reaction post -- Everbound

[vnfan]

I'm not sure if anyone other than willowwand is reading Brodi Ashton's Everneath series, but just in case...here be spoilers.

So on Thursday I started reading book two in the series, Everbound, even though I have too much work to do to be losing time to reading a novel

Comments

[vnfan]

Yeah, I wish that she had a 100% concrete understanding of how exactly he manipulated her into leaving with him. I think she knows for certain that Jack did not cheat on her -- she's got full faith in him -- but I still think she just feels that Cole took advantage of an unlucky misunderstanding on her part. If she knew the depths of his deception, I'm pretty sure she wouldn't feel a shred of guilt about whatever negative fate might await him.

Yes, I'm super nervous about Jack. At first I thought maybe she'd just been diminished by her time in the Everneath, and that's why he seemed extra strong. Or that he'd picked up some extra strength after she'd helped awaken him with her kiss. I'm sure it's actually him, but what I'm not sure about is whether he's got some sort of hitch hiker or is under any manipulation. His increased strength...that really worries me. JACK! WHAT IS WRONG WITH YOU? But he still seemed...very much Jack? (Though is the missing piercing post some sort of clue???)

The Queen has to be involved. Has to be. On the one hand, wouldn't she possibly feel a little sympathy for Nikki and want better for her than she'd had for herself? And wouldn't she like to see Cole suffer? She could give a little grace to them, knowing that if she lets them be happy on the surface, they'll stay out of her realm. But...she's an Everliving, and I feel like they must lose whatever heart they have when they make that split.

But if so...what does that mean for Nikki??? If the forces/changes that make Cole and Max such bastards generally apply to all Everlivings, will Nikki change? And with her an Everliving instead of a normal human, I guess that takes away all chances for a normal human HEA. Unless they can get her heart and...offer it to the Queen? I guess that will be the quest of book three.

And nothing was mentioned about Nikki's little brother. Isn't he being slowly drained after what Cole did by pledging him in Neverfall?

I did think she might become an Everliving, but I figured it might be at the end of Book 3 and it would be in response to some unavoidable danger to Jack. Or because he'd become one against his will. But that somehow it would be on her own terms and work out so she could do it without being evil. How can she be that without losing what makes her, her?

IDK IDK.

When I was almost done with book one, I really thought that it was not going to be a series and that Will was going to jump into the Tunnels leaving Jack and Nikki to be happy together. He seemed to be ready to let go of his mortality. (I almost wonder if she set it up that way when she sent it for publishing -- here's ending #1 if you want it to be a stand alone novel, and here's ending #2 if you'll let it be a series.) I still wonder if he's going to play a part in this. He doesn't seem very bound to his mortality. Will he jump in and save the day???

[willow_wand]

I'm glad you think Jack is Jack, but I wonder what is wrong with him. It's just so strange that he's bigger and stronger now.

I wish I knew what this meant for Nikki. Maybe she'll retain her humanity because she didn't choose to become an Everliving. No matter what Cole says, she did not do that of her free will. She did not want that. Maybe that will make the difference?

Max got her little brother's picture back when they were breaking Cole out of jail.

I thought Will was going to jump into the Tunnels too. I wonder if Will will eventually sacrifice himself somehow. I know he hates Cole and wants to kill him. I'm sure he'll be in on their plan to destroy the Everneath.

[vnfan]

Thanks for setting my mind at ease about the brother. I still have a sliver of fear, though. I don't trust these immortals to be any more honest with each other than they are with the humans!

Yes, I do think that Jack is physically Jack. I think that Cole would have taken really perverse pleasure in stripping that reassurance away from her, don't you? But something is wrong, for sure. Surviving the Feed is one thing. But she actually lost contact with him while he was there. He was getting so weak. How is it that he comes out stronger than when he went in???

*nail bites*

I want to see her confront him like Remus and Kingsley did in DH when they were trying to see if one of them was Polyjuice Potioned -- what was the last thing Dumbledore said to the both of us?? I want her to test him and see if that gives her a clue.

CONSTANT VIGILANCE, NIKKI!

[willow_wand]

Max gave the photo to Cole, but whether the Delphians did anything before that point is unclear.

That is true. He would have loved it. Although he didn't know Jack was back, didn't he? So he doesn't actually know that something's wrong. I'm going to go crazy wondering what's wrong with him until the next book comes out.

Haha, yeah. Poor Nikki!