Review: Enshadowed by Kelly Creagh

Enshadowed by Kelly Creagh

Nevermore #2

Release Date: August 28^th, 2012

Number of Pages: 429

Publisher: Atheneum

Source: ARC from publisher

True love takes a twisted turn in the second book of this modern gothic romance trilogy channeling the dark brilliance of Edgar Allan Poe.While Varen remains a prisoner in a perilous dream world where the terrifying stories of Edgar Allan Poe come to life, Isobel travels to Baltimore to confront the dark figure known throughout the world as the Poe Toaster. This man, the same man who once appeared to Isobel in her dreams and abandoned her in Varen’s nightmare world, holds the key to saving Varen.
      But when Isobel discovers a way to return to this dream world, she finds herself swept up in a realm that not only holds remnants of Edgar Allan Poe’s presence, but has also now taken on the characteristics of Varen’s innermost self. It is a dark world of fear, terror, and anger.      When Isobel once more encounters Varen, she finds him changed. And now Isobel must face a new adversary—one who also happens to be her greatest love.

Okay, let me start by saying that I really enjoyed Nevermore. I fell in love with Isobel and Varen, and I couldn’t wait to read more about them. I was happy to get the sequel, and couldn’t wait to start it once I was done with Nevermore. Yet, I felt like it fell flat. I was expecting a lot more from this book.

The thing is, I got bored reading this book. I hate myself for saying that, since I really really wanted to love it as much as Nevermore. Yet, I had trouble getting through the book. The book simply never seemed to end. Plus, there were so many things that made me either mad or confused. The things is there was some things I did enjoyed, yet I felt like they couldn’t’ shine because of all the things that annoyed me.

 I will leave it to that, since I feel like I shouldn’t have finished it. I was loving book one, but book two simply wasn’t for me. Hopefully, many of you will be happy with where the story is going. It simply wasn’t for me.

Review: Nevermore by Kelly Creagh

Nevermore by Kelly Creagh

Nevermore #1

Release Date: August 31^st, 2010

Number of Pages: 543

Publisher: Atheneum

Source: Bought 

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 ended picking this book after receiving the sequel for review. I had heard some many great things about this book that it scared me a little to start it. Will I enjoy it as much as everyone else did? Will I be captivated by the world Kelly Creagh created? Well, the answer is easy: I did! I didn’t expect to be caught in the story as much as I did. I ended up reading it in one sitting, spending most of the day simply reading it, the hours passing not mattering. Luckily, I didn’t start it before going to bed. I may have spent an other sleepless night.

Now, Varen and Isobel are really two complete opposite. One is the popular cheerleader, the other the Goth boy. Isobel grew on me, as I didn’t like her at first. She seemed slightly superficial to me, but I did like her interaction with Varen, especially once she starts getting to know him. On the other, Isobel’s friends (or rather old friends) were kind of jerks. I mean, She’s stuck with someone for a school project, and they blame him? It’s not like it’s his fault. Brad is far from a good boyfriend. He’s an ass, to both her and most people he disagree with. The things he and Mark did to Varen were mean. Nikki kind of annoyed me at some point, especially at the beginning. Shouldn’t you take your best friend’s side instead of her boyfriend?

The Poe’s aspect of the book was quite interesting. I really enjoy having piece of his work in the book. After all, Edgar Allen Poe was a master of what he did. It was well incorporate into the story, first from in their assignment, then in the dark world Isobel is taken into. I really enjoy the mix of all the elements Kelly Creagh brought in the novel; you got some school drama, a little romance, some ‘monsters’ and many other things. It’s the mix of all those things that made the novel that captivating to me.

I’m already excited to start the sequel, Enshadowed, which comes out in August! Have you guys read this one yet? Are you excited for the sequel?