Radiance

Radiance is the first novel in the Riley Bloom Series, a middle-grade spinoff from Alyson Noël's The Immortals series. The story centers on twelve-year-old Riley Bloom, who finds herself in the afterlife following a car accident with her parents and dog. Upon arriving in the afterlife realm called Here & Now, Riley discovers she must take on responsibilities as a Soul Catcher. She is paired with a guide named Bodhi and tasked with helping lost spirits move on from Earth to their next destination. Riley's first assignment sends her back to Earth to locate the Radiant Boy, a spirit who has haunted English castles for centuries. The mission forces Riley to confront both her new role and her feelings about leaving her old life behind. The novel explores themes of personal growth, acceptance of change, and the balance between duty and desire. Through Riley's journey, the story examines how young people handle responsibility and navigate significant life transitions.

Readers note that Radiance, as a middle-grade spinoff of the Immortals series, offers a gentler take on the afterlife compared to the original books. What readers liked: - Simple, age-appropriate handling of death and loss - Riley's authentic 12-year-old voice and personality - Quick pacing and short length suitable for young readers - Positive messages about helping others What readers disliked: - Plot feels underdeveloped and repetitive - Many found it too basic for YA readers - Characters besides Riley lack depth - Several note it works better as a companion than standalone Ratings: Goodreads: 3.9/5 (21,000+ ratings) Amazon: 4.3/5 (250+ ratings) Barnes & Noble: 4.4/5 (190+ ratings) Common reader comment: "A sweet story for tweens but may disappoint fans expecting the complexity of the Immortals series." Multiple reviews mention it reads like a pilot episode, setting up future books without a satisfying standalone plot.

Ghost Girl by Tonya Hurley A teen ghost learns to navigate the afterlife while helping living students at her former high school.

Evermore by Alyson Noël An accident survivor gains psychic abilities and falls for an immortal being while dealing with loss and supernatural powers.

Suddenly Supernatural by Elizabeth Cody Kimmel A middle school girl inherits her mother's medium abilities and must balance communicating with spirits while maintaining a normal teenage life.

The Mediator by Meg Cabot A teenage mediator moves to California and helps ghosts resolve unfinished business while balancing high school life.

A Certain Slant of Light by Laura Whitcomb A ghost who has been observing classrooms for decades finds herself able to possess a living teenager's body and experiences life again.

🌟 The book is a spin-off of Alyson Noël's successful "The Immortals" series, which sold over 2 million copies worldwide. 🌟 Author Alyson Noël worked as a flight attendant before becoming a full-time writer, an experience that helped her develop stories about journeys and transitions. 🌟 The concept of Soul Catchers appears in various mythologies, particularly in Native American folklore where they're believed to trap negative energies and bad dreams. 🌟 English castles, featured in Riley's first mission, have over 4,000 documented ghost sightings, making England one of the most haunted countries in the world. 🌟 The book's exploration of the afterlife as a place of purpose rather than rest reflects growing trends in children's literature to address death and grief in more nuanced ways.