Fighting Immortality

"Before I could think anymore, I grabbed his shirt

and pulled him toward me.

I kissed him.

Lightly.

Quickly."

--Brodi Ashton, Everbound

Genre: YA Greek Mythology Re-Telling, Paranormal

Publisher: Balzer + Bray, 384 pages

Publication Date: January 22nd, 2013

Find on Goodreads 

Source: ARC received from Epic Reads giveaway :)

Goodreads Description:

Nikki Beckett could only watch as her boyfriend, Jack, sacrificed himself to save her, taking her place in the Tunnels of the Everneath for eternity — a debt that should’ve been hers. She’s living a borrowed life, and she doesn’t know what to do with the guilt. And every night Jack appears in her dreams, lost and confused and wasting away.

Desperate for answers, Nikki turns to Cole, the immortal bad boy who wants to make her his queen — and the one person least likely to help. But his heart has been touched by everything about Nikki, and he agrees to assist her in the only way he can: by taking her to the Everneath himself.

Nikki and Cole descend into the Everneath, only to discover that their journey will be more difficult than they’d anticipated — and more deadly. But Nikki vows to stop at nothing to save Jack — even if it means making an incredible sacrifice of her own.

My Thoughts

It is hard to put my thoughts into words because I am a little in shock right now...unsure still as to which kind of shock except I know one thing for sure...I would like the third Everneath novel in my hands...like yesterday. But I guess I'll get to that part, let's start at the beginning shall we? The second novel in Ashton's Everneath series picks up a few weeks after Jack has sacrificed himself to the tunnels. Nikki is a wreck, understandably. There is a part in the beginning where she describes her emotions as a dam that she has built around her heart in order for her to keep the pieces together and breathe without having to consciously think about it...whoa. Ashton does not hold back even initially in the wave of emotions that hit you right in the face. As I said in my Everneath review, I felt very in tune with Nikki's emotional journey and it is just the same in Everbound. Nikki is absolutely broken after Jack leaves, it is heartbreaking to read. She is desperate and alone and wants nothing more than to get Jack back...

...and this is exactly what she plans to do. She devises a plan, with the help of Will, to get Cole to take her to the Everneath, which eventually happens, but how that occurs you will have to read to find out :) From there they embark on their epic journey to save the love of Nikki's life...*sigh*

I devoured this book. Legit. Less than a day. I just HAD to know what happened! The story does a great job of keeping the reader interested and on their toes. The path they take to get Jack back is as dangerous as they come so I always felt a little on edge when I was reading, just waiting for bad things to happen. The story does have flashbacks interspersed that take us back to memories of Nikki and Jack and gives us a little better insight into their relationship. I loved this! They alluded to it in Everneath but we definitely get more of the picture in Everbound. Jack is adorable. I cannot deny it. Their love story is beautiful and innocent...but I can't help but feel a little bit more drawn to Cole. I don't know what it is! Jack is amazing, I do love him, don't get me wrong, but the fact that Cole is helping Nikki find her love even though he loves her...there's just something so right about that. He knows where her heart is but he cannot give up the hope that she could maybe see him more than an evil mastermind Everling.

I also loved the re-appearance of Mrs. Jenkins. I thought here scenes really brought depth and a different look to the story as a whole. We get a different perspective on a story only told from one angle. The Greek mythology references I couldn't get enough of. The parallels between the stories are just so cool! As we know this is a Hades and Persephone re-telling but Ashton alludes to a few other stories that you never really know what ancient Greek myth our characters here will follow and what the outcome will be.

And I have to say that the ending is...just wow...which is why the beginning of my review is so haggard. I totally thought I saw the story going a certain way and then Ashton just smacks you in the face with something I NEVER saw coming! I loved this book. Fans of Everneath will not be disappointed with this installment...in fact the only disappointment you may have is that it ends...and we must wait until the third book comes out...how's that for a repetitive and continuous punishment?...