Thursday, September 29, 2011

REVIEW: Nevermore by Kelly Creagh

I had high hopes for Nevermore by Kelly Creagh. I really wanted to be swept away by this one. I've had a few people recommending this one, talking about the swoonworthiness of the main character, and while I did find aspects of his character made me slightly melty (every time his lip ring was mentioned, for instance!), on the whole, I didn't feel like I knew enough about anyone to feel fully engaged by the story or the characters.

And this book is big! The sheer size of it did put me off reading it straight away, but I picked it up hoping that I'd be incredibly consumed by a story and it just didn't happen. I just wanted more from it.

Isobel is a popular cheerleader and is happy with her popular boyfriend and group of cheerleader friends. But when Isobel is paired up with Varen, this mysterious Goth loner, to do an English project, things begin to change in her life. Her friends begin turning on her, all because she has to spend time with Varen on this project.

I didn't fully understand or believe some of the extreme lengths that Brad and Isobel's 'friends' go to in this attack of Isobel and Varen, but either way, I can see the point of it. Isobel becomes very isolated from everyone she knows which just brings her closer and closer to Varen. I just wish something ELSE had happened for this almighty switch in allegiance of Isobel's friends OR that we'd seen some of this inner-bitchiness before it happened so that when these things did occur it didn't feel extreme or out of place.

Varen as a character could have been really interesting. He's very much this Goth boy (with a lip ring!) and he's very into Edgar Allan Poe and he carries this book around with him of his writing. Not a lot is known about him as the story starts and Isobel, as she tries to connect with him over this project becomes more and more curious about him. I'm not going to go too much into the plot, because I think I'll end up sounding more negative about this book than I really am. I did have problems with it - the friends issue at the start, I thought there needed to be more build-up in Isobel and Varen's relationship and I found the ending to be a little bit confusing.

But it isn't a bad book by any means. It's a massive book and none of my issues with it kept me from reading and going through its page fairly quickly too. I loved all of the mention of Edgar Allan Poe and some of the creepier parts were quite creepy having just had an excerpt from one of Poe's writings. I just wanted more. More feeling or build-up or something for me to feel emotionally connected to the story. Perhaps that will happen if I read the sequel? I'm not sure.

4 comments:

  1. Lately the size of a book will inevitably put me off!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Really interesting review, don't think I'll be rushing to read this one.

    ReplyDelete
  3. hmm, I liked the sound of this one but something was putting me off and I think your review has made me realise that it was becuase I was worried it wouldnt be done right! I might stll give it a go but I wont be in any rush!

    ReplyDelete
  4. Vivienne - Oh I know! :( Oh well.

    Jenni - Might be best, though of course, you must just love it instead!

    Raimy - I think that's a good idea! Make up your own mind about it :)

    ReplyDelete

HI! Thank you for leaving a comment, you've just become my new best friend :)