Review: Under the Never Sky by Veronica Rossi

Title: Under the Never Sky

Author: Veronica Rossi

Publisher:  HarperCollins

Publication Date: 1.3.2012

Pages: 400

Genre: Dystopian

Series: Yes (Under the Never Sky #1)

Source: ARC from publisher

Rating: A+

Summary (from Goodreads):

Aria is a teenager in the enclosed city of Reverie. Like all Dwellers, she spends her time with friends in virtual environments, called Realms, accessed through an eyepiece called a Smarteye. Aria enjoys the Realms and the easy life in Reverie. When she is forced out of the pod for a crime she did not commit, she believes her death is imminent. The outside world is known as The Death Shop, with danger in every direction.

As an Outsider, Perry has always known hunger, vicious predators, and violent energy storms from the swirling electrified atmosphere called the Aether. A bit of an outcast even among his hunting tribe, Perry withstands these daily tests with his exceptional abilities, as he is gifted with powerful senses that enable him to scent danger, food and even human emotions.

They come together reluctantly, for Aria must depend on Perry, whom she considers a barbarian, to help her get back to Reverie, while Perry needs Aria to help unravel the mystery of his beloved nephew’s abduction by the Dwellers. Together they embark on a journey challenged as much by their prejudices as by encounters with cannibals and wolves. But to their surprise, Aria and Perry forge an unlikely love - one that will forever change the fate of all who live UNDER THE NEVER SKY.

Review:

It’s not very often I set a book down when I’m finished and literally say aloud, “Whoa.” This book took me totally off guard. The dystopian genre is becoming heavily populated and I am constantly wondering when the books will all start to overlap. Under the Never Sky is definitely one that will always stand out. Veronica Rossi is, simply put, a literary genius and I totally have an author crush on her now. Not only did she create two worlds on this novel (it’s a daunting enough task to just create one dystopian world), but she filled these worlds with rich, lush characters.

Aria is awesome personified. She has it all: kindness, snark, wit, innocence, and a healthy dose of resilience. I loved reading about her time spent in Reverie, but I loved even more when she was banished and forced to survive in the Aether. This is one tough chick, but Rossi balances that tough exterior with a vulnerability that would make anyone fall for this girl.

Aria and Perry are going down as one of my favorite YA romances of all time. Their scenes are electric and kept me turning every page in the early morning hours. I was so desperate to know how their story ended (my only complaint is that darn cliffhanger ending!), and I couldn’t get enough of them. They balanced each other so well; he made her stronger and she made him more understanding. I love when a couple can complement one another. It’s so rare to find in YA books anymore; they actually made each other better.

I cannot recommend this book enough. I preordered it before I was even halfway finished. I knew I would need to own this one for myself, and so do you! I loved it all—from the virtual realities in Reverie to the dusty, barren Aether, and all the characters in between. Rossi is a marvelous writer and you’d be crazy not to buy this book ASAP.

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