ARC Review--Everneath by Brodi Ashton

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...

I received this e-ARC from Netgalley for review

If I had to describe Brodi Ashton's Everneath in one word, it would be riveting! Brodi puts a new spin on the Persephone myth and its results are extraordinary!

I'll admit that in the beginning I was a little discombobulated. I didn't quite understand what was happening, and I think it might have been deliberate. At least it seemed that way. For Nikki herself is a little discombobulated. 

A decent portion of the novel was back-story, for we had to see how Nikki got to be in her current situation, but for the most part the back-story was told nicely. Nikki tries to get used to being back on Earth, with her old friends and family, but it is tough going. She has a hard time adjusting and trying to get her emotions and feelings back. For awhile I didn't understand why she came back, besides for Jack that is. She even kind of ignores him for awhile in the beginning too.

But Nikki's flashbacks/memories really help pull the pieces together. And soon there's more to the story. Nikki learns somethings about the girls before her, who were in her same situation. There might be a way out of her having to either return to the Tunnels--a version of hell in some ways, or choosing to be with Cole and rule the underworld. But Nikki's feelings for Jack are returning in fool force, making the decision anything but easy.

So yes, there's another love triangle. And I for one just couldn't pick my "team". I started with Cole changed to Jack and back and forth again and again! Which to me is the best kind of love triangle. I like it if the heroine has to have a struggle to choose who she wants to be with. Cole definitely makes for a twisted guy. You can never quite tell if he's playing hero or villain! Jack was great too, because it takes time for his true colors to show as well.

The characters were pretty awesome in some ways. Very complex. Every one of them seemed to have depth to them and it made for an incredible story! The ending was astounding too! Although bits of it I could see coming as info was revealed, but it was still kinda shocking! And I can't quite tell if there's to be another one or not. It could go both ways.

Overall rating 4/5 stars

Everneath releases January 24, 2012