Review: Under the Never Sky

Title: Under the Never Sky
Author: Veronica Rossi
Date Released: January 3rd, 2012
Pages: 374
Rating: 4 out of 5

Description:
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.

Review:
This has got to be one of the coolest books ever! I love dystopian novels because all of them are never really the same, and Under the Never Sky is definitely no exception.

In Under the Never Sky had some pretty cool world building going on. In this dystopian/post-apocalyptic society, living outside in The Death Shop, or even being exiled, means being at risk of losing your life to cannibals or the violent Aether storms that ravage Earth. For Aria, who's lived in her protective Pod, this fact terrifies her, but she has to face her fears after being exiled for something that she didn't commit. The whole world that Rossi creates is unpredictable and full of excitement, really keeping me glued to the book.

Aria and Perry were both really cool characters and I loved them both. Perry seems really tough on the outside, but in the inside he cares about his family, his tribe, and everything else that's really important to him. In other words, he has a soft side that makes him... lovable. Aria has that inner strength that I admire and that most dystopian female characters have. She's also pretty brave to be able to trust a "Savage" and take on the tumultuous environment that the world has become.

The relationship that develops between Aria and Perry is really sweet. It's kind of like one of those really unlikely relationships, but they somehow make it work out. Also, Perry's so nice and kind that you really can't help but just root for him and Aria to be together!

The overall storyline of Under the Never Sky was really captivating. Alternating between Aria and Perry's point of view, everything that happened was just really exciting to read about. Some parts were a little bit slow at times, but the plot would quickly pick up throwing Aria and Perry into intense situations. For me, the beginning also started off at this sort of fast pace that threw me off a bit, and I sort of felt like everything there was to know about Aria's world was being thrown at me a little to fast. But, it all played out well after a couple chapters.

Under the Never Sky was definitely an awesome debut. Sometimes it could be a little slow, or a little too fast, but other than that, the world building and the characters were great! It left on a cliffhanger, so I'm definitely looking forward to the next one, Through the Ever Night!  If you're in need of a dystopian/post-apocalyptic read, then look no further.  I'm sure that you'll like it :)

Cover Review:
I totally love this cover! I love the swirly designs in the background, and how Aria is sort of like rising out of the swirly designs. I also really like the dark bottom half in contrast with the light upper half. Overall, it's a REALLY cool cover!

Cleo :)

*Description and cover from goodreads.com
**Review copy won from a giveaway.