Book Review: Everbound by Brodi Ashton

Pages: 368

Genre: YA Fantasy

Pub. Date: January 22, 2013

Source: Personal Copy

Series: Everneath (Book #1)

My Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars

Goodreads says, "Nikki Beckett could only watch as her boyfriend, Jack, sacrificed himself to save her, taking her place in the Tunnels of the Everneath for eternity — a debt that should’ve been hers. She’s living a borrowed life, and she doesn’t know what to do with the guilt. And every night Jack appears in her dreams, lost and confused and wasting away. Desperate for answers, Nikki turns to Cole, the immortal bad boy who wants to make her his queen — and the one person least likely to help. But his heart has been touched by everything about Nikki, and he agrees to assist her in the only way he can: by taking her to the Everneath himself. Nikki and Cole descend into the Everneath, only to discover that their journey will be more difficult than they’d anticipated — and more deadly. But Nikki vows to stop at nothing to save Jack — even if it means making an incredible sacrifice of her own. In this enthralling sequel to Everneath, Brodi Ashton tests the bonds of destiny and explores the lengths we’ll go to for the ones we love."

Everneath left me in a state of panic and the apprehension continues at the beginning of Everbound.  Nikki is worried about Jack who sacrificed himself and is now stuck in the Tunnels.  She is trying to figure out a way to save him, but is frustrated because Cole has skipped town without a word.  Every night Nikki dreams of Jack and tries to be his anchor, which will ultimately keep him alive. She knows this is only a temporary fix; she must find Cole and get him to take her the Everneath in order to save Jack. Everbound, book two in the Everneath series, by Brodi Ashton is an edge of your seat adventure that tests the limits of Nikki's love for Jack.

Nikki is determined to save Jack at all costs in Everbound. Literally, she will go to hell and back for him.  Once she finds Cole, she persuades him to help her rescue Jack and he reluctantly gives in as he knows she will do anything to get her way. There are many flashbacks to Jack and Nikki's relationship before the chaos of the Everneath entered their lives and I loved revisiting Nikki's memories. Jack and Nikki's relationship is soooo swoon-worthy, but I must admit that Cole is starting to grow on me despite my best efforts.  

Everbound is all about the adventure to the Everneath and the various circles of Hell.  Nikki, Cole and company are worried that the shades will find them or worse yet, the queen.  Their very limits are tested in Everbound and often times I was wondering if Nikki would even make it past a certain obstacle. There are not only physical obstacles, but psychological, too. One thing is for sure: Everbound brings on a lot of action.

One thing that I love about the Everneath series is the fact that a lot of the story's plot is inspired from myths, such as Persephone and Theseus.  Ashton weaves mythology brilliantly into Everbound's story and I loved her literary allusions to Dante's Inferno.  

Although Everbound wasn't as good as Everneath, I was still on the edge of my seat and found the plot to be addicting! The cliffhanger at the end of the book was definitely a big one and I can't wait to read the final book in the trilogy which comes out in 2014.