Review: Nevermore - Kelly Creagh

Title: Nevermore (Nevermore #1)

Author: Kelly Creagh

Release Date: August 31st 2010

Publisher: Atheneum

Source: Bought (Kindle)

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 didn't know a thing about Edgar Allen Poe before I started reading this book. Except that he's some writer-poet type person. So me and this book didn't exactly started out as best buddies when I was so effing confused by the first chapter alone. BUT. I really wanted to read this book since some of my blogger friends said it was amazing and one of their favourites..so YES. I had to read this.

At the beginning, I loved the simple concept. Goth and cheerleader paired for a school project and ending up in love? *Raises my hand* YES please! I loved the high-school hierarchy and I hated her old friends. To be honest, I found this very realistic, hell I could clearly see some of the people at school acting like Isobel's snobby old friends and bullying Varen.

Isobel was okay, I admired that she has her hobbies and passions and when she starts falling in love with Varen, her life didn't revolve around his. I love her adorable little brother Danny! And her family all had different personalities and I was glad that they acted like a real family. I hate it when authors portray parents (or they don't have any at all) as some sort of dumb cardboard cutouts who don't give a shit about their children and is only there for the sake of there being a parent.  

Varen was obviously mysterious. Even after reading the book, I still feel like I don't really know him at all. But I did quite like him though, which was a surprise for me because I don't really like goths or emos or whatever. And he makes a lip ring sounds so hot. Speaking of that, the love story was okay, I appreciate that it was slow-building, and they started out as basically enemies (I loved their interaction earlier on the story) and then as friends. BUT I STILL EXPECTED MORE. 

The first half of the book was flawless, but unfortunate I can't say the same for the second. It started to go downhill, and I felt like all the mystery and the confusion just dragged on AND on, and so my sole reason for carrying on with reading was to just frigging find out what's happening. Imagine my craziness exploding when I didn't find any ,or maybe I just missed it.

What really disappointed me was the lack of explanation of the things happening. Like, I never really had an idea of what happened to Varen and who is Reynold, Pinfeather etc.? 

 The ending was really abrupt and as I said before, lacks any explanation. I really really wanted to like this, since so much of you guys do, but maybe I just expected a bit too much.

The writing was nothing special. Too simple, and at times it was SO boring and everything! Geez. Overall, I was really disappointed with this book, and I personally preferred it without all the paranormal/fantasy business (just contemporary love story). I might still read the sequel when it comes out, but I won't be selling my right arm for that just yet.