Book Review: Under the Never Sky by Veronica Rossi

Title:  Under the Never Sky
Author: Veronica Rossi
Series: Under the Never Sky Book 1
Publisher: HarperCollins
Date of Publication: January 3, 2012
Source: bought on Kindle, 389 pages
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Goodreads Description:

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 abarbarian, 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
The first book in a captivating trilogy, Veronica Rossi’s enthralling debut sweeps you into an unforgettable adventure

My Thoughts:
I was curious, very curious about this book but never seemed to be able to pick it up.  Then I seen it was on sale for the Kindle for 2.99 and I just couldn't pass it up.  Then once I started it, I literally had a very hard time putting it down.  It was so easy to get lost in this very different world where the sky has these fire storms almost everyday, as well as these different people who are blessed with these amazing gifts based upon their dominant sense.

When I first got started with Under the Never Sky, my mind kept drifting back to Greek gods and goddesses; but I am not sure why.  There are a few things that would point it that way, for example, there is a place called The Delphi, that seems like a shrine in its sense too.
But I am still not sure if it is based loosely on mythos or not.  Maybe you can figure it out and let me know.

The action is pretty non stop.  It begins with action and is pretty much going throughout the book.  I really loved the plot of this book.  Yes, it is a love story; but it so much more than that too.   It is about loving your family, your neighbors, and your land enough to want something better for yourself.  To believe in yourself.  Even when no one else does.

Now, let's talk about the characters.  It was impossible not to fall in love with these guys.  They are funny, harsh, romantic, blunt, and most importantly, interestingly real.  Besides the different powers some of them had, I could actually see some of these people out about in society now.  Well at least I wish I could call some of them my friends.
Like Roar.  Okay so I usually talk about the main HEA first, but nope not this time.  I just had to talk about Roar first.  He is what you would call a supporting character.  But he is much more too.  Roar is the one guy every girl wishes were their big brother (I know I do).  No matter what,  Roar is the one guy that will do everything in his power to take care of you, whether you are girlfriend, sister, mom, or hot Dweller chick.

Okay now I can talk about the protagonists now.

Aria, is a Dweller who basically lives in these pod like structures that have all kinds of cool (and scary) technology that allows them to do a lot of imaginary things.  For example, they have this SmartEye device that goes over one of their eyes, almost like contact lenses, and it allows them to communicate, visit all these different places; basically be the Internet.  We see through Aria's eyes that they are so dependent upon this technology that when they lose it for a little while everything goes completely nuts.
I like Aria.  She doesn't complain too much; isn't a whiny character like I have read with a lot of in other books.  Aria is smart, beautiful, and willing to survive, even if she doesn't know how.

Then there is Perry.  He actually has this really cool, beautiful name but I will save that one for you to read.
Perry is tough but fragile as well.  And trust me, we all like a guy that can kick ass but also understands the beauty and love in things.  I think what drew me to Perry at first, was the kindness and love he has for his nephew, Talon.  Perry loves him like a father, and would risk his very existence on him.  Perry is a great friend, a handsome man, and someone that loves his people very much.  Actually, I think he cares for all people, as long as they are a decent and fair kind of folk.

These two, Aria & Perry, together are very interesting and very funny to read as they get to know each other through the good and the bad.  Probably one of my favorite things about this novel is how these two protagonists got to know each other, instead of instantly being in love.  In fact, I liked the idea that they couldn't stand each other, but through closeness they learned to be friends.  That one aspect made their relationship even more realistic, even in a fantasy type world.

The plot lines flow so fluidly through this story that is so easy to get caught up in the beauty of the writing, the beauty of the world as well as the frightening power behind it, and the awesome fighters that Aria and Perry become to save each other.
There is a lot of plot twists that I didn't see coming but totally hooked me in right away.  Not to mention the upstanding job the author did of the world building and the explanations of the different sense based powers.  Very, very well!
It was refreshing to find these characters that are up against so much: a terrible antagonist who is heartless, a sky that can kill from its storms, and clans that are demented; and yet our protagonists can still find the beauty in the killer sky, the calmness in the smells and sounds surrounding them, and the love in the smallest gestures too.  The people in Under the Never Sky are resilient which gives us all hope for the future.
This is five hearts all the way!

~~~~~~~~~~~Favorite Quotes~~~~~~~~~

"Do the clouds ever clear?" she asked.

"Completely? No. Never."

"What about the Aether? Does that ever go away?""Never, Mole.  The Aether never leaves."She looked up. " A world of nevers under a never sky."She fit in well then, he thought. A girl who never shut up.

Another reason to call it the never sky, she thought.  It never did what you wanted. 

If there was no fear, how could there be comfort? Or courage? 

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