Book Review: Radiance (Riley Bloom #1) by Alyson Noel

Goodreads: Riley has crossed the bridge into the afterlife—a place called Here, where time is always Now. She has picked up life where she left off when she was alive, living with her parents and dog in a nice house in a nice neighborhood. When she’s summoned before The Council, she learns that the afterlife isn’t just an eternity of leisure. She’s been assigned a job, Soul Catcher, and a teacher, Bodhi, a possibly cute, seemingly nerdy boy who’s definitely hiding something. They return to earth together for Riley’s first assignment, a Radiant Boy who’s been haunting a castle in England for centuries. Many Soul Catchers have tried to get him to cross the bridge and failed. But all of that was before he met Riley . . .



Radiance follows Riley Bloom after the Evermore series about her sister Ever.  This is the first in the series & a delightful insight into the life of Riley after crossing the bridge to the other side.  What happens in her life now she has crossed that bridge.

Riley thought it would be all fun & excitement.  Being able to do as she pleases & complete all her life's dreams.  Boy was she in for an eye opener.  Riley started school, which is where she gets sorted into her designated area for training & to be assigned a mentor.  Little does she know the dork that she teases at assembly is going to be her mentor.

Riley has to front up to the council & explain her life & her decisions.  This is where they determine which journey she should take.  Since Riley has a fixation to the Earth plain, they have assigned her as Soul Catcher.  She has to find lost souls on Earth & convince them there is a better place for them.

Riley's first assignment seems to be a doozy.  He is called the Radiant Boy & has been haunting a castle for centuries.  Nobody has been able to convince him to move on & leave the castle behind.  Riley meets the Radiant Boy & he tries to scare the living daylights out of her & it almost worked.  Then she realises that she cannot be killed, as she is already dead.  Her fear vanishes & like that the Radiant Boy is revealed for the little 10 year old boy THEY are.  He turns out to be triplets!  Riley convinces the boys to move onto the next step in their journey & like that she is proud to have accomplished what others have failed.  Until her mentor, Bodhi, has his own catching to do & it is their mother.  The boys mother has been haunting the upper most tower in the castle for centuries & it is now his turn.  Riley is told not to interfere & Bodhi tries to rescue Riley as well as save this mother from her never ending grief.  Eventually the mother is saved & moves on.  Riley & Bodhi are excited about accomplishing their assignments & take a joy flight over to London.  Riley realises that she doesn't want to linger on Earth any more, she wants to live her new life.

I rated this a 3stars & found it very delightful & enjoyable.  Can't wait to see what soul Riley has to catch in Shimmer.