Under the Never Sky (Under the Never Sky, #1) in YA Apocalyptic and Dystopian Fiction

Sep 21, 2011 Samantha Young rated it it was amazing

Shelves: covers-i-like, favourite-authors, favourites, books-i-own, ya-dystopian

Under the Never Sky has to be one of my favourite dystopians. With an addictive and offbeat style akin to Margaret Atwood, Veronica Rossi pulled me wholeheartedly into her futuristic, gritty, often creepy and strange world. Not only was I blown away by the truly unique premise of Under the Never Sky but by the complex world-building and how it was balanced by the beautiful simplicity of the prose. The icing on the cake is the strong character development. Both Aria and Perry are extremely likeab ...more

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Nov 30, 2011 Katy rated it really liked it

3.5 stars - I'm still going back and forth, but it's probably closer to 4 than 3.

I was very frustrated with this book in the beginning, and it took me almost halfway through before it started growing on me. But once it did, I found myself really enjoying it.

This book has potential to be everything I wanted in a book - dystopian setting, a bit of sci-fi or DNA technology, journeying through the unknown land, characters finding out who they really are and how they can make a difference in their si 3.5 stars - I'm still going back and forth, but it's probably closer to 4 than 3.

I was very frustrated with this book in the beginning, and it took me almost halfway through before it started growing on me. But once it did, I found myself really enjoying it.

This book has potential to be everything I wanted in a book - dystopian setting, a bit of sci-fi or DNA technology, journeying through the unknown land, characters finding out who they really are and how they can make a difference in their situation and a bit of romance from a couple who started out bantering like crazy. BUT I didn't like it quite as much as I hoped I would have.

The book started off with almost a futuristic version of Pocahontas, only the boy was the savage and the girl was from a more sophisticated society. While I think this is a pretty cool concept, I don't think Rossi did a very good job setting the scene for us. I was confused about a number of things, and eventually created the world in my head as how I THOUGHT it was supposed to be. And I'm not sure if I missed it, but I didn't understand what Aether was until I finished the book, still confused by the way, and saw in the GR summary that it was the swirling electrified atmosphere that created violent energy storms.

I guess what got me in the first half was reading through Perry and Aria just trying to get along - well, I guess I can't say they were trying. It wasn't fun bickering. It was more of ignorant hatred and distrust. I understand that the two were raised in different worlds and were taught different things about the other kind, but I just thought they would have gotten over it sooner than halfway through.

Once they got to know each other, I started enjoying the story more, not only because there was potential romance, but because I felt each of them grew more as a person. Then I felt more connected to the two characters as I began feeling how they felt. I thought at this point Rossi did an excellent job with character development and emotions. Not only do they learn more about each other, but they learn more about themselves, what they thought they knew and how it's shaped their current situation.

I also thought the latter half of the book was filled with action, more of my kind of book as they met some friends, fought some enemies, journey through the land (while getting along and maybe creating some chemistry) and faced their demons. I found myself flipping through the pages and letting every word sink in.

And the end, hmmm... what can I say about the end. Okay, so I'm pretty sure I know what happened, but I'm not sure HOW it happened. I think the last few chapters was rushed, and everything happened rather quickly. But I definitely can't say it was anticlimatic, and I am SO looking forward to the sequel. ...more

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Nov 28, 2011 marlene rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: published-and-read-2012, 2012, top-10-books-of-2012

Definitely one of those books that captures me from page one, and keep me stuck in it's world til the last page! And left me wanting more.

This book actually reminds me a little of some of my favorite books: "The Demon King", and "Inside Out", but still managed to be totally different, and unique.

My review:
I didn't expect what I got from this book. I thought it would be good. Exciting and enjoyable, you know. I didn't expect it to make me want to read every minute of every day. I just couldn' ...more

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Mar 14, 2012 Laura rated it really liked it · review of another edition

This is definitely compelling stuff. For once, we have a bad boy who is actually bad: in that archaic protect-thy-woman-&-thy-village kind of way (I've been watching Game of Thrones and I kept muddling the two as I read this. The vibe shares well between the two, I think). I liked Aria also. She isn't a whiner like so many leading ladies can sometimes be. Their love is, of course, forbidden, or at least frowned upon for a variety of reasons that I won't go into because I don't want to spoil anyt ...more

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Dec 21, 2011 Emma rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: favorites, on-my-ipad, reviewed

Words cannot explain how happy I feel right now. I closed this book (metaphorically speaking) with the biggest smile on my face.

The world Rossi has created sounds absolutely beautiful. I loved the aspects of it. The Smarteye and Realms; having everything you could ever want with just a thought. This to me, is a realistic look for the future. We'll try to find a way to live in our minds so to rely less and less on the physical earth. It's a simple solution to stop global warming no? Of course, th Words cannot explain how happy I feel right now. I closed this book (metaphorically speaking) with the biggest smile on my face.

The world Rossi has created sounds absolutely beautiful. I loved the aspects of it. The Smarteye and Realms; having everything you could ever want with just a thought. This to me, is a realistic look for the future. We'll try to find a way to live in our minds so to rely less and less on the physical earth. It's a simple solution to stop global warming no? Of course, there is no easy solution to anything. Civilizations fail, ages fade, and ours will too. I think, out of all the dystopian novels I've read, Aria's world would be the one I'd love see our world evolve into. Even Aether, the deadly substance that dances throughout the sky, taunting it's helpless victims, sounds beautiful.

Aria, as the MC, wasn't a 'takes no shit' kind of girl, but she was not weak. She didn't have a smart mouth and didn't feel the need to contradict what everyone said just for the sake of it. What I absolutely loved about this book, was the gradual development between Aria and Perry. Absolutely swoon-worthy! It felt real. With each progressing chapter, I could actually see the romance growing and their feelings turning from outright disgust to a kind, caring fondness. There was no overly sweet and dramatic declaration of undying love, no 'I can't imagine my life without you' debacle. Not only was the romance realistic, but Aria and Perry were realistic about their relationship! Really, it was a breath of fresh air, and I want to hug them both for being so real!

I have to say, I loved all the characters in this book. I loved their names too; Talon, Lumina, Marron. Even Vale, vicious Vale... He was an excellent bad guy, left me aghast and gaping near the end! And oh, Roar, Roar... I would absolutely love to meet Roar. Friendly, protective, funny, and knife wielder. His advice to Perry? 'Fall off your own roof'. Wise words.

Last of all: Cinder. Even that troublesome and rude child found a way to sneak a spot in my heart. If he ever gets his own story, I want it! His power truly intrigued me. In fact, all the powers mentioned had their own quirky attributes. They weren't completely outrageous, just more like enhanced senses. And the whole Aether confusion? I'm sure Rossi's got everything neatly planned out and ready to hand over to us in snippets. Surprisingly, I didn't find myself asking a billion and two questions whilst reading this. I had a strange sense that everything would be explained later on (and mostly they were). As for any loopholes that may've been there, I didn't notice! The world Rossi has created, to me, is as flawless as a post apocalyptic world can get.

This trilogy holds a lot of promise for an action-packed journey, and a mission that could fail a million ways, with just one (and a half) men to keep Aria fighting.

Review also on The Book Barbies ...more

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Dec 18, 2011 Melanie rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: book-challenge-2012, march-challenge-dystopia, 2012-debut-author-challenge

I was really excited to read this book because I have read/heard so many rave reviews about it. Under The Never Sky is told from the alternating viewpoints of Aria and Peregrine(Perry). Aria is a "dweller" who lives in the enclosed city of Reverie, she spends her time with friends in the Realms( virtual environments that she accesses through an eyepiece called a Smarteye). Peregrine(Perry) lives with his tribe out in the real world, he is trying to survive hunger, cold, and the Aether storms tha ...more

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