Everlost by Neal ShustermanMy rating: 5 of 5 stars
Those who don't reach the light at the end of the tunnel wind up in the world between the living and dead: Everlost. Though it is possible to join the light, Mary Hightower wants everybody, living or half-dead, to spend eternity in Everlost, forever repeating the same actions, and she will destroy all of the living to accomplish this. It is up to a group of friends to save both worlds. Their amazing talents display Shusterman's ingenuity and creativity, but they also intrigue the reader, encouraging them to ponder what comes after life. Shusterman incorporates common superstition with the phenomena of his world to introduce interactions between the world of the living and dead, the concepts which make this first in a trilogy so interesting. Additionally, the characters have a deep, unique personalities that, combined, drive the plot to its satisfying conclusion. All readers, from the philosophical to the adventurous, will be drawn into this stunning tale of determination, sacrifice, wit, love, and deception. – Kai A. ‘17
View all my reviews
Kai portrayed Everlost very accurately. I wholeheartedly agree with the point on Shusterman's characters: each one, from the protagonists Allie and Nick to the most minor henchman of the tyrannical McGill, is as richly imagined and deeply complex as the world they live in. Even Mary Hightower is not a typical antagonist; as she explains her history and motives for trapping lost souls, readers may find themselves wondering if Allie and Nick have chosen the wrong side. My only concern about this trilogy is that I still have two books to read--and it seems unlikely that either could hold up to the high standard that Everlost set!
ReplyDelete