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599 pages, Hardcover
First published September 23, 2014
The story follows Darcy Patel to New York City after she lands a publishing contract for a novel she wrote for NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month) during her senior year of high school. As she becomes acquainted with the city’s charms and pitfalls, Darcy revises her manuscript and learns to navigate the publishing process along the way. ...
In addition to providing an insider’s look at the publishing industry, Afterworlds offers a second entire plotline: relayed in alternating chapters is Darcy’s book-in-progress, a paranormal thriller about a teenager named Lizzie who survives a terrorist attack by thinking her way into a mysterious “afterworld” between life and death. While in this limbo she embarks on myriad adventures, acting as a guide for lost souls and unsettled ghosts.
Darcy Patel has won the writing jackpot: $300,000 for a two-book contract for her NaNoWriMo novel, Afterworlds, written during her senior year of high school. So instead of going to college, upon graduation she moves to New York, determined to live the glamorous lifestyle of the full-time author.The catch-phrase on the cover of this book is "Darcy writes the words. Lizzie lives them." Readers get both the story of Darcy's first year in NYC, and the published version of her novel. So it's two! two! two books in one. And wow, does it feel like it. It's 600 pages long, and weighs 2-1/2 pounds (over a kilogram!). Every other chapter alternates between Darcy and Lizzie, which seemed interesting to me at first, but by the end was just distracting. Someday if I decide to reread this, I'm going to read each book separately.
Lizzie Scofield nearly dies during a terrorist attack at the Denver airport -- and discovers that she is a psychopomp, someone who can lead newly-dead souls to their proper afterworld. But the "flipside" is a tricky place, occupied not only by the handsome and helpful Yama, but also by other spirit guides who have their own agendas.
Can I skip this chapter? Will the book still make sense if I don't read the whole 'Afterworlds' part of the book?
Even in that awful moment, I could see that he was beautiful. He shone somehow, as if sunlight were breaking through the mist, just for him. He was one of those boys with a perfect jaw, who looks stunning when he's clean shaven, but just that little bit more handsome with the barest shadow of stubble.
Afterworlds, page 24
His lips pressed against mine, and a wave of heat floored into me.
Afterworlds, page 31
“Just numbers?” Nisha snorted, and her face took on a look of adamantine certainty. “The universe is math on fire, Patel. That’s my faith.”