Book Rating (1-5 Stars): I'd give it 4 stars. I really like the author - his writing is really good, but some things in this book were hard to get through. For example, some scenes were REALLY creepy, and I'm not down with horror. Like, at all. Also, one of the main characters decides that she's a lesbian all of a sudden. So there's that.
Setting of the Book: It vacillates between Darcy, a YA author living in New York, and Lizzie, the main character of the YA novel that Darcy just finished writing.
About the Author: Scott Westerfeld wrote a series I read before this book called the "Uglies/Pretties" series, and I really liked that series. I couldn't put it down. So, of course, when I saw this book, I really wanted to read it. And, while I don't regret reading it, I don't necessarily know if I'd want to read it again. Maybe, though. If I'm bored.
Plot of the book in one sentence: Each chapter alternates between the story of Darcy in New York editing "Afterworlds" for publications and the actual text of "Afterworlds" in which Lizzie survives a terrorist attack in an airport only to learn she can now see ghosts.
If I Could Rename the Book: Psychopomps, Anonymous (In the book, Lizzie is referred to as a "psychopomp" which is kind of like a grim reaper.)
Genre: YA Fiction Fantasy
Point of View: Alternates between Darcy (told in third-person limited) and Lizzie (told in first person)
Favorite Character: I really liked Lizzie, despite the fact that she develops a crush on a fellow grim reaper who isn't really that awesome, in my opinion.
Least Favorite Character: Either "The Bad Man" or the other villain in the story (can't remember his name off the top of my head)
Other (Main Characters):
Darcy - the YA author. She just graduated high school and moves to New York to edit the novel and begin to write the sequel.
Darcy's sister - can't remember her name either, but she's a 14-year-old math whiz who's also Darcy's best friend and helps her budget the money Darcy earned from getting published
Imogen - Darcy's love interest; a fellow writer (the first chapter of the book she's written is included in the book, and it makes me sad it wasn't continued)
Lizzie - Darcy's main character in "Afterworlds"
Yama - A lord of the dead who visits Lizzie and reveals what she is
The Bad Man - a serial killer who killed Lizzie's mom's best friend when she was eleven; he also murdered 5 other little girls
The Man in the Patched Jacket - the other villain from "Afterworlds" who knits coats from ghosts he chops us (gross, I know).
If the Book was made into a movie, who would play the main characters? People? I don't know. I can't see the characters for this book.
Favorite Scene of the Book: The terrorist attack in the airport. It's such a gripping scene.
Least Favorite Scene of the Book: When Lizzie meets the man in the patched jacket.
Favorite Quote in the Book: I didn't have one.
Did I like the Ending? Nope, kinda hated it actually.
Which of my friends could I see loving this book? N/A
Which of my friends could I see hating this book? N/A
This book left me feeling: Creeped out a little
How Long Did It Take Me to Read It: I don't even know. 6 hours? 7 hours?
This book sounds so weird and definitely creepy. What was his Uglies/Pretties series about?
ReplyDeleteBasically, the Uglies are just regular people, but once you reach a certain age, you can get a full physical plastic surgery makeover to become a Pretty and move to the Pretties society. But it messes up your brain. So the main character is trying to change how the society works. It's really interesting.
DeleteOh yeah, I think I remember you telling me about that!
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