The Best Reader:
Brodi Ashton

  • Blogger Talk: Novel Exposed: Discussion post & Giveaway for Everneath

    Blogger Talk: Novel Exposed: Discussion post & Giveaway for Everneath

    Yesterday Lisa (A Life Bound By Books) and I shared with you our interview with Everneath author Brodi Ashton and some of our favorite quotes from the book. Today we are doing an open discussion of the book where we share some of our thoughts and give readers a chance to join in and link up their review of Everneath.

    Discussion for Everneath

    I really enjoyed how Everneath starts off with the characters being directly in the action. I admit, I'm not very knowledgeable about myths but it was great to start out by getting a lot of information from the beginning

    I agree with you, however it was pretty confusing to me. I mean I was 73 pages into the story and I was totally confused as to exactly what had happened. There were terms in the book surrounding the events that the main character had gone through, but I had no clue until way later on in the book as to what really had happened.

    I agree, especially when Nikki came back and was attempting to get back to her new life. That's when I really had to slow down and try to soak in each detail she gave about what happened while she was away. What did you think of Cole?

    Ah, that's a question I was actually going to ask you… but you beat me to it! To be honest, he rubbed me the wrong way from the beginning. I found him more than frustrating and somewhat an ass. Most of the time, I can find something to endear me to a character that makes me feel as he did, but I have no idea why so many people are falling all over him. So, my turn, what did you think of Cole?

    Very true, but I did find that by the end I did really feel bad for Cole. I think that there is a lot to his story that we will, hopefully, find out in book 2. It did take me a while to like anything about him but I think he may prove to be more than meets the eye.

    As you were typing that, I was thinking about Cole and I am looking forward to more about him because I do think he has something to offer, I just don't see it yet. I wanted to feel sorry for him, but I couldn't really because I know he can't feel. Or maybe that's what the clever author is trying to make us believe?

    You could be right. Sneaky, sneaky! I try to have hope and I am really excited to see what happens with him. What did you think of the way Nikki handled her situation?

    She was so disconnected from the Feed, so the beginning of the book showed just how detached she really was and as the book progressed a black cloud was somewhat lifted from around her that you finally get a chance to see and feel things again just as she did.

    Exactly, at first I wondered why she had fought so hard to go back to her past life. Then, as time went on, I felt I saw her more clearly and could get the emotion that had been hiding. Overall, I was really happy with this story, the story of Nikki and Jack, and the suspense Brodi brought to the plot. I will definitely be checking out the next book to see where this story goes.

    Since you mentioned Jack, I think I need to say that I loved him and how he never gave up, yet he had his own scars from Nikki's disapperance he still never gave up. The ending was epic and I totally agree with you… Brodi knows how to write the suspense. I'm also looking forward to the next book to find out what happens after that cliffhanger ending.
    What did you guys think? Please leave us (spoiler-free) comments and we invite others to reply and join in.

    Prize:

    • 1 winner will receive a copy of EVERNEATH and swag.
    Rules:
    • You must be at least 13 to enter.
    • Name and email must be provided and counts as 1 entry.
    • Extra entries are possible and links must be provided.
    • Contest is US Only and ends March 14th.
    • Once contacted, the winner will have 48 hours to respond.
    • The form must be filled out to enter.

    You will find this form on A Life Bound By Books as well. PLEASE only fill it out ONCE!

    We wanted to do this feature as a way to promote a new release and get people involved in discussing the book. One of the best ways to find out about a book is to read the reviews.
    Please feel free to link your review of EVERNEATH that has been posted on your blog or Goodreads.
    Rules: Please post ONLY your review of EVERNEATH. Please provide the direct link in the linky. You can include your rating of the book.
    Example of link: Confessions of a Bookaholic — Everneath Review (4 stars)

    We would love you to join the discussion about the book. Leave comments, tell us what you thought, or ask questions. PLEASE DO NOT INCLUDE SPOILERS! We don't want to ruin it for others, but we'd love to see what everyone thought of the story.

  • Blogger Talk Review: Everneath by Brodi Ashton

    Blogger Talk Review: Everneath by Brodi Ashton

    Everneath by Brodi Ashton
    Publisher: Harper/Balzer + Bray (January 21st, 2012)
    Reading Level: Young Adult
    Hardcover: 370 pages
    Source: Publisher
    Series: Everneath #1
    Rating: 4 of 5 stars
    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…
    Review: I gotta say, Brodi Ashton sure knows how to put a new twist on an ancient Greek myth. I've never been the biggest fan of these retellings but this is way up on the list for my favorites I've read. When we meet Nikki she has been in the Everneath for 6 months (our time) but much longer than that in her reality. She had let heartbreak and sorrow lead her down a path and pointed straight at Cole — the new rock star with a few special abilities. Cole was able to give Nikki what she needed at the time and she made the decision to follow him.

    Now Nikki is back, sort of. She doesn't feel completely normal and her friends have no idea what she has went through. She just wants a chance to make it okay before she is forced back into that world. Mostly, she wants to do the right thing for Jack, the guy she was dating when she went under.

    The beginning of this story was a little confusing for me but that was part of the reason I kept reading. I'm new to these myths so I was interesting to see where everything fit. Nikki struggled to find her place and the only person who understood what was going on with her was Cole. At first I didn't feel really connected with Nikki. I wanted to really grasp why she had fought so hard to be back on the Surface but I didn't at first. The details came later and I felt much more connected with her as the story progressed.

    One thing I really liked about the story was the way it was structured. We get to see Nikki as she progresses through her 6 months on the Surface, but we also get to see the time she spent before she went to the Everneath. By the end we have a much clearer picture of what happened and why so many people seem hurt by the situation. Jack was the one who went through the most and he really grabbed my heart. Who wouldn't want a guy like that? Jack was just so kind and mature, and it was so easy to see how he felt for Nikki. There were no games involved-- he just loved her!

    It's easy to think that you could and should just hate Cole. He's the bad guy, right? But oh no, I didn't hate him. I felt so bad for him. Darn you Brodi for making him so enticing!! I really felt I understood Cole's actions. He was just doing what he was supposed to do and he didn't plan anything like what had happened with Nikki, not really. He's really a fun character because he has so many"sides".

    Brodi did a fabulous job with this modern retelling. The story was easy to follow and the characters really made the story shine. Even without a ton of action, I never had a problem keeping focus on this story. The mystery behind it and the history among the characters was too fascinating for me to even think about putting the book down.
    Everneath was a surprising read for me and one I that kept me highly entertained. I'm excited to see what happens with this series. Brodi Ashton has created a fabulous debut novel!

    Recommended: Greek Mythology fans or fans of the paranormal. Very good read for young teens.

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    Everneath is the February book pick for the new feature Blogger Talk: Novel Exposed. Each Saturday of the month Lisa (A Life Bound By Books) and I will be posting something new from Everneath or its wonderful author, Brodi Ashton.

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