Nevermore

by Kelly Creagh

[Angie]

Nevermore is a book that I liked a bit more upon reading it for the second time, but there was still something missing for me. It all starts when Isobel is paired with the weird, goth kid, Varen on an English project. Being head cheerleader, Varen is the last person Isobel wants to work with, but she's determined to make it work, if only so she can get a good grade and remain on the cheer team. Varen informs her that they'll be doing their project on the mysterious Edgar Allen Poe, and from there things get weird. Isobel is hearing voices, seeing odd shadows, and having creepy dreams. And it all seems to revolve around Varen and Poe; a very unique and intriguing premise.

It took a little time for me to warm up to Isobel. At the start of Nevermore, she seems like the typical cheerleader, ignoring those who are different from her, dating the football star, and putting cheering before school work. However, soon enough it's clear that she is different. She does stick up for Varen and tries to keep her jerkwad boyfriend away from him. I didn't totally agree with her tactics, since lying almost never works. Especially when all eyes are on you. But Isobel does stand up for herself, as well as Varen, and really grows to care about him as a friend. Then more, of course.

I loved how the plot kind of mirrors the mysterious circumstances around Poe's death. No one knows where he was right before he died, or exactly what killed him, but Nevermore suggests that he was caught in some dreamworld of his own making and lost control of it. Varen is harboring this secret, but getting close to Isobel causes her to get caught up in this dreamworld, which is more like nightmares, along with him. I liked the creepy tone of her being followed by strange creatures, but the actual dreamworld left me bored. Both times I was not fully immersed into this alternate reality. In fact, I found it distracting from the rest of the story. I still can't pinpoint exactly what I didn't like about it, but for me, this portion of the plot really dragged.

I did still really like Nevermore overall. It's certainly unique and addicting, but it did feel as long as it was when Isobel enters Varens dreamworld. There is a bit of a romance here, but not much, since Varen and Isobel are separated for much of the latter half of the novel. I am looking forward to more of them though, and seeing what's in store for Isobel.

Read more of my reviews at Pinkindle Reads & Reviews.