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This is Not the End
James Salley is turning sixteen, and it’s not going well. His family’s too busy to care, the local bully creates new tortures daily, someone appears to be following him, and he’s just learned that he’s the Antichrist.
All James ever wanted out of life was for Dorian Delaney — the operatically trained and suicidal girl of his dreams — to fall as in love with him as he is with her. But once he’s told of his bloody destiny, he finds himself fighting between who he thought he was and who he’s supposed to be.
With the school librarian pushing him to begin the Apocalypse, an irritable homunculus watching his back, and a murderous cabal of Catholics following him everywhere, James must discover how to navigate a world in which everything he’s ever believed is wrong — and if it’s possible to be the hero of a story when you’ve already been cast as the villain.
All James ever wanted out of life was for Dorian Delaney — the operatically trained and suicidal girl of his dreams — to fall as in love with him as he is with her. But once he’s told of his bloody destiny, he finds himself fighting between who he thought he was and who he’s supposed to be.
With the school librarian pushing him to begin the Apocalypse, an irritable homunculus watching his back, and a murderous cabal of Catholics following him everywhere, James must discover how to navigate a world in which everything he’s ever believed is wrong — and if it’s possible to be the hero of a story when you’ve already been cast as the villain.
450 pages, Paperback
First published June 7, 2016
1 person is currently reading
378 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
March 10, 2016
I received an ARC of this book in return for my unbiased opinion.
James Salley has no friends and gets picked on my the school bullies, and on the day of his 16th birthday, not even his parents find the time to celebrate with him. However, the day turns out to be quite memorable when Ezra, the interim school librarian, tells James that he is the "Antichrist" and is destined to usher in the apocalypse. All James wants to do is draw his comics and get Dorian, the girl he has a crush on, to notice him, and he struggles to reconcile his life with what he is being told.
First, I would like to warn that if anyone reads this expecting it to a Christian book, it is NOT. Ezra tells James that heaven and hell/Jesus and the devil are wrong but that the war to end all wars will be fought on earth and ushered in by James when he releases the Adversary from the Pit. If you are looking for a book rooted in Biblical truth, move along because this is not the book for you.
If you are looking for a funny book with elements of fantasy in it, then I definitely recommend this book. The story was compelling, and while it took a little while to warm up to the main character, I couldn't help but root for him.
James Salley has no friends and gets picked on my the school bullies, and on the day of his 16th birthday, not even his parents find the time to celebrate with him. However, the day turns out to be quite memorable when Ezra, the interim school librarian, tells James that he is the "Antichrist" and is destined to usher in the apocalypse. All James wants to do is draw his comics and get Dorian, the girl he has a crush on, to notice him, and he struggles to reconcile his life with what he is being told.
First, I would like to warn that if anyone reads this expecting it to a Christian book, it is NOT. Ezra tells James that heaven and hell/Jesus and the devil are wrong but that the war to end all wars will be fought on earth and ushered in by James when he releases the Adversary from the Pit. If you are looking for a book rooted in Biblical truth, move along because this is not the book for you.
If you are looking for a funny book with elements of fantasy in it, then I definitely recommend this book. The story was compelling, and while it took a little while to warm up to the main character, I couldn't help but root for him.
May 2, 2016
Basically, The Catcher in the Rye meets The Omen. A dark, funny, and imaginative story about coming of age when faced with a less-than-heroic call to adventure. Sometimes, you don't get picked to be the good guy... and what then?
April 2, 2025
It took me a while to get through this book. It was different from what I usually read, even though I initially picked it up because it sounded like something I might be interested in. While it is fantasy, it's apparently not the type of fantasy that draws me in.
James is a kid that gets ostracized and bullied horribly, until he discovers that he's the so-called antichrist. Suddenly, he has demons and priests chasing him to either start the apocalypse or kill him before he can do so. I was glad to see him slowly come into his power. The times when he did something suspect, it was understandable. He hurt those who hurt him, and while I didn't condone or applaud it, I could understand why he did the things he did.
Honestly, his parents were just awful. Calling them absent is a vast understatement. They were self-centered. The one interaction that we saw between him and them, they were so obviously unconcerned with his wants and needs that it made me feel even worse for James. He had no support, in school or at home.
And then when he started to come into his powers, and things started looking up for him relationship-wise, he had to make a choice for the greater good that no kid should have to make. I wouldn't say it was a happy ending necessarily, but James does get to grow into his own power. He gets to make his own choices and do what he wants (well, not necessarily wants, but what he least hates).
I wouldn't say I loved this book. And maybe I had such a hard time connecting with it because it's told from James's point of view, and I'm not nor have I ever been a teenage boy. But I am glad I read it to the end.
James is a kid that gets ostracized and bullied horribly, until he discovers that he's the so-called antichrist. Suddenly, he has demons and priests chasing him to either start the apocalypse or kill him before he can do so. I was glad to see him slowly come into his power. The times when he did something suspect, it was understandable. He hurt those who hurt him, and while I didn't condone or applaud it, I could understand why he did the things he did.
Honestly, his parents were just awful. Calling them absent is a vast understatement. They were self-centered. The one interaction that we saw between him and them, they were so obviously unconcerned with his wants and needs that it made me feel even worse for James. He had no support, in school or at home.
And then when he started to come into his powers, and things started looking up for him relationship-wise, he had to make a choice for the greater good that no kid should have to make. I wouldn't say it was a happy ending necessarily, but James does get to grow into his own power. He gets to make his own choices and do what he wants (well, not necessarily wants, but what he least hates).
I wouldn't say I loved this book. And maybe I had such a hard time connecting with it because it's told from James's point of view, and I'm not nor have I ever been a teenage boy. But I am glad I read it to the end.
October 11, 2016
I am very unimpressed. Didn't know how sick I was of the standard Chosen One story where an average in every way boy gets told by everyone how AWESOME he is (even super powerful angels and demons), even though he never does anything to deserve it and really isn't very awesome at all, and never really grows out of being a whiny not-at-all leadership material guy who objectifies and feels entitled to every girl in sight.
Yeah, that's a thing. The depiction of women entirely rubbed me the wrong way, with girls in general being viewed as shallow, selfish and petty (and apparently it's the girl who is the nasty one if she gets angry when catching the creepy boy in school ogling her legs). And is anyone else sick to death of the love interest being a conventionally pretty girl but she ISN'T LIKE OTHER GIRLS (because that would make it look like there's nothing wrong with being a girl)? Because I am.
And don't get me started on the main character, James, trying to make a comic book with a female character - to late, I'm already started. Apparently it's important that she wears a super tiny outfit (and that the villain tries to force her out of it and assault her at least once). It is also important that the main guy in the comic spends a lot of time convincing her that she should, indeed, date him, even though she clearly said no thanks.
All in all, the book wasn't necessarily bad: it was bland, and boring, but it didn't offend me. Then along came the awful depiction of women and there was nothing even slightly worthwhile to distract me from it. I'm just gonna go read Good Omens instead and hope it gets the Antichrist right.
Yeah, that's a thing. The depiction of women entirely rubbed me the wrong way, with girls in general being viewed as shallow, selfish and petty (and apparently it's the girl who is the nasty one if she gets angry when catching the creepy boy in school ogling her legs). And is anyone else sick to death of the love interest being a conventionally pretty girl but she ISN'T LIKE OTHER GIRLS (because that would make it look like there's nothing wrong with being a girl)? Because I am.
And don't get me started on the main character, James, trying to make a comic book with a female character - to late, I'm already started. Apparently it's important that she wears a super tiny outfit (and that the villain tries to force her out of it and assault her at least once). It is also important that the main guy in the comic spends a lot of time convincing her that she should, indeed, date him, even though she clearly said no thanks.
All in all, the book wasn't necessarily bad: it was bland, and boring, but it didn't offend me. Then along came the awful depiction of women and there was nothing even slightly worthwhile to distract me from it. I'm just gonna go read Good Omens instead and hope it gets the Antichrist right.
April 1, 2016
I received this ebook for free from LibraryThing Early Reviewers in exchange for an honest review.
I just finished This is Not the End by Jesse Jordan last night and overall I found it a fun, interesting, and fast read. I liked the voice of James Salley, the main character. It felt real and the types of things that a boy his age would be thinking. HIs foray into romance also felt real and normal...something that would be very easy for teens to relate to. I found myself curious about what would happen next and looked forward to getting back to reading it. It had humour, but wasn't overly humourous. It was quirky and thoughtful and had some interesting, philosophical perspectives on a lot of things from family and life to romance and power.
As James moves along from being the bullied loner that nobody likes towards finding his own confidence and accepting his role as a powerful being, the reader gets to see his thought progression and how his feelings about things in his life change, as well as how he sees himself. I found the book losing me a bit near the end, which I found somewhat confusing and I'm still not sure how I feel about it. But I also think that any book that has me thinking about it outside of when I'm actively reading it, is always a worthwhile book to have read.
I just finished This is Not the End by Jesse Jordan last night and overall I found it a fun, interesting, and fast read. I liked the voice of James Salley, the main character. It felt real and the types of things that a boy his age would be thinking. HIs foray into romance also felt real and normal...something that would be very easy for teens to relate to. I found myself curious about what would happen next and looked forward to getting back to reading it. It had humour, but wasn't overly humourous. It was quirky and thoughtful and had some interesting, philosophical perspectives on a lot of things from family and life to romance and power.
As James moves along from being the bullied loner that nobody likes towards finding his own confidence and accepting his role as a powerful being, the reader gets to see his thought progression and how his feelings about things in his life change, as well as how he sees himself. I found the book losing me a bit near the end, which I found somewhat confusing and I'm still not sure how I feel about it. But I also think that any book that has me thinking about it outside of when I'm actively reading it, is always a worthwhile book to have read.
Want to read
April 5, 2016"With the school librarian pushing him to begin the Apocalypse,"
Oh man, I lol'd at the Kirkus Review of this one. Hope it's as hilarious as it seems.
Oh man, I lol'd at the Kirkus Review of this one. Hope it's as hilarious as it seems.
November 10, 2017
For most people, turning 16 means getting a driver’s license, going on dates and working tirelessly to keep their skin clear. For James Salley, though, it means coming face to face with the armies of Hell as the newly-anointed Antichrist.
When we first meet James in THIS IS NOT THE END, he is full to bursting with teen angst, standing atop an old water tower and contemplating taking his own life. He’s a social outcast --- partly by choice and partly by circumstance --- with few people to call on for comfort. His parents are consumed by their jobs, he weighs a fair bit more than he’d like to and he’s a struggling comic book artist working through his first big idea. At every turn James must confront his own overwhelming insignificance, which is tearing him apart. His struggle speaks to any teen who’s ever felt worthless and alone at some point.
It’s not long after this, though, that his high school’s new librarian, Ezra, takes a special interest in James, hinting that the young man may be more than just another teenage schlub. James isn’t immediately convinced, being well-versed on the subject of stranger-danger, but after demonstrating some unearthly powers, Ezra gains James’ confidence and lays out to him his prominent role in inciting the End of Days. Quickly it becomes clear that James isn’t as insignificant as he once believed and might even possess powers greater than any being on earth or beyond.
Despite these powers, James faces some serious obstacles in cracking open the seven seals: three generations of bullies looking to put him in his place; a Catholic Church splinter group that has killed Antichrists before and isn’t stopping any time soon; and, most importantly, his own doubts about tearing open the gates of Hell to wage bloody war on his fellow man. Is that what he really wants? Is the death of mankind the price James has to pay for happiness?
THIS IS NOT THE END is as much about man’s search for meaning in the universe as it is about the meat grinder of high school life and the struggles of coming into one’s own. Author Jesse Jordan seems to have a keen understanding of teendom, particularly with its darker, lonelier side, and successfully parallels the development of adolescent identity with protagonist James Salley’s own apprehensions about taking on the mantle of Antichrist.
The story is much lighter in tone than the dour premise suggests, with more than a few good gags to lighten the mood and aggressively quippy dialogue throughout. Jesse Jordan also makes interesting use of footnotes throughout the novel, providing further detail on its world without stalling the plot. As someone from the city of Chicago, where the book is set, I felt right at home with Jordan’s descriptions of fictional Stony Grove and its place in the city’s history. An early chapter is presented in graphic novel form, too, showing that THIS IS NOT THE END has more than a few tricks up its sleeve.
My only frustrations with the book are its abrupt conclusion and ill-defined mythology. There’s a distinct feeling that Jesse Jordan is building a world here which readers will explore over the course of several novels, but the story’s narrative climax leaves more than a few important questions unanswered in this first installment. The same goes for the mythology --- as it grows confused and opaque in the novel’s final chapters --- making any form of understanding which came before it equally uncertain.
THIS IS NOT THE END is an interesting fusion of fantasy, coming of age, and outright sturm und drang supernatural suspense. I recommend it particularly to anyone who sees themselves as an outsider, or likes their young adult heroes to be moody and conflicted.
When we first meet James in THIS IS NOT THE END, he is full to bursting with teen angst, standing atop an old water tower and contemplating taking his own life. He’s a social outcast --- partly by choice and partly by circumstance --- with few people to call on for comfort. His parents are consumed by their jobs, he weighs a fair bit more than he’d like to and he’s a struggling comic book artist working through his first big idea. At every turn James must confront his own overwhelming insignificance, which is tearing him apart. His struggle speaks to any teen who’s ever felt worthless and alone at some point.
It’s not long after this, though, that his high school’s new librarian, Ezra, takes a special interest in James, hinting that the young man may be more than just another teenage schlub. James isn’t immediately convinced, being well-versed on the subject of stranger-danger, but after demonstrating some unearthly powers, Ezra gains James’ confidence and lays out to him his prominent role in inciting the End of Days. Quickly it becomes clear that James isn’t as insignificant as he once believed and might even possess powers greater than any being on earth or beyond.
Despite these powers, James faces some serious obstacles in cracking open the seven seals: three generations of bullies looking to put him in his place; a Catholic Church splinter group that has killed Antichrists before and isn’t stopping any time soon; and, most importantly, his own doubts about tearing open the gates of Hell to wage bloody war on his fellow man. Is that what he really wants? Is the death of mankind the price James has to pay for happiness?
THIS IS NOT THE END is as much about man’s search for meaning in the universe as it is about the meat grinder of high school life and the struggles of coming into one’s own. Author Jesse Jordan seems to have a keen understanding of teendom, particularly with its darker, lonelier side, and successfully parallels the development of adolescent identity with protagonist James Salley’s own apprehensions about taking on the mantle of Antichrist.
The story is much lighter in tone than the dour premise suggests, with more than a few good gags to lighten the mood and aggressively quippy dialogue throughout. Jesse Jordan also makes interesting use of footnotes throughout the novel, providing further detail on its world without stalling the plot. As someone from the city of Chicago, where the book is set, I felt right at home with Jordan’s descriptions of fictional Stony Grove and its place in the city’s history. An early chapter is presented in graphic novel form, too, showing that THIS IS NOT THE END has more than a few tricks up its sleeve.
My only frustrations with the book are its abrupt conclusion and ill-defined mythology. There’s a distinct feeling that Jesse Jordan is building a world here which readers will explore over the course of several novels, but the story’s narrative climax leaves more than a few important questions unanswered in this first installment. The same goes for the mythology --- as it grows confused and opaque in the novel’s final chapters --- making any form of understanding which came before it equally uncertain.
THIS IS NOT THE END is an interesting fusion of fantasy, coming of age, and outright sturm und drang supernatural suspense. I recommend it particularly to anyone who sees themselves as an outsider, or likes their young adult heroes to be moody and conflicted.
April 19, 2019
Today’s post is on This Is Not The End by Jesse Jordan. It is 385 pages long and is published by Medallion Press. The cover is white with the title in red and a boy in the corner and his shadow is a demon. The intended reader is young adult, likes end times books, and plot twists. There is very mild sexuality, mild foul language, mild violence in this book. The story is told from third person close of the main character, James. There Be Spoilers Ahead.
From the back of the book- James Salley is turning sixteen, and it’s not going well. His family’s too busy to care, the local bully creates new tortures daily, someone appears to be following him, and he’s just learned that he’s the Antichrist.
All James ever wanted out of life was for Dorian Delaney — the operatically trained and suicidal girl of his dreams — to fall as in love with him as he is with her. But once he’s told of his bloody destiny, he finds himself fighting between who he thought he was and who he’s supposed to be.
With the school librarian pushing him to begin the Apocalypse, an irritable homunculus watching his back, and a murderous cabal of Catholics following him everywhere, James must discover how to navigate a world in which everything he’s ever believed is wrong — and if it’s possible to be the hero of a story when you’ve already been cast as the villain.
Review- Jordan takes the Anti-Christ, end times stories and makes it his own. James is just a normal guy with some odd things that happen to him. He is very disliked by other people for no reason that he can understand then a man comes to James and tells him that James is going to end the world and the man is there to be help him. That is the basic plot but the story is really about James and him becoming not who he is expected to be but who he wants to be. The story is humorous, sad, character-driven, but I found this book to be up-lifting in the end. James does not just let life or death, in some scenes, just happen to him. When he discovers the truth about himself, he starts to learn everything he can about who he is supposed to be and in that journey discovers himself. Jordan did a good job with this book and I forward to reading his next book.
I give this book a Four out of Five stars. I get nothing for my review and I borrowed this book from my local library.
From the back of the book- James Salley is turning sixteen, and it’s not going well. His family’s too busy to care, the local bully creates new tortures daily, someone appears to be following him, and he’s just learned that he’s the Antichrist.
All James ever wanted out of life was for Dorian Delaney — the operatically trained and suicidal girl of his dreams — to fall as in love with him as he is with her. But once he’s told of his bloody destiny, he finds himself fighting between who he thought he was and who he’s supposed to be.
With the school librarian pushing him to begin the Apocalypse, an irritable homunculus watching his back, and a murderous cabal of Catholics following him everywhere, James must discover how to navigate a world in which everything he’s ever believed is wrong — and if it’s possible to be the hero of a story when you’ve already been cast as the villain.
Review- Jordan takes the Anti-Christ, end times stories and makes it his own. James is just a normal guy with some odd things that happen to him. He is very disliked by other people for no reason that he can understand then a man comes to James and tells him that James is going to end the world and the man is there to be help him. That is the basic plot but the story is really about James and him becoming not who he is expected to be but who he wants to be. The story is humorous, sad, character-driven, but I found this book to be up-lifting in the end. James does not just let life or death, in some scenes, just happen to him. When he discovers the truth about himself, he starts to learn everything he can about who he is supposed to be and in that journey discovers himself. Jordan did a good job with this book and I forward to reading his next book.
I give this book a Four out of Five stars. I get nothing for my review and I borrowed this book from my local library.
October 31, 2018
The writing style was wonderful. The ending felt a bit rushed but not predictable and satisfying enough while leaving plenty to think on. There were two quotes I'm stealing from it.
Pg 131
If I give you any advice that you here, James, let it be this: do not trust stories. Stories can be very dangerous. Always ask why someone is telling you this story, because often when someone is telling you a story, their ultimate goal is to take a part of their mind and slyly sneak it into your mind. You think it's entertainment, but it's actually infestation. Remember that.
Pg 277
You can always say no. To anything. It's the simplest act and one of the first freedoms forgotten.
Pg 131
If I give you any advice that you here, James, let it be this: do not trust stories. Stories can be very dangerous. Always ask why someone is telling you this story, because often when someone is telling you a story, their ultimate goal is to take a part of their mind and slyly sneak it into your mind. You think it's entertainment, but it's actually infestation. Remember that.
Pg 277
You can always say no. To anything. It's the simplest act and one of the first freedoms forgotten.
March 2, 2020
Scanned pretty quickly for the Teen bibliography, horror section. Made the cut! Interesting mix of banal life with generous helpings of humor, that contrasts with school horror, and otherworldly chills. Might return to read it fully.
August 25, 2017
Even with the whole teen boy-turned-Antichrist concept, it was unbelievably boring. No plot at all plus a protagonist I didn't like one bit . I don't know why I even bothered to finish this.
April 20, 2019
Very strange story.
June 8, 2017
For most people, turning 16 means getting a driver’s license, going on dates and working tirelessly to keep their skin clear. For James Salley, though, it means coming face to face with the armies of Hell as the newly-anointed Antichrist.
When we first meet James in THIS IS NOT THE END, he is full to bursting with teen angst, standing atop an old water tower and contemplating taking his own life. He’s a social outcast --- partly by choice and partly by circumstance --- with few people to call on for comfort. His parents are consumed by their jobs, he weighs a fair bit more than he’d like to and he’s a struggling comic book artist working through his first big idea. At every turn James must confront his own overwhelming insignificance, which is tearing him apart. His struggle speaks to any teen who’s ever felt worthless and alone at some point.
It’s not long after this, though, that his high school’s new librarian, Ezra, takes a special interest in James, hinting that the young man may be more than just another teenage schlub. James isn’t immediately convinced, being well-versed on the subject of stranger-danger, but after demonstrating some unearthly powers, Ezra gains James’ confidence and lays out to him his prominent role in inciting the End of Days. Quickly it becomes clear that James isn’t as insignificant as he once believed and might even possess powers greater than any being on earth or beyond.
Despite these powers, James faces some serious obstacles in cracking open the seven seals: three generations of bullies looking to put him in his place; a Catholic Church splinter group that has killed Antichrists before and isn’t stopping any time soon; and, most importantly, his own doubts about tearing open the gates of Hell to wage bloody war on his fellow man. Is that what he really wants? Is the death of mankind the price James has to pay for happiness?
THIS IS NOT THE END is as much about man’s search for meaning in the universe as it is about the meat grinder of high school life and the struggles of coming into one’s own. Author Jesse Jordan seems to have a keen understanding of teendom, particularly with its darker, lonelier side, and successfully parallels the development of adolescent identity with protagonist James Salley’s own apprehensions about taking on the mantle of Antichrist.
The story is much lighter in tone than the dour premise suggests, with more than a few good gags to lighten the mood and aggressively quippy dialogue throughout. Jesse Jordan also makes interesting use of footnotes throughout the novel, providing further detail on its world without stalling the plot. As someone from the city of Chicago, where the book is set, I felt right at home with Jordan’s descriptions of fictional Stony Grove and its place in the city’s history. An early chapter is presented in graphic novel form, too, showing that THIS IS NOT THE END has more than a few tricks up its sleeve.
My only frustrations with the book are its abrupt conclusion and ill-defined mythology. There’s a distinct feeling that Jesse Jordan is building a world here which readers will explore over the course of several novels, but the story’s narrative climax leaves more than a few important questions unanswered in this first installment. The same goes for the mythology --- as it grows confused and opaque in the novel’s final chapters --- making any form of understanding which came before it equally uncertain.
THIS IS NOT THE END is an interesting fusion of fantasy, coming of age, and outright sturm und drang supernatural suspense. I recommend it particularly to anyone who sees themselves as an outsider, or likes their young adult heroes to be moody and conflicted.
Reviewed by Killian Walsh
When we first meet James in THIS IS NOT THE END, he is full to bursting with teen angst, standing atop an old water tower and contemplating taking his own life. He’s a social outcast --- partly by choice and partly by circumstance --- with few people to call on for comfort. His parents are consumed by their jobs, he weighs a fair bit more than he’d like to and he’s a struggling comic book artist working through his first big idea. At every turn James must confront his own overwhelming insignificance, which is tearing him apart. His struggle speaks to any teen who’s ever felt worthless and alone at some point.
It’s not long after this, though, that his high school’s new librarian, Ezra, takes a special interest in James, hinting that the young man may be more than just another teenage schlub. James isn’t immediately convinced, being well-versed on the subject of stranger-danger, but after demonstrating some unearthly powers, Ezra gains James’ confidence and lays out to him his prominent role in inciting the End of Days. Quickly it becomes clear that James isn’t as insignificant as he once believed and might even possess powers greater than any being on earth or beyond.
Despite these powers, James faces some serious obstacles in cracking open the seven seals: three generations of bullies looking to put him in his place; a Catholic Church splinter group that has killed Antichrists before and isn’t stopping any time soon; and, most importantly, his own doubts about tearing open the gates of Hell to wage bloody war on his fellow man. Is that what he really wants? Is the death of mankind the price James has to pay for happiness?
THIS IS NOT THE END is as much about man’s search for meaning in the universe as it is about the meat grinder of high school life and the struggles of coming into one’s own. Author Jesse Jordan seems to have a keen understanding of teendom, particularly with its darker, lonelier side, and successfully parallels the development of adolescent identity with protagonist James Salley’s own apprehensions about taking on the mantle of Antichrist.
The story is much lighter in tone than the dour premise suggests, with more than a few good gags to lighten the mood and aggressively quippy dialogue throughout. Jesse Jordan also makes interesting use of footnotes throughout the novel, providing further detail on its world without stalling the plot. As someone from the city of Chicago, where the book is set, I felt right at home with Jordan’s descriptions of fictional Stony Grove and its place in the city’s history. An early chapter is presented in graphic novel form, too, showing that THIS IS NOT THE END has more than a few tricks up its sleeve.
My only frustrations with the book are its abrupt conclusion and ill-defined mythology. There’s a distinct feeling that Jesse Jordan is building a world here which readers will explore over the course of several novels, but the story’s narrative climax leaves more than a few important questions unanswered in this first installment. The same goes for the mythology --- as it grows confused and opaque in the novel’s final chapters --- making any form of understanding which came before it equally uncertain.
THIS IS NOT THE END is an interesting fusion of fantasy, coming of age, and outright sturm und drang supernatural suspense. I recommend it particularly to anyone who sees themselves as an outsider, or likes their young adult heroes to be moody and conflicted.
Reviewed by Killian Walsh
July 31, 2016
READ THIS IN ONE DAY!!!
I truly loved the world and worlds this author created. I think James' coming of age story was pitiable and true; his frustrations and fears honest; and his choices humane. All in all, a great and fun read for anyone who enjoys semi-dystopian YA and fantasy....
Stylistically, I loved the footnotes! Man, what a great storytelling device! Loved, loved, loved this....
SPOILERS BELOW!!!!
Weaknesses - I thought the ending was slightly abrupt. The protagonist got his powers fully at the end (not sure exactly what they were...) and it ultimately seemed like he was the new god-figure for all beings. Which is....okay? Just seems anti-climatic unless you understand that the "real monster" was his own insecurities and fears. But he loses the girl whom he loves and seems nonplussed about it and that just didn't make sense to me. I didn't see him cutting off ties to Earth without concern for all that he was leaving behind, especially Dorian.
Lastly, I don't understand the transition of Jennifer. Did James magically remake the Morning Star into something else? Did I miss something?
I'm guessing there's a sequel because there's so many open questions....
I truly loved the world and worlds this author created. I think James' coming of age story was pitiable and true; his frustrations and fears honest; and his choices humane. All in all, a great and fun read for anyone who enjoys semi-dystopian YA and fantasy....
Stylistically, I loved the footnotes! Man, what a great storytelling device! Loved, loved, loved this....
SPOILERS BELOW!!!!
Weaknesses - I thought the ending was slightly abrupt. The protagonist got his powers fully at the end (not sure exactly what they were...) and it ultimately seemed like he was the new god-figure for all beings. Which is....okay? Just seems anti-climatic unless you understand that the "real monster" was his own insecurities and fears. But he loses the girl whom he loves and seems nonplussed about it and that just didn't make sense to me. I didn't see him cutting off ties to Earth without concern for all that he was leaving behind, especially Dorian.
Lastly, I don't understand the transition of Jennifer. Did James magically remake the Morning Star into something else? Did I miss something?
I'm guessing there's a sequel because there's so many open questions....
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 13, 2016
I liked it ... I think. I liked it until the end, at least. It went from regular-world to other-world back to regular-world and then it blew up and ended. And, seriously, talk about a deus ex machina--by design. But, yes, I still enjoyed it.
The writing was almost too much in places. It, thankfully, knew when to stop, but it came close on so many pages. I actually enjoyed the footnotes, which were a lot of fun.
Final thought: there was so much lusting over breasts. Was Eliza's cup size really important?
The writing was almost too much in places. It, thankfully, knew when to stop, but it came close on so many pages. I actually enjoyed the footnotes, which were a lot of fun.
Final thought: there was so much lusting over breasts. Was Eliza's cup size really important?
September 30, 2016
This started well, and I think I may have liked it, but I could not get past the footnotes. Footnotes and I mean lots of them. I kept losing focus on the story because of the constant interruption of having to go down to the bottom of the page to read the footnotes. It was so annoying I soon gave up and dnf at page 75. The story seemed like it could have really gone somewhere good so maybe later on it got better.
July 30, 2016
Excellent book. Funny and sad. A fun read that has some weight to it. I would love to read a sequel.
June 20, 2016
I did not finish this book. I read about half of it and nothing much had happened yet. Also, from the book description, I expected it to be funnier than it was.
August 23, 2016
Not bad, but it made no sense.
January 4, 2017
This book re-imagines what heaven, hell, god and the devil really are and views them through a mind blowing new perspective.
without saying too much this book is an acid trip
without saying too much this book is an acid trip
January 8, 2018
Predictable and really not all that interesting.
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