Book Review: Everneath by Brodi Ashton

Everneath by Brodi Ashton

Publisher: Balzer + Bray

Publish Date: January 24, 2012

Hardcover, 384 pages 
Fiction, Young Adult, Paranormal
 ISBN: 978-0062071132

My Review:
Wow, this is a story that can transport you away, suck you in and enthrall you all-in-one.  I had a hard time making myself go to work on Friday.  I really wanted to stay home and read this.  Instead I spent the morning Saturday finishing this up.  What an amazing book.

I was captivated by Nikki (Becks) from the first page when she is separating from Cole in the Everneath.  I was left wondering why she was there, did she love Cole, but then bam, she's thinking about another boy and he's the reason she wants to leave.  Wow.  As the book goes by, I found myself more and more under her spell.  She really wants to do what is right.  She has made mistakes.  I also found myself really liking Jack, the mysterious boy who lures her back to the real world and Jules, her best friend from before as well.  Cole makes a great "bad guy" of sorts.  He seems bad, but is he?  I found his character interesting in the book even if I never could like him.

The plot was amazing.  I love how Ms. Ashton goes back and forth in time to show what happened in the past to lead up to what is going on now.  She handles the back and forth masterfully so I was never confused.  She also paces it well, never giving away too  much and keeping the reader enthralled and wanting to turn pages to figure out what made Nikki make that final decision.  And the ending, wow, what can I say.  You know I won't give it away, but it's just astounding. 

I loved the book as a whole, the characters, the plot, the pacing, it was all masterful.  The incorporation of mythology was a nice touch as well and made the book have even more depth.  I found myself enthralled by the mythology angle.  I loved mythology in school and wasn't as familiar with the stories she used.  The great thing, this is Ms. Ashton's first book.  I can't wait to read her next book.  So if you are looking for a great YA book from a debut author that has mythology, suspense, great characters and a well-paced plot, then give Everneath a read.  And make sure you don't have to go to work or school the next day.

My Rating: 5.0/5.0

Parental guidance: No bad language, some references to sex, but it's very vague. Characters kiss and things do heat up, but again this is vague and "off camera" and handled well I think.  It's a book best for 14+ I think.  But overall it's a clean book.

About the Book:
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...

About the Author (from Goodreads.com): 
I write Young Adult novels. I eat cinnamon bears. I love me some Diet Coke.

My debut book EVERNEATH (the first in a trilogy) comes out Winter 2012 with Balzer and Bray (Harper Collins).

I'm represented by Michael Bourret at Dystel and Goderich Literary Management.

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FTC Information: I received this book from the publisher for an honest review.  I do make money from purchases made at The Book Depository and B&N.com, but all money is used to fund giveaways and shipping for giveaways from the blog.