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3.55 AVERAGE
3.55 AVERAGE
adventurous
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
After Life is a surprise I never saw coming after almost ten years from the publication of [b:Gates of Paradise|10814946|Gates of Paradise (Blue Bloods, #7)|Melissa de la Cruz|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1341879409l/10814946._SY75_.jpg|15728596], the last book from the Blue Bloods series. Yes, we did have [b:Vampires of Manhattan|19661080|Vampires of Manhattan (The New Blue Bloods Coven, #1)|Melissa de la Cruz|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1389110814l/19661080._SX50_.jpg|16887091] and [b:White Nights: A Vampires of Manhattan Novel|36595085|White Nights A Vampires of Manhattan Novel|Melissa de la Cruz|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1532937888l/36595085._SY75_.jpg|43981411], but that series is not over, and it technically happens years after this book. I have no idea if the events of After Life influenced that one or not, but I think not. I believe that this AU idea is new, and I'm glad that the author decided to give it a go, considering that the new Blue Bloods Coven series I've just mentioned was mostly from Oliver's POV and I never liked him, so for the time being I would not delve into that. But I'm glad I started reading this.
I was stoked when I found out that this series was going to have a new book. At the same time, I was scared because when an author decides to continue a series, sometimes it doesn't live up to the expectations of the reader, and it may ruin the magic of the previous one a little. I have re-read the entire BB series to prepare for this one, and I was glad I did because After Life starts off right after the events of Gates of Paradise. Thus, even if the author informs the reader about the most important things that already happened, knowing the facts and where everyone stood was better. I don't think that you can't go into this book unprepared, but it will be confusing, and maybe you won't understand the story well. At least that's my opinion.
After Life starts after GoP ends. If you've read that book, you know that Schuyler defeats the enemy, but she has to make a sacrifice in order to win. Sky's sacrifice doesn't go unnoticed, and she is rewarded at the end. I was satisfied with the ending because all the ships have their happy ending.
This book toys with the idea that there is another (or more) parallel universe where Schuyler hasn't defeated Lucifer, and she's back to the start. The story begins with Sky waking up in New York realizing that the world she's in is not what it seems. It's like she's never destroyed Lucifer and his army, and the NYC she sees is devoid of life and there's an eerie air about it. Her life is completely different, but there are some constants. Oliver is still her closest friend and she still goes to the same school where Jack, the love of her life, goes. So, Sky finds hope, but everyone in this world is different from their persona from the other world, so she has to deal with that too and there's always the possibility that someone is not who they say they are...
The story had the right pace and I liked that we had the POVs of the four main characters. Switching between POVs helps the reader to be interested and eager to know what's going to happen. I was glad to have started this book and I hoped it would have been a standalone, but I'm happy that it's going to continue because I need more of my ships' moments. And I cross my fingers that the author nor the editor stop the publication of this series because otherwise I'd be very, very, sad.
I was stoked when I found out that this series was going to have a new book. At the same time, I was scared because when an author decides to continue a series, sometimes it doesn't live up to the expectations of the reader, and it may ruin the magic of the previous one a little. I have re-read the entire BB series to prepare for this one, and I was glad I did because After Life starts off right after the events of Gates of Paradise. Thus, even if the author informs the reader about the most important things that already happened, knowing the facts and where everyone stood was better. I don't think that you can't go into this book unprepared, but it will be confusing, and maybe you won't understand the story well. At least that's my opinion.
After Life starts after GoP ends. If you've read that book, you know that Schuyler defeats the enemy, but she has to make a sacrifice in order to win. Sky's sacrifice doesn't go unnoticed, and she is rewarded at the end. I was satisfied with the ending because all the ships have their happy ending.
This book toys with the idea that there is another (or more) parallel universe where Schuyler hasn't defeated Lucifer, and she's back to the start. The story begins with Sky waking up in New York realizing that the world she's in is not what it seems. It's like she's never destroyed Lucifer and his army, and the NYC she sees is devoid of life and there's an eerie air about it. Her life is completely different, but there are some constants. Oliver is still her closest friend and she still goes to the same school where Jack, the love of her life, goes. So, Sky finds hope, but everyone in this world is different from their persona from the other world, so she has to deal with that too and there's always the possibility that someone is not who they say they are...
The story had the right pace and I liked that we had the POVs of the four main characters. Switching between POVs helps the reader to be interested and eager to know what's going to happen. I was glad to have started this book and I hoped it would have been a standalone, but I'm happy that it's going to continue because I need more of my ships' moments. And I cross my fingers that the author nor the editor stop the publication of this series because otherwise I'd be very, very, sad.
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Interesting new story. It was enjoyable to read but the big issue I had was the issue of Schuyler's half-blood situation. Not sure if this will be addressed in the next book but it was something that really bothered me that it was mentioned by brushed off by seemingly everyone in story.
Also didn't love the Force twin difference in this storyline. It is more inclusive/diverse than the original series but it feels gratuitous and not very authentic.
Also didn't love the Force twin difference in this storyline. It is more inclusive/diverse than the original series but it feels gratuitous and not very authentic.
Content Warnings
Minor: Death, Torture, Violence, Death of parent
challenging
hopeful
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Schuyler has just sacrificed Jack in order to defeat Lucifer when she wakes up in 2020 New York. Not only is the city not as she remembers it, but she also isn’t in her regular body and everyone else is different in some way. She quickly finds out that she isn’t in her New York … she is in a different universe. Here, Lucifer is still alive and the mayor of New York; Jack is also alive, but is Lucifer’s right-hand man. Schuyler doesn’t know what is going on and then Kingsley contacts her. He remembers their world and has his own ideas about what has happened. Will Schuyler be able to defeat Lucifer again?
Blue Bloods: After Life is a spin-off of the original Blue Bloods series. I found it interesting that the time jump brings the characters into the fall of the Covid-19 outbreak (in our world) and the vampires were taking advantage of a mysterious illness and the vaccine that was being released. If this is a one-and-done spin-off book, it was fun and worth the read. If this becomes a new series, though, I will need to save my thoughts to see where de la Cruz plans to go with the storyline. It was a nice escape to revisit old characters and this might be the introduction needed to bring this series back into the hands of young readers.
Blue Bloods: After Life is a spin-off of the original Blue Bloods series. I found it interesting that the time jump brings the characters into the fall of the Covid-19 outbreak (in our world) and the vampires were taking advantage of a mysterious illness and the vaccine that was being released. If this is a one-and-done spin-off book, it was fun and worth the read. If this becomes a new series, though, I will need to save my thoughts to see where de la Cruz plans to go with the storyline. It was a nice escape to revisit old characters and this might be the introduction needed to bring this series back into the hands of young readers.
I had the opportunity to beta read this book in 2021…very excited to see it’s getting published and that others will get to read it too!!
I don't entirely understand the time jump while the characters ages revert, but it's fun being back in the Blue Bloods verse.
adventurous
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Loveable characters:
Yes
When the original Blue Bloods series ended, Schuyler Van Allen had slain Lucifer at the expense of her Soul Mate, Jack Force's life. In the new series, Schuyler wakes up after her battle in the middle of an empty street in Manhattan. She finds she is in a parallel universe where Lucifer is still alive and she needs to kill him once again.
I'm not sure.
I read the original Blue Bloods series in my early 20s and had a good time. It wasn't my favorite series of all time, but I did enjoy it enough to read every book.
This one was surprisingly similar to what I remember Blue Bloods being all about. It held all the nostalgia I was looking for : Fallen angels teaming up to defeat Lucifer and his Silver Blood minions. The story felt like getting the band back together. The reading was easy, more polished, and I devoured it quickly.
However, it felt a lot like eating too much candy or drinking too much. It starts out fun and then somewhere takes a turn and you realize it was a terrible idea.
There was strong world building, and it was so familiar that it was very easy to immerse myself, but about halfway in I asked myself, "What's the plot?" The story focuses mostly about reuniting lost loves and rebranding formerly straight characters into the gender and sexually fluid, instead of building a strong plot and interestingly motivated characters. Not till the last chapter did anything actually interesting happen when someone switches allegiances.
Now I'm going to read the next one.
I'm not sure.
I read the original Blue Bloods series in my early 20s and had a good time. It wasn't my favorite series of all time, but I did enjoy it enough to read every book.
This one was surprisingly similar to what I remember Blue Bloods being all about. It held all the nostalgia I was looking for : Fallen angels teaming up to defeat Lucifer and his Silver Blood minions. The story felt like getting the band back together. The reading was easy, more polished, and I devoured it quickly.
However, it felt a lot like eating too much candy or drinking too much. It starts out fun and then somewhere takes a turn and you realize it was a terrible idea.
There was strong world building, and it was so familiar that it was very easy to immerse myself, but about halfway in I asked myself, "What's the plot?" The story focuses mostly about reuniting lost loves and rebranding formerly straight characters into the gender and sexually fluid, instead of building a strong plot and interestingly motivated characters. Not till the last chapter did anything actually interesting happen when someone switches allegiances.
Now I'm going to read the next one.