mariperruc4574

I couldn’t stop thinking about this book after I was done reading it. It was haunting, and heart-breaking….and I loved it. Seventeen-year old Nikki Bennett, Becks, has been gone for six months in the Everneath, a place where Everlivings, immortal beings, feed off the emotions of humans to survive. Nikki has come home to say a proper good-bye to her family and friends, most of all a proper good-bye to Jack, the love of her life. Nikki has six months on the surface before the Everneath claims her for good to serve either as a “battery” in the dark tunnels or to become an Everliving with Cole, the Everliving who took her. At first you know that Nikki made the choice willingly to go with Cole, but you don’t know why. You get glimpses of the past events that led up to her decision, throughout the story. You know that her mother died in a car accident and that she’s devastated about that. However, Nikki also has other things going for her, like Jack. Jack was her best-friend that she secretly loved for many years, until they figured out their feelings were mutual. In flash-backs you see that Nikki has some doubts of her worth to Jack, and some problems with her family. Cole takes advantage of that, encouraging her doubt. Everlivings entice people in pain, because The Feed takes all those emotions away. Unfortunately, The Feed also takes every emotion you have away, leaving you an empty shell. Now Nikki would do anything to change the bargain she made with Cole. This story made my heart ache for Nikki and Jack. It felt like I was watching someone tying up loose ends before a death sentence! It pained me to see Nikki realizing how close her best-friend, Jules and Jack became after she disappeared, and feeling the jealousy she felt because of it. Jack, though, is such an unwavering, persistent guy, never giving up on Nikki while she was gone or now, when she’s back. Their romance is so very sweet, although mainly told from flash-backs. Loved this scene: “You weren’t in the lunchroom today.” Jack said, coming up behind me at my locker. “Jules says you’re never in the cafeteria on Wednesdays.” I tried to calm the flush to my cheeks before I turned around to face him. My crush on Jack was getting ridiculous….Just because he noticed, for the first time, that I wasn’t at lunch, it didn’t mean anything…. ”She said you avoid the cafeteria on Wednesdays. And she said you like me.” I heard myself gasp, and I came to a stop. “So is it true?” Jack said….I turned away, embarrassed, but Jack stepped sideways so he was in front of me, and there was nowhere else I could look. “Yes. I hate hot-dog Wednesdays, so I don’t go to the lunchroom. It’s true.” Jack: “That’s not what I meant, Becks.” Nikki: “I know.” Jack: “Tell me. Is it true? Do you like me?” Nikki: “You know I like you. You’re one of my best friends.” Jack: “Friends.” Nikki: “Of course.” Jack: “Good friends?” Nikki: I nodded. Jack: “More than friends?” Nikki: I didn’t say anything. I didn’t move. Jack reached toward my hand and tugged gently on my fingers. He leaned forward and said, “Tell me, friend. Is there more for us?” Nikki: I looked down at my feet. “There’s everything for us.” Oh, how you want them to find a way around this mess! I liked that this story incorporates an original take on Greek Mythology, the story of Hades and the Underworld twisted up a bit. I hope that’s developed more in the next one. And the ending!!! Oh, the ending!! I can’t wait to see what happens next. A definite recommend! Thank you to Harper Collins and Netgalley for allowing me to read this!

2022-11-14 16:42