all in all, I'm a very happy reader with a new favorite series on her shelf!