A review by dlberglund
Afterworlds by Scott Westerfeld
4.0
Solid 4+ stars. I really, really, liked this book, and the story-within-a-story. It is first the story of Darcy, an 18-year-old who has just been given a two-book publishing deal. She puts off college to move to New York and write like a real writer. She shows us frank pieces of the publishing world; I learned a lot as she learned to navigate that world.
Then, we have the alternating chapters, which ARE the chapters of Darcy's new book. In these chapters, Lizzie is a high school senior in California, who develops supernatural powers after a near-death experience. I loved her story, too, and rooted for her as she learned to navigate the afterworlds.
Some chapters were scary enough that I practically had to put them in the freezer (or at least turn off the audiobook and listen to Taylor Swift for a minute), but I found both stories within the book captivating in their own ways.
Then, we have the alternating chapters, which ARE the chapters of Darcy's new book. In these chapters, Lizzie is a high school senior in California, who develops supernatural powers after a near-death experience. I loved her story, too, and rooted for her as she learned to navigate the afterworlds.
Some chapters were scary enough that I practically had to put them in the freezer (or at least turn off the audiobook and listen to Taylor Swift for a minute), but I found both stories within the book captivating in their own ways.