I was finally able to get my hands on "Afterlife" after making a quick trip to my favorite bookstore and buying a copy as a Christmas gift to myself. ^.^ After all, who wants to be stuck wondering how a series ends? While "Balthazar" is still part of the Evernight series, "Afterlife" is the finale to the story of Bianca and Lucas.

I had high expectations for this book, mainly because I enjoyed all three of the three previously published books in the series, and while I wasn't entirely thrilled by the ending, it was interesting to see some of the sub-plots intertwine, making them integral to the overall storyline.

Spoiler

Would I have wanted a "happily ever after" kind of ending? If I'm being honest, yes. I'm sappy that way. Immortals become mortals again and live the rest of their days together or one becomes the other kind of immortal. While Bianca and Lucas do swear to love each other forever, the reality is, Lucas is mortal and is still young enough that he has his whole life ahead of him. But hey, you never know, right? Maybe these two are meant to be eternally "extraordinary" and together.

I'm looking forward to getting "Balthazar" (in trade paperback in March 2013...since it'll be cheaper than the hardcover edition...hehehe!) to finally see if he'll have his own "happily ever after". ^.^

Ayyy el final es preciosoo

What a great ending!!!

an interesting way to end the series. I finally understand Mrs. Bethany. but I feel so sorry for Lucas and Bianca. I hope that Claudia Gray at least feature in Bathlazar's book.

Wished the ending was better..

Sigh...

Im sorry afterlife, you didnt make it into my favourites

I should have read this book about a week ago, but some other book called Kingdom of Ash came and it meant that this one was postponed for a little while. But that was not because I wasn't looking forward to it. Because this series has very quickly become one of my favorite vampire series ever and I don't regret buying all books at once at all. I'm actually a little sad that the main story is over now, although I have some more to look forward to.

What I loved most about this book, was the fact that being a vampire wasn't glorified or made seem easy. It focussed heavily on the downsides, on what it could do to someone, on the burden it was and why most sane vampire would never choose that faith for themselves. Lucas struggles with himself, with what he had become and with the future that was waiting for him, were really refreshing and amazing to read.

And so was the last part of Bianca's journey, who also faced a different future as she had wanted for herself. It totally made sense for her to hold onto the love of her life for as long as possible, but I did enjoy her journey, how she came to accept herself and her new future, how she learned about her abilities and what she could and should do with them. I also loved how this book was about more than her relationship with Lucas, but also focussed on her relationship with her parents and her friends.

I do think that this last book contained a lot of mythology and world building. Maybe for me it was a little too much in the very last book of the series, although I understand we couldn't get it any sooner. But therefore a lot of it was just explaining and not really experiencing and showing. I'm also not entirely sold on the final conclusion. It was foreshadowed and explained, but it still felt like an "easy" way out, where the previous books had surprised me by NOT going for those easy ways.

But, all in all, I'm a very happy reader with a new favorite series on her shelf!

i'm really mad at how the author killed miss bethany and christopher??? suddenly they're just GONE bc bianca wasn't even there except for the last minute of their 'lives'? for being such prominent characters, they deserved more of an ending.