YA Weekend: World After by Susan Ee

World After by Susan Ee

Genre: Young Adult Paranormal Fantasy

Series: Book 2 of Penryn & the End of Days

Publisher: Skyscape

Date of Publication: November 19, 2013

Author Information: Website | Twitter

Earlier this year I read Angelfall and was very impressed, more than I would’ve expected to be by a young adult paranormal novel which initially appeared quite typical on the surface. Featuring a teenaged female protagonist in a post-apocalyptic world ravaged by invading angels, I figured it would do for an entertaining read, but didn’t think it would go beyond covering old ground. I was mistaken, of course! I ended up loving Angelfall for the high quality of the storytelling and fantastic characters, and thank goodness I didn’t discover the book until late summer because that meant much less of a wait for World After, this much anticipated sequel.

The story picks up where Angelfall left off, after the rebels’ attack on the angel stronghold. Penryn had spent most of the last book trying to find her sister and ultimately succeeded in her quest, though little Paige has suffered much at the hands of the enemy and is no longer the girl she used to be. Driven out by the other human survivors that consider her a monster, Paige takes off, leaving Penryn to try and track her down…again.

Meanwhile, the angel Raffe was left scarred in more ways than one in the aftermath of the explosive assault on the Aerie, still hunting his wings that were severed and taken away from him. Penryn is crushed knowing that he still thinks she’s dead, but she has more pressing things on her mind. While working for the resistance and looking for Paige, she discovers a nefarious plot at hand.

After reading World After, I still think Angelfall was a better book, though only by a small margin. The first book was a great debut that set some pretty high standards, and I knew it was going to be tough to beat. Nevertheless, the series continues to impress me with this sequel, which shows no sign of the plot slowing down. That’s what I’ve been loving so much about this story, the fact that there is very little filler and no tedious expounding of the characters’ emotional hangups or pointless dragging out of the romance. Less is more sometimes, and we all know a relationship is what’s shaping up between Penryn and Raffe after all; I didn’t need the extra bells and whistles to still have a great time anticipating the moment when the two of them will be reunited again.

So much of my enjoyment for a book depends on how much I take to the main character, and I think that is the key to why I’m a such fan. In a genre where topics like survival in the post-apocalyptic world (and even angels) have been done six ways to Sunday, Penryn is what makes this series stand out. She is a take-charge leader and a fighter, and the best part is that she is consistent, not switching from a tough girl one moment to a shrinking violet the next. She’s also sassy, but not in an over-confident or obnoxious kind of way. Of course, she is not without her problems, but what’s important is that she doesn’t dwell on them or whine about the things she knows she cannot change.

Basically, Penryn feels like a real person just doing her best to stay alive in a difficult situation, though the events of this book definitely tests her mettle. While she may be resilient, she is not dismissive of her own pain or that of others’. There are some very heart-wrenching moments when Penryn sees what her sister has become and has to struggle to accept her. Indeed, what chance does the human race have, when people are turning on their own, especially on those who have endured the worst? It will also be interesting now to see how Penryn will respond to her deepening feelings towards Raffe. In my experience, nothing changes a YA heroine faster than a burgeoning romance, and here’s hoping Penryn remains the strong female protagonist I know and love!