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Atman City #1
Life, A.D.: Life, After. Dez.
In Life, A.D. you have two choices: join the program or face the consequences.
Seventeen-year-old Dez Donnelly crashes headlong into fate on the side of a rural highway, her life ending in a violent collision of steel and screaming brakes. The train that delivers her newly departed soul to the crossroads of the afterlife won’t be carrying her to the sweet hereafter until she accepts her abrupt end and learns to let go of the life she’ll never finish.
Her new reality is conduct manuals, propaganda, and unrelenting staff, all part of a system to ease her transition from life to death, while helping her earn her way out of limbo. Atman City, beautiful and enticing, is an ever-present temptation that is strictly off limits to underage souls. The promise of adventure proves too strong, and beneath the city’s sheen of ethereal majesty, Dez discovers a world teeming with danger.
Welcome to Life, A.D. where being dead doesn’t mean you’re safe, and the only thing harder than getting out of limbo is getting through it.
Seventeen-year-old Dez Donnelly crashes headlong into fate on the side of a rural highway, her life ending in a violent collision of steel and screaming brakes. The train that delivers her newly departed soul to the crossroads of the afterlife won’t be carrying her to the sweet hereafter until she accepts her abrupt end and learns to let go of the life she’ll never finish.
Her new reality is conduct manuals, propaganda, and unrelenting staff, all part of a system to ease her transition from life to death, while helping her earn her way out of limbo. Atman City, beautiful and enticing, is an ever-present temptation that is strictly off limits to underage souls. The promise of adventure proves too strong, and beneath the city’s sheen of ethereal majesty, Dez discovers a world teeming with danger.
Welcome to Life, A.D. where being dead doesn’t mean you’re safe, and the only thing harder than getting out of limbo is getting through it.
Unknown Binding
First published December 1, 2013
2 people are currently reading
334 people want to read
About the author
Michelle E. Reed
4 books25 followersMichelle was born in a small Midwestern town, to which she has returned to raise her own family. Her imagination and love of literature were fueled by a childhood of late nights, hidden under the covers and reading by flashlight. She is a passionate adoption advocate who lives in Wisconsin with her husband, son, and their yellow lab, Sully.
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
June 17, 2017
(maaaybe 2.5)
I received this book by winning a diverse book giveaway maybe a couple years ago, and I'm not sure why it took me so long to read it. Unfortunately, it wasn't as good as I'd hoped it would be. And . . . it's painfully obvious that this book (about a black girl--and sometimes about her experience being black raised by two white parents) was written by a white woman. Google searching Michelle Reed and seeing that she's white was absolutely not a surprise at all.
Other things in this book was handled with that similar detachedness (that shouldn't have been) that makes it seem as if she either 1). hadn't gone through those experiences at all or 2). didn't research enough about them or simply didn't care. It's especially frustrating when you as a reader have gone through some of those traumatic experiences just to see them handled so carelessly.
But anyway!
Book content warnings:
rape mention
suicide
domestic abuse
child abuse
pedophilia
(I hope I'm not forgetting any . . . )
Seventeen-year-old Desiree (Dez) has just found herself in a purgatory of sorts after crashing into a semi. Because she had such a violent death at such a young age, she needs to work through some things before she can get her ticket to "move on" to the afterlife. Till then she's stuck in some dormitory with strict rules and schedules she really doesn't want to stick by, and a beautiful city outside she's forbidden to see. Of course, that just makes it all the more enticing.
This is perhaps the most drama-filled book I've ever read. People are falling in love after meeting and knowing each other one day, the amount of fights and spats are countless and pointless, and I'm just so fed up with these characters. I couldn't pick out one of them that I really liked, only some that weren't as annoying. That's . . . not so good.
Plus, the names in this book are unbearable: Dez is the black girl. Then there's Bobby, Charlie, Abbey, Mary, Anne, etc. I'm sorry; this is personal preference, but (shudder).
Bobby is, by far, the most awfully-characterized person in the book. I can't tell if Michelle Reed was trying to make him autistic (and if she was, shame! as an autistic person, that would be terrible). Bobby was a child genius before he died at age eighteen. In his purgatory he's convinced he's still alive and on life support in some hospital, and everything is somehow the making of his own subconscious. He's been dead in the "real world" for eighteen years. Yet somehow, he speaks as someone who's from the 1800s. As if that's what people with high IQs are like ? I wish I'd saved some dialogue from Bobby to show here. I know some of his worst phrases were like "'Yes, that was, as you say, "the bomb".'" or something like that.
Not to mention this book is soooo straight. I mean, sure, there's a one-line mention of one character being gay. It's never mentioned again and is never relevant to anything. And no, this isn't equal to great representation (look, there's a gay character whose sexuality isn't the main plot! yay me! no.). Yet the main character talks about her good friend as her "girlfriend", and any kind of attempt at inclusion of a gay character is just null and void. Attention straight women (and especially straight women who call themselves allies): don't do this.
Anyway, the plot was messy, the characterization was messy, and the attempt to tackle very important issues (i.e. racism, domestic abuse) was even messier. I wish I could've liked this better, but I didn't.
I received this book by winning a diverse book giveaway maybe a couple years ago, and I'm not sure why it took me so long to read it. Unfortunately, it wasn't as good as I'd hoped it would be. And . . . it's painfully obvious that this book (about a black girl--and sometimes about her experience being black raised by two white parents) was written by a white woman. Google searching Michelle Reed and seeing that she's white was absolutely not a surprise at all.
Other things in this book was handled with that similar detachedness (that shouldn't have been) that makes it seem as if she either 1). hadn't gone through those experiences at all or 2). didn't research enough about them or simply didn't care. It's especially frustrating when you as a reader have gone through some of those traumatic experiences just to see them handled so carelessly.
But anyway!
Book content warnings:
rape mention
suicide
domestic abuse
child abuse
pedophilia
(I hope I'm not forgetting any . . . )
Seventeen-year-old Desiree (Dez) has just found herself in a purgatory of sorts after crashing into a semi. Because she had such a violent death at such a young age, she needs to work through some things before she can get her ticket to "move on" to the afterlife. Till then she's stuck in some dormitory with strict rules and schedules she really doesn't want to stick by, and a beautiful city outside she's forbidden to see. Of course, that just makes it all the more enticing.
This is perhaps the most drama-filled book I've ever read. People are falling in love after meeting and knowing each other one day, the amount of fights and spats are countless and pointless, and I'm just so fed up with these characters. I couldn't pick out one of them that I really liked, only some that weren't as annoying. That's . . . not so good.
Plus, the names in this book are unbearable: Dez is the black girl. Then there's Bobby, Charlie, Abbey, Mary, Anne, etc. I'm sorry; this is personal preference, but (shudder).
Bobby is, by far, the most awfully-characterized person in the book. I can't tell if Michelle Reed was trying to make him autistic (and if she was, shame! as an autistic person, that would be terrible). Bobby was a child genius before he died at age eighteen. In his purgatory he's convinced he's still alive and on life support in some hospital, and everything is somehow the making of his own subconscious. He's been dead in the "real world" for eighteen years. Yet somehow, he speaks as someone who's from the 1800s. As if that's what people with high IQs are like ? I wish I'd saved some dialogue from Bobby to show here. I know some of his worst phrases were like "'Yes, that was, as you say, "the bomb".'" or something like that.
Not to mention this book is soooo straight. I mean, sure, there's a one-line mention of one character being gay. It's never mentioned again and is never relevant to anything. And no, this isn't equal to great representation (look, there's a gay character whose sexuality isn't the main plot! yay me! no.). Yet the main character talks about her good friend as her "girlfriend", and any kind of attempt at inclusion of a gay character is just null and void. Attention straight women (and especially straight women who call themselves allies): don't do this.
Anyway, the plot was messy, the characterization was messy, and the attempt to tackle very important issues (i.e. racism, domestic abuse) was even messier. I wish I could've liked this better, but I didn't.
January 7, 2015
I must say this author has woven a fascinating tale. To create an after life like this takes quite the imagination and talent and I truly enjoyed her take on it, but I must say if the after life was like this I am not sure I'd want any part of it, it seems very constricting and harder than life it self. I completely understand Dez's reactions to it.
She is a young girl who had her whole life ahead of her but was cut short too soon, everyone wanted her to accept it and move on, which to me wouldn't be realistic.
I didn't view her reactions as that of a rebellious stubborn child, her reactions were totally realistic, I would have been surprised if she reacted any other way.
So if we were suppose to view her as a stubborn trouble maker who can't accept the reality of her fate, it missed the mark. She is a young girl who lost her life and is stuck in boot camp purgatory, and they have some rather mean people running it.
I still loved and enjoyed this story and would recommend it to everyone. what a fascinating look at the after life for teens.
She is a young girl who had her whole life ahead of her but was cut short too soon, everyone wanted her to accept it and move on, which to me wouldn't be realistic.
I didn't view her reactions as that of a rebellious stubborn child, her reactions were totally realistic, I would have been surprised if she reacted any other way.
So if we were suppose to view her as a stubborn trouble maker who can't accept the reality of her fate, it missed the mark. She is a young girl who lost her life and is stuck in boot camp purgatory, and they have some rather mean people running it.
I still loved and enjoyed this story and would recommend it to everyone. what a fascinating look at the after life for teens.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 14, 2013
(This review can be found on my blog The (Mis)Adventures of a Twenty-Something Year Old Girl).
When I first read the blurb to this book, I knew it was a book that I had to read! A young adult book that takes place in the afterlife? Yes, please! Lucky for me, it was an amazing read.
The title suits the book quite well. It is life after Dez (the main character). The title is one of the things that caught my attention even if it does sound a bit like a historical fiction novel, at least I thought so.
The cover is very mesmerizing! I love the blue hues and what I assume is Atman City which is off limits to underage souls like Dez.
The world building is done superbly! I love Reed's fantastic descriptions of the afterlife throughout the book. Reed makes it seem as if what Dez experiences is really what the afterlife is really like. In fact, I found myself wishing I could be there because it seemed like so much fun. Unfortunately, I would've been in Atman City instead of Jhana Towers where the souls under the age of 18 are.
I really enjoyed the pacing in this book. Right away, the author drew in my attention by showing the final moments leading up to Dez's death. From there, I was further hooked by discovering with Dez what the afterlife is like. Never once did Reed let my attention waver.
I know the whole plot line about the afterlife and life after death has been done before, but never has it been done so interestingly in my opinion. Michelle E. Reed does an excellent job is making the reader believe that she's the one who invented the whole idea about the afterlife. I even enjoyed all the subplots.
The characters were all likable and well developed. Dez has a hard time accepting her death as I think a lot of people would be who died suddenly (depending on your beliefs in the afterlife). Dez seemed to be a very down to Earth girl who had a bit of a rebellious streak in her. While we don't get to find out much of what Dez was like while she was alive, we don't really need this information. Reed did an excellent job at not allowing back story to get in the way which I believe it would have done. Reed focuses on what is pertinent to the story. Hannah seemed to be very helpful and friendly. I really liked how she was willing to take a big risk to help out Dez. Charlie seemed like a very fun guy to hang around and to crush on. I also liked how he was willing to take a big risk on Dez. I like how Crosby, even though he was a member of staff, was willing to be Dez's friend while maintaining his professionalism to help her fit in. There's also the character of Bobby who is a brainiac. He reminded me of Sheldon from the Big Bang Theory. In fact, every time Bobby was mentioned, I pictured Sheldon, and when Bobby spoke, in my mind, he had Sheldon's voice.
The dialogue flows smoothly and fist perfectly with a YA novel. There is a tiny bit of swearing and a little bit of violence, but it's not too bad.
Overall, Life, A.D is a fantastic work of fiction. Michelle E. Reed writes this novel beautifully. Her plot, world building and characters are all super fantastic! When this book ended, I was hoping it'd become a series because I didn't want this story to end.
I'd recommend this book to those aged 14+ who are interested in the afterlife or for those who are after a book that will hold their attention throughout.
(I received a free ebook of this title from the tour host in exchange for a fair and honest review).
When I first read the blurb to this book, I knew it was a book that I had to read! A young adult book that takes place in the afterlife? Yes, please! Lucky for me, it was an amazing read.
The title suits the book quite well. It is life after Dez (the main character). The title is one of the things that caught my attention even if it does sound a bit like a historical fiction novel, at least I thought so.
The cover is very mesmerizing! I love the blue hues and what I assume is Atman City which is off limits to underage souls like Dez.
The world building is done superbly! I love Reed's fantastic descriptions of the afterlife throughout the book. Reed makes it seem as if what Dez experiences is really what the afterlife is really like. In fact, I found myself wishing I could be there because it seemed like so much fun. Unfortunately, I would've been in Atman City instead of Jhana Towers where the souls under the age of 18 are.
I really enjoyed the pacing in this book. Right away, the author drew in my attention by showing the final moments leading up to Dez's death. From there, I was further hooked by discovering with Dez what the afterlife is like. Never once did Reed let my attention waver.
I know the whole plot line about the afterlife and life after death has been done before, but never has it been done so interestingly in my opinion. Michelle E. Reed does an excellent job is making the reader believe that she's the one who invented the whole idea about the afterlife. I even enjoyed all the subplots.
The characters were all likable and well developed. Dez has a hard time accepting her death as I think a lot of people would be who died suddenly (depending on your beliefs in the afterlife). Dez seemed to be a very down to Earth girl who had a bit of a rebellious streak in her. While we don't get to find out much of what Dez was like while she was alive, we don't really need this information. Reed did an excellent job at not allowing back story to get in the way which I believe it would have done. Reed focuses on what is pertinent to the story. Hannah seemed to be very helpful and friendly. I really liked how she was willing to take a big risk to help out Dez. Charlie seemed like a very fun guy to hang around and to crush on. I also liked how he was willing to take a big risk on Dez. I like how Crosby, even though he was a member of staff, was willing to be Dez's friend while maintaining his professionalism to help her fit in. There's also the character of Bobby who is a brainiac. He reminded me of Sheldon from the Big Bang Theory. In fact, every time Bobby was mentioned, I pictured Sheldon, and when Bobby spoke, in my mind, he had Sheldon's voice.
The dialogue flows smoothly and fist perfectly with a YA novel. There is a tiny bit of swearing and a little bit of violence, but it's not too bad.
Overall, Life, A.D is a fantastic work of fiction. Michelle E. Reed writes this novel beautifully. Her plot, world building and characters are all super fantastic! When this book ended, I was hoping it'd become a series because I didn't want this story to end.
I'd recommend this book to those aged 14+ who are interested in the afterlife or for those who are after a book that will hold their attention throughout.
(I received a free ebook of this title from the tour host in exchange for a fair and honest review).
January 5, 2014
Life, A.D. is really one of the most unique books that I have ever read. Within the pages, we are introduced to Desiree, or Dez as she calls herself. Dez has died in a car crash, and is sent to Atman, a place of limbo. There, she is subject to rules and regulations in order to help her transition from the life that she knew to the death she must get used to.
Dez is pretty resistant for the entire novel. She refuses to believe that what has happened to her is real, and refuses to accept any of the help she is offered. Whilst I can understand why she acted the way she did, I just couldn’t really connect with her as a character. Don’t get me wrong, I enjoyed reading about her, but I just didn’t feel the kind of things I should have felt for a girl in her position.
I loved the intricacy of the world that Reed created in Life, A.D. It’s unique, and kind of mind blowing. Trains take you to where you’re supposed to go after your life has ended, and if you’re ‘flagged’, you have to stay in Atman. If you’re flagged and under eighteen, you have to stay in these towers reserved for people from age thirteen to seventeen. Dez is flagged, and because she is seventeen, is sent to one of these towers.
There, she meets Hannah and Charlie (and a few other people, as well). Hannah has been there for two years, and the staff believe that she can help Dez come to terms with her death, and assist her in moving up the levels, in order to leave limbo and Atman behind. Charlie is the love interest. I really liked him, and I thought he was the perfect mix of protective, and yet not overbearing in the slightest. He cares for Dez, but doesn’t push anything, and I really admired him for that. Hannah was a bit iffy at times, with her jealousy of Charlie and Dez’s relationship, but overall she was a likeable character.
I liked how the plot wasn’t too fast moving. We were given ample information regarding the world of Atman and the afterlife, and all the details of what it involved. I was never left confused by anything, and I wholeheartedly appreciated it. There is nothing worse than reading an intricate novel and being confused. But Reed presented all the information in a timely manner, and in such a way that you never felt as if it was an info-dump.
Whilst the novel is focussed solely on Dez’s reactions and experiences in limbo, I did not feel as if the book was slow. I think the timing of events was excellent, and I liked that fact that Dez didn’t adjust straight away. Who would? It would have been unbelievable if she had immediately accepted her state of afterlife. So, we were given a step by step of how she slowly adjusted to live in Atman, and slowly opened up to the people who were willing to help her.
That being said, there was enough action to keep the story interesting, and some pretty surprising reveals along the way, as well.
I sincerely hope that Life, A.D. is the first in a series about Dez, because the ending was left very open, and not a lot was resolved. If there is a series planned, I will most definitely be reading it.
© 2013, Chiara @ Books for a Delicate Eternity . All rights reserved.
Dez is pretty resistant for the entire novel. She refuses to believe that what has happened to her is real, and refuses to accept any of the help she is offered. Whilst I can understand why she acted the way she did, I just couldn’t really connect with her as a character. Don’t get me wrong, I enjoyed reading about her, but I just didn’t feel the kind of things I should have felt for a girl in her position.
I loved the intricacy of the world that Reed created in Life, A.D. It’s unique, and kind of mind blowing. Trains take you to where you’re supposed to go after your life has ended, and if you’re ‘flagged’, you have to stay in Atman. If you’re flagged and under eighteen, you have to stay in these towers reserved for people from age thirteen to seventeen. Dez is flagged, and because she is seventeen, is sent to one of these towers.
There, she meets Hannah and Charlie (and a few other people, as well). Hannah has been there for two years, and the staff believe that she can help Dez come to terms with her death, and assist her in moving up the levels, in order to leave limbo and Atman behind. Charlie is the love interest. I really liked him, and I thought he was the perfect mix of protective, and yet not overbearing in the slightest. He cares for Dez, but doesn’t push anything, and I really admired him for that. Hannah was a bit iffy at times, with her jealousy of Charlie and Dez’s relationship, but overall she was a likeable character.
I liked how the plot wasn’t too fast moving. We were given ample information regarding the world of Atman and the afterlife, and all the details of what it involved. I was never left confused by anything, and I wholeheartedly appreciated it. There is nothing worse than reading an intricate novel and being confused. But Reed presented all the information in a timely manner, and in such a way that you never felt as if it was an info-dump.
Whilst the novel is focussed solely on Dez’s reactions and experiences in limbo, I did not feel as if the book was slow. I think the timing of events was excellent, and I liked that fact that Dez didn’t adjust straight away. Who would? It would have been unbelievable if she had immediately accepted her state of afterlife. So, we were given a step by step of how she slowly adjusted to live in Atman, and slowly opened up to the people who were willing to help her.
That being said, there was enough action to keep the story interesting, and some pretty surprising reveals along the way, as well.
I sincerely hope that Life, A.D. is the first in a series about Dez, because the ending was left very open, and not a lot was resolved. If there is a series planned, I will most definitely be reading it.
© 2013, Chiara @ Books for a Delicate Eternity . All rights reserved.
October 19, 2014
I don't read many books dealing with the afterlife, but this is definitely a more unusual and refreshing take on it. I'm definitely looking forward to reading the next book!
At first, I wasn't sure what was going on, because Dez is on a train that will take her to Atman City, the place where she'll work through her life and transition to death after her unexpected death. I didn't realize at first that she was dead, but once things started to be explained, it was a lot less confusing. I like that she's with other kids who died unexpectedly, and that they have to work towards getting out of limbo.
What's really intriguing about this afterlife is that there is more to Atman City than what we see, especially the city itself. Mostly because we don't get to see much of it, and what we do see has a lot darker than what I ever expected. I mean, there are definitely some unsavory people in Atman City, and I am very curious to see how that will factor into the rest of the series, because it feels like it's important to the story.
Dez is definitely interesting and she's pretty resistant to getting out of limbo, even though she clearly doesn't want to be there. But I also understand why she's so resistant, because she's so young when she dies. But I also feel like she does make some pretty good progress in accepting what's happened, and that she'll become even more accepting of it in the next book. But I still didn't completely feel for her, even though I feel like I should because she's been through a lot of horrible stuff. I think it's because she's so resistant to acceptance that it was a tad bit hard to completely care about her.
This world is definitely intricate and I like that so much is explained without feeling like a massive info-dump. Everything was described so well, and I knew exactly what everything looked like and what this world was like.
Let's Rate It: Life, AD is definitely intriguing and intricate, and I like that it's such a refreshing take on the afterlife! I didn't completely love Dez, but I'm hoping she grows on me in the rest of the series. Life, AD gets 3 stars.
At first, I wasn't sure what was going on, because Dez is on a train that will take her to Atman City, the place where she'll work through her life and transition to death after her unexpected death. I didn't realize at first that she was dead, but once things started to be explained, it was a lot less confusing. I like that she's with other kids who died unexpectedly, and that they have to work towards getting out of limbo.
What's really intriguing about this afterlife is that there is more to Atman City than what we see, especially the city itself. Mostly because we don't get to see much of it, and what we do see has a lot darker than what I ever expected. I mean, there are definitely some unsavory people in Atman City, and I am very curious to see how that will factor into the rest of the series, because it feels like it's important to the story.
Dez is definitely interesting and she's pretty resistant to getting out of limbo, even though she clearly doesn't want to be there. But I also understand why she's so resistant, because she's so young when she dies. But I also feel like she does make some pretty good progress in accepting what's happened, and that she'll become even more accepting of it in the next book. But I still didn't completely feel for her, even though I feel like I should because she's been through a lot of horrible stuff. I think it's because she's so resistant to acceptance that it was a tad bit hard to completely care about her.
This world is definitely intricate and I like that so much is explained without feeling like a massive info-dump. Everything was described so well, and I knew exactly what everything looked like and what this world was like.
Let's Rate It: Life, AD is definitely intriguing and intricate, and I like that it's such a refreshing take on the afterlife! I didn't completely love Dez, but I'm hoping she grows on me in the rest of the series. Life, AD gets 3 stars.
December 18, 2013
Growth is an ongoing process even after we die.
A favorite aspect of this story for me is a rather simple one. I love, love how appropriate the title is. And it does not represent what you might think. It fits on so many levels. The cover is pretty sweet, too.
The opening scene is powerful. It instantly pulled me into the inner character of Dez, who she is, how she reacts, and what she is feeling. Her confusion, denial, admissions, and doubts as she grips what's happening to her are touching and very real. Initially, the why is left for the reader to discern. I liked this tactic.
Transitions from life to Dez seeing herself after, is done well through smooth and effective transitions of scenery and secondary characters.
The writing is easy to follow. The story is presented in first person, present tense - the official, Here and Now. For some readers, this is hard to digest. I enjoy it, and it works for this story, especially with the complexity of the world building that challenges the reader to self-examine his/her own beliefs and hopes and dreams for what comes after this life.
Clever and vivid are both the world Reed creates as are her characters. Reed gives an altered perspective of what the afterlife might be, giving the feel of hope and the need to grow mixed with a purgatory kind of setting. This afterlife is all about personal growth and brings to the forefront how in charge we truly are with our lives during life as well as in this afterlife.
There was a theme threaded throughout the tale: Most people are busy living life preparing for the future instead of living in the moment. Gosh, I love that.
I'd recommend this book to any enthusiast of young adult, adventure, or romance. Also to anyone open-minded and willing to ponder the afterlife.
A favorite aspect of this story for me is a rather simple one. I love, love how appropriate the title is. And it does not represent what you might think. It fits on so many levels. The cover is pretty sweet, too.
The opening scene is powerful. It instantly pulled me into the inner character of Dez, who she is, how she reacts, and what she is feeling. Her confusion, denial, admissions, and doubts as she grips what's happening to her are touching and very real. Initially, the why is left for the reader to discern. I liked this tactic.
Transitions from life to Dez seeing herself after, is done well through smooth and effective transitions of scenery and secondary characters.
The writing is easy to follow. The story is presented in first person, present tense - the official, Here and Now. For some readers, this is hard to digest. I enjoy it, and it works for this story, especially with the complexity of the world building that challenges the reader to self-examine his/her own beliefs and hopes and dreams for what comes after this life.
Clever and vivid are both the world Reed creates as are her characters. Reed gives an altered perspective of what the afterlife might be, giving the feel of hope and the need to grow mixed with a purgatory kind of setting. This afterlife is all about personal growth and brings to the forefront how in charge we truly are with our lives during life as well as in this afterlife.
There was a theme threaded throughout the tale: Most people are busy living life preparing for the future instead of living in the moment. Gosh, I love that.
I'd recommend this book to any enthusiast of young adult, adventure, or romance. Also to anyone open-minded and willing to ponder the afterlife.
December 25, 2014
What I liked: The premise of this story is incredibly interesting, and dare I say unique to me in the fact that I haven’t read a series that deals with this in the manner that Reed has done it, which was superb. While she introduces us to a new world, a new realm that souls go after sudden (and likely tragic) deaths, the world building is done just enough, there’s no over amount of information for us to follow. Dez is realistic in the way she acts (I mean, c’mon, she just died without warning, she’s going to be pretty stubborn about this whole “we’re transitioning you to become accustomed to being dead” ordeal), yet in some ways this can be a tad off putting for the reader but not too badly. I loved the main side characters and they way they interacted with Dez, it was interesting to watch it develop. You would think this would be a fairly boring story but its much more interesting that it sounds!
What I didn’t like: There seemed to be some characters who just appeared, did stuff, then disappeared never to be heard from again in this book. It was strange, like they were only there to move the plot along in that moment. The end was a tad rushed in my opinion, and some parts of the story just didn’t flow quite as well to me.
Overall Review: I really enjoyed reading Life, A.D. and it leaves me wondering about what comes next for Dez. We watch her grow a bit over the story and we learn more about this city known as Atman throughout the story as well as a few other things which makes it a good read that you can read and enjoy. The world building is consistent and well done, making it seem like a well established place that has been around long before Dez ever arrived.
Recommend?: This is a very good book and I really do recommend it!
What I didn’t like: There seemed to be some characters who just appeared, did stuff, then disappeared never to be heard from again in this book. It was strange, like they were only there to move the plot along in that moment. The end was a tad rushed in my opinion, and some parts of the story just didn’t flow quite as well to me.
Overall Review: I really enjoyed reading Life, A.D. and it leaves me wondering about what comes next for Dez. We watch her grow a bit over the story and we learn more about this city known as Atman throughout the story as well as a few other things which makes it a good read that you can read and enjoy. The world building is consistent and well done, making it seem like a well established place that has been around long before Dez ever arrived.
Recommend?: This is a very good book and I really do recommend it!
August 26, 2017
Rated 2.5 really.
Excerpt from my joint review for Life, After Dez and Missing in Atman - originally published at Offbeat YA.
Pros: Fresh spin on the afterlife trope. Teen POC adopted by white parents and in an interracial relationship. A side character gets an imaginative, interesting story.
Cons: The lead has a pattern of repeating the same mistakes and is cut a lot of slack regardless. Also, in Book 2, love triangle rears its head...
Will appeal to: Those who love stubborn heroines, romance and adventures in an afterlife context.
Review: First off...DISCLAIMER: I received these books from the author after approaching her on Twitter with a couple of questions about Book 3 and the series re-release (Reed put forth the new edition of Book 1 & 2 by herself, and is working on the final installment in the trilogy). She volunteered to send me Life After Dez and Missing in Atman in exchange for an honest review. That didn't affect my opinion and rating in any way. Please note: as a rule, I review all books in a series separately - except in particular instances. Since I got these two together, and most of what I had to say applied to both, I made an exception here. I hope it doesn't inconvenience you in any way.
Whole review of Life, After Dez and Missing in Atman here.
Excerpt from my joint review for Life, After Dez and Missing in Atman - originally published at Offbeat YA.
Pros: Fresh spin on the afterlife trope. Teen POC adopted by white parents and in an interracial relationship. A side character gets an imaginative, interesting story.
Cons: The lead has a pattern of repeating the same mistakes and is cut a lot of slack regardless. Also, in Book 2, love triangle rears its head...
Will appeal to: Those who love stubborn heroines, romance and adventures in an afterlife context.
Review: First off...DISCLAIMER: I received these books from the author after approaching her on Twitter with a couple of questions about Book 3 and the series re-release (Reed put forth the new edition of Book 1 & 2 by herself, and is working on the final installment in the trilogy). She volunteered to send me Life After Dez and Missing in Atman in exchange for an honest review. That didn't affect my opinion and rating in any way. Please note: as a rule, I review all books in a series separately - except in particular instances. Since I got these two together, and most of what I had to say applied to both, I made an exception here. I hope it doesn't inconvenience you in any way.
Whole review of Life, After Dez and Missing in Atman here.
December 16, 2013
Life A.D was a really good book. no - A REALLY GOOD book. It was just so...great. I will probably find myself repeating that word a lot in this review. I mean it had a GREAT beginning, middle and end. There can't be much more you could ask for.
I read this way quicker than I anticipated. The GREAT characters definitely made that possible though. I got really attatched to them and keep on thinking about them. Dez was obviously my favourite character but her aside, I really liked Bobby (I think that was his name...). He was so funny and spoke like he was from another time.
There were some new things to the paranormal genre that I really liked and appreciated.
I think Life A.D. holds high potential for a fantastic series. It was GREAT and I really do think that people would really get into it if it became a series.
It was interesting and ,well, GREAT. I would recommend it and am looking forward to finding out what will happen from now on in the series.
4.5/5 stars
*I received a copy of this book for my review post as part of the blog tour. This is my honest opinion.
I read this way quicker than I anticipated. The GREAT characters definitely made that possible though. I got really attatched to them and keep on thinking about them. Dez was obviously my favourite character but her aside, I really liked Bobby (I think that was his name...). He was so funny and spoke like he was from another time.
There were some new things to the paranormal genre that I really liked and appreciated.
I think Life A.D. holds high potential for a fantastic series. It was GREAT and I really do think that people would really get into it if it became a series.
It was interesting and ,well, GREAT. I would recommend it and am looking forward to finding out what will happen from now on in the series.
4.5/5 stars
*I received a copy of this book for my review post as part of the blog tour. This is my honest opinion.
December 9, 2013
* I was given a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review*
I freakin' loved this book!! I thought it had such a cool concept, and I really can't think of one thing I didn't like about it!!
I thought the idea of what happens after life, and basing a story on that was brilliant! There is no religious theme to this book, which to me, makes it all the more interesting. Can you imagine having to process all the emotions knowing you're dead and your life is gone? All your plans, all your aspirations are no more? This is what the book explores.
With such deep issues you would think the book would be sad and depressing right? Wrong! This book has humor, love, and adventure. Not to mention it's well written! The characters are developed and the relationships and conflicts they have together seem real and genuine.
Love young adult books? Want to read something unique and just plain awesome? Like being on the edge of your seat and not wanting to put a book down? Read this book. You will love it!
I freakin' loved this book!! I thought it had such a cool concept, and I really can't think of one thing I didn't like about it!!
I thought the idea of what happens after life, and basing a story on that was brilliant! There is no religious theme to this book, which to me, makes it all the more interesting. Can you imagine having to process all the emotions knowing you're dead and your life is gone? All your plans, all your aspirations are no more? This is what the book explores.
With such deep issues you would think the book would be sad and depressing right? Wrong! This book has humor, love, and adventure. Not to mention it's well written! The characters are developed and the relationships and conflicts they have together seem real and genuine.
Love young adult books? Want to read something unique and just plain awesome? Like being on the edge of your seat and not wanting to put a book down? Read this book. You will love it!
December 11, 2013
I received a free copy of this book for an honest review.
What a concept! Many of us believe in life after death, of course, but Michelle E. Reed has a whole new idea of what it could be like. Even though I hope she's wrong, I enjoyed this book. It was easy to read and hard to put down.
From the beginning, you feel Dez's confusion and anxiety. It's easy to see why she rebels, not just because she's a teen, but also because of the circumstances. I liked her strength and the obvious strong bond she'd had with her parents. There are quite a few characters in Life A.D. and each has their own sad story. I became quite attached to the kids on the 95th floor!
This is one of those books that I didn't want to end and although it does end well, I hope to see a sequel in the future. If you like young adult books, you'll love Life A.D.
What a concept! Many of us believe in life after death, of course, but Michelle E. Reed has a whole new idea of what it could be like. Even though I hope she's wrong, I enjoyed this book. It was easy to read and hard to put down.
From the beginning, you feel Dez's confusion and anxiety. It's easy to see why she rebels, not just because she's a teen, but also because of the circumstances. I liked her strength and the obvious strong bond she'd had with her parents. There are quite a few characters in Life A.D. and each has their own sad story. I became quite attached to the kids on the 95th floor!
This is one of those books that I didn't want to end and although it does end well, I hope to see a sequel in the future. If you like young adult books, you'll love Life A.D.
October 5, 2014
I loved this book. it takes on the aspect of death and afterlife, transforming it into a character driven story. Dez the MC has to adapt to her new surroundings, after her death in a car accident she is transported to the afterlife by train. There she is meant to remain in the Jhana Park in a state of limbo until she has overcome the various obstacles that are preventing her from letting go and moving on to heaven.
What makes this story exciting, is that everyone is dead and once you're dead you can't die again. Yet, the fact that criminals are lurking about with not so pure intents makes the whole story gripping.
The only downside I found in the instalment were a few 2 page characters that only served clichéd purposes.
I am looking forward to the sequel M.I.A.
What makes this story exciting, is that everyone is dead and once you're dead you can't die again. Yet, the fact that criminals are lurking about with not so pure intents makes the whole story gripping.
The only downside I found in the instalment were a few 2 page characters that only served clichéd purposes.
I am looking forward to the sequel M.I.A.
April 27, 2014
I just finished reading Life, A.D.: Life, After Dez and must say I really enjoyed it. This was extremely outside of my genre of books that I read. We read it for book club. I found the book to be well written and gave enough details but was not overly wordy. I honestly was not sure I would want to read any further than the first book but I look forward to the second book coming out so that I can find out all the questions I have as to what happens to Dez. I think she was/is an interesting character because to be honest, I can relate to her rebellious nature and questioning of authority.
A very well written book that tied up loose ends but still left you wanting more.
A very well written book that tied up loose ends but still left you wanting more.
October 5, 2014
Pretty obvious that I enjoy stories about death and that ‘limbo’ in between place.
I admire the world that Reed has built within these pages- she had me smiling at times, just reveling in her creativity. I loved the idea of the trains, and I kept picturing the towers as the dorms from my alma mater. Reed pays very close attention to detail (a girl after my own heart). I think she and I could sit down and have some crazy chats about our ideas of death…
The beginning is powerful and mesmerizing- I’m not the first to say- it’s one of the most engrossing openings I’ve read.
The best part: The imagination.
Beautifully done.
I admire the world that Reed has built within these pages- she had me smiling at times, just reveling in her creativity. I loved the idea of the trains, and I kept picturing the towers as the dorms from my alma mater. Reed pays very close attention to detail (a girl after my own heart). I think she and I could sit down and have some crazy chats about our ideas of death…
The beginning is powerful and mesmerizing- I’m not the first to say- it’s one of the most engrossing openings I’ve read.
The best part: The imagination.
Beautifully done.
August 17, 2014
I am obsessed with the idea of what happens to someone after they die. So, when I saw this book, I had to snatch it up, and I am glad I did! It was very interesting to be in the minds of teenagers after they have died, and to bear witness to their raw emotion.
I felt as if some of the plot was forced at times (like the love interests/triangle), and the ending was very quick and not very fulfilling. That's not to say it was bad, because it wasn't, but I guess I was wanting some huge GOTCHA moment, and I didn't get it, and that was kind of a bummer.
All-in-all, though, I'd totally recommend this book to others. I'm going to put it in my classroom library for my students to read. :)
I felt as if some of the plot was forced at times (like the love interests/triangle), and the ending was very quick and not very fulfilling. That's not to say it was bad, because it wasn't, but I guess I was wanting some huge GOTCHA moment, and I didn't get it, and that was kind of a bummer.
All-in-all, though, I'd totally recommend this book to others. I'm going to put it in my classroom library for my students to read. :)
April 30, 2015
I really enjoyed this book. It has such an interesting concept, and i adored the characters. There was only two reasons i didnt give it 5 stars.
#1 maybe i missed it, but we never got a description of Dez. i mean, shes the main character, and i didnt really know what she looked like. i made an image up in my head, but still
#2 the slight lack of plot. while i loved seeing Dez getting used to this new world, i couldnt really see a plot. there wasnt really a climax, or anything. it was just Dez getting used to her new life (er...afterlife)
other than that I loved it! Charlie was adorable and Hannah rocked.
#1 maybe i missed it, but we never got a description of Dez. i mean, shes the main character, and i didnt really know what she looked like. i made an image up in my head, but still
#2 the slight lack of plot. while i loved seeing Dez getting used to this new world, i couldnt really see a plot. there wasnt really a climax, or anything. it was just Dez getting used to her new life (er...afterlife)
other than that I loved it! Charlie was adorable and Hannah rocked.
September 17, 2019
Very interesting take on the afterlife. For Des getting on the train to the afterlife is not the wonderful thing we dream about. She doesn't have a ticket and is "flagged". She is stuck in a military type afterlife where there are more rules and regulation that an immigration application.
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