Fiction Review: Afterlife by Merrie Destefano

Afterlife: The Resurrection Chronicles
by Merrie Destefano
Copyright 2010
Eos
336 pages
ISBN: 9780061990816
Fiction

From the publisher:
Welcome to your next chance.

Chaz Dominguez is a professional Babysitter in New Orleans, helping to integrate the recently deceased into their new and improved lives. Though Fresh Start has always been the only game in town, resurrection isn't all it's cracked up to be. Nine lives are all a person can get—and a powerful group of desperate, high-level Nine-Timers will stop at nothing to possess the keys to true immortality.

Now the only hope for Chaz and his family—and the human race—lies in the secrets locked away in the mind of Angelique, the beautiful, mysterious Newbie he must protect . . .

My Review:
~4.5 stars~

I'll be the first to admit when I read the back cover copy for this book I wasn't sure if I would like this book. Don't get me wrong I read a ton of paranormal fiction but it's mostly full of teen angst and romance (yeah I read YA fiction). However when I learned that this book featured a dog as one of the main characters I thought, "Cool, a furry creature who isn't a werewolf?!" I jumped at the chance to review this book and I was not disappointed in the least.

This book has an awesome dark, gothic setting (New Orleans) and characters so creepy it made my skin crawl. Now I've read my fair share of horror stories and have seen enough scary movies that I'm not creeped out by much but let me tell you the "bad guy" is one weird, messed up villain! He just jumps off of the page at you. This entire story is like that however, the scenery and the whole apocalyptic world seem so realistic...I guess that's another reason why I find it so frightening. My favorite not-so-creepy character is Omega, the German Shepard. He kicks butt. All I have to say is Rin Tin Tin and Lassie had better watch their backs, there's a new canine in town and he's pretty fierce!

It's very interesting to read books that are thought provoking and entertaining and ask the what if question. What if we could chose to live another life? Would you take the chance if it was available to you or would you be a One-Timer? Afterlife is just an all around great story. I was a little confused about how all the cloning and jumping stuff worked at first but as I read it became more clear to me. If I read a book with a very teeny tiny romantic angle and I still love it enough to put on my keeper shelf it must be good! If you give this book a try I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.


**Note: Some brief mild language and sci-fi violence but overall still pretty clean**

To learn more about Merrie and her books visit:
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*I received my review copy from the author in exchange for posting my honest opinion of the book*