Everbound: An Everneath Novel (edition 2013)

I really enjoyed this second book in the series. I did not find this book to be predictable, so it kept me interested all the way through. The premise for this series is refreshing. Having read my fair share of vampire and witch books, this was fun! Now the hard part: waiting for the third book! ( )

I love this cover!

ARC Giveaway for Everbound on my blog! U.S. addresses only. Sorry international followers!
Giveaway ends January 29th, 2013

**Spoilers to follow for those of you who have not yet read Everneath!**

Everbound was quite the adventure! I wasn't the hugest fan of the first installment was this one was fun, entertaining, and even a bit exciting. Everbound picks up where the last left off with Nikki desperately trying to come up with a plan to rescue Jack. Once she realizes that she requires Cole's help for this to ever be possible, she also realizes she has to put more trust in him than she ever has before. He's never given her a reason to trust him but she's not left with much choice if she ever wants to see Jack again.

Over 100 of the first pages is wasted on Nikki and her planning on how to save Jack. I understand the need for developing but I can't help but feel some of it could have been cut out because once the action really started, it was quite the interesting story. Everbound took bits from several mythological stories: Persephone and Hades (Greek), Orpheus and Eurydice (Greek), Inanna and her descent into the underworld (Sumerian), Daedalus' labyrinth (Greek), and Dante's Inferno (Italian). The entire plot of the story was heavily based on these myths and it was interesting to see how these myths were altered to suit the story.

Everbound put major focus on the development of Cole and Nikki's relationship which continued building that love triangle that I knew was inevitably coming. Considering I was a bigger fan of Cole than Jack, this wasn't too big of a gripe for me. It's a sure bet readers will end up liking Cole a lot more as the story progresses, as he shows a noble and honest side to him that wasn't evident previously.

This was an extremely close to a 4 star read for me... until the end. The ending really ruined any fun I had over the course of the previous 350 pages and made me confused and irritable and other related adjectives. I know I will now have to read the final installment in the trilogy and hope that all the time I spent on this series ends up being worth it. As it stands right now though I'm not impressed and I'm crossing my fingers for a big finish at the very least.

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Oh my God. How does she do that? Spin me along for an amazing ride and leave me hanging, why don't you?

Whoever has never read this series, go and buy the first book now.

Nikki is still really sad over Jack, which is understandable. There's some complaining, but it's just enough that it feels real.

I'm not sure if I want to kill Cole, right now. At the ending, what he did shocked me. We did get some of his history, though.

Jack isn't in this book a lot, but he's really important. Like, the entire book is written to find him. Nikki uses memories as a thread to find him, and I really enjoyed reading those.

The Everneath was designed perfectly. There was even a map in the beginning of the book. I like how it was made into circles, since I have never read anything with the world made out of circles.

There are some twists in this book, and some of them make you wonder how you didn't see what would happen before.

The pacing was very good. We got some more action in this book.

The ending was amazing. The cliffhanger was really well done, but I can't wait for the next book now. I'll probably hound the publisher for the next book. How many emails is considered stalking, again?

Find this review and more at http://www.thereadingobsession.blogspot.com ( )

In the stunning second book of the Everneath Trilogy, Everbound, Brodi Ashton takes her twist on Greek mythology to new levels while keeping the tension and excitement that made Everneath the incredible debut that it was. It's time for a closer look at the world of the Everneath in Everbound.

What I Loved

A Dangerous World: Author Brodi Ashton promised readers that she would explore the realm of the Everneath in more depth in this second installment, and she kept her promise. Nikki takes several trips into the underworld in her search for Jack, with Cole and his friend Max along for the ride. Each trip takes them deeper into the Everneath with new dangers around every turn as they work their way closer to the Queen's High Court and the Tunnels that hold Jack. I loved the way Ashton set the underworld up in a series of rings similar to those envisioned by Dante in his description of Hell, but based on the four elements (Earth, Water, Air, and Fire) instead. Each ring holds different dangers and challenges based on their element, and Ashton put some very inventive twists into each of them. Everything is well thought-out, interesting, and vividly described. This is NOT a place you want to be!

Nikki Steps Up: While she has moments of doubt, despair and guilt, Nikki is a lot less fragile in Everbound and really steps up to the plate as she works to retrieve Jack from the Tunnels of the Everneath. I really like her narrative voice, and found it very easy to slip back into her head when the story started. I admired her determination to rescue Jack, and her willingness to throw herself into the dangers of the Everneath to get to him. She faces multiple obstacles on the Surface and below in this installment, as she desperately searches for answers while trying to keep her father and therapist from declaring her insane. Quite the juggling act! And her final words in the book? Priceless.

The Terrible Twist: There is very little I can say about the nasty twist that comes into play at the end of Everbound without giving too much away, except that it involved a heartbreaking betrayal that I didn't see coming. I was left stunned by the outcome, but also excited; it sets things up for an incredible showdown in the final book and guarantees I will be grabbing a copy the minute it is released. Nikki is going to be doing MAJOR damage to the world of the Everneath in 2014, and I want a front row seat to the fireworks.

What I Liked

A Singular Style: Continuing with the non-linear format that served her well in Everneath, Brodi Ashton jumps the narrative around - this time between the Surface and the Everneath instead of between time periods - but keeps everything clear with chapter headings displaying the location. It's a nice change of pace from the normal A to B to C most narratives follow, and works well for this trilogy. Since everything is so clearly marked, I never felt lost or had a problem following Nikki on her quest.

The Danger of Cole: One of the most intriguing characters of this trilogy is Cole, the cause of all of Nikki's trials and tribulations. I have never been a fan of his (though I know several readers who love him), but I can't dispute that he is extremely well-written, multi-faceted, and dangerous. Ashton has created a memorable character with all kinds of shades of gray, and she has really upped her game with him in Everbound. I never knew what to expect from him, yet was somehow never truly surprised by his actions. I've always seen him as a character who will go to any lengths to achieve his goals and who calculates every move he makes to fit those goals. Everbound cemented those beliefs and left me wondering what Nikki will have to do to break his hold on her.

What I Didn't Like

Some Pacing Issues: While a great deal of Everbound is riveting and I truly do enjoy the author's jumping bean format, I did find some pacing issues in the middle of the narrative as Nikki moved between the Surface and the Everneath. Brodi Ashton is very careful to explain why Nikki must return to the Surface each night of her quest, however, it did sometimes cause the pacing to lag. Nikki, Cole and Max would overcome some dangerous creature or situation down below, then suddenly she would be booted topside (literally) and the tension that had just been built up would stall. It was a minor annoyance, mainly because there was a lot more action going on in the Everneath than on the Surface and I was anxious for Nikki to get to Jack. Speaking of...

Not Enough Jack: I know he's trapped, and this installment is all about getting to him - but I really missed Jack. The dream sequences just weren't enough to keep me satisfied; I always wanted more of his character. Couldn't the dreams last longer?

Conclusion

Brodi Ashton has turned in an impressive second installment of her Everneath Trilogy with Everbound, as Nikki ventures to the depths of the underworld to rescue Jack from the sacrifice he made at the end of Everneath. With well-written characters, an extensive look at a dangerous world, and a unique style, Everbound offers plenty of excitement and action while throwing in a twist that will leave you shocked and begging for more. ( )