Everneath

This was so not for me, and for that I almost feel guilty for giving it one star, because this was very obviously not geared at my demographic. Then again, I've read plenty of books that supposedly aren't either, and they're brilliant. This isn't a terrible book, but it isn't really much of anything. The prose is bland, the characters are blah, the story is just kind of there. I don't think I've ever read such a nondescript book in my life.

The story is heavily steeped in teenagedom. Nikki Beckwith is not necessarily described as a popular girl, but she was dating the high school quarterback, has to fend off his other cheerleading suitors, and her father's the mayor. It's a universe that is totally alien to me outside of 90's teen dramas. And it's in this rather milquetoast setting that Nikki and Jack's undying love is born, the love that allows her to survive the Feed that should have drained her of her youth and vitality, and brings her back from the Everneath.

I can't claim to know the hearts of young people, cold-hearted android that I am. But as I am reading a book from their point of view, I probably should. And I can't. I don't know what makes Jack special, I don't know what makes Nikki special. While she has glimmers of a personality – she picks up knitting in order to improve her dexterity and taught her brother how to fish – for the most part, she resembles the many self-sacrificing female protagonists in YA that make Stephenie Meyer proud. She claims she came back for her family, but we see very little of her father and brother. Her mind revolves around Jack, as his does around her. At least they're on the same page, even if Nikki takes forever to realize it.

Being away from one's family and life for a hundred years is a big deal. Being taken by an immortal and asked if you want to be queen of the underworld is a big deal. You'd think Nikki would have some perspective at this point. But all the conflicts seem so trivial. Her dad gets mad at her for giving him bad press, Jack doesn't give a shit about her even though he clearly does, also his stupid ex-girlfriend who he might've but probably didn't cheat on Nikki with still exists and breathes air and stuff. Really? Am I supposed to care? These all felt like manufactured conflicts that are supposed to - what? Make Nikki feel guilty about coming back? Ground us more in the real world? Pretend that there's a reason Nikki shouldn't be with Jack for every damn second of her six months before damnation? For a girl with a deadline, she spent a lot of wasted time on stuff that really didn't matter.

The plot twists you could see coming miles and miles away, particularly the ending (ok, I might've read the synopsis to the second book in the series a while back before I planned on reading this, but if the book's good, spoilers shouldn't ruin it). It all felt very by the numbers, and the only eagerness I felt was simply to get it over with. I imagine this book is good for someone, based on the amount of positive reviews this has, it must be. But there are far more sophisticated and compelling YA reads out there.