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3.17 AVERAGE
3.17 AVERAGE
Finished in a day if you don't add the brief intermissions! Omg, this book had me cackling and interested till the end. Vampires, witches, striga vie, oh my! I absolutely loved the banter and Dracula references. Meet Tansy, the girl that isn't drawn to your outdated wardrobe and glittery face, She's on a mission to save her bestie and she's not into musicians. She's got her eyes on a certain gray-eyed lover boy, sorry T. Girls stick together even if you're in denial. After this wild ride I'm carrying drum sticks for protection. Just because he's a vampire doesn't mean he's your Edward!
friends to lovers
one bed trope
Consent always!!
fake dating
Girl POWER
friends to lovers
one bed trope
Consent always!!
fake dating
Girl POWER
When Skylar disappears with the band, Tansy and her would-be crush and best friend Vaughn will embark on a roadtrip to follow the band to their next concert venues in hopes of finding Skylar. While Skylar’s presence seems to continuously elude the pair, Tansy and Vaughn discover all the other young women who need their help too. What started out as a quest to save her friend, has now turned into a quest to save the world.
With the publication of another book in that other popular vampire series recently, I was drawn into Afterlife of the Party because I was really feeling the YA vampire vibe.
Afterlife of the Party has the most wonderful campiness about it. I do not mean that as a bad thing whatsoever. While reading, it brought back memories of watching like part seventeen in a horror movie franchise. Not quite as good as the original, and reaching to some far-fetched heights, but still mighty entertaining all the same.
I liked the play on the romanticizing of the vampire. Yes, Skylar is drawn to the band, as are many others, but it’s through compulsion. If she were able to think clearly she would be running in the opposite direction from these predators. Tansy, who by virtue of her witchy roots, is able to ward off the compulsion and see their true natures which she describes as everything from rotting to putrid to greasy to dirty, is not the, dare I say, sparkly, ethereal visage we are often given.
While I can take all these aspects and enjoy the story, I do have to review it and in focusing a more critical eye, things pop out that may not have bothered me otherwise. Such as the abruptness to some of the character’s movements. On one page you have a character who is critically wounded (a page before they were almost dying) and then turning to the next page they’re up and walking around like nothing happened. This is just one instance, but it is something that happens constantly throughout in varying situations. Enough that I had to keep going back and making sure I didn’t skip the moment where we hear about so-and-so’s miraculous recovery. It felt like the book was written in small snippets and then pieces together to make a whole but without the important parts that make it cohesive.
Plus, the story doesn’t seem to know, yet, how to utilize Tansy possibly becoming a vampire while also having magic in her family, specifically witches. She seesaws too much between owning her inherent powers, and not believing they’re real. It comes across a little messy. I don’t think it helps Tansy deal with who she’s becoming if she doesn’t believe in who she was before.
If you are able to get past some of the inconsistencies within the story, I think Afterlife of the Party is enjoyable. It definitely sets the mood for the fall season. As the first book in an apparent series, I’m hopeful it will get stronger with each book.
With the publication of another book in that other popular vampire series recently, I was drawn into Afterlife of the Party because I was really feeling the YA vampire vibe.
Afterlife of the Party has the most wonderful campiness about it. I do not mean that as a bad thing whatsoever. While reading, it brought back memories of watching like part seventeen in a horror movie franchise. Not quite as good as the original, and reaching to some far-fetched heights, but still mighty entertaining all the same.
I liked the play on the romanticizing of the vampire. Yes, Skylar is drawn to the band, as are many others, but it’s through compulsion. If she were able to think clearly she would be running in the opposite direction from these predators. Tansy, who by virtue of her witchy roots, is able to ward off the compulsion and see their true natures which she describes as everything from rotting to putrid to greasy to dirty, is not the, dare I say, sparkly, ethereal visage we are often given.
While I can take all these aspects and enjoy the story, I do have to review it and in focusing a more critical eye, things pop out that may not have bothered me otherwise. Such as the abruptness to some of the character’s movements. On one page you have a character who is critically wounded (a page before they were almost dying) and then turning to the next page they’re up and walking around like nothing happened. This is just one instance, but it is something that happens constantly throughout in varying situations. Enough that I had to keep going back and making sure I didn’t skip the moment where we hear about so-and-so’s miraculous recovery. It felt like the book was written in small snippets and then pieces together to make a whole but without the important parts that make it cohesive.
Plus, the story doesn’t seem to know, yet, how to utilize Tansy possibly becoming a vampire while also having magic in her family, specifically witches. She seesaws too much between owning her inherent powers, and not believing they’re real. It comes across a little messy. I don’t think it helps Tansy deal with who she’s becoming if she doesn’t believe in who she was before.
If you are able to get past some of the inconsistencies within the story, I think Afterlife of the Party is enjoyable. It definitely sets the mood for the fall season. As the first book in an apparent series, I’m hopeful it will get stronger with each book.
This book took me right back to my high school days in the best way possible! The vampire theme, the emo music, and the slightly emo/scene feeling of the main character. Even the friend to lovers romance reminded me so much of the book I read back in high school and I loved it!
The romance worked really well. It was obvious their feelings weren't new or forced on them. They felt so natural and I was honestly rooting for them the whole time. They were cute and the way they stuck together and would do anything for their friend was amazing.
I also really loved the sort of darker and deeper ton this book took neaf the end. I don't want to spoil anything but this definitely took a great turn. It was a really great way to separate this story from so many of the other teenage vampire media out there.
This book was quite honestly the feminist vampire book I needed in high school. I am so glad it exist now and that girls are going to get to read it. I loved every minute of this book and I can not wait until I get to read the other two in the series!
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the early review copy.
The romance worked really well. It was obvious their feelings weren't new or forced on them. They felt so natural and I was honestly rooting for them the whole time. They were cute and the way they stuck together and would do anything for their friend was amazing.
I also really loved the sort of darker and deeper ton this book took neaf the end. I don't want to spoil anything but this definitely took a great turn. It was a really great way to separate this story from so many of the other teenage vampire media out there.
This book was quite honestly the feminist vampire book I needed in high school. I am so glad it exist now and that girls are going to get to read it. I loved every minute of this book and I can not wait until I get to read the other two in the series!
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the early review copy.
The Afterlife of the Party was interesting. I didn't really hate it, but I also didn't love it. In the beginning, it was pretty obvious that the band was filled with vampires. I thought it was hilarious that our main girl, Tansy, kept saying that they sounded horrible on the radio. Then they magically sounded better live.
Of course, one would think autotune, but that would mean they would sound horrible live and better on the radio? Push comes to shove, and she soon realizes that they are vampires and she's in trouble. Well, not just her but her friends too. Enter Vaughn and Skylar.
Now we know that Tansy has a huge crush on Vaughn and Skylar is her best friend forever. It just so happens that Skylar is in love with the lead singer of the band. Also, Vaughn magically has a crush on Tansy too? Which, yes, kind of surprised me but I think it only really came out when she was dating her ex.
On top of all that, Tansy is a witch. On other word, it means her blood smells freaking delicious to these vampires. The romance, drama, and little reveals were kind of interesting too. Even if things got cheesy at times.
In the end, I feel like things are heading in to trouble town. She's the Queen and Vaughn is heading off to Texas. Hopefully I'm wrong.
Of course, one would think autotune, but that would mean they would sound horrible live and better on the radio? Push comes to shove, and she soon realizes that they are vampires and she's in trouble. Well, not just her but her friends too. Enter Vaughn and Skylar.
Now we know that Tansy has a huge crush on Vaughn and Skylar is her best friend forever. It just so happens that Skylar is in love with the lead singer of the band. Also, Vaughn magically has a crush on Tansy too? Which, yes, kind of surprised me but I think it only really came out when she was dating her ex.
On top of all that, Tansy is a witch. On other word, it means her blood smells freaking delicious to these vampires. The romance, drama, and little reveals were kind of interesting too. Even if things got cheesy at times.
In the end, I feel like things are heading in to trouble town. She's the Queen and Vaughn is heading off to Texas. Hopefully I'm wrong.
I really disliked how the author didn’t follow typical vampire lore. Now it’s common knowledge that Twilight decided to go it’s own way and make Vampires sparkle but have them react badly to pop? God that’s so pathetic. It’s just not original no science behind it. At least there was a decent reason behind Stephanie Meyer’s making her vampire sparkle.
The character’s are flat. The main character Tansy well she does nothing. Besides get herself stuck in stupid situations because she doesn’t follow her own gut instincts. There’s no history on her. They make her sound like a witch but a witch that does one spell? There’s no background on her, no redeeming qualities to make a reader want care about her. I mean yes the entire book is her trying to save her friend but in the end she rudely blames her for everything regardless. And honestly the friend is such a shifty character. The only character of interest is vaughn. Because he actual kills vampire because he is a good at it. Not because luck like Tansy.
This entire story has too many holes. Why do rose and thorn have a file folder on Tansy and her family? They make it sound like her family Mariotte Are well known, yet as a reader I didn’t really get that vibe.
I think this book would’ve been better if there had been more history on Tansy and her abilities as a witch. Since that seems to be a huge underlining plot line of the story. It’s hard to reconcile that when apparently she knows nothing and yet she considers herself a witch who can find parking spaces and make little charms a.k.a. boring witch with no skills.
Will not be reading the second book. There’s nothing to draw me in and keep me interested enough to care.
The character’s are flat. The main character Tansy well she does nothing. Besides get herself stuck in stupid situations because she doesn’t follow her own gut instincts. There’s no history on her. They make her sound like a witch but a witch that does one spell? There’s no background on her, no redeeming qualities to make a reader want care about her. I mean yes the entire book is her trying to save her friend but in the end she rudely blames her for everything regardless. And honestly the friend is such a shifty character. The only character of interest is vaughn. Because he actual kills vampire because he is a good at it. Not because luck like Tansy.
This entire story has too many holes. Why do rose and thorn have a file folder on Tansy and her family? They make it sound like her family Mariotte Are well known, yet as a reader I didn’t really get that vibe.
I think this book would’ve been better if there had been more history on Tansy and her abilities as a witch. Since that seems to be a huge underlining plot line of the story. It’s hard to reconcile that when apparently she knows nothing and yet she considers herself a witch who can find parking spaces and make little charms a.k.a. boring witch with no skills.
Will not be reading the second book. There’s nothing to draw me in and keep me interested enough to care.
I had high hopes, but I realized that not all YA is meant to be consumed for me at 29. And that's okay. Not all New Adult is fantastic, either. However, this felt like a 12-year-old wrote it, and at one point, the scenes jumped so quickly that I thought my version was missing a few pages. I felt the writing was lazy and as if the author couldn't elaborate enough, rather cut corners in the description. Tansy is annoying, Vaughn is a moron, and the big battle was two seconds of bull. I rarely DNF, and I refused because I always stuck it out to see if it could be turned around, but no, it was a letdown.
adventurous
emotional
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
I want to thank NetGalley & Entangled: Teen for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Sadly, this book wasn't made for me, I was able to enjoy some scenes that made me laugh and I can also say that the positive thing about this book is that at least it kept my interest in knowing what would happen, even so, there's not much else to highlight. The plot itself is about vampires, there are a bit of boyish bands, travel and friendship too, it has a very old-school style in terms of structure and plot, which can be a fun factor, just didn't resonate with me this time, plus it didn't help the fact that it's pretty cliche. I felt everything quite flat, there are scenes that are absurd that come out of nowhere to keep the plot moving, the characters aren't strong enough to be highlighted and sadly I don't have much to say about the descriptions or the setting since there's not much development there.
2/5 ⭐⭐
You can find more of my reviews & fun content on my blog A Book. A Thought.
The book basically follows Tansy as she tries to save her friend Skyler from a gang of vampires while trying to discover the meaning of her feelings for her other best friend Vaughn. From here they'll find themselves in impossible situations surrounded by dangers and challenges which will push Tansy to make a decision as the last sacrifice to save the lives of her friends.
I think this book ended up being too childlike for me, I don't mean that I don't enjoy books with this youthful vibe where anything can happen as long as the plot continues to move, but in this case, it didn't work for me. I think the idea itself is fun, and I was super excited to read it just because there would be vampires and that's always an entertaining factor for me, and while I did enjoy that particular point, I think the execution itself and the way in which the author has handled the development of it is something disastrous at times, I don't want to sound mean, but I really think there were many ways to take the story down an interesting path and this hasn't been my favorite. There are a lot of good ideas in the book, but I don't know, it just felt too carefree to be 100% interested in what was going on.
There's a very great lack of descriptions and this makes it difficult to locate within the story in time and space, this is not always something that personally requires to enjoy a plot, but here I do think it would have been a great touch that would probably have done a lot more for the plot. On the other hand, we also have the development of the characters, and this is probably what I liked the least about the book, the characters themselves aren't remarkable nor do they really have anything that makes them special to me, plus many attitudes, especially from Tansy, are silly, and it's okay, I understand that the characters must go wrong to carry out and grow at some point, but OMG, she was desperate for me, I don't like this character and I feel like she has had too many opportunities within the story to re-vindicate herself and she hasn't known how to take advantage of them.
I had high hopes that the book would improve in quality towards the end and at some point, I almost thought it would, but it didn't, and it fell again to end in an unsatisfactory way for me. I think one of my biggest problems with the book is that it doesn't follow a clear line when telling the story, it's like random things happen all of a sudden to make it more "exciting" I guess. I can't deny that it has a lot of twists and turns and revelations, which makes it feel a bit more interesting when reading, but even so, a book doesn't stand up on revelations alone, so after the surprise and the initial shock again falls into being even a little repetitive and cliche at times. Although I must admit that romance hasn't been one of the worst I've read, it has adorable moments, which is good.
In some way, I can see the author wants this story to be sexy and funny something like True Blood but more youthful(? Or something like that, so maybe this crazy and reckless factor that characterizes it is here on purpose and is the style the author wants to give to the book, in that case, I can see other readers enjoying it without problems, perhaps I'm not simply the target for it, since a certain part of me expected a greater development of the plot, more explanations in general, and above all a seriousness that's lost as you progress through the reading.
I'll not judge the author based on only one of her works, nor it's my intention to speak badly of her style, I believe that each writer has a unique imprint that will always work wonderfully for some readers more than for others, so I would probably be willing to give her a second chance maybe with another type of genre.
This book isn't for me, and that's clear, but even so, I think it could work if you're looking for something light to read, it may be the absurdity of its plot and the crazy actions of the characters, as well as the youthfulness of their dialogues and paranormal factors works for you at the end. Obviously, I cannot recommend it as fervently as I usually do, since it hasn't been a book that I enjoy with that intensity, but even so, this is just my opinion and I hope it doesn't stop you from trying it if you feel like it. It's clear that I was looking for a much more serious, intense, and action plot, so this book really fell short in those aspects. I still think, from my humble opinion, that it could be an interesting plot with a little more work.
First Thoughts 03/10/21
I was hopeful that it will get better as the story progressed but it didn't. I think this is the kind of book that is a hit or miss for me and this time, unfortunately, it was a miss.
I think the idea is fun and has a lot of possibilities to explore, but I felt it too immature in terms of the character voices which are quite flat as well, and the scenes are somewhat absurd. It reminded me a bit of Riverdale but paranormal, I don't know why lol, it's that kind of plot that you know is kind of everywhere & absurd, but I understand that it has moments that can be enjoyed.
Still this wasn't for me.
*This book was sent to me by the publisher to give an honest review in return*
This was not my type of book sadly. This book is about Tansy who goes to the party with her best friend, Skylar, who is now sired to a vampire. Tansy and Vaughn go on a trip to get her back and try to bring the vampires down. The writing for this book was just not for me. I felt that the plot structure wasn't done well and that the story was kind of everywhere. There wasn't much of a world-building or anything but small pieces of information here and there. I didn't like the pacing and felt that it was rushed. I was hooked at the beginning of the story but towards page 50, I started to lose interest. There were some scenes in the book that I enjoyed like the trip Tansy and Vaughn took together to find Skylar.
I didn't feel much connection with the characters in this book. For me, I thought Tansy was annoying and she could have saved her best friend multiple times throughout the story. I did enjoy Vaughn but not so much through the romance for the couple in this book was cute. There were many side characters that just popped in and out of the book though I wish they were more involved. The biggest problem for me in this book was that the antagonist wasn't really an antagonist. He acted like a kid at some time and the major antagonist was taken down easily even though he showed up in the last 30 pages.
This wasn't my type of book even though it had vampires and witches which I enjoyed in a paranormal book. I guess I was expecting more of a book like House of Night or The Vampire Diaries. There were some minor things I enjoyed about the book but other than that it wasn't my read for 2021. I was super excited for this book but sadly it just wasn't my type of reading.
This was not my type of book sadly. This book is about Tansy who goes to the party with her best friend, Skylar, who is now sired to a vampire. Tansy and Vaughn go on a trip to get her back and try to bring the vampires down. The writing for this book was just not for me. I felt that the plot structure wasn't done well and that the story was kind of everywhere. There wasn't much of a world-building or anything but small pieces of information here and there. I didn't like the pacing and felt that it was rushed. I was hooked at the beginning of the story but towards page 50, I started to lose interest. There were some scenes in the book that I enjoyed like the trip Tansy and Vaughn took together to find Skylar.
I didn't feel much connection with the characters in this book. For me, I thought Tansy was annoying and she could have saved her best friend multiple times throughout the story. I did enjoy Vaughn but not so much through the romance for the couple in this book was cute. There were many side characters that just popped in and out of the book though I wish they were more involved. The biggest problem for me in this book was that the antagonist wasn't really an antagonist. He acted like a kid at some time and the major antagonist was taken down easily even though he showed up in the last 30 pages.
This wasn't my type of book even though it had vampires and witches which I enjoyed in a paranormal book. I guess I was expecting more of a book like House of Night or The Vampire Diaries. There were some minor things I enjoyed about the book but other than that it wasn't my read for 2021. I was super excited for this book but sadly it just wasn't my type of reading.
Sadly disappointing. The writing did not flow well and I felt like it jumped around, missing some details I really wanted. I ended up skimming most of the book which I'm bummed about...the premise sounded so intriguing, but the story just didn't hit that mark.
I think it just needed to be fleshed out more, maybe with some character development it would've changed the whole story for the better. There's potential, it just needs some work, in my opinion.
I hate giving such a crappy rating, but reading this book was a genuine struggle for me.
Thank you Entangled publishing via NetGalley for providing the e-copy to read and honestly review.
I think it just needed to be fleshed out more, maybe with some character development it would've changed the whole story for the better. There's potential, it just needs some work, in my opinion.
I hate giving such a crappy rating, but reading this book was a genuine struggle for me.
Thank you Entangled publishing via NetGalley for providing the e-copy to read and honestly review.