Book Review- Level 2

I finished reading Level 2 by Lenore Appelhans for an Around the World ARC Tour earlier in the week.

From Goodreads:

Since her untimely death the day before her eighteenth birthday, Felicia Ward has been trapped in Level 2, a stark white afterlife located between our world and the next. Along with her fellow prisoners, Felicia passes the endless hours downloading memories and mourning what she’s lost—family, friends, and the boy she loved, Neil.

Then a girl in a neighboring chamber disappears, and nobody but Felicia seems to recall she existed in the first place. Something is obviously very wrong. When Julian—a dangerously charming guy Felicia knew in life—comes to offer Felicia a way out, she learns the truth: a rebellion is brewing to overthrow the Morati, the guardians of Level 2.

Felicia is reluctant to trust Julian, but then he promises what she wants the most—to be with Neil again—if only she’ll join the rebels. Suspended between Heaven and Earth, Felicia finds herself in the center of an age-old struggle between good and evil. As memories from her life come back to haunt her, and as the Morati hunt her down, Felicia will discover it’s not just her own redemption at stake… but the salvation of all mankind.


I've been following Lenore's blog since before I knew that she was writing a book.  I've enjoyed her blog so I was excited to read her book.  But unfortunately, I can't rave about it.  And hate that!  I always feel so bad.

I do have to say that this book is completely unique.  I don't think I've ever read anything close to it before.  But I was also continuously confused.  I found that I always had questions.  Some them got answered through the memories told throughout the book, but others I am still left wondering about.  I also got confused about what was going on.  There were hives and drones which were bees yet there were drones that were humans.  And I couldn't figure out what the rebels were doing and what the Morati were doing. 

The parts that I did understand, I liked.  I mostly liked Julian, although his part in the whole thing still kinda confused me.  And I mostly liked Felicia too, although I never really felt connected with her. 

I dunno.  I just don't like feeling confused the whole time I'm reading a book.  And as for the questions I'm left with, if anyone knows the answers, please fill me in!  Highlight them below to see

**Edited to add:  Lenore Appelhans is sooo nice!  She saw my review and wanted to answer the questions that I had.  I added the answers right after the questions.  After reading her answers, I think I'll definitely be picking up the sequel!!

~Why exactly did Julian just leave Felicia the way he did the night Autumn found out about them? *"You find out the answer to this in the sequel."
~Why did Felicia stop playing the piano? *"Felicia basically gave up on her whole overachieving life, and giving up the piano was part of this."
~Why was nothing found out about Autumn's death?  She was found dead in her ex-best friend's bedroom.  It couldn't have been a random murder. *"You find out the answer to this in the sequel too!*


I gave this book a rating of 3/5.

Level 2 will be released on January 15, 2013.

This book fulfills items in the following challenges:
2012 Reading Challenge 150+: 58
2012 ARC Reading Challenge: 46
2012 Young Adult Reading Challenge: 49

*FTC Disclosure: I was given this book for free for an honest review as part of the Around the World Tours.