Title: Everneath (Everneath #1)
Author: Brodi Ashton
Release date: January 24, 2012
Publisher: Balzer + Bray
Pages: 384
Source: Publisher

Last spring, Nikki Beckett vanished, sucked into an underworld known as the Everneath, where immortals Feed on the emotions of despairing humans. Now she’s returned- to her old life, her family, her friends- before being banished back to the underworld… this time forever.

She has six months before the Everneath comes to claim her, six months for good-byes she can’t find the words for, six months to find redemption, if it exists.

Nikki longs to spend these months reconnecting with her boyfriend, Jack, the one person she loves more than anything. But there’s a problem: Cole, the smoldering immortal who first enticed her to the Everneath, has followed Nikki to the mortal world. And he’ll do whatever it takes to bring her back- this time as his queen.

As Nikki’s time grows short and her relationships begin slipping from her grasp, she’s forced to make the hardest decision of her life: find a way to cheat fate and remain on the Surface with Jack or return to the Everneath and become Cole’s…

Brodi Ashton’s debut novel is better than I imagined and believe me, my imagination is pretty wild! This trilogy and this author are going to be beyond fabulous.

Everneath has been described as a retelling of the Hades and Persephone myth.  In some ways I think that is a fitting description but in no way does this book seem like a retelling.  Brodi Ashton took the age-old, well-known myth and made it her own. There is nothing predictable about this book.  It isn 100% unique and 100% unputdownable!

Nikki doesn’t start the book out as a great heroine.  She starts out lost, alone, broken, and defeated.  She does not stay that way for long though.  Throughout the book Nikki grows in so many ways and by the end, she may have flaws but she is one strong and awesome heroine.  Cole also changes throughout the book but his changes are more subtle.  Cole is a guy that is hard to stay away from yet impossible to be around.  Jack, on the other hand, is pretty dang perfect from the beginning.  He is sweet, kind, loving, smart, and protective. He doesn’t lie, cheat, or abuse Nikki in any way.  He is a great guy and his and Nikki’s love story is one you can’t help but get sucked into.  I find it very hard to believe that anyone who has read this isn’t 100% Team Jack.

The story itself is fast-paced and so mind-blowing.  Once you start reading you will be unable to stop.  The story alternates between past and present so pay attention.  It was a bit confusing at first but it is pretty easy to get used to and it really adds to the story.  Sadly, the ending was a bit of a cliffhanger.  I want book two now!

Overall, Everneath is a fabulous debut novel and a wonderful start to this trilogy.  Get your hands on a copy as soon as possible!

Rating: A++