REVIEW: UNDER THE NEVER SKY

Author: Veronica Rossi
Series: Yes, #1
UK Publisher: Atom
UK Release date: February 2012
Genre: Dystopian fantasy

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. (Goodreads)

When I first started reading Under the Never Sky, I thought I had made a big mistake. I’d been looking forward to reading the book for ages, and then when I started I was thrown into this strange futuristic world where the teenagers spoke with strange and silly futuristic slang and wore eye pieces to go into simulated environments. I didn’t think I could stomach a whole book like that. But then I realised that Under the Never Sky combines a future dystopian society with fantasy and paranormal elements. I just loved the way it felt like a fantasy story or something plucked from history despite it being set in a future alternative world; the savage outsiders still lived off the land by farming and hunting for food, lived by old fashioned ‘tribe’ rules, and in most cases shunned and feared modern technology like the eye pieces.

I loved how the characters changed and developed over the story. Aria was very vulnerable when she was first outside the pod. She didn’t know how to cope and struggled with the basic survival instincts. She was also very wary of Perry because he was different and, to her, a savage. Likewise Perry, with his heightened senses couldn’t stand the smell of Aria. But very slowly they both started changing; Aria adapting to the new environment and appreciating the caring, softer qualities of Perry, and Perry beginning to see Aria as a woman rather than a useless child.

One of the big reasons that Perry was so endearing to me, is that he was so caring of his nephew Talon. He looked after him like a brother or son, despite the tension between him and his brother Vale. His refusal to give up looking for him showed that he was caring and protective – perfect qualities to balance out a man that can also fight off predators and hunt for food!

To start with their was a lot of unease, wariness and resentment between the Aria and Perry. But as things started changing, there was obviously chemistry between them. As each did something little to help the other, you could see their feelings grow. I just adored this slowly blossoming ro-mance and felt they were perfect for each other despite the reasons Perry felt they couldn’t ever be together.

With Perry and Aria travelling across the land to get her eye piece fixed, there were plenty of opportunities for danger, fighting, hardships and little bonding moments. The cannibalistic tribe scared me, but in contrast the compound was like a little safe haven filled with historical artefacts and antiquities. Althought the time there was slower in pace, it certainly allowed for Perry and Aria to get to know each other better.

Under the Never Sky is wonderfully written by Veronica Rossi, with a beautifully crafted world that combines dystopian, paranormal and fantasy elements to create a gripping adventure of rom-ance and self discovery.

Rating: 5*