Hey there! I've got a book recommendation for you today. For those who like to read YA fiction--this is for you. For those who like speculative fiction--this is for you. For those who don't like either of those things, this is for you too, because this novel has something for everyone.
Audrey is dead. And her
afterlife is not what she expected.
She has no memories of
her life before, and now she’s told that her afterlife assignment is to hunt
demons. Throw into the mix an attractive trainer for whom Audrey develops
feelings, and matters are complicated indeed.
As a huntress, Audrey
is expected to wield weapons and fight off the minions of Satan, yet she’s
never fought anything and doesn’t know what she’s doing. She must depend upon and
trust her trainers, mentors, and ultimately God, to lead her in the right
direction.
Huntress is the first book in the Life After Series, and I’m already looking forward to the second
book. Although I was pulled in to the story initially by Hall’s exquisite
writing and the sheer adventure of Audrey’s journey, by the end of the novel I
was really thinking about the reality of heaven. What will our afterlife be
like? What age will we be in heaven? Will my dog be there? Will I have deep,
philosophical conversations with my Lord?
Hall handles the unknown
with a reverent uncertainty while maintaining the integrity of the plot—the archetypal
“hero’s quest” with a twist. Young adults will enjoy this for the rich
characters, the otherworldly dimension of the afterlife, and the adventurous
quest for righteousness over evil, but older audiences will appreciate the
outstanding writing (far superior to most YA fiction), the complex character
emotions and conflicts, and the contemplation of their own afterlife—an outcome
we shall all experience one day.
I highly recommend
reading Huntress—even if you aren’t a
fan of speculative or YA fiction. It may share action and adventure with the
likes of the Hunger Games books, but
in the Life After Series the stakes and
end games are real. Huntress will
have you wondering about and hoping for the real life after this one.
About Julie Hall:
Julie Hall was a late blooming reader, but once captivated, writing became her dream.
Going the practical route in college she earned a business degree from the University of Michigan. After school, she worked in marketing and publicity for both television and film, until she’d had enough of selling other people’s creative expressions.
She miraculously convinced her dashingly handsome husband that having ten years of experience mentoring youth, the idea of quitting her job to write a young-adult novel was the sensible thing to do.
Since then she’s become a puppy mama to a goldendoodle named Bear, and an actual mother to her adopted daughter.
Her writing is inspired by God, who is the true author of romance and adventure in our lives. Julie holds the conviction that on our own, we just muck it up. Her advice to you is not to muck it up.
