ERMAGHERD! How have I not read Under The Never Sky by Veronica Rossi until now? You guys this BOOK IS TOO LEGIT TO QUIT. For reals, I pretty much want to take my early 2012 self and kick her in the behind for waiting so freaking long to read Under The Never Sky. Oh my god. I am kind of a gibbering mess, but you know what, it’s all good because my gibbering conveys all of THE FEELS I FELT while reading this book, I hope.
H’okay, how do I start to describe the plot of Under The Never Sky to you without dropping spoilers all over the place. ALRIGHT SO, the book starts off with main character Aria, a 17 year old girl who lives in a dome,  going into a wild pod where they grow food as an adventure to convince this one boy with connections to give her information about another dome called Bliss. Aria wants information about Bliss because her mother, a geneticist is there doing work but the two have not communicated in FOREVER because the communication link between the other pods and Bliss is down.
SO, while on the adventure, the boy, Soren – FYI he’s a total douche, starts a fire which spreads. Aria escapes with the help of an Outsider who has snuck in. FYI — Outsiders are not liked by people who live within the dome. AND THEN some things happen and Aria is kicked out of the dome and she runs smack into the Outsider who is a little bit wild. His name is Perry and he is HER ONLY HOPE OF SURVIVAL. And conspiracies. That’s kind of the plot in a nutshell of few spoilers.
Aria is true blue and the real deal. She starts off kind of a petulant teenager and the flashback interactions with her mom are sad because like she doesn’t know her communication with her mom is just going to cut off and I know I was all ARIA CHILL OUT STOP WITH BEING A BRAT PLEASE. Also, she’s kind of rude to Perry. HOWEVER, girl is pretty freakin’ fierce for being dropped out in the wilderness for the first time with no survival skills. I loved seeing her get stronger and seeing her work at becoming a SURVIVOR NOT GONNA GIVE UP (Destiny’s Child, holla)!
Then, okay, I would be remiss if I did not go into depth on the other main, point of view character of Under The Never Sky by Veronica Rossi – Peregrine, also called Perry. He’s all untamed and wild and spoiling for a fight. He also has two super enhanced senses that help him and his tribe survive through these things called Aether storms which are the result of a destroyed environment. Basically, he comes across to me as a fully-realized character in that he’s got a good side but he also has faults and the author does not gloss over the faults to make him into some neutered guy that readers are supposed to swoon over. AND IN FACT, I never dreaded his chapters or was like come on let’s get back to Aria’s side, like I do in some multiple narration books.
Y’all, one of the absolute highlights of Veronica Rossi’s debut novel was the world building. Seriously, THERE ARE DOMES. And you know exactly how I feel about domes. ALSO. She does sociology quite well in that there are clear social groupings in the domes AND on the outside and some interesting origins of the different groups — like the Croven who are these cannibals and totally gross, but totally fascinating. AND I love the idea of people consistently being on the move and kind of starving because of these aether storms that mess with the environment and the shelter that people take. AND ALSO reading about how people survive in the wilderness and how some are born with different enhanced superhuman senses that totally help. IT IS AWESOME.
Raise your hands up to the ceiling if you are like I am so sick of characters who take one look and are in love! YES YES. That is my mantra right now. And so in a slew of crappy, boring books, Under The Never Sky was like a beacon of hope that enjoyable YA is still being written (well obvi it is, I’ve just been on a roll of awful). You guys, I could totally get down with this form of romance. Perry and Aria kind of really strongly dislike each other, but tolerate each other AT FIRST because each one has something the other person wants. THEN THEN THEN. OVER TIME IT TURNS INTO SLOW BURN MELTY PANTS ACTION AND I AM LIKE GET IT GIRLLLLLL.
Obviously, all of these capslock sentences should totally convince you that you need to read Under The Never Sky by Veronica Rossi. EVEN IF YOU ARE TUCKERED WITH DYSTOPIAS. This book is fantastic, with great characters and interesting voices. Plus, the world, THE WORLD. I figure if I repeat myself enough with caps you will just magically understand my point or it will sink in that Under The Never Sky was totally a slump-busting read, worthy of getting in before 2012 ends.
Disclosure: Received for review a super long time ago.
Other reviews of Under The Never Sky by Veronica Rossi:
Anna Reads – “I was swept away in the adventure, suspense and romance”
The Book Smugglers – “I think the thing that won me over the most with this book is the decided lack of the dreaded insta-love”
The Perpetual Page Turner – “fast-paced, highly imaginative and made for one exhilarating ride.”
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Just so you know, the picture tried to make me comment on it again. STOP IT, PICTURE, I DON’T WANT YOU OKAY! IT’S NOT HAPPENING, SO GET OVER IT.
Also, I only just read this in August, so I was way behind too. It wasn’t a five star for me, but it was a very interesting book and way better than I’d been expecting.
Soren is a huge bag of douche. Ugh. I hate him. He better get bitch slapped at some point in the series and then die in some hugely embarrassing way.
Yes, what I did like about this book, and why I’m excited for book two and think it will be better, is that UtNS had a solid character ARC, with Aria especially. Like, she started out sort of boring and whiny, but then she gets progressively more awesome and starts turning into a real person, which totally made sense for her past.
Actually, I think I liked Perry better than Aria, though it’s been so long!
*reads SLOW BURN MELTY PANTS ACTION* *dies of laughing*
Great review and I agree! My favorite parts are the aether storms, and the way the environment causes people to live and fight to survive. Love the world-building. And, of course Perry and Aria. This is a “must read” for dystopian fans.
Wow, amazing review. I’ve been wanting to read this book for awhile. It sounds pretty awesome, and you’re review is hilarious! So I will definitely check it out! c:
Happy Reading!
Amber @ Thebookpages
Slump-busting, slow burn romance, and it will make me like dystopia again? You’ve got my attention. I have a copy of this and will need to dig it out before the end of the year. Thanks for highlighting this one!
Yes, yes, yes! To all the things!! I am DYING for Through the Ever Night!!!!!
Heheh — “melty pants action”. That’s always fabulous and even better when it’s in THIS BOOK! UtNS was a great story! Loved how Aria starts out as kind of a whiny little girl and then matures and transforms. And Perry. LOVE!
Ahhh I just picked this book up from the library! I’ve heard so many great things about it.. I don’t know why I waited so long to check it out. I’m glad to hear that the romance is a slow burning one. I actually really enjoy relationships where they start out disliking each other and then it turns into something more (my friend thinks it’s because I was Pacey/Joey fan lol). Anyway, great review! 🙂
You make this sound amazing and I’ve had this on my shelves FOREVER. I should read it, I guess! I’m with you on the one-look love—actually just finished one of those and it bugged the hell out of me. Slow burn sounds good to me…and melty pants sound good, too LOL.
Great review, April! Glad you enjoyed this one!
Okay heard of this book but wasn’t on my TBR list. Is now though. Thanks for the review
YES! ALL OF THIS! I loved the worldbuilding and the romance and the OMG JUST KISS ALREADY part and gah, I’m still not coherent about this book! So glad you loved it!
Love this review! It’s super fun and engaging! I love this novel and it’s sequel Through the Ever Night, which I’m giving away over on my blog for anyone interested 🙂 http://zachsyareviews.blogspot.com/p/blog-page.html
You definitely liked this one a whole lot more than I did. It wasn’t a bad book, but I didn’t love it either.
I really hope I feel like you did once you’d read this! It took me a few months to get into YA sci-fi when previously I thought it wasn’t for me, so I ordered this but it’s still sitting on my shelf. I can’t wait to read about realistic characters, an amazing-sounding world and no insta-love – win/win!
I love this review so much. 🙂 I wasn’t even going to read this book, but then I did. And holy molies, I loved it as much as you did. Especially how the relationship grows so slowly and in a way that makes sense. I can’t wait for the sequel.
ROAR . LOL .
i loved this book . the world building , romance nd characters
book2 already preordered
So, like you, I am a MASSIVE SLACKER when it comes to this book. I even checked it out of the library after WAITING FOR IT for ages and then NEVER READ IT because…I don’t even know. I seriously need to fix myself. Anytime you use both GET IT GIRRRRLLLL and TOO LEGIT TO QUIT in a review, I know that I need to get on it.
I feel like I should give this one another try…I read about 100 pages of it in April and put it down. You’ve inspired me!
YES, YES, YES, YES, YESSS! I’m SO glad you enjoyed this one! It’s one of my all time favorites and I recently read the sequel and thoroughly enjoyed it too. I can’t wait to see what you think of it (‘cuz you have an ARC)! Fantastic review, April! 😀
AAAHHH ONE OF MY FAVORITES, THE END.
You make me want to re-read this book! I liked it when I read it but I don’t really remember much about it, eep. Such a fun review!
I picked this up a few months ago but wasn’t in a good reading mood so after a chapter or two I put it down. I’ve been planning on giving it another go though and your review has TOTALLY convinced me, yo!
I love your love for this book. It’s crazy hyper and I really hope I end up loving Under the Never Sky like you did.
I will read this before 2012 ends. I will, I will, I will!
I’ve had this book since early this year, but I’ve still not had the time to read it. It looks like I really need to make the time to do so and soon because it sounds SO GOOD. I love that you’re all flaily and excited about it – it makes me hyped up to read it!
I really liked the lack of insta-love as well; instead they actually get to know each other before deciding that they feel more, what a novel concept!
April – I couldn’t agree more!! Especially this: “Raise your hands up to the ceiling if you are like I am so sick of characters who take one look and are in love!”
*raises BOTH hands* I loved this book SO MUCH! The romance and action and relationshipz. Amazing.
Great review!