Tough-O-Meter

We've got your back. With the Tough-O-Meter, you'll know whether to bring extra layers or Swiss army knives as you summit the literary mountain. (10 = Toughest)

(4) Base Camp

The language in Everneath is simple and user-friendly, and since our viewpoint character Nikki is a teenager, we're not surprised that it's an easy-breezy read in terms of readability. But hold up: One of our main characters, Cole, is a centuries-old immortal soul-stealer. And the plot revolves around humans being drained of energy and condemned to an eternity of suffering in the Tunnels. So while the book's style is easily digested, the subject matter is on the complex and serious side—a bit of a hike, but nothing more grueling than a daytrip.