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A review by emrodav
Everneath by Brodi Ashton
2.0
I really wanted to like this book. I love re-tellings of myths, and the story of Persephone and Hades holds a special place in my heart. Their story has always been my favorite. So I think my expectations might have been too high for Everneath.
I tried so hard to like the book, but nothing worked for me. First, just Nikki's name was confusing. Sometimes she's Nikki, sometimes Becks, and it's really disorienting when you aren't familiar with a character. Nikki also just wasn't interesting. Yes, she had her emotions sucked out of her or whatever, but that's a terrible place to start a novel. You need a narrator who feels things and can express them. Every time Nikki got closer to feeling something, it was awkward as hell.
And then we come to the romance. Was I supposed to like Cole? Was I supposed to root for him to win Nikki's heart? Because no. Just no. That will never happen. Every scene with him left a bad taste in my mouth. (Frankly, it all seemed like a precursor to a rape metaphor, but that wasn't fleshed out or handled at all.)
And the good boy, Jack, wasn't developed any better. We just know he's a typical, unobtainable boy who I definitely like Jack better than Cole, but that's honestly not saying much.
The paranormal element to this so-called paranormal romance was completely lacking. I wanted mythology and world-building, but all I got was information about Park City, Utah. Boring. If I cared about Utah, I'd drive for a day or two and find out. What a reader wants is to be enchanted by the other-worldly and the mundane alike. Ashton failed on both counts.
Everneath had a lot of promise, but time and again failed to live up to it. I was left disappointed.
I tried so hard to like the book, but nothing worked for me. First, just Nikki's name was confusing. Sometimes she's Nikki, sometimes Becks, and it's really disorienting when you aren't familiar with a character. Nikki also just wasn't interesting. Yes, she had her emotions sucked out of her or whatever, but that's a terrible place to start a novel. You need a narrator who feels things and can express them. Every time Nikki got closer to feeling something, it was awkward as hell.
And then we come to the romance. Was I supposed to like Cole? Was I supposed to root for him to win Nikki's heart? Because no. Just no. That will never happen. Every scene with him left a bad taste in my mouth. (Frankly, it all seemed like a precursor to a rape metaphor, but that wasn't fleshed out or handled at all.)
And the good boy, Jack, wasn't developed any better. We just know he's a typical, unobtainable boy who
Spoiler
may or may not have cheated on Nikki?The paranormal element to this so-called paranormal romance was completely lacking. I wanted mythology and world-building, but all I got was information about Park City, Utah. Boring. If I cared about Utah, I'd drive for a day or two and find out. What a reader wants is to be enchanted by the other-worldly and the mundane alike. Ashton failed on both counts.
Everneath had a lot of promise, but time and again failed to live up to it. I was left disappointed.