Review: Everneath by Brodi Ashton

From the Publisher:

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.

My Thoughts:

Everneath is author Brodi Ashton's debut novel. As such, I had no expectations when I started reading. I have to say, I was pleasantly surprised. The story is loosely based on tales from Greek mythology. A girl is tricked into spending time in the Everneath, only to be given a brief period to set things right before having to return and spend eternity below.

At first, you might think this is the second novel in a series. The story starts with Nikki already in the Everneath. But this is the author's first novel. You get the back story spread throughout. I was a little concerned for a bit that all the flashbacks would hinder the flow of the novel, but it actually fits together quite nicely.

What would a young adult novel be without a little romance? Certainly not this story. Nikki and Jack have that deep, connected romance. Cole wants Nikki to be his queen, while Julianna, Nikki's best friend, has her eye on Jack. Only one word comes to mind, angst.

This was a good book and I recommend it to lovers of Dark Fantasy and Young Adult novels. One last tidbit. I love that the rock band is named The Dead Elvises. Awesome!

The Author:

Brodi Ashton 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. Brodi has an active following on her blog, which can be found at www.brodiashton.blogspot.com. She lives in Utah with her family. Everneath is her debut novel.

Rating: 4/5

Book Details:

Everneath by Brodi Ashton
Harper Collins Publishers
Publication Date: January 24, 2012

Disclaimer:

I received an advance copy of this book from the publisher for review.