EVERNEATH by Brodi Ashton Review

E V E R N E A T H

Author: Brodi Ashton

Release date: January 24, 2012

Publisher: HarperCollins / Balzer + Bray

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Rating: 4 Stars

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. . .

Everneath started off for me as a book that kept me turning the pages mostly because of the amount of things I didn't know. What exactly is the Everneath? Why did Nikki have to stay huddled with Cole for a century & where? Why did that person betray her? What happened in the past that I don't know about that the rest of the characters in the story do? Among many other questions I had running rampant in my head that day.

I sighed and began to think that this was one of those stories where you're kept completely in the dark until the very last few chapters, and until then you're left wandering aimlessly...confused. BUT this was not one of those books. The more I read the more the pieces began to fit together. And I found as the small details began to materialize in front of me that the story got quite addictive. Now, with most of my questions answered I was able to really think in depth about what was going on between Nik, Cole, and Jack and the mystery that was the Everneath. I still feel like the characters haven't really explored the Everneath, but I'm almost 80% sure we'll find out more about the place in the 2nd book. I have a feeling the protag will want to go take a visit there for awhile (just a guess though!)

At first I had a hard time connecting with the protagonist—Nikki—because of how distant she was. But then later I find that there's a reason for that: Living in the Everneath has drained her of her emotions. As the affects of the Everneath fade Nikki's true character begins to show, and I loved seeing the real her with all her emotions intact. I felt like she was a great heroine. Her actions in this book tell me she's not the type to stand in the background and watch things happen. She caring, and adamant in making her vision become a reality (even if she knows the odds are really against her). I loved Jack! He's not an Everliving with super powers. Just an regular human guy with a great personality. And although Cole was the antagonist of this story, I found myself feeling pity for him throughout the whole book. I pictured him constantly as a hurt puppy. (Don't ask me why). You can tell that he's not entirely evil just by reading the dialogue, and he really cares for Nikki....but he's a bit selfish. He will get what he wants at the expense of other people's lives. But then, he's an Everliving so what do you expect? Overall, I really enjoyed this book and am really incredibly excited to read the next one. Hopefully the wait won't be that long.

EVERNEATH by Brodi Ashton Review