Review :: The Reckless Afterlife of Harriet Stoker :: Lauren James

What if death is only the beginning?
When Harriet Stoker dies falling from a balcony in a long-abandoned building, she discovers a world of ghosts with magical powers – shape-shifting, hypnosis, or even the ability to possess the living. As she learns more about their community, Harriet is willing to do anything to unleash her own power, even if it means destroying everyone around her. But when all of eternity is at stake, the afterlife can be a dangerous place to make an enemy.
Because who knows what grudges people have been holding onto for millennia, just waiting for a reckless girl to give them the chance to get vengeance.

I read a lot of books that I love, but I have to admit that there aren’t very many that surprise me. The Reckless Afterlife of Harriet Stoker by Lauren James was one of those few! This paranormal YA fantasy novel is fun and creepy, and has whole load of unexpected twists and turns, and clever revelations.

The story is told from the third person POV with the focus mostly – but not always – on Harriet. In between chapters there are other snippets of the story from a mysterious narrator. I love this feeling of there being something bigger than the characters are aware of, or something, and the creepy sense it gives of them being watched from the unknown – I feel like it really adds to the atmosphere and helped draw me even further into the story.

I also loved the cast of this one – there are so many wonderful character in here, and I really enjoyed getting to know them as their backstories unrolled and Harriet learned more about them.

Overall I just adored this – it hooked me right away, it was hard to put down, and i have been thinking about it since I finished. If you are looking for something smart and sassy, a bit creepy and really unique I can’t recommend it highly enough. Let me know if you’ve read it what you thought – it’s one of those books I can’t wait to talk to other people about!

xo Bron
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The Reckless Afterlife of Harriet Stoker by Lauren James
Out now from Walker Books
Source: ARC sent to me by the team at Walker Books (thank you!) All views are my own.
Category: Paranormal (ghost) fantasy YA
Format: Paperback (432 pages)
RRP: $18.99

The Reckless Afterlife of Harriet Stoker on Goodreads
Find Lauren James online here