Book Review: Nevermore by Kelly Creagh

Publication Date: August 30, 2011
Publisher: Atheneum Books for Young Readers
ISBN: 978-1-442-40201-0
Pages: Paperback, 543
Series: Nevermore, #1
Source: Bought

Goodreads Synopsis:
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.

His life depends on it.

My Review:

I've never been a huge fan of poetry. Not because I don't enjoy it, but because I've never been able to decipher and find the real and intended meaning in the words. I've been intrigued by the works of Edgar Allen Poe but never took it upon myself  to read any of his works, so I guess this was my first dip into his works.

Isobel, the main character is a popular teenage, beautiful cheerleader whose life is normal as she knows it. She's dating the football star, her friends are all popular like her. This is the life that other teenagers envy until she is paired up in English class with "the freak". The Gothic looking guy who is kind of creepy and keeps to himself always. With his long black hair, black eyeliner and chains everywhere Isobel is a little worried (not only for her grade but also for her life.)

I couldn't really relate on a personal level with Isobel but I did like her. She was easy to like, just your typical teenager trying to fit in and be cool. Varen is the guy she is paired up with. He's quiet, keeps to himself. He;s never been bothered with people at school or the rumors, or anything else really. Varen has a few friends, and like him, are fully clad in black so he's said to be a vampire and Isobel's friends make jokes about that during their time spent working on their English project. I liked Varen to be honest, he had an attitude that was really fun to read. He was so straight to the point, obvious and blunt that just made him a memorable character in Nevermore.

The English project that Varen and Isobel are working on is about Edgar Allen Poe and Varen is very knowledgeable about him and his works (Isobel not so much!) Isobel is left with Varen's copy of Poe's work, and once she has that in her possession, things start to happen that she can't explain. From this point on we are no longer reading about high school projects, friendships and drama. We're reading of paranormal events, dreams and nightmares that can actually become reality.

Kelly Creagh had a talent for writing and story telling, as Nevermore is her first book and it's as well-known and popular as it is. The description that Kelly writes in the pages is great and adds to the overall picture. The characters are developed and the book flows together nicely.

I'm definitely looking forward to book two. I want to see where Isobel and Varen's relationship takes them. I want to know what separates the dream world from the real world.