Under the Never Sky by Veronica Rossi
Genre: Young Adult Dystopian
Publication Date: January 3, 2012
Pages: 400
Source: Received an ARC for review from the publisher
Exiled from her comfortable home, Aria knows her chances of surviving in the outer wasteland – called the Death Shop – are slim. Violent energy storms can strike suddenly, and even the very air she breathes might kill her. Then Aria meets an Outsider named Perry. He’s wild, dangerous – a savage. He’s also her only hope.
Because Aria alone holds the key to his redemption, Perry needs her, too. Their unlikely alliance will determine the fate of all who live under the never sky.
Debut author Veronica Rossi is accumulating fans from all over the globe—the book has already sold to more than twenty countries. It’s not surprising that foreign rights for this title have been flying off the shelf. It’s a tantalizing romance in any language.
My Opinion
When Under the Never Sky begins, you’re thrown into a high tech, enclosed mini-city called a Pod where Aria lives. Because there’s not much to do in the Pods, Aria’s people use Smarteyes — which reminded me of a big contact lens for one eye — to virtually travel into “The Realms.” First off, I need to say that the Realms sound so cool! Anything can happen, from underwater parties where people turn into mermaids, attending Medieval balls, to flying across mountaintops. I wish I could visit them 🙂
But when Aria gets into trouble, she’s cast out of her Pod and sent to the Outside World, where the sky is constantly filled with Aether (super intense lightning storms) and people have gone back to more primitive forms of living. Except they’re not as primitive as we first think. Some of them have special talents of their own.
Under the Never Sky is fast-paced, full of action, and also has a nice bit of romance. I like how the story is told from two points of views — Aria’s and Perry’s — so I could see and understand what was going on in the world Veronica Rossi created from opposite perspectives. And what a unique world it is! It felt like a mix of science fiction and fantasy, and I think fans of both will love this book.
Aria is a strong, likable female protagonist who will fight to stay alive even when the odds are stacked against her. Perry is a natural leader who will do anything for the people he loves. Combined, they were a great duo to read about. Another thing that made Under the Never Sky stand out was how the romance between Aria and Perry grew throughout the book. There was no “insta-love,” which made their relationship realistic and believable. I also loved Cinder’s character, and hope to learn more about why and how he is the way he is in the next book.
Under the Never Sky is the first in a series, and there was definitely a cliff hanger at the end that made me want to know more. I loved it and can’t wait to see what happens to Aria and Perry as their adventure continues!
Great review, Michelle. I just got this one a couple of days ago and really excited to get into it. Sounds like my type of read 🙂
Giselle
Xpresso Reads