The Immortals: Evermore [Paperback]

Since the accident that killed her family, Ever can see auras, hear people's thoughts, and know a person's life story just by touch. She also has regular conversations with her dead sister. She didn't ask for these new talents and her efforts to hide her gifts have left her a freak at her high school. But when Damen Auguste enters the picture, everything changes.

Damen is movie-star gorgeous, mysterious, and the one person who can block all the psychic energy Ever keeps trying to avoid. Damen and Ever are drawn to each other, but Ever can't shake the feeling that there is something that he's hiding. He's the only person that Ever can't read anything about. Damen has no aura, Ever can't hear his thoughts, and she has know idea who - or what - he really is.

Every once in awhile, a book comes along that I end up getting sucked into and become addicted. EVERMORE was one of those books. When I wasn't reading, I was thinking about how I could sneak away to read some more. I couldn't put it down. I dreamt about this book. When I finished, I couldn't get it out of my head. This book was simply breathtaking.

Ever is a wonderfully realistic character that grows throughout the novel. The guilt she feels over her family's accident and her grieving process are heart-wrenchingly real, as is her growing acceptance of her new psychic gifts. I also loved the scenes with Riley, Ever's little sister. Who knew a ghost could be so funny and charming? I know she's just waiting to have her own series written about her. And Damen...well, what can I say - I'm in love. If you're looking for a new lit-boy crush, Damen is it.

Alyson Noel knows how to write for and about teens, and this is one of her best books yet. I can't wait to find out more about the mysterious Damen and step into Ever's world again.

Combining mystery and romance, EVERMORE is the beginning of the next must-read paranormal series. Be sure to get your hands on this one - you'll be swept away.

Reviewed by: Sarah Bean the Green Bean Teen Queen

'Evermore' is the first book in the series and is about sixteen year old Ever Bloom who is living with her Aunt after a terrible car crash that killed her parents and her younger sister Riley. After surviving the crash which robbed her of her family, Ever discovers that she has the power to hear the thoughts of the people around her and see their auras. She tries to block this out by hiding herself under hooded sweatshirts and having her ipod on at all times but she can't block out new guy Damen Auguste who she seems inexplicably drawn towards. He's mysterious and enigmatic, dark and handsome and her feelings for him might just end up changing her life forever.

What an amazing start to the series - I'm really excited to see where Alyson Noel's going to go next with the story and how she's going to develop all the characters. I liked Ever and I loved her sister Riley (who has her own spin-off series). I enjoy it when books capture the sibling relationship so well and the scenes between the two of them were among some of my favourite moments in the book. Having the ability to still see her sister is a gift for Ever but there's still a healthy dose of realism in that they still fight and bicker like any sisters do! She also has great friends - Haven and Miles are interesting and rounded characters and their involvement in the story was well integrated and added some fun scenes to the book.

Damen is an intriguing figure and although some information was revealed about his past, I'm looking forward to finding out more about his history and how he and Ever first originally met. I was drawn to him and he certainly comes across as charismatic and charming but I'm hoping that there's also going to be more depth to his character. He's got to be more than just a pretty face.

I thought that Noel's idea of the afterlife and the place in between which she calls Summerland was well thought out and wonderfully written. I hope that we'll get to find out more about the latter throughout the rest of the series.

I liked the fact that this wasn't your typical vampire-fare. Certain things in the book hinted at that (a red drink; incredible speed; never getting ill) and led the reader in that direction but the big reveal was so much more interesting and has set things up perfectly for the next book in the series. The paranormal romance genre is big at the moment and I am a huge fan of these kinds of books but sometimes they can be a bit too similar and formulaic. I thought that 'Evermore' felt really fresh and original and had an exciting and engaging plot which kept me hooked until the final pages. I'm desperate now to rejoin Ever, Damen and co and find out what's going to happen to them next.

EVERMORE has had to take many comparisons to Meyer's Twilight Saga, and as I read Noel's book, I could see why. There are startling simialities, even down to "Wuthering Heights" making an appearance. Yet there are also differences to Meyer's successful Saga, perhaps the most important being the ability to keep you wanting to read. Personally, I think Meyer's books suffer from over-writing and repetition. EVERMORE is not so guilty of this. However, if you do not like teenage girls going on about how gorgeous some mysterious boy is, and you do not appreciate paranormal elements to your stories, this book will not be for you.

Ever, the main character of the book, is the sole survivor of a car crash. After her recovery, she has to up sticks to live in L.A. with her aunt. But the crash has changed her circumstances in more than mere geographical terms - she now has the ability to read people's thoughts, see their auras, and know their life story just by mere touch. But there is one person in her new school who she is unable to do such things with, and that is Damen. So, why?

That's the basic plot. There are a few twists and other elements thrown in. But as I am sure you can guess, EVERMORE is a fairly predictable book. as the first in The Immortals series, when I finished it, I have to admit that I wondered how Noel would make it stretch for the other 5 installments that she has set up. Not a great deal happens in EVERMORE, and I'm not sure how much this is down to Noel beginning the story of Ever and Damen, how much is just setting the scene, so to speak.
Having said that, what I loved about EVERMORE was how Ever was a much better character than Bella from Twilight. Ever has more of a backbone and although she herself sees herself as being on the edge of her school population, she does have friends - friends which she keeps throughout the book, rather than droppiong them for the boy she desires.

Do not pick up this book expecting to be blown away by a completely new idea - if you read a lot of YA fiction, you'll have seen it all before. But, that doesn't mean that it's not enjoyable as a way to pass some time.