Friday, January 20, 2012

Review: Everneath by Brodi Ashton

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Everneath
Brodi Ashton
Release date: January 24th, 2012
by Balzer+Bray/HarperCollins

Goodreads / Purchase

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…

*A copy was provided by HarperCollins for review purposes*
Hades and Persephone, we’ve all heard the story. Of all the myths, this is easily my favorite. When I saw that Everneath was a retelling of this heartbreaking tale, I was instantly attracted to it. However, I was mistaken. This is not a Persephone and Hades retelling per se, but a modernized, completely original story that is loosely based on the myths of Persephone and Eurydice. It was beautiful!

First and foremost, the character that breathes powerfully throughout this book, is the emotion. It is full of raw, pure, palpable emotions. I could constantly sense Nikki’s despair. Even when stripped of all feeling, she has a hollowness that I could easily discern; a void once full of energy. She lost everything to the Everneath, and six months is an incredibly short time when you know what you’re going back to. My heart was breaking for her, while holding on to a tiny flicker of hope that things would turn around.

You can’t start describing Nikki without first understanding Cole. Cole is manipulative and cunning, which is capitalized by the fact that he can control emotions. He wants Nikki; Nikki loves Jack. So while her actions can seem a bit rash, even impulsive, Cole plays a big role behind these decisions. Her doubts, her pain, her fears, they’re all fabricated, or at the very least, magnified by Cole. With this in play, I couldn’t help but open my heart up to her. She becomes his puppet, and it’s tragic. Cole and Jack are complete opposites which makes a fantastic love triangle. One you will love, and one you will love to hate.

To add to the trepidation, the story shifts from past to present in a way that leaves you feeling restless. You KNOW what’s going to happen while seeing these events unfold. It keeps the story intriguing, while building anticipation for a shattering ending. Was it predictable? Yes. But was it original? Completely. This fresh take on the Persephone myth mixes the old with the new for an altogether beautiful and dark tale.  

4 Hot Espressos
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Giselle

Canadian blogger, wife, mother, coffee lover, and sarcastic at heart! She has had a love for all things bookish since before Amazon and eReaders existed *le gasp*. You can also find her organizing tours and other fun things at Xpresso Book Tours.

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29 Responses to “Review: Everneath by Brodi Ashton”

  2. Kelly

    I’ve got this one pre-ordered from the Book Depository and I can’t wait for it to get here! I’m glad I read your review, so I can be prepared to see how Cole manipulates Nikki. Great review!

    Kelly
    Radiant Shadows

  5. Mary @ BookSwarm

    Hey, I reviewed this today, too! 🙂
    Very intriguing storyline. The characters were all so damaged, each in their own way. And, of course, I really enjoyed the twisted mythology.

  7. Ashley

    This is one of my absolute most anticipated reads of the season! I’ve heard really good things. So excited ESPECIALLY since it is a debut author. SO SOON! 🙂 Thanks for the review.

  8. Amy

    Awesome review Giselle!! I completely agree with the building anticipation, and how your heart is just breaking for Nikki. I was so tense reading much of thie book. I really felt very wrapped up in the emotions. Your review is so well written, and it makes me want to read the book again. 🙂

  10. Jac

    I’m another who has Persephone as my favorite myth – and I love that it’s not a “retelling” but a modern and completely unique story! (Because in my mind? Nothing can touch Persephone!)

    I’m nervous about the whole time shifting bit – following those can sometimes get confusing. But I’m glad to hear it works well.

    -Jac @ For Love and Books

  11. Carina

    I’m really glad you enjoyed this one, too. I definitely can’t wait to get my hands on the sequel of this, because I really want to know how the story continues. 🙂

    Carina

  13. Dominique

    Great review!
    This one sounds really good–it’s definitely on my TBR list! I’ve been reading quite a few good reviews for it and I love mythology so I have high hopes for this novel! 🙂

  14. Dani @ Refracted Light

    Fantastic review. I thought this one to be good, but I wished more had happened in the 6 months Nikki was back. I felt there was a lot of wasted time. I did however, love Nikki and Jack. I loved how Ashton chronicles their relationship through past and present. I also agree that Cole is fantastic. Characters like Cole make my world go round… they’re just so darn interesting. 🙂

  16. Jess @ The Secret DMS FIles of Fairday Morrow

    That is so interesting- I had a completely different vision when I first saw the post on FB. The story of Persephone was my absolute favorite story when I was a little girl. I still have the book- it was what set me towards mythology. At first, my eyes semi rolled when I read the synopsis- because I would truly love to see a deep, dark novel written in the fashion of an author like Neil Gaiman, who takes myth and weaves it in modern- but your review really peaked my interest- I think it was the line, “It was beautiful.” Anyway, thanks!

  17. Giselle

    Thanks guys!

    @Carina: Omg I’m so curious because it could be an epic sequel!!

    @Dani: It’s true that she seemed to waste her time knowing I only had 6 months I don’t think I’d be doing homework! O_O

  18. Giselle

    @Jess: It wasn’t too dark, but it’s not a light hearted novel either. If you enjoyed the Persephone myth I think you should give this a try. It’s not a retelling but it’s definitely connected to it. The author states on her site that she didn’t even intend it to be a retelling at first, she just noticed the connection after a bit. But yes, overall it’s really beautiful and dark!

  19. Nina Reed

    I really liked Everneath, and I very much agree with you that the emotions really made this book. I hadn’t actually heard the Persephone myth before I read Everneath, but I loved how it only borrowed a little bit while still coming up with a completely new, fresh story!:)

  21. Jessica @ Books: A true story

    I thought it was a re-telling as well but I was blown away at how original it was. Great review. You had a lot of the same thoughts I did when I was reading it and I LOVED this book! I thought the shifts between the past and present was a beautiful contrast. I loved how Cole described Nikki as the happiest sad person he had ever met.

  24. Rebecca

    I absolutely LOVE your review. You’ve basically taken the words out of my mouth! This is exactly what I thought as well. It was beautiful, emotional, heartbreaking… I loved it.

  28. Novels On The Run

    I really enjoyed this book. Brodi takes the reader back and forth and we follow. It was a wonderfully original story with the Everneath. I have not read about Persephone etc, so I am now intrigued to know more. Funny I read another book after it that talked about the Daughters of Persephone. I’m like , I was obviously studying the wrong things at school..ha! Or I have been under a rock. All this mythology I am learning through YA books:D

    Michelle

  29. Erica

    This one was so super fun – I am really curious to see what happens in the sequel now! I loved how unique this it was.