Aftermath on the Road

Penryn awakens in a world that believes her dead, paralyzed from a scorpion-angel sting, cradled by her traumatized mother and silent, changed sister, Paige. The Resistance caravan, filled with desperate survivors and soldiers, flees the burning angel aerie. Penryn's return to life terrifies the others, highlighting the new reality: anyone different is a threat. The world is fractured—gangs, cults, and the Resistance all vying for survival. Penryn's family, once vulnerable, now inspires fear. The trauma of recent events lingers, especially in Paige, whose stitched, doll-like appearance and blank stare unsettle even hardened men. Penryn steels herself to face this new world, determined to protect her family, even as she senses how much has changed within them all.

Resistance and Refugees

The Resistance sets up camp in a commandeered high school, transforming classrooms into makeshift homes and command centers. Penryn, her mother, and Paige are outcasts among the refugees, their strangeness both a shield and a curse. The twins, Dee and Dum, provide comic relief and guidance, but the camp's mood is tense. Obi, the charismatic Resistance leader, organizes defenses and surveillance, while Penryn tries to care for her unresponsive sister. The world's devastation is everywhere—art abandoned, families shattered, hope in short supply. Penryn's sword, a relic from her time with the angel Raffe, is both comfort and burden. Night brings dreams of blood and loss, and Penryn's resolve hardens: she must adapt, or perish.

Paige's Transformation

As Penryn tries to reconnect with her sister, she's confronted by Paige's inability to eat normal food and her disturbing new abilities. Paige's stitched body and razor teeth are the result of angelic experiments, and her hunger is not for human fare. The Resistance is wary, and Penryn is torn between protecting Paige and fearing what she's become. Their mother, lost in her own madness, alternates between prayers and cryptic warnings. The family's isolation grows, and Penryn's guilt over Paige's fate deepens. The world after the angel invasion is merciless, and Penryn realizes that survival may demand impossible choices—especially when the monsters are those she loves.

Sword and Surveillance

Penryn is summoned by Obi, who reveals the Resistance's new surveillance network, capturing glimpses of angel activity across the Bay Area. The sword Penryn carries, once Raffe's, is a source of fascination and suspicion. Through the cameras, they witness Beliel, the demon who stole Raffe's wings, being hunted by a demon-winged figure—Raffe himself, now monstrous in appearance. The Resistance mobilizes to capture these supernatural beings, hoping for leverage or knowledge. Penryn, caught between her loyalty to Raffe and her place among the humans, is swept into the mission. The sword, semi-sentient and bonded to her, begins to share memories and dreams, teaching her to fight and revealing Raffe's pain and honor.

Raffe's Nightmare Pursuit

As the Resistance pursues the wounded Beliel and the demon-winged Raffe, Penryn is haunted by dreams and sword-induced visions of Raffe's past—his battles, his loneliness, and his fall from grace. The sword's memories blur with her own, deepening her connection to Raffe and her understanding of angelic suffering. Meanwhile, the Resistance's mission to the ruined aerie reveals the angels' healing powers and the absence of angel corpses, fueling both awe and fear. Penryn's loyalty is tested as she navigates the shifting alliances and the growing threat of the scorpion monsters. The world is a battlefield, and Penryn is forced to become a warrior, guided by the sword and the ghost of Raffe's honor.

Angelic Carnage

The Resistance's fragile sanctuary is shattered when scorpion-angel hybrids attack, paralyzing and feeding on humans. The grotesque creatures, products of angelic experiments, are both terrifying and tragic. Penryn witnesses the horror as friends and strangers are struck down, and the line between victim and monster blurs. Paige, caught between her human past and monstrous present, is both feared and hunted. Penryn's attempts to protect her family lead to violence and heartbreak, as the survivors turn on each other in fear. The world after is a place where mercy is rare, and Penryn must fight not only for survival but for her soul.

The Scorpion Factory

Penryn is captured and taken to Alcatraz, now a prison and laboratory for the creation of scorpion monsters. There, she discovers the full extent of the angels' plans: humans are being transformed into abominations, and children like Paige are the prototypes. The human scientist, Doc, is both a collaborator and a reluctant rebel, seeking a way to save humanity from extinction. Penryn learns of Paige's suffering and the twisted bond between her and Beliel, her tormentor. The prisoners, stripped of hope and dignity, are forced to choose between death and monstrous transformation. Penryn's resolve is tested as she confronts the depths of angelic cruelty and human desperation.

Paige's Hunger

As Penryn escapes Alcatraz with the help of allies, she is forced to confront the reality of Paige's transformation. Paige's hunger is not for food, but for flesh, and her actions horrify both Penryn and the survivors. The bond between sisters is strained to the breaking point, as Penryn struggles to see the child she once knew beneath the monster. The world's judgment is harsh, and Penryn must choose between loyalty and survival. The sword's memories offer guidance, but the path forward is fraught with danger and moral ambiguity. In the world after, love is both a weapon and a weakness.

Nightmares and Memories

Penryn's connection to the sword deepens, granting her vivid dreams of Raffe's past—his battles, his loss, and his moments of vulnerability. Through these visions, she learns the truth of his fall, the agony of losing his wings, and the loneliness of exile. The sword becomes both teacher and confessor, guiding Penryn in the art of combat and the complexities of angelic honor. The dreams blur the line between memory and reality, and Penryn emerges stronger, but haunted. The world after is a place of ghosts, and Penryn carries the weight of both her own and Raffe's.

The Price of Survival

Penryn, her mother, and Clara escape captivity with the help of unlikely allies, including the mischievous twins Dee and Dum. The journey is perilous, marked by betrayal, sacrifice, and the constant threat of angelic and human violence. Penryn's mother, both mad and cunning, proves invaluable, using a stolen tracking device to locate Paige. The family's reunion is bittersweet, as the cost of survival becomes clear. The world after demands impossible choices, and Penryn must navigate a landscape where trust is rare and every act of kindness is a risk.

Monsters Among Us

As Penryn and her companions journey through the ruined Bay Area, they encounter the best and worst of humanity. Gangs, cults, and desperate survivors prey on the weak, while moments of compassion and solidarity offer fleeting hope. The Resistance, fractured and suspicious, is both sanctuary and threat. Penryn's struggle to protect Paige and her mother is mirrored by the larger battle for humanity's soul. The line between monster and human blurs, and Penryn must decide what she is willing to become to save those she loves.

The Alcatraz Prison

Penryn is recaptured and returned to Alcatraz, where she witnesses the full horror of the scorpion factory. Humans are transformed into monsters, and the prisoners are forced to choose between complicity and death. Doc, the human scientist, reveals his desperate attempts to subvert the angels' plans, but the odds are overwhelming. Penryn's resolve is tested as she confronts the reality of Paige's transformation and the possibility that her sister may be humanity's last hope—or its doom. The world after is a prison, and escape comes at a terrible price.

Escape and Betrayal

With the help of Doc, Madeline, and the Resistance, Penryn orchestrates a daring escape from Alcatraz. The plan hinges on trust, persuasion, and the willingness to risk everything for a chance at freedom. Betrayal and sacrifice are inevitable, and not everyone makes it out alive. Penryn's leadership and courage inspire others, but the cost is high. The world after is a place where every victory is bittersweet, and the line between hero and survivor is razor-thin.

Uriel's Masquerade

Penryn is swept into a masquerade ball at the new angel aerie, forced to play the role of a living trophy for the archangel Uriel. The party is a facade for Uriel's political machinations, as he manipulates the angels toward apocalypse and his own ascension. The Daughters of Men are both bait and victims, and the line between celebration and slaughter is thin. Penryn, disguised and desperate, searches for Paige and Raffe, navigating a world of masks, lies, and hidden agendas. The world after is a stage, and everyone is playing for their lives.

The Messenger's Game

Uriel announces the coming of Judgment Day, unleashing the scorpion locusts and inciting the angels to violence. The masquerade descends into chaos as angels turn on humans and each other, and the world after teeters on the brink of annihilation. Penryn, separated from Raffe, must fight for survival amid the carnage. The sword's power is revealed as Penryn kills a warrior angel, earning the respect—and fear—of both angels and humans. The world after is a game of power, and the stakes are nothing less than the fate of humanity.

Blood on the Lawn

The aerie's lawn becomes a battlefield as angels, scorpions, and humans clash in a frenzy of blood and betrayal. Paige, drawn to Beliel, unleashes her fury, attacking her tormentor and revealing her connection to the scorpions. Raffe, fighting for his wings and his honor, is forced to reveal his demon form. The sword's true power is unleashed, and Penryn becomes both savior and executioner. The world after is a place of monsters, and redemption is paid in blood.

Wings and Redemption

In the chaos, Raffe reclaims his severed wings, and Paige's bond with the scorpions saves Penryn and her family from certain death. The angels, stunned by Penryn's victory and the scorpions' loyalty to Paige, are left powerless. Raffe and Penryn, united by love and loss, escape with Paige as the world after burns behind them. The price of survival is high, but hope endures. The world after is a place of broken wings and fragile redemption.

Flight into Dawn

As the sun rises over the ruined world, Penryn, Raffe, and Paige fly into the unknown, pursued by angels and monsters alike. The family is reunited, but the future is uncertain. The world after is a place of loss and possibility, where love and courage are the only weapons against despair. Penryn, once an ordinary girl, has become a warrior, a leader, and a symbol of hope. The story ends on the edge of dawn, with the promise of new battles and the faint glimmer of redemption.

Characters

Penryn Young

Penryn is a seventeen-year-old girl thrust into the chaos of the angel apocalypse. Her defining trait is her fierce loyalty to her family, especially her disabled and later transformed sister, Paige. Penryn's journey is one of transformation—from a frightened survivor to a skilled fighter and reluctant leader. She is haunted by guilt over Paige's fate and struggles with the moral ambiguities of survival in a world where monsters wear both angelic and human faces. Her relationship with Raffe, the fallen angel, is complex—marked by mutual respect, longing, and the tension between love and duty. Penryn's psychological resilience is tested by trauma, betrayal, and the burden of leadership, but her compassion and determination remain her core strengths.

Raffe (Raphael)

Raffe is an archangel stripped of his wings and status, forced to navigate the human world as both enemy and ally. His relationship with Penryn is central to his development—she challenges his beliefs, awakens his compassion, and becomes his anchor in exile. Raffe's struggle is both physical and existential: he longs for redemption, the return of his wings, and a place among his people, but is haunted by loss and the knowledge that the rules of his kind may never allow it. His honor, wit, and vulnerability make him both formidable and deeply human. Raffe's journey is one of sacrifice, as he risks everything for Penryn and the hope of a better world.

Paige Young

Paige is Penryn's younger sister, transformed by angelic experiments into a stitched, razor-toothed hybrid. Her journey is one of suffering and adaptation—she is both a victim and a potential savior, her monstrous abilities a double-edged sword. Paige's bond with Penryn is strained by fear and misunderstanding, but her love for her family endures. Her connection to the scorpions and her final act of vengeance against Beliel reveal both her power and her pain. Paige embodies the novel's central question: can humanity survive its own transformation, and what is the cost of survival?

Beliel

Beliel is the demon who steals Raffe's wings and becomes both his rival and Paige's tormentor. He is cunning, cruel, and driven by a desire for power and revenge. Yet, beneath his monstrous exterior lies a deep sense of abandonment and bitterness—he is unloved by both angels and demons, and his actions are fueled by a need to assert his worth. Beliel's relationship with Paige is twisted, blending manipulation with a strange, almost paternal pride. His downfall at Paige's hands is both justice and tragedy, highlighting the cycle of abuse and the possibility of redemption, even for monsters.

Obi

Obi is the leader of the human Resistance, a figure of authority and hope in a world of chaos. He is strategic, commanding, and willing to make hard choices for the greater good. Obi's relationship with Penryn is marked by mutual respect and occasional conflict—he recognizes her value but is wary of her connection to the supernatural. Obi embodies the struggle to maintain humanity and order in the face of overwhelming odds, and his leadership is both a source of strength and a burden.

Dee and Dum

Dee and Dum are identical twins who provide levity and resourcefulness amid the darkness. Their quick wit, sleight of hand, and street smarts make them invaluable to the Resistance and to Penryn's survival. Beneath their humor lies a deep loyalty to each other and to those they choose to protect. The twins' ability to navigate the shifting alliances of the world after is a testament to their adaptability and courage.

Doc

Doc is the human scientist forced to oversee the transformation of humans into scorpion monsters. He is both a victim and a perpetrator, torn between survival and conscience. Doc's attempts to subvert the angels' plans and his hope that Paige may be humanity's salvation reveal his complexity. He is haunted by guilt and driven by a desperate need to make his suffering—and that of his victims—mean something. Doc embodies the moral ambiguity of collaboration and resistance in a world where choices are never simple.

Uriel

Uriel is the primary antagonist among the angels, orchestrating the masquerade, the creation of the scorpions, and the push toward Judgment Day. He is charismatic, cunning, and ruthless, willing to sacrifice both humans and angels for power. Uriel's manipulation of the angelic hierarchy and his use of spectacle and violence reveal the dangers of unchecked ambition. He is both a symbol of divine authority and its corruption.

Penryn's Mother

Penryn's mother is mentally ill, oscillating between paranoia, religious fervor, and moments of clarity. Her madness is both a liability and a strange asset—she is capable of cunning, resourcefulness, and even heroism. Her relationship with Penryn and Paige is fraught with pain and love, and her actions often blur the line between protection and harm. She embodies the unpredictability of the world after and the enduring power of maternal love.

Clara

Clara is a woman rescued from the scorpion factory, her body and spirit scarred by her ordeal. Her reunion with her family is a rare moment of grace in a brutal world, but her transformation marks her as an outcast. Clara's resilience and longing for connection highlight the novel's themes of identity, acceptance, and the cost of survival.

Plot Devices

Sword as Memory and Mentor

Raffe's sword, now bonded to Penryn, is more than a weapon—it is a semi-sentient repository of memories, a teacher, and a link between human and angelic worlds. Through dreams and visions, the sword imparts combat skills, reveals Raffe's history and pain, and deepens Penryn's understanding of the stakes. The sword's loyalty, power, and eventual acceptance of Penryn as its wielder symbolize the possibility of change and the forging of new alliances. Its role as both tool and character is central to the narrative's structure and emotional arc.

Duality and Transformation

The novel's structure and plot hinge on transformation—physical, psychological, and moral. Paige's metamorphosis from innocent child to monster, Raffe's fall from angel to outcast, Penryn's evolution from survivor to warrior, and the world's descent into chaos all reflect the theme of duality. The line between human and monster, victim and perpetrator, is blurred, forcing characters to confront their own capacity for both good and evil. This device is reinforced by the shifting alliances, betrayals, and moments of unexpected grace.

Foreshadowing and Symbolism

The use of dreams—both Penryn's and those induced by the sword—serves as foreshadowing, revealing future dangers, hidden truths, and the emotional stakes of the conflict. Symbols such as wings, scars, and the sword itself carry layered meanings, representing loss, hope, and the possibility of redemption. The recurring motif of flight—both literal and metaphorical—underscores the characters' longing for freedom and transcendence.

Political Intrigue and Apocalypse

The narrative is structured around Uriel's manipulation of both angels and humans, using spectacle, violence, and propaganda to incite apocalypse and secure his own power. The masquerade, the creation of the scorpions, and the staged Judgment Day are all plot devices that heighten tension and force characters into impossible choices. The interplay of personal and political stakes ensures that every victory is fraught with consequence.

Analysis

World After is a harrowing exploration of survival, transformation, and the blurred boundaries between good and evil in a post-apocalyptic landscape. Susan Ee crafts a narrative that is both intimate and epic, centering on Penryn's journey from frightened survivor to reluctant hero. The novel interrogates the cost of survival—what we are willing to become, and what we risk losing in the process. Through the lens of Penryn's family, especially the tragic figure of Paige, Ee examines the enduring power of love and the pain of betrayal. The sword, as both weapon and memory, symbolizes the possibility of change and the forging of new identities. The political machinations of Uriel and the angelic hierarchy serve as a cautionary tale about the dangers of unchecked ambition and the seductive allure of apocalypse. Ultimately, World After is a story of hope amid despair, of finding humanity in the monstrous, and of the courage required to face a world remade by violence and loss. The lessons are clear: survival demands both strength and compassion, and redemption is possible—even in the world after.

Last updated: September 20, 2025