Blue Moon, The Immortals, Book 2 by Alyson Noël

Publisher: St. Martin's Press
Pages: 284


From the Cover:

Alyson’s Noël’s bestselling Immortals series has been hailed as “addictive” “beautiful” “haunting” and “mesmerizing.” In the second installment, Ever can bring her family back from the dead—but only if she’s willing to sacrifice the guy she loves more than life itself.

Just as Ever is learning everything she can about her new abilities as an immortal, initiated into the dark, seductive world by her beloved Damen, something terrible is happening to him. As Ever’s powers are increasing, Damen’s are fading—stricken by a mysterious illness that threatens his memory, his identity, his life.

Desperate to save him, Ever travels to the mystical dimension of Summerland, uncovering not only the secrets of Damen’s past—the brutal, tortured history he hoped to keep hidden—but also an ancient text revealing the workings of time. With the approaching blue moon heralding her only window for travel, Ever is forced to decide between turning back the clock and saving her family from the accident that claimed them—or staying in the present and saving Damen, who grows weaker each day...

Ever's life can't get much better, well, that's a lie. She's lost her entire family including her dog, Buttercup, but since she can't undo time, her life is the best that it can be. She really misses her bratty kid sister, but Riley has promised to send a sign from the great beyond, and as yet, Ever hasn't heard or seen anything from her. Sometimes, she wishes that Riley had have stayed, but Ever knows in her heart that it was time for Riley to move on. Even the ghost of a little sister was better than none though.

What saves Ever's existence from being a total nightmare is the love of her life, Damen. He's so patient and sweet, he has loved her for more than 400 years, through many lifetimes of heartache and misfortune. He has watched her died over and over again. But with Drina's death, Ever's life can bloom into an immortal existence along with his.

But, what neither knows is that Drina isn't the only rogue immortal who's infected with hatred and an existence beyond the bounds of humanity. When Roman come into their lives, he is bent on destruction. With the loss of his own unrequited love, Drina, he has vowed that Ever and Damen will be cursed to not know the love both have been seeking throughout history.

In one mighty swoop, Roman turns Ever's life into a living hell. All of her friends are no more, Damen can't remember why she was important to him in the first place, and Summerland has become a mysterious place more baffling than it is beautiful. How will Ever make it right? How will she right Roman's insanity?

Blue Moon by Alyson’s Noël is an excellent addition to the Immortal Series. As we learn more about Damen's existence before Ever, the hardship that was his life before the immortal juice and the orphans that surrounded him to Ever's present day, we discover that a person who isn't perfection. It is only after meeting Ever's incarnation that he strives to achieve what he seemingly cannot have, a life with Ever that could be perfection.

In Blue Moon, just as we think we're going to see their happily ever after, disaster strikes. Roman comes into the picture looking for revenge and achieving it. Ever watches as Damen slips further and further away, as he becomes a person that she doesn't know, as he becomes the superficial teen of her nightmares, and still she loves him. And then he becomes so ill, it's all she can try to do to save him and set things right. But in setting things right, she wonders if their love was ever really meant to be, look what's happening to Damen because she made it possible for them to be together. I highly recommend this book for a great YA read, Alyson’s Noël has brought this story to life, making the reader long to fight for what's right, the eternal love of Ever and Damen. I was captivated from page one, and I'm looking forward to Shadowland where their story continues and I hope, grow. Ever has some redeeming to do. This book is the second in the series and I recommend reading them in order as one book picks up from the pages of the last, excellent story telling!

I picked this book up myself eagerly after reading the first, all opinions expressed are my own.

Updated!!!! Evermore, The Immortals, Book 1 by Alyson Noël

Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin / St. Martin's Press
Pages: 301

From the Cover: Since a horrible accident claimed the lives of her family, sixteen-year-old Ever can see auras, hear people's thoughts, and know a person's life story by touch. Going out of her way to shield herself from human contact to suppress her abilities has branded her as a freak at her new high school - but everything changes when she meets Damen Auguste. Ever sees Damen and feels an instant recognition. He is gorgeous, exotic and wealthy, and he holds many secrets. Damen is able to make things appear and disappear, he always seems to know what she's thinking - and he's the only one who can silence the noise and the random energy in her head. She doesn't know who he really is - or what he is. Damen equal parts light and darkness, and he belongs to an enchanted new world where no one ever dies.

Ever Bloom has survived the impossible, the loss of her entire family; everyone except for her Aunt Sabine, her father's twin. And Ever knows the entire accident was solely her fault. She has cost her family all of their lives; her dad, mother, little sister Riley, and their dog, Buttercup. Yet, even as she watched her family wave goodbye forever, she longed to stay alive. And for that, she cannot forgive herself.

In her old life, she was a cheerleader, popular, one of the 'in' crowd. Now, she hides in the back of the class, hoping to go unnoticed. She hides as much as possible from the world by wearing hoodies and sunglasses and blasting her ipod. Anything that lets her drown out the voices and thoughts of those around her, because since the accident, she has become a freak; a psychic freak. She can see aura or the psychic energy surrounding the living. And not only can she hear everyone's most private thoughts, answers to the test questions, and intimacies she doesn't desire, but she sees dead people too.

Her little sister, Riley, visits daily. Riley just wanted to be thirteen and now all she gets to be is dead, living vicariously through Ever. Ava, the party psychic her aunt hired, tells Ever that this just isn't right. She has to let Riley go and she's right, but Ever doesn't know if she can live without Riley. Her only live friends are Miles and Haven, the only two people who don't care that she's not cool. Haven is being tempted by the dark, and Ever is scared for her; it may cost her life.

Suddenly peace is found, not by acceptance of her 'gift', but by the new guy in school Damen Auguste. With a single brush of his hand, which usually causes pain, a quiet comes over Ever that she can't remember. Like before the accident. When her life was normal, like she could look at herself in the mirror. And Damen only has eyes for Ever. Everytime he sees her, he bears a red tulip. What does this mean? Who can this mysterious and gorgeous guy be?

Evermore by Alyson Noël is a sweet story of loss and love, growing up and coming to terms with the horrible realities of life. Along with those realities, a whole new world is opened up for Ever, full of the mystical and fantastical. She doesn't know why this has happen to her, and when she does, it overloads her circuits and she refuses to believe the impossible. This is not your usual fantasy read and I was intrigued and surprise by what I found. At first, I thought maybe it was going to be Twilight-like, but it isn't at all. Ever is a heroine who lives in the lap of luxury and wants nothing more to go back to her old life. She doesn't need or desire all of the extras her Aunt Sabine can provide. Riley visits everyday, letting Ever pretend that she still has a little sister. And it's not healthy for either of them. Damen, our hero, has loved Ever forever and since he's found her, he doesn't intend to let her go. He's tall, dark beautiful eyes, bronze skinned, gorgeous, and mysterious. Only Ever can change his mind; force him to let her go. It's up to her to decide who she needs to tell goodbye and to do so, she has to accept reality. I found Evermore to be an unique read, entertaining, and at times funny, and then again at time, heart sorry. It was a fast interesting read that I finished in one sitting. If you a fan of YA, paranormal, and young romance, this is an excellent book. I can't wait to read the next in the series, Blue Moon, The Immortals, Book 2 released July 2009. I loved the explanation of auras at the beginning of the book and how Ms. Noël comes to explain the meaning of flowers. A worthy read that I very much enjoyed and recommend for all lovers of YA and paranormal, a refreshing twist. For more information about Alyson Noël or all of her great books, please visit http://www.alysonnoel.com/.

(release date July 2009)

Update!!!! Alyson Noël has revealed the new cover art of Book 3 of the Immortals, Shadowland.

(release date November 17, 2009)

Want more? Take a peek at the book trailer.