I was pretty excited to get this from my library since I read and enjoyed the first novel in the series, Everneath, quite a bit. I wasn't as crazy about it as some other people (I've seen endless five star reviews for it), but I was definitely interested in checking out the rest of the books. This is actually one of those very rare times when I liked the sequel better than the first one, which really surprised me. And, by the way, whoever designs these covers should seriously get some kind of award for being awesome. Just saying. Maybe the model wearing a dress doesn't really make sense paired with Nikki's character (I mean, she never really had a reason to wear a dress in Everbound, did she?), but at the same time I love how both the red and black dresses blend into the smoke. 
 Upon opening the book, I was immediately greeted with a map of the Everneath, which got me super excited to read it. I love it when we're given maps to look at to get a better idea of the world within the pages of a book, and having one here was very appropriate. I thought Ashton did an excellent job in just describing the Everneath, but at the same time, I was glad it was there. They just add personality and realness and . . . yeah. I just love them. Moving on. I still love the concept for these books. Greek mythology isn't something I've ever really been interested in, but after reading a few of the stories I'm beginning to find it very intriguing. Ashton has definitely done her research. I love ending a book feeling like I learned something. 
 The only thing that kept me from fully loving Everneath was the characters, and I really couldn't figure out why. They are all perfectly lovely people, and I liked the heroine, but Jack and Nikki's dad and brother and a few others were just kind flat to me. And going into this sequel, I expected to feel the same way about loving the world and yet feeling strangely detached from the characters. And while I did keep that feeling for maybe 40% of the book, eventually I got involved emotionally the way that I wanted to be, and that was awesome. 
 I don't really feel like this should be counted as a love triangle. I mean, yeah, Jack and Cole both love Nikki, but Nikki only really loves Jack. Every time Nikki kisses Cole, it's because she's half-dead and needs energy or she's trying to save his life or something along those lines. However, I have to say, Cole is probably my favorite character in these books, mostly because he's the most developed and the most mysterious. Honestly, he probably doesn't have even a tiny glimmer of a chance with Nikki, at least in my opinion. But I'd still really like to see more of him in the third book. Jack . . . well. I still feel pretty neutral about him. He seems like a great guy and everything, and I thought the periodic flashbacks surrounding him were done pretty well, but he's still just kind of there. I'm hoping my feelings towards him change in the last Everneath book. 
 Above all else, I really enjoyed the ending. I felt like it had even more urgency in it than the first. And, truthfully, I never saw it coming. I've never been the best at making bookish predictions about endings, but I think that even if I was masterfully good at it, I still would have been shocked silly. The ending is what earns that last half star. Because of it, I will be clamoring for the last book when it comes out next year. 
 4.5 stars