Thursday 30 August 2012

Under the Never Sky review

Under the Never Sky
Veronica Rossi
February 7th 2012
Atom Books

WORLDS KEPT THEM APART.

DESTINY BROUGHT THEM TOGETHER.

Aria has lived her whole life in the protected dome of Reverie. Her entire world confined to its spaces, she's never thought to dream of what lies beyond its doors. So when her mother goes missing, Aria knows her chances of surviving in the outer wasteland long enough to find her are slim.

Then Aria meets an outsider named Perry. He's searching for someone too. He's also wild - a savage - but might be her best hope at staying alive.

If they can survive, they are each other's best hope for finding answers.


I was really surprised by how much I enjoyed this book. I didn't love it or anything, but I just thought that it'd be okay. I'm not usually too keen on dystopians, apart from the obvious, but I think the biggest draw for me was that it didn't feel dystopian. Apart from the first and last parts of the book, it was all set outside in the Death Shop, so it felt a lot more like a fantasy, and was way more up my street than other dystopias out there.

I really liked that it was told from two perspectives. I know I'm in a minority here, but I really, really like books with more than one character telling the story. I do think it was weird that it was dual perspective third person, though, because it had their names at the top of their respective chapters, and with 3rd person you don't really need that. Only a minor niggle, though! I still really enjoyed getting to see the story from both of their points of view.

At the beginning, I wasn't too convinced by the idea of Aria and Perry's relationship. In the blurb, they make it out like it's all about this epic romance, but it takes a long time for that romance to kick in, and even then there's a lot more to the story. But my main qualm with their relationship in the beginning was that when they met, they didn't even have that I-Hate-You-But-SEXUAL-TENSION kind of thing going on, which was what I was expecting. I did think it felt a bit forced when they eventually started to have feelings for each other, because I did feel like it was more of a thing where they'd just been left alone together for a while so they must be in love and there's no way ANYONE could change that, but then again, that's basically every dramatic romance ever (that's not of the Forbidden variety, anyway) so I can't really complain. And I liked it by the end, anyway, even if the whole Rendering business set my teeth on edge.

I was actually surprised by how much I liked Aria. That sounds a bit bitchy, really, doesn't it? But I was expecting her to be a weak, helpless, Let The Big Man Save Me kind of girl, so I was really glad when I saw her, despite a lot of shit happening to her, being stronger because of it. I really liked seeing her adapt better to being stuck out in the Death Shop with Perry. I thought she was actually really strong and I really liked reading her chapters.

I did like Perry's chapters only a tiny bit more though, because I was definitely more interested in seeing how he lived on the outside, and their society with all the Tribes and the Marked and stuff. I just thought that that was more interesting than Aria's world. Though that being said, I did find the Domes interesting, too. I liked seeing how different the two kinds of people were, and how different they both were, and I think that what's happening to the people who do live in the domes is a really interesting development, and I'm looking forward to seeing how they make that work.

I also can't wait to see a bit more friction in Perry and Aria's relationship. I thought it was a bit soon in a trilogy to have the main couple being kind of together, so I'm hoping that there will be LOADS of problems for them ahead. I hope that Perry gets a new love interest, actually, because I think it'd be a more interesting love triangle had a new love interest. I also really hope we get to see lots more about Roar, because he's easily my favourite character, as well as seeing more about the Marked. I really want to see Aria harness her skills as an Aud, as well. Most of all, though, I want to find out more about Cinder. He was definitely the most interesting character in the book, and I really want to see more about how he got his powers from the Aether, as well as finding out what Aether actually is and how it came about in the first place.

This is definitely a trilogy I'll be sticking with, as I really liked it and enjoyed it way more than I ever thought I would. Although it took a while to get into, it really is worth it.

7 comments:

  1. I've been unsure as to whether or not I should read this, but I'm viewing Under The Never Sky in a much more positive light now, having read your review! I'm glad that Aria's not a 'Let The Big Man Save Me' kind of girl! :) there are way too many of those in YA lit at the mo, don't you think?

    Great review :) x

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  2. Agreed, it surprised me too. The first chapter didn't really grab me but then it was suddenly such a page turner! Great review :)

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  3. Lol so much of this review goes over our head, since we haven't read this book. Interesting that you liked it because it didn't feel TOO dystopian, though. We're definitely burnt out on dystopians, so that's a plus for us.

    Also interesting that you didn't like the lack of insta-love. That was viewed as more of a plus in other reviews.

    Anyway, thanks for sharing your thoughts. You've put this book back on our Maybe shelf! :)

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  4. You know, I went in with the same hesitance that you did. I have the opposite problem though. I've read so many dystopians that it takes a really strong for me to fall in love and this one did it for me because it was so different. I'm glad you ended up liking it as much as I did!

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  5. I've heard from a few people that this is like 'The Best Dystopian EVER' but I got it on Netgalley like a billion years ago and I've started it like, four times and put it down because I just couldn't get into it.

    I think I should probably start it again though, and try and stick with it if it's so good and you enjoyed it :) I liked what I saw of Aria so I'm looking forward to seeing more of her and her relationship with Perry, too.

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  6. I've been dying to read this. I've heard its AMAZING. You're review has made me want it more :P Definitely will have to pick it up my next library run.

    Great review!

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  7. I agree with almost all of this review - I quite like that Aria and Perry's relationship developed in a different way to the norm. It gives us some variety. Plus we don't know for sure whether they are in love! I am really looking forward to the next one.

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