Review: Everneath by Brodi Ashton

Book Title/Author: Everneath by Brodi Ashton
Publisher/Year Published: January 2012
Where I got it: The library
Rating: 4/5 stars

Summary:via Goodreads

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...

When I read the description for Everneath a few months back, I thought to my self "This sounds a lot like Hades/Persephone." Now that I have finished I can confidently say, that this is like mythology updated in a rather unique way with a dash of Persephone, a splash of Orpheus and Eurydice and a hint of old school Egypt.

The story actually starts off pretty confusingly as we are pushed right into the mythos of Ashton's world. No backstory. No "these are the rules". Nothing. We learn what was going on through a series of flashbacks and/or as Nikki learns it herself. Which I don't really have a problem with. I actually prefer it this way over the info-dump.

The story soon sucked me in. I really like how it is inspired by mythology, but not a direct copy. The plot was very well paced. As the time got close to her decision, I felt the sense of urgency with Nikki.

The characters were pretty okay. Rather well rounded, but there is some room for improvement. Nothing that ever actively made me want to kill them because they bored me, that's for damn sure. None of these characters are boring.. well strike that. Some of the secondary characters I would like to see fleshed out more (Jules, Dad, brother), but the main ones were far from flat.

Nikki was not too teen like, but not too mature, but not to well functioning for all the stuff that happened to her aka 100 years in the Everneath. It was a perfect mix.

Jack had a little less depth to him, at least that we could see, but I guess this it makes sense. The novel was told from Nikki's perspective so I can forgive this one.

Now. Cole.

I hope this is never mistaken for a "love triangle book" or never becomes one in the future because seriously, this guy is a dick. I see almost no good qualities in him, besides he somewhat keeps his word when he gives it. I think I could grow to love to hate him. I understand him, he his a well written character, but still. A big fat tool. Whom I want to read more about...

The ending, which of course is a set up for a series (I really, really need to read some standalone ya. Does it even exist anymore?), I thought was pretty satisfying and the pitch for the next book isn't a horrid cliffhanger or anything. The story of this book solidly wraps up. It just leaves that hook dangling and the reader wishing for a time machine.

So overall I was highly engaged and am looking forward to reading the next ones. I would LOVE to see more mythology inspired books like this one.