Review: Nevermore by Kelly Creagh

Nevermore by Kelly Creagh
Nevermore #1
543 Pages
Published: August, 2010
Goodreads, Amazon, Author's Website

From Goodreads: Cheerleader Isobel Lanley is horrified when she is paired with Varen Nethers for an English project, which is due—so unfair—on the day of the rival game. Cold and aloof, sardonic and sharp-tongued, Varen makes it clear he’d rather not have anything to do with her either. But when Isobel discovers strange writing in his journal, she can’t help but give this enigmatic boy with the piercing eyes another look. Soon, Isobel finds herself making excuses to be with Varen. Steadily pulled away from her friends and her 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 stories 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 imagined, and that the most frightening realities are those of the mind. Now she must find a way to reach Varen before he is consumed by the shadows of his own nightmares. His life depends on it.


I almost stayed up into the wee hours of the night to finish this book, but alas I had work the next day so I went to sleep and ended up tossing and turning and dreaming of Edgar Allan Poe's "The Masque of the Red Death". Now, I have been a fan of Mr. Poe since high school and was thrilled beyond words to see his work woven into this novel, but even if I hadn't been a fan I still would've loved this book, in fact I have declared it to be my book soul-mate. I have connected with this book in a way I've never done so before, it has everything I like in a book and has hooked me to the story and characters in it. Don't let the beginning of the synopsis fool you, this is no ordinary popular girl meets boy from the opposite side of the world known as high school. No this book is so much more, sure Isobel is popular but I never saw her act stuck up or mean, she was likable. 


Varen's character was something else, I liked the way Kelly Creagh (pronounced Cray) explained the way he simply stares at people he's talking to, I imagined his piercing gaze vividly in my head and of course I was smitten. The two get paired up in English and must write a paper and present on an American writer, Varen chooses Poe. Right from the get-go you see there is something different about Varen, he has pent up intensity and pain but passes off as a coolheaded guy. He was funny (without meaning to) and intelligent, he seemed to understand the world around him better than anyone else could. His relationship with Isobel starts off slowly and builds up, as the big game comes up it seems like there are more forces at work trying to keep these two apart, both physical and shadowy. 


Varen's dreamworld is frightening, and I give Isobel a lot of credit for having the courage to do what she must do. The ending just killed me, it shows a sneak peak at what is to come in the next book Enshadowed due to be released next year. It would be a complete understatement to say I cannot wait for it. I haven't stopped dreaming of Nevermore and it's characters or recommending it to everyone I know. If you are up for something spooky something out of the ordinary read this book, it will make you a fan of Poe if you are not already and at times it will even make you laugh out loud. 

I give this book a Gold Star!