Everneath (Everneath, #1)

A captivating story of love, loss, and immortality 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 returnedto her old life, her family, her boyfriendbefore she's 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 person most devastated by her disappearanceand the one person she loves more than anything. But there's a problem: Cole, the smoldering immortal who 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. From Booklist After a six-month absence, teenager Nikki Beckett has returned home, although no one could possibly understand under what circumstances. She has spent the past 100 years in the Everneath, a world where immortals, called the Everliving, go to replenish their strength by feeding on the energy of humans. Nikki, anchored by the memory of her boyfriend Jack, miraculously survived the feed. Now she has six final months at home to say her good-byes before returning to the Tunnels, a hellish extension of the Everneath. Combining elements of the Persephone myth and the tale of Orpheus and Eurydice, the story alternates between the events that led Nikki to agree to the feed and her return. As the only person ever to survive, she is urged by Cole, the Everliving who initially took her away, to seize control of the Everneath (with him, of course). Will she? This first volume of a planned trilogy covers familiar territory (angsty heroine, adoring boyfriend, delicious bad boy) yet offers a promising start. Grades 9-12. --Kara Dean Review Ashtons debut, is complex and intriguing. Drawing inspiration from such myths as Osiris, Orpheus, and Persephone, it explores the nature of loss and longing and what it means to be alive. (Publishers Weekly ) I was pulled under by this bittersweet, beautiful retelling of the Persephone myth. Ashtons lovely storytelling and strong-on-her-own-terms main character set this one apart. Wonderful! (Ally Condie, author of the MATCHED trilogy ) The powerful emotions, moving and painful rebuilding of strained relationships, and star-crossed love story is sure to resonate with teen readers. (School Library Journal ) The author brings a fresh, innovative concept to young adult fiction with well-developed characters and a fantastic plot line .... Libraries are advised to buy multiple copies-this one will fly off the shelves. (Voice of Youth Advocates (VOYA) (Starred Review) ) Enthralling and suspenseful, EVERNEATH is pure indulgent escapism! (Becca Fitzpatrick, New York Times bestselling author of HUSH, HUSH and CRESCENDO ) Last spring, Nikki Beckett vanished, sucked into an underworld known as the Everneath, where immortals Feed on the emotions of despairing humans. Now shes returnedto her old life, her family, her friendsbefore 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 cant 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 theres a problem: Cole, the smoldering immortal who first enticed her to the Everneath, has followed Nikki to the mortal world. And hell do whatever it takes to bring her back- this time as his queen. As Nikkis time grows short and her relationships begin slipping from her grasp, shes 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 Coles... Last spring, Nikki Beckett vanished, sucked into an underworld known as the Everneath. Now she s returned to her old life, her family, her boyfriend before she s 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 Regretting her decision to forfeit her life on Earth to become an immortal on Everneath, a world between Earth and Hell, teenaged Nikki is given the chance to return to the Surface for six months, in this story loosely based on the "Hades and Persephone" myth Six months ago, Nikki Beckett vanished into an underworld known as the Everneath. Now she's returned to her old life for another six months before the Everneath comes to claim her ... this time for ever -- cover. Teenaged Nikki regrets her decision to forfeit her life on Earth to become an immortal on Everneath, a world between Earth and Hell, and is given the chance to return to the Surface for six months