Evermore (The Immortals #1)

Reader reviewed by danielle

Title: Evermore

Author: Alyson Noel

Pages: 305

Summary (from alysonnoel.com):

Since a horrible accident claimed the lives of her family, Ever can see auras, hear people's thoughts, and know a person's entire life story by touch. Going out of her way to avoid human contact and suppress her abilities has branded her as a freak at her new high schoolbut everything changes when she meets Damen.

Damen Auguste is gorgeous, exotic and wealthy. He's the only one who can silence the noise and random energy in her headwielding a magic so intense, it's as though he can see straight into her soul. As Ever is drawn deeper into his enticing world of secrets and mystery, she's left with more questions than answers. She has no idea just who he really isor what he is. The only thing she knows to be true is she's falling deeply and helplessly in love with him.

If there's one thing I can not--I repeat, can not--stand in a book is brand dropping.

You know the ones I'm talking about--the sly mentions of the latest Hot Young Thing, a quick reference to author's favorite book (i.e. House of Night, book 2, when someone mentions Wicked Lovely) or song. Usually, this works with the classics, such as Dracula in Evernight or the band Thin Lizzy in This Lullaby. But if it's a book or a person or a song that is less then three years old, it jsut doesn't work. People reading said book in twenty years will look at said reference, and draw a blank. Evermore, unfortunately, is one of those books.

While the plot is fascinating, if a bit Twilight-esq, the thin characterisation, the awful writing, and the horrendous name dropping completly ruined it for me.

I hate Ever, the protagonist. The first thing I look for in a character is whether I can relate to them, whether they're likable. Ever was...not. In fact, she was probably the most whiney, self-centered brat I had ever read an entire book about. I mean, I understand that your entire family dying in a car crash is traumatizing, I get that she can't touch people because she'll be overwhelmed with their emotions and such, but---jeez, girl. Can you say mellow-dramatic? Every other word is her whining---her aunt, whom she's living with, is spending too much money on her, she's so darn pretty!, Damen likes me, oh how I wish he didn't, I can't touch anyone I can't love anyone my mommy and daddyz deeaaaaddd. It's like...crud, there are such worse problems you could be having....I don't know. It was just incredabley irritating, reading 200 or so pages of a girl angsting out.

As for Damen and Ever's relationship...I have absolutely no idea how they fell in love. Okay, I get Damen's side--he met her years ago, and has continued to meet her over the years--but Ever? She spends a total of two weeks with him, half of which is spent being either jealous/nervous/sweaty/angry/frightened, which leaves...what? How the heck did this girl fall in love with this guy? It left me terribley confused, staring at the page in bewilerment.

Then there's Ever's friends--the Sassy Goth/Punk/Emo Best Friend and the Token/Archtipical Gay Guy--are just as thinly described. Haven and Miles have been written about in nearly every other young adult book since the eighties. They are completly unhelpful, next to useless for the plot, airheaded, one-layered, and...they say things like this:

"What the fug?"

What the fug indeed.

As for the general plot, it does have a fair share of potential. Immortal boy, multi-reincarnated girl (who manages to stay a virgin for numerous decades...?), angst insues, magical powers, etc. But there's really nothin notable about the entire book but for...well, nothing. The only thing I can think of that might make Evermore readable is the fast-paced prose. It will keep you reading, no matter how cheesy and dramatic.

In case your wondering what exactly I mean by cheesy, here's a choice bit from the last page--spoiler free, no worries:

...if eternity starts today, then that's the way I'm going to live it. For this day, and this day only. Knowing that Damen will always be at my side. I mean, always, right?

He looks at me, waiting.

"I love you," I whisper.

"And I love you." He smiles, his lips seaking mine. "Always have, always will."

Yeah. I know.

Also: I know Ms. Noel is capable of better then this mess; I loved her book Cruel Summer. It was well-paced, well written, the characters were decent, and I could understand the relationships as relationships, as opposed to weird fights for power. And very little Name Dropping. If your going to read anything by this author, that'd be it.

Reader reviewed by Zaira

Evermore is a book about a girl named Ever. One day her and her family get into an accident and sadly her parents, little sister and their pet dog died. Ever since the accident she's had an awful lot of weird things happen to her. After the accident she woke up in the hospital awfully beaten up and she happens to see her dead little sister, and she can also read peoples minds and see their moods, something called an 'Aura', it's just about the most bogus thing. She also moved to California with her rich lawyer Aunt Sabine and she drives a convertible and is the freak of her new school since she is closed up wearing just about anything there is to avoid contact with people and is about to go deaf since she blasts her iPod to avoid hearing peoples thoughts. Until one day Damen comes along and suddenly the chaos in her head stops whenever he talks or touches her, but there's more to Damen than meets the eyes and it's a pretty good view since he's totally georgous. Ever just has to find out.

Well after that pretty long summary all I have to say is that this book is pretty Amazing! Well if you like fantasy kind of books and like me if your wanting to move away from the vampire love stories(which i love don't get me wrong) this is an Immortal love story. It's pretty good, and it's not very challenging it's an easy read, and well I'm telling you i could not put the book down. So go buy it or get it from the library. The book is called Evermore by Alyson Noel!

=]

Reader reviewed by Sab H. (Crystal Reviews)

This was interesting to read. It has been my first real review
challenge, I had to think a few times what should I write. The story is
really pretty and interesting. She creates a magical amazing world and
background so special, but you don't really know that until the end.
The fact is I think the book should be longer. I felt things were kind
of rushing to happen. As a reader, sometimes I didn't have time to get
involved, to actually feel the story.

At first, I couldn't
help to think the guy was a vampire and well, compare it to that other
story. But no, it has nothing to do with it. This world is awesome. The
characters are good though I couldn't actually like
Damen until the final pages. But Ever is a great character, and I love
Miles. And the cover, wow, I love it. It invites you in. What else can
I say, if you are into romance and love against all odds you will
definitely love this book.

Reader reviewed by Sem

Omg this book was completely amzing. I counld not put it down at all and when i did i was still wanting to keep reading. i read it in like a day or two. and then when i was finished i couldn't wait to go and get the  secound book!!!~!!! So yeah i thought it was awesome maybe even as good as twilight!!~!!i know omg right...

Reader reviewed by Ellery

After a horrible accident that claimed the lives of her family, 16-year-old Ever Bloom starts seeing other people's auras, hearing their thoughts and knwoing someone's entire life by touching them.  Going out of her way to avoid human contact and suppress these abilities, she has been branded a freak at her new high school.  Everything changes when she meets Damen Auguste.  Damen is a gorgeous, exotic, and wealthy young man.  He is the only one who can silence the noise and ramdon energy in Ever's head.  He wields a magic so intense, it is as though he can peer right into her soul.  As Ever draws deeper into his enticing world of secrets and mystery, she is left with more questions than answers and again feels lost. 

Reader reviewed by Book Luver

After being in an accident that killes all of her family, 16-year-old Ever starts seeing  people's auras, hearing their thoughts and knwoing their whole life by touching them. Going out of her way to avoid human contact,she has been branded a freak at her new school.  Everything changes when she meets Damen Auguste. Damen is a gorgeous and wealthy young man.  He is the only one who can silence the noise and ramdon energy in Ever's mind. He holds a magic so intense, it is as though he can peer right into her soul.  As Ever is drawn deeper and deeper into his mysterious world of secrets, she is left with more questions than answers and again feels lost. 

Reader reviewed by Aud

Ever is a normal teenage girl. She's a cheerleader with a great boyfriend and everything seemed to be great until she had her father turn the car around for her sweater. At that moment a deer ran out in front of them and the family is killed. Ever looks around at what seems like a wonderful place full of flowers and is mesmorized. She sees her mother, father, sister and dog all crossing a bridge but she hesitates for only a second and then she is sent back to her body and is alive and alone. She is sent to live with her aunt who knows nothing about children and ever since her near death experience (even though she actually died) Ever has new abilities she has never had before. Just from touching another person she can see into their past and into their minds. She is overwhelmed and in pain from losing her family even though her little sister is still hanging around as a ghost which secretly she is glad about. Then in comes Damen a new bad boy to the school. She can't help but love him from the start even though she tells herself and everyone around her that she can not stand him. Throughout the book you are wondering what it is about Damen that makes her so drawn to him. Then you find out when his Ex Wife Drina who with damen never dies shows up and tries to kill Ever... Again. Life after Life Drina comes and kills Ever so she can have Damen to herself but he is tired of it and this time will be the last! It is a page turning great book!

Reader reviewed by kris

Evermore is about a girl who looses her family in a car crash that she feels guilty for.  She is moved from her hometown of rain and cooler weather, to sunny California.  Her life transforms from her being the popular cheerleader with the hottest boy in the school, to an outcast that always wears hoodies with her ipod that can hear other peoples thoughts and see their auras. But all that changes again when Damen Auguste becomes a new student.

This book puts a new twist on the word immortal.  It is a great read that keeps you wanting more.  I read this book in one day easy, you never want to put it down.  While similar to many vampire novels, this book has romance, anger, confusion and action.

Reader reviewed by Ali

Evermore is a Fabulous book!!! Ever, the main character, has such a deep and dark blend of emotions that have you hooked from the first scene! Ever has a story that has never ever been told before, and it is one that you will deeply enjoy and want to hear more of! Not to mention Damen... he is completely the dark and mysterious guy you imagin!

Reader reviewed by christie

oh my gosh this book was amazing.i might even go to say its a tiny little possibly mabye kinda alittle bit better than twilight.its about a girl named ever who lives with her aunt becaus eher parents and sister and dog died in a car accident but she didnt.she wears baggy jeans and hoodies with an attached pocket in the sleeve so she can hide her ipod and listen to it when no one knows and block out the world.then bad boy damen comes to her school.damen flirts with ever and gets ever thnking all the time about him,and then damen goes to the popular girl and flirts to get a reaction out of ever.then damens wife turns up.and ever finds shes had past luves with damen and damen isnt just a human..read it its suspensfuk