Review: Everbound by Brodi Ashton

Everbound
by Brodi Ashton
Series: Everneath #2
Publisher: HarperCollins
Publication date: January 22, 2013
Genre: YA Paranormal
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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. In this enthralling sequel to Everneath, Brodi Ashton tests the bonds of destiny and explores the lengths we’ll go to for the ones we love.

Everbound delivered everything I wanted and was an amazing middle book in the Everneath series.  After the climatic ending of Everneath, I had a strong sense of where this story was heading and I wasn't disappointed. Ashton effortlessly transported me into her world and from the very first page I found myself enthralled by Ashton’s take on mythology and Everneath. Brilliant middle book and Ashton has earned herself a place on my auto-buy list.

Nikki Beckett is trying to deal with life without Jack. He sacrificed himself to save her and she refused to accept it. She studies every mythological story looking for answers to save him. She’s also tracking Cole and his band waiting for an opportunity to seek his help.  Every night Jack appears in her dreams and she works to make him remember but every night gets a little harder and she is running out of time. Prepared to enter Everneath to save Jack she is going with or without Cole and the tale that unfolds held me captive and sent my emotions traveling from hopefulness to full-fledged anger!

One of the things I appreciate most about this series is the depth of the characters. I fully understand what drives them. Their emotions and actions feel genuine and surreal. When an author is able to make me feel fully connected the world comes alive for me. I am not, nor will I ever be a fan of love triangles but every once in a while an author tells a story that can handle one. The triangle is completely valid and the events could not have occurred realistically without it. Ashton takes it to another level by providing two love interests that I can fully appreciate and respect. Cole is exactly who he claims  and his emotions for Nikki are genuine. At times I loathe his actions but I get him. Jack’s dedication and love for Nikki touch me. They are soul mates in the truest sense, their love is pure and faithful. While we do not get a lot of face time with Jack, what we do see felt fresh and believable. This allows Cole and Nikki to interact more and understand each other. It also allows the author to add depth to Cole’s character and we see a softer side of him, a vulnerable side.

I actually think Ashton has changed the way I will rate middle books because baby she set the bar high. World building is so important to me and a gripe I often have is that we do not get enough details. In Everneath the underworld or labyrinth unfolded giving me a panoramic view. Ashton provided vivid details of the creatures and challenges that dwelt there. Using mythology she gives Nikki the tools she needs to navigate and I loved the use of Mrs. Jenkins. Nikki sees growth as she slowly develops into a formidable opponent. The entire tale was tighter than its predecessor from the flashbacks to the pacing. I consumed this and found myself completely immersed with nothing jarring me back to reality. I had a strong sense of foreboding as I read and whether or not the author placed them there or not is unclear. All I can say is that the ending felt right and I cannot wait for book three.

Everbound will delight fans of Everneath. If you have been on the fence about starting the series lay your fears to rest this is one series you will be proud to display on your bookshelf.

Four and half iced frappes out of five 

Everneath (Everneath #1) by Brodi Ashton

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..(synopsis from Goodreads)


This gorgeous cover immediately caught my attention and after reading the synopsis, I knew I had to read this debut novel. Everneath offers a modern day twist on the Greek myths Hades and Persephone and Orpheus and Eurydice.  Words that come to mind after reading this are brilliant, sweet, tragic, unique, dark and fascinating.

The protagonist Nikki Beckett is seventeen and has spent a hundred years in Everneath as Cole’s forfeit. Everneath is a world between heaven and hell where everlivings feed off forfeits to keep their immortality. When she returns to Earth, only six months have passed. She longs to reconnect with her boyfriend Jack and her family. She only has six months before the underworld will claim her again.  Cole is as an everliving and he returns to the surface to convince Nikki to stay with him and become an everliving. She must decide whether she will go to the tunnels and feed the everlivings or go with Cole and feed off others. Secretly, she longs to find a way to stay on the surface with Jack.

The tale that unfolds is beautifully written and goes back and forth between the year before Nikki went to Everneath and the six months before she has to return. This could have made the story awkward and confusing, but Ashton seamlessly takes us back and forth. She slowly reveals things, both frustrating and engaging the reader.  The characters are wonderful, and my opinions of them changed as the story unfolded. My feelings for Cole and Jack were all over the place, and I love when a writer is able to make me see more than one side. At first I found Nikki depressing and morbid, but as her story was revealed I fell in love with this troubled girl. She is stronger than she thinks and capable of more love then she knows. I found myself turning the pages to find out if Nikki would return to Everneath and be lost to Jack forever.  I figured out early on, how the ending would be. The author revealed clues and yet I continued reading hoping for another way out. The ending moved me and left me wanting more. I am anxiously awaiting the second book in this series.  I still have a few unanswered questions and a ray of hope that there can be a happily ever after.

I highly recommend Everneath to fans of dark fantasy and paranormal romance. If you enjoy Greek mythology you are sure to enjoy this refreshing modern take. I have added Brodi Ashton to my list of must read authors. This novel is available in both paper and digital formats.

I want to thank netGalley and HarperCollins publishing for providing this ARC in exchange for my unbiased review.

I gave this book 4 coffee cups out of 5.            Kimba

Author's website:Brodi Ashton

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