Endless by Kate Brian

Series: Shadowlands (bk. 3)

Genera(s): Paranormal Romance/Mystery

Subjects: afterlife, death, horror, immortality, islands, limbo, love, supernatural

Setting: Juniper Landing, an island supposedly off the coast of South Carolina, but actually is an afterlife like Limbo

POV/Tense: 1^st person POV, past tense: Rory Miller/Thayer, and interludes from the person responsible for people being sent to the Shadowlands

Age/Grade Level: Teen

Length: 324 pgs.

HC/PB: Hardcover 

List Price: $17.99

Publisher: Hyperion & Alloy Entertainment

Summary/ product description: “An unthinkable betrayal threatens everyone Rory loves in the third installment of our dark, thrilling Shadowlands series from New York Times best-selling author Kate Brian.

Rory Miller didn't just fall in love with Tristan Parrish. She fell in love with the idea of forever. He was the one who told her the truth about her existence in Juniper Landing: that her mortal life is over, and she will now spend eternity on the island, helping others in limbo move on.

But like Juniper Landing, a bright island with dark secrets, Tristan is too good to be true. The mysterious, heartbreakingly beautiful boy Rory thought she knew is responsible for unthinkable evil-sending good souls to the Shadowlands in order to get himself a second chance at life on Earth. He has already claimed Rory's friend Aaron and her own father. She will do anything to save her family, even if it means going to hell and back.”

My Review:  The final book in the Shadowlands trilogy, Endless is an exciting and mysterious read. I didn’t really suspect how it would end. This is the kind of series in which you just have to go with it and enjoy it along the way. It’s not boring or slow. It’s sometimes creepy, but I loved the atmosphere of it. It’s a good series, and I’m assuming it’s over, unless the author does decide to make another book in this world.

My favorite part of this series has been the world building and the setting. We found out at the beginning of Hereafter that Juniper Landing is an island afterlife. It’s a kind of limbo for souls to make peace and move on. In this book Juniper Landing’s weather is chaotic and hurricane-like. It’s raining and foggy and the wind is always blowing toward the south when even a soul crosses the bridge.

People are still being sent to the Shadowlands instead of the light. Rory and the other Lifers believe Tristan is responsible for the imbalance, and that he contaminated the coins that are given to the Lifer to help souls cross over. Lifers are the people that stay on Juniper Landing to usher souls instead moving on themselves. The ferry to the island is destroyed and the new visitors a freaked out and suspicious that the island has no cell service and the injured can’t be hospitalized.

There’s a lifeguard named Liam who was on the ferry and he saves some kids. There are creepy blond twins that are especially suspicious. Rory is starting to develop a relationship with Joaquin and they even kiss. Without spoiling the plot, all I can say is I enjoyed this ending. I did not suspect who was causing people to go into the Shadowlands. I liked the characters still, and the romance. If you have not read the Shadowlands trilogy, then you should. It’s very difference from anything I’ve read. If you like books about the afterlife, like Alyson Noel’s books, The Immortals and the Riley Bloom series, then you’ll enjoy this.

Cover Art Review: Love the cover even if the girl on the front looks like Rory’s sister Darcy and not Rory herself. The sunset seascape and the crow are cool and creepy.

Hereafter by Kate Brian

Series: Shadowlands (bk. 2)

Genera: Paranormal Romance/Mystery

Subjects: supernatural, death, afterlife, islands, souls

Age/Grade Level: Teen

Length: 307 pgs.

HC/PB: Hardcover

List Price: $17.99

Publisher: Hyperion

Summary/ product description: “Rory Miller thought her life was over when a serial killer set his sights on her and forced her into witness protection. But a fresh start on Juniper Landing Island was exactly what she and her family needed. For the first time in years she and her sister hang out at the beach, gossip about boys, and party together. She's also made friends with a local clique--including a magnetic and mysterious boy named Tristan.

But Rory's world is about to change again. Picturesque Juniper Landing isn't what it seems. The truth about the swirling fog that rolls in each morning, the bridge that leads to nowhere, and those beautiful locals who seem to watch Rory's every move is more terrifying than being hunted by Steven Nell. And all Rory ever wanted was the truth. Even if it means learning that she can never go home again. From the best-selling author of the Private and Privilege series comes the second novel in a heart-stopping trilogy about a girl who must pick up the pieces after the only life she's ever known ends.”

My Review: Ever since I read Shadowlands, I’ve been dying to read this sequel. Now I’m dying to read the final book, Endless, which doesn’t come out until July next year. Hereafter was a mysterious sequel full of great characters. At the end of Shadowlands, we find out that Juniper Landing is a kind of purgatory for souls and is definitely not part of South Carolina like visitor seem to think.

In Hereafter Rory finds out that she’s a Lifer and will live on Juniper Landing for the rest of her afterlife, helping usher souls on to their final resting places. I found this to be a unique take on an afterlife story. I love the island setting and the fact that everyone thinks they’re still alive except for Lifers. It’s a well-developed world, yet very simple.

Rory is a really awesome main character. She’s very scientifically minded and a problem solver. She has a great relationship with her sister and is finally spending time with her dad. She’s having a hard time keeping the secret of what this island really is from them. They don’t know that they died, and she does, and if she tells them, they could be banished to the Shadowlands.

Tristan is the “Golden Boy” of the island. We get to find out about his past and how long ago he died. He’s not someone I trusted in this book. Joaquin becomes my favorite male Lifer. He becomes the one that Rory trusts because he backs her in her belief the Aaron didn’t belong in the Shadowlands. Krista is my other favorite side character. She really became a true friend to Rory and a confident. Bea was also pretty awesome and I think Lauren OCDish way of organizing things is pretty funny. Nadia really seemed to hate Rory.

I liked how we got to see the perspective of someone else in some chapter. This other person’s name is never mentioned, but I started to guess who it was. They were the reason why all the souls were going to the Shadowlands. It seemed pretty obvious to me who is was, but then I changed my mind for a while, and then went back to my original idea, which I’m sure I was right about I’ll know for sure when I get to read Endless. I hate having to wait almost a year for it. This plot for this book in general was pretty good. I don’t think these books could standalone on their own because they both have ended in cliffhangers. This definitely is a thrilling and exciting series and I can’t wait to see how it all ends.

Cover Art Review: I love the cover as much as the first boos. I love how the text is set and the doves and clouds. The girls at the bottom don’t look how I picture Rory and Darcy. Rory would have a dark blond braid and Darcy has dark hair. I don’t understand why there are mountains on the cover.