I loved E.K. Johnston's A Thousand Nights and Exit, Pursued by a Bear, and in The Afterward, Johnston tackles yet another genre! In the beginning of The Afterward, I was a little confused by the summary-nature of the first chapter, but then I realized it is exactly as the title suggests - The Afterward explores what happens after a great evil is eliminated by a brave group on a mission. It seems that the book will alternate between the perspectives of Olsa, a thief, and Kalanthe, a soon-to-be knight. Already, they are both intriguing characters with depth. I have no idea where the story is heading, but I can't wait to find out! The cover looks both fierce and diverse, and it seems like a great match for the book.