Review: Afterlife by Claudia Gray

Title: Afterlife
Author: Claudia Gray
Genre: YA, Supernatural, Romance
Perfect for: Those who have read the previous books in the series. Don't start the series with this book!!!
Star Rating: 3/5 stars

Taken from Goodreads, "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."


If you've looked at my review for 'Evernight', the beginning of this series, you'll see that I was a bit let down by that title. Quite honestly, I had given up on the series until my mother (yes, my mother) decided to continue on with it and told me I had to read the rest. I did and, you know what? I'm happy I continued on.


'Evernight' still isn't my favorite book, but the sequels have gotten steadily better and better. 'Afterlife' completes Bianca and Lucas' story. Last we saw them in 'Hourglass', it seemed like all was lost, but Gray had much more planned for her characters!


'Afterlife' is a fine conclusion to the 'Evernight' series. Most loose ends are tied up, especially in terms of Bianca and Lucas' relationship.


The first hundred pages of the novel dragged a bit. I think it had something to do with the fact that the majority of the 'big reveals' were in the second half of the novel.  Once we started to learn all the secrets we've been waiting to hear for the past four years, that's when the novel really picked up.


My favorite thing about this novel (and series) has to be the secondary characters. I'm probably alone in this, but Bianca and Lucas, well, they kind of got on my nerves throughout the series. Without Balthazar or Vic, I don't know if I would have seen this series in the same light. By far, Balthazar is my favorite character and I'm quite happy he's getting his own series! And let's not forget Vic.  Vic was a great source of comic relief and I loved the interaction between him and 'his ghost' in 'Afterlife'.


I can't say anymore than this: 'Afterlife' may be sappy, but if you want closure (and if you've read 'Hourglass' you probably will), this is it. 'Afterlife' gets 3 out of 5 stars. You can find it at your local bookshop!

Review: Stargazer by Claudia Gray

Title: Stargazer
Author: Claudia Gray
Genre: YA, Supernatural, Romance
Perfect for: a rainy Saturday read

It's the start of a new school year at Evernight Academy, a school to help vampires become acclimated to the current trends.  Born to two vampires, Bianca isn't a full vampire-- that doesn't come until she makes her first kill--, but is slowly feeling less human and more vampire. While dealing with her growing blood thirst, Biana also another problem.  Though her parents don't know it, she is still love with Lucas, a black cross vampire hunter who infiltrated the school the year before and grew to love her, too, knowing full well she was part vampire.  With Lucas' cover blown, Biana is forced to meet him in secret between his hunts with Black Cross and her weekends off campus (with the help of Balthazar, a hot, evernight-type vampire).  When ghosts start attacking students, especially Bianca, she soon discovers that there is more to her than her parents ever let on. 

If you remember my review of "Evernight", it was a little harsh.  "Stargazer" was much better than it's predecessor.  Focusing less on the school activities and more on character development was a great choice by the author.  Getting to know more about Balthazar and seeing he and Bianca's relationship made for a quick, fun, page turner of a book.  And the new revelations in this book about Bianca?  Fantastic.  I'm looking forward to seeing what will happen to her now that she knows what she really is. Claudia Gray also did a great job with the flashbacks.  I was a bit worried about remembering the first book, as I found it lackluster, but my worries were uncalled for.  Gray put in flashbacks when needed, but never obsessively. 

Overall, "Stargazer" was a good sequel to "Evernight" and a good addition to the series.  It seems Gray has finally hit her stide with this series and I look forward to "Hourglass", the next book in the series.  Just like before, this book is perfect for a quick weekend read.