Through the Ever Night by Veronica Rossi

It’s been months since Aria learned of her mother’s death.

Months since Perry became Blood Lord of the Tides, and months since Aria last saw him.

Now Aria and Perry are about to be reunited. It’s a moment they’ve been longing for with countless expectations. And it’s a moment that lives up to all of them. At least, at first. Then it slips away. The Tides don’t take kindly to former Dwellers like Aria. And the tribe is swirling out of Perry’s control. With the Aether storms worsening every day, the only remaining hope for peace and safety is the Still Blue. But does this haven truly exist?

Threatened by false friends and powerful temptations, Aria and Perry wonder, Can their love survive through the ever night? In this second book in her spellbinding Under the Never Sky trilogy, Veronica Rossi combines fantasy and sci-fi elements to create a captivating adventure—and a love story as perilous as it is unforgettable.

I don’t think I can find the words to do justice to how many delicious feels THROUGH THE EVER NIGHT gave me. I was excited for the book, but it far exceeded my expectations.

One of the things I love about Rossi’s writing is that she’s not afraid to make her characters hurt. I’m not talking about being sadistic or throwing in angst for the sake of angst. No, she makes her characters face fear and loss and heartache in a way that makes me feel like I’m right there with them. But with all these things also comes growth, and I can feel how each of the characters have evolved from the beginning of UNDER THE NEVER SKY (ROAR AND LIV for some) and now.

The characters are realistic, and everything—their relationships, mannerisms, reactions, words, etc.—reflects that. Never before have I read a book where I care about more people than just the male (#omnomperry) and sometimes female leads. The characters in this book, even the “bad guys” (because no one seems inherently bad; they are all fighting for their own survival), are all so wonderful. Even when I don’t love them, I can still relate to them.

This book toyed with my emotions in such a fabulous way. I will be eagerly awaiting the release of INTO THE STILL BLUE. I can’t wait to get more Aria and Perry. *dreamy sigh*

Roar and Liv by Veronica Rossi

Before Perry and Aria, there was Roar and Liv.

After a childhood spent wandering the borderlands, Roar finally feels like he has a home with the Tides. His best friend Perry is like a brother to him, and Perry’s sister, Liv, is the love of his life. But Perry and Liv’s unpredictable older brother, Vale, is the Blood Lord of the Tides, and he has never looked kindly on Roar and Liv’s union. Normally, Roar couldn’t care less about Vale’s opinion. But with food running low and conditions worsening every day, Vale’s leadership is more vital—and more brutal—than ever. Desperate to protect his tribe, Vale makes a decision that will shatter the life Roar knew and change the fate of the Tides forever.

Set in the harsh but often beautiful world of Veronica Rossi’s “unforgettable” Under the Never Sky (Examiner.com), this captivating prequel novella stands on its own for new readers and offers series fans a fascinating look into the character of Roar. Poignant and powerful, Roar and Liv is a love story that will “capture your imagination and your heart.” (Justine on Under the Never Sky)

I don’t normally like story extras with secondary characters because as a general rule I just don’t care about them, but I really, really enjoyed ROAR AND LIV. I feel like I have an insight to these characters now, something that gives me a connection to them. I, dare I say, care about them?

It was nice to see Perry through someone else’s perspective as well. I love him just as much, if not more, after reading this. #omnomperry

Although this book is not needed in order for the series to make sense, it really enhanced my reading experience of THROUGH THE EVER NIGHT. It’s a great read and it’s short. I highly recommend you read it!

Go! Do it! Now!

Under the Never Sky by Veronica Rossi

Out of the blue one day, Mary told me I had to read Under the Never Sky because I would love it. I think Mary knows me pretty well, so without question I signed on to Amazon and had the book sent to my Kindle.

It took me a couple of months to get around to reading it, because lately I’ve been fail at reading, but when I did, zomg! I could not put it down.

As far as book boys go, Perry #omnomperry is a breath of fresh air. Let’s be honest, she had me at Savage. Tattoos? Green eyes? Scars? Scruffy? Say no more. He is mysterious and gifted. Devoted to those he loves. Gah!

Aria makes for a good protagonist as well. I can’t remember finding myself annoyed by her, as I do with a lot of YA female leads.

For me, every scene of this book played in my head like a movie. It flowed perfectly. The characters were diverse and realistic with clear motivations. There were just enough little twists to keep my jaw popping open.

At first I thought the flip-flopping 3rd person POV was strange, only because it happens so rarely in the books I read, but it worked really well for the story. I felt like I was getting an adequate look inside the characters’ minds and how they saw each other. I also think Rossi found a good balance between filling the reader in on what was happening while keeping a bit of mystery. So many times I find myself frustrated because an author either obviously withholds information or overnarrate to the point of boredom, and that didn’t happen with UTNS.

The ending kind of killed me a bit. It wasn’t sad in the traditional sense, more so open ended in the there-are-two-more-books-coming-out-and-hahahaha-don’t-you-wish-you-knew-what-happened-next? sense. Let’s just say I don’t know how I would have made it another month until the sequel came out without the first two chapters printed at the end of the book.

Since she’d been on the outside, she’d survived an Aether storm, she’d had a knife held to her throat, and she’d seen men murdered. This was worse.

Exiled from her home, the enclosed city of Reverie, Aria knows her chances of surviving in the outer wasteland—known as The Death Shop—are slim. If the cannibals don’t get her, the violent, electrified energy storms will. She’s been taught that the very air she breathes can kill her. Then Aria meets an Outsider named Perry. He’s wild—a savage—and her only hope of staying alive.

A hunter for his tribe in a merciless landscape, Perry views Aria as sheltered and fragile—everything he would expect from a Dweller. But he needs Aria’s help too; she alone holds the key to his redemption. Opposites in nearly every way, Aria and Perry must accept each other to survive. Their unlikely alliance forges a bond that will determine the fate of all who live under the never sky.

In her enthralling debut, Veronica Rossi sends readers on an unforgettable adventure set in a world brimming with harshness and beauty.