Blue Moon

Starred review from July 20, 2009
Noël's sequel to the bestselling Evermore
is a mesmerizing tale of teenage angst, love and sacrifice with plenty of crossover appeal. Still learning to control her powers as an Immortal, teenage Ever Bloom is as in love with the Immortal Damen as he is with her—until he dumps her just before the long-awaited night when they plan to sleep together for the first time. Unable to get over the loss, Ever soon finds herself ostracized by friends and scorned by her beloved. Not only is Damen barely able to remember their relationship, but he is becoming weaker as well. Only the new guy in school, the mysterious Roman, seems intent on obtaining her trust. Ever knows something strange is to blame and that only she can save Damen. But in her quest for the cure, Ever is confronted with a choice to change the past or save Damen in the present. The startling but satisfying ending shows that Noël knows how to keep her audience hooked. Ever's supernatural struggles are a captivating metaphor for teenage fears about love, relationships and growing up. Ages 12–17.

As this sequel to EVERMORE opens, Ever has been turned immortal by her centuries-old truelove, Damen. They're thinking about consummating their love when a new student appears at school--and things begin to go awry. Damen becomes ill and dumps Ever as she becomes a pariah on campus. Ever seeks help in Summerland, a magical realm that exists between our world and the afterlife. The love story in the first book takes a turn here, becoming an occult mystery. Katie Schorr is familiar with these characters, and youthful exuberance shines through in her narration. Except for giving the villain an odd and inconsistent Cockney accent, her lively voice perfectly fits the fast pace of the story. G.D. (c) AudioFile 2009, Portland, Maine