Review: Hereafter (Shadowlands, #2) by Kate Brian

Title: Hereafter (Shadowlands, #2)
Author: Kate Brian
Rating: ★★★★★ (5/5 stars)
Hardcover, 320 Pages
Published October 2013
Book #2 of 3 in the Shadowlands Trilogy
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Summary: Rory Miller thought her life was over when a serial killer set his sights on her and forced her into witness protection. But a fresh start on Juniper Landing Island was exactly what she and her family needed. For the first time in years she and her sister hang out at the beach, gossip about boys, and party together. She's also made friends with a local clique--including a magnetic and mysterious boy named Tristan. But Rory's world is about to change again. Picturesque Juniper Landing isn't what it seems. The truth about the swirling fog that rolls in each morning, the bridge that leads to nowhere, and those beautiful locals who seem to watch Rory's every move is more terrifying than being hunted by Steven Nell. And all Rory ever wanted was the truth. Even if it means learning that she can never go home again. 

Once again, KATE BRIAN HAS SUCCESSFULLY SCREWED WITH MY MIND. Between her and Kate Karyus Quinn, I think I'm going to get some serious damage done to my brain. When I read the first book in this trilogy, Shadowlands (and you can read my review of it by clicking here!), I was instantly intrigued with the whole horror and serial killer and strange island pieces of the book. And the ending to that book was such a cliff hanger that I thought I could barely take it.

Well, needless to say, this book stunned me just as much as (if not more than) the first book did! Hereafter got right into answering questions that I was stuck with after the painstaking cliffhanger at the end of Shadowlands, which I really liked--I wasn't left in the dark for half of the book wondering when I would learn anything of what I needed to know. If you haven't read Shadowlands (Shadowlands, #1), please skip the rest of this paragraph and move onto the next one because there are some spoilers! Excuse me for a second--everyone on this freaking island is DEAD? That concept alone was enough to shake me down to my core, being that I have a crippling fear of death and all. Also, the fact that Rory and her friends were responsible for ushering the souls living in this town onto their next journey (when they didn't even know they were dead in the first place!) was so creepy and bizarre and insane, and I loved every single second of it.

Now, let's talk about this ending, which I will NOT spoil for any of you--you need to take out the book from your nearest library and read it right away!

The ending of this book made me lose my flipping mind, I honestly couldn't take it. Brian screwed with my head and broke my heart so precisely and deeply that I wonder if I'll ever heal, let alone have enough mental and emotional stability to read the final book in the trilogy, Endless, which comes out later this month. (Spoiler alert: I probably won't be stable but I'll read it anyway because the first two books in this trilogy may have screwed with my mind, but they were absolutely, positively amazing.)

I mean, what? I was not expecting 95% of the stuff that got thrown at me in the last couple of chapters. Every new piece of information was like a stab to my heart (and my poor, frazzled mind) and I just couldn't believe that I lucked out and found such an awesome trilogy that I've already fallen totally and completely in love with. I already recommended it to Amber 10 times! 

I have nothing bad to say about this book. Not a single, solitary thing. Five stars all the way, and I'd give it five hundred stars if I could.

Hats definitely need to come off to Kate Brian for this one for taking my AP classes, scholarly, reasonable, logical brain and managing to snap it right off its little brain stem cord thing and render me useless for the upcoming school year. I'll be sure to let my teachers know that the Shadowlands trilogy screwing with my mind is the reason that I can't do any more school work, ever.

All in all, Hereafter was a great, mind-blowing book that captured my attention from start to finish, and I really can't wait to get my hands on the final book of the trilogy, Endless, which will be coming out soon!