Author: Kelly Creagh
Publisher: Atheneum
Released Date: August 28th 2012
Find on: Amazon, Goodreads
Quick Review: Varen Nethers is trapped in a perilous dream world -- a treacherous and desolate realm where the terrifying stories of Edgar Allan Poe come to life. Isobel Lanley, plagued by strange visions and haunted by the nightmares of Varen's creation, is the only one who can save him.
Isobel knows that her only hope lies within a Baltimore cemetery. There, in the early morning hours of Edgar Allan Poe's birthday, a mysterious stranger known as the "Poe Toaster" will make his annual homage at the legendary poet's grave.
Only the Poe Toaster holds the key to the way between worlds. But even greater dangers lie ahead for Isobel. An ancient evil, draped in veils of white, is watching, challenging her for Varen's affections. When Isobel finally finds Varen, he is no longer the quiet and brooding boy who once captivated her, but a dark force, powerful and malevolent.
Detailed Review: After I turned over the last page of this book, I was completely mad as well as excited. In the start, Isobel Lanley is back but without Varen. In the first few chapters, we learn about Isobel's life from where we left off at Nevermore. Later we find out about Reynolds also known as the Poe Toaster. She tries to convince her father to take her to Baltimore to see Poe's grave which is apparently where Reynolds is. Then Gwen comes into the picture. During the first book, we see Gwen who is supposedly rude but extremely friendly when she secretly visites Isobel after the incident. Isobel tells Gwen about her dreams and nightmares and the dreamworld she had visited in the first book.
Isobel continues telling Gwen about a woman which beautiful black hair and a voice that's mesmerizing, finding out that Gwen knows she's Lilith! A demon queen who rules the Nocs, creatures of the dreamworld which is created by Poe himself and Varen. Gwen abandons Isobel while she later has dreams and of Varen and a car, rushing through the dreamworld and ending with horror, Isobel is desperate to get Varen back at all costs! We see her on her first day at school as the nightmares get worse and she dreams of Varen once again, but instead it's Pinfeathers, the Noc created by Varen. She realizes at these times that she's been seeing all of the dreamworld with reality. On the last time of dreaming, Isobel hears music and a woman singing, hearing these she follows -ending up in battle with Pinfeathers once again! A trophy in hand, Isobel tries to ward off the Noc. Finally leaving, the story spins once more as Gwen, Isobel's best friend returns with a present of Christmas day. The present was a something that could ward off demons; Lilith.
Finally telling Isobel everything, she learns that Gwen is going with her to Baltimore in search of the Poe Toaster. Through the next part of the story we learn she meets up with Brad who tells her to look in mirrors. As she does so she sees Varen twice in mirrors but usually when she turns around he's not there, confusing her more! Which is definitely frustrating.
It continues to through finally getting tickets to Baltimore and leaving. Gwen devices at plan in the graveyard while Isobel eats with her dad at a restaurant. Lying to her dad, she leaves and goes with Gwen who is outside and soon they're on their way.
'Isobel's ears perked up when one of the voices emanating from Greene Street, a man's sturdy barritone, lifted above all the others and began to recite lines from "The Raven".
'Nothing further then he uttered-
not a
feather then he fluttered-
Till I scarcely more than muttered,
'Other
friends have flown before-
On the morrow he will leave me, as
my
Hopes have flown before.'
Then the bird said, 'Nevermore'."
That's when Reynolds aka The Poe Toaster finally appears. There she struggles through and enters the dreamworld. Going through the world she finds the Nocs and then Lilith. Finally capturing Isobel and letting her die. Isobel realizes that Reynolds is also called Gordan. A demon spawn of Lilith. There they fight and she escapes, finding Varen and Lilith, telling her he is changed and doesn't think he'll go back with her, Isobel goes to Varen anyway. When he finally sees her, he hugs her and guess what? Tosses her over the cliff.
Awakening as a ghost in front of her brother, Danny. She tries to call for him but can't because she's a ghost and then Isobel sees her body on a table as people try to awake her but suddenly her heart stops and a man rolls a white sheet over her face. Confused and scared, Isobel tries again to fuse with her body, jutting awake in her own body, realizing she had just died.
Ending the story, Varen in his dreamworld finds a pink butterfly watch and crushes it as he looks away, thinking Isobel didn't love him enough to hold onto the promise, even though she did.
Brief Summary: 'Like the first book, Nevermore; Enshadowed had promised an amazing, exciting and heart-pounding stopper that made it's story flow incredibly. A second epic conclusion will have the reader gasping for more!'
My Rating: 5/5 'Totally Amazing!'
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