Afterlife (Evernight Series #4)

Sad to see it end, but what a way to go!

Sigh. One of my favorite series, Evernight by Claudia Gray, is coming to a close. But there is good news. The fourth and final book of the series, AFTERLIFE, meets all expectations . . . and then some.

When we last left Lucas and Bianca, Bianca had been turned into a wraith and Lucas-the former vampire killer-was about to wake as a vampire himself. All our favorite characters were present: the scrumptious Balthazar, the quirky Vic, and the adorably-out-of-touch Ranulf. AFTERLIFE picks up moments later, and Bianca is debating whether to kill Lucas to honor his wishes of never becoming a vampire or follow her own heart in the hopes he can come to grips with his transformation.

Lucky for us, Bianca follows her heart and Lucas is reborn. The final installment brings the crew back to Evernight and the ever-mysterious Ms. Bethany. While Bianca and Lucas struggle with their new undead status, they also strive to undercover why Ms. Bethany is attracting wraiths-the understood enemy to the vampire-to Evernight, battle parental insecurity issues, and attempt to figure out how to be a couple now that one of them barely has a body and the other is consumed by the need for blood. Along with the usual crew, Dana, Raquel and Patrice also come back to say a final farewell.

I give Ms. Gray kudos for the ending. It was not the ending I anticipated, but it was one hundred percent true to the story. Anything less or different would have been unfair to the world and characters she has so lovingly created. And fans do not have to despair over the series ending. Balthazar is coming back with his very own series in the future, which I am eagerly anticipating.

AFTERLIFE won't hit stores until March 8, 2011, but is already available for pre-order. And look for BALTHAZAR in bookstores March 2012!

I recieved AFTERLIFE via NetGalley, courtesy of Harper Collins, in exchange for a review. I was beyond grateful to accept.

10 out of 10 people found this review helpful.

Loved it!

I won an ARC of this book, It was awesome. You guys will love it!!

4 out of 4 people found this review helpful.

worst ever

laughable plot and basically entire novel either put me to sleep or made me want to use it to feed the fireplace oh wait its an ebook i'll just delete it don't waste your time, or money

2 out of 7 people found this review helpful.

Ahh

So stupid

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Could have been better

I love the Evernight series but this last book made me want to throw a shoe at someones head!!! I think the biggest reason why I didn't like this one is because I didn't like the third one and I just didn't expect much from this one.
Although I am looking forward to the realease of Balthazar; a spin off book of the Evernight series. Comig out March 6.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

A Lackluster Afterlife

Claudia Gray is tying up all the loose ends in the conclusion to her Evernight series. The book picks up as Lucas is about to rise from his first death to start his second life as a vampire. Lucas' internal struggle with becoming the very thing he was taught to hate, isn't his only battle. Now he has to fight the hunger. And live with the stigma of Black Cross among his previous prey. Bianca is still learning what it means to be a wraith, along with her own issues about being dead. Lucas, Bianca, and our favorite side kicks all journey back to Evernight. Along the way Lucas will face his mom, we find out exactly what Mrs. Bethany is up to with all those ghosts and if love really can transcend all obstacles.

The highlight of Afterlife was the supporting cast. Vic and Ranulf stole the show. Ranulf's backwards old english translations never failed to make me laugh. Patrice, Dana, and Raquel also join the mix and proved what real friendship truly is. There are some tough family issues as well. The overall message is what are the limits of love. Gray explores quite a few variations within different relationships.

Some low points. Unfortunately I can't say the highlight was the love story. The romance is why I read and followed the series. But they were more like an old married couple than star crossed teenage lovers. Bianca's constant repetitive blaming of Lucas' undead state on Balthazar. I can understand why she's upset, I just wish every time Bianca complained about it that it would be phrased differently. It was worded exactly the same each time. And became redundant. Unfortunately she harped on it a lot. I also didn't care for the end. It was neat and tidy, all my favorite people lived, but I found to be a bit of a let down. It was safe. Sweet. Tame. Normally I don't like tragedies, but Afterlife needed something messy and imperfect. It needed something more profound. Even though Bianca and Lucas were going in opposite directions individually their relationship seem to be working just fine. Almost like they had worked though all the major obstacles in the previous books. Afterlife was really focused on their separate struggles, when readers like me are more interested in their couple troubles. I guess it needed more angst. Maybe the ending would have sat with me better if there was more drama in their relationship during the book.

Afterlife was OK. It was entertaining. But it didn't move me as much as some of the other books in the series. The romance was lackluster, anticlimactic. The end was sufficient but nothing I'm going to swoon over. I think it's a toss up either your going to love it, or feel stood up. The best part of the ending for me was the full page announcement of a spin off featuring Balthazar.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Deceived...

This last book was not my favorite. It was a deception to have waited so long for it and to have expected so much from it. Happily Ever After does not apply to an 'interpret it yourself' kind of ending. Unless there's really more to be said about Bianca and Lucas's life together. (There's not though, Claudia Gray said herself that she felt Bianca and Lucas's story was done).

Though Bianca can evidently protect herself, Lucas had been built to protect her, and I think that this book leaves her pretty much unprotected for the 'eternal' part of her life. Without giving too much away, how does a love so perfect as the one these two built together get shattered by something so malleable as ones own upbringing.

What is to become of Bianca after? I don't know, but that is sort of what irked my nerves; the part where I'm left wondering so negatively about it. Ugh...

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

I waited sooo long for this book...

It was terrible. I skipped pages... Hopefully the next one is better. If there is a next one.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Not Her Best!

Even though I love Claudia Gray series Evernight I was excited when it came out. When I read the book it wasn't going to be as I expected it to be. I thought there would be more romance between Bianca and Lucas! But all it had was a lot of twist and turns with Cherity revenge and I thought having Lucas going back to school was a bad Idea they should have consintrated on more Bianca and Lucas romance of being together!

1 out of 4 people found this review helpful.

Can't wait!

I am so excited! It is going to be heart breaking! I cried like a baby when i read Hourglass. I had to put down Hourglass because I coulldn't read the words and the pages were drenched in my tears because when Bianca died it was so heart breaking. What a forbidden romance this is.

1 out of 4 people found this review helpful.

Good book

Good book

In AFTERLIFE vampires, ghosts and an otherworldly experience are awaiting you. Don't miss the final EVERNIGHT instalment.

AFTERLIFE continues the story of Bianca and Lucas seamlessly after HOURGLASS ended with a major cliffhanger. Without much pre-talk or summaries of former events, the actions of AFTERLIFE are put in motion.

The focus of this final instalment in the EVERNIGHT series is not just on Bianca's part of the story, but also on Lucas' new life and the constant transformation process he must go through.
This time the perspectives of our protagonists are reversed and characters- as readers- get the chance to see what it's like to be in the enemy's body. It is fascinating to examine Lucas' and Bianca’s new lives and find out how they cope with an existence that has never been their decision, the existence of a creature that has once been their enemy.

AFTERLIFE is further represented by many secondary characters, whose personalities aren’t extraordinarily stunning, but who still got a lot of potential and initiate progress with several appearances throughout the story.

Claudia Gray’s writing style is consistent and as good as in her previous works. With the final novel in the EVERNIGHT series Claudia Gray crosses the line between life and death as never before. It also features an interesting comparison of two concepts of paranormal creatures, vampires and ghosts and offers new perspectives and elements.

Although it's the last novel in the EVERNIGHT series, AFTERLIFE isn't as spectacular as expected. The end left me with mixed feelings and didn’t really satisfy me, because it is more neutral than a brilliant finish.

Nevertheless AFTERLIFE is a great book, because all the characters we've meet and learnt to love over the previous three novels come together again for this final episode, for the final battle against enemies and fate.

THE VERDICT

I give it 3,5/5 stars.

Though AFTERLIFE doesn't develop its action the way that I hoped for, it is an absolute must for EVERNIGHT fans. Find out if Lucas and Bianca end up together or if death finally gets its way.

I am already looking forward to Claudia Gray's next book, it will definitely find a bookish new home on my shelves.

Best

Biance loves her now vampire boyfriend Lucas.Biance will die for him,using her new ghost powers Biance is now free to " float" around evernight acadamy.Biance knows she and Lucas will be together as long as they can when she turns him back alive.
This was the best book out of the four for me.it was a thrilling ending to the evernight series.i wish there was more books to the series but it has to end.

Good book

I didnt like this book liked in did the other threee but i was good ending for lucas and bianica. The books where very fast read. They where good books to read if u only have a couple hours to yourself.

YES

he gets his owwn book baltzah gets his own book YESSSSS

Hi

Love it shes my favorite author !!!

Definitely Recommend to anyone who has read the series up to this point!!

Now I am a reader who has realized that once a book gets to have three or four in a series, they sometimes become a disappointment. This is not true for Afterlife by Claudia Gray. This book continues into the story from the first page and chapter after chapter it gets better. I only have about 45 pages left, but I absolutely love it. People who like the Evernight Series will not be disappointed with book. Once you think these characters are safe from harm, something unexpected happens and they are forced to put their lives on the line once again. This book is worth the money to download on your Nook, or pick up at your local Barnes & Noble store. Enjoy! :)

Highly recommend -couldn't stop reading !

Really enjoyed reading this book . This serious kept me interested and excited about the next book .

An amazing end to the series.

The final installment couldn't have ended the series better. It was a perfect ending to the star-crossed romance, the friends and family, and the story. I have loved this series since the first few pages of "Evernight" and I couldn't have asked for a better ending. :)

**If you have not read the first three, don't read below**

Afterlife starts off exactly where Hourglass left us, Bianca is a wraith and Lucas has now been turned into a vampire. Lucas has a tough time adjusting, especially since he never wanted this. They decide the best thing is to return to Evernight Academy with the whole gang: Balthazar, Vic, Ranulf, and even Patrice. While at Evernight, Bianca learns more about being a wraith, Lucas learns about being a vampire, and what they must do to be together. While fighting their own demons, Mrs. Bethany is still in the mist and no one knows where her loyalties lie.

In this final installment, all your favorite characters are back and a few news ones as well. I have loved Bianca from book one and watching her grow and change through out the series has been such a joy to read. There's also Balthazar, he's always been such a great guy and you can't help but love him and feel sorry for him. I'm so happy he's getting his own book and I can't wait to read it! Finally, Lucas. Lucas was probably one of my first fictional boyfriends that I fell in love with. I adore his golden hair and dark green eyes... it's my favorite combo. But, Lucas is so much more than that. He's a fighter, and a protector, and his love for Bianca is unlike anything.

I am so so sooo happy with how this series ended! This series has been one of my favorites and I loved every second of it. It was a perfect ending to a fantastic series. Thank you Claudia Gray! :)

Nice ending to a decent series

I enjoyed the first book very much but after that my interest in the series started to dwindle. The plot was slipping and I couldn't connect to any of the characters. The only one I liked was Balthazar and that was mostly because I thought he had an awesome name. Bianca was whiny and Lucas was self-loathing constantly and neither got much sympathy from me and this last book just dragged. Charity was just gone in a snap and the wraiths and Bianca were getting old. Mrs. Bethany was probably my favorite character just because she was insane. But the ending ,not great, but it was a happy ending so that was worth the time of finishing the series for.