What do you think?
Rate this book
Blue Bloods #8
After Life
The Blue Bloods are back…more fanged and fabulous than ever.
After defeating Lucifer and sacrificing the love of her life, Jack, Schuyler wakes up back in New York safe and sound. Only it’s not quite the New York she knows, and she’s not in her regular body. She looks different and feels different and so does everyone else. Schuyler soon discovers that in this world, her best friend has a different last name, her parents are both alive and well and one of them is an entirely different person, and the love of her life? Not so dead after all. The catch? Jack has no idea who she is.
As it turns out, Schuyler is not in her New York. She’s not even in her universe. This is an alternate reality. One where Lucifer is alive and well and acting as mayor of New York, Blue Bloods are luring humans to clinics to drain their blood, and Jack is Lucifer’s right hand man. Just when she thinks all is lost, Schuyler is contacted by a familiar friend—the Silver Blood, Kingsley. The Kingsley from her world. He actually remembers the Schuyler she used to be! But he also has a theory, and it’s one she doesn’t like. That Schuyler was sent here to defeat Lucifer. Again. And that she’s the only person in this universe or any universe that can defeat him.
After defeating Lucifer and sacrificing the love of her life, Jack, Schuyler wakes up back in New York safe and sound. Only it’s not quite the New York she knows, and she’s not in her regular body. She looks different and feels different and so does everyone else. Schuyler soon discovers that in this world, her best friend has a different last name, her parents are both alive and well and one of them is an entirely different person, and the love of her life? Not so dead after all. The catch? Jack has no idea who she is.
As it turns out, Schuyler is not in her New York. She’s not even in her universe. This is an alternate reality. One where Lucifer is alive and well and acting as mayor of New York, Blue Bloods are luring humans to clinics to drain their blood, and Jack is Lucifer’s right hand man. Just when she thinks all is lost, Schuyler is contacted by a familiar friend—the Silver Blood, Kingsley. The Kingsley from her world. He actually remembers the Schuyler she used to be! But he also has a theory, and it’s one she doesn’t like. That Schuyler was sent here to defeat Lucifer. Again. And that she’s the only person in this universe or any universe that can defeat him.
352 pages, Hardcover
First published July 26, 2022
90 people are currently reading
3157 people want to read
About the author
Melissa de la Cruz
187 books15.8k followersMelissa de la Cruz is the New York Times and USA Today best-selling author of many critically acclaimed and award-winning novels for teens including The Au Pairs series, the Blue Bloods series, the Ashleys series, the Angels on Sunset Boulevard series and the semi-autobiographical novel Fresh off the Boat.
Her books for adults include the novel Cat’s Meow, the anthology Girls Who Like Boys Who Like Boys and the tongue-in-chic handbooks How to Become Famous in Two Weeks or Less and The Fashionista Files: Adventures in Four-inch heels and Faux-Pas.
She has worked as a fashion and beauty editor and has written for many publications including The New York Times, Marie Claire, Harper’s Bazaar, Glamour, Cosmopolitan, Allure, The San Francisco Chronicle, McSweeney’s, Teen Vogue, CosmoGirl! and Seventeen. She has also appeared as an expert on fashion, trends and fame for CNN, E! and FoxNews.
Melissa grew up in Manila and moved to San Francisco with her family, where she graduated high school salutatorian from The Convent of the Sacred Heart. She majored in art history and English at Columbia University (and minored in nightclubs and shopping!).
She now divides her time between New York and Los Angeles, where she lives in the Hollywood Hills with her husband and daughter.
Her books for adults include the novel Cat’s Meow, the anthology Girls Who Like Boys Who Like Boys and the tongue-in-chic handbooks How to Become Famous in Two Weeks or Less and The Fashionista Files: Adventures in Four-inch heels and Faux-Pas.
She has worked as a fashion and beauty editor and has written for many publications including The New York Times, Marie Claire, Harper’s Bazaar, Glamour, Cosmopolitan, Allure, The San Francisco Chronicle, McSweeney’s, Teen Vogue, CosmoGirl! and Seventeen. She has also appeared as an expert on fashion, trends and fame for CNN, E! and FoxNews.
Melissa grew up in Manila and moved to San Francisco with her family, where she graduated high school salutatorian from The Convent of the Sacred Heart. She majored in art history and English at Columbia University (and minored in nightclubs and shopping!).
She now divides her time between New York and Los Angeles, where she lives in the Hollywood Hills with her husband and daughter.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 72 reviews
July 24, 2022
After Life is the latest installment in the Blue Bloods series, but it’s one that can be read without reading the previous books. I read the first few a loooong time ago, and since so much time had passed, my memories had faded and it was like I was coming into this book as a completely blank slate. While to some degree, knowledge of the previous books wasn’t necessary, it did feel like readers would benefit from knowing what had happened, and who the characters are. Much of the book revolves around Schuyler realizing that she’s in a multiverse and coming to terms with how this new world she’s superimposed herself onto differs from the world she came from.
Again, while the book is touted as a novel you can read without first reading the others, I did feel like I was missing out from not being well-versed in the previous books, since a lot of time was spent remembering the past and Schuyler trying to reconcile it with the new world she’s found herself in. Also, I feel like if I weren't a fan of the TV show "The Flash", I would have been a lot more confused about the multiverse concept, and that it should have possibly been explained a little more thoroughly in this book. Not all young adult vampire book readers are knowledgeable about physics or comic books! 😅
I enjoyed the story–the author’s writing style is phenomenal, and she did a fantastic job of providing little flashbacks and anecdotes throughout to cement who the characters now are and who they were in the other world. She sets a scene quite beautifully, and I genuinely felt like I had teleported into New York City. That said, the book is told in several “Parts”, which I had a little issue with. The first part was incredibly compelling and told entirely from Schuyler’s point of view. The second part is where the book started to drag, but it fortunately picked up again for the other parts. I think that my issue with the second part was that it was set several months prior to the first part, and there was a lot of extraneous information that could have possibly been given in present day scenes through brief flashbacks or references, and as a result, the story could have been told more linearly to help with the pacing.
The book has quite a few surprising twists in the plot, and based on that explosive conclusion, I can tell there will definitely be more stories to come in the Blue Bloods series!
*Thank you to the author, the publisher, and ALA Annual Conference for the ebook to review*
This review appeared first on https://powerlibrarian.wordpress.com/
Book Blog | Instagram | TikTok | Website | Twitter
My 2022 Reading Challenge
POPSUGAR Reading Challenge 2022: This book fulfills the "A book featuring a parallel reality" category.
Again, while the book is touted as a novel you can read without first reading the others, I did feel like I was missing out from not being well-versed in the previous books, since a lot of time was spent remembering the past and Schuyler trying to reconcile it with the new world she’s found herself in. Also, I feel like if I weren't a fan of the TV show "The Flash", I would have been a lot more confused about the multiverse concept, and that it should have possibly been explained a little more thoroughly in this book. Not all young adult vampire book readers are knowledgeable about physics or comic books! 😅
I enjoyed the story–the author’s writing style is phenomenal, and she did a fantastic job of providing little flashbacks and anecdotes throughout to cement who the characters now are and who they were in the other world. She sets a scene quite beautifully, and I genuinely felt like I had teleported into New York City. That said, the book is told in several “Parts”, which I had a little issue with. The first part was incredibly compelling and told entirely from Schuyler’s point of view. The second part is where the book started to drag, but it fortunately picked up again for the other parts. I think that my issue with the second part was that it was set several months prior to the first part, and there was a lot of extraneous information that could have possibly been given in present day scenes through brief flashbacks or references, and as a result, the story could have been told more linearly to help with the pacing.
The book has quite a few surprising twists in the plot, and based on that explosive conclusion, I can tell there will definitely be more stories to come in the Blue Bloods series!
*Thank you to the author, the publisher, and ALA Annual Conference for the ebook to review*
This review appeared first on https://powerlibrarian.wordpress.com/
Book Blog | Instagram | TikTok | Website | Twitter
My 2022 Reading Challenge
POPSUGAR Reading Challenge 2022: This book fulfills the "A book featuring a parallel reality" category.
March 7, 2022
One cannot review Melissa de la Cruz’s latest entry to the Blue Blood’s series without addressing the fact that it will probably draw a few heckling comments from fan purists, both young and old.
Afterlife is essentially a loose retelling of the original series. The tale toys with the idea of parallel universes, allowing the setting to be fast-forwarded to an alternate version of our present day, with a more diverse cast of characters. While Jack is still Jack in this parallel world and Kingsley is still Kingsley; Schuyler is mixed race, Oliver is Asian, and Mimi is now Max. Only Kingsley and Schuyler really remember their former selves in that other world.
Readers familiar with the older series may balk at the changes; however de la Cruz has really streamlined this tale, focusing on action and mystery rather than the superfluous high school drama, shopping sprees, parties, and jet setting journeys abroad. With the action taking place in New York, there’s enough there to capture a reader’s interest. The writing is fast-paced, visual, and surprisingly fun. For what is essentially a Blue Bloods redox, it’s rather well done. Melissa de la Cruz’s style has matured to a more focused and driven method of storytelling. It works. Can’t wait for the next installment.
Afterlife is essentially a loose retelling of the original series. The tale toys with the idea of parallel universes, allowing the setting to be fast-forwarded to an alternate version of our present day, with a more diverse cast of characters. While Jack is still Jack in this parallel world and Kingsley is still Kingsley; Schuyler is mixed race, Oliver is Asian, and Mimi is now Max. Only Kingsley and Schuyler really remember their former selves in that other world.
Readers familiar with the older series may balk at the changes; however de la Cruz has really streamlined this tale, focusing on action and mystery rather than the superfluous high school drama, shopping sprees, parties, and jet setting journeys abroad. With the action taking place in New York, there’s enough there to capture a reader’s interest. The writing is fast-paced, visual, and surprisingly fun. For what is essentially a Blue Bloods redox, it’s rather well done. Melissa de la Cruz’s style has matured to a more focused and driven method of storytelling. It works. Can’t wait for the next installment.
August 21, 2022
After Life is a surprise I never saw coming after almost ten years from the publication of Gates of Paradise, the last book from the Blue Bloods series. Yes, we did have Vampires of Manhattan and White Nights: A Vampires of Manhattan Novel, but that series is not over, and it technically happens years after this book. I have no idea if the events of After Life influenced that one or not, but I think not. I believe that this AU idea is new, and I'm glad that the author decided to give it a go, considering that the new Blue Bloods Coven series I've just mentioned was mostly from Oliver's POV and I never liked him, so for the time being I would not delve into that. But I'm glad I started reading this.
I was stoked when I found out that this series was going to have a new book. At the same time, I was scared because when an author decides to continue a series, sometimes it doesn't live up to the expectations of the reader, and it may ruin the magic of the previous one a little. I have re-read the entire BB series to prepare for this one, and I was glad I did because After Life starts off right after the events of Gates of Paradise. Thus, even if the author informs the reader about the most important things that already happened, knowing the facts and where everyone stood was better. I don't think that you can't go into this book unprepared, but it will be confusing, and maybe you won't understand the story well. At least that's my opinion.
After Life starts after GoP ends. If you've read that book, you know that Schuyler defeats the enemy, but she has to make a sacrifice in order to win. Sky's sacrifice doesn't go unnoticed, and she is rewarded at the end. I was satisfied with the ending because all the ships have their happy ending.
This book toys with the idea that there is another (or more) parallel universe where Schuyler hasn't defeated Lucifer, and she's back to the start. The story begins with Sky waking up in New York realizing that the world she's in is not what it seems. It's like she's never destroyed Lucifer and his army, and the NYC she sees is devoid of life and there's an eerie air about it. Her life is completely different, but there are some constants. Oliver is still her closest friend and she still goes to the same school where Jack, the love of her life, goes. So, Sky finds hope, but everyone in this world is different from their persona from the other world, so she has to deal with that too and there's always the possibility that someone is not who they say they are...
The story had the right pace and I liked that we had the POVs of the four main characters. Switching between POVs helps the reader to be interested and eager to know what's going to happen. I was glad to have started this book and I hoped it would have been a standalone, but I'm happy that it's going to continue because I need more of my ships' moments. And I cross my fingers that the author nor the editor stop the publication of this series because otherwise I'd be very, very, sad.
I was stoked when I found out that this series was going to have a new book. At the same time, I was scared because when an author decides to continue a series, sometimes it doesn't live up to the expectations of the reader, and it may ruin the magic of the previous one a little. I have re-read the entire BB series to prepare for this one, and I was glad I did because After Life starts off right after the events of Gates of Paradise. Thus, even if the author informs the reader about the most important things that already happened, knowing the facts and where everyone stood was better. I don't think that you can't go into this book unprepared, but it will be confusing, and maybe you won't understand the story well. At least that's my opinion.
After Life starts after GoP ends. If you've read that book, you know that Schuyler defeats the enemy, but she has to make a sacrifice in order to win. Sky's sacrifice doesn't go unnoticed, and she is rewarded at the end. I was satisfied with the ending because all the ships have their happy ending.
This book toys with the idea that there is another (or more) parallel universe where Schuyler hasn't defeated Lucifer, and she's back to the start. The story begins with Sky waking up in New York realizing that the world she's in is not what it seems. It's like she's never destroyed Lucifer and his army, and the NYC she sees is devoid of life and there's an eerie air about it. Her life is completely different, but there are some constants. Oliver is still her closest friend and she still goes to the same school where Jack, the love of her life, goes. So, Sky finds hope, but everyone in this world is different from their persona from the other world, so she has to deal with that too and there's always the possibility that someone is not who they say they are...
The story had the right pace and I liked that we had the POVs of the four main characters. Switching between POVs helps the reader to be interested and eager to know what's going to happen. I was glad to have started this book and I hoped it would have been a standalone, but I'm happy that it's going to continue because I need more of my ships' moments. And I cross my fingers that the author nor the editor stop the publication of this series because otherwise I'd be very, very, sad.
November 2, 2022
When I found out that another Blue Bloods book was coming out, I decided to reread the series and finally finish it. I'm so glad I did, because this starts right after the last book (though some events are different and I'm not quite sure how it fits but oh well). Schuyler is in a new timeline where things are both similar and very different and now has to battle Lucifer once more.
I liked the fast pace of this and getting so many character's points of view. Kingsley is so interesting and I'm happy we saw more of him. His relationship with Max (aka Mimi) was well written and I love the idea that Kingsley just wants this person, no matter how they appear.
To avoid be blindsided like I was, this ends on a cliffhanger so be warned. I hope there's plans for a sequel and it isn't far off!
I liked the fast pace of this and getting so many character's points of view. Kingsley is so interesting and I'm happy we saw more of him. His relationship with Max (aka Mimi) was well written and I love the idea that Kingsley just wants this person, no matter how they appear.
To avoid be blindsided like I was, this ends on a cliffhanger so be warned. I hope there's plans for a sequel and it isn't far off!
August 14, 2022
Look. I hate myself for grabbing this immediately and devouring it in one sitting. That being said, spoilers:
I am also pissed that I thought this was going to be just a fun little jaunt back into the universe only to find that no, it is a full fledged series with more books coming out makes me wonder how strong my willpower is in whether or not I can actually continue on with this.
I loved the series as a teenager, and maybe it's one of those things that should stay in my teenage years that I have fond nostalgia for every once in a while.
Also, we stan Kingsley in this house. He is a literal King and I love him. That's all.
I am also pissed that I thought this was going to be just a fun little jaunt back into the universe only to find that no, it is a full fledged series with more books coming out makes me wonder how strong my willpower is in whether or not I can actually continue on with this.
I loved the series as a teenager, and maybe it's one of those things that should stay in my teenage years that I have fond nostalgia for every once in a while.
Also, we stan Kingsley in this house. He is a literal King and I love him. That's all.
January 28, 2022
I had the opportunity to beta read this book in 2021…very excited to see it’s getting published and that others will get to read it too!!
July 18, 2022
Many thanks to NetGalley, Disney Publishing Worldwide and Melissa de la Cruz for an ARC in exchange for an honest review. My thoughts and opinions are 100% my own and independent of receiving an advance copy.
Blue Bloods is a series that Melissa de la Cruz wrote that contains seven books in the series. The series ran from 2006-2013. The big finish was when Schuyler defeated Lucifer but losing her love, Jack in the process. This book picks up with Schuyler transported to an alternate universe. For any Marvel fans out there, think multiverse. Things are the same but different. She now has a mother and a father, something she always wanted. Of course Jack doesn’t know who she is in this world and Mimi is now Max. Both brothers are now fighting for Luicfer instead of against him. Can Schuyler defeat Lucifer again? Can she fight against Jack or even worse, can she lose him again.
This was was not for me. Full disclosure, I had never read the previous books, so I was completely unfamiliar with the series and the characters. Most of the book was rehashing the old series with Schuyler lamenting how different things are now. Perhaps because I wasn’t already invested in these characters, I never really felt anything for any of them. I didn’t feel like they were full characters and with no development, I wasn’t invested. I get that Schulyer loved Jack but for this story, I had no real interest in whether they ended up together or not.
The story was almost non existent. I’m not sure if this is meant to kick off a new series (probably) and so this serves as an introduction to the new world, but it sounds pretty much the same. Lucifer bad, good should defeat bad and love conquers all. Change a few genders and hair colours and it seems like window dressing. Still, I could have been interested, if something actually happened to make me care about either the characters, the love story, or the good vs evil. We didn’t even get into the vampire stuff that could have been interesting. Schuyler was given blood so never hungry, never bit anyone = boring vamp. The action didn’t even begin until after I was 80% of the way through the book.
I will probably go back and read the first in the series, just to see if what all the hoopla was about the first time around. I was really disappointed because I had heard so much about Melissa de la Cruz and was looking forward to reading her stuff. I”m hoping this was a one off and that she is as amazing an author as I had expected.
Blue Bloods is a series that Melissa de la Cruz wrote that contains seven books in the series. The series ran from 2006-2013. The big finish was when Schuyler defeated Lucifer but losing her love, Jack in the process. This book picks up with Schuyler transported to an alternate universe. For any Marvel fans out there, think multiverse. Things are the same but different. She now has a mother and a father, something she always wanted. Of course Jack doesn’t know who she is in this world and Mimi is now Max. Both brothers are now fighting for Luicfer instead of against him. Can Schuyler defeat Lucifer again? Can she fight against Jack or even worse, can she lose him again.
This was was not for me. Full disclosure, I had never read the previous books, so I was completely unfamiliar with the series and the characters. Most of the book was rehashing the old series with Schuyler lamenting how different things are now. Perhaps because I wasn’t already invested in these characters, I never really felt anything for any of them. I didn’t feel like they were full characters and with no development, I wasn’t invested. I get that Schulyer loved Jack but for this story, I had no real interest in whether they ended up together or not.
The story was almost non existent. I’m not sure if this is meant to kick off a new series (probably) and so this serves as an introduction to the new world, but it sounds pretty much the same. Lucifer bad, good should defeat bad and love conquers all. Change a few genders and hair colours and it seems like window dressing. Still, I could have been interested, if something actually happened to make me care about either the characters, the love story, or the good vs evil. We didn’t even get into the vampire stuff that could have been interesting. Schuyler was given blood so never hungry, never bit anyone = boring vamp. The action didn’t even begin until after I was 80% of the way through the book.
I will probably go back and read the first in the series, just to see if what all the hoopla was about the first time around. I was really disappointed because I had heard so much about Melissa de la Cruz and was looking forward to reading her stuff. I”m hoping this was a one off and that she is as amazing an author as I had expected.
July 18, 2022
I was really excited going into this since Blue Bloods was one of my favorite series growing up. It was great to be back with some familiar characters even though they were all a bit different. I love how the soul mates and bondmates remain true even across different universes. The big reveal at the end was something that I had predicted from the beginning of the book, so that was what kept this from being a five star read for me. I did miss some of the og series characters and I hope that they will be brought back as this new series continues on.
Read
November 27, 2022RTC
Read
April 9, 2023Growing up I read the Blue Bloods series, it was one of my absolute favorite vampire series’. Returning to the Blue Bloods worlds was comforting.
November 4, 2024
Book #8 in the series. Book 7 wrapped everything up nicely. I’m not sure why the ending changed. I think if you wanted to write a Covid vampire book, you should have just started a new series.
August 2, 2022
When you’ve lost your soulmate and love, will your heart ever find its way back as you enter the multiverse? Incredible read and oh what a ride as we see our favorite characters: The Force Twins, Schuyler, Oliver, and of course, Kingsley Martin!
I love how there is always hope, even when all seems lost. The interactions between the Force Twins brought me back to the first novel, which was just as deliciously wicked then as it is now. As the author has matured, so have these characters, thankfully. I’m also at a different stage in my life and gone is the endless shopping at the mall and who looks better, etc.
I am truly not trying to give away much but the ending is too much of a turn on its axis in an “oh no you didn’t!” good way. I am so glad this book is a rewrite of the original series but better if that’s possible. Wait, it is!!
Special thanks to NetGalley and Disney Publishing Worldwide for sending me this digital review copy in exchange for my honest opinions. This book literally had me on the edge of my seat. A must-follow series!
I love how there is always hope, even when all seems lost. The interactions between the Force Twins brought me back to the first novel, which was just as deliciously wicked then as it is now. As the author has matured, so have these characters, thankfully. I’m also at a different stage in my life and gone is the endless shopping at the mall and who looks better, etc.
I am truly not trying to give away much but the ending is too much of a turn on its axis in an “oh no you didn’t!” good way. I am so glad this book is a rewrite of the original series but better if that’s possible. Wait, it is!!
Special thanks to NetGalley and Disney Publishing Worldwide for sending me this digital review copy in exchange for my honest opinions. This book literally had me on the edge of my seat. A must-follow series!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 23, 2024
In my world, my work is done. But yours is only beginning.
June 14, 2022
The blue bloods are back but this definitely is not the world Schuyler just fell asleep in Jack is but doesn’t know her, her parents are alive, her best friend has a different last name, oh and Lucifer just isn’t back he is the mayor of New York city and the only that seems to know what is going on is Kingsley.
This was a wonderful new book in the Blue Bloods series, we waited for it and it did not disappoint. This book is packed with action and suspense, it will leave you asking for more and I hope we don’t have to wait to long for it.
This was a wonderful new book in the Blue Bloods series, we waited for it and it did not disappoint. This book is packed with action and suspense, it will leave you asking for more and I hope we don’t have to wait to long for it.
March 14, 2022
Melissa de la Cruz's Blue Bloods series has always been one of my favorites! I was excited to see this new story about some of my favorite characters. Even though it has been several years since I read the series, I happily began reading Blue Bloods: After Life. To my dismay, the setting of the story was NOT appealing; I was crushed. I kept on reading hoping to stir those old feelings about the characters I fell in love with so long ago. It didn't go well. The multiple POVs helped getting to know the characters in this setting, but it just felt like a retelling of the original story. I would have liked to see more of the characters how they were at the end of the series and growing from there. Although I felt I understood the thoughts behind some of the ideas in this installment of Blue Bloods, this story fell short for me, and I was disappointed.
Thank you to Disney Publishing Worldwide for this advanced review copy which I voluntarily read and reviewed. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Thank you to Disney Publishing Worldwide for this advanced review copy which I voluntarily read and reviewed. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
December 2, 2021
This book was a huge disappointment- fails completely to live up the magic of the previous books, and frankly reads as a desperate grasp at retelling the same story with some details changed. The romance, adventure and excitement of the previous books are completely flat here. This book is a joyless slog and you're better off just rereading the original series.
I was provided with an advance review copy in exchange for an honest review.
I was provided with an advance review copy in exchange for an honest review.
March 26, 2023
Just okay for me. I’m mega confused… did the epilogue from the last book mean nothing?
SPOILER:
Schuyler thinks Jack is dead but didn’t he get another chance in the epilogue? We saw AFTER the battle against Lucifer so I’m seriously confused. Is de la Cruz just pretending she didn’t write that? Multiverse stuff is so complicated as it is so this definitely wasn’t my favorite. I’ll read the next one to see what happens but goodness, I hope I like it more.
SPOILER:
Schuyler thinks Jack is dead but didn’t he get another chance in the epilogue? We saw AFTER the battle against Lucifer so I’m seriously confused. Is de la Cruz just pretending she didn’t write that? Multiverse stuff is so complicated as it is so this definitely wasn’t my favorite. I’ll read the next one to see what happens but goodness, I hope I like it more.
July 3, 2023
After Life is the eighth book in the Blue Bloods series. While this book is my introduction to the series, I was still able to appreciate the story and characters despite not being familiar with the historical context provided in books 1-7. Author Melissa de la Cruz is a gifted writer and manages to transport and plug readers right into the heart of the action and the drama – whether you are beginning with book eight or not.
There is a lot of backstory to catch up on in After Life if you are not familiar with the series, but there is no one better to catch you up than author Melissa de la Cruz and protagonist Schuyler. From page one, the reader learns – in summary form – of Schuyler’s triumphs against Lucifer in previous books. Readers also learn that Schuyler is the only person in this universe or any universe that can defeat him. The weight of the world is, quite literally, on her shoulders.
After Life starts out very Schuyler-driven– most of the chapters are dedicated to her and written from her perspective. However, later chapters are written from others’ perspectives, including Kingsley, Oliver and Max. This shakes up the story and the reader’s experience in an exciting way. The characters also do not take routine turns occupying separate chapters – it is very much a mixed bag and you are not sure whose perspective might spearhead the following chapter. The author does a thrilling job of changing it up seemingly at random except that the story and dialogue always propels the story forward in a thrilling, unexpected, and often juicy manner.
Speaking of juicy, the character dynamics in After Life are particularly juicy. While Schuyler deals with the new “Jack” in this universe, Kingsley attempts to come to terms with Max being a sort of reincarnation of Mimi, his love from prior novels. There is also Schuyler’s complicated relationship with her best friend Oliver who also acts as her Familiar. Not to mention that we are generally talking about vampires which often makes any such story worth biting into (pun intended). There’s a lot to unpack, but the pace assists in moving the reader through key themes and events in the Blue Bloods novels, as well as After Life alone.
After Life is full of fictional history, mythology, action and intrigue. Vampires and different vampire factions definitely make pandemic times much more thrilling and Schuyler’s mission to expose the corruption behind the clinics is a great plot and character goal. Kingsley’s theory in this book is that Schuyler was sent to the alternate universe that they occupy to defeat Lucifer… again. While it may sound repetitive, this battle with Lucifer is couched in an entirely new setting, namely pandemic New York. The character parallels and tension created by who-remembers-what also keeps the drama at an all-time high.
Another factor that I found particularly notable is the sophisticated articulation of the action scenes. Melissa de la Cruz is a master at writing action scenes in a way that feels like you are watching them on television. The anticipation, movement, reaction and even specific choreography translates beautifully on the page. This is an artform in itself and something that I found both striking and entertaining.
After Life is a juicy and intoxicating read that will reunite Blue Bloods fans with character-favorites while also introducing them to new ones in an all-new dimension. Readers new to the series may be inspired to dive into the earlier books after reading After Life. A strong, half-human, half-vampire, female protagonist out to save the multiverse while dealing with complicated relationships on the side? Vampire drama at its finest.
There is a lot of backstory to catch up on in After Life if you are not familiar with the series, but there is no one better to catch you up than author Melissa de la Cruz and protagonist Schuyler. From page one, the reader learns – in summary form – of Schuyler’s triumphs against Lucifer in previous books. Readers also learn that Schuyler is the only person in this universe or any universe that can defeat him. The weight of the world is, quite literally, on her shoulders.
After Life starts out very Schuyler-driven– most of the chapters are dedicated to her and written from her perspective. However, later chapters are written from others’ perspectives, including Kingsley, Oliver and Max. This shakes up the story and the reader’s experience in an exciting way. The characters also do not take routine turns occupying separate chapters – it is very much a mixed bag and you are not sure whose perspective might spearhead the following chapter. The author does a thrilling job of changing it up seemingly at random except that the story and dialogue always propels the story forward in a thrilling, unexpected, and often juicy manner.
Speaking of juicy, the character dynamics in After Life are particularly juicy. While Schuyler deals with the new “Jack” in this universe, Kingsley attempts to come to terms with Max being a sort of reincarnation of Mimi, his love from prior novels. There is also Schuyler’s complicated relationship with her best friend Oliver who also acts as her Familiar. Not to mention that we are generally talking about vampires which often makes any such story worth biting into (pun intended). There’s a lot to unpack, but the pace assists in moving the reader through key themes and events in the Blue Bloods novels, as well as After Life alone.
After Life is full of fictional history, mythology, action and intrigue. Vampires and different vampire factions definitely make pandemic times much more thrilling and Schuyler’s mission to expose the corruption behind the clinics is a great plot and character goal. Kingsley’s theory in this book is that Schuyler was sent to the alternate universe that they occupy to defeat Lucifer… again. While it may sound repetitive, this battle with Lucifer is couched in an entirely new setting, namely pandemic New York. The character parallels and tension created by who-remembers-what also keeps the drama at an all-time high.
Another factor that I found particularly notable is the sophisticated articulation of the action scenes. Melissa de la Cruz is a master at writing action scenes in a way that feels like you are watching them on television. The anticipation, movement, reaction and even specific choreography translates beautifully on the page. This is an artform in itself and something that I found both striking and entertaining.
After Life is a juicy and intoxicating read that will reunite Blue Bloods fans with character-favorites while also introducing them to new ones in an all-new dimension. Readers new to the series may be inspired to dive into the earlier books after reading After Life. A strong, half-human, half-vampire, female protagonist out to save the multiverse while dealing with complicated relationships on the side? Vampire drama at its finest.
Read
July 27, 2022AFTER LIFE is a new Blue Bloods story that takes place in an alternate world. Schuyler wakes in New York after the fight with Lucifer, and she decides to head home only to find that it is not her home anymore. She soon realizes that this is not the world she knows, and here, Lucifer and Jack are both alive and well. Schuyler soon begins to realize that she was sent to this alternate reality for another showdown amidst this different world.
What I loved: This will appeal to fans of Blue Bloods who want another chance to play out this supernatural battle. The book does a great job of recapping the earlier facts so that readers who are not familiar or who haven't read the earlier books in a while will be able to follow this easily. Favorite characters are back in new ways as this alternate reality has changed them in different ways. While Schuyler seems much the same in terms of motivation and disposition, those around her are reminiscent of themselves at core, but they have different motives and plots afoot. The use of multiple perspectives helps to tell the story in a fuller way, and the reader follows not only Schuyler but also Max (Mimi), Kingsley, and the others.
What left me wanting more: In some ways, this feels like a repeat of the earlier stories. The comparisons across the timelines are frequent, removing the reader from the story.
Of note for those who may be sensitive, this alternate reality takes place during a pandemic, during which everyone is avoiding crowds and wearing masks, though the illness differs in that it involves exsanguination.
Final verdict: AFTER LIFE is an intriguing new Blue Bloods story using an alternate reality premise. Would recommend for fans who want to enjoy familiar characters in this altered way.
Please note that I received an ARC. All opinions are my own.
What I loved: This will appeal to fans of Blue Bloods who want another chance to play out this supernatural battle. The book does a great job of recapping the earlier facts so that readers who are not familiar or who haven't read the earlier books in a while will be able to follow this easily. Favorite characters are back in new ways as this alternate reality has changed them in different ways. While Schuyler seems much the same in terms of motivation and disposition, those around her are reminiscent of themselves at core, but they have different motives and plots afoot. The use of multiple perspectives helps to tell the story in a fuller way, and the reader follows not only Schuyler but also Max (Mimi), Kingsley, and the others.
What left me wanting more: In some ways, this feels like a repeat of the earlier stories. The comparisons across the timelines are frequent, removing the reader from the story.
Of note for those who may be sensitive, this alternate reality takes place during a pandemic, during which everyone is avoiding crowds and wearing masks, though the illness differs in that it involves exsanguination.
Final verdict: AFTER LIFE is an intriguing new Blue Bloods story using an alternate reality premise. Would recommend for fans who want to enjoy familiar characters in this altered way.
Please note that I received an ARC. All opinions are my own.
June 24, 2023
Schuyler is back again and has to defeat Lucifer yet again. The original Blue Blood series is my favorite of all time. I remember reading them in high school and FALLING IN LOVE. When I found out that another book came out with a second to follow up with, I was ecstatic but boy was I wrong. Don’t get my wrong, the book wasn’t that bad. But I kept comparing to the original. It was a little rush I had a hard time following along with the multiple povs and the chronologic order of events.
Mostly, Schuyler was whiny in the beginning and it took me a while to get into the book. But I finally forced myself to just read it. Hating how she only remembers that Jack died. To me reading those parts were cringing but then reading Max and Jack kinda made it better and more bearable. Truly dislike how Jack disappear, Max got taken and Kingsley. Poor Kingsley 🥺
I am really suspicious about Aurora, since the beginning when they mentioned her parents. Stephen didn’t give me that vibe but Aurora knows wayyy more than she leading on. She is giving Clary’s mom vibe from Mortal Instruments. I hope she gets explored more in the next book. Also I was not surprised by Oliver, I never really liked Oliver anyways. Not in the original series and not in this continuation.
Overall, will I read the next book… yes. I must know what happens.
Mostly, Schuyler was whiny in the beginning and it took me a while to get into the book. But I finally forced myself to just read it. Hating how she only remembers that Jack died. To me reading those parts were cringing but then reading Max and Jack kinda made it better and more bearable. Truly dislike how Jack disappear, Max got taken and Kingsley. Poor Kingsley 🥺
I am really suspicious about Aurora, since the beginning when they mentioned her parents. Stephen didn’t give me that vibe but Aurora knows wayyy more than she leading on. She is giving Clary’s mom vibe from Mortal Instruments. I hope she gets explored more in the next book. Also I was not surprised by Oliver, I never really liked Oliver anyways. Not in the original series and not in this continuation.
Overall, will I read the next book… yes. I must know what happens.
July 15, 2022
Schuyler has just sacrificed Jack in order to defeat Lucifer when she wakes up in 2020 New York. Not only is the city not as she remembers it, but she also isn’t in her regular body and everyone else is different in some way. She quickly finds out that she isn’t in her New York … she is in a different universe. Here, Lucifer is still alive and the mayor of New York; Jack is also alive, but is Lucifer’s right-hand man. Schuyler doesn’t know what is going on and then Kingsley contacts her. He remembers their world and has his own ideas about what has happened. Will Schuyler be able to defeat Lucifer again?
Blue Bloods: After Life is a spin-off of the original Blue Bloods series. I found it interesting that the time jump brings the characters into the fall of the Covid-19 outbreak (in our world) and the vampires were taking advantage of a mysterious illness and the vaccine that was being released. If this is a one-and-done spin-off book, it was fun and worth the read. If this becomes a new series, though, I will need to save my thoughts to see where de la Cruz plans to go with the storyline. It was a nice escape to revisit old characters and this might be the introduction needed to bring this series back into the hands of young readers.
Blue Bloods: After Life is a spin-off of the original Blue Bloods series. I found it interesting that the time jump brings the characters into the fall of the Covid-19 outbreak (in our world) and the vampires were taking advantage of a mysterious illness and the vaccine that was being released. If this is a one-and-done spin-off book, it was fun and worth the read. If this becomes a new series, though, I will need to save my thoughts to see where de la Cruz plans to go with the storyline. It was a nice escape to revisit old characters and this might be the introduction needed to bring this series back into the hands of young readers.
July 26, 2022
Schuyler has defeated Lucifer, everything outside of losing the love of her life Jack should be okay. The world should be saved, but the world that Schuyler wakes up in is very different from the world she knew before. In fact not on is this world different in it Jack is not dead and very much alive. Yet when she learns that Jack is working right underneath Lucifer alongside his twin brother Schuyler questions if she will be able to find a way to save him and the world from the strange pandemic they seem to be suffering from. What are Lucifer's plans for this world? Can love prevail against evil?
It has been a very long time since I have read any book in this series. So my memory about the plot line and characters is very fuzzy. However Marissa does a great job giving enough context that anyone reading this book would easily be able to get just enough background to not feel like they are missing out or lacking enough plot line to grasp what is going on in this multiverse. I do love all the different twists and turns that you find inside this book. Overall it is quite enjoyable. The ending leaves you really wanting more.
Thank you so much Disney and Netgalley for allowing me to have an advance copy of this text.
It has been a very long time since I have read any book in this series. So my memory about the plot line and characters is very fuzzy. However Marissa does a great job giving enough context that anyone reading this book would easily be able to get just enough background to not feel like they are missing out or lacking enough plot line to grasp what is going on in this multiverse. I do love all the different twists and turns that you find inside this book. Overall it is quite enjoyable. The ending leaves you really wanting more.
Thank you so much Disney and Netgalley for allowing me to have an advance copy of this text.
July 12, 2023
After Life is a great story within the Blue Bloods Universe. This book I binged after finally finishing all of the original Blue Bloods series (I have not read Vampires of Manhattan or White Night) I was a bit confused in the beginning of how it was going to end up, but the author definitely did spell everything out. If you're going from GoP to this one, you will find some parts in the beginning a bit repetitive as I believe it's supposed to be able to be read without reading the previous books.
As for the actual story, I loved it. I definitely think the author stuck true to her writing style, so I inevitably loved this book.
While I didn't cry as I did with GoP (I had to take a minute with that book as I was bawling my eyes out) the ending had a HUGE twist and I LOVED getting to see the side of Oliver as an enemy. I definitely knew there was something up with him from early on, and I also wasn't a huge fan of the "pick me" mentality he had in the previous books.
Also, I hate that Kingsley was the sacrifice for this book. That wasn't cool. That hurt my feelings. Justice for Kingsley.
I'm super excited to start on After Death.
As for the actual story, I loved it. I definitely think the author stuck true to her writing style, so I inevitably loved this book.
While I didn't cry as I did with GoP (I had to take a minute with that book as I was bawling my eyes out) the ending had a HUGE twist and I LOVED getting to see the side of Oliver as an enemy. I definitely knew there was something up with him from early on, and I also wasn't a huge fan of the "pick me" mentality he had in the previous books.
Also, I hate that Kingsley was the sacrifice for this book. That wasn't cool. That hurt my feelings. Justice for Kingsley.
I'm super excited to start on After Death.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 20, 2022
After life picks up right where Gates of Paradise ends for Schuyler. Yet, she isn’t Schuyler and it’s now 2020 where the world is suffering from a pandemic (I love how this story mirrors our covid pandemic), but this virus drains people of their blood. Or that’s what they aren’t meant to believe.
This brought me back to my college days when I first read the Blue Blood series. This book was so nostalgic for me. I was so glad when I saw Melissa was releasing this! I really enjoyed this book. The same key players are back but somewhat different. I was hesitant about the multiverse storyline but it kind of worked. I could not put this book. The last chapter literally blew my mind I was literally screaming. I cannot wait for the next book!! I love this series so much! Old readers will love it! And new readers to the story will love it too!
This brought me back to my college days when I first read the Blue Blood series. This book was so nostalgic for me. I was so glad when I saw Melissa was releasing this! I really enjoyed this book. The same key players are back but somewhat different. I was hesitant about the multiverse storyline but it kind of worked. I could not put this book. The last chapter literally blew my mind I was literally screaming. I cannot wait for the next book!! I love this series so much! Old readers will love it! And new readers to the story will love it too!
August 22, 2022
The last book I read in this series was in 2011 so I was a little afraid I might be lost but the story and characters came right back to me as soon as I started reading!
This was an interesting alt verse look at our vampire community. Some things are the same and some are very different but what will Schuyler do when she sees her dead boyfriend Jack alive and well but has no idea who she is? And who he is working for will chill Schuyler to the bone, what will she do in this new world when she realizes an old enemy is also alive and well in this timeline?
Taylor Meskimen narration does a great job at all the emotion of Schuyler and everyone else.
This made me want more and also to go back and re-read the previous books, if only they were all available on audio!
3 ½ stars
I received this book from the publisher Disney Audiobooks and NetGalley for a fair and honest review.
This was an interesting alt verse look at our vampire community. Some things are the same and some are very different but what will Schuyler do when she sees her dead boyfriend Jack alive and well but has no idea who she is? And who he is working for will chill Schuyler to the bone, what will she do in this new world when she realizes an old enemy is also alive and well in this timeline?
Taylor Meskimen narration does a great job at all the emotion of Schuyler and everyone else.
This made me want more and also to go back and re-read the previous books, if only they were all available on audio!
3 ½ stars
I received this book from the publisher Disney Audiobooks and NetGalley for a fair and honest review.
August 27, 2022
Blue Bloods: After Life is the eighth book in Melissa de la Cruz's Blue Bloods series. It is not a standalone story, it is a continuation of a detailed and exciting fantasy that will keep you wondering what will happen next.
I was so excited to see this audio book and find out what would happen next to Schuyler. Her entry into a world gone evil was so well crafted and I was on the edge of my seat waiting to see what would happen next.
The narrator, Taylor Meskimen, was a delight to listen to and she really made the story come to life for me. As Schuyler was forging her way in this new alternate reality she found herself in, the narration made it so easy to see in my mind.
I can't wait to see where this series goes next!
I was so excited to see this audio book and find out what would happen next to Schuyler. Her entry into a world gone evil was so well crafted and I was on the edge of my seat waiting to see what would happen next.
The narrator, Taylor Meskimen, was a delight to listen to and she really made the story come to life for me. As Schuyler was forging her way in this new alternate reality she found herself in, the narration made it so easy to see in my mind.
I can't wait to see where this series goes next!
May 11, 2023
I can not describe the excitement I felt when I saw this book in Target. When I was a teenager, I adored the Blue Bloods series. And after reading the reviews, it seems the author revisited the original story. Still, instead of focusing solely on the young adult audience, she rekindled the audience she originally had, who are now adults. The writing style is a more mature version of the original story, and I really enjoyed revisiting an adolescent favorite. The updated characters are refreshing and new, but there is still a sense of nostalgia and familiarity. A perfect retelling, in my opinion - many movie and screenwriters could take notes from Melissa de la Cruz on bringing something back. I thoroughly enjoyed this and can’t wait for the next book!
July 5, 2023
When the original Blue Bloods series ended, Schuyler Van Allen had slain Lucifer at the expense of her Soul Mate, Jack Force's life. In the new series, Schuyler wakes up after her battle in the middle of an empty street in Manhattan. She finds she is in a parallel universe where Lucifer is still alive and she needs to kill him once again.
I'm not sure.
I read the original Blue Bloods series in my early 20s and had a good time. It wasn't my favorite series of all time, but I did enjoy it enough to read every book.
This one was surprisingly similar to what I remember Blue Bloods being all about. It held all the nostalgia I was looking for : Fallen angels teaming up to defeat Lucifer and his Silver Blood minions. The story felt like getting the band back together. The reading was easy, more polished, and I devoured it quickly.
However, it felt a lot like eating too much candy or drinking too much. It starts out fun and then somewhere takes a turn and you realize it was a terrible idea.
There was strong world building, and it was so familiar that it was very easy to immerse myself, but about halfway in I asked myself, "What's the plot?" The story focuses mostly about reuniting lost loves and rebranding formerly straight characters into the gender and sexually fluid, instead of building a strong plot and interestingly motivated characters. Not till the last chapter did anything actually interesting happen when someone switches allegiances.
Now I'm going to read the next one.
I'm not sure.
I read the original Blue Bloods series in my early 20s and had a good time. It wasn't my favorite series of all time, but I did enjoy it enough to read every book.
This one was surprisingly similar to what I remember Blue Bloods being all about. It held all the nostalgia I was looking for : Fallen angels teaming up to defeat Lucifer and his Silver Blood minions. The story felt like getting the band back together. The reading was easy, more polished, and I devoured it quickly.
However, it felt a lot like eating too much candy or drinking too much. It starts out fun and then somewhere takes a turn and you realize it was a terrible idea.
There was strong world building, and it was so familiar that it was very easy to immerse myself, but about halfway in I asked myself, "What's the plot?" The story focuses mostly about reuniting lost loves and rebranding formerly straight characters into the gender and sexually fluid, instead of building a strong plot and interestingly motivated characters. Not till the last chapter did anything actually interesting happen when someone switches allegiances.
Now I'm going to read the next one.
June 3, 2024
I really enjoyed the original series when I was in highschool so kept pushing through this one, even though it didn’t really get interesting until the end. Additionally, many of my favourite concepts and characters from the OG series are absent as of yet. That said, by the end it did pull me in enough that I’ll likely continue with the next instalment.
Reading some other reviews here (after finishing) inspired me to think of this book as a ‘reboot’ rather than a continuation. And I think that would have been a better way to go into this novel and certainly the perspective I’ll read the next book with. We see TV and movies redone all the time, so why not books?
Overall I found ‘After Life’ to be underwhelming but not terrible. Unsure where I stand on this one.
Reading some other reviews here (after finishing) inspired me to think of this book as a ‘reboot’ rather than a continuation. And I think that would have been a better way to go into this novel and certainly the perspective I’ll read the next book with. We see TV and movies redone all the time, so why not books?
Overall I found ‘After Life’ to be underwhelming but not terrible. Unsure where I stand on this one.
November 5, 2024
I expected this book to be a subsequent novel of the Vampires of Manhattan series, following the events of White Nights. Needless to say, I was surprised to find out it is not. Gates of Paradise wrapped up the series so nicely that I'd never expected she'd continue it. Especially not ten years later in the format of a multiverse scenario. It felt like a grab at relevancy, following the trajectory of Marvel. It didn't feel as sincere to me.
I'm also curious: Does this negate everything that happens in the Vampires of Manhattan series? There was no hint that any of this had happened prior to the events of the Vampires of Manhattan and White Nights books. Is that series to be abandoned so this one can continue? I'd rather read that story than reread the same one in a different font.
I'm also curious: Does this negate everything that happens in the Vampires of Manhattan series? There was no hint that any of this had happened prior to the events of the Vampires of Manhattan and White Nights books. Is that series to be abandoned so this one can continue? I'd rather read that story than reread the same one in a different font.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 72 reviews