"To find out what a story's really about,' the Librarian said,

'you don't ask the writer. You ask the reader."


- SNOW & ROSE by Emily Winfield Martin


Wednesday, July 18, 2012

A "Nobel Beehive Award" Review: Everneath by Brodi Ashton


by Brodi Ashton
Release date: January 24th, 2012
Publisher: Balzer + Bray (Harper Collins)
Genre: YA
Format read: Hardcopy

SUMMARY
(from Goodreads)

"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."

BOOK TRAILER - Everneath by Brodi Ashton 


MY REVIEW

Everneath is a phenomenal modern-day mythology retelling of Persephone and Hades story.
(Hades, the god of the underworld who viciously kidnapped Persephone to make her his queen. You can read more about the myth here.)  I actually read this book in March, and until now, I had not been able to find the right words to put into a review. I knew of Persephone's very sad story and Brodi Ashton was able to capture the heartache and enchantment of it so perfectly and unforgettable that it has stayed with me since then.

At the start of the story, we are immediately right by Nikki's side in the underworld as known as the Everneath. It is a bit confusing at first and that is because Nikki is too. There is such a darkness and overwhelming feeling of being lost and sad, that I couldn't help myself get pulled in and feel stuck and helpless just like Nikki did. It was a such a realistic state of mind that I hope to never feel again.
When Nikki slowly comes to her senses alongside Cole, she not only discovers that she's not suppose to have any memories, but that she is lucky to have had survived. Cole is mesmerized by her strength and is determined to have Nikki as his queen so they can overrule and take over the underworld. But Nikki knows that she survived for a reason. There is someone that she is suppose to find... Jack... and chooses to go back to her reality and ignore the consequences, for now.
Even though she was in the Everneath for a year, in our reality, she was only gone for 3 months. She was a star student with a promising future, but after she disappeared, everyone assumed that the fell to drugs and ran-away from home. Her comeback is hard on everyone, especially on Nikki, because when you are in the Everneath all of your feelings and emotions have been drained right out of you and it takes a long time for a little bit, if any, of your happiness to return. But when you meet Jack, as quickly as your heart will swoon for him, it will ache just as much too.

The ending was completely unpredictable to me. I cried and couldn't believe what had happened.
I cannot wait to read the next book, Everbound, and find out what happens next!


ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Because of two parents who were Greek myth geeks, I grew up thinking the latest fashion trends were inspired by Aphrodite, and a good conversational opener was, “So, which mythological character do you most resemble?” Despite these social shortcomings, I found a great husband who’s always my first reader. We live in Utah with our two young boys, who still have no idea why I'm at the computer all the time.

I received a Bachelor’s degree in Journalism from the University of Utah and a Master’s degree in International Relations from the London School of Economics.

5 comments:

  1. I know!! Awesome right????? I loved this book so much and I cannot wait for the next book to come out :) Cole was easily my favorite character here. I know I always fall for the bad boys :)

    ReplyDelete
  2. Also, I just clicked on the YA Crush Tourney link... hubba hubba, Daemon!!!

    ReplyDelete
  3. I too added this one to my TBR pile! Great review :)

    Found your blog via the Saturday Situation :)

    http://viewfromthehillbookreviews.blogspot.com

    ReplyDelete

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