Afterworlds by Scott Westerfeld (2015-09-29)

So I have never been interested in reading a book written by Scott Westerfeld, until I came across "Afterworlds". Now I know that it was the price of the book for .97 at a thrift store that I found interesting!
In my opinion Darcy's story dragged on and on which made her sections of the book so boring. Halfway through the book I stopped reading about Darcy and focused only on Lizzie!! Lizzie's story ROCKED!!
I truly wish Mr. Westerfeld would've written just about Lizzie and not Darcy. At the end of the book I did go back and finish reading Darcy's story, but it was a painful process.
If I could give stars for just Lizzie, it would be hands down 5 STARS!!
I am giving 3 stars for Darcy and that is really being kind for Scott's boring storytelling on her part.

I went in with very high expectations for this book, even though I have never read the Uglies series. I had heard about this novel through "Book"Tube and was very excited when I heard about the concept. Two books in one? Amazing!
Darcy's Story (5 out of 5):
I was IN LOVE with this story. Everything about it made me excited, yet saddened to turn the page. I love that you were able to get an "exclusive" look at what it is like to be a published (well almost published) author and see the inner workings of what goes into a novel. The best part was the setting being in New York! The love interest...wow. The love interest was just amazing in this! I was on the edge of my seat until the very end and could feel Darcy's emotion.

Lizzie's Story (4 out of 5):
Lizzie was a very interesting character, I loved the way she was able to balance her fear with charisma. Her story was very nicely done. I won't give too much away about what happens to her character, but the love interest (except for one scene) seemed very flat, which makes it loose the one star. The surrounding characters were really awesome, as well.

Overall:
Overall, this novel met my expectations, and even a little more! I would definitely suggest reading this if you want to become an author or are just looking for a really awesome book! Consider it a 4.5 star rating, not a 4 star rating.

Split narratives are common in literary fiction. The good ones make it work. Afterworld doesn't.

Instead, as I read this on my tablet, I found myself skipping to read the odd number chapters-- Darcy's unbelievable, yet highly entertaining rollercoaster of a publishing ride. If you know anything about the author, you know that he's part of a popular YA cabal: bestselling, YA writers in NY and thereabouts. So, this is amusing, once you get past the 'really? a NaNoWrimo first draft? for a 6 figure sum? no previous writing experience? no revisions? REALLY?' sort of disbelief.

Lizzie's story on the other hand could have been interesting, but as I wanted to follow a young contemporary storyline, I gave up on the fantasy story early on, even though fantasy is what I would usually read. Against expectations, contemporary: good, fantasy: dropped it.

Despite that, I felt strangely betrayed being seduced into reading Darcy's story due to a minor character: Kiralee Taylor. She's a successful writer of (what's suggested as) indigenous cultures, and accused of cultural appropriation. A hot topic in YA circles, to be sure. Only, the way Westerfield writes it, it comes across as 'all this talent, and we're not allowed to write because of the PC police' bitterness from a (his words) 'white fella'. A slap in the face of diversity, not only in writing, but for writers who are published. It feels not only ungenerous but hypocritical, considering how he presents himself as a writer. Inside the story, it feels like chewing on a bitter pill in your cake.

*shrugs* It's just a character speaking, not an author interview. But one that seems to convey what the author *really* means, despite his toeing the PC line in public. Maybe because he is that good of a writer, that his sketch of a minor character comes across more vividly; but in that case, I wish he found a higher truth, a more meaningful solution.

Scott Westerfeld is my go-to choice for teens who are reluctant to read. He writes books that appeal to fantasy fans, girls, boys, straight and gay. His Uglies series has been a favorite of mine since high school and since discovering Leviathan I have recommended it to everyone I know. But even if he didn’t have an amazing track record of books that appeal to a large audience, I would be shouting my praises of Afterworlds from the rooftops.

Afterworlds is the kind of book that makes you think about reading and writing and, as an educator, that’s the kind of book that I can get behind. The book has multiple storylines: the “real world” with a young newly signed author, and the “book world” the author creates with a young girl who talks to ghosts. There’s not anything more meta than that! The storylines are intertwined in interesting and thought-provoking ways — for instance, when the young heroine, Darcy, finds herself in a new relationship, we get to see the way that it affects her writing of Lizzie’s story.

On top of the obvious draws (romance, danger, adventure) there are a myriad of other reasons to pick up this book. I don’t know that I have ever read a novel that manages to touch on so many issues without seeming like an overly preachy episode of Seventh Heaven. I particularly love the way Westerfeld handles sexuality in this book. All too often books that feature a gay character focus on their coming out story, not their whole story. In Afterworlds, being gay is a part of the story, but is more background than foreground for the characters. Westerfeld also manages to include an eloquent dialogue on the way that religion and race are co-opted in novels. The writers group who meet in Afterworld toy with world-building and whether an author of a particular ethnic background has any more “right” to tell a story than an author from the “outside.” It is heady stuff but wrapped in a fun story!

Finally, Westerfeld places his novel firmly in discussion with the conversation currently surrounding young adult literature. With characters who are obviously versions of popular YA novelists, Westerfeld manages to make fun of the genre and those who write YA. He acknowledges the crazy world that glorifies some YA writers (coughJohnGreencough) while demonizing others.

Afterworlds is a must read for any aspiring novelists, anyone who loved Behemoth, Uglies or Midnighters, and for anyone looking for their next discussion-inducing book club read.

Afterworlds had so much potential! Two stories built into one…both the story of young YA debut author Darcy and her move to NYC and the story within a story that was her novel about Lizzie and her trips to the Afterworld. Both stories seemed to have great potential…especially Darcy’s…I loved the chance to jump into the shoes of a new author and experience that through her. I really wanted this one to work but sadly it just fell flat for me.

I can find no fault with Westerfeld’s writing but I never fully connected to any of the characters in either story and the plot just seemed to surreal and dreamlike top elicit any real feeling from me. I was mildly entertained and had no trouble finishing the book…but once I did…I just couldn’t figure out what the point of the whole thing really was.

NOTE: Review Copy from Publisher, all thoughts and opinions my own

I enjoyed reading Afterworlds. What Westerfeld has done with this novel is awesome. I loved reading about Lizzie’s life and her struggle to adapt to life as a published author and life as an adult, alternating chapters with her first novel. When I first started reading I wasn’t sure I was going to like the alternating chapters, but as I got further into the story I began to enjoy it more and more as I followed Lizzie’s struggle with copyedits and then read the sections of her novel with which she had been having such issues. I enjoyed the meta aspect of reading a novel that contains a character writing a novel and the novel as it’s being written. I recommend Afterworlds for fans of YA and fans of paranormal genre fiction.

For more in depth reviews and recommendations visit my blog.

I listened to this as an electronic audio book. The dual stories required two separate narrators. A narrator can really make or break a story, sometimes, and I will freely admit to finding one of the two narrators annoying for her weird pronunciation and mild lisp. But in this case, it wasn't the narration that ultimately broke down.

I'm a big fan of Scott Westerfeld's "Uglies" series. His steam-punk "Leviathan" trilogy is the best of steam-punk. I tried the "Midnighters" books, and couldn't get into them. So I'm not a raving fangirl. Can you be a fangirl at 35? Still, I think Scott Westerfeld has proven he can do better than this.

I wanted to love the companion story lines. I really did. And the Creative Writing B.A. in me found Darcy's story line somewhat interesting. In the end, though, it mostly felt inside jokey and a bit self indulgent. As though SW was saying, "Look at the extraordinary ordinary life of us YA writers. You want to be us, but you don't know what you're asking for." Now, I've never written a novel, and I don't know if I can or will. In a way, it's interesting to have a window into what that might be like. But ultimately, it didn't really add to Lizzy's story. It didn't really feel like it had earned the right to share that space.

Lizzy's story is all the stuff of great paranormal YA, with or without the death god hotness. I'd have wanted to know what was going to happen with Lizzy even if her guide through her transformation had been like the third ghost in A Christmas Carol. The choice SW made to intertwine the two stories was a bold one, and it is hard to imagine what the two stories would've been like had they not been conjoined. Ultimately, for this reader, the choice fell flat as mentioned above, and I'm glad I borrowed this book from the library. It was an okay story, but I doubt I'd have finished it if I had been reading rather than listening. Three and a half stars.

AFTERWORLDS, the latest effort from the hugely popular Scott Westerfeld, is two books in one. Darcy Patel's story will appeal to fans of contemporary novels, while Lizzie's story will appeal to paranormal fans.

Darcy is moving out thanks to the huge advance she just got for her first novel and unwritten sequel. She's going to live in New York where the writers are. There, she discovers that maybe it wasn't best to rely on her younger sister to budget (because who knew how many mops she would need?) and falls in love with another author, who is also making her YA debut. It's a bit fairytale, except for the fact that Darcy's girlfriend has secrets.

Lizzie just survived a terrorist attack by pretending to be dead. In fact, she pretended so well that she crossed over to the world of the dead and became a psychopomp. There she meets Yamaraj, who starts teaching her what she needs to know to survive. But an encounter with a pedophile's victim inspires her to start getting more active with her new powers. Her story is gripping from that first, horrifying chapter. It's no wonder that a publishing company would pay the big bucks for her story. (It made me think of the first chapter of Beth Revis's debut book, ACROSS THE UNIVERSE. It is only similar in how gripping and terrifying it is, but it's easy to envision how a publicity campaign could be enacted around it.)

Lizzie's story is AFTERWORLDS, the book Darcy wrote. As Darcy's section progresses, it becomes clear that we're reading the edited version of the in-story AFTERWORLDS. We also learn the twist: the original draft has an unhappy ending. Darcy's dive into the world of publishing - editor's letters, meeting other authors, agents - will determine whether she changes the ending or keeps it.

Each girl's story is entertaining on its own merits, although most readers will prefer one or the other just based on their own preferred genre. Either the odd chapters or even chapters can be read on their own, if that is preferred, although the two stories go together in interesting ways. Lizzie's story has more action and terror, with a hint of romance. Darcy's story has more romance, with lots of meta discussion about Lizzie's story. For instance, is Darcy appropriating her own culture by making Yamaraj the romantic hero? Both heroines grow in interesting ways throughout their stories. I took longer to warm up to Darcy (that terrible budget!), but by the end I liked both girls.

I'm sure I'll be back for UNTITLED PATEL next year. (There is going to be a sequel, right?) AFTERWORLDS is a different sort of book, and for me it was a successful experiment indeed.

This book has officially become one of my new favorites! I loved how it was told in alternating chapters and that we get to learn how the publishers and editors really do influence the authors and their writing. For being a six hundred page book, it was a fast and enjoy able read. The main characters in both stories where very relate able and really brought the story together. I enjoyed taking a look into Darcy's (the author character) world and her story. This could also be considered a coming of age novel. When Darcy leaves her hometown and goes against her parents wishes to move to New York. Overall this was a great book, and I hope there will be a sequel.

Afterworlds

Great concept

This book is about 2 pov/worlds. In one of them we can see a young author, Darcy, living in NY and dealing her new life as a writer: going to partys, book events, stress/trouble/process of writing a book and falling in love. In the other pov we can see the actual story that Darcy "the author" is writing!!Aaaah I founded that brilliant and amazing. Her book is about a girl, Lizzie, who discovers that she can talk, see ghosts and can do other really cool stuff related to ghosts and the underworld after a terrorist attack. I really enjoined this book, it was fast paged and well developed. As I mentioned I haven't seen in any YA book the two worlds of "the author" and book that was written by them, that idea is so freaking original and made the story more entertaining. Another thing that I liked was the idea of YA heaven, omygod that was sooo funny hahah, if you haven't read the book you won't understand what I am referring to, just go and read it. You won't regret it

5/5

Perfect for fans of: tigers curse series & any Scott westerfeld fans.
Songs that I listened to while reading: cry baby-by the neighborhood.

Neither of the stories seem fleshed out enough on their own, but they work well together. Seeing how Darcy's experience writing Afterworlds filters into the story can be really interesting, and I always find it inspiring to see where other writers (fictional or no) get their ideas from. With that said, I don't think I would read Darcy's story if it wasn't interspersed with the story she is writing.

Afterworlds, on the other hand, I would read if it was its own book. Unfortunately, with Darcy's sections stripped away, the plot is somewhat lacking. It spends a lot of time not knowing what direction to take - probably due to the fact that Lizzie really just wants to enjoy her new powers and hook up with a god of death. The opening is fantastic (as Darcy is continually told), but the rest of the story does not live up to it. However, although the book didn't turn its own pages for me, I did enjoy taking the time to read it.

What I would like now is the chance to read Untitled Patel - hopefully, to see a more fleshed out novel than Afterworlds. I would like to see Lizzie actually take on her role as a spirit guide instead of dreaming about Yamaraj.

And I wouldn't mind reading the -mancer series, either.

I grabbed this book quickly at the library but wish I'd read the reviews before. I loved the Uglies series. This book showed Mr. Westerfield's quality writing style but it's NOT for young adults or others that like nice clean reads that we find in christian publishing and usually in YA. The swearing was the first thing that turned me off... then the introduction of a lesbian romance. It wasn't graphic but the fact that the main character is so young as in never dated or had a relationship and then a relationship is started by a 25 year old woman who has been experiencing the NY lifestyle for a while. I felt Darcy was being taken advantage of by this "older" woman who was helping her spend ALL her money as well as initiating a physical relationship. This does turn around later when Lizzie is in a more financially blest existence but Darcy was so young...instead of just saying you're too young for me waiting for some additional maturity ... "drama" enters in..... Wish this had been labeled as GLT friendly/ or Adult content or something. The whole murder thing was so NOT what I want my kids to be reading and was so dark it reminded me of Lovely Bones which I HATED.

Afterworlds, by Scott Westerfeld is a strange amalgam of a book. It’s half a story of a young writer come to New York to write on the strength of her first YA novel and half the story she wrote, featuring a young girl who escapes terrorist attacks at her local airport by pretending to be dead…a little too convincingly. She finds herself in a sort of between life and death world, from which she is (eventually) able to come and go as she pleases.

The book seesaws between the mundane business of publishing (I am sure no first-time writer has it as easy as she does) and the horror-suspense of the Afterworld in a way that is surprisingly well balanced; each chapter moves the story along a little ways, sometimes in a connected way, mostly not. This is not as jarring a transition as you might imagine: Westerfeld is an excellent writer, and the character of each of the two protagonists is well-developed enough that you hardly notice how slow the book really is.

That was intended as praise. I like a book I can linger over.

Westerfeld is always an interesting YA writer, one who has his finger on the pulse on what is currently engaging readers.
Yet in comparison to the rest of the Westerfeld YA stable, Afterworlds seems really out of left field. It's partly a tribute, partly a send up of YA writing, publishing, emerging trends and the eternal quest of the market for something new"ish".

Afterworlds has something to say on so many levels. It is certainly a guide on "how to" write a YA novel. It speaks on the need to push the boundaries of what is acceptable in main stream YA writing, for example, sexualities.

The biggest disappointment was that the YA writing/publishing reveal in Afterworlds seemed, occasionally, so didactic and cynical it precluded enjoyment of both the narrative strands in the novel. I had a serial love/ hate/ love relationship with this book.

Wow. Two POVs: Darcy, the writer, and Lizzie the main character of Darcy's book.
I loved how Darcy's real life struggle weaves into her book. As a writer, I connected with the story on a deeper level. Waiting to be a published author, feeling like a fraud the entire time and wondering when everyone would figure it out is a truth I live with.
Lizzie's story held a bit of creepiness and fantasy that I loved. She deals with having survived a terrible terrorist attack and gaining her "shine" (seriously, you'll have to read it). She tests the limits of her powers and must decide how to use them. When she gives into the power, she must face who she becomes.
Both girls are real. Likeable. Heck, I wanted to hate Darcy for the whole having a book deal and getting a six figure advance at 18... but I couldn't, she was scared and unsure and... just like me.
In the end it came down to learning to be honest, to growing up.
I loved it.
A fabulous, well-written book! Another win for Scott Westerfeld.

I very much enjoyed reading this book. The growth of the main characters in their lives, especially as they learn from the decisions they make and the resulting consequences, reflected the experiences of myself and friends of mine in how we do things and then deal with it to the best we can. And writing about the issue of learning to trust, yourself and others, was fantastically done, with so many of the nuances and feelings that are experienced while living through it. I have enjoyed many, though not all of Scott Westerfeld's books, but this one is so good that I am considering re-reading the couple that I didn't get into to see if they didn't juice me or if I might have missed something. I highly recommend this book.

There are thousands upon thousands of good books without vulgar language and no sexual content or innuendos. This simply tells me the type of teachers reading this garbage and the poor students that have to read this. For some reason now vulgar language and content is the norm. To create a great story you need a great story, that is it.

Afterworlds by Scott Westerfeld is a different type of book. I enjoyed the two story lines, but the main characters were slightly dim witted at times. They are both very young and I suppose the choices they make are just living and learning. The editing was not great. Errors occurred throughout the book, such as on page 235: "ferraris are quiet safe". Of course, quiet should be quite. Scott Westerfeld should have great editing because he is such a well known author! I feel like the editor let him down. I was also bothered by the loose use of the phrase, "hooked up". It sounds like sex, but a lot of the time it just means kiss or make out. In a young adult book, it was annoying that this phrase was thrown around so much. I did enjoy the spookiness very much! At one point, the story became so creepy that I didn't want to read it right before going to sleep. Afterworlds is worth reading, just keep an open mind.

So I have never been interested in reading a book written by Scott Westerfeld, until I came across "Afterworlds". Now I know that it was the price of the book for .97 at a thrift store that I found interesting!
In my opinion Darcy's story dragged on and on which made her sections of the book so boring. Halfway through the book I stopped reading about Darcy and focused only on Lizzie!! Lizzie's story ROCKED!!
I truly wish Mr. Westerfeld would've written just about Lizzie and not Darcy. At the end of the book I did go back and finish reading Darcy's story, but it was a painful process.
If I could give stars for just Lizzie, it would be hands down 5 STARS!!
I am giving 3 stars for Darcy and that is really being kind for Scott's boring storytelling on her part.

I enjoyed reading Afterworlds. What Westerfeld has done with this novel is awesome. I loved reading about Lizzie’s life and her struggle to adapt to life as a published author and life as an adult, alternating chapters with her first novel. When I first started reading I wasn’t sure I was going to like the alternating chapters, but as I got further into the story I began to enjoy it more and more as I followed Lizzie’s struggle with copyedits and then read the sections of her novel with which she had been having such issues. I enjoyed the meta aspect of reading a novel that contains a character writing a novel and the novel as it’s being written. I recommend Afterworlds for fans of YA and fans of paranormal genre fiction.

For more in depth reviews and recommendations visit my blog.

Overall a very interesting read. The constant back and forth switching of perspectives can be a little disorienting, but about 10 chapters in it becomes natural.

It is short of a perfect score because the ending was too abrupt. Too short compared to the rest of the book. In comparison, after the 25% mark the story feels drawn out and borderline pointless. That being said, Westerfeld's natural wit and smooth writing style keeps the flow from page to page, and eventually it solidified back to an awesome read.

I started reading the book throughout my last weeks of sophomore year and I HAD to turn it in. I got really confused until I started reading more and more. I HAD to turn it in the last week and I got half way through it, so I asked my mom if I could buy it since she owns me a book. I really can't wait until the sequel!!! I would recommend this book to those who like a twisty and romancy books.

Two novels in one, good reading aside from the lack of dramatic tension. The story of a young novelist (every other chapter is her novel), who leads a charmed life. Really? An 18 year old on her own in NYC, and she doesn't seem to have any problems? Boring and unrealistic.

The story was interesting and kept me engaged. I read at bedtime and it took me several evenings before the flipping back and forth from reality to afterworld happened in each chapter. Once I figured that out, I really enjoyed the story. It was fresh and had well developed characters. I'm guessing there might be a sequel to it, perhaps.

I loved loved loved the Afterworlds chapters. The chapters about the author Darcy, I could have done without. She didn't resonate with me and I found her to be annoying. It reached a certain point where I was reading the Darcy chapters just so I could get to the Afterworlds chapters!

Having read Westerfield's Uglies series, I was hoping that I would devour this book as I had those. Unfortunately, this one did not quite manage to suck me in and make me feel like I was a part of the story. While I liked the different narrative voices - having seen the convention used in Faulkner and Piccoult before, I was thrown by the use of it in this work. It seemed bloated to me, as if there could have been some judicious editing, especially when it started to bog down in the middle. It was a good read, nonetheless, though I just wish it had lived up to the expectations I set for it.

Afterworlds doesn't have quite the same additive quality of much of Westerfields other work, probably because he glossed over some of the most interesting issues he brought up (e.g. cultural appropriation). Still, I didn't want to put it down!

While the concept was interesting, incorporating two plot lines in one book results in a huge lack of character development, particularly in the paranormal plot line, and to be honest, a lack of an interesting plot in the other story. Definitely a disappointing read for me.

Loved the parallel stories. Both were great and perfectly entwined. It's been a while since I couldn't put a book down and surprised myself how quickly I made it through the book! Already wishing for more!!

This book was absolutely amazing. Scott Westerfeld managed to write two books in one, creating two very different voices. He gave us great insight into the making of a novel and with it, boundless entertainment. Five Stars.

Not Scott Westerfeld's best, but still okay. Having read some of Westerfeld'd best work (The Leviathan series, The Risen Empire series), I was left wanting with Afterworlds. Interesting concept - a young writer creates an alternate world with her words - but as a whole I found it predicable and a little cliche as a young adult novel. For me, Westerfeld is at his best in the young adult genre with something like the Leviathan series - something less pedestrian in a crowded market.

A Guide to my Book Rating System:

1 star = The wood pulp would have been better utilized as toilet paper.
2 stars = Don't bother, clean your bathroom instead.
3 stars = Wasn't a waste of time, but it was time wasted.
4 stars = Good book, but not life altering.
5 stars = This book changed my world in at least some small way.

This book is a beautiful combination of real life and fantasy. It is so grounded in the reality of coming of age while still getting to explore other worlds. Each character is interesting and deep and the two store lines balance each other out. One provides the lighter side while the other the trill and horror. I definitely recommend it.

Afterworlds by Scott Westerfeld is one of the most anticipated books of the year. It's told in a dual storyline format, which is interesting, but it suffers because one is more interesting than the other. The novel is certainly creative, but in the end, I can't say it lived up to the hype surrounding it. Worth the read, though.

See more of my reviews on The YA Kitten!

Afterworlds is set to be one of the BIG titles of fall 2014. Bestselling author so well-known his name is bigger on his book's cover than the title of the book? Check. Hyped storyline promising something YA fans haven't seen before? Check. Marketing push so massive I ended up with three copies of this book? Cheeeeeeeeeck. There's so much readers will want to love about Afterworlds and while I do love a few small things about it, this is generally a disappointment of a doorstopper.

It's hard enough to find books about LGBT girls that aren't focused on their sexual identity. Have fun finding a novel about a POC LGBT girl whose story isn't focused solely on her racial-ethnic or sexual identities. But Afterworlds? It has one! Darcy is bisexual and Indian and literally the best thing about Afterworlds (and I mean both the novel and the novel-within-the-novel of the same title). Her serious disconnect from her Hindu culture may leave some readers wanting because they'd prefer to see a girl in touch with her cultural identity, but it works out because that disconnect is something that can happen to girls like her whose families leave their home countries to live in the US. If there's one thing that made seeing this book through all 600 pages of pain, Darcy is it.

But other than her? Whoo boy, did I get grumpy at this book. If I were able to get curse words past the the store censors, this review would be laden with f-bombs like I'd stubbed my toe on this book after it destroyed my room, but alas, I cannot. Just insert f-bombs wherever it seems like one will fit and you'll get the gist.

Since Afterworlds is two books in one, it's easy to divide the stories into two and look at them separately, but it's necessary to look at how they function together at the same time because of how they obstruct one another. Westerfield's story of Darcy and Darcy's story of Lizzie are told in alternating chapters; Darcy's life is narrated in third-person and her novel is narrated in first-person, so you're not going to lose track of what you're reading when. The problem arises because of how different these stories are in content and tone as well as the choice to tell these two stories in alternating chapters. Because they're so unlike one another and your experience with these stories is constantly being interrupted, it's difficult to get emotionally invested in either story. This makes Afterworlds feel much longer than it is, which is a feat in itself considering this is 608 pages long. 608 pages!

Darcy's half of the story is simply boring. Anyone who writes knows the life of a writer isn't glamorous and exciting because most of it is sitting somewhere typing on a keyboard and avoiding head injuries when writer's block makes you smash your head onto your desk. Though Darcy is a great character, she can't carry her own story. Her new life, romance with fellow author Imogen Gray, and "adventures" in New York City have no life to them, leaving this half of the book an aimless, floating mess. Westerfield needed to do something special to make the boring life of writers worth reading about and he didn't manage it here. Anyone who knows a bit about the publishing process will find nothing new here because the process is glanced over.

Meanwhile, Darcy's novel has a killer first chapter and then the rest of her book is so undercooked it could kill a man if it were meat he ate. Relationships between characters (especially Lizzie and her love interest Yamaraj) are underdeveloped, things simply happen with no emotional weight (perhaps this is because off the story's fractured structure), and it's as boring of a read as Darcy's own wandering life story. I honestly can't see what all the fictional people in-book see in Darcy's story. This all might have been okay had the chapters in the book been part of Darcy's work-in-progress and not the final/close-to-final product, but it's implied the chapters we see are the real thing.

Westerfield is not the first to write both a book and then another book written by the fictional main character of the other book. Meg Cabot did that years ago with her Princess Diaries series and Ransom My Heart "written" by Mia Thermopolis; others did it before her. With a story like he's telling, there's so much room for experimentation! Putting both books in one as an omnibus with Darcy's story/bits of her earlier drafts as the first book and then her finished product as the second, publishing them simultaneously as two separate books, offering them separately but offering a good deal if readers want to buy them together in a boxed set,... The list goes on and on. The choice he went with--to have the two stories alternate so they constantly interrupt one another--is perhaps the worst thing about this book. Had it been put together different, I'd be giving this book at least two stars. Maybe three.

Regardless of its quality, Afterworlds is probably going to do decently well thanks to the marketing push and because writer-readers like me who want this to give them a little bit of an inside view of publishing will eat it up. On one hand, I don't want to recommend it because neither book in here is good, but on the other hand, POC bisexual girl as the main character! It always sucks when the diverse books suck. Maybe buy it and read each "book" separately? You won't miss anything by skipping the Lizzie chapters and reading only the Darcy ones first. Choose your poison, I suppose.