ARC REVIEW: Evertrue (Everneath #3) by Brodi Ashton

Title: Evertrue
Series: Everneath #3

Author: Brodi Ashton

Publisher: Balzer & Bray

Release Date: January 21, 2014

Pages: 336
Source: Won through Goodreads First Reads Giveaway

Summary from Goodreads:

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.

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• Evertrue was not quite the series ender I expected, but as high as my expectations were, I was not disappointed. It picks up right where Everbound left off - with that jaw-dropping plot twist, and Ashton has a lot more action and surprises in store for readers as Nikki and Jack take on the Everneath. I did not find it quite as fast-paced as Everbound, at least not in the beginning, but it still more than grabbed my attention. The world that Aston created is so vivid and full of possibilities. I cannot get enough.  


• A steady constant throughout this series is Nikki and Jack's relationship which continues to grow stronger. It has a little 'Romeo and Juliet' feel to it but I could not help but appreciate it. Even as they faced the impossible, they were together and that was a small comfort.


• I think I could have been happy with several different endings and this was one of them. I don't think everyone will like it though. But I really value when a series-ender actually ends the book - I don't want to be left with unanswered questions or loose ends. And I value endings that are realistic and make me feel a range of emotions. An ending does not need to be all sunshine and rainbows for me to be happy.

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• I cannot decide if I like the direction that Ashton took with regards to Cole's character - she does something very unexpected. On one hand, I missed the old Cole and feel as if he has been cheated in some way. But on the other hand, I was happy to see Cole have this opportunity to be more. I think fans will be split on this too. Sorry for the vague-ness


• This as not so much a critique, since it did not really bother me all that much, but an observation that I want to make note of for other readers - the ending was a little easy, at least in the sense of how easy it was for Nikki and Jack to accomplish what originally seemed impossible to do so.

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Finally a series ending that I am happy with!! For as high as my expectations were and as tough as it was to follow Everbound, I can happily say that Ashton delivered. There were some twists that I am not sure all readers will be OK with, but it is still a worthwhile read nonetheless.

I never expected to like this series so much since Everneath was just an average read for me, but after reading Everbound and now Evertrue, this has turned into a very memorable series. I can't wait to see what Ashton writes next.