After Obsession
by
Carrie Jones
&
Steven E. Wedel
Connect and buy a coopy:
Aimee and Alan have secrets. Both teens have unusual pasts and abilities they prefer to keep hidden. But when they meet each other, in a cold Maine town, they can't stop their secrets from spilling out. Strange things have been happening lately, and they both feel that something-or someone- is haunting them. They're wrong. Despite their unusual history and powers, it's neither Aimee nor Alan who is truly haunted. It's Alan's cousin Courtney who, in a desperate plea to find her missing father, has invited a demon into her life-and into her body. Only together can Aimee and Alan exorcise the ghost. And they have to move quickly, before it devours not just Courtney but everything around her. Filled with heart-pounding romance, paranormal activity, and rich teen characters to love-and introducing an exciting new YA voice, Steven Wedel-this novel is exactly what Carrie Jones fans have been waiting for. Meet your next obsession.
REVIEW:
I was both nervous and intrigued when I began After Obsession. The cover and idea for it won out over my concern in the end and I actually ended up enjoying this book. I highly disliked Carrie Jone's debut novel Need, however, so I think that's where most of my apprehension came from, not from After Obsession itself. I will say that half way through the novel seemed to lose its steam. It all tied together nicely in the end, but I would have loved a bit more solidity with the plot, the character's actions, and the writing.
I think we're all forgetting the other contributor to After Obsession. Steven E. Wedel is the real reason why this book didn't bomb. He didn't need Carrie's help other than for the publicity. He brought a fantastic male voice and personality alive in Alan, where Carrie's Aimee sometimes felt exactly like her last character, although I will admit that I liked Aimee a lot more than Zara. Her personality was still somewhat flat and one-dimensional, but she had way more substance. Something else that irritated me was the ease with which everything happened. Everything was too easy for her as far as the plot went. When she needed a solution to a problem it was suddenly there. Like when Mrs. Hessler kept popping up out of nowhere and handing her newspaper clippings and books - that was one of the things that annoyed me the most.
I'd give Carrie Jones a 2/5 STARS for her part of After Obsession.
I'd give Steven E. Wedel 5/5 STARS for his part of After Obsession.
Combined I'd say it was a solid 4!
Alan, on the other hand, was lovely. I loved him instantly, and my love for him only grew. He was loyal, strong, attractive, and a proud Native American. I actually found his love for Aimee and their attraction overall surprisingly sweet. There was no lacking in romance, though there wasn't much buildup before they were in love. There was a teeny case of Insta-love, but in the end their relationship came together. Aimee was simply nice. There wasn't much too her, and I wished, much like I had in Need, that Carrie Jones would push past whatever prevents her from creating actual characters. Human beings aren't one thing, we're many, and I wish I could have seen more in Aimee.
The paranormal aspects were surprisingly entertaining. More than once I found myself completely lost and submerged in the eerie world of After Obsession. The subtle angry and negative changes in the town made for a very creepy read. I do wish, once again, there had been just a little bit more "scary." What I really loved was the anticipation. I was always on edge, wondering what would happen next, and who would do what - all of that, combined with Courtney's possession, made for a great read.
Overall this was a pleasantly eerie and romantic twist on a Young-Adult ghost story. I would recommend this.
I think we're all forgetting the other contributor to After Obsession. Steven E. Wedel is the real reason why this book didn't bomb. He didn't need Carrie's help other than for the publicity. He brought a fantastic male voice and personality alive in Alan, where Carrie's Aimee sometimes felt exactly like her last character, although I will admit that I liked Aimee a lot more than Zara. Her personality was still somewhat flat and one-dimensional, but she had way more substance. Something else that irritated me was the ease with which everything happened. Everything was too easy for her as far as the plot went. When she needed a solution to a problem it was suddenly there. Like when Mrs. Hessler kept popping up out of nowhere and handing her newspaper clippings and books - that was one of the things that annoyed me the most.
I'd give Carrie Jones a 2/5 STARS for her part of After Obsession.
I'd give Steven E. Wedel 5/5 STARS for his part of After Obsession.
Combined I'd say it was a solid 4!
Alan, on the other hand, was lovely. I loved him instantly, and my love for him only grew. He was loyal, strong, attractive, and a proud Native American. I actually found his love for Aimee and their attraction overall surprisingly sweet. There was no lacking in romance, though there wasn't much buildup before they were in love. There was a teeny case of Insta-love, but in the end their relationship came together. Aimee was simply nice. There wasn't much too her, and I wished, much like I had in Need, that Carrie Jones would push past whatever prevents her from creating actual characters. Human beings aren't one thing, we're many, and I wish I could have seen more in Aimee.
The paranormal aspects were surprisingly entertaining. More than once I found myself completely lost and submerged in the eerie world of After Obsession. The subtle angry and negative changes in the town made for a very creepy read. I do wish, once again, there had been just a little bit more "scary." What I really loved was the anticipation. I was always on edge, wondering what would happen next, and who would do what - all of that, combined with Courtney's possession, made for a great read.
Overall this was a pleasantly eerie and romantic twist on a Young-Adult ghost story. I would recommend this.
*I won a copy of this book @ My Reading Pile
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