Aria and Perry live in two completely different worlds. Aria lives comfortably in Reverie — a very science fiction type city of enormous domes where technology allows you to do anything you want or be anywhere you want within different realms. You could be walking around the ancient streets of Rome or singing at the opera. When news that her mother, a scientist working in a top secret pod, goes missing Aria seeks answers at any cost which leads to Aria getting exiled from her home…into the Wastelands where she meets Perry, a Savage. Their journey for answers and redemption forge together as they realize they need each other to survive and to find the answers to the get them back to the ones they love.
Under the Never Sky by Veronica Rossi is exactly what I needed to read right now! This post-apocalyptic/dystopian novel was fast-paced, highly imaginative and made for one exhilarating ride. I loved that part of this novel was more science fiction-y than most of the dystopian reads I’ve encountered but there was still that wild, badlands feel with the “outside” world where Perry lived that seemed more like a post-apocalyptic world. The world-building was incredible in this book because of this. I was equally interested in both worlds and how they operated, what they looked like and how they became separated in the first place. Veronica Rossi built these worlds so intricately that I couldn’t shake the images that my mind was conjuring up. I am in awe of these worlds she created.
I really LOVED the characters of this novel. I loved seeing Aria come to learn more about herself through this journey. She proved to be so strong but believably so. She was still vulnerable, seemingly weak and scared when she first started it all but I loved watching her power through it all and WANT to learn how to protect herself and learn that she COULD survive in the outside world. I think the thing I loved about her is that she wasn’t some badass, superpower female lead but she was a normal girl who took her horrible circumstances and really became brave and made smart decisions to keep herself fighting. And Perry..he isn’t without flaws but it’s so hard not to like him. And their relationship…PERFECT. I loved how their journey and their inner turmoil helped them to really start to see each other for who they really were rather than the labels they had assigned to each other as “Savage” and “Dweller.” I fully enjoyed watching their relationship and tensed up quite a few times waiting for some sparks. The rooftop scene…YEAH…tension galore.
While I really enjoyed this novel and couldn’t put it down, there were a few things that bothered me about it. I felt really confused at first in the beginning. I felt like I missed a first chapter or something where things were explained about the world. There was just a lot of things thrown at you all at one time and it really took about 50 pages for me to really get into it. I really had no context for what happened to the worlds that they were like this.
The biggest source of contention, for me, was the Aether storms. They were mentioned so frequently and I didn’t feel like I even understood what the heck they were or how they came to be. The only way I can think to explain it is if you’ve ever seen Lost. The Aether storms to me seemed like the Smoke Monster (not actually that it’s like the Smoke Monster but in how confused it made me). It just always seemed to be in the storyline and you don’t know where it came from or why it’s there but it just keeps showing up and that when it comes around BAD SHIZ HAPPENS. That’s how I felt about the Aether sky and the storms. I just didn’t get them. I hope that we come to understand it in the next book but it honestly did make me really confused that there seemed to be no explanation about them — not even a little. I didn’t need to know everything but I felt I was missing something…
My final thought: If you are seeking a fast paced, exciting YA dystopian/post-apocalyptic from start to finish..Under the Never Sky
* I received this book from the publisher — HarperTeen — in exchange for an honest review. I swear on my bookshelves full of great books that this in NO way shaped my opinions in this review.
Ashland says
I saw this in the store the other day and hadn't really known much about it. I don't think the summary is very telling. Definitely interested in these two worlds you speak of.
Jamie says
I so agree! I didn't know WHAT to expect from the summary of this book! Hope you get a chance to pick it up!
lisa [the nerd] says
I could not get into this one…but the comparison to LOST makes me want to change my mind!
Jamie says
Well that's the thing, that was one of my probs in the case of this book..like the Aether..it just reminded me of it because the smoke monster is just THERE…and it's like we don't get to understand it for so long. I felt like I was missing something from the get-go. I kept flipping back thinking…"did they explain this whole crazy fire sky thing?!"
BUT..I'll say this..I had a hard time getting into this one but I kept pushing through and ended up liking it for what it was! It wasn't my fave of the year like I had been hearing..but it was definitely the sort of fast paced book I needed lately!
Asheley (@BookwormAsheley) says
I adore this book so, so hard. Like you, I completely agree that it took a little while for me to be un-confused…but once the confusion wore off, I was in love with the world (really, both worlds, because there were two, no?) and these incredible characters. I don't think the Aether storms bothered me as much as they may have bothered you…for some reason I likened them to the Northern Lights in the His Dark Materials trilogy (don't ask why because I don't really know!) I loved the relationships, like you, and the ending was wonderful. I'm excited for what is next and will without a doubt be picking up the next book as soon as my hot little hands can grab it.
I am THRILLED that you loved this one, because truthfully, I wasn't sure if you'd like it or not! I don't really see the smoke monster comparison – that just makes me giggle. But hey, giggling is a good thing, right?
AS ALWAYS, I love your thoughts. xoxo
Jamie says
Yeah..I don't know why they bothered me so much! It was just one of those weird things that I got fixated on. It seemed like they were something that dictated a lot of their lives and had a lot of power to wipe out villages and I just didn't understand where it came from or what it was. Like one day was there a regular sky and then the next the crazy sky? lol. That's how I felt about the Smoke Monster..I never understood what the hell its purpose was for all those seasons..but I just knew that it kept showing up and killing off people and so I KNEW it was important but just never felt I really understood anything about it. It was just all like HEY WHAT UP in the middle of an episode and they were always scared of it..just like the Aether storms. Haha I don't know..it's the only thing that kept coming to my mind…which we know my mind is bizarre 😛
But I'm really pleased I bumped this one up..because when I got un-confused I was sooo into this book!
Cecelia says
I am definitely going to pick this one up because it just grabs my attention, but there have been some really positive mentions, and some 'meh' ones. Conflicting thoughts, ahoy! I will admit to being totally swayed by the US cover art. Nice review!
lisa :) says
Sounds like a great read. I'm always torn between authors who throw you right into their world and those that offer tons of explaining. On the one hand a little bit of "once upon a time…" can be nice for acclimating to a foreign setting, but too much world building sans action leaves me pretty impatient. Something in the middle is always nice, but given the choice I do prefer to be tossed into a strange landscape rather than bored at the start of a book.
Jamie says
Lisa..I AM SOOO WITH YOU ON THAT! I think that's why I complain too much when there is so much talky talky about "this is what the world is.." rather than showing. i can honestly say this book did a great job of SHOWING you the world…I just wished I had a liiiiitle bit more understanding of the Aether.
But I agree with this statement: "but give the choice I do prefer to be tossed into a strange landscape rather than bored at the start of the book." It different keeps you on your toes for sure in this book trying to figure out what kind of world you are being transported in. NO INFO DUMPS HERE!
Jamie says
I was nervous about this one because I had seen GLOWING reviews and those same sort of "meh" ones that you describe. Hope you enjoy it! It's SUPER interesting. The summary really doesn't do it justice for what is in these pages!
Andrea @ Cozy Up says
I've seen a lot of reviews for this book and it doesn't really seem like my type of book at the moment. But I'm glad to hear you somewhat enjoyed it. It's nice to know it's a quick read. And worldbuilding is always a definite plus for these type of books so I am happy to hear that Veronica did well on that aspect! Great review
Kyle (A Reader's Pensieve) says
This sounds exactly like something I would love! I can't get enough of the dystopian craze and although I'm not in the mood at the moment, I will read this at some point in the near future. Great review! 🙂
Jessica Secret says
Unfortunately, I didn't enjoy this one nearly as much as you did. For me, everything was just off. Glad you loved it, though!
Jamie says
Aw sad! Will have to try to find your review to see what your thoughts were about it. I mean, I really did enjoy it but I don't think I thought it was PERFECT and AMAZING like everyone else seemed to. All I kept seeing were 5 star, OMG BEST BOOK EVER type reviews. I really did like it but there were so things that I had issues with.
Thanks for your comment!
Jamie says
I hope you do enjoy it when you get a chance to pick it up! And I'm right there with you on the dystopian craze! 😛
Jamie says
Thanks Andrea! Yes, worldbuilding is crucial for me for this genre! I'm so weird about what I like/dislike in worldbuildling. It seems to vary lol
April (BooksandWine) says
What the hell is with the half naked guy on the cover? Did they change it?
Also re: Lost. I only got a few episodes in that so I never really discovered what the smoke monster was and to this day am convinced that it was truly a dinosaur. Everytime Tony would try to get me to watch Lost with him I would be all HUN I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY THE EFF A DINOSAUR IS JUST CHILLIN ON THE ISLAND. And while Tony has patience, it's not infinite. So yes.
AND OMG I LOVE CHARACTER LOVE. Good characters are the lifeblood of reading for me. Have crappy characterization and I will tell that book to peace on out of here. But good characters, and I will shout the praises of a book from the rooftop (what up Wanderlove). So, word. I will be reading Under The Never Sky soon!