Review - Everbound (Everneath #2) by Brodi Ashton

Title: Everbound

Author: Brodi Ashton

Series: 2nd (Everneath)

Pages: 384

Published: January 22nd 2013 by Balzer+Bray

ISBN: 9780062071163

Source: Publisher via Edelweiss

Description: Nikki Beckett could only watch as her boyfriend, Jack, sacrificed himself to save her, taking her place in the Tunnels of the Everneath for eternity — a debt that should’ve been hers. She’s living a borrowed life, and she doesn’t know what to do with the guilt. And every night Jack appears in her dreams, lost and confused and wasting away.  Desperate for answers, Nikki turns to Cole, the immortal bad boy who wants to make her his queen — and the one person least likely to help. But his heart has been touched by everything about Nikki, and he agrees to assist her in the only way he can: by taking her to the Everneath himself.  Nikki and Cole descend into the Everneath, only to discover that their journey will be more difficult than they’d anticipated — and more deadly. But Nikki vows to stop at nothing to save Jack — even if it means making an incredible sacrifice of her own. 

I Give This ...

 

I seriously squealed when I opened up my mail and found this inside.  I found Everneath to be so intriguing and I was eagerly awaiting the sequel. 

I was a little bothered in the first book by the idea that Nikki was gone for six months and when she returned it was like she was never missing.  This time around, you very much tell that Jack's absence is noticed.  Nikki is  hounded by Jack's family, the police, her own friends, and her father.  Every day she must live with the guilt of knowing were he is but not being able to save him.  She has no way into the Everneath, and no idea how to get to the tunnels.  But, she will stop at nothing to get there.

When Cole finally shows up, Nikki convinces him to taker her into the Everneath.  I was surprised he didn't actually agree to take her right away.  But, he soon realized she was more at risk without a guide, and she would get there with or without him.  I wish we would have gotten more a glimpse of how the thriving parts of the Everneath function.  But, I loved the maze and the rings.  I was especially intrigued with how the outcasts are made to wander the maze.  Since each ring targets different emotions, its definetely not a place I would want to spend eternity in.

I really was fascinated by the back story on the Queen and who she really is.  It's no wonder that she might afraid of Nikki.  I did feel a little confused by what happened in the tunnel.  I don't think its explained very well and I'm hoping that it might be in the next book.  I was a little shocked at the ending.  Everything does not seem right and I don't think its just because of who Nikki is.  I can't wait to fill in the blanks.

Great second book in the series!

  

Review - Everneath (Everneath #1) by Brodi Ashton

Title: Everneath

Author: Brodi Ashton

Series: 1st in planned series

Pages: 370

Published: January 3rd, 2012 by Balzer + Bray

ISBN: 9780062071132

Source: Around The World Tours

 

Description: 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... 

I Give This ...

 

This one sounded interesting from the beginning.  Girl vanishes only to reappear 6 months later with no real explanation as to were she has been.  To make matters worse, she knows she will disappear again 6 months later.  How do you make appends to the people you've hurt, only to have to adequately say goodbye and leave them forever?

I had a hard time with the story at first.  I totally did not understand the Everneath and how Nikki got there.  I understood a little bit about why she was back.  It frustrated me.  But, then I realized I was going to have to deal with it because that part of the story would come slowly in flashbacks.  I hope too many people don't give up on this book because it gets significantly better after the first slow 100 pages.

I liked the courage that Nikki had to walk back into her life.  She could have taken the easy way out from the beginning and stayed in the Everneath.  But, her memory wasn't completely wiped clean of her human past like it should have been.  She could always see Jack's face even if she couldn't remember his name.  This is what drives her to return.  While back on Earth, she slowly regains all the little memories she lost while in the Everneath.  She has to deal with the rumors of were she's been, not to mention a father who has completely lost faith in her.  And she has no real answers to give anybody.  I loved watching her reconnect with everyone around her.  It's slow and painful at first.  

Jack was a real interesting part of this story.  You can tell that he is really in love with Nikki, which was why I never understood what had happened to make Nikki choose Cole and the Everneath.  When she comes back, he never pushes her.  I loved how he knew from the beginning that it would have to be on Nikki's terms, he just had to make her see what she meant to him.  I hated how everybody judged Nikki because of what her leaving did to Jack.  Granted, I know the circumstances look bad and no one could begin to understand the truth, But, hardly anyone gave her half a chance.

 I'm really intrigued by Cole.  I'm not sure if he is just fascinated with Nikki because she did the unexpected or if there is something else to it.  I get the feeling there's a bigger picture here that we aren't getting yet.  He really did make me mad a lot though.  He really manipulated Nikki from the beginning.  I think he's use to getting what he wants and Nikki is so determined to walk away from him. It frustrates him.

I wish the ending hadn't have been so cliche, but I can't think of another way for it to end.  It's not a huge cliffhanger either  I'm looking forward to the next installment.  There's more to this story!