The Memory of After by lenore appelhans Series: The Memory Chronicles #1
Published by Simon and Schuster on April 9, 2013
Genres: Dystopian, Paranormal, Young Adult
Format: eBook
Source: Free read on pulseit.com
Goodreads
Previously published as Level 2.
In this gripping exploration of a futuristic afterlife, a teen discovers that death is just the beginning.
Since her untimely death the day before her eighteenth birthday, Felicia Ward has been trapped in Level 2, a stark white afterlife located between our world and the next. Along with her fellow drones, Felicia passes the endless hours reliving memories of her time on Earth and mourning what she’s lost—family, friends, and Neil, the boy she loved.
Then a girl in a neighboring chamber is found dead, and nobody but Felicia recalls that she existed in the first place. When Julian—a dangerously charming guy Felicia knew in life—comes to offer Felicia a way out, Felicia learns the truth: If she joins the rebellion to overthrow the Morati, the angel guardians of Level 2, she can be with Neil again.
Suspended between Heaven and Earth, Felicia finds herself at the center of an age-old struggle between good and evil. As memories from her life come back to haunt her, and as the Morati hunt her down, Felicia will discover it’s not just her own redemption at stake… but the salvation of all mankind.
Julie’s Review
I would give this 3.5 stars. I really liked some parts, especially the beginning. Something would happen and shortly after the event no one else would remember. Her friend disappeared and no one else remembered she existed. Later into the book we learn they are in Level 2, which is sort of an in between plane after Earth (level 1) and what comes next. We learn that Felicia is the only one who can stop what the angels are doing, and later learn why she is so important to the whole set up of level 2. While we relive parts of her life through her memories, we finally find out what past secrets she is running from and why she considers herself to be such a terrible person. There are some neat twists, realizations and truths in the end of this book that were really cool, but I felt it all happened too fast. The big event that is supposed to take down the angels should have been more drawn out and detailed, but it was very quick and I thought to myself “wait, what just happened?” It kind of felt incomplete, like there should have been more. But, it was fast paced and that made for a quick fun read. I’m glad I got to read it for free on pulseit.com.
I also wanted to comment on the title change. The author mentioned the reason for the change was people getting confused with the title having a “2” in it, thinking there is an earlier book. Personally I think “Level 2” was a much better title, because “The Memory of After” doesn’t quite fit the story as well. Yes it deals with memories, but the “after” part doesn’t quite make sense to me. It is a bit more cryptic. I guess it could be that they are in the after life, but then wouldn’t it be “in after” or “during after”?
Here are some quotes that stuck with me:
I wonder sometimes, though, does this collective rating of memories add value to our existence here? Do certain parts of people’s pasts deserve to be remembered while others are forgotten?
The point is to keep trying new things, meeting new people, visiting new places. Once you settle into a rut, no matter how fun that rut may seem, you stagnate. You might as well be dead.
Have you read this book? What did you think? Let us know in the comments.
