Title: Everneath

Author: Brodi Ashton

Publisher: Harper Collins

Publication Date: January 2012

Genre: Young Adult Paranormal, Retelling

Series or Stand Alone: Series, Book One

Synopsis can be found here.
Netgalley review.

Review:

In her time of desperation, Nikki Bennett makes a plea with dangerous musician Cole. She asks him to take her pain away. Little does she know what that really means.
Six months after her entrance into the Everneath, where she was used to feed Cole her human emotions, she emerges from the dreamlike state back to Earth, her town and her family. She only has six months to say goodbye until she is sucked back forever. Unless she can find a way to stop it.

I wasn’t sure what to expect after reading all the hype surrounding this book. I love the story of Persephone and Hades and it seems a more than a few authors are turning to retelling mythology these days.

Everneath is so much more.

Beautifully written, the tension in the story strikes your heart. Nikki counts down not just her time back to say goodbye, but also recounts her time before the Feed, and what circumstances lead to her going to Cole and asking for his help.

In the current time, Cole is after her for reasons of his own. Could he have real feelings for Nikki? They did spend a century together in the Everneath, as time runs a lot quicker there than Earth. Or is he up to something more sinister? Cole doesn’t play nice, or fair.

Nikki is a brave, complicated and fragile girl. I love how her character develops through the book, becoming stronger and more sure of herself. The girl she was before the Feed is very different than the one counting down her six months.
I really like all of Nikki’s scenes with Cole. He’s a hard one to read, making his interest in Nikki and his own feelings a complete mystery. He is Danger Boy, tempting, handsome but not good for you in a motorcycle riding don’t bring home to Mom sort of way.
And of course Jack, the boyfriend she left behind. The one she came back for to say goodbye.
It’s not really a love triangle. Ashton does a superb job narrating Nikki’s conflicting feelings towards Jack, and her complete dislike for Cole.

The story flows fast, turning and keeping you hooked until the last page. As the tension grows and the clock winds down, the story kept me guessing all through the end. I sat down to read it a few chapters and finished the whole thing.  No kidding. All day.
All. Day.
It was brilliant.

How long do I have to wait for the sequel!?

Rating 10 One of The Best