Review: Nevermore by Kelly Creagh

Release Date: August 31, 2010
Age Group: Young Adult
Received From: Publisher
My Rating: 5 Stars
IBSN: 9781442402003
Blurb:
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.

 I really don’t even know where to begin with this book. It has incredibly good reviews everywhere you look and mine will be no exception. Awesome. I think that’s the best word to explain this book. I might overuse that word a lot but, this book was awesome in the truest sense of the word!


So, what’s the story all about, you may ask. Well, it’s kinda hard to explain. Isobel is just your average popular cheerleader. She’s dating a football player and has a great group of friends. That all changes when she is paired up with Varen Nethers for an English project on Poe. Then things just start to get…..odd.


Both Isobel and Varen were fantastic characters. Isobel was a smart girl. She made good choices and she was strong, because I would have freaked out and given up long before she did. Varen is just your typical brooding goth. He really wasn’t in the story as much as I would have liked, but that’s the way it needed to be. I really can’t wait to get to know him more.


There was very little actual romance in the book. Like I said, Varen really doesn’t show up that often, but when he does you either want to slap him or swoon. You get to witness the slow building of a realistic connection. There was no instant love, or realize I love him on the last page love. It was somewhere in the middle. It was perfect. It will leave you craving more!


Really, the romance or the characters aren’t what did it for me. No, that was the story! OMG! I haven’t read a story so unpredictable and gripping in a long time. This book is 500+ pages. At page 400 I still had no idea what was going on! Sometimes I find this annoying, but this time it worked. Things get a little strange in the last 200 pages. It was almost reminiscent of Stephen King. I loved it. It will have your eyes moving across the page as fast as they can.


I’ve always been a huge Poe fan. So this really was a treat. They way Poe’s stories were woven into the plot was fantastic! I can’t say enough good things about this book. You really have to read the awesomeness that is Nevermore and find out for yourself!