Enshadowed by Kelly Creagh

Title: Enshadowed
Author: Kelly Creagh
Series: Nevermore #2
Publisher: Atheneum Books
Date Published: August 28, 2012
Buy: Amazon

Goodreads Summary

Varen Nethers is trapped in a perilous dream world — a treacherous and desolate realm where the terrifying stories of Edgar Allan Poe come to life. Isobel Lanley, plagued by strange visions and haunted by the nightmares of Varen’s creation, is the only one who can save him.

Isobel knows that her only hope lies within a Baltimore cemetery. There, in the early morning hours of Edgar Allan Poe’s birthday, a mysterious stranger known as the “Poe Toaster” will make his annual homage at the legendary poet’s grave.

Only the Poe Toaster holds the key to the way between worlds. But even greater dangers lie ahead for Isobel. An ancient evil, draped in veils of white, is watching, challenging her for Varen’s affections. When Isobel finally finds Varen, he is no longer the quiet and brooding boy who once captivated her, but a dark force, powerful and malevolent.

“Is — is any of this real?” she asked. “Are you real?”

He lifted a hand to her cheek, his fingers brushing her jaw.

“Even if this is a dream,” he whispered, “I’m not.”

Kelly Creagh if I were a poet I’d be writing an ode to you. In your series you have managed so much. YA has constantly disappointed me yet I continue to read it and I am glad I do, otherwise I wouldn’t find gems like Nevermore. 

The first book left me begging for more and I was glad I had discovered the book after the second book had released. I wouldn’t have been able to wait to read the next book after that cliff hanger. Sadly I didn’t discover this book before the third book released. Despite the kind of ending the author left us with I think I’ll survive. I want Kelly to make the last book the best thing ever because this book deserves the best ending.

I wanted to give this book a four because I was deprived of my Varen for most of the book and he does happen to be my favorite character. But I couldn’t. The book is too amazing for me to do that.

It gets points for amazing best friend, great parents and most of all good female lead.

Isobel again shows character development. I love how she doesn’t give up. Yes sometimes she is too goal oriented and doesn’t see the amazing friend she has in Gwen. Which does bother me but despite this I still love Isobel. What I like about her is that she doesn’t go into a state of depression after that ending. Yes she is sad and she doesn’t concentrate as much but almost immediately after leaving Varen behind, she is trying to DO something. She isn’t just sitting on her ass whining about how she is a horrible person and how she left Varen behind. I am glad for this.

I also love how she loves her parents. She feels bad for what she is doing to them. She hates that they are hurting because of her. She recognizes this despite her own pain and I love her for that.

I think one of my favorite parts in the book is when she is telling her father she is sorry and that she will come back soon. She doesn’t want to have to trick her parents.

Yes I think a lot of people will find this book slow but I find is mesmerising. I love how the author makes connections between the first and second book with certain lines and scenes. 

The ending. Ah the ending. I have to talk about it don’t I?

Kelly Creagh. You are messing with my brain. How do you simultaneously create an ending that is both beautiful AND heartbreaking. I knew it was coming because well were it not to happen I would have been disappointed. Yes it’s was heartbreaking but  were it not the way it was it would be a VERY easy answer to their problems. It wouldn’t make sense. When trust it lost you cannot gain it back in a second.

It broke my heart into a many pieces but it was the Epilogue that left me feeling hollow and numb. Seeing Varen like that broke my heart into tiny little pieces. The Epilogue was perfect though. I had goosebumps while reading it and my heart was breaking at the same time. How do you do that Kelly Creagh?
What’s your secret?
What’s the special ingredient?

Now I have a long journey ahead of me. I have to wake up every single day knowing the third book isn’t out yet but I also wake up knowing I have a day less to wait.

Kelly don’t make the wait long. Please. I beg of you. I am trying to maintain a positive attitude about the wait or else I’ll break. Please don’t mess with my poor broken heart.

Nevermore by Kelly Creagh

Title: Nevermore

Author: Kelly Creagh
Series: Nevermore #1
Publisher: Atheneum Books
Date Published: August 31, 2011
Buy: Amazon

Goodreads Summary

Cheerleader Isobel Lanley is horrified when she is paired with Varen Nethers for an English project. Cold and aloof, sardonic and sharp-tongued, Varen makes it clear that he’d rather not have anything to do with her, either. But soon Isobel finds herself making excuses to be with Varen. Steadily pulled away from her freinds and 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 shories 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 imagned and that the most frightening realities are those of the mind. Can she save Varen from the madness taking hold of him? Or will they both be consumed by the shadows of his nightmares?

“You’re a dream. Like everything else.” 

It’s been ages since I’ve finished this book and I still don’t know what to say. I don’t think anything I can say for this book will be enough.

This is one of the most unique paranormals I’ve read. You’ve got all sorts of Pnr out there but what about books where people create creepy worlds with their creativity. This is one creepy book but I love it. The world building is amazing. It’s so ORIGINAL!. Why don’t we have more stuff like this out there? Our minds our powerful things and sometimes the creepiest things live there. The author has a great concept (I’ve said that already I know).

I remember when I first saw the summary I rolled my eyes. A cheerleader and a emo guy. How perfect? *sarcasm* But I added it anyway because I had yet to read one where that happened. I unlike a lot of people didn’t run into a lot of books that went along those lines so the idea wasn’t cliche to me yet. It took me a few months to finally read it. THERE IS NOTHING cliche about their relationship. Or for that fact any of the ones in the book. It has always annoyed me how in YA parents are either absent or they suck and well friends suck as well. Why cannot there be good relationships in YA. Why must the guy be the girl’s savior? WHY?

I love how the author takes it slow with the relationship. The girl doesn’t wake up one day and decide that she loves the guy thank god for that .

It develops slowly, from hate to being okay with them to like to love. This kind of development doesn’t only happen on the girl’s side, it also happens with Varen. No Varen hasn’t secretly loved her for a long time or any other things that happen these days in YA. He dislikes her because she is popular.

And no he isn’t a bad guy. He is never outright rude to her. It’s more like Isobel thinking he is and you can see it. He isn’t a broken bad boy who is an ass. He may be broken but he doesn’t take it out on other people which I admire.

Yeah I think Varen’s awesomeness is one of the main reasons I love the book. How can someone read this book and NOT love Varen? He is one of the most original male characters in YA.

I think the character development is also amazing. The girl finally decides that her popular friends suck. Her boyfriend is too overprotective so even though it hurts her she turns against them and starts hanging out with Gwen. (Gwen’s awesomeness must also be mentioned but we don’t see as much of it in this book as we do in the next book so I won’t talk about it because I’ll probably end up spoiling the next book).

I cannot think normally for too long when I think about this book because thinking about it always brings a rush of emotions. I really do love this one and at the same time I wish it were nicer to me, loved me more and wouldn’t be so mean.
*sighs*

Now I am just rambling. I should shut up.