Under the Never Sky - Review

Under the Never Sky

By: Veronica Rossi

Published: January 3, 2012 by HarperCollins

389 pages

Source: Personal Kindle Library

(Goodreads / Amazon)

Summary:

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.

MY REVIEW:
This story is told from 2 points of view, alternating each chapter whose you are reading from.

Perry is fighting an inward struggle to challenge his brother for leadership over their tribe.  He realizes leaving is the only way the two of them can survive.  However, leaving would hurt his nephew who he shares a connection with.  One last hunting trip with his nephew doesn't go as planned as unexpected visitors show up looking for something he took from them.  

Aria has grown up in a world where sight, sound, touch, smell and taste are all experienced virtually in various realms.  She has learned a version of life where one is always detached from reality and finds herself wanting to know what has happened to her Mom after a week of not hearing from her.  To get the information she needs she concocts a plan to flirt with the son of a Consul and things turn bad quick.  When this backfires she alone is the scapegoat for punishment.  Having never been prepared for life outside the pod, Aria finds herself struggling to survive and depending on one she doesn't trust.

Started out slow, but finished BIG!  Honestly I was leaning towards a 3 star rating (which is good but just average) until about 3/4 of the way through and then I was hooked and knew that a higher rating was necessary.  I found this story to be enchanting, complete with a love story that tugs at your heart because of the different paths the two must follow.  

Favorite Quotes:
"They had the Realms now.  They could experience anything without taking risks.  Now, life was Better Than Real."

"A world of nevers under a never sky.  She fit in well then, he thought.  A girl who never shuts up."

"...never had she loved life more."

"Another reason to call it the never sky...It never did what you wanted."

"There are other things I'd rather do when I'm alone with you."  Time to step off the edge.  "Then do them." (insert butterflies in to stomach)

"She knew how to love...and how to let go."

Final Rating: 4.5 stars!!!