Horn Book (Thu Aug 01 00:00:00 CDT 2013)

In the first book, Nikki's boyfriend Jack took her place as a Forfeit in the Everneath. Now Nikki coerces immortal Cole into a rescue mission before Jack is completely drained of his life's energy, but she is unsure whether she can truly trust Cole. The physical and psychological dangers of the Everneath--inspired by the underworld of Greek mythology--are intriguing despite inconsistent fantasy logic.

Kirkus Reviews

Desperation replaces melancholy as Nikki struggles to rescue Jack from the Everneath. Every night since Jack took Nikki's place in the Everneath's Tunnels during Everneath (2012), he has visited her dreams. While his presence gives Nikki hope he'll survive, it's clear his memory is deteriorating--unless Jack escapes soon, the Everneath will claim him completely. Nikki schemes to use Everliving Cole to gain entrance to the Everneath. The path to Jack takes Nikki through every danger that the Everneath can throw at her. Not only are the obstacles physically and psychologically intense, but they also draw from numerous myths (Persephone and Theseus and the Minotaur, to name just a couple) and Dante's Inferno. Every night, Nikki must return to the normal world to meet Jack in their shared dream in order to anchor him, but time spent with him is time she can't use to get closer to him. Cole still claims to love her, and he definitely still wants to make her the Everneath's queen. He guides her quest in order to keep her alive, as the entirety of the Everneath seeks to kill her. Alongside the literary references, the text paints a clear, cohesive picture of the Everneath's specific rules and order. The ending strikes just the right note, resolving this storyline while opening up a new one. Intense, intriguing and highly addictive. (Paranormal romance. 13 & up)

School Library Journal (Wed May 01 00:00:00 CDT 2013)

Gr 7 Up-The second entry in the trilogy, a modern interpretation of the Persephone myth, picks up two months after the heartbreaking ending of Everneath (HarperCollins, 2012). Nikki Beckett is determined to save her true love, who selflessly gave himself to the life-sucking Tunnels of the Everneath in her place. Unfortunately, rescuing Jack requires the assistance of Cole, the Everliving being who originally lured Nikki into the Everneath, fed on her emotional pain, and now wants to use her to usurp its queen. As wary allies, Nikki and Cole agree to face the perils of the labyrinthine landscape guarding the entrance to the Tunnels where Jack is slowly wasting away. While the complexities of this frightening realm are richly explored and the murky intentions of Cole create tension, it's the memories of first love blossoming between Nikki and Jack that act as a compass in the dangerous underworld that give the novel its emotional core. The breakneck plotting never falters and perfectly sets up the cliff-hanger ending and final twist. Expect readers to be panting for the final installment. Caroline Tesauro, Radford Public Library, VA

ALA Booklist (Fri Feb 01 00:00:00 CST 2013)

Two months after the events of the Everneath, Nikki Beckett is desperate to save her boyfriend, Jack, who took her place in the Tunnels. Her only way in is with Cole, the Everliving who fed off of her during her 100 years in the Everneath. Nikki doesn't trust Cole, but she needs his help. The story builds on the groundwork laid by Ashton in the first book of this trilogy (Everneath, 2012), based on the Persephone myth. The majority of the book is set in the Everneath, which resembles an Elemental version of Dante's circles of hell. The power of stories person's personal mythology a recurring theme, as Nikki recalls memories of Jack to tether her and guide her to him. We even hear a few tales from Cole's own long history. Despite Nikki's devotion, Jack is the disadvantaged side of the love triangle because he is just a story throughout, whereas Cole is an active antihero readers can journey alongside. A devastating cliff-hanger sets the stage for this Persephone's final story.