Under the Never Sky series by Veronica Rossi

It has been over a week since we've blogged and it will likely be several more days until we finish the books we are currently reading, so we're going to blog about a fantastic young adult series we read before our blogging began.  The Under the Never Sky series by Veronica Rossi is a trilogy (and there are also two novellas if those interest you). 

young adult, sci-fi, romance

Under the Never Sky

Amy    
Lynnie 

Under the Never Sky takes place in a future world that has been devastated by atmospheric changes. Being outside is dangerous due to the lightning storms that frequently attack the land.  Many humans live in enclosed high-tech futuristic pod societies where they are protected from the outer world.  This hazardous outer world includes savages who have learned to survive as best they can in terrible conditions.  A pod girl is exiled to the wasteland and meets up with an outsider who is on his own quest.


Amy's Review

I loved it.  I really enjoyed the characters and the unique world of the book. Some sections at the end were predictable but I still enjoyed it. I liked the way that the relationship between Aria and Perry developed and their adventures were exciting.  The world is well-described and very creative.  The pacing of the story is terrific too. There is one glaring issue with the book. It was highly unbelievable to me that Aria could have kept up with that physically rigorous trek across the lands, not just because of her injured feet but because she came from a very enclosed society and never had any strenuous exercise as far as we know. I suppose it's safe to assume that since they valued longevity and health in the dwelling, they had an exercise regimen, but that was never stated.

Lynnie's Review

Under the Never Sky is a book that builds slowly, as a book should. By the time it ends, you simply wish it wouldn't.

Another in the ever-popular dystopian YA genre, this book is a fusion of future and primitive cultures and it's interesting to watch them collide. The characters are well drawn and fun to get to know, even if we've seen it before (girl starts out weak & scared, but becomes strong and confident while finding herself along the way; boy is a loner who discovers he really does need "someone" to make him feel complete).

Yet, it doesn't feel like a story you've read before. There's plenty of action to keep you pulled along and reason to want to keep reading.

Some bits were definitely unbelievable, if not laughable- not the least of which was Aria's athletic feats on the journey, injured feet & all, after living a life in which she'd never had to exert herself in the slightest. I recognize what Rossi was trying to show us about Aria's character, but it was still somewhat unrealistic (I know, fiction...).

Overall though, it was a fun book and a great way to spend a few hours. I'm looking forward to the sequel.  


Through the Ever Night

Amy     
Lynnie 

Where Under the Never Sky was really the story of Aria finding herself and where she fit into her new world,  Through the Ever Night is the story of Perry and how he finally becomes the leader that he needs to be.

Amy's Review

Loved it! I'm so pleased that this second-in-a-trilogy was a great novel! This novel definitely told its own story and carried the overall series storyline forward. Most second-in-a-trilogies make me feel like the author was just stretching out the story in order to get 3 books out of it. But this was a genuine continuation that made me want to keep reading and felt satisfying in the end. All the lovable characters from the first book are here and I still love them. Great characters, great creativity, great movement, and even some character growth. My only major complaint is that I don't want to wait so long for the last book in the trilogy.    

Lynnie's Review

I tend to have low expectations for middle books in a series & in this case, I was so pleasantly surprised. 

Rossi doesn't forget the other characters of the story and that's what made this book stand out to me- the continuing character development, particularly of the main characters.

No one is stagnant, no one is forgotten. The story moves along at a good, but not forced pace as characters are reunited, torn apart, and there are a few surprising turns to keep us guessing along the way. 


Into the Still Blue

Amy    
Lynnie 

In Into the Still Blue, Aria and Perry are seeking a safe place for their people to live.  They are also walking the fine line of politics trying to get both the Dwellers and Outsiders to find a way to live together.

Amy's Review

Another fun trilogy! I enjoyed this a lot. While the third installment was exciting and satisfying, I don't think it reached the level of the first novel in the series. It was a little slower than the other books (until the last half). But, I still loved the characters and the series as a whole and will happily recommend it to everyone. Interesting adventures and tricky situations. The final showdown seemed a bit too easy, perhaps. But, it was fun. It was a very good trilogy. Cheers to Rossi!

Lynnie's Review

It read a bit slowly for me. Overall though, I enjoyed this series ender- it wasn't as exciting as the first two books in the series, but I think it was the conclusion the series needed, without being too far-fetched or forced. If you liked the first two books, you'll enjoy this one as well. A great series that I definitely recommend for fans of this genre!