Author: Brodi Ashton
Series? Yes, a trilogy
Publication Date: January 24, 2012
Publisher: Balzer + Bray
Source: I checked out the audiobook of Everneath via Overdrive!
Last spring, Nikki Beckett vanished, sucked into an underworld known as the Everneath. Now she’s returned—to her old life, her family, her boyfriend—before she’s 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 precious months forgetting the Everneath and trying to reconnect with her boyfriend, Jack, the person most devastated by her disappearance—and the one person she loves more than anything. But there’s just one problem: Cole, the smoldering immortal who enticed her to the Everneath in the first place, has followed Nikki home. Cole wants to take over the throne in the underworld and is convinced Nikki is the key to making it happen. And he’ll do whatever it takes to bring her back, this time as his queen.
As Nikki’s time on the Surface draws to a close and her relationships begin slipping from her grasp, she is 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 queen.
Everneath is a captivating story of love, loss, and immortality from debut author Brodi Ashton.
Everneath is the first book in a very popular YA series (this book has over 30,000 ratings on Goodreads!), which was one of the factors for why I picked this up. I wanted to know why so many people love this series, and decided to give the series a shot. I didn't know too much about the plot of the book, and plunged right into it without any expectations. Luckily, I really enjoyed myself while reading this book!
The plot of Everneath is so refreshing. YA fantasy can get a bit boring when its the same formula superimposed on the book, but Everneath differs from that formula. Nikki went missing last spring, and this book starts with her returning from the Everneath and to the Surface again. The vocabulary was a bit jarring at first, but I was able to pick up on it fairly quickly. While on the Surface (what we call Earth!), Nikki wants to mend the relationships she's broken. The catch is, in 6 months she's leaving again, and there's nothing she can do to stop it.
My favorite thing about this book was the plot. Like I said before, it was very refreshing. I liked that there was an inevitability in the book. I knew where the story was going, and was just along for the ride and enjoying it! However, the plot can only help so much.
My main issue with this book were the characters. I didn't find any of the characters to be complex, except for Cole. Cole is presented as the antagonist, but he's a bit more complex than that. If you have ever watched Vampire Dairies, Cole reminds me a bit of Damon. Needless to say, he's my favorite character by far. Nikki, the main character, was annoying. I didn't dislike her, but I didn't like her either. She's very self-centered, and I had a hard time sympathizing with her. The other main character is Jack, and he's very one dimensional. He is basically the straight-A popular guy, and I didn't care for him at all.
Not liking the characters that much is a downer when reading the book, but their relationships were convincing. Even though I didn't like the personalities that much, the interpersonal relationships were written well. I found myself caring about Nikki's relationship with her family, even though I didn't like them. So even though I didn't like Nikki, I was still rooting for her.
As for the audio part of this book, I can't say that I liked the narrator that much. Amy Rubinate is the narrator, and she was very robotic. I got used to her voice eventually, but it was really hard to get into the book when the dialogue and inner thought didn't flow naturally. I've listened to another book by her (Better Than Perfect, review here), and didn't like her narration in that either. Rubinate just isn't for me.
Even though I didn't like the characters that much, the plot and relationships were convincing. At the end of the book, I was invested in what was happening. Everneath has it's flaws, but it did keep me entertained! I don't know if I will be continuing with the series though. Time will tell!
With that, I give this book
3.5 out of 5 Stars!
Have you read Everneath? What did you think of it?
My favorite thing about this book was the plot. Like I said before, it was very refreshing. I liked that there was an inevitability in the book. I knew where the story was going, and was just along for the ride and enjoying it! However, the plot can only help so much.
My main issue with this book were the characters. I didn't find any of the characters to be complex, except for Cole. Cole is presented as the antagonist, but he's a bit more complex than that. If you have ever watched Vampire Dairies, Cole reminds me a bit of Damon. Needless to say, he's my favorite character by far. Nikki, the main character, was annoying. I didn't dislike her, but I didn't like her either. She's very self-centered, and I had a hard time sympathizing with her. The other main character is Jack, and he's very one dimensional. He is basically the straight-A popular guy, and I didn't care for him at all.
Not liking the characters that much is a downer when reading the book, but their relationships were convincing. Even though I didn't like the personalities that much, the interpersonal relationships were written well. I found myself caring about Nikki's relationship with her family, even though I didn't like them. So even though I didn't like Nikki, I was still rooting for her.
As for the audio part of this book, I can't say that I liked the narrator that much. Amy Rubinate is the narrator, and she was very robotic. I got used to her voice eventually, but it was really hard to get into the book when the dialogue and inner thought didn't flow naturally. I've listened to another book by her (Better Than Perfect, review here), and didn't like her narration in that either. Rubinate just isn't for me.
Even though I didn't like the characters that much, the plot and relationships were convincing. At the end of the book, I was invested in what was happening. Everneath has it's flaws, but it did keep me entertained! I don't know if I will be continuing with the series though. Time will tell!
With that, I give this book
3.5 out of 5 Stars!
Have you read Everneath? What did you think of it?
Thanks so much for stopping by and I'll see you soon with another post!
Happy Reading!
Genni @ Ready, Set, Read!
I definitely want to try this out some time, especially since I liked My Lady Jane so much. Overdrive is so handy isn't it! :)
ReplyDeleteI still need to read My Lady Jane! I've heard it's phenomenal! I love Overdrive! My local library has a great collection, but having it all online is so helpful!
DeleteI have the book to this and have been meaning to read it for forever. This review makes me want to bump it up high on my TBR!
ReplyDeleteI'm keeping my fingers crossed that you like it Carrie! I think it is worth the wait. :)
DeleteI'm glad you enjoyed this book! I vaguely remember reading this book - sadly, I don't think I enjoyed it (if I remember correctly). I feel like a love triangle seems familiar, but honestly this was so long again. I never continued the series and I think it is a solid choice. I LOVED the author's Diplomatic Immunity though. My Lady Jane was good too. ;) Great review, Genni!
ReplyDeleteHave a wonderful weekend. =)
Alyssa @ The Eater of Books!
I think you made the right choice too! If you don't remember that much of it, the book obviously didn't leave that much of an impression on you. I remember your review of Dimplomatic Immunity! I still need to read that. :) To be honest, I'm more interested in Diplomatic Immunity than I am in My Lady Jane.
DeleteThank you Alyssa! I hope you had a wonderful weekend as well. :)