02 April 2012

Review: Everneath by Brodi Ashton

Title: Everneath (Everneath #1)
Author: Brodi Ashton
Publication Date: 24 January 2012
Publisher: Balzer + Bray
Source: Purchased
Summary (courtesy of goodreads.com):
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...
Okay, so...this is awkward.  I loved this book, I really did.  So at least I can agree with the masses on that.  But something happened when I was reading Everneath that I don't think was supposed to happen.  It's the same thing that happens when I watch Labyrinth - I started rooting for the bad guy.

I know, it's awful.  I sat there and read and read and read, and I couldn't WAIT for Nikki to go back to the Everneath with Cole.  Because he has this attitude and just general way about him that is bad-ass and SO HOT.  I was like, "Forget Jack!  Who needs someone caring and supportive when you can have this piece of immortal meat?!"  Yeah, like I said, awful.

Anyway, since talking about how hot Cole is doesn't really constitute a review, I will try to gather some other thoughts about this book.

For the first hundred or so pages, I wasn't really feeling Everneath.  I was kind of bored and kind of over Nikki.  She came back for Jack, yet every time she sees him she just sits there and bemoans his presence.  It was maybe just a little bit annoying, and I thought, "Great, I bought this book and had it signed and I'm going to HATE IT!"  But, because I bought this book and had it signed, I decided to just carry on reading, and I'm so, so, so glad that I did.

Once Nikki stops feeling sorry for herself, Everneath gets good.  I mean, set-an-alarm-to-remind-yourself-to-eat-sleep-etc. good.  I had to drag myself away from the book more than once to do a lap around the house and grab something to eat, because otherwise I would have sat in that one spot all day and never moved except to turn the page.  Once things are truly set in motion, and Nikki realizes her time on the Surface is almost over, and she starts to feel something other than self-loathing, this book is un-put-down-able.  Like I always say, there's nothing better than a race against time to get things moving along.  (I never say that.)

If you haven't read Everneath (I feel like the last person in the world who hasn't, so maybe just ignore me), you probably should.  Like right now.  Seriously.  And no matter how sexy you may find Cole to be, just remember: HE IS THE BAD GUY.  *swoon*

Rating:

01 April 2012

Bloggiesta Wrap-Up

Bloggiesta Logo My first Bloggiesta has come and mostly gone, and I had a long weekend of fixing and tweaking and all kinds of fun stuff. I wasn't able to get as much socializing done as I had hoped, because I was so focused on my to-do list that I kind of forgot that it was supposed to also be a fiesta. Blogger was also a huge pain all weekend as they switched everyone over to their new interface, which resulted in a lot of yelling, harumphing, and slamming of my laptop. But overall I think I was pretty successful and have already started a list of things I'll probably need to do the next time Bloggiesta comes around. Here is what I was able to accomplish this weekend:

  • Install Navigation Bar: This was a big one for me because it was supposed to be an original feature when I set up this design, but despite looking at numerous tutorials, I could never figure it out. But now it is there, and it is beautiful, and I love it. Here is the tutorial I used to finally figure things out, in case anyone else is struggling: Creating Navigation or Menu Tabs in Blogger.
  • Review Archive: I wanted to get a head start on this feature before I have too many reviews. I played around with it for quite a while, and I really like the way I ended up formatting and sorting it.
  • Challenges Page: My challenge widgets were previously in the sidebar, but because I only have one, I didn't want it clogged up with unnecessary things. Now challenge images, progress bars, and books read are all featured on the same page.
  • Profiles and About Me: I did not have an About Me page before Bloggiesta, and I didn't intend to make one, but I did want to re-write my bio for social networking sites. Then Mary from The Sweet Bookshelf left this comment on my original Bloggiesta post, and I knew I had to write an About Me page as well:
    I love About Me pages. I always want to know the blogger behind the blog. One of my favorite pages to check out.
  • Review Policy: Not much to say here, other than that I have one now.
  • Update Old Reviews: All reviews now feature the same formatting and information.
  • Pinterest Account: I now have a Pinterest account dedicated entirely to bookish things. And cats. Visit it by clicking the (new!) Pinterest icon in the sidebar!
  • Sidebar Cleanup: As I mentioned, I moved the challenge widgets out of the sidebar, moved things from the sidebar to the footer and vice versa to make them easier to find, and updated social networking icons to include all the ones that I am currently a member of.

There were a few other things I dabbled with, such as SEO, that I will continue to learn about and work with over the coming weeks. I didn't accomplish everything on my list (namely I still have unwritten reviews and couldn't even imagine finding the time to make custom images for memes), but it was still a hugely productive weekend and I'm so glad I participated. Thank you to everyone who stopped by and offered encouragement!

I hope everyone had a wonderful Bloggiesta Weekend! I think we are all now more than a little deserving of a nice five-month siesta before the next Bloggiesta rolls around in September!

In My Mailbox: Seven


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 In My Mailbox is hosted by The Story Siren

From the Library
Cover of Various Positions by Martha SchabasCover of The Disenchanments by Nina LaCourCover of Partials by Dan WellsVarious Positions by Martha Schabas
The Disenchantments by Nina LaCour
Partials by Dan Wells

Purchased
Cover of My Soul To Save by Rachel VincentCover of My Soul To Keep by Rachel VincentCover of My Soul To Steal by Rachel Vincent
 My Soul to Save by Rachel Vincent
My Soul to Keep by Rachel Vincent
My Soul to Steal by Rachel Vincent

Cover of If I Die by Rachel Vincent
 If I Die by Rachel Vincent

 Won
  A Temptation of Angels by Michelle Zink
Thanks to Rachel at My Reading Pile!

Since I purchased a copy of A Temptation of Angels last week, I think I feel a giveaway coming on!

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