Afterglow

Gr 9 Up—Readers will not be able to keep up with the events in this finale if they haven't read Wildefire (2011) and Embers & Echoes (2012, both S & S). Ashline, 16, is attempting to finally put an end to the plans of Colt, a trickster god who ultimately wants to destroy the world. He also wants to bring back Pele, who was split into three separate souls as punishment for her ill deeds, and Ashline and her sisters are his target. If he kills them in just the right way, he can save his lady love. Ashline and several other gods of various pantheons are fighting to stay alive and to stop Colt from restoring all of the evil gods who have been banished to the netherworld. The basic idea of the book seems awesome, especially bringing in Polynesian gods and other non-Western pantheons. Unfortunately, the execution is a bit shaky and the characters are not fully realized. Keeping track of all the plot twists, and ignoring the gaping holes, makes it difficult to suspend disbelief and fully dive into the tale. The ending makes everything even more difficult to swallow, as the story is written from Ashline's point of view but the final chapter is set in the future with her ancestor using her "published novels" (this trilogy) in order to best Colt for the last time. All in all, a great idea but disappointing in execution. Buy this one for fans of the first two books.—Saleena L. Davidson, South Brunswick Public Library, Monmouth Junction, NJ