Everneath by Brodi Ashton

Author: Brodi Ashton
Edition: Simon Pulse Paperback
First Published: 24th January 2012
Pages: 370
Notes: Everneath #1
Rating: 4/5

Six months ago, Nikki Beckett vanished into an underworld known as the Everneath.
Now she's returned to her old life for another six months before the Everneath comes to claim her... this time forever. Nikki longs to spend this precious time reconnecting with the people she left behind - her family, her friends and, most importantly, her boyfriend, Jack, the one person she loves more than anything.
But there's just one problem: Cole, the smouldering immortal who enticed her to the Everneath, has followed Nikki home, convinced that she is the key to claiming the throne of the Underworld. Cole wants to bing Nikki back to the Everneath, but this time as his queen.
Now Nikki only has six months for goodbyes she can't find the words for, six months to make the hardest decision of her life, six months to find redemption, if it exists...

Let me just start by saying Everneath was one unique and enjoyable read. I'd had this book on my wishlist for quite sometime and when I finally spotted a copy, what can a poor reader girl like myself do but to buy it? Even though this book wasn't absolutely flawless or anything I still really enjoyed it... and of course the gorgeous cover!

I know next to nothing about greek mythology (who needs to research when we've got all these books?) and even though at times I'm sure knowing about it could have given me a deeper understanding, it still was quite easy to understand. I believe that it is a modern retelling of the Persephone myth, and since I have read a couple of books now based around this certain myth I actually know a little about it - yay! Nevertheless, feel free to drop a comment if you have anything you feel I should know!

The first page is very intriguing and you immediately want to know what's going on. The storyline overall is pretty impressive. I quite liked how every now and again it would give us an event that happened before Nikki went to the Everneath because it builds up to the reason of why she went and we also get to see how all her relationships with her friends and family had been like. The only thing I found wierd in this book - it's not really a negative point... hence why I used wierd, hehe - is how Nikki starts up knitting when she escapes the Everneath... she even knits at school, is it just me that finds this strange? I think she takes up knitting because it gives her something to do to take her mind of everything but to me I just found it... strange. After a while I did get used to it though so it wasn't anything major.

The main character, Nikki, is very well developed. You can believe what she is feeling and you understand her. Over the course of the novel you can see how her courage builds up and you can't help but pity her because she has no choice but to leave her world to go to Everneath... or does she?

Straight off, even just by reading the blurb, I thought I'd like Cole way more than Jack because, as some of you will already know, I usually favour the bad boys. But this just wasn't the case in this book. I am most definetly Team Jack (well for now... we never know what the sequel will bring!) because I just didn't warm to Cole at all. Jack is sweet and Cole is sour. And I am all for the sweet this time!

Overall, Everneath was a great read with a very unusual storyline, relatable characters and was well paced throughout. The only thing I'm upset about is that I'm going to have to wait until 2013 for Everbound! One entire year until I meet Jack again, wah!

Happy Reading,
Rachel xoxo