Friday, January 13, 2012

Everneath by Brodi Ashton

Last spring, Nikki Beckett vanished, sucked into an underworld known as the Everneath, where immortals Feed on the emotions of despairing humans. Now she's returned- to her old life, her family, her friends- before being banished back to the underworld... this time forever.

She has six months before the Everneath comes to claim her, six months for good-byes she can't find the words for, six months to find redemption, if it exists.

Nikki longs to spend these months reconnecting with her boyfriend, Jack, the one person she loves more than anything. But there's a problem: Cole, the smoldering immortal who first enticed her to the Everneath, has followed Nikki to the mortal world. And he'll do whatever it takes to bring her back- this time as his queen.

As Nikki's time grows short and her relationships begin slipping from her grasp, she's forced to make the hardest decision of her life: find a way to cheat fate and remain on the Surface with Jack or return to the Everneath and become Cole's...
I really expected a Persephone and Hades tale with this book. It did have aspects of that mythology, but it really was connected to another Greek myth. I was disappointed at first, but I have to say the plot and the characters kept me from staying that way. 

What I would say that this book is really a question about suicide. It is like answering what would happen if you could delete all the pain that overwhelms you, what would that be like? How would it leave you? What would it do to the people left behind? Now, even though this is a very serious and dark subject, the answers to these questions actually don't come off as dark as the question. By weaving it through a myth and allowing Nikki to actually come back and face the consequences of her decision she is allowed a second chance to change and see what she did not before. However, even though this sounds like a great way to avoid the more severe consequences of her decision, it does not. In fact, the price she must pay is steep and she only has a limited time to do what is right before oblivion. 

I will warn you thought that this book actually starts of very slow and it is hard to connect with Nikki. It makes sense though. She comes back from the Everneath and she is a shell of herself. She cannot connect to who she is so how could we? As long as you remember that, I think you will find yourself wanting to read further and enjoy the journey of Nikki into becoming a whole person once again.

I give this book 4 1/2 stars. I think the ending will tear at you, but I also think it was the right ending. There is a thread that opens up for the next book but it isn't a cliffie. 
I received the ARC from Harper Collins and no compensation for my review was given

13 comments:

  1. AAAAAh I really need to read this book! When I just love the cover I keep hearing amazing things about it everywhere. I'm so glas you enjoyed it too! Now I can't wait to give it a try too!

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  2. It does sound like a fantastic book. I am a person that can be swayed by the end of a book so even slow-starting books can end up being fantastic. GREAT REVIEW!

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  3. Not too sure about this one, perhaps a read for another stage in my life, thanks for the concise review though, it told me everything I like to know about a book.

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  4. SO glad you loved this one too Melissa! I just adored this book:) I totally agree with you about the beginning, things are crazy with the Feed and Nikki is most definitely a shell of her former self, but once I got in, this book just wouldn't let me go. And I love Jack. That is all:)

    Really fantastic review:)

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  5. That is a still high rating for a book that started off slow for you, Melissa. I wasn't expecting that because of how you said you didn't connect with Nikki right away. And I was expecting a Persephone tale, too. It's good to know that though the story is not quite what you expect, it is still well worth the read.

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  6. I really wanted to like this book but as you mentioned, the Greek myths it alluded to weren't as prevalent in the story as I thought it could have been. But I'm glad you enjoyed it.

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  7. @Melliane... I hope you enjoy it as much as I did!

    @Felicia... AND the beginning was supposed to be that way once you understand the character.

    @...Petty...Thanks, I appreciate it. :D

    @Jenny... Yes, the beginning was hard to get into but once it started really opening up you got in. Oh and Jack... so swoon worthy!!

    @Missie... I think it is because it really was designed that way and wasn't by accident. It parallelled the character.

    @Stephanie... I think what sold me was what it was about and how she wove in the mythology to tackle a hard subject without being preachy. Hard to do and rarely done as well.

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  8. So even though you were disappointed it all worked out since it still was a good story, even if not the story you guessed :)

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  9. I am not going to lie, I am kinda on the fence about how I feel about this book. I have read soooooo many reviews where people who said it is their most favourite book ever, and while it wasn't mine, I still found it enjoyable (and like you said, the end will totally tear at you).

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  10. Question about suicide? I never would have guessed that from the synopsis lol. I know this is one of the most looked forward to books of 2012 for a lot of the book blogosphere, but I've been a little hesitant to put it on my to-read list because I was worried about the love triangle. You're making me start to lean the other way though...lol.

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  11. I didn't get suicide from the synopsis either! Seems quite dark. It sounds interesting but I'm not sure if it's for me.
    It seems like it's a pretty heavy love triangle - did you enjoy that aspect?

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  12. @Belle... it really isn't a triangle, but it has potiental to be one. ;) I hope that answers you.

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  13. I loved this book! I agree! The ending just rocked!

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