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books4susie's review against another edition
5.0
Nikki Beckett was at the depths of despair last spring. Her mother was dead at the hands of a drunk driver and she had broken up with her boyfriend, Jack Caputo, the starting quarterback of the football team. So when she meets Cole and he offers to take all of her pain away, she is grateful not to feel anything anymore. To her friends and family, Nikki just vanishes one day. In reality, Cole, an immortal who feeds on human emotions, has taken Nikki to the Everneath. After Cole feeds on Nikki’s despairing emotions for six months, a century in Everneath time, he offers to make Nikki an immortal as well. Only she cannot get a boy’s face from her mind. She asks to go back to the mortal world. She will have six months to make things right with those she left behind before returning to Everneath permanently.
Everyone is stunned when Nikki returns home. Her father and most of her classmates assume she was strung out on drugs. Her little brother Tommy just wants his old sister back, but Nikki is physically weakened by her ordeal. Upon returning to school, she runs into her best friend Jules and her former boyfriend and the love of her life, Jack. Nikki cannot help but be drawn back towards Jack but she knows she won’t be able to stay it’s not fair to him to become involved again. Nikki is searching for the words to say goodbye and find redemption if it exists.
Jack is determined not to let Nikki slip away again if he can help it and reaches out to her. Nikki finds her resolve slowly slipping away until Cole comes back into her life. Even though Nikki must return to Everneath, Cole offers to make Nikki his queen so that she can escape the dreaded existence in the Tunnels. Nikki is unwilling to feed off the emotional pain of others and steadfastly refuses. But when Cole puts pressure on her by hurting those she loves, Nikki is determined to uncover the secrets of Everneath, Cole and possibly find a way to remain in the mortal world.
Nikki’s father, the town mayor, decides she can volunteer at the local soup kitchen. She agrees thinking it may be a way to redemption. It is there that she meets Mary, a homeless woman who sees to have dementia. Mary is said to be looking for the Daughters of Persephone and Nikki starts to believe that Mary may hold the key to getting her life back.
Can Nikki find a way to keep from returning to Everneath? What secrets is Cole hiding? Will Nikki find her way back to Jack? And is redemption a possibility for Nikki?
Nikki’s story is told in alternating timelines of what happened in her life to allow Cole to Feed from her and what occurs in the six months she has left on Earth before returning to the Everneath forever. This modern day retelling of the Hades and Persephone myth is interspersed with other myths about the underworld. Ashton sets up a great beginning to her Everneath trilogy.
Everyone is stunned when Nikki returns home. Her father and most of her classmates assume she was strung out on drugs. Her little brother Tommy just wants his old sister back, but Nikki is physically weakened by her ordeal. Upon returning to school, she runs into her best friend Jules and her former boyfriend and the love of her life, Jack. Nikki cannot help but be drawn back towards Jack but she knows she won’t be able to stay it’s not fair to him to become involved again. Nikki is searching for the words to say goodbye and find redemption if it exists.
Jack is determined not to let Nikki slip away again if he can help it and reaches out to her. Nikki finds her resolve slowly slipping away until Cole comes back into her life. Even though Nikki must return to Everneath, Cole offers to make Nikki his queen so that she can escape the dreaded existence in the Tunnels. Nikki is unwilling to feed off the emotional pain of others and steadfastly refuses. But when Cole puts pressure on her by hurting those she loves, Nikki is determined to uncover the secrets of Everneath, Cole and possibly find a way to remain in the mortal world.
Nikki’s father, the town mayor, decides she can volunteer at the local soup kitchen. She agrees thinking it may be a way to redemption. It is there that she meets Mary, a homeless woman who sees to have dementia. Mary is said to be looking for the Daughters of Persephone and Nikki starts to believe that Mary may hold the key to getting her life back.
Can Nikki find a way to keep from returning to Everneath? What secrets is Cole hiding? Will Nikki find her way back to Jack? And is redemption a possibility for Nikki?
Nikki’s story is told in alternating timelines of what happened in her life to allow Cole to Feed from her and what occurs in the six months she has left on Earth before returning to the Everneath forever. This modern day retelling of the Hades and Persephone myth is interspersed with other myths about the underworld. Ashton sets up a great beginning to her Everneath trilogy.
lildrinkwater's review against another edition
4.0
3.5 stars. I wish there could have been more of a character development for Cole. Hes such a crucial character in the book, but we don't really know anything about him. Becks seems a little selfish for my liking, but not the worst female lead that I've read lately. Looking forward to the next book to see what happens.
charms1976's review against another edition
5.0
This was one of those books that you are dying to read and you know you won't be doing anything else until you read that last sentence on that last page. I first fell in love with this book upon seeing a preview of the cover on another blog. Then I continued on and read the summary. It sounded so captivating that I just knew I wanted to read it!
After reading the first chapter I thought Cole was going to be the good guy. What I came to find out was that Cole was the tempting bad boy that you want to love, but nothing good can come out of a relationship with him. Jack was the true hero and good guy of the book. I fell in love with him the moment he entered the story and hoped he would be Nikki's salvation and white knight. What I didn't expect was the way the story ended and had me craving for more!
Be prepared to have tissues on hand for an ending that will rip your heart out and wishing we wouldn't have to wait so long for then next book in the series. With Greek myth, characters that hold on and don't let go, and a plot that flows wonderfully, you will be captured from page one and not wanting the ride to end.
After reading the first chapter I thought Cole was going to be the good guy. What I came to find out was that Cole was the tempting bad boy that you want to love, but nothing good can come out of a relationship with him. Jack was the true hero and good guy of the book. I fell in love with him the moment he entered the story and hoped he would be Nikki's salvation and white knight. What I didn't expect was the way the story ended and had me craving for more!
Be prepared to have tissues on hand for an ending that will rip your heart out and wishing we wouldn't have to wait so long for then next book in the series. With Greek myth, characters that hold on and don't let go, and a plot that flows wonderfully, you will be captured from page one and not wanting the ride to end.
alikatson's review
4.0
3.5 stars.
Part of an emo buddy read with the MacHalos.
In the world of YA paranormal fiction this was relatively entertaining but it still suffered from the things that frustrate me about some YA novels. Dear book: it’s not you, it’s me?
Anyway the first half of this book was mediocre to me. I feel like the story would have been better without the drama and questions about people’s true feelings, etc. How and why Jack and Nikki formed such a deep connection seemed confusing to me. I just wish they had just moved beyond the drama earlier, I would have felt more connected to the characters.
Despite this - I was able to listen without groaning too many times. Nikki is pretty self-aware - I understood her decisions (good and bad) and could relate them back to my teen self. She also cared deeply for her family and friends despite feeling alienated from them.
In the second half things pick up, the last fourth even more when the characters start exploring the mythological ties to Nikki’s predicament. Characters are more fully developed, things start happening – overall a much better story.
Since I enjoyed the second half I plan to read the next books when I have some time between buddy reads.
Part of an emo buddy read with the MacHalos.
In the world of YA paranormal fiction this was relatively entertaining but it still suffered from the things that frustrate me about some YA novels. Dear book: it’s not you, it’s me?
Anyway the first half of this book was mediocre to me. I feel like the story would have been better without the drama and questions about people’s true feelings, etc. How and why Jack and Nikki formed such a deep connection seemed confusing to me
Spoiler
he always loved her but dated the whole cheerleading squad, huh? They only dated for a few months but they had been friends before – this was unclear as children or as teenagers? I feel like their relationship was all stated but not shown in the first half. What was the point with the jealousy and her friend?Despite this - I was able to listen without groaning too many times. Nikki is pretty self-aware - I understood her decisions (good and bad) and could relate them back to my teen self. She also cared deeply for her family and friends despite feeling alienated from them.
In the second half things pick up, the last fourth even more when the characters start exploring the mythological ties to Nikki’s predicament. Characters are more fully developed, things start happening – overall a much better story.
Since I enjoyed the second half I plan to read the next books when I have some time between buddy reads.
cburgbennett's review against another edition
5.0
Tear my heart out why don't ya?
Gosh. Amazing book. I was hooked from the beginning, literally did not put it down until I was finished.
Super cool mythology. Heartbreaking story all around. Some amazing twists. Had comic relief...which made the story so much better...without it I would be a blob of depression. Just a really great book. Highly recommended to lovers of mythology and magical things.
Gosh. Amazing book. I was hooked from the beginning, literally did not put it down until I was finished.
Super cool mythology. Heartbreaking story all around. Some amazing twists. Had comic relief...which made the story so much better...without it I would be a blob of depression. Just a really great book. Highly recommended to lovers of mythology and magical things.
tippyloohoo's review against another edition
3.0
17 year old Nikki Becket, Becks, has had a rough six months. After the man who killed her mom in a drunk driving crash was set free she she disappeared, drugs everyone assumes, but now she's back at school. If only they knew the truth. If only they knew that it has been 100 years to Nikki. A century of unconsciousness in the Everneath giving her energy to Cole so that he would take her pain away. Only one thing kept her going, and brought her back, Jack Caputo. After she forgot everyone else, even after she forgot his name, Jack's face stayed in her mind. But everything is so different now that she's back. They've both changed. Can Jack forgive her for leaving without a word? Can she forgive him for driving her away? If only it were that simple.
Becks time back is limited and the Tunnels will come for her unless she agrees to go back to the Everneath with Cole and be his queen. Nikki can't figure out why Cole thinks she is so special. Or why Mary, the homeless lady she has befriended at the soup kitchen, seems to see right into her. Together Becks and Jack will try to fix their broken relationship and find a way to save Nikki from her fate.
Everneath is the first book in a planned trilogy by debut author Brodi Ashton. The series is a loose reworking of the Persephone myth; Persephone was kidnapped by Hades, god of the underworld, to be his queen and tricked into eating pomegranate seeds. She was rescued by Hermes but because she ate in the underworld she was doomed to remain there for four months out of the year, corresponding to the number of seeds she had consumed.
While first reading Everneath I didn't really get the Persephone aspect of the story but the more I read the more it made sense. It's a really loose interpretation but it's there if you look hard enough. The story is well written and I really liked the character of Nikki. A little slow and predictable in parts but overall a good read. The ending left me wanting more which is good since there will be two more books coming out.
Becks time back is limited and the Tunnels will come for her unless she agrees to go back to the Everneath with Cole and be his queen. Nikki can't figure out why Cole thinks she is so special. Or why Mary, the homeless lady she has befriended at the soup kitchen, seems to see right into her. Together Becks and Jack will try to fix their broken relationship and find a way to save Nikki from her fate.
Everneath is the first book in a planned trilogy by debut author Brodi Ashton. The series is a loose reworking of the Persephone myth; Persephone was kidnapped by Hades, god of the underworld, to be his queen and tricked into eating pomegranate seeds. She was rescued by Hermes but because she ate in the underworld she was doomed to remain there for four months out of the year, corresponding to the number of seeds she had consumed.
While first reading Everneath I didn't really get the Persephone aspect of the story but the more I read the more it made sense. It's a really loose interpretation but it's there if you look hard enough. The story is well written and I really liked the character of Nikki. A little slow and predictable in parts but overall a good read. The ending left me wanting more which is good since there will be two more books coming out.
quillsandpages's review against another edition
It was a good book. not very good but good enough to kept me going that what will happen. what will be the fate of Nikki. I liked the character Cole but I think he should have shown some positive aspects of his personality. He sure as hell tried to look like he cares for Nikki but he should have tried harder. I think some changes needed to be made in his character. and Jack well he was awesome. a bit cliche but his not giving up on Nick got me :)
sdb27's review against another edition
4.0
Everneath was, in a word, riveting. Finally, a good and original supernatural-genre young adult book! I haven’t read one of those in a while. When I first heard about Everneath, it was last year when the cover had been released. I knew instantly upon seeing the cover that it was something I should get ahold of when it came out. I mean, look at it! It’s gorgeous! But more than that, the premise is what interested me the most; I’m a sucker for re-imaginings, especially those based on Greek myth, like this one.
What Everneath did best at first was that it held my interest from the first paragraph. It drops you right in the middle of the underworld where Nikki is being held, with very little explanation but intriguing enough to make you want to find out the “how”s and the “why”s. This book was nothing if not a page-turner! Each chapter’s end revealed something new that left me guessing where the story was going next.
Another thing that I found this book did exceptionally was the love triangle. Once topside again, Nikki finds herself drawn to the boy that kept her sane during her time in the underworld—Jack. He’s human, and the first descriptions of him made me wonder what Nikki saw in him, but as the book progressed and his character fleshed out, I could see it. There’s something between the two of them that is strong enough to challenge the pull of the Everneath. Of course, love stories are rarely interesting with just one love interest, and so Nikki also finds that the dark, alluring, and dangerous Cole—the selfsame immortal who fed on her for a century in the Everneath—feels something more for her than mere selfish interest. Ultimately, Nikki’s interactions with each of these boys was equally compelling, and left me personally torn as to who I wanted her to end up with… which is a sign of great storytelling, in my opinion.
And oh, did I mention I love retellings of myths? Brodi Ashton took the tales of Persephone/Hades and Eurydice/Orpheus and spun them into an extraordinary, modern fabric rich with mystique and enough originality to both fascinate and entertain the reader. However, the one thing that is markedly different between the myths and Everneath is the fact that the Greek myths were pure tragedy, whereas the ending of Everneath promises hope for a better future for Nikki and those she loves.
I absolutely enjoyed Everneath from start to finish. The mythology was rich and promising, the characters interesting, and the prose evocative. I’m really looking forward to reading the sequel when it comes out!
____
For more book reviews, visit my blog The Bookshelf!
What Everneath did best at first was that it held my interest from the first paragraph. It drops you right in the middle of the underworld where Nikki is being held, with very little explanation but intriguing enough to make you want to find out the “how”s and the “why”s. This book was nothing if not a page-turner! Each chapter’s end revealed something new that left me guessing where the story was going next.
Another thing that I found this book did exceptionally was the love triangle. Once topside again, Nikki finds herself drawn to the boy that kept her sane during her time in the underworld—Jack. He’s human, and the first descriptions of him made me wonder what Nikki saw in him, but as the book progressed and his character fleshed out, I could see it. There’s something between the two of them that is strong enough to challenge the pull of the Everneath. Of course, love stories are rarely interesting with just one love interest, and so Nikki also finds that the dark, alluring, and dangerous Cole—the selfsame immortal who fed on her for a century in the Everneath—feels something more for her than mere selfish interest. Ultimately, Nikki’s interactions with each of these boys was equally compelling, and left me personally torn as to who I wanted her to end up with… which is a sign of great storytelling, in my opinion.
And oh, did I mention I love retellings of myths? Brodi Ashton took the tales of Persephone/Hades and Eurydice/Orpheus and spun them into an extraordinary, modern fabric rich with mystique and enough originality to both fascinate and entertain the reader. However, the one thing that is markedly different between the myths and Everneath is the fact that the Greek myths were pure tragedy, whereas the ending of Everneath promises hope for a better future for Nikki and those she loves.
I absolutely enjoyed Everneath from start to finish. The mythology was rich and promising, the characters interesting, and the prose evocative. I’m really looking forward to reading the sequel when it comes out!
____
For more book reviews, visit my blog The Bookshelf!
missbookiverse's review against another edition
3.0
Lang und breit
Everneath beginnt mit einem Kokon aus Schwärze, einem Erwachen aus einer hundertjährigen Starre. Ich hatte die Szene sofort vor Augen, war fasziniert von dem Bild einer ewigen Umarmung und wollte mehr wissen über dieses Everneath. Allerdings stolpert man nach dem Prolog erst mal zurück ins alltägliche Leben. Protagonistin Nikki ist heimgekehrt, auf der Erde ist nur ein halbes Jahr vergangen und sie muss sich nun dem Schulalltag und den zurückgelassenen Menschen stellen.
Am Anfang habe ich auch hier noch gespannt weitergelesen. Man wird nur häppchenweise mit Informationen gefüttert. Warum war Nikki im Everneath? Wie hat sie die Zeit dort verbracht? Und wie hat sie Cole kennen gelernt?
In Nikkis neuem Leben geht es plötzlich um zwei junge Männer, die großes Interesse an ihr aufweisen. Zum einen wäre da Cole, der sie ins Everneath gebracht hat, der die letzten 100 Jahre an ihrer Seite war und dem sie nie recht traut. Empfindet er wirklich etwas für sie oder will er sich nur ihre Lebensenergie zu Nutzen machen? Kandidat Nummer 2 heißt Jack und ist Nikkis Sandkastenfreund. Vor ihrem Verschwinden war er sogar ihr fester Freund und die Gefühle, die die beiden füreinander hegen, konnten nie recht verebben. Was nach Dreiecksgeschichte klingt, ist gar keine, denn für Nikki steht die Wahl von vorneherein fest und sie lässt sich in ihren Gefühlen nicht beirren. Einerseits erfrischend, andererseits finde ich, dass sie die langweiligere Wahl getroffen hat. Jack ist dieser typische beste Freund, immer nett, Sportskanone und einfühlsam. Cole wirkt dagegen cool, spitzbübig und gefährlich. Es ist zwar angenehm mal eine Protagonistin zu haben, die sich eindeutig für einen Jungen entscheiden kann, aber mehr Knistern zwischen Cole und ihr hätte mir gefallen.
Nach dem starken Anfang hat mich das Buch zur Mitte hin leider gelangweilt. Es zieht sich, die Handlung kommt nicht recht vom Fleck, hier ein Treffen mit Cole, da ein Besuch von Jack, noch mal eine Erinnerung, um die Vergangenheit zu erklären und wieder von vorn. Beim nächsten Mal bitte mehr Tempo und Eindeutigkeit.
Zu Beginn wirkt Nikki wie eine selbstsichere, einfühlsame Person. Sie weiß, was sie in der wenigen Zeit, die ihr bleibt vorhat. Sie weiß welchen Jungen sie will und sie sitzt nicht ständig heulend in der Ecke. Allerdings verlässt sie gegen Ende ein wenig das logische Denken. Manche Dinge (Stichwort Anker) sind einfach so offensichtlich und simpel! Dadurch konnte mich auch das Ende nicht überraschen.
Schade fand ich außerdem, dass der Grund für Nikkis Verschwinden so banal ist.
Wie ganz oben erwähnt, fand ich die Idee des Everneaths total toll, düster und romantisch. Blöderweise wird sie viel zu oberflächlich erforscht. Ich weiß zwar, dass Cole und Nikki dort 100 Jahre in einer umarmenden Starre verbracht haben, aber Nikki denkt an die Zeit auch oft so zurück als hätte sie Dinge mit Cole erlebt, zumindest Unterhaltungen mit ihm geführt. Deshalb frage ich mich, wie genau das im Everneath von statten geht.
Zusätzlich dazu hat mir die Veränderung in Nikkis Charakter gefehlt. Sie hat 100 (!) Jahre Everneath hinter sich, das muss doch etwas mit einem anstellen. Das ist mehr als ein durchschnittliches Leben. Sie müsste sich doch ganz anders verhalten als andere Teenager, weiser sein, reifer, alles mit mehr Abstand betrachten. Leider hat die Autorin diesen Aspekt überhaupt nicht erforscht.
Everneath hat die Sage von Persephone und Hades zur Grundlage. Geschichten und Vergleiche aus der griechischen Mythologie werden während der Handlung mehrmals angesprochen. Umso bescheuerter fand ich, dass am Ende plötzlich eine Erzählung aus der ägyptischen Mythologie alle Rätsel löst. Wozu? Man hätte doch sicher auch bei den Griechen etwas Passendes finden können oder sich wenigstens etwas ausdenken.
Kurz und knapp
Everneath hat ein paar funkelnde Ideen und Momente. Leider gibt es dazwischen viel zu viele langatmige Lückenfüller. Wer ein Herz für die „Nice Guys“ hat, könnte die Seiten aber wesentlich befriedigter umblättern.
Everneath beginnt mit einem Kokon aus Schwärze, einem Erwachen aus einer hundertjährigen Starre. Ich hatte die Szene sofort vor Augen, war fasziniert von dem Bild einer ewigen Umarmung und wollte mehr wissen über dieses Everneath. Allerdings stolpert man nach dem Prolog erst mal zurück ins alltägliche Leben. Protagonistin Nikki ist heimgekehrt, auf der Erde ist nur ein halbes Jahr vergangen und sie muss sich nun dem Schulalltag und den zurückgelassenen Menschen stellen.
Am Anfang habe ich auch hier noch gespannt weitergelesen. Man wird nur häppchenweise mit Informationen gefüttert. Warum war Nikki im Everneath? Wie hat sie die Zeit dort verbracht? Und wie hat sie Cole kennen gelernt?
In Nikkis neuem Leben geht es plötzlich um zwei junge Männer, die großes Interesse an ihr aufweisen. Zum einen wäre da Cole, der sie ins Everneath gebracht hat, der die letzten 100 Jahre an ihrer Seite war und dem sie nie recht traut. Empfindet er wirklich etwas für sie oder will er sich nur ihre Lebensenergie zu Nutzen machen? Kandidat Nummer 2 heißt Jack und ist Nikkis Sandkastenfreund. Vor ihrem Verschwinden war er sogar ihr fester Freund und die Gefühle, die die beiden füreinander hegen, konnten nie recht verebben. Was nach Dreiecksgeschichte klingt, ist gar keine, denn für Nikki steht die Wahl von vorneherein fest und sie lässt sich in ihren Gefühlen nicht beirren. Einerseits erfrischend, andererseits finde ich, dass sie die langweiligere Wahl getroffen hat. Jack ist dieser typische beste Freund, immer nett, Sportskanone und einfühlsam. Cole wirkt dagegen cool, spitzbübig und gefährlich. Es ist zwar angenehm mal eine Protagonistin zu haben, die sich eindeutig für einen Jungen entscheiden kann, aber mehr Knistern zwischen Cole und ihr hätte mir gefallen.
Nach dem starken Anfang hat mich das Buch zur Mitte hin leider gelangweilt. Es zieht sich, die Handlung kommt nicht recht vom Fleck, hier ein Treffen mit Cole, da ein Besuch von Jack, noch mal eine Erinnerung, um die Vergangenheit zu erklären und wieder von vorn. Beim nächsten Mal bitte mehr Tempo und Eindeutigkeit.
Zu Beginn wirkt Nikki wie eine selbstsichere, einfühlsame Person. Sie weiß, was sie in der wenigen Zeit, die ihr bleibt vorhat. Sie weiß welchen Jungen sie will und sie sitzt nicht ständig heulend in der Ecke. Allerdings verlässt sie gegen Ende ein wenig das logische Denken. Manche Dinge (Stichwort Anker) sind einfach so offensichtlich und simpel! Dadurch konnte mich auch das Ende nicht überraschen.
Schade fand ich außerdem, dass der Grund für Nikkis Verschwinden so banal ist.
Spoiler
Den Tod ihrer Mutter fand ich stimmig, aber dass sie Jack dabei erwischt, wie er eigentlich gar nicht fremdgeht, war so ein langweiliges Klischee. Da hätte er doch wenigstens wirklich etwas falsch machen können, das sie zu Cole treibt.Wie ganz oben erwähnt, fand ich die Idee des Everneaths total toll, düster und romantisch. Blöderweise wird sie viel zu oberflächlich erforscht. Ich weiß zwar, dass Cole und Nikki dort 100 Jahre in einer umarmenden Starre verbracht haben, aber Nikki denkt an die Zeit auch oft so zurück als hätte sie Dinge mit Cole erlebt, zumindest Unterhaltungen mit ihm geführt. Deshalb frage ich mich, wie genau das im Everneath von statten geht.
Zusätzlich dazu hat mir die Veränderung in Nikkis Charakter gefehlt. Sie hat 100 (!) Jahre Everneath hinter sich, das muss doch etwas mit einem anstellen. Das ist mehr als ein durchschnittliches Leben. Sie müsste sich doch ganz anders verhalten als andere Teenager, weiser sein, reifer, alles mit mehr Abstand betrachten. Leider hat die Autorin diesen Aspekt überhaupt nicht erforscht.
Everneath hat die Sage von Persephone und Hades zur Grundlage. Geschichten und Vergleiche aus der griechischen Mythologie werden während der Handlung mehrmals angesprochen. Umso bescheuerter fand ich, dass am Ende plötzlich eine Erzählung aus der ägyptischen Mythologie alle Rätsel löst. Wozu? Man hätte doch sicher auch bei den Griechen etwas Passendes finden können oder sich wenigstens etwas ausdenken.
Kurz und knapp
Everneath hat ein paar funkelnde Ideen und Momente. Leider gibt es dazwischen viel zu viele langatmige Lückenfüller. Wer ein Herz für die „Nice Guys“ hat, könnte die Seiten aber wesentlich befriedigter umblättern.
sony08's review against another edition
5.0
This was brilliant and I can't wait for the second book in this series.