Level 2
Three levels. Two loves. One choice. Debut novelist, Lenore Appelhans has written a thrilling otherworldly young adult novel about a place that exists between our world (Level 1) and what comes after life (Level 2).
‘I pause to look around the hive – all the podlike chambers are lit up as the drones shoot up on memories … I’ve wanted to get out of here before, but now the tight quarters start to choke me. There has to be more to death than this.’
Felicia Ward is dead. Trapped in a stark white afterlife limbo, she spends endless days replaying memories, of her family, friends, boyfriend … and of the guy who broke her heart. The guy who has just broken into Level 2 to find her.
Felicia learns that a rebellion is brewing, and it seems she is the key. Suspended between heaven and earth, she must make a choice. Between two worlds, two lives and two loves.
Dead’s Not What It Used To Be
Right from the start, Level 2 was so much more different than I thought it would be. I loved that while Felicia was dead, that was almost a side note to the story. The main focus is the mystery of why things are starting to change in the community of sorts she lives in. Her afterlife is stranger than I imagined it would be as well: audio-visual immersion pods, no angels or devils or dieties of any sort to be seen and no hair?!?! No hair???? No thank you! I’m going to stay a live, thank you very much! But the reader is drawn in by these and other little details that accumulate into the seamlessly built otherworld of Level 2. Combined with the vivid descriptions of her visions from her past and I was hooked into this strangely compelling mystery story of Felicia and her journey through her afterlife.
Bad Boys, Good Boys and The Girl In Between
The crux of Felicia’s afterlife is that she’s supposed to deal with the issues from her life before she can move onto the next level. And for as short of a life she lived, you’d think she wouldn’t have SOO much to deal with. WRONG! Felicia had some serious drama in her life. She made some bad choices which led one way or another to some pretty big, bad events. When the reader nears the end and sees just what it is that Felicia’s been not dealing with all along…well, suffice it to say, I wouldn’t want to have dealt with it either, and I’m way older.
Mixed in with Felicia’s growing ability to look back at her issues is her coming to acceptance with her relationships with the two guys in her life: Julian and Neil. While they’re very different guys, there are some interesting parallels. The one I was most interested in was the fact that I wasn’t entirely sure how well Felicia knew these young men. Of course, Ms. Appelhans leaves some secrets in reserve for future books, still….I wouldn’t advise folks to think they have these guys fit into their individual boxes just yet….
Bewitched Rating
Bottom Line
Get your own Audiobook at Audible: Level 2 (unabridged, 8hrs 19min)
I liked the audiobook version of this story. The narrator, Jenna Lamia, has a great voice for YA heroines, and will sound familiar to those of you who grew to love her narration skills from Maggie Stiefvater’s Shiver series. If you enjoy audiobooks, you should definitely consider snagging Level 2 in this format!
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Oh good, I’m glad you enjoyed this one! For some reason I went into this with a really weird perception of how I thought it would go so I think I was a little disappointed simply because I expected something totally different.
I wasn’t as keen on Felicia or Neil, but I did love the mystery surrounding them and the “dark past” that seemed to haunt all the characters.
Glad you enjoyed it! Fun review to read 🙂
Brittany @ The Book Addict’s Guide recently posted..Reading Pressure!
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Thanks, Brittany! I am glad I went into this one with no preconceptions, because I don’t know if I could have imagined this story!
Pushy recently posted..The Big PubLove Event – Featuring Penguin and Erin Galloway!
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I received this one for review and I need to get after it. It sounds really different and interesting and I always like books that show character growth so I am excited for this one.
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I hope you enjoy it, Heidi!!
Pushy recently posted..The Big PubLove Event – Featuring Penguin and Erin Galloway!
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I’m so glad you enjoyed this! I have a copy sitting here waiting for me to read it. I actually met Lenore at ALA and got my copy signed. She was awesome!
Candace recently posted..Earth Day Tour: I’ll Follow the Moon and Gwynne, Fair and Shining by Stephanie Lisa Tara + Give@way (Kindle Fire & Amazon Gift Cards)
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Oh, how cool, Candace!!!!!! I hope you enjoy it!!
Pushy recently posted..The Big PubLove Event – Featuring Penguin and Erin Galloway!
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Ooohh! Level 2 is on my TBR and now that I know Jenna Lamia narrates it I definitely will seek out the audio version! Lovely review, thanks!
Jen @ A Book and a Latte recently posted..WoW Pick of the Week (96)
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Thanks, Jen! She does a great narration job, as usual, so I hope you enjoy it as much as I did!!
Pushy recently posted..The Big PubLove Event – Featuring Penguin and Erin Galloway!
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Oh I’m so glad you reviewed this one! I am so bad. I went to a signing with Lenore there and got to ask questions months ago and I haven’t posted it yet!
Let’s just say that all isn’t as it seems in the book. You need to remember what Julian says about how things operate on Level 2. Oh, and Lenore fought tooth and nail so she didn’t have a cliffhanger! So yay to her for that.
I’m so glad you enjoyed this one! I really did, too. It was so different especially from the perspective of a dead person. I can’t wait for Level 3!
Heather
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OOOOOHHHHHH, Heather!!!!!!!!! I have SOOOO many suspicions because that comment seemed WAY too foeshadowy but never addressed. GAH!!!! Thanks for the hints!!!
Pushy recently posted..The Big PubLove Event – Featuring Penguin and Erin Galloway!
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I know, I know! I promise to write up the signing soon and tell you everything she said. I’m such a geek I take notes at book signings!! LOL
Hint- Julian said something about not trusting ANYONE or believing everything you see. Hmmm!
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I own this book, but haven’t read it yet. Not sure why. This review really makes me wonder why I haven’t read it yet. I knew it was original and I like a good afterlife story. I really look forward to reading it now! Great review 🙂
Kim @ YA Asylum recently posted..Write Wednesday: April Book Challenge #Speak4RAINN
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Thanks, Kim! I can’t wait to see what you think of it!
Pushy recently posted..The Big PubLove Event – Featuring Penguin and Erin Galloway!
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Um…no hair? What’s up with that? (Yes, this just shows that I haven’t yet read Level 2, even though I really need/want to…*sigh*)
Mary @ BookSwarm recently posted..Speed Date with Jane: BLOOD TRADE by Faith Hunter
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It totally threw my mental image around, for sure, Mary!!!
Pushy recently posted..The Big PubLove Event – Featuring Penguin and Erin Galloway!
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