Here are some brief descriptions of five of the central characters that you will meet in Hereafter. The blurb does give an overview of only one character, in a much bigger and more complex story, so I wanted to give some more detail about some of the other characters as well. I will be making more posts over time, closer to and after the release date about the world of Hereafter and thoughts about the story and the people that reside there.
Life here or there is rarely a black or white thing. I”ve tried to do my research and keep the characters as true to the time and culture that they are a part of as I can. I believe that to do otherwise would be doing them an incredible disservice. There seems to be especially nowadays a big push to remove and whitewash less than exemplary parts of human history. I believe it is important not to erase the bad, and only leave the good. History that is not taught cannot be learned from, and has a horrible way of repeating itself. To quote one of my favorite lines spoken by Luke in the story: “It seems that some of us really have learned nothing.”
– Serena –
Introverted and lonely, Serena has always dreamt of finding love and a place to belong. Her abrupt arrival in the hereafter appeared to have laid waste to those hopes and dreams. Will she be able to move on, or will the pain of her past hold her back from the happiness she seeks?
– Lucy –
With knowledge well beyond her years, Lucy’s childish appearance does not belie her true age or her wisdom. Appearances can be deceiving in a world where life is lived in reverse, and childhood is the end, and no longer a beginning.
– Rune –
Can a man from the distant past adapt and live in a world far removed from any he has ever known? Will he be able to let go of the sadness and rage that drove him to his grave in his last life, and win the heart of the woman he loves?
– Jane –
Stern and guarded with her emotions, Jane’s life has never been an easy one. As a leader, she projects the desire to bring a sense of order, in what she sees as an otherwise chaotic world. Her actions speak far louder than her words.
– Luke –
Kind of heart and idealistic, Luke is as unafraid to stand up for what he believes in the hereafter, as he was in his life before as an army medic. He knows that doing what is right does not always mean doing what comes easiest. Some things are worth standing your ground for.
Aurora Wildey 