Afterlife by Claudia Gray

HarperCollins, 2011. ISBN 9780732289706.
(Age 15+) Afterlife, the fabulous conclusion to the Evernight series, which included Evernight, Stargazer and Hourglass,  finds Bianca facing life as a wraith, and her beloved Lucas changed into a vampire, the last thing that he had ever wanted. They decide to go back to Evernight Academy where they believe that Lucas may learn to overcome his dreadful desire for blood from any living person that he encounters. There they face Mrs Bethany, the headmistress of the Academy, who is setting traps for unsuspecting wraiths and imprisoning them for her own evil needs. Bianca and Lucas are faced with a new challenge. Not only do they have to learn about living in the Afterlife, they must stop Mrs Bethany's evil actions.
There are some exciting scenes as Bianca learns how wraiths operate and the team of Balthazar, Ranulf, Patrice, Vic and Maxie plot to find the wraith traps and uncover Mrs Bethany's wicked plot. Some heartrending moments unfold for Lucas as he confronts the aggressive Black Cross and the prejudice of his mother, while Bianca has to face her parents once again. The threads of Balthazar and Charity's story are also gathered together with some frightening moments as well.
I couldn't imagine how Claudia Gray could come up with a solution to the dilemma that faces Bianca and Lucas. How could their love survive one of them being a wraith and another a vampire, who is seriously considering taking his own life because he can't face what he is? However she manages to do just that in an exciting, unexpected and very satisfying conclusion to what has been a very good series.
Pat Pledger