Synopsis from Barnes & Noble:
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.
Kelly Creagh’s Nevermore was released on August 31st of this year in both digital and print formats. The first book in a new trilogy, Nevermore begins with an imaginative take on the last few moments of the life of Edgar Allan Poe. It is Mr. Poe’s last actions that portend the outcome for Isobel Lanley and Varen Nethers.
Her tale, which is at once dark and mysterious, brings the reader into a world that is shaped by the influence of both Varen and Poe. As Isobel gets drawn further and further into this twisted labyrinth, and away from her previously light and sunny existence, her role shifts from victim to savior as her feelings for the inscrutable Varen Nethers grow.
But will this strength of character be enough for Isobel to conquer the seemingly insurmountable odds she will have to face in the next installment in the trilogy?
The author’s passion for, and influence of, Edgar Allan Poe comes through in her writing, creating a story that is both exciting and inventive. And its conclusion, while heartbreaking, still leaves the door open for a happy ending for Isobel and Varen in the books to come.
The individuality of the storyline and subject matter makes this book memorable and well worth the read, and will appeal to readers both young and old. This novel opens up a new niche in the young adult paranormal genre and will excite readers about the works and mind of Edgar Allan Poe.
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