Book #1

Afterworld:
The Haunted Realm Beyond Our Stars

Caught in the grip of death's aftermath, Leon faces the brutal reality of a dystopian afterlife. Amid enslavement, oppression, and greed-driven violence, he discovers a glimmer of hope. As he navigates through a cosmos torn between advanced science, magic, and ancient mysteries, will Leon find enlightenment or succumb to the darkness that has shattered countless souls before him?

Full Synopsis

Death comes, and misery follows.

With nothing but his guts and a cryptic mark dubbed as a conquest, can a Kansas native outlast the carnage of a distant realm?

As a man in his early twenties, Leon never contemplated what would happen after his death. Like those before him, he never knew what to expect next.

We live in a cruel world, and one crueler still awaits.

After Leon's sudden demise, he's thrust into the brutal reality of our dystopian afterlife. After falling into the realm beyond, he finds a system of oppression—souls enslaved while others are being killed to appease their captors.

Amidst humanity's greed and malice, mysterious creatures dwell. With dangers all around, will hope and tenacity prove enough to save Leon, or will he and the turbulent cosmos succumb to oblivion?

Buying Options

Available in the following formats and shops

Hardcover

cheaper + gives me better royalties

Paperback

cheaper + gives me better royalties

Ebook

Audiobook

cheaper + gives me better royalties

Even more stores that carry this title

Release Information

The first edition of Afterworld was published April 14th, 2020 as an Ebook and Paperback. The audiobook was released two months later in June, but was soon pulled from the store due to technical and sound issues. It is being remade into a full-cast audiobook and expected to release in 2025. You can listen to the previous version of the audiobook for free on the official YouTube channel.

Cover Art by Oleg Beloded

Awards and Critic Reviews

(First Edition)

"A thoughtful fantasy adventure with strong characterization. A red ribbon win and highly recommended!"

"Robertson shines is in his descriptions of traumatic events. He is able to take a catastrophic sequence and really pull the reader into it, enmeshing them in the emotions and sensations of the characters."

" The use of imagery in this book is something that stood out to me as exceptional and something that I’ll surely remember in this novel for long after I’ve read it. The writer creates a vivid picture of every little detail until you feel you are there with the characters. James G. Robertson has also meticulously created some characters that are equal parts enchanting and beguiling and that goes for both hero’s and villain’s alike."

"This story is complex, with multiple systems of nature to consider and fantastically multifaceted characters. James Robertson has managed to create characters that are reflective of humanity, characters completely devoid of it, and the tricky ones in between.

Author's Favorite Quote

“Power makes the weak blind and the strong weak. Ye think because ye’ve gained power that ye’ve somehow become immune to defeat? That because ye were stronger than most of us ‘hydronics’ that ye’re now invincible? Ye are but a child in the way ye see the world, but I suppose that is the way of the dark universe.”

- Ragnarr Loðbrók

Newsletter Signup

Join the Newsletter and get a FREE copy of Merlin's Crucible: A Legacy of Shadows, plus all the latest Next Life Universe updates, delivered straight to your inbox!

Copyright © 2020 - 2024 Next Life Publishing LLC | All Rights Reserved | Privacy Statement (US)