Nevermore by Kelly Creagh

Nevermore
Author:  Kelly Creagh
Publisher: Atheneum
Date Published:  August 31st 2010


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.

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Fantastic read!  I was blown away by Nevermore.  I thought it was so unique, and bringing in the whole Edgar Allen Poe element added such a dark, bizarre, and creepy element. 

I have never read Edgar Allen Poe (I know, I know), but I have a very close friend that is a huge fan of his.  In high school she constantly carried around a book of his complete works.  Because of her I knew what kinds of stories, and poems Mr. Poe wrote, so I wasn't surprised how out there the whole dream/alternate world  that Varen, and soon after Isobel found themselves in.  This alternate world really fascinated me, yet left me totally perplexed.  What the heck was going on?  At times I would get slightly confused, but then isn't that the way of Edgar Allen Poe.  Were we suppose to walk away knowing exactly what was going on...I think not.  It was too bizarre to make perfect sense.  I was so involved in the story from the beginning, and I found that I couldn't stop reading. I got pulled into this vortex of insanity that Ms. Creagh created.   It was great!  Obviously with the ending Nevermore had, there will be a second book.  Frustrating when the ending is left open, but what the hell, it is the way of the YA genre.

Varen and Isobel are great finished characters.  They are opposites in every way, so you definitely think what is there common denominator, but when they start to peel off that protective cover they both have, you realize how much they do have in common.  Outside appearance is the first clue Ms. Creagh gives us about how different they are.  For instance, Isobel is a cheerleader with the typical bully jock boyfriend, and Varen is a pale skinned, black eyeliner wearing kind of guy...how more can they be dissimilar.  I was much more intrigued by Varen. 

I really liked Nevermore, and I'm looking forward to book two.  What the heck happens to Varen?!

Book received from Star Book Tours.