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A review by skelleycat
Chasing Before by Lenore Appelhans
3.0
Last year I read and enjoyed Level Two (renamed The Memory of After), so I was excited to be approved for Chasing Before on Edelweiss. And in true Kelley fashion, I whet my appetite for the series with the recent novella, The Best Things in Death, which reminded me of some of the things I really appreciated about this series. So how did Chasing Before measure up?
There were themes I really enjoyed.
This is the only YA book I’ve read so far that really incorporates Christian religion in a way that I experienced it as a teen; it’s not a Christian series, but one of the main characters is a dedicated Christian and there are things like youth group and the idea of “saving yourself for marriage” and things of that nature. Things I grew up with, and so could easily relate. Having a crush on the boy who leads the church’s praise and worship team — handsome, talented, and a role model — is something I’m um (ahem) familiar with.
Appelhans’ version of the afterlife evolves in this book, moving on from a place where everyone just lies in these pods and relives their — and others’ — memories constantly. I was eager to find out what awaited Felicia in Level Three, and it was not really at all like I had expected. We saw some interesting new and familiar faces, and Felicia was posed with a very interesting challenge. That was the main thing that kept me reading, because just like Felicia, I need to KNOW, MAN!
But sadly, this book frustrated and disappointed me, too.
I was impressed by Neil’s resolve to stick with his firm religious beliefs, and I know that is one thing that impressed Felicia, too. But when things obviously changed, and he was stubbornly sticking to ideals that had no more bearing, it drove both Felicia and me crazy with irritation!
I also had a hard time believing that one level of the afterlife would be a friggin school and that you would eventually have to pick a career that you’d do for — what, the rest of eternity? But between Neil being stupidly stubborn and Felicia clinging to him for some unknown reason, I found myself just sighing a lot.
I wish there had been more of the mystery solving and interesting parts, and less of the focus on their tenuous relationship. I’m still curious to see how this whole series plays out, so I’m hoping this is just a case of second book syndrome. It wasn’t terrible, but I think just the good things were overshadowed by the annoying things — for me.
There were themes I really enjoyed.
This is the only YA book I’ve read so far that really incorporates Christian religion in a way that I experienced it as a teen; it’s not a Christian series, but one of the main characters is a dedicated Christian and there are things like youth group and the idea of “saving yourself for marriage” and things of that nature. Things I grew up with, and so could easily relate. Having a crush on the boy who leads the church’s praise and worship team — handsome, talented, and a role model — is something I’m um (ahem) familiar with.
Appelhans’ version of the afterlife evolves in this book, moving on from a place where everyone just lies in these pods and relives their — and others’ — memories constantly. I was eager to find out what awaited Felicia in Level Three, and it was not really at all like I had expected. We saw some interesting new and familiar faces, and Felicia was posed with a very interesting challenge. That was the main thing that kept me reading, because just like Felicia, I need to KNOW, MAN!
But sadly, this book frustrated and disappointed me, too.
I was impressed by Neil’s resolve to stick with his firm religious beliefs, and I know that is one thing that impressed Felicia, too. But when things obviously changed, and he was stubbornly sticking to ideals that had no more bearing, it drove both Felicia and me crazy with irritation!
Spoiler
When you get to the afterlife and realize that it’s nothing like your religion told you, and there’s no reason to stick with your dogmas, why the eff would you STILL be clinging to the whole “we can’t have sex or stay in the same room until we’re married” bit? I mean, are you really planning to get married in the afterlife, and if so, wtf are you waiting for? YOU’RE ALREADY DEAD, DUDE.I also had a hard time believing that one level of the afterlife would be a friggin school and that you would eventually have to pick a career that you’d do for — what, the rest of eternity? But between Neil being stupidly stubborn and Felicia clinging to him for some unknown reason, I found myself just sighing a lot.
I wish there had been more of the mystery solving and interesting parts, and less of the focus on their tenuous relationship. I’m still curious to see how this whole series plays out, so I’m hoping this is just a case of second book syndrome. It wasn’t terrible, but I think just the good things were overshadowed by the annoying things — for me.