Level 2 by Lenore Appelhans

Pages - 317

Published by Usborne Books in January 2013

I'll sleep when I'm dead. I used to say it a lot. When my dad suggested I turn off the torch I thought I so expertly hid under my covers. That time youth pastor Joe told us to pipe down at the church lock-in. The balmy summer night I convinced Autumn to sneak out after midnight so we could dance in Nidda Park., arms outstretched to the stars. But then I died.

Goodreads Summary

Since her untimely death the day before her eighteenth birthday, Felicia Ward has been trapped in Level 2, a stark white afterlife located between our world and the next. Along with her fellow drones, Felicia passes the endless hours reliving memories of her time on Earth and mourning what she’s lost—family, friends, and Neil, the boy she loved.

Then a girl in a neighbouring chamber is found dead, and nobody but Felicia recalls that she existed in the first place. When Julian—a dangerously charming guy Felicia knew in life—comes to offer Felicia a way out, Felicia learns the truth: If she joins the rebellion to overthrow the Morati, the angel guardians of Level 2, she can be with Neil again.

Suspended between Heaven and Earth, Felicia finds herself at the centre of an age-old struggle between good and evil. As memories from her life come back to haunt her, and as the Morati hunt her down, Felicia will discover it’s not just her own redemption at stake… but the salvation of all mankind.

*******

I have been waiting to read this book for ages. Lenore is a well known book blogger  from Presenting Lenore who has managed to cross the divide and become a published author and I am very much in awe of her ability. When I read the blurb, I had a feeling this book would be good and it most definitely was. It can only be described as a heavenly version of The Matrix, only better. 

I loved the memory chambers, the idea of being able to relive whichever memories you want really appealed to me. As well as being able to relive other people's memories. Ingenious and unique - you will all be wishing that heaven was really like this. 

I love the detail and description used to portray such a clear picture of how heaven might operate. Or should I say the in between place where you evaluate you life by experiencing again everything you went through  on Earth. I felt the author presented an excellent visual of something no one has ever seen, only guessed at. This has to be the first after life book that has really captured my attention.

I loved Julian, even though on looking back over the book, I felt I really shouldn't. He was trouble and brought about the downfall of Felicia. His arrival on Level 2 changed everything again. Every little detail she had grown to believe about her very existence was instantly shattered by Julian. As the book progresses, his words and actions make her question her own sanity as well as her past memories. He had a manipulative way about him, yet you instantly understand that his actions were purely led by his love for Felicia. As a lead character Felicia kicked butt. She was very quick to come to terms with the changes occurring around her and she really shone bravely by the end. 

As the story progresses, you are shocked and surprised by the information revealed, leaving you to believe that everything is questionable. Even from the first chapter, I was shocked by the ending, because I had already been led to believe rather quickly that events like that were impossible. The ending was definitely a surprise for me, yet again I was stunned by what was revealed. 

On the whole this book was an excellent, fast moving thriller through the heavenly plains. I thought the plot was ingenious and well paced, with lots of surprises to keep me reading more. An excellent debut. 

Keep an eye out for the blog tour for Level 2 in January because there just might be an international giveaway of a copy of this book! *taps nose*