Everneath

By Brodi Ashton

"Enthralling and suspenseful, EVERNEATH is pure indulgent escapism!" - Becca Fitzpatrick, NYT Bestselling Author of Hush, Hush

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.

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...

"Ashton s debut, is complex and intriguing. Drawing inspiration from such myths as Osiris, Orpheus, and Persephone, it explores the nature of loss and longing and what it means to be alive." - Publishers Weekly
"I was pulled under by this bittersweet, beautiful retelling of the Persephone myth. Ashton's lovely storytelling and strong-on-her-own-terms main character set this one apart. Wonderful!" - Ally Condie, author of the MATCHED trilogy
"The powerful emotions, moving and painful rebuilding of strained relationships, and star-crossed love story is sure to resonate with teen readers." - School Library Journal
"A fresh, innovative concept to young adult fiction with well-developed characters and a fantastic plot line .... Libraries are advised to buy multiple copies-this one will fly off the shelves." - Voice of Youth Advocates (VOYA) (starred review)

• Language: English
• Publisher: Simon & Schuster UK
• Release date: Feb 2, 2012
• ISBN: 9780857074584

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

[alcarinqa_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

First of all, that cover is gorgeous! I think this is one of my favourite books cover ever - it’s beautiful and evocative, and I love the smoky effect. The plot line of Everneath is interesting, with intriguing ideas about life and death based on Greek mythology. I really enjoyed the mythical element to the story. I felt that the action began much too late in the book - too much time was devoted in the beginning to Nikki mooning over Jack. I did not understand Nikki at all. She went back to Earth to say goodbye and make the most of the six months given to her, and yet the book features only a handful of interactions with her family, and only two with her ‘beloved’ brother. I feel the author only used the family when she needed them and focussed the whole story on Jack and Cole, which I think is odd because it’s made clear that Nikki only went back to Earth to be with her family. The other characters were sweet, especially her father and of course, Jack. Cole is also interesting, but he kept getting in the way of Jack and Nikki’s romance, and involvement felt a bit forced to me. I enjoyed the premise and got into the book after the half way point. I really liked the format of the book, where the story was told from the past and present and eventually they blended together. The start of each chapter features a six month count down, so we always know how much time Nikki has left. However I was disappointed in the execution when I finished the book. I think the language used could be a lot tighter, especially when Nikki says of Cole: “He gave me a smile that I could have sold on the internet for money.” I don’t even know what this means. It was quirky lines like this that kept me from really immersing myself into the story. I think this is a good book, and worth reading for those who enjoy paranormal stories and Greek mythology. Brodi Ashton is talented, and I look forward to see her writing skills develop and mature as she writes her trilogy. I am looking forward to reading the trilogy, especially because of the enormous twist at the end of Everneath. Read more of my reviews here!

[strongpieces · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

Orginally posted at The Wandering Fangirl.I was really looking forward to this since I first heard about it, and boy, was I disappointed. The way Brodi Ashton retells the Orpheus and Eurydice myth, as well as her take on the Underworld is great, but the execution doesn't live up to the idea at all. I knew going in that it would involve a lot of true love, but I wasn't expecting 300 pages of our main character, Nikki, moping about and trying to figure out a way to say goodbye to her loved ones by doing absolutely nothing. Everything that happens to her is due to outside forces -- and by forces, I mean Cole and Jack, the boys in her life. Nikki doesn't do much but do some sleuthing and a lot of knitting. I did enjoy Jack, and the last 20 pages of the book picked things up considerably, but that didn't make up for the rest of it.

[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!

[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.

[rubewrites · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Great writing, Brilliant idea, Very inspiring tale of the lengths people will go to for love. @Brodiashton

[celeste.harrington · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Mythology, immortals, romance…..but with a modern twist. Broken hearted Nikki Beckett has just returned to the surface to look for her love, Jack, but to do that she made a deal with an Everliving, Cole. Cole had helped with Nikki’s heartbreak by feeding off off her emotions, taking the energy from them for himself. Nikki agreed to it because she thought feeling numb was better than feeling pain. But it isn’t that simple; he wants her to be his queen, but Nikki Returns because she wants to get back to her high school love, Jack.

I had high expectations for Everneath based on the synopsis and other reviews, and of course the cover is absolutely stunning. However, I never really got into the book and I found I kept putting the book down easily. Overall I liked it, but I never fell in love with any of the characters, and in all honesty I wanted Nikki with Cole (the bad guy) not Jack the sweet, gorgeous quarterback.

The story itself is intriguing with the intertwining of all the mythology and daughters of Persephone. It also goes back and forth in time, and each chapter is clearly labeled so that didn’t confuse me, but I just didn’t love it. I think I would have rather it just start at the beginning, not look at things in hindsight. On that note this is why the story just didn’t seem to go anywhere, it felt stagnant to me, I didn’t get any answers until the last 30 pages or so. The ending was FABULOUS! Now don’t get me wrong, I love a good mystery, but clues seemed to come very slowly for my liking.

The ending totally redeemed the book in my eyes. It was paced quickly and I was ready! I found I still loved Cole and was rooting for him. I thought he had a magic pull with Nikki and the whole book I wondered why it wasn’t touched on why she was so special to him. To me they seemed to belong together, but she was just caught up in her high school romance. Maybe that is why I didn’t go gaga over the book. Will I read the next installment? YES. I still need to know what happens, the story ended on such a happy and at the same time sad note. I would still recommend this book as it was a fun read and I think the next one might be more intense.

[wyvernfriend · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

No-one realises that when Nikki was gone for six months she wasn't anywhere she could be found, not by her family anyway. She had been lured into the underneath, to serve as a power source for immortals, she's back, but she only has six months to say her goodbyes, to resolve her issues, before she will be drawn back into the everneath, this time forever.Interesting use of myth and story and while the flashbacks are somewhat jarring occasionally and there isn't quite enough emotion sometimes when people are dealing with Nikki, it's a good read with strong characters that I cared for and wanted to succed.Worth reading.

[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.

[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.

[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.

[samanthakr · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Everneath is the story of a girl named Nikki (commonly refered to as "Becks" by her close friends) and her journey after she wakes up from the Feed. For a century, she was in the Everneath with a boy named Cole who 'feed' off her- meaning he drained every emotion she had inside her and used it to prolong his life as an immortal. When the Feed is over, he is shocked at her seemingly normalish behavoir, and she, very confused, pictures the face of a boy whose name she can't remember and chooses to go back and find him.That is the very, very beginning of the story, but I do not want to give any spoilers away, because part of the journey in reading this book is finding out the clues as Nikki does. I can say that I really enjoyed this book. I felt the ideas of how an immortal lives were very unique, and I thought the mythology attached was a very nice touch. While I am against stories being too predictable, I almost felt in parts that this story was too uncertain, like some of the paths the characters could go on were not defined as well as they could be. Even so, that is really the only big criticism I have for this book. I highly liked it, and I can't wait to read the sequel.

[tinasbookreviews · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Pain comes in many forms, for Nikki Beckett her emotional pain has been held at bay due to her strong relationship with boyfriend Jack. After the death of her mother she clings to that love and manages to find daily peace. But after one night of betrayal, Nikki without even considering the consequences makes a choice that alters her life forever.Sucked into the underworld, or the Everneath, as the Everlivings call it, Nikki is in the Feed for a hundred years- a process that sucks the life force from a mortal and transfers it to an immortal. When Nikki awakens she's weak and confused but has one memory that helps her pull out of the fog and wanting back up to the surface...that thought would be Jack. However going back to her mortal life means she will pay a price to the Everneath and that price is the Tunnels, the life source the immortals send Forfeits to, to be drained of any life that is left. Six months is all she has left to make amends before the Tunnels come to take her home, clogging her throat with dirt and suffocation, six short months, its not a lot of time to figure out how to dupe the immortal who sucked you dry.Cole, the Everliving who enticed Nikki to the Feed is shocked that Nikki remains young, pretty and mind intact after the one hundred years and follows her up to the surface. Its rare that anyone can survive the Feed and he wants Nikki for his queen so together they can rule the Everneath, but Nikki only wants to reconnect to her family and to Jack. Due to her choices six months ago, Nikki is now faced with choosing Cole and becoming his queen or choosing the Everneath Tunnels, which will come for her and bury her under the ground sucking her life out until she fades to nothing. As the days go by and Cole fights to gain her trust and Nikki's powerful connection to Jack begins healing her mind the knowledge of whats coming for her makes the future horrifying to process. None of them want to give up though, all three characters have a piece to be played on the game-board called Nikki's life and only one can win.Everneath was an alluring story of myth, love and betrayals...the biggest of the three being love. Ashton's world was like a toxic drug, with its simple yet complex mix of mythology, romance and mystery, it had me addicted at page one and unable to stop until it was over, leaving me craving for more once I finished. I couldn't help but race to the end as each chapter revealed a little layer of the present and little peal pack of the events leading up to the Feed. I enjoyed every minute I spent with characters, Cole as the immortal, Jack as the tortured boyfriend and Nikki the young girl with huge amounts of mixed, tangled emotions, ones that were understandable due to her state of mind and due to what she was facing. While in the beginning I was irritated that Nikki made the choices she did, I couldn't help but feel sorry for her due to the overwhelming and unfortunate circumstances in her life. Everneath was highly entertaining and by the end my emotions were almost as bad as Nikki's....a tangled mess of shock, swoon and sadness, that left me with a sigh when I turned the last page. I loved this take on the story of Hades and Persephone and the combination of another surprise mythology couple. Oh yes, somebody call the cheese police, because this book had me in swoon overdrive and made me cry. Outrageous acts of bravery or love always pull at my heart strings and Ashton offers a heaping spoonful in Everneath, I loved it and cant wait for book two.

[zeeelicious · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

The Story
Everneath is loosely based on the Greek mythology of Persephone and Hades and of Orpheus and Eurydice with mentions of the Egyptian gods Isis and Osiris.  The story starts 6 human months after the feed where the main protagonist Nikki awakens after being sent to the Everneath (or the Underworld).  The Feed or Feeding is the way an Everliving (those immortals that live in the Underworld) can continue their immortal lives by stealing/freeding on the emotions and memories of the living (humans).  The feed lasts for a hundred years which is like 6 months of human time.  Once you have been fed upon, either the sacrifice dies, becomes old, or in rare cases, survives.  When a sacrifice survives, she then has a chance to become the Queen of the Underworld, with her Everliving the King.  If the sacrifice survives however, becomes old, she is then taken by the shadows and is brought to the Tunnels (Hell, if you wish).  The three main characters of the story are Nikki, Jack and Cole.

Cole is the Everliving that took Nikki into the Everneath and bonded with her by taking all her emotions and memories.  They spend bound together for a hundred years when Nikki was able to leave the Everneath by keeping a thought/memory of her human love alive.  She is then taken over by a shade and awakes in a mini-mart in their town 6 months after the was supposedly gone.  She then tries to repair her relationship with her family while staying away from Jack and trying to repair her life.  This basically comprises most of the middle part of the story with the end resulting in Nikki staying above and Jack going to the Tunnels.

My Thoughts
Now, on to my review.  I was surprised that I liked the story of Nikki and Jack even though I had serious problems with the inconsistensies and the impossibilies of the whole story.  Let's start of on why I liked it.  The premise of the story IS intriguing.  I was curious about how the author would execute the Persephone and Hades' story.  Another thing that I did like about the story is the way Nikki comes off as a relatable character, although there are just times that you just want to bash her on the head for being so stupid.  Jack, on the other hand, comes off as a love-struck boy that apparently hasen't forgotten Nikki at all with Cole, adding to the romantic tension.  I see Cole as the perfect bad boy and secretly wish that this was a love story about Cole and Nikki.

I love how the author gradually introduced us to the backstory by giving flashbacks of Nikki's memories 6 months ago.  It was integrated in a way that did not deter or confuse the reader and I was able to follow through without digitally flipping the pages back or forward to get what the author was trying to say.

Despite my liking the whole story, or shedding a tear or two (it may just have been my raging hormones or something *shrugs*), I had problems with the story.  I just didn't get why no one put an Amber Alert out for Nikki when she went missing, why her father, being the Mayor of Park City didn't do anything in his power to find his only daughter, why everybody accepted that Nikki came back from Rehab when there were no signs of her acting like she needed to go to rehab before she went with Cole.  The only bad behavior I saw her do was going to concerts with Cole and his band which was not really bad at all since I went to concerts as a teen and was never in any risk of going off to rehab!  *Sigh*  True, she pretty much flipped out when she found out the hit-and-run driver who killed her mom got acquitten AND she caught Jack cheating on her.  That could have been a catalyst but still...

I also thought that the whole time Nikki was pining away for Jack and not talking to him the whole middle part of the book was pretty stupid.  I mean, I am pretty straightforward and with her not talking to him was just stupid.  Jack, on the otherhand, I also expected him to confront her and ask her what her baggage is.  I know guys don't do the confrontation thing but with him saying that he loved her, I thought that would prompt a confrontation.

Now, let's talk about Cole.  I thought that he was the hero in the story!  He had all the makings of a bad-boy alpha hero and I would have liked the story be based on Cole and Nikki.  True, he stole from Nikki but that would have made an awesome love story instead of Jack and Nikki's meh romance.  As a villain, Cole didn't do much of anything; just stalk Nikki like crazy and appearing in her room uninvited (what is it with creeps appearing in girls rooms uninvited?  THAT is not romantic!).  I thought that was serial killer/rapist creepy.

[erlangerfactionless · 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.

[obridget1-1 · 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.

[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.

[ekanderson_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

When I picked this book up, I had no idea that EVERNEATH was entangled in Greek mythology. The rich world built by Brodi Ashton was a pleasant surprise to me, as it unfolded piece by piece, revealing the secrets of a new imagining of the underworld. And it was super fun to read about.The story of EVERNEATH is told both in the present tense and in flashbacks to the past — to before Nikki Becker consented to be a part of the Feed that drained her of every single emotion, feeding her Everliving host Cole for one hundred years. And while she was away for a century in the Everneath, in Nikki’s world, it was only six months that passed. And in that time, rumors have piled up. She left her boyfriend and longtime friend Jack in the lurch. Everyone thinks she’s some strung-out druggie now, talks about her like she’s destroyed Jack’s life. Even her father, the mayor, is having her drug tested regularly and has signed her up to volunteer at a soup kitchen to help save face for the upcoming election.But none of that really matters. Nikki is going to have to return to the Everneath — to the Tunnels where she’ll be used as a battery to power the Everliving. It’s her debt to pay. Even if Cole — guised in this world as the singer and guitarist for a popular local band — says there’s another way, that she is special, that she could be with him, make a bid for the throne, change the Everneath forever. But Nikki doesn’t want that. She’d have to feed off of people the way Cole fed off her. All she wants in these next six months is to be able to say proper goodbyes, to make up for hurting her friends and family when she disappeared without a trace for the Feed.It’s not so simple, though. There’s a woman named Mary at the soup kitchen who talks about the daughters of Persephone — and while everyone tells Nikki that she’s just an old lady with dementia, Nikki knows there’s more to her crazy stories than senility. And there’s the conversations Nikki has overheard at the convenience store, between Cole and members of his band. Perhaps she can find a way to subvert the system she won’t have to go, and she and Jack can go back to the way they were before the event that sent her running to Cole, to the Feed, in the first place.Written with a delicate hand, EVERNEATH has the perfect blend of mystery, romance, and suspense. If you want a good love story, pick this one up.

[bookswithbite · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This book is the bomb diggity. Like WOW! This book leaves me speechless and so excited for the start of an amazing new series! I don't want to say too much, I might spoil it.Why is this book so good? Well let by start off by saying that at the beginning I was a bit skeptical. While I love greek mythology, I am sort of getting tired of it. The way Ms. Ashton thought of the box and created a fresh world of darkness left me speech less. I love that she took something overdone and made it brand new. After the first chapter I was hooked. The plot of this book is wonderful! Simple ecstatic! I loved the idea of a Underworld, Daughters of Persephone, and a deep prophecy that is waiting to be fulfilled. Ms. Ashton grabbed her readers pulling them on ride that we will never forget.The love interest in this book is so good, I can not put it in words. There is no love triangle but a strained love. I loved that their love is deeper than I have ever seen before. This love is the type of love that is strong and unbreakable. I loved reading the book and feeling the pull of deep emotions on my heart. Ms. Ashton way of writing just the right words to get you hooked and pulled into the story is amazing.Everneath is breathless. A book that no words can measure. Pulling her readers in the deep abyss of the underworld, Ms. Ashton leaves her readers blissful. Ms. Ashton is a skillful writer leading her readers into a great reading adventure. Hauntingly beautiful, Everneath is start of a very promising series!

[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.

[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!

[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)

[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!

[yabotd · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Lately, there seems to be a number of YA books dealing with hell or the underworld. It's interesting to read all the different versions and interpretations. Everneath by Brodi Ashton was quite distinctive. Not only does it combine the idea of the underworld with the concept of immortals, but it starts immediately with Nikki waking up with Cole after the Feed. Talk about immediately being dropped into a new world! Readers won't completely understand what's going on or what happened, but you'll be able to follow along until those answers are explained. Nikki has a strange journey. She's been gone from her normal life for six months without explanation. When she returns, she doesn't give an explanation and she appears damaged. She's sickly, doesn't talk much, and displays very limited emotions. The rumors that she was abusing drugs are actually the most accurate explanation, given her behaviors and appearance. Nikki's journey is difficult because she came back to make things right with family and friends. She wants to give them a proper good-bye before she has to return to the Everneath forever. Oh, and she only has six months to do it.For me, the best aspect of reading Everneath was witnessing the changes in Nikki's relationships. When she returns, there's a lot of work to do. Repairing relationships takes time and I thought Ashton did a great job showing how that happens and giving the appropriate amount of time for each. Because of the relationships Nikki has with Cole and Jack, this story has a love triangle. It's a strange, twisted love triangle, but a triangle nonetheless. As a reader, it was hard for me to decide who would be the better choice. Overall, Jack is the one Nikki loves, but she knows it would crush him to reconnect then have her disappear again. Cole's life as an Everliving is disturbing to Nikki, but I had sympathy for him. He seems to truly care about Nikki. Plus, her other option is to be subjected to the Tunnels forever...not a good thing. Luckily for me, I knew Everneath has a sequel. If I didn't, I think I would have been disappointed in the ending. It could have worked as a stand alone ending, but if it was the only book, I would have been very disappointed in the end. There's just so much more that can be done and I have hope for some of the characters to get better endings in the future. Overall, Everneath is worth the read. It has more introspection into life and relationships than your typical fantasy, so it's good for both fantasy and literary fans. It has some romance too, but don't pick it up if you're in the mood for a hugely romantic book. Final thoughts: Borrow or buy.

[jenwitch · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

First of all the cover art for this book is amazing, and even more so in person. I felt like I wanted to blow it up and hang it on my wall. With this amazing cover came an amazing book. I adore the way Brodi Ashton has written Everneath. Starting in the core of the conflict then kind of spreading out both backwards and forward from there. It made the characters a little more endearing I felt by being able to pick and choose the flashbacks. You didn't have to waste time with the filler. It also kept my attention, not only did I want to know what was going to happen, I wanted that glimpse of what did.

Normally I'm all about the bad boy, but I loved Jack's dedication to Nikki. I felt like Cole couldn't hold a candle in that respect. He was interesting and mysterious but I'm not sure I really ever got a grasp on him. Is he really in love with her or does he just want power. He kind of seems confused on the subject himself. While Jack, even though he gets mad at times, even though he was hurt by Nikki, he wants to help her anyway. He cares enough about her to see through all the nonsense. Jules the conflicted best friend fell a little flat for me, but I didn't think she was pivotal to the story so I don't think she was supposed to stand out.

When I was a kid, I read book after book of mythology so I loved how this incorporated some of the myths. I found it was unique and well done, giving them that slightly modern twist but still preserving some of the romanticism myths are known for. It actually made me want to pick up a couple of my mythology books and reread some of the stories.

Honestly I couldn't get enough of this book, I can hardly wait for book two.

[yearningtoread · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Everneath by Brodi Ashton (Everneath #1)Pages: 384Release Date: January 24th, 2012Date Read: 2012, January 10th-12thReceived: ARC from NetGalleyRating: 5/5 starsRecommended to: 14+SUMMARY -Nikki Beckett has just been released from the Feed - from Cole. She has spent a century in the Everneath, allowing Cole to Feed off her energy, her emotions, for his own gain and the gain of the Everneath. She'd wanted him to, begged him to. Her hurt had been too great.But now that she's back in her own world, her own time, she does not like her two choices - either return with Cole and possibly become Queen of the Everlings or go to the Tunnels and become a battery for the Everneath. She would rather sacrifice herself to the Tunnels than be fed off of forever, but as she grows stronger, she wonders if she can escape her fate?Whether she can or not, she's determined to leave right - not like last time, when she'd just fought with her father and her boyfriend had broken her heart. But here and now, her heart seems to be drawn yet again to that same boy. Can she do the right thing with her friends and family - and possibly evade the Tunnels? Time is running out.MY THOUGHTS -Tomorrow is the release date of Everneath. Early in the morning, I will hurriedly get dressed, grab my keys and my purse, drive to the nearest Barnes and Noble, and purchase this book. I will probably scream happily and do a little joyful jig and stare longingly at the cover and thumb through the pages, my heart thumping excitedly, like I've received a surprising and long-awaited Christmas present.This is not an exaggeration. I am 95% certain that's exactly how it will happen. The remaining 5% leaves room for variation in how much and/or what kind of screaming, jigging, and thumbing I will do. The rest is set in stone.Wanna know why?I'm madly in love with this book. Every. Last. Letter. Down to the dotted I's and crossed T's. Down to every apostrophe and period and exclamation point. Down to the very paper it was printed on - no! Even better - the press that made it!! The fingers that typed that first draft of a manuscript and every draft thereafter should be covered with diamond rings and kissed by all who pass.I. AM. AMAZED.(Understatement.)CHARACTER NOTES -These characters all stand out as likable - whether because they're good good guys or good bad guys. Or good in-between guys you can't decide about yet. But even more than being good characters - they're memorable, every single one.Nikki is a great MC. Her voice reflects her character, on the quieter side, a girl who loves deeply, someone who never wishes to hurt others but is hurt easily by others. She's not weak, just sensitive. She's sweet and smart, but she also runs from pain, doesn't like confrontation and will do all she can to avoid it. These things add up to make Nikki who she is - one of those perfectly imperfect characters who you respect from the start, even if they have some growing to do.Cole and his buddies are mysteries, very fascinating ones, totally puzzling, in a good way. Cole is kind of like an antagonist, even though he's not exactly the "bad guy". I'm so intrigued, but still, he doesn't even compare....to....*breath hitches in throat - heart stops*Jack Caputo. Jack Caputo.Jack. Caputo.Yes, you heard me.J. A. C. K. C. A. P. U. T. O.*Falls into chair with dramatic sigh, hand on forehead, fist at the chest**Knees go week and whole form begins to crumple**Heart begins to thump exceedingly loud and fast**Mouth opens in pure awe**Giggles like a schoolgirl at the very sight of his name*Take your pick. Any will apply, all with apply. There are others, too.I loved the way he was content just to be with Nikki. How honest he was. How he responded to Nikki's situation. How everything he did was so...Jack Caputo.I could go on.Excuse me for a moment while I give a few fangirly screams.STORY NOTES -I never can stay away from retellings. Even if I wanted to, I couldn't. They draw me. This story is kind of a mix between a retelling and a twist...of the story of Hades and Persephone, which makes it even more amazing because mythology is something else I find extremely fascinating and hard to stay away from.Ashton's version does not disappoint, in any way. I feel like, after an accomplishment as great as Everneath she could write anything. I hope she does. I hope she writes and writes and writes - because this story is basically my one true love, my happily ever after.Every moment had me riveted. I loved how slowly everything about Nikki's past was revealed, which gave me time to contemplate everything. It also built the characters more smoothly than if the flashbacks hadn't been there.The romance held something more than your typical YA romance. Not only was it sweet and innocent, not only did it give me butterflies and heart flutters, but it had already happened! I won't say any more...I honestly can't describe it - you must experience it.The pace of this book is definitely fast, but while I read it I felt like I was experiencing everything in a time frame of the six months Nikki had. But it still went by so fast...I don't know how to explain it. Just know that I was never once bored or wishing more would happen. This book seriously has allllll the good stuff!!SUMMING IT UP -Everneath will evermore be one of my ever-favorites. Please hurry, Brodi and Balzer + Bray!! I'm just...speechless. Still. And so, so please. Buy. This. Book.For the Parents -Some kissing, passionate but very sweet. Jack's past includes some sleeping around, but he wishes he could change that. Nikki is once afraid that Jack will pressure her to sleep with him but he says he won't, and doesn't. He is very respectful of her wishes. Some underage teens spend time at clubs, but nothing inappropriate happens. Some very brief, mild language. Recommended 14+*This ARC copy was provided by NetGalley (thanks a million!!) in return for an honest review. I was in no way compensated; all thoughts and feelings expressed are my own.*

[pollywannabook · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Review courtesy of All Things Urban FantasyI love the Greek myth about Hades and Persephone. It’s romantic and dangerous which makes it perfect fodder for the paranormal YA genre. Last year, there were at least three contemporary retellings: Meg Cabot’s ABANDON, Amiee Carter’s THE GODDESS TEST, and my favorite, Gwen Hayes’ FALLING UNDER. 2012 kicks off with a new and welcome version from debut author Brodi Ashton. EVERNEATH borrows just enough from the source material to please the purist in me while injecting the story with fresh and exciting new mythology.If you are unfamiliar with the Persephone myth, it’s about a girl who is abducted by Hades and forced to be his queen for half of every year in the underworld. EVERNEATH begins with Nikki returning to the Surface after vanishing months before. The side effects of her stay in Everneath are very apparent, both physically and emotionally. Nikki wasn’t a queen, she was a meal. Time passes differently in Everneath, so her energy was fed on for a century. All her emotions, her memories are gone. Except for Jack. The boyfriend whose betrayal allowed the immortal Cole to seduce her to Everneath. The narrative jumps effectively from her time before Everneath chronicling how Nikki and Jack fell in love and how Cole pursued and ultimately stole her life, and Nikki’s painful reacclimation to life and attempted reconciliation with Jack when she returns. Lots of heartbreak, but it’s the good kind.I did feel that there was an imbalance when it came to the secondary characters in EVERNEATH. When Nikki returns to the Surface, she is completely consumed with Jack. Very little attention is given to her father and little brother despite how clearly her absence has devastated them in the wake of her mother’s death and the trial for the man who killed her. I think it would have worked better if Nikki hadn’t had a family or not one that cared about her, than to have this broken family be largely swept to the sidelines. It just felt wrong. Likewise Jack’s PTSD suffering older brother was a mess after fighting in Afghanistan, but they never really address it or even talk about him. I can’t help wondering why these characters, with serious problems, were even introduced at all. Granted this is a trilogy, so some of my objections will likely be addressed in subsequent books, but to not address them at all in this book struck me as a serious oversight.Overall, EVERNEATH reintroduced me to a myth I love with beautiful writing and skilled narration. The romance is both poignant and tragic. I’m thrilled this is the first book in a planned trilogy. There are zero details about the sequels right now, but I have some ideas of what may happen next. Hopefully the secondary characters will get some much needed attention, but with a central love story this strong and a twist on the mythology this fascinating, I may not mind.Sexual Content:Kissing. References to sex

[reading_crystal · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Wow, this is a story that can transport you away, suck you in and enthrall you all-in-one. I had a hard time making myself go to work on Friday. I really wanted to stay home and read this. Instead I spent the morning Saturday finishing this up. What an amazing book.I was captivated by Nikki (Becks) from the first page when she is separating from Cole in the Everneath. I was left wondering why she was there, did she love Cole, but then bam, she's thinking about another boy and he's the reason she wants to leave. Wow. As the book goes by, I found myself more and more under her spell. She really wants to do what is right. She has made mistakes. I also found myself really liking Jack, the mysterious boy who lures her back to the real world and Jules, her best friend from before as well. Cole makes a great "bad guy" of sorts. He seems bad, but is he? I found his character interesting in the book even if I never could like him.The plot was amazing. I love how Ms. Ashton goes back and forth in time to show what happened in the past to lead up to what is going on now. She handles the back and forth masterfully so I was never confused. She also paces it well, never giving away too much and keeping the reader enthralled and wanting to turn pages to figure out what made Nikki make that final decision. And the ending, wow, what can I say. You know I won't give it away, but it's just astounding. I loved the book as a whole, the characters, the plot, the pacing, it was all masterful. The incorporation of mythology was a nice touch as well and made the book have even more depth. I found myself enthralled by the mythology angle. I loved mythology in school and wasn't as familiar with the stories she used. The great thing, this is Ms. Ashton's first book. I can't wait to read her next book. So if you are looking for a great YA book from a debut author that has mythology, suspense, great characters and a well-paced plot, then give Everneath a read. And make sure you don't have to go to work or school the next day.