Feb 11, 2011

Book Review: NEVERMORE

Title: NEVERMORE
Author: Kelly Creagh
Release Date: August 2010
Rating: 5/5--Incredible! Loved it!
One Word Plot: Paranormal
Good if...you like the whole dark and doomed romance thing
Cheerleader Isobel Lanley is horrified when she is paired with Varen Nethers for an English project, which is due—so unfair—on the day of the rival game. Cold and aloof, sardonic and sharp-tongued, Varen makes it clear he’d rather not have anything to do with her either. But when Isobel discovers strange writing in his journal, she can’t help but give this enigmatic boy with the piercing eyes another look. Soon, Isobel finds herself making excuses to be with Varen. Steadily pulled away from her friends and her possessive boyfriend, Isobel ventures deeper and deeper into the dream world Varen has created through the pages of his notebook, a realm where the terrifying stories of Edgar Allan Poe come to life. As her world begins to unravel around her, Isobel discovers that dreams, like words, hold more power than she ever imagined, and that the most frightening realities are those of the mind. Now she must find a way to reach Varen before he is consumed by the shadows of his own nightmares. His life depends on it.
My thoughts...Okay. F'ing A Scott! (Sorry, that line probably only makes sense in my own mind.)
Here's the deal. This book was insanely good, insanely addictive and then insanely infuriating. I can probably best describe it as a dark romance. The greatest part of this novel was the relationship between Varen and Isobel and how it developed. There relationship starts off jarry and then slowly grows to love over time. And never before have I read something that felt more real. It was insane. And the pacing of it all had me turning the pages--almost greedily--desperately wanting to know what would happen next.

The first 2/3rd's of the novel had relatively little-to-no paranormal involvement and then as the book nears closer to the end--bam!--you're flung into this strange dream world. In other reviews some people complained of this, saying that perhaps the whole paranormal element of this novel could have been left out. A cheerleader and a goth falling for each other probably would have sufficient, but I say no. The paranormal element to this story kind of made it for me. It was a bit creepy--kind of like Poe himself probably was--but I loved that about this one. Yeah, some things there at the end didn't quite make all that much sense, but I think that was the point. Now, I must warn you. This book totally ends on a cliff-hanger and that's why I called it infuriating before. But according to Kelly Creagh's website she is currently working on sequel (thank God! or I probably wouldn't be rating this one 5/5 right now!) and I will anxiously be awaiting a happy ending for Varen and Isobel. :)

3 comments:

Kristina said...

I can not wait to read this book! Great review :)

-Kristina

Jennifer A said...

I have to say that I never would have picked up this book before I read a few great reviews. I got it for only $7! Yay! I'm so glad I picked it up and can't wait to read it.

Jennifer of Little Shelf

sarah darlington said...

I can't recommend this one enough!