Review Detail

THE AFTERLANDS is a satisfying conclusion to the Infinity Courts trilogy. This book picks up when Nami is regenerating and the second wave has been gaining ground and destroying Residents. Nami pleads to try to change her sister and the military's minds, but she finds that no one is really willing to listen. She sets off on a journey to find her friends and see whether she can help to balance the tides.

What I loved: This is such a unique premise, and I love the way things continue to grow and expand in the Courts as this story is told. This book is quite action-packed and picks up quickly from the start. Nami is adjusting, thinking, and considering as tries to find her way in this constantly changing world.

There are some really strong themes around the black-and-white good-and-evil type thinking, striving for peace, and the challenges of war. While the humans have determined that all Residents are evil, Nami sees the middle ground and wants to find a way to achieve peace where everyone can co-exist. This is a particularly difficult challenge when everyone is ready for war and the black-and-white thinking that allows them to do what they need to do.

The characters are really strong in this series, primarily Nami whose perspective we are primarily shown, but also her friends, her sister, and even Ophelia. The romance that has been building continues in this book a bit as well. Nami has grown a lot since the start of the series, and the conclusion felt like a culmination of her growth and maturity.

The end was ultimately satisfying though a bit bittersweet. This has been a strong trilogy, and readers will enjoy reaching the end and seeing how it all turns out. It would be helpful to have read the first two books right before this one, as there are a lot of details that would be great to remember.

Final verdict: THE AFTERLANDS is a satisfying conclusion to a strong dystopian YA trilogy that I highly recommend for people who enjoy strong world-building, compelling themes, and fantastic characters.