Review: Joe Vampire: The Afterlife by Steven Luna

*Cover and Synopsis from Goodreads

Synopsis

So…yeah. It’s me again. America’s most sarcastic vampire.

I’m back on the blog. It’s been a while – about a year, if we need to get into specifics. Which I usually do. It’s just a thing with me.

A lot has happened since we last chatted – some good, some bad. All worthwhile, in the grand scheme. I’ve dealt with the whole Living Dead thing long enough now to know how to keep it from taking over my life. What I’m still figuring out is how to keep it from wreaking havoc on everyone else’s lives. It’s a roller coaster, for sure, but I’m convinced that waiting for me somewhere on the other side of the Other Side is a real-life life, not just some artificially-sweetened half-life substitute. I want a family. I want my music.

I want the dream come true, not the dream fell through.

And I’m determined to have it, regardless of how eternal this afterlife thing might be. But it’s a hell of a lot to keep track of. Barring any unforeseen developments that might undo all my vampirosity, I may have to grow up a little in order to get it all to work out. I’m ready for that, though.

As fun as it might seem to hang with the Lost Boys, I can’t be Peter Pan-pire forever.

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*Received copy from author in exchange for an honest review

My Review: 5 Must Devour!!!!!
It should come as no surprise that I am a huge fan of sarcasm. I also happen to be a huge fan of vampires. And when the two come together, well let's just saw that is sheer awesomeness. I will admit I immediately fell in love with Joe in the first installment and was ecstatic to hear that Joe was getting a sequel. My favorite sarcastic vamp was going to make a come back!!

And come back he did. And this time Joe has found himself in a totally different predicament one that will lead him down roads that frankly he never thought he would find himself. These roads leave him questioning himself, his life and who he wants to be. And well the answer to these questions just might frighten him. I know they shocked the hell out of me. I would love to tell what the questions and answers were, but that would take the fun out of reading it and well where's the fun in that?

The Afterlife gave me everything I wanted from Steven Luna. More sarcasm, more trouble and of course more TMI (you know too much information). I mean seriously there are some things that just should not be shared! But that is just one of the reasons this book is so awesome. You see the tale of Joe Vampire is not told in the same manner as most characters, as Joe's tale is told in the form of a blog.

A blog that is 100% believable. I know I have read blogs like this....well not exactly, but cataloging the inner workings of a life daily. Granted Joe's life is much more interesting. I loved Joe in the first book with his sarcasm, angst, and general out look on life. And in The Afterlife I fell in love with Joe even more. Steven Luna did an amazing job of growing Joe as a character. Often making me forget that Joe was indeed a vampire as he faced both vampire problems and human ones. As I read I couldn't help thinking.....vampire with a soul, uh, how about a deep philosophical vampire with a soul? Cause that's what you get with Joe Vampire. (Talk about major growth). And not only does Joe go through a change, but all the characters in this tale grow. And Hube finally get's more of the spotlight and I have to say that I loved and hated what I saw. (Again read and you will understand--spoiler-y).

Steven Luna blew me away again with his uncanny ability to completely envelope me in the story. One where I felt like I was actually reading about a person's life. And one that left me thinking about cereal, Ho Ho's, Suzie Q's and Ding Dongs days later! Read it and you will understand. I mean how many books can pull off an entire chapter dedicated to the stuff? None, but Joe Vampire!!

The Afterlife may seem to be about just another vampire, but it is about more than that. It is about life, the hard truths of life told with a spin--through metaphors, sarcasm, angst and love.

Favorite Character Moment:

"It's like a mid-life crisis problem-solver with no real after-effects other than a corn syrup hangover. And all for less than the cost of a tattoo or a face life." (Pdf, p.86). 

There are so many reasons I chose these particular lines, mostly it is because I couldn't share the entire chapter here, but also it is because I think it shows a lot about how Joe thinks and how he looks at the world. This really is a pretty pivotal chapter for Joe. (Read it and you will understand). I know I say that a lot, but seriously read it and you will understand!!