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Afterlife #2
Thereafter
Nothing in life is free. Turns out, nothing in the afterlife is, either.
When recently-deceased Irene Dunphy decided to “follow the light,” she thought she’d end up in Heaven or Hell and her journey would be over.
Boy, was she wrong.
She soon finds that “the other side” isn’t a final destination but a kind of purgatory where billions of spirits are stuck, with no way to move forward or back. Even worse, deranged phantoms known as “Hungry Ghosts” stalk the dead, intent on destroying them. The only way out is for Irene to forget her life on earth—including the boy who risked everything to help her cross over—which she’s not about to do.
As Irene desperately searches for an alternative, help unexpectedly comes in the unlikeliest of forms: a twelfth-century Spanish knight and a nineteenth-century American cowboy. Even more surprising, one offers a chance for redemption; the other, love. Unfortunately, she won’t be able to have either if she can’t find a way to escape the hellish limbo where they’re all trapped.
When recently-deceased Irene Dunphy decided to “follow the light,” she thought she’d end up in Heaven or Hell and her journey would be over.
Boy, was she wrong.
She soon finds that “the other side” isn’t a final destination but a kind of purgatory where billions of spirits are stuck, with no way to move forward or back. Even worse, deranged phantoms known as “Hungry Ghosts” stalk the dead, intent on destroying them. The only way out is for Irene to forget her life on earth—including the boy who risked everything to help her cross over—which she’s not about to do.
As Irene desperately searches for an alternative, help unexpectedly comes in the unlikeliest of forms: a twelfth-century Spanish knight and a nineteenth-century American cowboy. Even more surprising, one offers a chance for redemption; the other, love. Unfortunately, she won’t be able to have either if she can’t find a way to escape the hellish limbo where they’re all trapped.
- GenresFantasy
318 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 1, 2013
4 people are currently reading
280 people want to read
About the author
Terri Bruce
14 books262 followersTerri Bruce has been making up adventure stories for as long as she can remember. Like Anne Shirley, she prefers to make people cry rather than laugh, but is happy if she can do either. She is the author of the paranormal/contemporary fantasy "Afterlife" series, which includes Hereafter (Afterlife #1) and Thereafter (Afterlife #2), and several science fiction and fantasy short stories, including "Welcome to OASIS" ("Dear Robot" anthology, November 2015), "The Well" ("It's Come to Our Attention" anthology, Third Flatiron Press, February 2016), and "The Lady and the Unicorn" (NH Pulp Fiction "Live Free or Dragons" anthology, Plaidswede Publishing, Fall 2016). Her third novel, Whereafter (Afterlife #3) releases March 15, 2016. Visit her on the web at www.terribruce.net.
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
August 7, 2016
3.5 Stars
Full Review:
*I received a free ecopy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.*
Much like the first book, this was an extremely thought-provoking book about life after death. But whereas the first book still took place on earth, this one took place in another realm, a place where the dead have moved on to. It was a rather bleak portrayal of the afterlife, but it's not the end of Irene's journey, so it could get even worse... or it could get better.
As for Irene, she was still a hard character to like, but not a bad person. I think I was actually most annoyed with her simply for the way she would, as she said herself, "run off half-cocked without really thinking things through." But she was more likeable this time in the sense that it was easier to feel empathy for her as she grew and changed and tried to become a better person.
One of the side characters, Andras, also had some great character growth. I felt for him too, for the way he was forced to question everything he believed in with his entire being for so long and for the burden of his past that he carried with him. (He also, for all his stoicness, made the best joke in the entire book. Way to seize the opportunity with that "God provides" line, Andras!)
And I really liked the friendship that formed between Irene and Andras. It took a while to develop, but it was really sweet.
There was more romance in this book, it just wasn't quite the same as what you find in most books, and it definitely wasn't the focus. But I was ok with that, *SPOILER ALERT* *END SPOILER ALERT*
What I didn't like so much though was the slow pace (not a bad thing, just not quite to my taste) and, more so, the revolving cast of characters. I'm a series person because it takes me a while to truly connect with characters. So even though the development was good, having different characters in this book than were in the first one (aside from Irene) just made it hard for me to truly warm up to any of them.
Overall though, this was another good book in a series that had great character growth and a very unique, detailed take on the afterlife unlike any I've ever seen before!
Recommended For:
Fans of Book 1 in Terri Bruce's Afterlife series. Anyone who likes books about the afterlife, books that make them think, and unique but sweet friendships between characters.
Original Review @ Metaphors and Moonlight
Full Review:
*I received a free ecopy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.*
Much like the first book, this was an extremely thought-provoking book about life after death. But whereas the first book still took place on earth, this one took place in another realm, a place where the dead have moved on to. It was a rather bleak portrayal of the afterlife, but it's not the end of Irene's journey, so it could get even worse... or it could get better.
As for Irene, she was still a hard character to like, but not a bad person. I think I was actually most annoyed with her simply for the way she would, as she said herself, "run off half-cocked without really thinking things through." But she was more likeable this time in the sense that it was easier to feel empathy for her as she grew and changed and tried to become a better person.
One of the side characters, Andras, also had some great character growth. I felt for him too, for the way he was forced to question everything he believed in with his entire being for so long and for the burden of his past that he carried with him. (He also, for all his stoicness, made the best joke in the entire book. Way to seize the opportunity with that "God provides" line, Andras!)
And I really liked the friendship that formed between Irene and Andras. It took a while to develop, but it was really sweet.
There was more romance in this book, it just wasn't quite the same as what you find in most books, and it definitely wasn't the focus. But I was ok with that, *SPOILER ALERT* *END SPOILER ALERT*
What I didn't like so much though was the slow pace (not a bad thing, just not quite to my taste) and, more so, the revolving cast of characters. I'm a series person because it takes me a while to truly connect with characters. So even though the development was good, having different characters in this book than were in the first one (aside from Irene) just made it hard for me to truly warm up to any of them.
Overall though, this was another good book in a series that had great character growth and a very unique, detailed take on the afterlife unlike any I've ever seen before!
Recommended For:
Fans of Book 1 in Terri Bruce's Afterlife series. Anyone who likes books about the afterlife, books that make them think, and unique but sweet friendships between characters.
Original Review @ Metaphors and Moonlight
May 24, 2014
I am so glad I stuck with this series. I've gone from hating Irene Dunphy to adoring her. And I have to say that one of the best things about this series is the character exploration. Just as Irene is peeling back the different layers of the after life, the after life is peeling back the rough layers of Irene. She's stripping away all of the baggage and we get to see her for who she truly is--an incredibly stubborn woman who loves so big and has such a huge heart that she is terrified of using it.
After Irene goes down the tunnel, she finds herself in a city with a strange cat guiding her. The cat leads her to the forest, where she gets rescued from the Hungry Dead by Andras, a knight who died 800 years ago. The Hungry Dead are exactly that--dead that are starving for memories. Irene's ability to sympathize with them once she understands them is so telling. She also comes across a flirtatious cowboy named Ian, and long story short (without giving away too much), the three unlikely companions set off trying to find a way to cross the river.
Andras is such a great character, and I love the parallels he has to Jonah. That says good things about him. Those two really represent that inner voice deep inside Irene that is telling her who she wants to be and who she really is. Ian, while fun, is more of a representation of who Irene let herself become while she was alive. Watching her interact with them is like watching her go at war with the two parts of herself that have been battling this whole time--the part that wants to go back to her shallow existence that gave off appearances of being happy, and the part that wants to be better and wants to do more.
This book is well-written, well thought out, clever, and the most intriguing exploration of the layers of a person that I've ever read. While I might be worried for Jonah in the next book, I have faith that the Acorn will once again come through.
After Irene goes down the tunnel, she finds herself in a city with a strange cat guiding her. The cat leads her to the forest, where she gets rescued from the Hungry Dead by Andras, a knight who died 800 years ago. The Hungry Dead are exactly that--dead that are starving for memories. Irene's ability to sympathize with them once she understands them is so telling. She also comes across a flirtatious cowboy named Ian, and long story short (without giving away too much), the three unlikely companions set off trying to find a way to cross the river.
Andras is such a great character, and I love the parallels he has to Jonah. That says good things about him. Those two really represent that inner voice deep inside Irene that is telling her who she wants to be and who she really is. Ian, while fun, is more of a representation of who Irene let herself become while she was alive. Watching her interact with them is like watching her go at war with the two parts of herself that have been battling this whole time--the part that wants to go back to her shallow existence that gave off appearances of being happy, and the part that wants to be better and wants to do more.
This book is well-written, well thought out, clever, and the most intriguing exploration of the layers of a person that I've ever read. While I might be worried for Jonah in the next book, I have faith that the Acorn will once again come through.
January 3, 2021
A good follow on book
A thoughtful process on what might happen next after accepting you are dead. Looking forward to what happens next with Irene
A thoughtful process on what might happen next after accepting you are dead. Looking forward to what happens next with Irene
May 8, 2014
UGGGGG I hate to not give a glowing review. I feel I failed as a reader to understand the author's message. I know that writing a book is hard and grueling, and I never want to take away from someone's effort at telling their story their way. Just know this book didn't work for me personally, but that I applaud the effort and I myself could not do what this author did so props there.
The premise of the book Thereafter, the sequel to Hereafter, was an interesting premise. What if all human beliefs about life after death throughout history were correct? And there were people navigating this other place, this existence after death, trying to find a way through it and transcend it? Sounds pretty good.
However, our companion through this book, the beautiful Irene first introduced in Hereafter, was a character I could not personally like or identify with. Nearly everything about her irritated and annoyed me. I could not believe how page after page after page she continued to be the shrill, self-centered, ungrateful, unkind, angry, bitter person that she was. Nearly every description of her throughout the book was of her being filled with rage or shrieking in frustration, or kicking something, or shooing someone or some animal away, or hitting someone. Ok, for one, if it were a man hitting a woman in frustration, it would be terrible. So even though this makes some points about how modern and feminist Irene is, it's ok for her to use her fists or feet when she's unhappy with someone else's opinion. I don't like a double standard. It doesn't make you a strong women just because you can inflict pain on a guy.
The two men in the book that for reasons only known to themselves since she is often rude, belittling, condescending, and angry with them (at least twice she kicks one of them between the legs) follow her around like puppies despite her attitude. Ok I get that one of them seemed attracted to her. That didn't seem like enough reason to go through all he did to stay with her, And I cannot for the life of me understand why Andras stayed with her. It wasn't to be nice, he didn't real seem like a nice guy. They pretty much hated each other.
I DID NOT GET THIS WOMAN. The way she lived her life, full of booze and casual sex, did not bring her any happiness in her life or death. Yet she is contemptuous or belittling of anyone that suggests there's other ways to be, such as Andras. He's simply old fashioned and can't understand modern women and how awesome they are because they can do things like that. No matter that she admits she doesn't even know what it feels like to be in love and all her lovers were disappointments and she was always fine when they left.
And
There were somethings to like about this book. It had an interesting story. I liked the different ideas about after life and someone exploring them. The prose was good. World building was good, I got a real sense of gloom and doom about the place. The main character was my main problem, and the other two characters we spend time getting to know are shallow and poorly developed. I mean, at the end, I know very little about either of them, their lives, why they stayed with Irene, what they think about anything. And also, they were unlikable. Maybe I just missed the point of this book, but it was not my cup of tea. I'm also a bit astounded that there will be four more books in the series.
The premise of the book Thereafter, the sequel to Hereafter, was an interesting premise. What if all human beliefs about life after death throughout history were correct? And there were people navigating this other place, this existence after death, trying to find a way through it and transcend it? Sounds pretty good.
However, our companion through this book, the beautiful Irene first introduced in Hereafter, was a character I could not personally like or identify with. Nearly everything about her irritated and annoyed me. I could not believe how page after page after page she continued to be the shrill, self-centered, ungrateful, unkind, angry, bitter person that she was. Nearly every description of her throughout the book was of her being filled with rage or shrieking in frustration, or kicking something, or shooing someone or some animal away, or hitting someone. Ok, for one, if it were a man hitting a woman in frustration, it would be terrible. So even though this makes some points about how modern and feminist Irene is, it's ok for her to use her fists or feet when she's unhappy with someone else's opinion. I don't like a double standard. It doesn't make you a strong women just because you can inflict pain on a guy.
The two men in the book that for reasons only known to themselves since she is often rude, belittling, condescending, and angry with them (at least twice she kicks one of them between the legs) follow her around like puppies despite her attitude. Ok I get that one of them seemed attracted to her. That didn't seem like enough reason to go through all he did to stay with her, And I cannot for the life of me understand why Andras stayed with her. It wasn't to be nice, he didn't real seem like a nice guy. They pretty much hated each other.
I DID NOT GET THIS WOMAN. The way she lived her life, full of booze and casual sex, did not bring her any happiness in her life or death. Yet she is contemptuous or belittling of anyone that suggests there's other ways to be, such as Andras. He's simply old fashioned and can't understand modern women and how awesome they are because they can do things like that. No matter that she admits she doesn't even know what it feels like to be in love and all her lovers were disappointments and she was always fine when they left.
And
There were somethings to like about this book. It had an interesting story. I liked the different ideas about after life and someone exploring them. The prose was good. World building was good, I got a real sense of gloom and doom about the place. The main character was my main problem, and the other two characters we spend time getting to know are shallow and poorly developed. I mean, at the end, I know very little about either of them, their lives, why they stayed with Irene, what they think about anything. And also, they were unlikable. Maybe I just missed the point of this book, but it was not my cup of tea. I'm also a bit astounded that there will be four more books in the series.
July 25, 2014
Ok, I am going to say that I am still not a major fan of Irene, she is still a bitch, just different LOL and dead. :) She's not fighting the dead part anymore. But that doesn't mean I don't like the book. Not everyone likes every main character, and I think that's what makes this series so fascinating. Most of the time when we love a book, it's a lot of us loving the characters, and then we just follow their adventure along the way. Well, Irene is someone I want to punch in the face, hard, alot, and then gag her so she can't even open her mouth HAHAHAHAHA And oddly, I know people just like her. Which is the other thing, she is so damn flawed that she's real. She is a very believable character. You will know people exactly like her in your real life.
So, in the first book, which is mainly Irene first trying to prove that she's not dead, then trying to figure out what to do about it. This one is she now knows she's dead, and she needs to figure out how to get out of this stuck place. And it's going to cost her. Irene still thinks she can bully her way to getting what she wants. When she figures that won't work, she's going to hard ball it. LOL She's still a very ungrateful, sometimes mean, very vain, and angry. She is seriously angry. I'ma have to send her some of my food, maybe she'll shut up while she eats hahahaha She definitely wasn't expecting what she got here.
The two guys in here, I feel a little for them. They kind of treated her like a princess, and that seriously made her think she could treat them badly. And she still has a drinking problem hahahaha. Andras is different. He's old fashioned, and doesn't get the modern thing, and is very stuck back in the day. And he still follows her, even though they don't seem like they like each other much. Ian, well, I don't like Ian, and I think Irene is STUPID STUPID STUPID for her choices with him. Boy oh boy, let me just say that she has terrible choice in picking men. I don't wanna give away spoilers. LOL. And though he seemed like the nice guy, he wasn't.
Now as for the story line, I think it's completely cool how in the first book she delves into all the ways people honor their dead, and the significance it has on the afterlife. In this one, she finally, seriously it took her forever, realizes she could help so many people's suffering. And thought she bitterly does help, it feels like she was so mad about it. But she encounters so many people in the "dead" and I think I understand why so many of them are angry like her. They are stuck, and have everything they've ever known taken from them, and they can't even reach the peace they need in death. I loved this part, because it's such a unique view on the afterlife. The world building is fantastic, and if you took out me not liking Irene, the writing is great. It's amazing how much research was put into this to have all the different culture takes. And it definitely has the gothic gloomy feeling about being ghostly as you read. It's quite an interesting thing, and I will say, I do hope after all this, in the next book, Irene gets her act together and starts acting like a person. LOL Seriously, if she'd just shut up and stop throwing around child like temper tantrums, she'd be a very interesting character. But I think that's the point. Who wants to be happy about being dead and stuck. So I'm looking forward to seeing where this will go in the next book. 4 CREEPY GHOSTLY PAWS!!
So, in the first book, which is mainly Irene first trying to prove that she's not dead, then trying to figure out what to do about it. This one is she now knows she's dead, and she needs to figure out how to get out of this stuck place. And it's going to cost her. Irene still thinks she can bully her way to getting what she wants. When she figures that won't work, she's going to hard ball it. LOL She's still a very ungrateful, sometimes mean, very vain, and angry. She is seriously angry. I'ma have to send her some of my food, maybe she'll shut up while she eats hahahaha She definitely wasn't expecting what she got here.
The two guys in here, I feel a little for them. They kind of treated her like a princess, and that seriously made her think she could treat them badly. And she still has a drinking problem hahahaha. Andras is different. He's old fashioned, and doesn't get the modern thing, and is very stuck back in the day. And he still follows her, even though they don't seem like they like each other much. Ian, well, I don't like Ian, and I think Irene is STUPID STUPID STUPID for her choices with him. Boy oh boy, let me just say that she has terrible choice in picking men. I don't wanna give away spoilers. LOL. And though he seemed like the nice guy, he wasn't.
Now as for the story line, I think it's completely cool how in the first book she delves into all the ways people honor their dead, and the significance it has on the afterlife. In this one, she finally, seriously it took her forever, realizes she could help so many people's suffering. And thought she bitterly does help, it feels like she was so mad about it. But she encounters so many people in the "dead" and I think I understand why so many of them are angry like her. They are stuck, and have everything they've ever known taken from them, and they can't even reach the peace they need in death. I loved this part, because it's such a unique view on the afterlife. The world building is fantastic, and if you took out me not liking Irene, the writing is great. It's amazing how much research was put into this to have all the different culture takes. And it definitely has the gothic gloomy feeling about being ghostly as you read. It's quite an interesting thing, and I will say, I do hope after all this, in the next book, Irene gets her act together and starts acting like a person. LOL Seriously, if she'd just shut up and stop throwing around child like temper tantrums, she'd be a very interesting character. But I think that's the point. Who wants to be happy about being dead and stuck. So I'm looking forward to seeing where this will go in the next book. 4 CREEPY GHOSTLY PAWS!!
May 27, 2014
Irene Dunphy never imagined just how much her life would change when she unexpectedly found herself dead and alone. Though Jonah has helped her make it to the other side of the tunnel, she still finds herself foundering in a dark abyss. She's not exactly sure about where it is she should go or what she should do. Sure, she's heard stories about the other side, but nothing ever prepared her for what she's encountered up until now.
Everywhere she looks, the dead are shuffling about. Some are accepting of their situations. Others refuse to remain at ease about being dead. Some . . . well, they just crumble into oblivion. Irene, on the other hand, refuses to remain idle while time continues to pass her by. She's determined in getting answers to the questions she harbors inside. Someone out there must know something!
Navigating the land of the dead isn't easy, a certainty Irene learns with every step she takes. There are horrors here just as there are in real life. One wrong move, and it can all end badly. Determined in finding the right path, she sets into motion a series of events that will further change her life and that of those around her. Though she knows she should let well alone, she knows she can't. The light at the other side is waiting for her, and she'll do everything possible to find it, no matter the cost.
A great addition to this series, Thereafter answers questions that the first book left behind. Granted, this book leaves us with several new ones, but I think the third book in the series will definitely tidy things up when the time comes. It's refreshing to see that Irene refuses to take things lying down. She'll do everything possible to change her circumstances. Will she succeed? It's hard to say, but it's going to be fun in discovering if she does once the next book in the series rolls around.
Everywhere she looks, the dead are shuffling about. Some are accepting of their situations. Others refuse to remain at ease about being dead. Some . . . well, they just crumble into oblivion. Irene, on the other hand, refuses to remain idle while time continues to pass her by. She's determined in getting answers to the questions she harbors inside. Someone out there must know something!
Navigating the land of the dead isn't easy, a certainty Irene learns with every step she takes. There are horrors here just as there are in real life. One wrong move, and it can all end badly. Determined in finding the right path, she sets into motion a series of events that will further change her life and that of those around her. Though she knows she should let well alone, she knows she can't. The light at the other side is waiting for her, and she'll do everything possible to find it, no matter the cost.
A great addition to this series, Thereafter answers questions that the first book left behind. Granted, this book leaves us with several new ones, but I think the third book in the series will definitely tidy things up when the time comes. It's refreshing to see that Irene refuses to take things lying down. She'll do everything possible to change her circumstances. Will she succeed? It's hard to say, but it's going to be fun in discovering if she does once the next book in the series rolls around.
January 24, 2016
I received a copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. When I read the first in the series, I enjoyed it but had a few minor issues, and hoped that I would like this one better. I was not disappointed. This book, from the moment that I started reading it, felt easier to read. It flowed well, the plot was really well thought out and Bruce's originality and creativity was evident in an even higher degree than before. Seriously, the amount of research into the afterlife and the world that Bruce has put together is truly impressive! One of my main issues with the last book, 'Hereafter', was that I didn't like Irene. Here, I found I liked her better (we still did fall out occasionally). I really liked the characters surrounding her too and the relationships between characters. I felt like Bruce wrote them with a great understanding of exactly what they were like. I really got attached to them in a away that I didn't in the last book (particularly Andras, I spent much of the book feeling a bit sorry for him and squealed a little bit at the ending that Bruce wrote). There were also many more twists and turns than in the last book and I felt that this book proves that this series could be leading up to something great. I still did have a couple of issues, not just with Irene but with unanswered questions. Having looked, this book is planned to be the second of a six-part series and so I have no doubt that Bruce will tie up all the loose threads in due course. I will just have to be patient! I can't wait to read the next one!
For a full review, see here: http://chasedbymyimagination.blogspot...
For a full review, see here: http://chasedbymyimagination.blogspot...
October 20, 2014
Thought-provoking afterlife adventure --
Once again, Terri Bruce delivers a fast-paced read that offers more than the typical quest. THEREAFTER is a thought-provoking journey through the afterlife as it might be experienced by someone who wasn’t good or evil while living, but who simply put her desires before those of others.
Irene Dunphy meets many challenges in the afterlife as she seeks a way to cross the river to whatever waits beyond. Along the way, she gets in touch with new facets of herself and her traveling companions. A “guide cat” with attitude, an origami horse, and cantankerous brownies (the elven kind) provide comic relief for Irene and her human sidekicks, Ian and Andras. Fourteen-year-old Jonah from HEREAFTER returns as an important, but off-stage, character.
I still don’t find Irene likable for the most part, but her growth is realistic and I care about her; you feel her pain as she learns life lessons the hard way (which is especially sad since she’s no longer alive). Young adult readers will find the mix of mythology, history, and religion easily accessible as integral parts of Irene's adventure.
Looking forward to the next book to see what happens next!
Once again, Terri Bruce delivers a fast-paced read that offers more than the typical quest. THEREAFTER is a thought-provoking journey through the afterlife as it might be experienced by someone who wasn’t good or evil while living, but who simply put her desires before those of others.
Irene Dunphy meets many challenges in the afterlife as she seeks a way to cross the river to whatever waits beyond. Along the way, she gets in touch with new facets of herself and her traveling companions. A “guide cat” with attitude, an origami horse, and cantankerous brownies (the elven kind) provide comic relief for Irene and her human sidekicks, Ian and Andras. Fourteen-year-old Jonah from HEREAFTER returns as an important, but off-stage, character.
I still don’t find Irene likable for the most part, but her growth is realistic and I care about her; you feel her pain as she learns life lessons the hard way (which is especially sad since she’s no longer alive). Young adult readers will find the mix of mythology, history, and religion easily accessible as integral parts of Irene's adventure.
Looking forward to the next book to see what happens next!
May 5, 2014
Actual Rating: 4.5 Stars !!!
I got this book from the author, free of cost, in exchange of an honest review from my side.
Firstly I would like to thank the author for giving me this opportunity of reading and reviewing this book.
I loved this story!!! It's awesome. The characters are developed and mature and the dialogues are to the point and crisp. I loved the mystery and suspense, it kept me hooked to the story till the end.
The writing style of the author is remarkable and the detail descriptions that she delivered here through her enriched words really won over my heart and made me a part of the world that the author created so beautifully and most importantly the execution is brilliant which really made me believe in the plot and the characters.
The story is totally unpredictable with unknown twists and turns that are sure to shock you. The background information is good and I didn't feel lost while going in to the details of the limbo state in which Irene got stuck. Over all a great read that I would definitely recommend to all the fabulous readers out there. I'm sure you guys will enjoy this fresh and unique story as much as I did.
I got this book from the author, free of cost, in exchange of an honest review from my side.
Firstly I would like to thank the author for giving me this opportunity of reading and reviewing this book.
I loved this story!!! It's awesome. The characters are developed and mature and the dialogues are to the point and crisp. I loved the mystery and suspense, it kept me hooked to the story till the end.
The writing style of the author is remarkable and the detail descriptions that she delivered here through her enriched words really won over my heart and made me a part of the world that the author created so beautifully and most importantly the execution is brilliant which really made me believe in the plot and the characters.
The story is totally unpredictable with unknown twists and turns that are sure to shock you. The background information is good and I didn't feel lost while going in to the details of the limbo state in which Irene got stuck. Over all a great read that I would definitely recommend to all the fabulous readers out there. I'm sure you guys will enjoy this fresh and unique story as much as I did.
May 12, 2014
**I received a gift copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review**
Thereafter is a really well written story of Irene's journey as she "crosses over". New characters are introduced and new adventures await Irene.
Things don't actually pan out the way she thought they would, but let's face it, it would be a shorter story if they did :p
She acquires several new companions along the way (and a new nickname) and these help flesh out the story really well.
Terri Bruce's writing style flows along and carries the reader with it. Her descriptions draw you into each chapter and make you wonder if the hereafter IS really the way she describes it, It also makes ya ask yourself "what would I do?" .
I like the way this series is going and I'm looking forward to reading the next instalment to see how Irene gets on with her "quest".
Thereafter is a really well written story of Irene's journey as she "crosses over". New characters are introduced and new adventures await Irene.
Things don't actually pan out the way she thought they would, but let's face it, it would be a shorter story if they did :p
She acquires several new companions along the way (and a new nickname) and these help flesh out the story really well.
Terri Bruce's writing style flows along and carries the reader with it. Her descriptions draw you into each chapter and make you wonder if the hereafter IS really the way she describes it, It also makes ya ask yourself "what would I do?" .
I like the way this series is going and I'm looking forward to reading the next instalment to see how Irene gets on with her "quest".
May 23, 2014
First I would like to say that I received this book through the goodreads giveaway. I Was so glad that I was able to receive this book and be able to read it. I have never read any books by this author before but I will be now. The charters are so well developed that you are drawn into the story and feel you are one of them from the time you begin reading this book. It is exceptional storytelling so beautifully written. I love a good mystery and suspense story and this is a great one. I received this book in the mail yesterday and once I opened it I could not put it down it is amazing. I just loved it. I will be looking for more books by this author. I would suggest this book to anyone. It is a great read.
March 1, 2014
The afterlife holds nothing but surprises for Irene and the reader – twists and turns that a lot more fun for the reader than for Irene. She’s unprepared, alone, and almost totally unsuited to finding a way to cross over. Her story is at times frightening, funny, and touching, and it ends with an even bigger surprise. The one thing that defines Irene is her determination. No matter what happens, she does not give up, and she finds out she can do more than she had ever hoped for. Death was the first problem for Irene, and this new novel makes the next problem even more fascinating.
June 6, 2014
About 15% in, I got extremely bored...but after that, I couldn't put it down. The characters, the story, the choices, all of the elements had some sort of underlying meaning to Irene's journey, and I love how it all came together in the end.
Irene, in my opinion, is so much more human than several other protagonists I see in books nowadays, and the end brought tears to my eyes. Something like that doesn't happen often. Highly recommend this. It was better than Hereafter, and that is what a series should ALWAYS aspire to do!
Irene, in my opinion, is so much more human than several other protagonists I see in books nowadays, and the end brought tears to my eyes. Something like that doesn't happen often. Highly recommend this. It was better than Hereafter, and that is what a series should ALWAYS aspire to do!
June 3, 2014
I loved this book. This is the second book in a series, but I haven't read the first one. To me, it is a standalone. It was very imaginative and interesting. The main character is a flawed woman, but goodhearted. You can see her personal growth throughout the book. I personally didn't like the cowboy, and loved the knight. I guess I like my heroes broody. I find myself invested in the characters and looking forward to the next installment. That means it's a good book!
*I received this book free of charge through Goodreads
*I received this book free of charge through Goodreads
February 28, 2014
I was lucky enough to read an advance copy of this book, the second in the series (after Hereafter), and I really liked it. Irene's fascinating journey continues, as she encounters new worlds and strange beings, and discovers what she really wants out of her afterlife. I'm looking forward to the next book in the series.
April 25, 2014
a much better follow up to book one. really excited with the character growth and the new characters introduced here. there was one part that really frustrated me and didn't ... Well not that it didn't make sense in that I understood ... it's hard to say without spoilers. full review to come.
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