Everneath

Written by Brodi Ashton

Narrated by Amy Rubinate

Last spring, Nikki Beckett vanished, sucked into an underworld known as the Everneath. Now she’s returned—to her old life, her family, her boyfriend—before she’s 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 precious months forgetting the Everneath and trying to reconnect with her boyfriend, Jack, the person most devastated by her disappearance—and the one person she loves more than anything. But there’s just one problem: Cole, the smoldering immortal who enticed her to the Everneath in the first place, has followed Nikki home. Cole wants to take over the throne in the underworld and is convinced Nikki is the key to making it happen. And he’ll do whatever it takes to bring her back, this time as his queen.

As Nikki’s time on the Surface draws to a close and her relationships begin slipping from her grasp, she is 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 queen.

Everneath is a captivating story of love, loss, and immortality from debut author Brodi Ashton.

• Language: English
• Publisher: HarperCollins
• Release date: Jan 24, 2012
• ISBN: 9780062120663

Brodi Ashton

The Lady Janies are made up of New York Times bestselling authors Brodi Ashton, Cynthia Hand, and Jodi Meadows. They first met in 2012, when their publishers sent them on a book tour together, and they hit it off so well they decided to write My Lady Jane so they could go on book tours together all the time. Between the three of them they’ve written more than twenty published novels, a bunch of novellas, a handful of short stories, and a couple of really bad poems. They’re friends. They’re writers. They’re fixing history by rewriting one sad story at a time. Learn more at ladyjanies.com. 

Reviews for Everneath

[lthoman_2 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

First of all, while I was expecting Persephone, I found the plot of this book was a lot closer to Orpheus and Eurydice, although both myths were mentioned prominently throughout the book. I’m not really complaining, since both myths are definitely interesting. I just wouldn’t go into this expecting a “pure” re-imagining of the Persephone myth.The narrative jumps between Nikki’s dwindling time back on the Surface, before she is claimed by the Tunnels, and the months preceding her decision to accompany Cole down into the Everneath as his Forfeit. It takes its time explaining the mythology, and I had to progress pretty far into the book before I finally wrapped my head around what exactly the rules of the world were. I found the pacing and storytelling solid — it held my interest the whole way through.I thought the characterizations were okay, but could use some work. Cole was definitely the most interesting character. Nikki sees him entirely as a villain, but he seems much more layered than that, and I found myself often sympathetic towards him, even though he obviously was not a “good guy.” But the two characters we’re supposed to root for — Nikki and Jack — I didn’t really connect with. It takes a long time to get any sort of personality out of Jack, and as for Nikki, even in the scenes before she has been drained by Cole, she comes across a little flat. I really wanted to feel the depth and complexity in their relationship, since it’s such a cornerstone of the story, but it didn’t come across for me.The story itself is very interesting, and I really liked Brodi Ashton’s take on mythology and how it all contains elements of truth. That was a great plot device, and I always love when authors put a fresh spin on familiar stories.The biggest problem I had with the book is that no one seems to question that Nikki disappeared for six months, with no explanation whatsoever, then reappeared. The book hints that people thought she had been on drugs and gone to rehab, but it doesn’t make sense when she had done nothing prior to her disappearance to indicate drugs. And surely her father, the mayor, wouldn’t have just come home one day, found his daughter missing, and assumed, “Well, I’m just going to assume my daughter, who has no history of drug use, has gone to rehab to clean herself up, with no word, no note, and without packing any of her belongings.”Wouldn’t it cause huge headlines for the mayor’s daughter to disappear for six months, then suddenly reappear with no explanation? Wouldn’t her dad be combing the countryside? Wouldn’t all of her friends and acquaintances be hauled in for questioning?But no, none of this happens. It seems nearly everyone — including her father — just assumed she had gone off of her own free will, and would return when she was ready. And not much of a fuss is made when she returns. Her father is more concerned about his mayoral re-election campaign (which apparently never paused while she was missing), than the fact that his daughter went missing without a trace for six months.I would still be interested in the sequel to Everneath, Everbound, coming January 2013. The story is interesting enough to keep me coming back, and I want to find out what ultimately happens with Cole. I’m just hoping that the next book doesn’t leave so many dangling loose ends and helps me invest in Nikki and Jack more.

[emc_n · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This book incorporated mythology and teenage angst…so essentially I thought it was an incredible read. Again, I thought the cover was beautiful. (Cover art can make or break a book for me.) I kept saying this to Sash at ALA Midwinter…”GIRLS IN PRETTY DRESSES!” It seems to be a really popular choice of cover art and I have to say I am digging it.The three main characters, Nikki, Jack, and Cole have this weird love triangle that I am hesitant to even call it that. Jack never stopped looking for Nikki even when she disappeared without a trace (with Cole to the Everneath) for 6 months on the Surface. She spends 100 years in the Everneath physically bound to Cole as a Forfeit. Since Cole is an Everliving, he draws her energy to continue his existence…but instead of throwing her to the side after the Feed…he realizes that Nikki isn’t just another Forfeit. She has not withered away as she should have and Cole feels some sort of twisted romantic bond to her. Nik feels some kind of pull towards him, but rather than romantic, its more magnetic…an after-effect of being with him in the Everneath for so long.Bad news for Cole…Jack is gorgeous and has no problem declaring and proving his unrequited love for Nikki. Nik’s time on the surface is running out…the Tunnels are coming for her and she will disappear, yet again, leaving Jack to pick of the pieces of his life and her family’s life. But they aren’t giving up that easily…Nik and Jack are in a race against the clock, while fending off Cole’s plans for Nikki makes for a page-turning, heart-racing, soul shattering plot.The premise is an original twist on the myth of Persephone & Hades and the love story of Eurydice and Orpheus. The ending…it reminds me of most of the mythological love stories and Shakespearean tragic love stories that I have come to adore. When I finished this book, my mind was churning with so many emotions. I was smiling, sobbing, and begging for more. I can’t wait to see what Brodi Ashton has in store for Nikki…I truly fell in love with her characters and am hoping that many other readers will feel the same way.

[gigisiriereads · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I almost gave up on this book, but i'm glad I kept going. It was one of those slow to start books, but the story concept was very intriguing, it is a modern day take on a Greek tragedy. At first I wasn't much into the Now and Then style of the book but I came around when I realized I wanted to know more about how did things got to this point for Nikki and it brought the culmination of the story full circle. I could understand why they made the choices they made from beginning to end.

In the end, I really liked this book and grateful that I kept reading.

Can't wait to see where the author takes Nikki and Jack's story so I wait patiently(yeah right!) for the next book.

[catfantastic_1 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Summary: Nikki Beckett has been to the Underworld, but it isn't a place for the dead. Instead, the "Everneath" is a place for the immortal Everlings who live forever by feasting on human energy. The immortal Cole fed on Nikki's life for a hundred years, but somehow she survived. Her survival means she could become an Everling, and join Cole in the fields of Paradise forever. If she refuses, she'll end up with the other human forfeits in the Tunnels - where she'll be buried alive and used as a battery to power the Everneath. Instead, she flees back to the real world - where six months have passed. Nikki has another six months before the Tunnels will claim her forever - six months to say goodbye to her father, her little brother, and her ex-boyfriend, Jack. Everneath moves back and forth between the present, a countdown to the day when the Tunnels will eventually drag Nikki down to the underworld, and the previous year, when she was dating Jack and first met Cole - in his guise as a guitarist in the band the Dead Elvises. In the present story line, Nikki struggles to re-adapt to normal, everyday life, school and family, after what was an eternity for her in the underworld, where she lost memories and emotions, leaving her a hollow shell of the girl she used to be. The flashbacks develop her relationship with both the school quarterback, Jack, and the mysterious guitarist, Cole. As the countdown progresses towards her six-month deadline, Nikki tries to reconnect with Jack, while Cole pressures her to choose him, and eternal life as an immortal, over the horrors of the Tunnels.Everneath is a well written and enjoyable story. It's not perfect, I found the characters and plot a bit predictable. Nevertheless, it's a good book. There's an interesting take on the YA love triangle - Nikki is determined to make things right with Jack, and Cole is obviously the bad guy - he even threatens to hurt her little brother - but the emotions he absorbed from Nikki over the years in Everneath, have left him obsessed with her and seem to be making him more human, adding an interesting dimension to his character. In fact, Jack appears a little one-note in comparison.Everneath is a solid YA romance/fantasy that incorporates some mythological elements, particularly the story of Hades & Persephone and the Orpheus myths. There are also touches of Egyptian mythology and Faerie lore.

[chicreader_1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I almost gave up on this book, but i'm glad I kept going. It was one of those slow to start books, but the story concept was very intriguing, it is a modern day take on a Greek tragedy. At first I wasn't much into the Now and Then style of the book but I came around when I realized I wanted to know more about how did things got to this point for Nikki and it brought the culmination of the story full circle. I could understand why they made the choices they made from beginning to end.

In the end, I really liked this book and grateful that I kept reading.

Can't wait to see where the author takes Nikki and Jack's story so I wait patiently(yeah right!) for the next book.

[erlangeralpacajedis · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Everneath was a story I didn't expect to enjoy. I really did like the unique outlook on mythology, immortals, and teen romance. The protagonist is fascinating; she is so changed by her experiences, and it affects everything she does. You feel for her, you want to see what she does next, what silly mistakes she makes and how inconsistent she is. Cole is tantalizing and awesome, and Jack is a cool boy next door. This was a great modern mythological tale.

[tripsis_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

As posted on booknook - YA and Fantasy book reviewsWow, did this book have me hooked! I started reading it, sat down, and somehow wound up on page 232, with no sense of how long I had been sitting there reading. I just got sucked right in and didn’t want to stop (but got dragged away to a family dinner!).The way this story is written is awesome! It’s done in such a way that you’re hooked from page one and have to keep reading to find out more. The book starts off throwing you into the midst of things. Nikki is in the Everneath but you have no idea what that is, how she got there, who she’s with, or how long she’s been there. Slowly, we find out the story through alternating chapters. Nikki tells us about what’s happening in her life now — post-feeding, and then she tells us how the story unfolded pre-feeding and why she decided to become a Forfeit. We switch back and forth between the two different times to slowly piece together the story and learn how she came into that situation, and then how she’s going to deal with it now.So six months before the ‘current time’ in the story, Cole convinced Nikki to come with him to the Everneath, where he would feed on her energy and take away the pain in her life. 100 years later — which is 6 months in normal time — Nikki is back in her old life. She has six months to say goodbye to her family and friends before she is forced to return to the Everneath forever… but she didn’t realize how hard it would be to say goodbye. Nikki struggles to find a balance between comforting her family and friends, but trying not to get too close to them since she knows she’ll have to say goodbye again in six months… this time for good.This book made me so emotional! It was probably because I had to read about Nikki trying to find a way to say goodbye to her ex boyfriend Jack, and I hadn’t seen my own boyfriend in 2 weeks. Just the nature of the story made me miss him even more! I kept thinking that if I had to be around him, but force myself to not get too close to him, and find a way to say goodbye to him, I would constantly be in tears. I don’t know how Nikki held herself together! My eyes were literally tearing up for half the time I was reading.The one thing that annoyed me was how Nikki put up with Cole. He was a real ass. He practically stalked her, showed up in her bedroom every night to bother her, practically threatened her little brother, etc. I really wanted Nikki to rage at him or throw sharp objects at him. She obviously wasn’t pleased, but she didn’t have the kind of forceful reaction I would have expected. She usually just calmly told Cole to stop and left it at that. If it were me, I would have really raged at the guy!Also, I’m a stickler for details and this kind of made me roll my eyes a bit:Jack came over that night, so we could research the Daughters of Persephone. We didn’t know where to start other than Google and the search produced just two results.Of course then I proceeded to do a Google search for “Daughters of Persephone” and got:About 12,300 results (0.23 seconds)I’m weird and things like that just bug me. And just to be clear, Nikki wasn’t saying that there were only two *relevant* search results, because one of the two was completely irrelevant. So she did mean two overall.I guess the story did move pretty slowly. It kind of drags on and takes you a while to figure out exactly what happened to Nikki to make her want to become a Forfeit, and then it takes a while for her to actually make progress with Jack in ‘current time.’ But the book is so intense and full of emotion that the slow paced nature of the book is not not too big of a deal. There were a few parts were I was like, “Okaaay, I’m ready for her to make progress!” But most of the time I was really into the story and hungry for more!

[eomalley_2 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I've been reading some fantastic debut author books recently and Brodi Ashton's Everneath is currently at the top of the list. I bought it on Tuesday and by Thursday had read it twice.

In her inventive take on the Greek myths of "Hades and Persephone" and "Orpheus and Eurydice," Ashton introduces us to the Everneath, a world between Earth and the afterlife where the Everliving bring human Forfeits to feed off their energy and thereby gain 100 years more of existence. The story centers on Nikki (a human Forfeit in the Everneath), Jack (Nikki's boyfriend from the Surface), and Cole (the immortal who took Nikki to the Everneath). After spending six months in the Everneath, Nikki has returned to the Surface for six more months to tie up loose ends in her life before being banished to the Everneath for eternity.

I really liked the main characters in this story. Nikki is strong, yet vulnerable, and takes responsibility for the decisions that led to her following Cole to the Everneath. Jack is the good guy boyfriend, but he has enough of an edge to keep him interesting. Cole is the bad boy, but while he definitely has his own agenda there are moments that hint at him actually caring for Nikki more than he should.

The story is told in a non-linear fashion; we start in the present but are constantly moving back and forth between it and the past so we can see what events led up to Nikki choosing the Everneath. The time is clearly indicated throughout the book, so it is easy to follow along and not feel lost. Very well done.

This is a stellar edition to the YA Paranormal genre with its fresh storyline, interesting style and great characters. Since this is the first book of a trilogy we are left with a cliffhanger, but we can clearly see where book 2 should be going. While this book sets up the characters and situation, the author has indicated book 2 will have some major world-building. It should be fascinating to explore the Everneath in depth.

The only reason I gave this book four stars instead of five is because I was left wanting a bit more development in the secondary characters. Nikki's younger brother Tommy and best friend Jules look like they may be great characters (Tommy especially), but with so much going on with the main characters it felt like these two got a little shortchanged. I'm looking forward to seeing how they are developed in the future.

All in all, highly recommended to YA paranormal lovers everywhere.

[7hir7een_1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Everneath left me speechless. I suppose I should preface this by saying that I am a sucker for mythology. I love well-done, modernized stories that bring in elements of traditional tales, folklore or mythology. On top of that, I always liked the Greek myths of Hades and Persephone and Orpheus and Eurydice. I picked up Everneath because it had a gorgeous cover and I recognized it as a modern nod to the Persephone myth. I was not at all disappointed. Everneath flawlessly blends traditional fantasy, mythology, fatalism, redemption, love, angst, sacrifice and redemption.If you had six months left, what would you do? Nikki Beckett decides, not even fully understanding why at first, to take this time to reconnect with the family and friends she has left behind. As far as they are concerned, she disappeared without a word of goodbye for six months. For Nikki, it has been a long hundred years since she fled the Surface, broken and desperate. The only thing she remembers as she makes the decision to make her Return is the face of a handsome boy she can scarcely assign a name to -- Jack.However, her Return is not a smooth transition. She left her father with harsh words about his feelings toward her deceased mother. She left her boyfriend without giving him a chance to explain his actions because of her crushing doubts. She left her best friend without a word. Everyone who knows her thinks she was strung out on drugs for the six months she was gone. Can she really reconnect with them when she can't dare to tell them the truth, and can barely work out for herself what needs to be said? To make matters worse, Cole, the Everliving that seduced her into Everneath with promises that she never had to feel again, has followed her to the mortal world. He wants her to rule Everneath as his queen by his side, and he will not take no for an answer.Everneath is full of emotion and masterfully styled. At its core, you have a story about a broken girl who has six months to make up for all the pain she caused those that love her by running away. Nikki's draw to Everneath reminds me of the show Dollhouse, where participants often agreed to lose control of their lives for years to escape from the obstacles of the world. The styling of the world of the Everneath, with the Everlings, Forfeits and Shades has an almost modern science-fiction/fantasy movie-type feel to it. However, the messages of fate, redemption and sacrifice are timeless, like the myths on which the novel is based.I would recommend Everneath to absolutely anyone that thinks they might like the story, even a little bit. It has so much to offer, and I think that young adult paranormal/romance/dark fantasy fans will find Ashton's story especially refreshing. I eagerly await devouring the next two novels in the trilogy.

[sparkleponies · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This one took me a bit of time to get into and I really wish the entire book was like the last quarter of the story. That being said, an interesting teen story about the myth of Persephone. The main character, Nikki, was irritating in her teen angst. I spent a majority of the book wondering why she went to the Everneath in the first place...emo much?Once she "Returns," she has only a short amount of time to make things right before she leaves again to live forever in the tunnels and 'feed' the Everlivings with her spirit.It kept me interested enough to want to read the next two in the trilogy.

[emily1s · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Yes. Just hell yes.I love anything that has to do with mythology, and Orpheus and Eurydice is one of my all time favorite Greek myths. Also, Persephone is twisted into this awesome book too. So, Everneath was right up my alley.The immortal background is nothing new, but it was done refreshingly. The story flows effortlessly and the ending was actually surprising. I was constantly guessing (and most of the time I was spot on) what would happen, and my eyes would glance to upcoming paragraphs because I just had to know what would happen!And, is it weird that I liked Cole more than Jack?! I don't know. He just does something for me. Probably the guitar. ;)So overall, a great book. I'm stoked for the next in the series!

[whybehave2002 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This made me feel like I do when I read a book by Nicholas Sparks or Jojo Moyes.

[reader1009-863136 · Rating: 1 out of 5 stars]

teen fiction; paranormal romance (persephone, again). I gave it 50 pages but despite all the rave reviews could not bring myself to care. Love triangle between dull girl, sensitive jock, and bad boy Hades just wasn't very juicy, and ambiguities about the "Feed" weren't enough to keep me interested.

[roses7184_1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

How do I explain what made me love Everneath so very much? It wasn't just the characters, who are so realistic that you can feel their emotions emanating from the page. In fact it wasn't just even the amazing story line that had me reading voraciously. It was the two of these things blended together, my ability to get lost inside Nikki's story, that left me breathless at the end. Everneath is beautiful, plain and simple.

Every story has a heroine, and this one is no different. I fell in love with Nikki from the very beginning. Her emotions were so palpable and real. Even when she made decisions I didn't quite agree with, I saw her motivations behind. Everything about her was so selfless. Flanking her on either side are two very different boys with two very different motivations. I loved Jack. Can I say that again? I loved him. He is the epitome of what we all want in a relationship. Sweet, giving, unshakable in his loyalty. His story with Nikki blew me away. Then there is Cole who, even though he is technically the "villian", I just couldn't help but love. There is so much wrapped up in his character that despite how he acts sometimes he is just too broken to dislike.

These stunning characters are placed in an even more gorgeous story line, as Brodi Ashton whisks us away into the story of the Everneath. I'm not going to share any details that might be spoilers. I believe that this is the type of book you'll just have to experience for yourself. Still, I could not believe how perfectly Ashton blended myth with reality. Nikki's story mirrors a myth almost perfectly and, even when you know what's going to ultimately happen, she provides enough hope to keep you hanging on. Love plays a big part in this story. The link between two people who love each other so much that time, nor space, can separate them. It broke my heart with its beauty.

Reading Everneath was effortless, if that makes any sense. It was such a pleasure to turn every page that it was almost like I wasn't reading at all. What Brodi Ashton has created within this pages is absolutely wonderful. There is no way I can explain to you why this book touched me so much, only that it did. I ended the story with tears in my eyes and something beyond a need to find out what happens next. More of an ache.

I haven't been as in love as I am with these characters in a long, long time. That alone makes Everneath one of my top reads, not just of the year but of all time. If you are a hopeless romantic, if you are a fan of mythology, or if you just enjoy rooting for the good in the world, this is a book you'll enjoy. I recommend Everneath with all my heart.

[sapphireddragon · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I had heard a lot of good things about Everneath before I picked it up from the library so I was expecting a lot when I got to reading it. While it took me a little while to get into it, i am so glad i persevered because in the end it became quite a compelling read.


At first glance, to me at least, the synopsis reads like a sequel. I kept checking to see if it was actually a book 2 in a series. The beginning of the book felt a little like this as well and I felt like I had missed something when it started and that feeling took a little while to shake.

Brodi Ashton juxtaposes the past and the present so that we can see the events leading up to the feed and how it connects with the now, in which Nikki has returned to the surface. At first this was a little confusing ( me, with my issues of having missed something) but as story progressed, this juxtaposition actually made the story more cohesive and added to the tension of the story as you learned what had gone before and how it related to present events.

I loved the connection between Nikki and Jack and though the reason for her leaving in the first place is never really resolved, I loved the fact that he was constantly there for her.

As mentioned, it took me a little while to get into this story as I felt like in some ways I spent the first third of the book 'catching up' however as the story went on I found myself turning the pages quicker and quicker and I think I read the last 200 or so pages in less time than it took me to read the first 100.

There are a lot of stories that play around with the myth of Hades and Persephone around at the moment and I liked this spin on it with the immortals feeding on humans and making out the underworld ( or Everneath) to not be the romantic place of so many of these stories and making Cole definitely not the hero.

Overall I really enjoyed this book and am ever so glad there is a sequel forthcoming as the ending... Well let's just say I am glad the is another book coming. One which I am placing on my Wishlist right now as soon as I finish this review.

It is only the slow beginning that stops this from getting 5 stars. 4 stars for this great debut!

[aquaorbis-1 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Until the very last few pages, I was ready to give this 2 stars. But the ending was very sweet. I might even read the next one.

[quirkylibrarian · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Initially exciting retelling of the Persephone myth, this offering stalls a bit and should have been more carefully and tightly edited. That said, it's a solid addition to fans of Twilight (the competing pull of the dangerous Cole vs. Jack who loves her as she is) and Robin McKinley's fans who are looking for another modern myth might be interested.

[itsbookishme · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I almost gave up on this book, but i'm glad I kept going. It was one of those slow to start books, but the story concept was very intriguing, it is a modern day take on a Greek tragedy. At first I wasn't much into the Now and Then style of the book but I came around when I realized I wanted to know more about how did things got to this point for Nikki and it brought the culmination of the story full circle. I could understand why they made the choices they made from beginning to end.

In the end, I really liked this book and grateful that I kept reading.

Can't wait to see where the author takes Nikki and Jack's story so I wait patiently(yeah right!) for the next book.

[bookishthings · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I didn’t get really into this book until about half way in. After that I was hooked and couldn’t but it down. I love Nikki and Jack’s resistance to accept what will happen. I do have to say that I think Cole is probably my favorite character in this book. He’s obviously a bad boy, but I think somewhere inside he must have the capacity to feel. The beginning of the book was confusing, and I think that’s why I couldn’t get into it. I had too many questions and not enough answers. I think that the basis of this novel on Greek myths was an awesome way to go. It’s different, and I liked it.

It’s taken me over a week to write this review. When I finished it, I wasn’t stoked about this novel. I think a lot of it had to do with my mood. (Which happens a lot.) But after giving myself some time to let the story sink in and think about it, I really like this novel. I recommend it for those that are looking on a different twist to the paranormal genre.

[theyodamom · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Hades and Persephone and old tale that never gets old. Nikki is a teen just enjoying her boyfriend and her life till something goes wrong. She makes a choice that takes her away for 100 years. For a hundred years she is wrapped around and connected to Cole, who absorbs all her emotions. She awakes undamaged like others who have gone through this 'feed'. Then she turns away from him and travels back to the surface to find her love, Jack. The face she has thought of everyday for the last 100 years. Luckily 100 years in the underworld is only six months on the surface.
I had some issues with the telling of the story. Nikki was supposed to come back without any emotions and yet, she yearns for her life. The whole story is emotional. Teenage melodrama deluxe, with dating jealousy, misunderstandings and parents. Her hate for Cole and her need for Jack where endless. The everyone just accepted her back with out any real questions ? Really ? Cole, he was always treated badly. I have hope this will change in the next books. but the animosity he received bothered me.
I loved her fight to gain respect for the adults she abandoned on her run to the underside. Her father was realistic and well written. The school and the other students reactions to her sudden return was also realistic. The relationship between her and Jack was sweet and I could believe it. His hate for Cole was understandable. The clue that they found was something new and exciting to the story line.
it was a good tale, I could not put it down, even with the flaws. I was disappointed in the inconsistencies and melodrama. I did not know this was the first in a series so I was screaming at the cliffhanger ending. Phew. I will maybe read the next one ?

[dream24-2 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

I quite enjoyed this modern take on Persephone and Hades.

The idea of Everneath is quite interesting and even more so the mystery behind how Nikki was able to return to Earth with the memory of Jack, despite Cole's best intentions to make her forget her former life on Earth.

I don't like how emotional Nikki is. Doesn't she realize that the more she pushes people away, the more they are drawn to her? Like that is so typical of young adult books right? Like hello?! And naturally with YA books, you need the love triangle, although I'm not quite sure if Cole is totally in love with Nikki, more like obsessive with the power aspect since Nikki is so different from other daughters of Persephone. Hopefully some of the clich̩d YA stuff is toned down and deviated from in the rest of the series.

It is sweet that Nikki and Jack had a sweet love and were so lovely together...before her visit to Everneath. And I do feel bad for everyone else affected by Nikki (like her family and friends). It is through flashbacks that we find out what happened before and after Nikki was in Everneath.

There's a lot still to be explained! Like why is Cole so insistent on overthrowing the current Royal court, what is this Queen like and what can be done to save Jack? That ending was such a heart wrenching and unexpected moment. I really hope to find out what happens next.

[sensitivemuse · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

First, loved the cover of this book. I fell in love with it the moment I saw the cover. As for the story, well, it was good at some parts and then at times it felt like it dragged. It’s an interesting twist on the Hades/Persephone myth, which is also what got me into the book as I’ve taken a liking to these types of plots. So it was an interesting and great read at the start. It wasn’t until midway through the book that the plot starts to slow down considerably, and characters start to annoy me at this point.Take Becks for example. Oh my goodness. I’m surprised I went through reading this book because I was starting to get annoyed at her whiny personality. She got so emo and lamented over her situation. There wasn’t much personality to her. She was just, emotional baggage that’s carried all through the story. She doesn’t even put much of a fight so I don’t see her as a strong character nor as a likable one. Cole and his crew were just as annoying. Sometimes it might just take a punch to the fast to make him stop. But it looks like Becks was too busy immersed in her self pity to do something like that. Out of the characters, Jack was the only one I really like the most. He was such a sweetheart and for what he did just categorizes him into the best YA boyfriends ever. However despite that, the love and chemistry between Jack and Becks wasn’t really there. She was too much of a cardboard character to really make the romance become something substantial.So it wasn’t that bad of a book. The ending was great. Although I have a feeling more whininess is going to come from Becks in the second one. Nevertheless it’s worth the read for YA lovers.

[wagner5sarah35 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

First of all, high points in the girl-in-a-pretty-dress-on-the-cover category (even though there was never a scene in the book in which I could envision the main character dressed like this). As for the book itself, I will have to admit to mixed feelings. The ending was strong, which actually makes me consider reading the sequels, but the first half I struggled to get through and I even considered giving up. I have to say, the main characters, Nikki and Jack, didn't strike me as having a particularly special relationship and I wish the author had characterized the relationship more; instead, to me, they fell flat as a couple. Either way, I'm still debating whether to continue the series.

[msbridgetreads · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

For me personally, this book is AMAZING! The cover in itself got my attention...Then when I read the cover, I saw how unique and different this story was going to be. It took me a little bit to figure out exactly what was going on in it until she started going back and explaining what got Nikki Beckett where she was in her life.

I wasn't sure whether I would actually enjoy this book as much..I just knew it was something totally different than what I was normally reading {angels & vampires...mostly angels}...But once I began to grasp the concept of this story..It began to suck me in to the point I couldn't put it down. And it only took me a couple days to read it {hey, if I didn't have a home to run & kids (2) to tend to, I may have finished it in a day and a half or less...lol...But for me personally, the book was AMAZING!{Yes, I had to say it twice...:o)}...I am so ready for book two to come out...OH THE WAITING!!! :o)

[reviewsbymolly · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Everneath. What can I say about Everneath? Well, I can say that when someone posted a Stacking The Shelf post with Evertrue, I wanted it. But, researching it, I found out that Everneath was the first in that particular series. So, when I saw my library had it, I gradbbed it. And the outcome? I devoured it in one day. One day. Oh my goodness it's so Persephone-esque and captivating! I loved it so much! Ms. Ashton created Nikki and Cole.....and Jack....with such awesomeness. I loved them all. I didn't know whether I wanted to route for Cole or for Jack but I know I was pleased with the outcome at the end of the book! Both were strongly created, both were someone I would have wanted for myself. And Nikki.....bless her. I loved her character so much. She struggled inside with what to she wanted and I wanted to wrap my arms around her and hug tight! Tell her everything would be okay and that know matter what her choice was, it would be the right choice. Ms. Ashton created this supernatural YA novel in a beautiful way. It captured me from Prologue to last chapter and left me ready to Feed off the next amazing Everneath novel......wanting to travel again to the Underworld. I can't wait for another 5 star hit from Ms. Ashton! I'm a new forever fan, for sure!

[emily_anne-1 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Everneath was not what I expected it to be... but I really liked it anyways. I expected a lot more mythology, and I thought it might have a paranormal flair to it. But, instead, Everneath is about a sweet romance and delightful characters.

I absolutely loved the peresephone myth twist! I strongly reccomend this book.

[deweyever · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

Everneath starts with Nikki waking up from the Feed in the Everneath with Cole, an immortal who has been feeding off her energy for the past 100 years. Since she has survived the feed, she has six months to return home and say her final goodbyes, and then either go to the tunnels, a hell-like extension of the Everneath, or go back with Cole, who now wants to make her his queen.I had so many problems with this book, the first of which being the flashback/flash forward format. Every time I started to get even a little interested in what was going on, the story would jump to a different part of the timeline. It didn't add suspense, it was just frustrating. The love triangle here is horrible--Jack, Nikki's human boyfriend, is likeable but boring, and Cole is despicable from the beginning. I hated that Nikki's entire reason for going back home was to see Jack again, and it isn't until she re-kindles her relationship with him that she even considers trying to avoid the tunnels without taking Cole's offer. The mythological references through the book felt info-dumpy. I would expect most readers to know the Hades/Persephone story enough to not need such a detailed retelling in the middle of the book. I gave it 1.5 stars for what sounded like an interesting premise, just poorly executed. Not as bad as Twilight, but still, not recommended.

[brandileigh2003 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I wanted to read Everneath because I have seen it on blogs for quite some time and finally it lined up with a hole in my schedule and being at the library. I am not heavy into the myths, but I do like the idea of having the ties to both underworld and above and the emotions of having to try to find redemption for her disappearance and being okay with or finding a way to stay. The cover has always caught my eye as well, and I am def vain like that sometimes. At first, I was confused a bit because the time frame is jumping around and I am not exactly sure how the Everneath works, and what the Tunnels are as well as what the history was between her and Cole and her and Jack. But this is intentional because the time shifts explain what I needed to know at every turn. I liked Nikki's character, she is easy to get along with, and more reserved and quiet, which has always been me so that is my personality. Which part of her reservation is Nikki being emotionless(ish) as she comes back from the Everneath, but she gets her emotion back as she spends more time above. The romance is kinda up in the air for me, because for the most part of the story, I knew that Cole wanted her to be Everliving with him, but otherwise his motives and feelings are kinda unknown to me. Jack is sweet and I would pull for him, but Nikki alludes to something happening between the two so I kinda hold off my feelings because I am afraid that he hurt her. The emotions in this one are pretty powerful. We have Nikki hurt from the issue with Jack, that she forgot a lot while she was in the Everneath with Cole, we have love flying around everywhere, and we have the raw emotion of Nikki losing her mom, who died in a car accident. Nikki's family and friends were hurt because she disappeared and because she wasn't fully connected when she was back because even though she wanted redemption and to say goodbye, she also wouldn't let herself get any closer to them and at an arm's length. The story started getting going and it raced to the end at a breakneck pace. I figured out who I wanted for Nikki, and I think that even though it seems there is a love triangle, I think that one ends up being a non--player although I may be proven wrong as I read more. But the ending, wow, it just cemented my love for this series and the man that won my heart. I will definitely continue this series, and I am so glad that I finally got to it, and I recommend to any of my fantasy or paranormal romance friends because it is a good, emotional and unique story. Bottom Line: Characters stole my heart!

[bridgetsbooknook · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

For me personally, this book is AMAZING! The cover in itself got my attention...Then when I read the cover, I saw how unique and different this story was going to be. It took me a little bit to figure out exactly what was going on in it until she started going back and explaining what got Nikki Beckett where she was in her life.

I wasn't sure whether I would actually enjoy this book as much..I just knew it was something totally different than what I was normally reading {angels & vampires...mostly angels}...But once I began to grasp the concept of this story..It began to suck me in to the point I couldn't put it down. And it only took me a couple days to read it {hey, if I didn't have a home to run & kids (2) to tend to, I may have finished it in a day and a half or less...lol...But for me personally, the book was AMAZING!{Yes, I had to say it twice...:o)}...I am so ready for book two to come out...OH THE WAITING!!! :o)

[jacquiemak · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

3.5 stars
The first half was a 3, the second half was a 4. I especially enjoyed the elements of Greek mythology interwoven within this paranormal romance.