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The Grounded #2
The Afterlife of the Party
An interdimensional mixer with angels and other beings brings unexpected trouble for Malachi and his friends in this smart and uniquely funny second book about the squad of teens from hell.
When an angel comes to his home to deliver a message, Malachi immediately knows what’s going on. The seraph Cassandra who helped his squad recapture Samuel Parris’s wayward soul has finally set a date for her interdimensional mixer! With fae, angels, and hell dwellers alike on the invite list, it promises to be an event of a lifetime.
Mal can’t wait to go to the hot new fashion salon in town and have Morgan, its fabulous fae owner, help him create the perfect look. But Mal’s parents and even some of his squad mates are not quite as excited for the soiree. And when Mal overhears another fae talking to Morgan, he starts to wonder if there’s something at play other than a simple party.
But the mixer gives everyone the opportunity to get to know people from different dimensions and form new connections…what could possibly go wrong?
When an angel comes to his home to deliver a message, Malachi immediately knows what’s going on. The seraph Cassandra who helped his squad recapture Samuel Parris’s wayward soul has finally set a date for her interdimensional mixer! With fae, angels, and hell dwellers alike on the invite list, it promises to be an event of a lifetime.
Mal can’t wait to go to the hot new fashion salon in town and have Morgan, its fabulous fae owner, help him create the perfect look. But Mal’s parents and even some of his squad mates are not quite as excited for the soiree. And when Mal overhears another fae talking to Morgan, he starts to wonder if there’s something at play other than a simple party.
But the mixer gives everyone the opportunity to get to know people from different dimensions and form new connections…what could possibly go wrong?
416 pages, Kindle Edition
Published July 18, 2023
4 people are currently reading
177 people want to read
About the author
Darcy Marks
3 books31 followersDarcy Marks is a lifelong reader who learned to walk quite well with a book in front of her face, thank you very much. She lives in Vermont with her husband, three genre-defying kids and a very needy cat, where she writes rebellious fantasy books for kids. When she's not reading or writing she explains math and science to lawyers as a forensic toxicologist and used her several black belts to help found The Safety Team, which works to empower women and smash the patriarchy. Her debut middle grade fantasy, "Grounded for All Eternity," is out now, with its sequel "The Afterlife of the Party."
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January 27, 2025Darcy Mark's second book set among the teen angels of Hell. I adored the first book and this one doesn’t disappoint with its gender-fluidity, ace-acceptance, and LBGTQ+ positivity.
With all that is a team of teens who think for themselves, defend their friends, push back against fascist ideology, and know their worth in the (under)world.
Cannot wait for the third book!!
With all that is a team of teens who think for themselves, defend their friends, push back against fascist ideology, and know their worth in the (under)world.
Cannot wait for the third book!!
June 2, 2023
Thank you to Simon and Schuster/Aladdin, the author, and NetGalley for providing this eARC in exchange for an honest review. This book will be released on July 18, 2023.
Mal and his squad’s eternal grounding has lasted… significantly less than that, mostly because it’s been equally punishing for their parents, who have to supervise every time the kids want to hang out. Their freedom is granted just in time for the opening of a new shop called Glamourie, which quickly becomes Mal’s favorite place. Run by Morgan, a new resident from Faerie, the shop is a salon—which turns out to be perfect for Mal, whose new weekly appointments dazzle him up to alleviate the boring conformity of his new school. Unfortunately, his style has a side effect—older students start accusing him of trying to stir up Chaos with a capital C because of his trip to the mortal coil, and strange things have indeed been happening across Hell. Meanwhile, Cassandra has made good on her promise to hold an interdimensional mixer to foster better relationships between the powers, the heavenly angels, and others responsible for maintaining the balance. Everything comes to a head at the party, where it’s confirmed that a secret order is determined to help Chaos rise—and they’re willing to go to deadly lengths to do it.
I was so happy to be back and hanging out with Mal in this book. Afterlife is a very different kind of adventure than Grounded, and its pacing felt different, but I liked that—you really don’t want every book to have the same vibe! In this case, I appreciated it because one thing I wanted after reading the previous installment was more exploration of Hell as like… a domestic place. And the author delivered! I do think that a combination of not having a drastic location change until towards the end and the fact that the plot is a bit more puzzle-y than action-y this time around.
I think, as with last time, that my favorite thing about this book is the ordinary things the characters are experiencing in an extraordinary setting. Sure, people are suspecting Mal of being an agent of Chaos, but more importantly, he and his friends are going to different schools and making new friends, while he’s struggling with that and worried that they’ll drift apart. And making friends yourself is probably even more stressful when you’re an immortal being and you have a destiny you’re not 100% on board with yet.
While I’m glad we briefly got to see some of my faves from the previous book, the new characters are also great—Az is fun, and I like Zira, but more importantly, I love the more adult/godly characters that get introduced, like Morgan, Anubis, and Baron Samedi, and I am eagerly awaiting any scrap of news about book three, because I hope to see them again in the next installment!
Mal and his squad’s eternal grounding has lasted… significantly less than that, mostly because it’s been equally punishing for their parents, who have to supervise every time the kids want to hang out. Their freedom is granted just in time for the opening of a new shop called Glamourie, which quickly becomes Mal’s favorite place. Run by Morgan, a new resident from Faerie, the shop is a salon—which turns out to be perfect for Mal, whose new weekly appointments dazzle him up to alleviate the boring conformity of his new school. Unfortunately, his style has a side effect—older students start accusing him of trying to stir up Chaos with a capital C because of his trip to the mortal coil, and strange things have indeed been happening across Hell. Meanwhile, Cassandra has made good on her promise to hold an interdimensional mixer to foster better relationships between the powers, the heavenly angels, and others responsible for maintaining the balance. Everything comes to a head at the party, where it’s confirmed that a secret order is determined to help Chaos rise—and they’re willing to go to deadly lengths to do it.
I was so happy to be back and hanging out with Mal in this book. Afterlife is a very different kind of adventure than Grounded, and its pacing felt different, but I liked that—you really don’t want every book to have the same vibe! In this case, I appreciated it because one thing I wanted after reading the previous installment was more exploration of Hell as like… a domestic place. And the author delivered! I do think that a combination of not having a drastic location change until towards the end and the fact that the plot is a bit more puzzle-y than action-y this time around.
I think, as with last time, that my favorite thing about this book is the ordinary things the characters are experiencing in an extraordinary setting. Sure, people are suspecting Mal of being an agent of Chaos, but more importantly, he and his friends are going to different schools and making new friends, while he’s struggling with that and worried that they’ll drift apart. And making friends yourself is probably even more stressful when you’re an immortal being and you have a destiny you’re not 100% on board with yet.
While I’m glad we briefly got to see some of my faves from the previous book, the new characters are also great—Az is fun, and I like Zira, but more importantly, I love the more adult/godly characters that get introduced, like Morgan, Anubis, and Baron Samedi, and I am eagerly awaiting any scrap of news about book three, because I hope to see them again in the next installment!
December 3, 2023
Malachi, or “Mal” for short, is a young power (angel from Hell that protects against evil). After a brief but thrilling excursion in Salem, Massachusetts, he’s now entered his rebellious teen years. His old friends are in other schools, and he struggles to make new friends. He’s frustrated at his parents, his station, and those he misses from Salem. His various coping mechanisms include dialing up his smart-assery to 11, and hitting up this exciting new fashion boutique operated by a quirky faerie to change up his look, becoming more outrageous each time. I’m sure we’ve all been there.
The first book, Grounded for All Eternity , benefitted from tight worldbuilding and plotting, the characters introduced carefully to serve the simple premise. The idea of Hell as a suburb was charming, and the threat was easy to follow as it steadily escalated. The Afterlife of the Party, though, feels like it bit off more than it could chew.
The story allegedly becomes incited by a sudden invitation for a “mixer” between the various cosmological realms, particularly Heaven and Hell, after millennia of division. Mal’s romps through the mortal realm might have encouraged this reaching across the aisle, and he’s keen on being invited to the party of a lifetime. However, this anticipation of a major event evidently couldn’t fill the hours, so a lot more things are made to occur.
One benefit of the cast getting out of Hell so quickly in Grounded for All Eternity was that we didn’t get to spend much time in Hell. Considering it’s designed as an ordinary American suburb, spending a brief time there is amusing, but spending all our time there gets us much too accustomed to it. The hellish tinge of the place fades with familiarity, and it just becomes another place. The cast doesn’t leave Hell and go elsewhere for most of the book, by which time there’s precious little time to establish anywhere else they may visit.
There’s also the impression that anticipating a major party wasn’t enough to inject intrigue into the plot, so other things are made to happen. Hell is beset by odd incidents, the sort of things that "don't ever happen," and the adults are concerned. Some are questioning the real intent of the mixer, believing these lapses of order to be related. Mal, for whatever reason, is blamed for these incidents. I guess he has that kind of personality, to be fair.
So the plot becomes crowded with proper names and frantic incident, leaving behind the concise and compelling goal of the first book. A few things manage to peek out through the frenzy: Mal starts making friends at his new school, in a more organic way than the friends he’s “always had” as a kid. His thoughts about Sean, the most engaging aspect of Grounded for All Eternity, remains in play, although it’s shunted aside as the book goes on. Mal’s snarky first-person narration remains as punchy and sparkly as ever.
But as we carry on, and more and more things start piling up, more and more names are spoken, and more and more characters are introduced, I anticipated with dread either a rush of hasty conclusions, or a grating cliffhanger ending. This is more or less avoided, cheekily teasing the premise of the next volume, which will hopefully keep from whirling out of control. It’s at least fun, Mal tries his best to keep it together, and its core audience may connect more firmly than I did.
The first book, Grounded for All Eternity , benefitted from tight worldbuilding and plotting, the characters introduced carefully to serve the simple premise. The idea of Hell as a suburb was charming, and the threat was easy to follow as it steadily escalated. The Afterlife of the Party, though, feels like it bit off more than it could chew.
The story allegedly becomes incited by a sudden invitation for a “mixer” between the various cosmological realms, particularly Heaven and Hell, after millennia of division. Mal’s romps through the mortal realm might have encouraged this reaching across the aisle, and he’s keen on being invited to the party of a lifetime. However, this anticipation of a major event evidently couldn’t fill the hours, so a lot more things are made to occur.
One benefit of the cast getting out of Hell so quickly in Grounded for All Eternity was that we didn’t get to spend much time in Hell. Considering it’s designed as an ordinary American suburb, spending a brief time there is amusing, but spending all our time there gets us much too accustomed to it. The hellish tinge of the place fades with familiarity, and it just becomes another place. The cast doesn’t leave Hell and go elsewhere for most of the book, by which time there’s precious little time to establish anywhere else they may visit.
There’s also the impression that anticipating a major party wasn’t enough to inject intrigue into the plot, so other things are made to happen. Hell is beset by odd incidents, the sort of things that "don't ever happen," and the adults are concerned. Some are questioning the real intent of the mixer, believing these lapses of order to be related. Mal, for whatever reason, is blamed for these incidents. I guess he has that kind of personality, to be fair.
So the plot becomes crowded with proper names and frantic incident, leaving behind the concise and compelling goal of the first book. A few things manage to peek out through the frenzy: Mal starts making friends at his new school, in a more organic way than the friends he’s “always had” as a kid. His thoughts about Sean, the most engaging aspect of Grounded for All Eternity, remains in play, although it’s shunted aside as the book goes on. Mal’s snarky first-person narration remains as punchy and sparkly as ever.
But as we carry on, and more and more things start piling up, more and more names are spoken, and more and more characters are introduced, I anticipated with dread either a rush of hasty conclusions, or a grating cliffhanger ending. This is more or less avoided, cheekily teasing the premise of the next volume, which will hopefully keep from whirling out of control. It’s at least fun, Mal tries his best to keep it together, and its core audience may connect more firmly than I did.
November 28, 2023
What worked:
The most intriguing aspect of the book is the setting. Mal and his friends are angels but they live in Hell. Heaven, Hell, and Faerie are three different dimensions and the citizens are learning to get along after interdimensional travel is allowed. A controversial issue arises when a mixer is proposed between some of the angels in Heaven and Hell. Readers won’t notice any big differences in Hell as Mal still goes to school, lives in a normal home, goes shopping for clothes with his mom, and has lunch at a restaurant. The Pit is the punishing version of Hell we’re more familiar with.
Mal’s best friends now attend different schools but they still meet regularly and hang out. Mal is having a more difficult time making the adjustment as the others seem to be enjoying their lessons and are making new friends. His mind begins to feel jealous as he’s uncomfortable sharing his familiar friends with others. He’s not sure how to tell if new classmates are friends he can trust or merely school acquaintances. He doesn’t want to open up with feelings and private thoughts that might make him vulnerable until he’s sure the relationships are safe. These emotions are common among middle-grade readers which will make Mal a relatable character.
The author introduces various issues to catch the attention of Mal and readers. The ground begins to shake on several occasions and no one has an explanation. A soul meant for heaven somehow ends up in Hell, upsetting the balance between good and evil. A young angel from heaven appears at Mal’s home, something that shouldn’t be possible. Invitations for a controversial, interdimensional mixer arrive but Mal isn’t sure who has received them or if the event will ever happen. A pen pal from the human world says strange things are happening there and asks Mal if anything unusual is happening in Hell. Then, there are rumors of Chaos rising and Mal wonders if his actions from the first book have anything to do with it. Mal wants to believe all of these things are coincidental but what if they’re not?
What didn’t work as well:
It will help to read the previous book first since there are many references to past events. I didn’t do this. Also, it’s hard to anticipate and become excited about the climax since the actual conflict isn’t clear. Many symptoms are shared but the actual cause of them is unknown throughout most of the book. What’s actually happening and who is doing it?
The final verdict:
This book is a stepping stone between the first book and the third and readers should be prepared to continue the series. The climax eventually reveals what’s going on but the resolution leads right into the sequel. The concept of the plot is innovative as the various settings are located in the afterlife. Overall, it’s an interesting book and I recommend you give it a shot.
The most intriguing aspect of the book is the setting. Mal and his friends are angels but they live in Hell. Heaven, Hell, and Faerie are three different dimensions and the citizens are learning to get along after interdimensional travel is allowed. A controversial issue arises when a mixer is proposed between some of the angels in Heaven and Hell. Readers won’t notice any big differences in Hell as Mal still goes to school, lives in a normal home, goes shopping for clothes with his mom, and has lunch at a restaurant. The Pit is the punishing version of Hell we’re more familiar with.
Mal’s best friends now attend different schools but they still meet regularly and hang out. Mal is having a more difficult time making the adjustment as the others seem to be enjoying their lessons and are making new friends. His mind begins to feel jealous as he’s uncomfortable sharing his familiar friends with others. He’s not sure how to tell if new classmates are friends he can trust or merely school acquaintances. He doesn’t want to open up with feelings and private thoughts that might make him vulnerable until he’s sure the relationships are safe. These emotions are common among middle-grade readers which will make Mal a relatable character.
The author introduces various issues to catch the attention of Mal and readers. The ground begins to shake on several occasions and no one has an explanation. A soul meant for heaven somehow ends up in Hell, upsetting the balance between good and evil. A young angel from heaven appears at Mal’s home, something that shouldn’t be possible. Invitations for a controversial, interdimensional mixer arrive but Mal isn’t sure who has received them or if the event will ever happen. A pen pal from the human world says strange things are happening there and asks Mal if anything unusual is happening in Hell. Then, there are rumors of Chaos rising and Mal wonders if his actions from the first book have anything to do with it. Mal wants to believe all of these things are coincidental but what if they’re not?
What didn’t work as well:
It will help to read the previous book first since there are many references to past events. I didn’t do this. Also, it’s hard to anticipate and become excited about the climax since the actual conflict isn’t clear. Many symptoms are shared but the actual cause of them is unknown throughout most of the book. What’s actually happening and who is doing it?
The final verdict:
This book is a stepping stone between the first book and the third and readers should be prepared to continue the series. The climax eventually reveals what’s going on but the resolution leads right into the sequel. The concept of the plot is innovative as the various settings are located in the afterlife. Overall, it’s an interesting book and I recommend you give it a shot.
August 6, 2023
Grounded for All Eternity is an all-time fave of mine for the action-adventure and setting. This sequel was very different in that there's less action but there's more suspense in trying to figure out alongside Mal, what's going on with all the weird events. I did enjoy getting more of a peek into Mal's world, experiencing life in the suburbs of the Hell dimension and seeing that even immortal young teens are facing the same challenges that young teens in our mortal world face. Overall, a very engaging read.
November 27, 2025
I loved the first book in the Grounded series, and I feel the same way about Afterlife! Afterlife picks up after the events in the first book, with Malachi and his squad, essentially being in different schools. When a series of strange events start to occur, they are thrown into another adventure. I can't say enough how much I love the characters that Darcy Marks has created. Seeing them go through realistic growing pains and how they come together and relate, the characters feel like how real friends are, and I love that. The plot is an excellent ride with action, adventure, and heart.
November 13, 2024
Ahhhh! I’m so happy to delve back into Mal’s world. It’s never easy to adapt to a new track/school path after saving the day, trying to make new friends and keep in contact with the old connections with everything going on. Not to mention a fabulous mixer meant to help mend broken trust between Heaven and Hell? How cool is that? The action, the mystery, the intrigue of discovering the new dimensions and worlds had me hooked.
September 9, 2023
This sequel is amazing! I couldn’t put it down! You’d don’t need to be a middle grade person to enjoy this book. I cannot wait to see what happens next (please tell me there will be a next!)
10/10 this book should be enjoyed by all!
10/10 this book should be enjoyed by all!
April 7, 2023
E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus
May 22, 2023
I really enjoyed the first Grounded and although sequels can sometimes be hard to follow, this was terrific! Such a fun read.
August 7, 2023
I was so invested in the plot of this book! It was hard to put down! Each chapter leaves wanting to know more and all of the characters are relatable and well-written!
November 1, 2023
Fun, fun, fun. Very different from first book in series, but both work really well. Great character development and world building.
March 3, 2025
WHY IS NO ONE TALKING ABOUT SEAN AND MAL?!?! I need this to happen, and Lilith need to MOVE OUT OF THE WAY!
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews