A lovely YA fantasy
First of all, knight-adventure fantasy stories are not generally my favorite. The Afterward is a twist on those stories, focusing on female knights and exploring what happens after the Important Quest. The book alternates between the quest and what happens afterward (thus the title), and I found myself much more interested in the afterward. It was only a tad confusing because in addition to the alternating time periods, the book also alternates between Kalanthe and Olsa's perspectives. All the characters were very diverse and interesting and I enjoyed the supportive friendships. I would consider this more of a character-driven book and this book really shined in that aspect, whereas the world-building wasn't as strong.
I've read two other novels by E.K. Johnston, and the writing in this book is just as lovely. Even though I don't particularly love this genre, I appreciated the themes and messages in this book and would wholeheartedly recommend it.
I've read two other novels by E.K. Johnston, and the writing in this book is just as lovely. Even though I don't particularly love this genre, I appreciated the themes and messages in this book and would wholeheartedly recommend it.