Series: Everneath #1
Publication Date: 24th January 2012
Pages: 370
Book Source: HarperCollins & NetGalley
Synopsis: 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...
My Thoughts:
I'm a sucker
for a stunning cover and Everneath is right up there. But do the contents live
up to the cover art?? Absolutely! Everneath is one exquisite addictive
read.
With the recent
surge in YA mythology retellings, Everneath is a breath of fresh
air. Think Hades & Persephone, Orpheus & Eurydice but not a retelling as such; a unique story taking inspiration
from these myths.
Cole's an
Everliving, Nikki is his human Forfeit and so it begins, creepy undercurrent,
emotional darkness, and a feed in progress. Nikki's been Cole's
nourishment for a century in the Everneath (he's immortal but feeds off human
emotion) and he's been her 'drug' of choice to numb the pain. Mixed in with the
air of desolation is a certain fairytale quality, heightened by the obvious
connection between Nikki and the dark-haired boy with chocolate eyes on the
surface.
Cole is
arrogant, morally repugnant, manipulative and darkly seductive, but
there's flashes of light. It'd be pushing the friendship to say there's goodness there but I get the feeling
Cole cares about Nik, in his own special way and not just because she's a tasty
lunch. Then there's Jack. Nikki's love for Jack and her fading memories are
what kept her sane in the underworld. I was touched by Nikki and Jack as a
couple, their love is clear despite the misunderstandings and I didn't want the
book to end without a happy ending ... hmm about that ;)
The timeline
describing The Feed, Nikki's return to the surface as a husk of her former
self, and the six months she's given to make amends in the mortal world is done
seamlessly. Kudos to Brodi Ashton for writing emotion with such umm ...
emotion. Seriously the emotion in Everneath is palpable, Cole's
manipulation of emotions, the emotion in Nikki's relationships, even
sucked dry of emotion you can sense the hollowness, the numbness.
Beautifully done!
I'm not
exaggerating when I say this is a stunning debut and a brilliant start to a
trilogy I can't wait to continue.
Brodi Ashton
has the gift of story telling but that ending ... uggh Ms Ashton you
evil genius ... pure torture!!
Visit Brodi
Ashton's blog to find out more.
I love with anything from mythology :D Even if they mix things however they can
ReplyDeleteWow!!!! This sounds FABULOUS!! Adding to my read list!!
ReplyDeleteAdored this book! Great review!
ReplyDeleteYou must STOP right now! Your reviews are making my YA list topple over with goodness!! I'm interested in the mythology aspect of this one..so on my list it is going!
ReplyDeleteI totally agree! I posted my review here and gushed over it. I especially liked it wasn't your run of the mill love triangle and there was some interesting meshing of mythology going on.
ReplyDeleteYou did such a great job describing the Everlivings and Cole-it's taking me right back into the story and making me crave the second book, which isn't coming out for such a long time. I want it now!
ReplyDelete