The Afterlife Series Box Set by Willow RoseMy rating: 2 of 5 stars
I must admit that I had been expecting far more form this read, than it actually managed to deliver.
Disappointingly, it did have potential to be really quite good. However, the author's use of language was a little too naive. At times the plot hit just about the right tempo, and at others it just limped along. Even if this book was written specifically for the YA group, it falls short.
As far as characterisation was concerned, I never truly invested in Meghan, she came across as a miss nelly-know-all-goodie-gumdrops. As for Mick ..... stalker!
I was also failed to be convinced about the whole spiritual realm the author had going on, and wondered just why she portrayed it so near to real life with weddings, births etc.
If the writing had been tightened up, and a careful eye kept on pace, as well as just a little bit more imagination into the possibilities of the adventures the spirits' could have got up to, then this had the promise to be a much better read.
The end was precipitous, and left answers about what had gone on in Meghan's life, and also who the actual agent for the darkside is at the Academy. Will I bother with the 4th book in the series. Honestly, I'm not sure, if it comes up as a freebie then maybe, but I wouldn't waste hard earned on buying a copy.
Product details:
This was featured as one of my Daily Selections' back in March of this year.
A box set featured Books 1 (Beyond); Book 2 (Serenity); and Book 3 (Endurance). You can download it from Amazon HERE. At the time of writing this post it's available at £3.39 for the three books.
A further book (Book 4: Courageous) has now also been released.
I will update the "Review by Series" page with the details - it's the Afterlife Series.
Errors/Bug Bears:
There are quite a few I'm afraid, and I have to say that in my personal opinion "gotten" is the scourge of the imagination ..... it's the laziest use of language that I can imagine, so bear that in mind when you read my list below ...... eyes down, here we go:
2%: A hundred years? That was an incredible long time.
Correct to:
A hundred years? That was an incredibly long time.
3%: You will get a lot of them answered the coming days when you begin your education.
Correct to:
You will get a lot of them answered in the coming days when you begin your education.
6%: It is so we know when it is time to go get them.
Missing conjunction and suggested amendment to text, correct to:
It is so we know when it's time to go and get them.
8%: Mrs Ohayashi came awful close to my ear.
Correct to:
Mrs Ohayashi came awfully close to my ear.
9%: Later when it was dinnertime and we had gotten our plates full ....
Correct to:
Later when it was dinnertime and our plates were full ...
10%: I had been wanting to ask Mick for advice but didnLt dare.
Correct to:
I had been wanting to ask Mick for advice but didn't dare.
12%: .....we haven't quite gotten to that part yet.
Correct to:
...we haven't quite got to that part yet.
14%: I put both my palms on the mirror and pressed myself through, this time with no resistance and not much exhaustion. I had gotten much better at this.
Correct to:
I put both my palms on the mirror and pressed myself through, this time with no resistance, and not much exhaustion. I was getting much better at it now.
16%: The chair must have gotten the message because all of a sudden it started moving ....
Correct to:
The chair must have got the message because all of a sudden it started moving ....
17%: I shouldn't have peeked in that book and I shouldn't have broken the rules by leaving the Academy. If I hadn't done any of all that ......
Correct to:
I shouldn't have peeked in that book and I shouldn't have broken the rules by leaving the Academy. If I hadn't done any of
18%: .....but all I remember is that I am an American girl, and that is a very big country to go look for two people.
Correct to:
.....but all I remember is that I am an American girl, and that it's a very big country to go and look for two people.
19%: But I don't understand why I wasn't send direct to Hell ....
Correct to:
But I don't understand why I wasn't sent direct to Hell ....
19% (further amendment): I have gotten permission from Rahmiel to take you with me.
Correct to:
I have gained permission from Rahmiel to take you with me.
WORK IN PROGRESS ... so you might need to check back later.
21%: Will she remember anything? I asked when we had gotten back to the Academy ....
Correct to:
Will she remember anything? I asked when we had got back to the Academy ....
23%: And what about Jason? You never helped him did you? What kind of a friend does that? They tell you it is for his best, but how could it be?
Correct to:
And what about Jason? You never helped him did you? What kind of a friend does that? They tell you it's best for him, but how could it be?
24%: You are the only one who hasn't gotten her dress yet .....
Correct to:
You are the only one who hasn't got her dress yet .....
25%: Even though I had definitely gotten better at going through solid objects, .....
Correct to:
Even though I had definitely got better at going through solid objects, .....
25% (further amendment): Maybe Jason hadn't even gotten home from school yet.
Correct to:
Maybe Jason hadn't arrived home from school yet.
32%: The whole class burst into laughter.
Suggested change to wording:
The whole class burst out laughing.
33%: He could always make me feel better after a night spend so close to human despair.
Correct to:
He could always make me feel better after a night spent so close to human despair.
46%: I hated when he did that.
Correct to:
I hated it when he did that.
48%: As second-year students, we had gotten used to it ....
Correct to:
As second-year students, we had become used to it ...
48% (further amendment): I'll wager you didn't know I could that, huh?
Correct to:
I'll wager you didn't know I could do that, huh?
48% (further amendment): I chose Mai, with whom I had talked to a lot lately.
Correct to:
I chose Mai, with whom I had talked
49%: His eyes were fixated on the eye of the storm that seemed to be growing bigger and bigger in front of us.
Correct to:
His eyes were fixed on the eye of the storm that seemed to be growing bigger and bigger in front of us.
Correct to:
As Mai said "THREE", I lifted my arms and bent forward.
51%: Mai was right in front of me, her eyes fully focused, fixated on the path the professor made for us.
Correct to:
Mai was right in front of me, her eyes fully focused, fixed on the path the professor made for us.
56%: ...... and it sure didn't make me any less anxious about the warnings I had gotten the last couple of months.
Correct to:
...... and it sure didn't make me any less anxious about the warnings I had received the last couple of months.
57%: He had the right to know that I was going to visit Jason, that I had gotten my permission back.
Correct to:
He had the right to know that I was going to visit Jason, that I had been given back my permission.
58%: I didn't even look at Mick, but soon realized that he had gotten up as well.
Correct to:
I didn't even look at Mick, but soon realized that he had also got up.
59%: You only proposed because you knew that I had gotten permission to go outside the school area again .....
Correct to:
I didn't even look at Mick, but soon realized that he had gotten up as well.You only proposed because you knew that I had been given back permission to go outside the school area again .....
60%: She has just gotten engaged to be married and this is supposed to be a happy time in her life.
Correct to:
She has just become engaged to be married, and this is supposed to be a happy time in her life.
69%: He was physically tied under the desert in Egypt, but Salathiel, the Angel and Headmaster, had told me he had gotten stronger.
Correct to:
He was physically tied under the desert in Egypt, but Salathiel, the Angel and Headmaster, had told me he had become stronger.
70%: I knew he looked at women differently that what I was used to.
Correct to:
I knew he looked at women differently that
71%: It might take awhile before it is completely clear to you why you have gotten exactly this assignment.
Correct to:
It might take awhile before it is completely clear to you why you have been given exactly this assignment.
71% (further amendment): I was glad we had gotten this.
Correct to:
I was glad we had been given this.
71% (further amendment): I hate when we argue.
Correct to:
I hate it when we argue.
72%: It was going to be beautiful beyond what I could ever dream of.
Correct to:
It was going to be beautiful beyond anything I could ever dream of.
72% (further amendment): Abhik had already gotten his assignment and opened it.
Correct to:
Abhik had already received his assignment and opened it.
73%: Maybe he will recall some of the time we spend together.
Correct to:
Maybe he will recall some of the time we spent together.
75%: I have gotten this assignment to grow somehow, and that is what I intend to do.
Correct to:
I have been given this assignment to grow somehow, and that is what I intend to do.
77%: Even here in the Spiritual Realm the human spirits often make it much harder on themselves than what is necessary.
Correct to:
Even here in the Spiritual Realm the hum spirits often make it much harder on themselves than
86%: This was a difficult task for him. But I finally understood why he had gotten that assignment.
Correct to:
This was a difficult task for him, but I finally understood why he had been given that assignment.
JUST A BIT MORE TO GO - CHECK BACK TOMORROW, WHEN I SHOULD HAVE FINISHED ADDING THE NOTES.
Hugs
Kay
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