Poe: Nevermore

by Rachel M. Martens

"Poe: Nevermore" is an Edgar Allan Poe-inspired thriller in which a young woman must race against time and death to save those she loves while struggling with depression, a new relationship complicated by her past, and an abusive former foster-father. Elenora Allison Poe is twenty-four years old, drowning in debt and depression, and very alone, having been orphaned at the age of two and raised in an unloving household. Suffering from insomnia and PTSD from a traumatic experience seven years before, Poe keeps everyone at arm's length. Then, she meets homicide detective Caleb Frost and her life changes dramatically. Frost sees Poe's brokenness in perfect clarity and sympathizes with her. However, just when Poe is starting to let him in, she discovers a horrible truth: she is the sole direct descendant of Edgar Allan Poe, inheriting not only the last name of one of the world's most famous poets, but also a terrible family curse that takes the form of Edgar Allan Poe's most haunting tales. If Poe cannot recognize the curse unfolding in time, it will destroy the lives of all those close to her and annihilate her sanity.

Genres: Paranormal, Horror

369 pages, Paperback

First published June 14, 2013

About the author

Rachel M. Martens is the writer of the "Poe" gothic thriller series, as well as the short horror collection "Midnight Hour"(2017), the YA paranormal romantic thriller "Metalhead"(2019), and the political thriller "Patriots' Dance"(2024). Martens resides in Wisconsin and travels extensively, taking inspiration from the locales she has visited and the books she has read along the way. Her favorite time to write is in the midnight hours with a storm as background music and a mug of tea close at hand.

Reviews

[megHan · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a well-written and fun story. I mean, what an AWESOME idea for a storyline. Poe is one of those characters that you will never forget - so "real" and one I could easily relate to. I really like the character Frost and the adventure that the author takes us on throughout the whole story. Very impressive and I can't wait to read more of this series.

Note: I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

[Tina · Rating 5 out of 5]

Poe: Nevermore by author Rachel M. Martens is a fascinating thriller, the first in a six-book series, inspired by the life and writings of Edgar Allan Poe. Elenora Allison Poe is a young aspiring writer for whom life has not been at all easy. The death of her family when she was only a child and the abuses she suffered throughout her teenage years turned Poe into a frightened young lady, suffering from PTSD and insomnia. When she meets an intriguing young detective, her life takes an unexpected turn for the worse. She finds out that she is a direct descendant of Edgar Allan Poe and is being targeted by a curse that has been in the Poe family for generations. Poe and Frost engage in a fast-paced race against time and the forces of evil in an attempt to save their lives and the lives of the ones they love.

The first book of the Poe series was a wonderful surprise for me; apart from the stunning cover art, I had not expected to encounter such an original story with a writing style so truthful and unique. Poe's nightmare scenes blend perfectly throughout the story, giving us readers a more insightful view into Poe’s mind and making her emotions clearer with each page. Poe: Nevermore tackles taboo subjects, such as depression, rape, domestic violence and suicidal tendencies and it does so with amazingly raw emotions, as if the characters were actual people telling their story to a friend. Rachel M. Martens gave Poe a wonderful personality that stands out. There were moments when I thought Poe and the author are just good friends telling a story with the help of ink and paper, instead of writer and character.

I look forward to the next book in the series. The ending of Nevermore left me wanting to know more about Poe and Frost; it left me wanting to know whether their relationship will get stronger and if their fight again will be successful. Poe: Nevermore ends with an epilogue that sheds some light about the new book, and I think the author cleverly ended it this way to keep readers interested until the release of the new book. And it worked. I look forward to finding out what life has in store for Poe. (Reviewed for Readers' Favorite)

[Shilah Reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

I absolutely love how the author added Edgar Allan Poe as a character as well and how he was portrayed. I love the characters and the speed of the book. You honestly never know what will happen next in this novel. The ending comes at you like a freight train with a cliffhanger that I became unhinged at. Would have been a 5 star read but with how many times I read the word tears I forgot how to spell/read it 😅 Will be downloading the second soon

[Auntie Raye-Raye · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received an e-copy of the book from Story Cartel for review purposes.


I like the concept of a woman named Poe with a family curse related to Edgar Allen Poe. It's just that I'm pushing 40 and this isn't exactly targeted to my age group. I feel too old for books that have severely damaged, mentally ill, characters with horrible childhoods.

I know it's fiction and all. It was hard for me to believe that Frost comes out of nowhere and instantly wants to help Poe, and be with her.

I had issues with Liz the therapist hanging out with Poe. That's pretty much frowned upon. A therapist isn't supposed to socialize with their client.

Ohh, and the violence and abuse is really over the top. I couldn't suspend disbelief that such awful things happened in a small period.

The villains of the book were almost caricatures. They were just complete evil, no redeeming qualities, nothing good about them.

So, if you're in your teens or 20s, you'll like probably enjoy this more than I did.

[Beth Schmelzer · Rating 2 out of 5]

I received an e-copy of the book from Story Cartel for review purposes.

Rachel M. Martens horror story was riveting. I wanted to read it because I love the poetry and stores of Edgar Allen Poe. Yes, I wanted to get to the end, but I couldn't keep reading because the story was so horrible, which the author intended, I know. My biggest problem with the book was the repetition. The descriptions of the characters reminded me of the conventions in classic epic poems such as the "Odyssey." If I had to read of the "molten ice" blue eyes of Frost one more time I thought I would scream. This genre is popular with young adults, but even though I persevered, when I got to the end of the story, I was relieved and could not believe there are more episodes.
Sorry I cannot take any more of these evil characters. At least in Charlaine Harris's books there is humor. Good luck to this writer and I know she will have a following, but it is not a series for me.

[Michele · Rating 2 out of 5]

I won this book in a Goodreads giveaway and wanted to like it. I love Edgar Allan Poe, so the idea that he had a living bloodline and they were all cursed was intriguing. But that's about all that was interesting about this story.

The FMC is annoying. I understand that she had a horrible life, was orphaned early, abused, unloved, etc. but she did not seem to have one redeeming quality. She didn't even seem to try.

The MMC was a little better. But he never heard of boundaries and was one of those people who thought he was always right and knew best.

The bad guys are almost cartoonish in their evilness. They are just evil. They have no shades of gray, no other trait other than they are the bad guy. Idk why the author even gave them names. She could have just named them Bad Guy #1 for all of the character development they received.

The story was poorly written. A huge part of the story was about Poe's curse, but it was never really explained. The FMC has a friend who is her psychiatrist's intern, who goes out drinking with the main character. That's a big No. Also, this story could have used an editor. It was repetitive. So many phrases and descriptions were used repetitiously. The use of the word "lied" instead of "laid" constantly was annoying. I can understand if it happens once, maybe twice, but by the 600th time that "Poe lied down on the bed..." Yeah, even my spell/grammar check wants to fix it, but the editor or author didn't want to fix it? That should tell you something about this book.

I thought it was going to be more of a supernatural suspense, but found the story more of a description of someone suffering from PTSD and having the story just loop over the same thoughts/conversations/scenes over and over. I could not wait to be finished with this book and have no desire to read any of the others in this series.

My rating: a generous 2 stars.

[Jasmine Banasik · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really wanted to like this book more than I did. It's a paranormal thriller based around Edgar Allen Poe, written by author in my state. It should have been perfect for me.

But, the more that I read, the more I realized I just wasn't the target audience for it. Let me explain. The issue that stands out to me is that this shouldn't be advertised as a paranormal thriller. Almost nothing paranormal happens and it could have just as easily been a serial killer. The Edgar Allen Poe aspect isn't even fully evident, because the perpetrators of.the acts aren't theming them to be Poe inspired, they just happen to be thematically Poelike.
Honestly, what this book is is a dramatic romance where the main characters both have hella trauma. Think Colleen Hoover but the actual romance is decently wholesome (Caleb could learn to respect boundaries a bit better). This probably wouldn't be a problem for some readers but romance simply isn't my genre. If a romance is going to be the main focus of the book, it needs to nail it. And unfortunately, I just don't care about Poe and Caleb. I could have easily gone without 4/5ths of the book just being the two of them talking about if they should be together. I understand Poe has trauma and this is realistic but be prepared to read the same conversation 5 times.

Here's the thing: I did not like this book. I own the next two books in the series and I've heard it becomes less romance focused, so I will be trying those. But, I think if you like romance with the tiniest glimpses of paranormality... you might like this one. I just didn't (until the end when it felt like Martens was finally leaning into the Poe element)

[C · Rating 2 out of 5]

I wanted to enjoy this book more than I did. There were a few things that got in the way of that. The main character has a Not Like The Other Girls mentality throughout the whole book. She couldn’t accept that a man could possibly be into her (coincidentally after seeing her at her work the day before). I get it, she was raised by a narcissist that squashed her sense of self esteem, but I think it went above that. The “curse” was never really flushed out as to what it exactly is… we get a brief description of its origin but nothing past that. And as soon as she discovers this curse she’s able to band together this ragtag group of people willing to help her fight it… whatever “it” is. She’s stabbed and beaten multiple times over the course of this book and she immediately wants to unalive herself over the trauma but she doesn’t seem to care about the physical pain from getting stabbed. It’s a great first draft, but not my favorite.

[Ronie Langston · Rating 2 out of 5]

I read this book through Kindle Unlimited and was intrigued by the idea of Edgar Allan Poe as a character—definitely a fun twist! The concept of a family curse had a lot of potential to add a creepy, gothic vibe.

Instead, the story leaned heavily into repetitive, over-the-top violence, and the abuse depicted was so extreme and blatant that it’s hard to believe no one would have noticed or intervened. It just didn’t feel grounded in reality.

Also, as someone familiar with ethical boundaries in my own job, a therapist becoming best friends with a patient? Absolutely not. It’s unprofessional and unethical.

This book could have been a gripping, dark horror noir, but it missed the mark for me.

[Mindy’s Books · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had to think a bit about the storyline and characters before I could begin this review. This was such a deeply disturbing story with complicated, broken, characters that were woven together skillfully with clever and foreboding references to the works of EdgarAllan Poe. I did have to wonder why no one questioned the existence of a curse and the acceptance of the power of the curse. The absurdity of the violence and torture was all most to much to believe. Why did no one offer Poe a coat and more protection in general. I did admire Poe’s tenacity and ability to survive. Poe and Frost were certainly intriguing characters dealing with complex issues.Because of their strengths and weaknesses, I gave the story a 4. I do believe the storyline could have been presented in a more believable fashion.

Note: I received this book in exchange for an honest review.

[SA · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to Good Reads and the author for a copy of this ebook.

I thought that this was a clever story, incorporating Edgar Allen and the family curse, with a surprise plot twist that I wasn’t expecting.

The life of the lead character was relatable as a young adult struggling with life’s hardships, but I was more skeptical of the Frost character stepping in and going through great lengths for someone he just met.

I was frustrated in the delay in reporting her foster fathers abuse, but I suppose that would have impacted the plot if he was thrown in jail right at the start.

All in all it was a dark and compelling story, targeted toward young adults.

[Laura Boeshaar · Rating 2 out of 5]

I met this author at HorrorCon earlier this month. I loved her so I bought the series. I wanted so much to like it cause I love EAP, but it was rough. The description was intriguing but The FMC is unbearable, the MMC is off, the speed of their relationship is laughable, the repetitive “you should leave” “don’t leave me” of it was enough to make me roll my eyes, the plot wasn’t developed like it could have been, the curse development was almost nonexistent, the ending was rushed. Disappointed. I won’t continue the series even though I bought it. It will be donated.

[Kristen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Speechless

DO YOURSELF A FAVOR: 𝐑𝐄𝐀𝐃 𝐓𝐇𝐈𝐒 𝐁𝐎𝐎𝐊!
I don’t think any words I use will compare to this haunting masterpiece that is Poe: Nevermore. The author had such a way with words from start to finish in this gothic first novel that I was sucked in and couldn’t put it down. Physically and mentally, I did not want to. I was drawn in with Edgar Allen Poe, but that doesn’t even begin to compare to this dark and mentally twisted story. I absolutely loved this book.

[joe prohaska · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow!

This story has you rooting for the good guys and utterly loathing the bad guys. Great character development, makes you really care what happens to them. Can’t wait to see what’s next!

[Lee Tyler · Rating 5 out of 5]

Poe, Nevermore by Rachel M. Martens I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This is one of the few books that I can say I truly lost sleep over. Not for being scared but for wanting to know what happened next, and then next. Yes it is in the thriller/paranormal genre and it is under the umbrella with the Romantic movement of the 19th c. as our dear Edgar Allen Poe wrote in. It starts out light enough, narrating from the main character’s voice as she heads into work at Starbuck’s. How contemporary can one book be?
Even the best rollercoaster rides start out slowly, don't they? But, in this book, as you near a curve, you will see the Gothic tell-tale prints; dark and still nights with only a rustle here or there, heavy fog and a glimpse of a secret garden with once hearty flowers now slumped and brown.
There is a great deal of the literary world in this book and those who love that world will love this book, not just for Poe but our other Romantic novels we know and love.
Martens manages to keep the action moving while deftly weaving in conversations that were once only mentioned but that came back to haunt the characters in their dreams, or nightmares, or lack thereof. The action does not stop, and even when two very special characters just talk, you feel a pull between them. The tension leaps off the book.
There are also very lyrical moments; the kind you highlight just to read them again for their beauty.
There was one point where I found myself getting fed up with the main character. I didn’t get mad at the book or the author, I get mad at the main character. There is a world of difference between the two.
One note: for those with PTSD, and their loved ones, it will be up to you if you find salve, or if you think you/your love one will be disturbed at this juncture in their healing. As someone who understands this through university work, it needs to be mentioned in the review, since it is a Romantic novel, it affects you emotionally more than others. Frankly, I was glad to hear the author is hard at work on more books in this series. Note to self: stock up on coffee
An additional warning, this book is not for adults that still remember jumping into bed to avoid the boogy man, and not liking it; it is for those who did and then laughed afterward. Get a thrill and forget everything else in your life with this book. I did!

[HornFan2 · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a free download from storycartel.com, for my review.

Several reviews give you details from the book. So my review won't duplicate them and no spoilers.

The awesome covers, what grabbed my attention, along with the brief preview and what caused me to download it.

This was the first book, I've read with a paranormal feel to it and I liked the tie in with Edgar Allan Poe. It's so well written, Rachel grabs and holds your attention. Keeps you reading, excitingly focused on Poe and Frost's relationship, all full of twists and turns.

I'm not a fan of first person books, but Martens executes it perfectly, through Poe telling the story and even gives her full control of the story.

I also like all the elements from multi-genre's in this one. You have thriller, suspense, horror, with a touch of paranormal, add in a hint of romance, and a pinch of the psychological genre.

Mix it all together, you get this excellent story and it helps keep it believable. When it comes to characters, Rachel's definitely one of the masters and what she does with Frost, makes this story work.

I recommend this one, it's an excellent read and Rachel will be your new favorite author.

I've got Book 2, Rest In Peace already downloaded on my Kindle, just waiting for me and can't wait for the rest of this series.

[Carol Keen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Poe is a young woman who has been through enough to kill most people, but she is still alive. She feels dead inside, yet she continues to push forward as best she can. Meeting Frost starts to change her life at a time that she has to have someone, or she will die. Then things get complicated beyond what they already were. Poe is under the curse that effected Edgar Allen Poe, unless she is just totally out of her mind from the abuse and things that she had been through. Her physical pain tolerance would not be realistic if it were for the fact that I do know a few people who have that kind of super human pain threshold. With each chapter we learn more about Poe, and Frost, and their past. We also start watching the curse in action. Will it take the people they care about out before they can find a way to stop it? The connection between Poe and Frost is a strong one. I like Frost, and it is easy to hurt with Poe from what she has been through, the seen and unseen scars that are in such need of healing. The problem is, can she heal or will we lose an amazing young lady and possibly others too? This is a long book, and I am already reading the next book in this series.

My copy came from Story Cartel in exchange for my honest review and nothing more.

[Paul · Rating 5 out of 5]

I got a review copy of Poe:Nevermore from Story Cartel (storycartel.com). I loved it! Poe has so many layers, you're always finding out something new. Her interaction with Frost kept drawing me deeper into the story, and all the back story was as compelling as it was chilling. With all the death and gore, I'm impressed that Rachel kept a glimmer of hope for the characters running throughout. The climatic scene was awesome, and the setup for the next story makes that one a must-read also. Nicely done, Rachel!

[Jazz Schaetz · Rating 1 out of 5]

*cringe* Terrible writing. There are many sentences that don’t make sense and the errors are numerous. Throughout the book, instances happen where entire paragraphs are dedicated to a minor detail that could have been over with in one sentence. The amount of talking in circles and repetitiveness is annoying. The storyline is good, but the bad writing makes every event unrealistic and fake from start to finish.

[Elianna · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received this book as a gift in exchange for an honest review.

I really like paranormal stories, so it was no surprise that I liked this book. It is well written and fast. But I have to point out that at some points it was a little harsh and "violent". Of course even the synopsis of the book prepares you for that, but still I would like less hard descriptions.

[Jacquel · Rating 4 out of 5]

(recieved a free copy of this story from StoryCartel in exchange for an honest review) Finally, a story that can truly capture and keep my attention--not an easy task for a book! A clever, entertaining story.

[Laura Hermosa · Rating 4 out of 5]

I recived a free copy from Storycartel for my review. I´m half on my way but I can tell you this is a very dark story that keep you intrigated along the story. Some parts are repetitives, for example the one where she talk about their family dead when she was 2.

[Debra Morris · Rating 4 out of 5]

http://www.amazon.com/gp/customer-rev...

[Grace V · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow! This is the book if you are looking for great amounts of horror mixed with romance! I loved this book from cover to cover.

[Jo · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed reading this short novel! I intend to read the rest