Review: Afterworlds

Reviewer: Kristen
Author: Scott Westerfeld 
Pages: 608 
Format: Paperback (ARC sent by Simon & Schuster)
My Rating: 8 out of 10

Summary (thanks Goodreads): Darcy Patel has put college and everything else on hold to publish her teen novel, Afterworlds. Arriving in New York with no apartment or friends she wonders whether she's made the right decision until she falls in with a crowd of other seasoned and fledgling writers who take her under their wings… 

Told in alternating chapters is Darcy's novel, a suspenseful thriller about Lizzie, a teen who slips into the 'Afterworld' to survive a terrorist attack. But the Afterworld is a place between the living and the dead and as Lizzie drifts between our world and that of the Afterworld, she discovers that many unsolved - and terrifying - stories need to be reconciled. And when a new threat resurfaces, Lizzie learns her special gifts may not be enough to protect those she loves and cares about most.

My Review: So, let me just start out by saying that once you start reading this, you aren't going to be able to put it down. It's addicting and has been my latest obsession (seriously - I can't stop talking about it). I really enjoyed both Darcy (particularly Darcy's because hello, she's a writer and that's awesomesauce and apparently I love reading about writers) and Lizzie's storyline (but I mean, don't get me wrong Lizzie's storyline was fascinating too), they were both so different but they were woven together perfectly. I thought that the dual POV's and essentially the dual story-lines would drive me crazy, but Scott Westerfeld pulls it off seamlessly. 

I think what excited me most about this story was seeing how Darcy and Lizzie's chapters weren't independent of each other. You could see how what was happening to Darcy directly affected what happened to Lizzie. Nothing happened by accident, and I don't want to spoil anyone, so that's all I'll say on that. 

This story is very obviously satirical in nature, and I'd love to discuss it with any of you who have read the book - I found the topics and how Lizzie's story played out one of the best parts of the novel. It made you think, and it made you question, and it kind of made you laugh too. This story was exceptional - it was unique and definitely one of those stories you'll remember - and think about - for a long time coming. 

Final Thoughts: This was one of the most anticipated books coming out this fall, and it did not disappoint, not at all!