Aaron Burdett

Fans of Neil Gaiman should enjoy this fantastical adventure, rife with enjoyable characters and a fast paced plot.
A troubled girl from a broken family, Amber Blackwood is a likable if rather generic protagonist. Angered at her family for running away from their grief, she comes upon an old magical necklace. Events transpire which grant her immense power that she cannot understand, much less control. However, characters from Afterlife (a city which for all intents and purposes is exactly what it sounds like) are after her in an effort to force her to participate in their power struggles.
All of the characters are easily relatable. Although they mostly fit into defined stereotypes (troubled teen, dashing rogue, etc) the story has enough twists and excitement to more than make up for the characters predictability. The world of Afterlife itself is a fascinating interpretation, and clearly was well thought out. It follows the rules it sets out without holes, with the only exception of Amber herself (being mortal) explained with the story. The plot draws you in and leaves you eager for book 2.
Overall, I highly recommend this book for lovers of fantasy. A fantastic world with a captivating plot makes for an excellent read.… (más)

Fantasy and intrigue, those are the two words that come to mind when I was reading Afterlife. Amber Blackwood is the main character in this novel, with mysterious powers. It's a story that hooks you within the first couple of chapters and doesn't let go. The world that Burdett builds is great, and it gives the reader an idea of the places that he's taking us. I really love when a book does that. As with all series books, I hate that it ended, because I can't wait to sink my little fingers into the next book! I did receive this copy in advance from the author, but I enjoyed it nonetheless, and am looking forward to reading the other works!… (más)