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Ghostland #2
Afterlife
Sinister forces gather in Duck Falls. Soon, this small American town will become a battleground for the future of humanity.
Six months after the "Ghostland Disaster," Duck Falls has become a reluctant tourist trap, and a new home to the activist group Ghosts Are People Too. When the Return to Ghostland televised event ends in yet another tragedy, ghosts once again fall under scrutiny… along with the effectiveness of the Recurrence Field.
Away at college, survivor Lilian Roth has discovered she's able to communicate with spirits. She and her best friend, Ben Laramie, use the skills they've acquired to free ghosts from their hauntings.
But Rex Garrote, the mastermind behind the Ghostland Disaster, is raising an army of ghosts to slaughter every living person on Earth. Left with no choice but to fight, Ben and Lilian must recruit their own army of freed ghosts, and prepare them for war.
Will it be enough to save the world?
Book 2 in the Ghostland Trilogy, Afterlife is a novel of pre-apocalyptic sci-fi horror, perfect for fans of Stephen King and Blake Crouch.
Six months after the "Ghostland Disaster," Duck Falls has become a reluctant tourist trap, and a new home to the activist group Ghosts Are People Too. When the Return to Ghostland televised event ends in yet another tragedy, ghosts once again fall under scrutiny… along with the effectiveness of the Recurrence Field.
Away at college, survivor Lilian Roth has discovered she's able to communicate with spirits. She and her best friend, Ben Laramie, use the skills they've acquired to free ghosts from their hauntings.
But Rex Garrote, the mastermind behind the Ghostland Disaster, is raising an army of ghosts to slaughter every living person on Earth. Left with no choice but to fight, Ben and Lilian must recruit their own army of freed ghosts, and prepare them for war.
Will it be enough to save the world?
Book 2 in the Ghostland Trilogy, Afterlife is a novel of pre-apocalyptic sci-fi horror, perfect for fans of Stephen King and Blake Crouch.
503 pages, Kindle Edition
First published December 9, 2020
133 people are currently reading
692 people want to read
About the author
Duncan Ralston
76 books2,064 followers**CVLT: Lonely Motel Book 3 out now!!!**
**Sequel to the hit novel PUZZLE HOUSE coming Winter 2026**
Author of the cult smash-hit Woom and Ghostland and more than 15 other books that aren't the cult smash-hit Woom or Ghostland. His debut collection was blurbed positively by the legendary Jack Ketchum. His vampire novel, Pedo Island Bloodbath, was nominated for a 2024 Splatterpunk Award for Best Novel. His horror-thriller Ghostland will soon be a board game from Crystal Lake Publishing.
For 10 FREE dark fiction short stories/novellas including the prequel to GHOSTLAND, "The Moving House," signed copies of Woom, bookplates and merch, please visit www.duncanralston.com.
Photo © Josh Silver 2015
**Sequel to the hit novel PUZZLE HOUSE coming Winter 2026**
Author of the cult smash-hit Woom and Ghostland and more than 15 other books that aren't the cult smash-hit Woom or Ghostland. His debut collection was blurbed positively by the legendary Jack Ketchum. His vampire novel, Pedo Island Bloodbath, was nominated for a 2024 Splatterpunk Award for Best Novel. His horror-thriller Ghostland will soon be a board game from Crystal Lake Publishing.
For 10 FREE dark fiction short stories/novellas including the prequel to GHOSTLAND, "The Moving House," signed copies of Woom, bookplates and merch, please visit www.duncanralston.com.
Photo © Josh Silver 2015
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 81 reviews
January 28, 2021
Wow! What an amazing horror ride back into the Ghostland realm!
A small taste of what is inside as this book is chock full of all kinds of horror activities happening within!
Lilian Roth now has the ability to see ghosts and she teams up with her friend Ben to help spirits move on, but while they are in the midst of doing that there are other things happening as well with psychics being murdered by unseen forces. No one can figure out who is killing psychics, so Detective Sam Beadle is on the case as she investigates the strange murders.
Rex Garrote is back in force on here as well as he has plans laid out that could bring the town of Duck Falls to its knees and when the crap hits the fan with ghost occurrences it could very well drive the town straight off the map!
Who is killing the psychics? Does Sam Beadle solve the murders? What are the plans of Rex Garrote? No spoilers here as you will just have to read the book!
There is lots of different things going on within this book and there are tons of characters within this story as all kinds of ghost horror happens within these pages!
The horror is fast paced with lots of twists and turns along with blood splatter which makes the second book in the Ghostland trilogy an awesome read! Giving this one five "terror-filled" stars! Looking forward to the next book in the trilogy!
A small taste of what is inside as this book is chock full of all kinds of horror activities happening within!
Lilian Roth now has the ability to see ghosts and she teams up with her friend Ben to help spirits move on, but while they are in the midst of doing that there are other things happening as well with psychics being murdered by unseen forces. No one can figure out who is killing psychics, so Detective Sam Beadle is on the case as she investigates the strange murders.
Rex Garrote is back in force on here as well as he has plans laid out that could bring the town of Duck Falls to its knees and when the crap hits the fan with ghost occurrences it could very well drive the town straight off the map!
Who is killing the psychics? Does Sam Beadle solve the murders? What are the plans of Rex Garrote? No spoilers here as you will just have to read the book!
There is lots of different things going on within this book and there are tons of characters within this story as all kinds of ghost horror happens within these pages!
The horror is fast paced with lots of twists and turns along with blood splatter which makes the second book in the Ghostland trilogy an awesome read! Giving this one five "terror-filled" stars! Looking forward to the next book in the trilogy!
January 29, 2022
Diabolical Alliance Scandal! Dark Rift Denizen Has Close Call In Virtual Ghost Prison!: "Crikey! I nearly lost my nibblers in there. Once I saw all that high-tech gear, I skedaddled right back to the Rift. At least the Dark Rift is safer than being in the middle of a Ghost war!" - The Spectre Sentinel
Genuine ghostly enjoyment. A better outing than the first book, with characters like Ben, & Lillian gaining depth, and new characters like Andy and Thea (boo-hiss), Sam, Lamb, Le Mon and the rest adding flavour.
All in all, a very interesting read.
Strongly Recommended, 5 'Savage Spectre,' Stars.
Genuine ghostly enjoyment. A better outing than the first book, with characters like Ben, & Lillian gaining depth, and new characters like Andy and Thea (boo-hiss), Sam, Lamb, Le Mon and the rest adding flavour.
All in all, a very interesting read.
Strongly Recommended, 5 'Savage Spectre,' Stars.
April 17, 2024
This was a great addition to book one. It really expanded upon the world, introducing us to many new characters and expand on the lore of the ghost world. All these elements made for a fun ghost story.
This book did suffer form the same pitfalls that most part two suffer from. A lot of the book was focus on building everything that needs to happen for book 3, give me this a middle book syndrome. But nonetheless enjoyable ride, even if I suspect that it’s gonna be my least favorite of the three.
Hard to get used to the new cast new characters at the start. By the end I cared about all of them just as much as I did from the cast from the first book. But this won’t be a problem when I reread this book. Which I definitely rereading this trilogy as a whole.
This book did suffer form the same pitfalls that most part two suffer from. A lot of the book was focus on building everything that needs to happen for book 3, give me this a middle book syndrome. But nonetheless enjoyable ride, even if I suspect that it’s gonna be my least favorite of the three.
Hard to get used to the new cast new characters at the start. By the end I cared about all of them just as much as I did from the cast from the first book. But this won’t be a problem when I reread this book. Which I definitely rereading this trilogy as a whole.
January 20, 2021
AFTERLIFE (Ghostland Trilogy 2) by Duncan Ralston picks up shortly after the events in Book 1. As it has been a year since my reading of the original story, I could have done with a brief refresher in some of the characters. Other than that though, this story provides more of the "motivation" behind Rex Garrote's insane plot, and introduces many new players.
There was plenty of action, emotion, and topics brought up to move this one along, and I'm interested to see how the series concludes.
Recommended for reading after GHOSTLAND.
There was plenty of action, emotion, and topics brought up to move this one along, and I'm interested to see how the series concludes.
Recommended for reading after GHOSTLAND.
February 6, 2021
This book!! I had some real life issues that came up and prevented me from reading it as fast as I could have but last night I decided finishing this book was more important than sleep!I could NOT put it down, I could not read it fast enough.
Afterlife picks up right where Ghostland stops. Ben meets a really cool ethereal named Le Mon that helps him out, teaches him some things. Lillian is away at school but is also working with GRP2. She is trying to have a normal college life while at night, she and Ben are setting ethereals (ghost) free. They still think Garrote is out there and about to start a war between the living and the dead. Is he?
GRP2- Ghost are People 2 plays a big role in this story. They have set up shop in Duck Falls. Thea, the leader of the group, desperately wants to free the souls stuck in Ghostland. All of them. How far is she willing to go to achieve this and will she listen to Ben and Lillian when they tell her how bad of an idea this is?
What I liked most about this sequel is we get to see how people in Duck Falls are dealing with the aftermath of the Ghostland tragedy. They are still living in the shadow of this park. Some are dealing with it better than others, some are completely broke by the loss they suffered. We meet some new characters. I liked all of them. I love how they all come together in the end and we get to see the last little bit of the book from different character's point of view. The last 40-30% was so intense. I was reading as fast as I could and that was not fast enough. The reveals in this last little bit shocked me so much. I just couldn't believe it! I can not wait to read the next -and last book- in this trilogy. I just don't know what's going to happen! Bravo Duncan! You did a hellva job with this one!
December 23, 2020
Afterlife, the second in a proposed trilogy of books from Duncan Ralston featuring Ghostland; a theme park where the attractions are real-life ghosts, picks up six months after the events of the first book.
The town of Duck Falls is famous for all the wrong reasons. The Ghostland disaster has attracted unwanted media attention, due in part to the ‘Ghosts are People Too’ activists who have set up shop in town.
Ben and Lillian are convinced that a war is coming between people and ghosts, led by the sinister Rex Garrotte. Unsure who to trust, and burdened by a responsibility they did not want, they must prepare for the apocalypse which only they know is on its way.
The initial book in the trilogy had a fairly satisfying ending and I was surprised but pleased to note that Ghostland was now due to become a trilogy. While I had issues with the first book (which I noted in my review for the prequel short story ‘The Moving House’) I absolutely love the concept, a mash-up of ‘Jurassic Park’ meets ‘Thir13en Ghosts’, and was more than willing to give the series another shot. It's not a decision to take likely, with this sequel topping a daunting 500-page count, but it was one I was ultimately glad I made.
I should start by saying that I felt this was a vastly superior book to ‘Ghostland’. If you read and loved book one, you will no doubt enjoy this one too. If, like me, you were on the fence about continuing, then rest assured that it will be time well spent. Any issues I had with ‘Ghostland’ have been course-corrected here and it makes for an incredibly engrossing read, far bigger in scale than what came before it.
The main characters of Ben and Lillian get far less page time here but feel like much more complex and well-rounded characters. Their supporting cast is equally strong and the villain, in particular, is made far more interesting than his previous incarnation. There are a lot more characters at play in ‘Afterlife’, all with separate stories with satisfying character arcs that make me excited to see what role they will play in the final book.
The story itself is far more complex than ‘Ghostland’, which followed a fairly straightforward and linear narrative. Ralston is absolutely meticulous in the way he slowly drip-feeds plot developments, new characters and revelations to gently shift the story forward in interesting and unexpected ways. It reads like a much more polished, and well thought out book. While nowhere near as action-packed as ‘Ghostland’, ‘Afterlife’ more than makes up for that with a strong story and supporting cast, expertly delivered for a tense and unpredictable book.
Superior in almost every way, ‘Afterlife’ is a very different book that has taken the trilogy in an exciting new direction. While I was initially unsure whether to carry on with the series, ‘Afterlife’ has left me impatient for what comes next. Bring on book 3!
You can read more reviews of new and upcoming horror releases at https://www.myindiemuse.com/category/...
The town of Duck Falls is famous for all the wrong reasons. The Ghostland disaster has attracted unwanted media attention, due in part to the ‘Ghosts are People Too’ activists who have set up shop in town.
Ben and Lillian are convinced that a war is coming between people and ghosts, led by the sinister Rex Garrotte. Unsure who to trust, and burdened by a responsibility they did not want, they must prepare for the apocalypse which only they know is on its way.
The initial book in the trilogy had a fairly satisfying ending and I was surprised but pleased to note that Ghostland was now due to become a trilogy. While I had issues with the first book (which I noted in my review for the prequel short story ‘The Moving House’) I absolutely love the concept, a mash-up of ‘Jurassic Park’ meets ‘Thir13en Ghosts’, and was more than willing to give the series another shot. It's not a decision to take likely, with this sequel topping a daunting 500-page count, but it was one I was ultimately glad I made.
I should start by saying that I felt this was a vastly superior book to ‘Ghostland’. If you read and loved book one, you will no doubt enjoy this one too. If, like me, you were on the fence about continuing, then rest assured that it will be time well spent. Any issues I had with ‘Ghostland’ have been course-corrected here and it makes for an incredibly engrossing read, far bigger in scale than what came before it.
The main characters of Ben and Lillian get far less page time here but feel like much more complex and well-rounded characters. Their supporting cast is equally strong and the villain, in particular, is made far more interesting than his previous incarnation. There are a lot more characters at play in ‘Afterlife’, all with separate stories with satisfying character arcs that make me excited to see what role they will play in the final book.
The story itself is far more complex than ‘Ghostland’, which followed a fairly straightforward and linear narrative. Ralston is absolutely meticulous in the way he slowly drip-feeds plot developments, new characters and revelations to gently shift the story forward in interesting and unexpected ways. It reads like a much more polished, and well thought out book. While nowhere near as action-packed as ‘Ghostland’, ‘Afterlife’ more than makes up for that with a strong story and supporting cast, expertly delivered for a tense and unpredictable book.
Superior in almost every way, ‘Afterlife’ is a very different book that has taken the trilogy in an exciting new direction. While I was initially unsure whether to carry on with the series, ‘Afterlife’ has left me impatient for what comes next. Bring on book 3!
You can read more reviews of new and upcoming horror releases at https://www.myindiemuse.com/category/...
December 10, 2020
** Edited as review is now live on Kendall Reviews! **
Well, well, well.
What do we have here? Canada’s bad boy of social media returns with the follow up to his well-received ‘Ghostland‘ novel with a sequel. After the events in book one, I was eager to see what Ralston had in store for us with the nefarious Rex and the survivors from the first book.
Now, I’m going to attempt to stay completely spoiler-free, but if you haven’t read the first book, I’d say it might be best to read that and then check out my thoughts.
What I liked: Picking up shortly after book one, ‘Afterlife‘ fills in some dots as to what’s happened in the time since the incident in Duck Falls and we find out some of the reality of what the surviving characters are going through.
Ralston has really done his homework here with this one, ensuring we get a great plot point from out west, working its way into the current narrative while throwing back to the initial instance with Rex all those years ago. I loved finding out a bit about that time as well as how the incidents with the psychics really ramped up the tensions around the ‘ethereals.’
As the story gets going, Duncan leaves no stone unturned to give us emotion-packed moments as well as furthering the reality of what Rex is attempting to do.
I’ll say this – Ralston has truly come into his own with this release. And while I haven’t read all of his work (yet), this is the most confident piece I’ve read from him. He knows what each and every character needs to be doing to get us to the endpoint, which in this case is setting up book three.
What I didn’t like: Two minor things. First, I think it would’ve been nice to have a refresher/summary of the events and characters from book one. It took me a minute to recall who each one was as the story unfolds. Second, and this is just me being a bit of a headache, but I hated a specific character at the beginning who knows about the events but doesn’t share he knows them with Lilian. It drove me batty the way he interacted at the start, but as I said, Duncan has each chess piece moving exactly how he needs them to.
Why you should buy this: This is a perfect follow up to the first book and from that we get to see how Duncan has crafted a narrative that has flowed nicely from book one to book two and will be closed off in book three. This story has everything readers will love – emotional depth, redemption, grief as well as scares, gore and carnage.
Duncan has really outdone himself with this one and now we get to await the arrival of book three.
Well, well, well.
What do we have here? Canada’s bad boy of social media returns with the follow up to his well-received ‘Ghostland‘ novel with a sequel. After the events in book one, I was eager to see what Ralston had in store for us with the nefarious Rex and the survivors from the first book.
Now, I’m going to attempt to stay completely spoiler-free, but if you haven’t read the first book, I’d say it might be best to read that and then check out my thoughts.
What I liked: Picking up shortly after book one, ‘Afterlife‘ fills in some dots as to what’s happened in the time since the incident in Duck Falls and we find out some of the reality of what the surviving characters are going through.
Ralston has really done his homework here with this one, ensuring we get a great plot point from out west, working its way into the current narrative while throwing back to the initial instance with Rex all those years ago. I loved finding out a bit about that time as well as how the incidents with the psychics really ramped up the tensions around the ‘ethereals.’
As the story gets going, Duncan leaves no stone unturned to give us emotion-packed moments as well as furthering the reality of what Rex is attempting to do.
I’ll say this – Ralston has truly come into his own with this release. And while I haven’t read all of his work (yet), this is the most confident piece I’ve read from him. He knows what each and every character needs to be doing to get us to the endpoint, which in this case is setting up book three.
What I didn’t like: Two minor things. First, I think it would’ve been nice to have a refresher/summary of the events and characters from book one. It took me a minute to recall who each one was as the story unfolds. Second, and this is just me being a bit of a headache, but I hated a specific character at the beginning who knows about the events but doesn’t share he knows them with Lilian. It drove me batty the way he interacted at the start, but as I said, Duncan has each chess piece moving exactly how he needs them to.
Why you should buy this: This is a perfect follow up to the first book and from that we get to see how Duncan has crafted a narrative that has flowed nicely from book one to book two and will be closed off in book three. This story has everything readers will love – emotional depth, redemption, grief as well as scares, gore and carnage.
Duncan has really outdone himself with this one and now we get to await the arrival of book three.
February 24, 2021
Having just finished this I must say I'm pissed. That was such a shit ending and a killer cliffhanger. The whole book took me so long to get into. It took almost half the book to get straight. When I finally caught on it just ended with so much up in the air. When the book started there was no time to refresh my memory and so many new characters I must admit I was lost for like half of the book. Wish there would have been some rehashing for those diving back in because there was so many details I had forgotten. I also hoped so much that we would finally get more exploration of the park, given this is the Ghostland trilogy and all but nope. In fact we only get to see the park through a small group of ghost hunters who enter the park for a few pages and the only other times we 'see' the park is from a distance or from the POV of the guards patrolling the outside. I'm sad to be so unimpressed with this book compared to the complexity and fun we got in book one. With not even a release date on the horizon for the final book I can't say I'll even want to read it by the time it comes out. From my perspective I think based on this book alone, book one should have been the end.
December 26, 2020
Even better than the first book!
The next book can’t come out soon enough. The characters are so interesting and the world building is so captivating that I was sad to run out of pages to read. There’s plenty of gore and scares that happen, but it’s all sold so well by the protagonists and villains that it’s impactful.
The next book can’t come out soon enough. The characters are so interesting and the world building is so captivating that I was sad to run out of pages to read. There’s plenty of gore and scares that happen, but it’s all sold so well by the protagonists and villains that it’s impactful.
January 20, 2021
Summary
6 months after the Ghostpand disaster…
Both Lilian and Ben struggle to move on while working with Ghosts Are People 2 and secretly preparing for the war Rex Garrote is surely plotting.
Trouble is brewing in Duck Falls and Rex Garrote isn't the only bad guy in town this time around.
Personal Opinion
Another good ghost filled addition to the Ghostland trilogy. I had a harder time getting into this one which I think is because of the slower pace starting out.
But while the story itself got off to a bit of a slower start, Duncan did a great job setting the scene following the Ghostland disaster.
This one really showed the ghosts side of things and had quite a bit of action towards the end.
Also there is a Stranger Things reference in there (Netflix show) which I loved!
The ending was not really what I was expecting but will not comment on that to avoid any spoilers for those who haven't read Afterlife yet.
If you enjoyed Ghostland, you should enjoy this one as well.
6 months after the Ghostpand disaster…
Both Lilian and Ben struggle to move on while working with Ghosts Are People 2 and secretly preparing for the war Rex Garrote is surely plotting.
Trouble is brewing in Duck Falls and Rex Garrote isn't the only bad guy in town this time around.
Personal Opinion
Another good ghost filled addition to the Ghostland trilogy. I had a harder time getting into this one which I think is because of the slower pace starting out.
But while the story itself got off to a bit of a slower start, Duncan did a great job setting the scene following the Ghostland disaster.
This one really showed the ghosts side of things and had quite a bit of action towards the end.
Also there is a Stranger Things reference in there (Netflix show) which I loved!
The ending was not really what I was expecting but will not comment on that to avoid any spoilers for those who haven't read Afterlife yet.
If you enjoyed Ghostland, you should enjoy this one as well.
December 27, 2020
I always worry that as with films, book sequels will never live up to the original. I can assure you, this is far from the case here. An exciting read from start to finish, Afterlife carries the reader into a fantastic, wonderful, terrifying world. I look forward to the conclusion of this exciting trilogy!
October 16, 2022
Okay...this was a blast (yes I'm funny ;) )
To me the second book in the Ghostland trilogy was extremely confusing.
This might be on me, chosing it as the night time audiobook, which means I do get tired at some point and begin to doze off. I do have sleep timer on my audiobook, but my mind might be a bit unfocused, and this is probably the wrong story to listen to in this manner.
To be honest it was only the last 10-15% of the story I began to feel I knew pretty much what was going on 🤣 ...but despise of that, I really liked and enjoyed the story!! I like our main characters more and more, I love the Ghost Apocalypse, I love the science fiction element of it. I just really like it! Oh and the occasional unmerciful slaughter, gore, and accidents spread out through the story are both hilarious and fantastic!
The science fiction element doesn't weigh too much, which is good, as it's already complex enough, and the balance when using science fiction can be hard, as it is science obviously, but it still has to feel convincing. I'm convinced enough to look forward to the next. Somehow I feel this one was kind of a long introduction/preparation for the final...I guess it makes sense as a #2 in a trilogy 🥴
The theme about eternal life free from the mortal body is a pet subject of mine on a scientific, biological, philosophical, and psychological level, and this ghost concept is a different take on the matter, nicely done!
One of my favorite stories in this subject is the Transmetropolitan about Foglets (I don't remember the #issue).
Don't remember all the fun about existing is bound to our physical sensations ❤️
To me the second book in the Ghostland trilogy was extremely confusing.
This might be on me, chosing it as the night time audiobook, which means I do get tired at some point and begin to doze off. I do have sleep timer on my audiobook, but my mind might be a bit unfocused, and this is probably the wrong story to listen to in this manner.
To be honest it was only the last 10-15% of the story I began to feel I knew pretty much what was going on 🤣 ...but despise of that, I really liked and enjoyed the story!! I like our main characters more and more, I love the Ghost Apocalypse, I love the science fiction element of it. I just really like it! Oh and the occasional unmerciful slaughter, gore, and accidents spread out through the story are both hilarious and fantastic!
The science fiction element doesn't weigh too much, which is good, as it's already complex enough, and the balance when using science fiction can be hard, as it is science obviously, but it still has to feel convincing. I'm convinced enough to look forward to the next. Somehow I feel this one was kind of a long introduction/preparation for the final...I guess it makes sense as a #2 in a trilogy 🥴
The theme about eternal life free from the mortal body is a pet subject of mine on a scientific, biological, philosophical, and psychological level, and this ghost concept is a different take on the matter, nicely done!
One of my favorite stories in this subject is the Transmetropolitan about Foglets (I don't remember the #issue).
Don't remember all the fun about existing is bound to our physical sensations ❤️
December 15, 2020
Last year. I was pleasantly surprised by a book called Ghostland. I saw a cover reveal on social media and was so blown away, I bought the book the day it came out. I was even more surprised when I read the book and it turned out to be one of my favorites that year.
Enter Afterlife: Ghostland 2.0 the sequel to Ghostland, and middle book of what will now be a trilogy. I had zero clue if turning a self contained story about an amusement park of ghosts would be able to translate into a sequel, never mind a trilogy, but after reading afterlife, I’m not worried about book 3, I’m highly anticipating it.
Afterlife drops the small scale of one central location and a few characters and weaves a tale that stars numerous characters at varying points in the timeline. The transition brings about higher stakes as well. There is more at stake than a theme park.
I enjoyed the time spent getting to know the new characters, as well as spending more time with Ben and Lillian. There’s a lot of book here, and all of that time is spent fleshing out a story with much more depth than the first book hinted at. Corporations, Rights groups, ghosts, humans. There are a lot of different moving parts that coalesce into something really great here.
This book is a phenomenal follow up to Ghostland, which you absolutely need to read. I enjoyed the entire thing cover to cover, and while I don’t believe the conclusion had the same emotional impact of the first book, it left me feeling satisfied of what I had read, and ready for what’s next.
5 stars
Enter Afterlife: Ghostland 2.0 the sequel to Ghostland, and middle book of what will now be a trilogy. I had zero clue if turning a self contained story about an amusement park of ghosts would be able to translate into a sequel, never mind a trilogy, but after reading afterlife, I’m not worried about book 3, I’m highly anticipating it.
Afterlife drops the small scale of one central location and a few characters and weaves a tale that stars numerous characters at varying points in the timeline. The transition brings about higher stakes as well. There is more at stake than a theme park.
I enjoyed the time spent getting to know the new characters, as well as spending more time with Ben and Lillian. There’s a lot of book here, and all of that time is spent fleshing out a story with much more depth than the first book hinted at. Corporations, Rights groups, ghosts, humans. There are a lot of different moving parts that coalesce into something really great here.
This book is a phenomenal follow up to Ghostland, which you absolutely need to read. I enjoyed the entire thing cover to cover, and while I don’t believe the conclusion had the same emotional impact of the first book, it left me feeling satisfied of what I had read, and ready for what’s next.
5 stars
December 4, 2020
Ok, So I Was Lucky Enough To Get An ARC Of DuncanRalston GHOSTLAND 2:0 AFTERLIFE, Its Taken Me A Bit Longer To Read Than Normal Because Of My New Job, But I Finished It Today And Wow, It Was Well Worth The Wait, You Are All In For A Real Treat!! 😁
It Continued Perfectly From The First Book, I Was Riveted From The Start And Throughout, Gripping, Addictive, And Very Hard To Put Down! I Love The GHOSTLAND Universe, The Whole Trilogy (Cant Wait For GL 3:0!) Needs To Be Made Into A Movie!!
"I Love It When A Story Comes Full Circle, Dont You?" 💀💀💀💀💀 5 Skulls From Me!
It Continued Perfectly From The First Book, I Was Riveted From The Start And Throughout, Gripping, Addictive, And Very Hard To Put Down! I Love The GHOSTLAND Universe, The Whole Trilogy (Cant Wait For GL 3:0!) Needs To Be Made Into A Movie!!
"I Love It When A Story Comes Full Circle, Dont You?" 💀💀💀💀💀 5 Skulls From Me!
August 27, 2024
Just a wee bit too long for my taste..
January 26, 2021
This one had such a different feel than Ghostland. Part 1 was a theme park ride in itself, it was fun and fast-paced with a plethora of psychotic ghosties. I really loved it, and I loved this one for completely different reasons.
This one had fewer Jurassic Park ghosts, but a more developed feeling overall. It was more complex; mystery, love, betrayal, hidden motivations, politics, which made for a deeper, richer overall story. There was less of Ben and Lillian, and more diverse characters introduced.
I really enjoyed the subtle descriptions and familiar behavioral cues about the characters, his descriptions made you think "I know THAT guy" by the beer they drank, the music and movies they loved, "She heard the Laz-Z-Boy grumble, the coils twanging as he reclined." It had a perfect amount of detail to suck you in and let your imagination fly, but not too many to bore you to death. It was a movie in my mind that I didn't want to turn off.
I am not usually a fan of books that leave things unfinished, but I really enjoyed this one and am looking forward to the next!!
This one had fewer Jurassic Park ghosts, but a more developed feeling overall. It was more complex; mystery, love, betrayal, hidden motivations, politics, which made for a deeper, richer overall story. There was less of Ben and Lillian, and more diverse characters introduced.
I really enjoyed the subtle descriptions and familiar behavioral cues about the characters, his descriptions made you think "I know THAT guy" by the beer they drank, the music and movies they loved, "She heard the Laz-Z-Boy grumble, the coils twanging as he reclined." It had a perfect amount of detail to suck you in and let your imagination fly, but not too many to bore you to death. It was a movie in my mind that I didn't want to turn off.
I am not usually a fan of books that leave things unfinished, but I really enjoyed this one and am looking forward to the next!!
March 15, 2021
Great 2nd book of series
This is a great horror novel. It's not extreme but it is slightly bloody and gruesome, so anyone can read it. But definitely read the first too. I l love the characters and how you feel like you have grown with them. Ben and Lillian are an amazing pair, strong minded, brave with a vulnerability that captures your heart. Red garrot the famous horror writer has some very strange ideas and your views on him are never quite 100%. The ghostland theme park is where it all starts, a fun day out that turns deadly in the first book and this one continues with introducing new characters. Andy and lamb are brilliant. Introducing new ghosts, sorry ethereals . All coming together to keep the swarm in ghostland . A good storyline great characters, just what you need to get into if you enjoy a good trilogy with lots of twists and non stop action. Can't wait for the third book to find out what happens next. Definitely recommend to anyone who enjoys a good read.
This is a great horror novel. It's not extreme but it is slightly bloody and gruesome, so anyone can read it. But definitely read the first too. I l love the characters and how you feel like you have grown with them. Ben and Lillian are an amazing pair, strong minded, brave with a vulnerability that captures your heart. Red garrot the famous horror writer has some very strange ideas and your views on him are never quite 100%. The ghostland theme park is where it all starts, a fun day out that turns deadly in the first book and this one continues with introducing new characters. Andy and lamb are brilliant. Introducing new ghosts, sorry ethereals . All coming together to keep the swarm in ghostland . A good storyline great characters, just what you need to get into if you enjoy a good trilogy with lots of twists and non stop action. Can't wait for the third book to find out what happens next. Definitely recommend to anyone who enjoys a good read.
December 9, 2020
An awesome sequel to book 1! Although I did miss being taken through Ghostland [the amusement parks] exhibits and their villainous occupants ..... however, new twists and turns makes up for it! We learn who really survived the Ghostland tragedy, what GRP2 are all about, new character developments and do ghosts really have anything to fear???? ......
Can't wait to read book 3!!!!
Thank you Mr. Ralston for the opportunity to review, as usual I was NOT disappointed!
Can't wait to read book 3!!!!
Thank you Mr. Ralston for the opportunity to review, as usual I was NOT disappointed!
November 9, 2021
SO glad Duncan decided to make this a trilogy! I mean Ghostland by itself is a great book. It flew to the top of my faves list after I read it. It’s exactly what I love all mixed into one story. Great characters, fuelled emotions and inner battles, a great plot, ghosts, good vs evil, technology, suspense and gore!
Just finished this one and CAN NOT wait for the next one to come out on Nov 19. Already bought the pre-order 🤩
Start with Ghostland and jump on for the ride.
10/10 recommend ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Just finished this one and CAN NOT wait for the next one to come out on Nov 19. Already bought the pre-order 🤩
Start with Ghostland and jump on for the ride.
10/10 recommend ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
November 27, 2020
It’s hard to do sequels in the horror world without feeling like you’re getting a heavy dose of rinse and repeat. It’s still Jason. He’s still got a wicked huge weapon and peoples-a-gonna die badly. We get it. But what Ralston has done here is to take the ending point of a spectacular novel and he allows it to grow and expand into something even more awesome. When you’ve defined the stage of a narrative there’s only one move left - make the stage larger. Ralston is absolutely successful at this. Each part of a trilogy has a specific job and responsibility. Ghostland played its part in getting me to buy into this universe. Afterlife does its job as well - leaving me clawing for the final installment.
May 9, 2021
I struggled with Afterlife more than I did with the first. I picked up on a lot of missing words and double verbs that truly hampered my read. With that being said, the story was great. It's very different from the first in series which doesn't give much perspective from other characters, simply sticks to a chronological narrative. Afterlife spices things up a big with many more simultaneous storylines and a bit of a time leap. I'm still loving the story and appreciated the richness that the other characters brought to the plot. As always, Ralston's world-building is superb!
Updated: Ralston actually just released a post on his website apologizing to readers for accidentally uploading the unrevised file of his novel, letting everyone know they can update their copy in a couple of hours when Amazon accepts the changes. How awesome is he?! A real class act! Will definitely be reading more from him!
Updated: Ralston actually just released a post on his website apologizing to readers for accidentally uploading the unrevised file of his novel, letting everyone know they can update their copy in a couple of hours when Amazon accepts the changes. How awesome is he?! A real class act! Will definitely be reading more from him!
December 15, 2020
This is the second book in the Ghostland Trilogy, and I would be lying if I said this book didn’t far exceeded my expectations!!! Duncan Ralston is a genius with words and his descriptive details are exceptional!! 10/10 would recommend this series!!
December 10, 2020
First of all, let me say, I LOVED Ghostland (the first book) and became excited about the entire trilogy. I felt/feel it was/is an original premise of which there is nothing quite like it in horror today. Of course, it also fairly falls into the sci-fi and dystopian realm, but if you don't read those, don't let that put you off, because you'll honestly not realize it too much. It's aptly said this style resembles Blake Crouch, and as a fan of his, I can say that's true. The entire series, and that includes this second book Afterlife, as well as the short story prequel, so far has been a walk into another place - terrifying yes, but with heart and some laughs too. Very entertaining!
In reading the sequel, Afterlife (Ghostland 2.0), I didn't know at first what to expect or where it would go in the aftermath of the first book. But of course, Ralston creates a story for us within the town of Duck Falls. I should have known he'd be so clever and we'd get to meet so many more new characters. Of couse, all the while, Rex Garrote is looming over us causing tension. I just knew he'd be around pulling strings so this makes me nervous for the characters as take in the chapters and try to unravel what's happening.
Not only are they all well-written, but they are captivating with character, tech, and plot development. Aftermath is no exception, except it brings on more explanation of the tech side of it as well as really settling down with some flesh and bones characters too. I especially liked the psychics! We breath with them and we live with them. There is no better development than when you get to know new characters so quickly and feel connected. Of course, we are in love with our past characters too, and for me, that's always Ben. Ben is the glue and foundation of these stories. But Ralston writes really good female characters. I mean, he's excellent at writing women, which is something I always appreciate. And he added several into Aftermath that were quite compelling.
By the time the end ramped up, I was in a tail spin of dread. I was smiling and having a good time, and then somehow, in creepy fashion, I'm getting goosebumps. Rex to me is REAL LIFE and I feel him around, even now, watching me write this.... so I better get it right. Ha! I mean if the mystery of Rex doesn't intrigue you, I don't know what kind of books you prefer. Here you get another 500 pages of story that makes you not want to close the book, except to head into the next one. And yes, there will be a book three. I CAN'T WAIT.
Afterlife, as Ghostland, is a GHOSTLY, GHASTLY STEAL no matter at what prices, and I’ll haunt all of you who don’t buy them. But look at those covers, so also worth a print buy, especially for gifts!!! Older teens who love to read will rip through these over winter break, and adults who like mystery, horror, and want something new and unique, will be captivated. Duck Falls will be a tv show one day, y'all.
I tiny disclaimer is that pre-read this book in several drafts for content and can completely verify the amount of plotting, intricate tie-ins and placements, and perfectionsim that went into it. The final result is now something Ralston can be very proud of, as well as this entire world he's created, too.
In reading the sequel, Afterlife (Ghostland 2.0), I didn't know at first what to expect or where it would go in the aftermath of the first book. But of course, Ralston creates a story for us within the town of Duck Falls. I should have known he'd be so clever and we'd get to meet so many more new characters. Of couse, all the while, Rex Garrote is looming over us causing tension. I just knew he'd be around pulling strings so this makes me nervous for the characters as take in the chapters and try to unravel what's happening.
Not only are they all well-written, but they are captivating with character, tech, and plot development. Aftermath is no exception, except it brings on more explanation of the tech side of it as well as really settling down with some flesh and bones characters too. I especially liked the psychics! We breath with them and we live with them. There is no better development than when you get to know new characters so quickly and feel connected. Of course, we are in love with our past characters too, and for me, that's always Ben. Ben is the glue and foundation of these stories. But Ralston writes really good female characters. I mean, he's excellent at writing women, which is something I always appreciate. And he added several into Aftermath that were quite compelling.
By the time the end ramped up, I was in a tail spin of dread. I was smiling and having a good time, and then somehow, in creepy fashion, I'm getting goosebumps. Rex to me is REAL LIFE and I feel him around, even now, watching me write this.... so I better get it right. Ha! I mean if the mystery of Rex doesn't intrigue you, I don't know what kind of books you prefer. Here you get another 500 pages of story that makes you not want to close the book, except to head into the next one. And yes, there will be a book three. I CAN'T WAIT.
Afterlife, as Ghostland, is a GHOSTLY, GHASTLY STEAL no matter at what prices, and I’ll haunt all of you who don’t buy them. But look at those covers, so also worth a print buy, especially for gifts!!! Older teens who love to read will rip through these over winter break, and adults who like mystery, horror, and want something new and unique, will be captivated. Duck Falls will be a tv show one day, y'all.
I tiny disclaimer is that pre-read this book in several drafts for content and can completely verify the amount of plotting, intricate tie-ins and placements, and perfectionsim that went into it. The final result is now something Ralston can be very proud of, as well as this entire world he's created, too.
December 14, 2020
Most sequels do not live up to the original book, but Duncan Ralston's Afterlife : Ghostland 2 was better than the first (which was hard to believe since I loved Ghostland). Duncan writes characters that you fall in love with and become invested in. Characters that feel like they’re your friends or family. When they suffer you can feel it. When they triumph you cheer and when they hurt, you cry with them. This was definitely the case with Ben and Lillian's story. This book picks up several months after Ghostland ended and Ben’s ghost returned to let Lillian know that it wasn't over. That Rex Garrote had gotten out and that a war was coming. Ben and Lillian have joined with the group “Ghosts are People too" to help liberate and free ghost, while secretly training and building an army of ethereals for when Rex returns. Strange things are a foot though. Psychics are killing themselves without warning and in bizarre manners. A Korean man with a gwisin (friendly spirit) attached to him becomes entangled with one of those psychics daughters. Sam Beadle, the daughter of Stan Beadle, is looking for closure. (Stan helped Ben and Lillian in Ghostland) which brings her the Duck Fall and Ghost are People Too headquarters. How are they all connected? What answers await them? And will they all survive the coming war? Duncan has written the perfect blend of horror, suspense and drama. I could not put this book down.
April 28, 2024
I saw that the Ghostland Trilogy was available on audiobook on Spotify Premium so I started book 2 right away. Unfortunately, I didn’t connect with this one at all. I think this would have likely been a DNF for me if I wasn’t listening to it but the audio made it a little more enjoyable. It was interesting to see what happened since the Ghostland tragedy but that’s about it.
I feel like Ghostland reads a bit YA and I struggle with YA in general. Thi’s being said I really enjoyed the Ghostland: Try Not To Die! If you really enjoyed the first book I still recommend this series, I think the first book for me was about 3-3.5 stars so I probably should have anticipated not meshing well with book 2. I’m still glad I gave it a shot but I likely will not finish this series.
I feel like Ghostland reads a bit YA and I struggle with YA in general. Thi’s being said I really enjoyed the Ghostland: Try Not To Die! If you really enjoyed the first book I still recommend this series, I think the first book for me was about 3-3.5 stars so I probably should have anticipated not meshing well with book 2. I’m still glad I gave it a shot but I likely will not finish this series.
June 24, 2021
A great continuation to an amazing series!
December 31, 2020
Duncan sent me the arc of this at the end of November... But for whatever reason I haven't really read much at all this month so it took me a long while to finish it. This is book #1 of December... The only thing I've finished this month!
I was really excited for this to come out as I loved the previous book in this series, entitled Ghostland. Now... I didn't enjoy this anywhere near as much as I loved Ghostland, but I did still enjoy it and would still reccomend it!
I'm not sure why I didn't enjoy it as much, there is nothing bad about this book, I just felt more of a connection with the previous one. That being said, it continues the story and progresses the characters well!
I was really excited for this to come out as I loved the previous book in this series, entitled Ghostland. Now... I didn't enjoy this anywhere near as much as I loved Ghostland, but I did still enjoy it and would still reccomend it!
I'm not sure why I didn't enjoy it as much, there is nothing bad about this book, I just felt more of a connection with the previous one. That being said, it continues the story and progresses the characters well!
December 28, 2020
Rex Garrote Lives!!!!!!!
I bought this sequel as soon as it came out and immediately moved it to the front of my extremely long reading list.
The whole Ghostland series is so imaginative and
immersive. I absolutely adored the first book; from the layout of the amusement park to the characters and plot lines. As I said in my initial review, Duncan just keeps getting better and better as a writer.
Although, I can’t say I liked this sequel as much as the original, it certainly filled in some back story for the next episode. It also added some new plot lines and characters that were completely intriguing, and the inclusion of others were quite surprising.
I am in utter anticipation of Ghostland 3. Such creativity!
(Plus, Duncan even gave a shout-out to the Horror Aficionado Group on Goodreads. That makes him extra cool!)
I bought this sequel as soon as it came out and immediately moved it to the front of my extremely long reading list.
The whole Ghostland series is so imaginative and
immersive. I absolutely adored the first book; from the layout of the amusement park to the characters and plot lines. As I said in my initial review, Duncan just keeps getting better and better as a writer.
Although, I can’t say I liked this sequel as much as the original, it certainly filled in some back story for the next episode. It also added some new plot lines and characters that were completely intriguing, and the inclusion of others were quite surprising.
I am in utter anticipation of Ghostland 3. Such creativity!
(Plus, Duncan even gave a shout-out to the Horror Aficionado Group on Goodreads. That makes him extra cool!)
May 9, 2021
Afterlife is a brilliant follow up to Ghostland. Duncan Ralston opens up his world and introduces new characters whilst never sacrificing the story of Ben and Lillian. I got the feeling whilst reading it that this book is putting the pieces into place in preparation for the third and probably final book. Whereas Ghostland was Jurassic Park with ghosts, this feel a little like The Empire Strikes Back. But with ghosts. I know Empire has ghosts but they are Jedis.
December 4, 2021
Dear Duncan,
You son of a bitch!
Love, Paul
I will forever be pissed at Duncan for what he did to a couple of great characters. I wanted to throw my phone, yell, kick the walls and curse him out. The last one I actually did do on Twitter.
Some books make me want to be a character and join in on the adventures but I have no desire to join any of the groups in Afterlife because, well, these are not friendly ghosts. They are quite brutal and there is no chance in surviving an attack.
This is the second book of the trilogy, so there is a lot of set up toward what I can only assume will be a bloodbath for book 3.
Afterlife is totally different from the first book, Ghostland. It is not just a remake with bigger monsters. You could compare this series to Jurassic Park in that there is hard science used to bring the dead back to life and showcase it in an amusement park. Now the ghosts are contained but there are people who want them freed.
I may have been mad earlier at Duncan for what he did to my friends but I am very glad I already have book 3, Infinity, so I can find out which of my other darlings will die
You son of a bitch!
Love, Paul
I will forever be pissed at Duncan for what he did to a couple of great characters. I wanted to throw my phone, yell, kick the walls and curse him out. The last one I actually did do on Twitter.
Some books make me want to be a character and join in on the adventures but I have no desire to join any of the groups in Afterlife because, well, these are not friendly ghosts. They are quite brutal and there is no chance in surviving an attack.
This is the second book of the trilogy, so there is a lot of set up toward what I can only assume will be a bloodbath for book 3.
Afterlife is totally different from the first book, Ghostland. It is not just a remake with bigger monsters. You could compare this series to Jurassic Park in that there is hard science used to bring the dead back to life and showcase it in an amusement park. Now the ghosts are contained but there are people who want them freed.
I may have been mad earlier at Duncan for what he did to my friends but I am very glad I already have book 3, Infinity, so I can find out which of my other darlings will die
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