My Lady Jane

Goodreads Says:    Edward (long live the king) is the King of England. He’s also dying, which is inconvenient, as he’s only sixteen and he’d much rather be planning for his first kiss than considering who will inherit his crown…

Jane (reads too many books) is Edward’s cousin, and far more interested in books than romance. Unfortunately for Jane, Edward has arranged to marry her off to secure the line of succession. And there’s something a little odd about her intended…

Gifford (call him G) is a horse. That is, he’s an Eðian (eth-y-un, for the uninitiated). Every day at dawn he becomes a noble chestnut steed—but then he wakes at dusk with a mouthful of hay. It’s all very undignified.

The plot thickens as Edward, Jane, and G are drawn into a dangerous conspiracy. With the fate of the kingdom at stake, our heroes will have to engage in some conspiring of their own. But can they pull off their plan before it’s off with their heads?

My Thoughts:

-    This one fell a little below expectation for me, but I thought it was fun. 

-    I appreciated the humor and everything throughout the book. Some of it was really funny, and other times I rolled my eyes. I also liked when the narrators spoke to the reader. I also liked the quote stealing and vague references. 

-    I liked that this was very VERY loosely based on a historical figure that isn't very well known. 

-    The book was just too long. Comedies should never be too long. I just wanted the story to end. I liked that the book had a great story with humor, but 100-200 pages needed to be chopped. I enjoyed most of the book while I was reading, but towards the end, I was burnt out and wanted to finish quickly. 

-    I liked the magical elements that were added. Some of the moments of change seemed a bit too convenient, but it made sense I guess. 

-    Overall, this was a fun read, and I can tell the authors had a blast writing it, but I probably wouldn't pick it up again. 

Evertrue

Goodreads Says:    Now that Nikki has rescued Jack, all she wants is to be with him and graduate high school. But Cole tricked Nikki into feeding off him, and she’s begun the process of turning into an Everliving herself... which means she must feed on a Forfeit soon — or die.

Terrified for her survival, Nikki and Jack begin a desperate attempt to reverse the process using any means possible. Even Cole, who they expected to fight them at every turn, has become an unlikely ally — but how long can it last? Nikki needs to feed on Cole to survive, Cole needs Nikki to gain the throne in the Everneath, Jack needs Nikki because she is everything to him — and together, they must travel back to the Underworld to undo Nikki’s fate and make her mortal once more. But Cole isn’t the only one with plans for Nikki: the Queen has not forgotten Nikki’s treachery, and she wants her destroyed for good. Will Nikki be forced to spend eternity in the Underworld, or does she have what it takes to bring down the Everneath once and for all?

In this stunning conclusion to the Everneath trilogy, Brodi Ashton evokes the resiliency of the human spirit and the indomitable power of true love.

My Thoughts:

-    This was probably my least favorite of the series. I was okay with ending, but it wasn't as awesome as I thought it would be.

-    I really didn't like the love triangle aspect of this book. I could handle it before, but it was aggravating in this one. I didn't like that Jack, Nikki, and Cole spent so much time together. It bugged me that Nikki would feed/kiss Cole and then turn around and make out with Jack.

-    There was too much kissing.

-    Jack kinda bugged me. I didn't know how to picture him in my head. Was he big and muscular like the hulk or was he just bigger? Jack was too protective of Nikki and a bit possessive. Nikki went through a lot. She is a tough girl. She can handle stuff.

-    Cole was my favorite character in the series, and I was disappointed with him. I missed my love/hate relationship with him. I know it is because of what happens to him, but it was a complete personality change, and I didn't like that. 

-    I felt like the book moved slowly. Everything happens in the last few chapters. I thought the ending was rushed a bit. I would have liked for action/fighting and struggling throughout the book. 

-    My favorite part of the book was Ashe. He was an intriguing character.

-    I was okay with what happens to Cole at the end of the book, but I think it wasn't congruent with his personality. 

Previous Books in the Everneath trilogy

(click on the cover to see my thoughts)

 

Everbound

Goodreads Synopsis:    Nikki Beckett could only watch as her boyfriend, Jack, sacrificed himself to save her, taking her place in the Tunnels of the Everneath for eternity — a debt that should’ve been hers. She’s living a borrowed life, and she doesn’t know what to do with the guilt. And every night Jack appears in her dreams, lost and confused and wasting away.

Desperate for answers, Nikki turns to Cole, the immortal bad boy who wants to make her his queen — and the one person least likely to help. But his heart has been touched by everything about Nikki, and he agrees to assist her in the only way he can: by taking her to the Everneath himself.

Nikki and Cole descend into the Everneath, only to discover that their journey will be more difficult than they’d anticipated — and more deadly. But Nikki vows to stop at nothing to save Jack — even if it means making an incredible sacrifice of her own.

In this enthralling sequel to Everneath, Brodi Ashton tests the bonds of destiny and explores the lengths we’ll go to for the ones we love.

My Thoughts:

-    Wow! Another really fun journey.

-    Brodi said she didn't have the world building bone, but I think she did a great job creating the Everneath. It was really cool to see the Everneath in this book.

-    I feel like screaming and celebrating. I'm not sure which, but I might do a bit of both.

-    I like that the story takes place in Utah. I know where all the locations are, and it gives me some pride in my state.

-    I didn't like how Nikki was using Cole the whole time, but at the end, I just didn't know what to think.

-    There are some disturbing/creepy things in this book.

-    I have some major mixed and screwed up feelings about Cole. I don't hate him, but I don't love him. There were times in this book that I really felt for him, and then I just wanted to punch in the face! GAH!

-    Nikki and her emotional roller coaster are very believable. I had so much empathy for her and what she was going through.

-    I figured a love triangle would develop in this series, but this is such a different take on a love triangles that I just don't know what to think.

-    I loved the journey through Everneath. I liked the different stages and the maze aspect. I liked how the different phases tied to a different emotion. It was pretty clever.

-    Nikki's memories of Jack were so vivid and detailed. I don't know if I could conjure such detailed stories about my husband. I feel like I need to try and remember things about our life together!

-    The ending is another killer one! I just can't even describe the horrible cliffhanger I'm left to face while I wait for the next book. I HAVE TO KNOW WHAT HAPPENS NEXT!!!!

Previous Book in the Everneath series

(click on the cover to see my thoughts)

Everneath

Goodreads Synopsis:    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.

Nikki longs to spend these precious months forgetting the Everneath and trying to reconnect with her boyfriend, Jack, the person most devastated by her disappearance--and the one person she loves more than anything. But there's just one problem: Cole, the smoldering immortal who enticed her to the Everneath in the first place, has followed Nikki home. Cole wants to take over the throne in the underworld and is convinced Nikki is the key to making it happen. And he'll do whatever it takes to bring her back, this time as his queen.

As Nikki's time on the Surface draws to a close and her relationships begin slipping from her grasp, she is 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 Cole's queen.

Everneath is a captivating story of love, loss, and immortality from debut author Brodi Ashton.

My Thoughts:

-    Wow! What a journey! I loved this book, and I can't wait to devour Everbound!!

-    I love that this was a take on Hades and Persephone! It was really unique and fresh!

-    I liked how mysterious everything is at the beginning. I just couldn't read fast enough, so I could get all the details and pieces.

-    I felt a lot of emotions throughout the book, but I think anxiety was my constant companion, and it just got worse the farther I got into the story. I also felt sad, anticipated, eager, frustrated, hopeful, and gushy.

-    I love how the story is mostly taking place in the present, but there are parts that jump back to Nikki's past. It was really cool how the author incorporated it all. 

-    I love that Jack called Nikki "Becks". It was heart warming. I loved Jack and Nikki's relationship period! It was so awesome.

-    I feel like I connected with Nikki on several levels. They way she reacted to stuff is a lot how I react to things. It made the book more real for me.

-    I don't know what to think of Cole. I want to hate him so much, but I can't, but I do, but I don't! It's complicated.

-    I really liked Will's character. He was kind of a bum, but he was valuable. I hope we get to see more of him in the future books.

-    The ending is killing me! I feel like screaming! I want to just dive right into the next book, but I think I need to separate myself from this series for a little bit. I can't handle the emotional intensity.