Radiance by Alyson Noel

Title: Radiance

Author: Alyson Noel

Series: The Radiance Series
Pages: 192
Publisher: Square Fish
Reading Level: Young Adult

Publish Date: August 31, 2010.

Rating: .5

Cover Rating: .9

Welcome to the Here & Now

Riley Bloom left her sister, Ever, in the world of the living and crossed the bridge into the afterlife—a place called Here, where time is always Now. Riley and her dog, Buttercup, have been reunited with her parents and are just settling into a nice, relaxing death when she's summoned before The Council. They let her in on a secret—the afterlife isn't just an eternity of leisure; Riley has to work. She's been assigned a job, Soul Catcher, and a teacher, Bodhi, a curious boy she can't quite figure out.

Riley, Bodhi, and Buttercup return to earth for her first assignment, a Radiant Boy who's been haunting a castle in England for centuries. Many Soul Catchers have tried to get him to cross the bridge and failed. But he's never met Riley...

Taschima:

I think I found a great new series with tons of potential, and that series starts with Radiance.

Riley is Ever's little brat of a sister, or so she seems. The thing is that she didn't realize just how much of a brat she really was when she was alive (and a lil bit while dead). Once she dies, even know she continues to "live", the game is over. She will never be 13. She will never get to be a teenage girl. She will never have breasts! Her world as she knows it is over... or is it? That is what she will have to find out in a place called Here, where time is always Now. Riley is going to have to learn to "live" in the afterlife and do it fast because her destiny has already been drawn.

This book is so cute! Starting with Riley, continuing with her friend the proclaimed "dork guy", and ending with Buttercup (the golden retriever).

Riley is a blast of a character, and I believe we have only met part of her. We met the strong, smart mouth, kind of annoying Riley. I have yet to meet her deeper side, but I can't wait for that. I hope that even though she is dead there will be at least character development in the next novels. But believe me, she is a treat indeed. I believe I laughed a couple of times with her.

This whole book felt a lil bit like a first chapter. Then again, the book is less than 200 pages... TOO short. But so entertaining. It kind of reminds me of Evermore a bit, not the story line at all (Ever and Riley? Totally different people, thank god!) but the potential to be a great series. I only can hope it won't let me down as The Immortals Series has (though it is doing a sort of comeback)...

Oh and did I mention she got to keep the dog? A great companion.

What else should you know... Oh, I was a little confused about the whole "time" thing, because it doesn't make sense how time can't exist, but oh well, to each it's own. Also the destiny Riley is chosen to follow? Too cool. A catcher of souls, reminds me a little of Bleach (anime) xD *I can hear your thoughts, stop calling me a geek, which I am, but still*.

And finally, this book doesn't have a "big bad", it's pretty much Riley in the after life and what she is up to there. A side story which I foresee will continue to have a stronger plot on the second book.