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Siren Suicides #3
The Afterlife
Ailen Bright is more lost than ever. Her father has betrayed her yet again, but keeps her longing for his love alive with some almost-heartfelt confessions, though few and far between. She and Hunter can never be together without fighting the urge to strangle each other with their bare hands. And to top it off, two-faced Canosa won't leave her alone. Her resolve to do the right thing is wavering as she tries to protect the ones she loves, simultaneously searching for a reason to keep on living, and the final chapter of Siren Suicides comes to a tumultuous close, bringing death, life, and love.
315 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 4, 2013
22 people are currently reading
132 people want to read
About the author
Ksenia Anske
10 books634 followersKsenia Anske was born in Moscow, Russia, and came to the US in 1998. She is the author of dark fantasy short fiction and 8 novels, and the resident writer of the Amtrak Residency Program 2015 (http://kseniaanske.com). Her novel Rosehead won Honorary Mention in the YA Category in the Indie Ebook Award 2016. Ksenia lives in Seattle.
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
July 8, 2015
I picked up The Afterlife on a 99 cent deal after reading and very much enjoying Ksenia Anske's "Rosehead."
I also bought the other two books in the series. Unfortunately, I started reading this third book, rather than the first of the series. But it worked out fine because I was not confused in the slightest about the plot and previous events. This means that the author handled the transition so well, I didn't need to read books 1 and 2. I will, of course, since I want to know more about Ailan's life. I have the big picture, now I can go back to enjoy the details.
Ms. Anske's writing is superb. What can I say except that I felt I wanted to highlight many passages for the sheer poetry of the writing. I neglected the actual highlighting on my Kindle, now I'm sorry that I didn't share great passages with others.
My recommendation is to start with the first book, then give yourself time to savor the writing. It's worth it.
I do not hand out five stars lightly. I am giving this book the full number because it deserves it. I hope many others will enjoy Ksenia Anske's skilled turn of phrase and emotional depth surpassing most of the Young Adult fantasy offerings today. Ailan is no vapid teen panting after a supernatural being. She is the supernatural being. I would dearly love to beat her father's head in on an anvil with a really big hammer. That's how much I care.
I also bought the other two books in the series. Unfortunately, I started reading this third book, rather than the first of the series. But it worked out fine because I was not confused in the slightest about the plot and previous events. This means that the author handled the transition so well, I didn't need to read books 1 and 2. I will, of course, since I want to know more about Ailan's life. I have the big picture, now I can go back to enjoy the details.
Ms. Anske's writing is superb. What can I say except that I felt I wanted to highlight many passages for the sheer poetry of the writing. I neglected the actual highlighting on my Kindle, now I'm sorry that I didn't share great passages with others.
My recommendation is to start with the first book, then give yourself time to savor the writing. It's worth it.
I do not hand out five stars lightly. I am giving this book the full number because it deserves it. I hope many others will enjoy Ksenia Anske's skilled turn of phrase and emotional depth surpassing most of the Young Adult fantasy offerings today. Ailan is no vapid teen panting after a supernatural being. She is the supernatural being. I would dearly love to beat her father's head in on an anvil with a really big hammer. That's how much I care.
September 13, 2013
I loved all three of these books but I did find the ending a little cliché. However, it worked as it showed how death isn't the answer to running from your troubles.
January 28, 2018
Wow, this book ripped me to shreds, saw me heal back again and ripped me to shreds time and time again. I cried, I laughed, I got pissed at some characters and got even more in love with others.
If you loved the first two books, you will adore this third one. If you only read book 1 and thought it could not get any better, please, pretty please, go read the two other books. The ending is fantastic. I absolutely love the ending. Such a powerful message, in the end, it well deserves to be read.
Book three is a constant roller coaster of emotions all rolled into one book. One moment I was happy and the next I cried. Yes, like real tears. It was truly hard to get through this book because of what happened to some of the characters. But trust me, in the end, all ends well. You just have to get there to see it for yourself. Trust me, this book will burn itself into your soul for life.
If you loved the first two books, you will adore this third one. If you only read book 1 and thought it could not get any better, please, pretty please, go read the two other books. The ending is fantastic. I absolutely love the ending. Such a powerful message, in the end, it well deserves to be read.
Book three is a constant roller coaster of emotions all rolled into one book. One moment I was happy and the next I cried. Yes, like real tears. It was truly hard to get through this book because of what happened to some of the characters. But trust me, in the end, all ends well. You just have to get there to see it for yourself. Trust me, this book will burn itself into your soul for life.
October 20, 2017
I really did not think I would get over the teenage love interest, Hunter and the protagonist, Ailen being in a constant state of exhaustion, cold, hunger, abuse or danger. I really, really enjoyed Ailen's story, and the use of sirens in such a way. I would say one of the highlights of this series is the description of the flavor of people's souls from the point of view of a siren. So unique and thrilling. This is an intense, atmospheric work. Bravo.
September 4, 2016
There are so many things to like about this third book, The Afterlife, in the Siren Suicides trilogy.
More is revealed about how the characters are tied to each other through choices and actions in the past, tied not by love but by guilt, manipulation, and consequences.
More pleasant geography in/around the Seattle area (on the land and water): the Fremont Troll, Mount Rainier and the Cascades. The mention of Rainier was pleasant as it evoked memories of my uncle, one of the first Army Rangers in WWII who lived in Seattle and had climbed the mountain many times.
Interesting conveyances in this book: the trawler from the second book, a self-propelled life boat, and a funereal yacht.
There was so much energy (emotion) moving the story from page to page (and this is without the benefit of knowing that "every element must turn" (from the author's recent blog post).
Oh, and in good George R.R. Martin style, .
This book (Kindle edition) had more typos (5) than the previous books. I'll report these to the author.
#KeepWriting
More is revealed about how the characters are tied to each other through choices and actions in the past, tied not by love but by guilt, manipulation, and consequences.
More pleasant geography in/around the Seattle area (on the land and water): the Fremont Troll, Mount Rainier and the Cascades. The mention of Rainier was pleasant as it evoked memories of my uncle, one of the first Army Rangers in WWII who lived in Seattle and had climbed the mountain many times.
Interesting conveyances in this book: the trawler from the second book, a self-propelled life boat, and a funereal yacht.
There was so much energy (emotion) moving the story from page to page (and this is without the benefit of knowing that "every element must turn" (from the author's recent blog post).
Oh, and in good George R.R. Martin style, .
This book (Kindle edition) had more typos (5) than the previous books. I'll report these to the author.
#KeepWriting
February 10, 2015
I feel like you can't review each book individually as it is really one continuous story, so I will review them all in one.
Ksenia Anske writes with her guts and her heart. The way she describes emotions is both poetic and stunningly accurate. She manages to convey how messy and confusing they are; how we can simultaneously experience profound loathing and profound love.
The characters are real. They have dimension. There is so much buried in this book it was delightful to construct in my head ideas of what Ksenia could have been trying to say, and revelling in my power as a reader to create my own reality.
The metaphor of sirens and siren hunters, the issues of gender so transparent in their roles in the book... It made my belly feel wriggly with intrigue and intelligence.
It was just so face slappingly great to see fiction that still has a fairly low blender level, but still creates a beautifully rich alternate world.
Death. Family. Men. Women. Abuse. Love. So much going on in three excellent books.
The ending was, admittedly, contrived, but was entirely and completely appropriate.
Highly recommend this series.
Ksenia Anske writes with her guts and her heart. The way she describes emotions is both poetic and stunningly accurate. She manages to convey how messy and confusing they are; how we can simultaneously experience profound loathing and profound love.
The characters are real. They have dimension. There is so much buried in this book it was delightful to construct in my head ideas of what Ksenia could have been trying to say, and revelling in my power as a reader to create my own reality.
The metaphor of sirens and siren hunters, the issues of gender so transparent in their roles in the book... It made my belly feel wriggly with intrigue and intelligence.
It was just so face slappingly great to see fiction that still has a fairly low blender level, but still creates a beautifully rich alternate world.
Death. Family. Men. Women. Abuse. Love. So much going on in three excellent books.
The ending was, admittedly, contrived, but was entirely and completely appropriate.
Highly recommend this series.
February 20, 2015
The Afterlife wraps up The Siren Suicides trilogy, a wild ride that is both honest and raw. I'm not sure if I devoured these books or if they devoured me, but I'm glad I read all three, and even happier I stumbled on Anske's work by chance a few months back. Her writing, be it on her blog or in her books, is a whack-in-the-face wake-up call to many a reader and writer. And that is a good thing. In this third volume, Ailen Bright continues along an arduous path set forth in the first two books, and I felt my self reading more and more just to see how things resolved themselves, how she'd come to terms with her father, her friend Hunter, and the siren Canosa, who is continuously revealed to be one nut bar of a creature. I happened to finish the last pages of this while waiting for a train, and the way it ends, which I won't spoil, left me with chills, as all good books should. Highly recommend this trilogy, and I really look forward to reading more of Anske's other works. Great stuff.
August 12, 2014
Well, with this book, I felt like things were falling into place. I read it pretty fast and I was eager to know what will happen. What will be Ailen’s conclusion. Somewhere after the middle though I left like I was reading the same thing and I was a little disappointed but hopefully it didn’t last too long. The story picked up again and I was excited.
Then I started to realize where the story was heading and I asked aloud “WHY?” I didn’t like the ending. I wanted Ailen’s story to be something more, to give a different kind of redemption. But even though the ending wasn’t as I’d like, Ksenia’s last paragraph, touched my heart and closed beautifully the message she wanted to shout out loud. So I realized that Ailen’s ending had a purpose and I get that.
Overall the series left me with a beautiful feeling and that’s the point. I hope you feel the same.
Then I started to realize where the story was heading and I asked aloud “WHY?” I didn’t like the ending. I wanted Ailen’s story to be something more, to give a different kind of redemption. But even though the ending wasn’t as I’d like, Ksenia’s last paragraph, touched my heart and closed beautifully the message she wanted to shout out loud. So I realized that Ailen’s ending had a purpose and I get that.
Overall the series left me with a beautiful feeling and that’s the point. I hope you feel the same.
September 27, 2015
So, I'm a little disappointed in this read. It was very hard for me to get through. I stuck it out because I love Ksenias writing. The ending felt like it took too long to get to, and once I did, I was a bit disappointed. The ending felt very early 2000's Disney channel, which may have come from a personal place because of the sensitive subjects of the series.
I'm also a bit disappointed that an ableist slur was used in this book. I understand that teens aren't quite aware of conscious language, it just made me uncomfortable.
Overall, I still enjoy Ksenia's writing, she knows how to turn a phrase, that's for sure. I will continue to read her work, because I enjoy it. This series was obviously not for me, though.
I'm also a bit disappointed that an ableist slur was used in this book. I understand that teens aren't quite aware of conscious language, it just made me uncomfortable.
Overall, I still enjoy Ksenia's writing, she knows how to turn a phrase, that's for sure. I will continue to read her work, because I enjoy it. This series was obviously not for me, though.
July 25, 2015
I gobbled this book up in about a day. I simply HAD to get to the end and find out what happened to Ailen, whether my kids or dogs got fed or not. I was so happy to finish it late last night.
I did not see this ending coming, and in true Anske fashion, what I really thought through all three of these books was going to happen, absolutely did not.
I was surprised and delighted with the final twist, proud of the character, and the descriptive quality of the writing combined with the beautiful symbolism throughout reminded me of my own past battles with being sucked down into the thick mud of depression, and how strong I was and am for having come through it.
I loved this series. Now, I'm on to reading Rosehead.
I did not see this ending coming, and in true Anske fashion, what I really thought through all three of these books was going to happen, absolutely did not.
I was surprised and delighted with the final twist, proud of the character, and the descriptive quality of the writing combined with the beautiful symbolism throughout reminded me of my own past battles with being sucked down into the thick mud of depression, and how strong I was and am for having come through it.
I loved this series. Now, I'm on to reading Rosehead.
February 9, 2014
So the Virgin Suicides comes to a fitting end. I've read all three books in less than a week and enjoyed every book. the imagination that went into this series was amazing. ksenia is a talented writer and really knows how to weave a tale. There were some spellbinding moments in this story. I think the ending was perfect.
April 22, 2014
Great ending for a new beginning
Hunter, Ailen, Canosa and Papa have their final battles. Preparing for her own funeral was not the way Ailen planned on moving forward with her father after Hunter's death and Canosa being seriously damaged. A burial at sea sounded great until Canosa came in the funeral home then started eating souls on the yacht. free download
Hunter, Ailen, Canosa and Papa have their final battles. Preparing for her own funeral was not the way Ailen planned on moving forward with her father after Hunter's death and Canosa being seriously damaged. A burial at sea sounded great until Canosa came in the funeral home then started eating souls on the yacht. free download
May 31, 2014
Really enjoyed this book, I enjoyed it the most out of the three.
April 29, 2016
I loved this last book in the series. It was beautiful and I absolutely love that she learned from a dream. We could all learn from a dream. This whole series was so beautifully written.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 17, 2018
What the freaking freak! When I read a book, the worst ending I don't want to read is found in this book. Well not in the bad way, when I mean worst, is the thing that will hurt you and break your heart.
This book played me well and Im crying.
This is the last book in the Siren Suicides Trilogy. The last book where Ailen Bright fights for her life in a world full of problems, as she runs away from the sirens and her father, with her friend Hunter by her side.
I expected a better ending. I love the series and goodness, the ending is not what I expected! It's way MORE than I expected and it was heartbreaking at the same time but I love it.
I was reading it first and was doing fine. I experienced the best girl fight thatI read and as soon as I reach the end, goodness! I was screaming because I didn't expect it. I have to flip back the pages, looking for reasons why.
This is so intense and dark and I can't believe that it made me cry.
I would love to thank the author for making this series. It told me that we must love our life. No matter what are your experiences, there are people who will love you.
Love will turn the way around and will change your world.
If you're depressed, we are here for you. There's a suicide hotline made for you. Always remember that there are people who cares about you.
They are there. Waiting for you.
This book played me well and Im crying.
This is the last book in the Siren Suicides Trilogy. The last book where Ailen Bright fights for her life in a world full of problems, as she runs away from the sirens and her father, with her friend Hunter by her side.
I expected a better ending. I love the series and goodness, the ending is not what I expected! It's way MORE than I expected and it was heartbreaking at the same time but I love it.
I was reading it first and was doing fine. I experienced the best girl fight thatI read and as soon as I reach the end, goodness! I was screaming because I didn't expect it. I have to flip back the pages, looking for reasons why.
This is so intense and dark and I can't believe that it made me cry.
I would love to thank the author for making this series. It told me that we must love our life. No matter what are your experiences, there are people who will love you.
Love will turn the way around and will change your world.
If you're depressed, we are here for you. There's a suicide hotline made for you. Always remember that there are people who cares about you.
They are there. Waiting for you.
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews