Everand Logo

Welcome to Everand!

  • Discover millions of ebooks, audiobooks, and so much more with a free trial

    Only $11.99/month after trial. Cancel anytime.

    Under the Never Sky
    Under the Never Sky
    Under the Never Sky
    Audiobook9 hours

    Under the Never Sky

    Written by Veronica Rossi

    Narrated by Bernadette Dunne Flagler

    4/5

    ()

    Switch to ebook

    About this audiobook

    Fighting to survive in a ravaged world, a Dweller and a Savage form an unlikely alliance in New York Times bestselling author Veronica Rossi's ""unforgettable dystopian masterpiece"" (Examiner.com).

    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. 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.

    In alternating chapters told in Aria's and Perry's voices, Under the Never Sky subtly and powerfully captures the evolving relationship between these characters and sweeps readers away to a harsh but often beautiful world. Continuing with Through the Ever Night and concluding with Into the Still Blue, the Under the Never Sky trilogy has already been embraced by readers in twenty-six countries and been optioned for film by Warner Bros.

    Supports the Common Core State Standards

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherHarperCollins
    Release dateJan 3, 2012
    ISBN9780062120700
    Author

    Veronica Rossi

    Veronica Rossi graduated from UCLA. The first book in her New York Times bestselling Under the Never Sky trilogy was named an ALA Best Fiction for Young Adults selection and an Indie Next List Pick. The second book, Through the Ever Night, was a New York Times and USA Today bestseller. The series has been optioned for film. Veronica lives in northern California with her husband and two sons.

    More audiobooks from Veronica Rossi

    Related to Under the Never Sky

    Titles in the series (3)

    View More
    View More

    Related audiobooks

    YA Dystopian For You

    View More
    View More

    Related podcast episodes

    Related articles

    • Article

      Ira & the Whale

      Jun 14, 2022

      It is dark in the whale and hot. The air is difficult to breathe. Ira is coated in gunk, sweating in his black Speedo. The whale’s heartbeat booms and echoes like a giant drum. It’s intimidating. It sounds tribal, ritualistic, as Ira wades through th

      15 min read

    • Article

      Second Language

      Aug 14, 2017

      Second Language
      9 min read

    • Article

      “Really?”

      Jun 2, 2022

      “Really?”
      6 min read

    • Article

      Underwater Music

      Jul 1, 2020

      Underwater Music
      7 min read

    • Article

      The Bees Are Coming

      Aug 4, 2022

      The Bees Are Coming
      7 min read

    • Article

      How the Lark Got Her Crest

      May 30, 2023

      How the Lark Got Her Crest
      15 min read

    • Article

      Out Now!

      Apr 4, 2024

      Out April 12 on Netflix It's been seven years since the last Woody Woodpecker film and this time around our feathery friend needs a new place to live. After getting kicked out of the forest, Woody thinks he's found a forever home at the wonderful Ca

      2 min read

    • Article

      Run, Baby, Run!

      Sep 25, 2023

      Run, Baby, Run!
      7 min read

    • Article

      Timeless Movement

      Jan 30, 2018

      Timeless Movement
      10 min read

    • Article

      Concerning The Future Of Souls

      Mar 19, 2024

      As a toddler she had caused a sensation in her family when she announced she wanted to live in a little hole like the ant. Not an ant, the ant. This might have been misheard. She was an easygoing child, not particularly thoughtful and stubbornly inar

      13 min read

    • Article

      The stolen HEART

      May 31, 2023

      The stolen HEART
      9 min read

    • Article

      Cricket League

      Jan 1, 2020

      Ivy Lugbill, age 8 Indianapolis, IN I was so excited! My dad and I were going camping! After we packed all our stuff, my dad said, “Hop in!” I grabbed the paper towel roll binoculars I had been making and jumped into the car. It was a really . . . re

      7 min read

    • Article

      Across The Whited Fields

      Oct 13, 2019

      In a twilight streeta small girl laughing. The red and yellow flowersprofuse, inhale the air. We want to hold your name,Polly, dancing in the rain Polly, skipping down the street.Sometimes the world bequeaths then takes away the one to whomou

      14 min read

    • Article

      Crime Book Of The MONTH

      May 12, 2021

      by Sarah Pearse (Penguin Random House, RRP $37) As those great philosophers the Eagles once put it, “You can check out anytime you like, but you can never leave.” It’s a message first-time writer Sarah Pearce clings to in The Sanatorium, her thriller

      1 min read

    • Article

      The Nerdy Birders

      May 1, 2023

      SQUEEZING HER BINOCULARS, Corinne groaned as her sister carefully inched into the parking space. “Don’t be so impatient,” Eva said, then opened the door to check that she was now perfectly between the lines. “Those stupid birds aren’t going anywhere.

      7 min read

    • Article

      Read! Read!

      Jan 15, 2024

      Lil and her pet crow, Augustus Scratchy, live at the Squawking Mackerel inn, where Lil does the grossest jobs (and Augustus steals). A villainous gang is attacking travellers, and customers are scared. Joining forces with Ned, a new servant, Lil plot

      1 min read

    • Article

      Fiction

      May 5, 2023

      Fiction
      3 min read

    • Article

      On Uppermost Winds

      Mar 1, 2024

      On Uppermost Winds
      5 min read

    • Article

      Who Saved the Day?

      Feb 1, 2022

      Who Saved the Day?
      4 min read

    • Article

      Three Poems

      May 1, 2023

      It has to be one of the gloomiest human characteristicsto wish for something from the pastto return again: So when my girl callsand says she wants her first room back,the one that gurgled and swayed, suspending herin that gravity-free chamber of my b

      2 min read

    • Article

      The Sack of Silence

      Sep 8, 2020

      “WAIT TILL I TURNT HIS OFF. NOW.” “That noise. Whatever is it?” “The Hoover was running.” “How’s that?” “I said, I was running the vacuum.” “Not that. Outside. Listen.” Rosie leaned over the banister. “Oh, it’s the bee, dear.” “Bee nothing. A thousan

      7 min read

    • Article

      Six Bestiary Poems

      Nov 1, 2020

      The world, is it finite? Pliny the Elderon what he saw and heard, 37 “books” toround that up, early C.E. as heproceeded to be infinite. His Naturalis. His Historia.First bestiary ever in Book 8. Land lifeand sea life and through-the-air and undergrou

      4 min read

    • Article

      The Only Rule

      Jul 13, 2020

      There is only one rule in polite English society, but it is iron clad. Of course, polite English society is a fiction. For one thing, its members are rarely polite. Politeness is for the middle classes rather than those who live off ancestral acres o

      5 min read

    Related categories

    Reviews for Under the Never Sky

    4/5

    192 ratings119 reviews

    What did you think?

    Tap to rate

    Review must be at least 10 words

    • 4/5
      Set in the future, Aria, a 17 year old Dweller lives in Reverie, full of smarteyes, realms and Aether storms. The Aether causes the mutations found in the Outside world which is why Perry, a Scire Outsider has two different senses: The ability to see in the dark, and sensing people's emotions by sense of smell. He lives with the tribe called the Tides. We follow both teens as they scamper to find a way to survive, answers to their heritage, action, adventure and a bit of romance along the way. WARNING: May contain some spoilers for the first half of the book [Aria and her best friend Paisley are goofing off with Soren and a couple of his buddies. Soren is a code breaker whose dad is part of the council and is in charge of security. Highly intelligent, but also capable of dangerous feats he creates a realm of a forest where he creates a fire. A fire inside AG 6 would most likely burn it to the ground. For reasons unknown to Aria, Soren goes a tad savage and starts to act violent. Aria starts to record him doing all these indecent acts for proof she witnessed these horrible events. The moment she gets into trouble, her hero Perry rescues her, beats up Soren and his two goons, and takes her to safety. Perry ends up stealing her smarteye for leverage. Counsel Hess (Soren's father) talks with Aria and little is exchanged, although she is questioned. She thinks it was a misunderstanding and will be punished lightly, but she ends up being banished and dumped outside of the pod. On the flipside, the book now turns to Perry who deals with his brother the Blood Lord and his nephew Talon. Talon is sick and will only live for a little while, so he takes Talon to go hunt. They get ambushed by Dwellers and Talon is kidnapped. Perry goes back to the Tides where he tells his brother what happened. Vale is furious and Perry flees from his brother's rath. He meets Aria and together they seek help to fix her smarteye so she can contact her mother and gain knowledge of Talon's whereabouts. They tease each other back forth, her being a Dweller and him being an Outsider. Their mission is to get Marron, Perry's friend who will fix her smarteye. Along the way they encounter many types of people, a wanderer, and even the Croven (cannibals! yikes!). (hide spoiler)] I won't divulge anymore of the plot just because I truly don't want to spoil the story for anyone. I rather enjoyed the book, minus the confusion in the beginning and why the characters do the things they do. I love the point of view from both Aria and Perry just because it made it so much more interesting. Besides the fact that I love it when an author writes from the guy's POV because it's rare in YA fiction. This book has movie rights already sold and I can definitely see this being a movie because of the ongoing story, characters and setting. I look forward to reading the next book in this series. COVER Can I just say I love the cover? The typography combined with Aria on the front makes it eye-catching and will definitely catch people's eyes while on the bookshelf. I love the typeface the designer used and how they manipulated parts of the words together to create a floral theme because Perry smells violets whenever he's around Aria. QUOTES "Aria was accustomed to eyes of all colors. They were fads in the Realms. Purple had been the popular color just last month."—page 110, Under the Never Sky by Veronica Rossi"In the Realms people used moving designs. They chose new ones whenever they wanted. She couldn't imagine having an image on her skin forever."—page 111, Under the Never Sky by Veronica Rossi
    • 4/5
      Highly Recommended Aria is a Dweller who lives in Reverie, the largest Pod that provides shelter from the Aether storms in the Outside. People who live in the pods enjoy many comforts, lots of food and existence in different virtual realms. Aria and her friends decide to explore a off limits part of the pod called Ag 6. Unfortunately, a fire breaks out and they almost die in the pod. An Outsider (or Savage) saves some of them. This is the first time Aria sees Perry (Peregrine), but not the last. The dystopian elements really start to come into this story at this point. Aria gets set to the Death Shop for her part in the Ag 6 fire. The Death Shop is where Dwellers get sent to die because they can’t survive in the Aether storms. Perry comes to her rescue again and they form a sort of relationship based on survival. Aria discovers that she is half Dweller and half Outsider, Perry is Marked as a Scire (he can feel peoples emotions). Roar is Perry’s friend who is Marked as an Audile (he can hear things others can’t). It is a fight for survival for both Perry and Aria.This is the first book of a planned trilogy. It is a dystopian world with steampunk elements, which made it unique. The Outside is a dark, dangerous place filled with cannibals, Aether storms and tribes fighting for fertile land. However, in Reverie, things are falling apart. People are fighting a brain disease that is a result of the virtual realms and genetic manipulation. The leader, Hess, is about 200 years old and the man who lied to Aria and let her out to die. The romance between Aria and Perry is expected, but still romantic. They start out hating each other, call a truce and then when their relationship progresses they know they cannot be together because the future is so uncertain.I was really glad when I had the second book ready to go after I finished the first book. The setting is unique and characters are flawed but likeable. The different character storylines are fun to explore. Aria is a strong female character that survives the odds against her. The story has surprises, violence and hope. I could see this book turning into a movie based on some of the book to movie titles out there right now. Students who like dystopian fiction, steampunk and romance will enjoy this book. I would recommend it to contemporary lit classes, book talking to individual readers. It will definitely make a good addition to a school library.
    • 4/5
      I really found myself caring for the characters and found myself "talking" to them throughout the novel. It didn't make a 5 star for me as I was able to set it aside so the obsession to keep reading wasn't there. I also found I was irritated a lot with Aria and didn't care for her as I did the other characters. All in all great book and I'm looking forward to continuing the series.
    • 5/5
      I wasn't expecting to like this book as much as I did. Another one from a list of what to read while waiting for the HG movie to release, I had reserved it at the library. Veering more into sci-fi, we are dropped immediately into a world of pods, the only life Aria has known. Raised to believe she will die out on the outside (the Aether, perhaps sun flare/weather type of activity will kill), she also believes the people who live on the outside are savages. Instead, they have evolved to survive, some having strengthened senses. After a 'kids will be kids' break in at one of the labs in Reverie, Aria is only one of two teens remaining to be questioned about the events of that night. She winds up banished to the outside and quickly grows into a very resourceful heroine. Aided by one of the 'savages', Aria wants to cross the country to the pod where her mother, a scientist, works. Peregrine (Perry) has plans of his own, hoping that contact with another pod population will help in his search for his nephew. Maybe because of their hard life, but outsiders Perry and Roar certainly seemed older than their stated 18. Aria, on the other hand, continued to grow stronger throughout the book and was a great lead. Per usual, this seems to be part of a multi-book series, but one that I'm definitely willing to wait for!
    • 3/5
      Read Wendy Darling's or Kat's review, the sum up everything I liked and disliked about this novel.
    • 2/5
      Aria lives in a pod…think bio-dome. After an altercation with the leader’s son, Aria is basically kicked out of the community to most likely die on the “Outside”. After the guards kick Aria out, they go on to kidnap Outsiders, including Perry’s nephew, Talon. Perry is on a quest to get Talon when he finds Aria and reluctantly they work together…so Aria can survive and Perry can hopefully rescue Talon.OK…So I tried to read this book a couple of times and just couldn’t get into it. BUT, I saw so many positive reviews I decided to go ahead and give it another try. I pushed through it hoping I would enjoy it more, but really didn't.As much as I wanted to like this book, I found it “meh”. I liked and cared more for the secondary characters like Talon, Roar, and Marron, more than Perry or Aria. I thought Aria’s storyline was very awkward. The dystopian part of the story was completely clashing with the primitive side of the story…like trying to mash together an apple and an orange to come up with a third, “new” fruit. And for as disparate the lives Aria and Perry lived prior to meeting, I was surprised they spoke the same language. I guess the story was too full of contradictions for me. Especially the discovery of what Vale did to Talon! That was the point where I would have thrown my book against the wall but I was reading on my kindle fire and that just wasn’t going to happen. One thing I did appreciate was how Aria’s other half came to life once she got on the outside.
    • 5/5
      The is one the best series I've ever read! I would totally read it again. I love how each chapter is from Aria and Perry's perspective.
    • 4/5
      A Post-apocalyptic YA novel about a teen girl who has grown up in one of several pod cities, sheltered from the harsh realities of the outside world, a teen boy who has only known those harsh realities and is headed for a fight to the death with his brother for rule of their tribe, and what happens when they meet.A pretty good story with good characters. It felt like it dragged a bit in the middle, but by the end I was eager to find out how it...ended. First in a series and I'll probably come back to it someday.
    • 5/5
      So this was a stay up all night and read book. I couldn't put it down. I didn't want to put it down. I was worried when I started it with all the talk of the Realms which are digital representations of worlds that people inside the domes "live" in and "visit." I was afraid it was going to be like Ready Player One which was one of my favorite books and I knew there was no way Under the Never Sky could live up to that. Fortunately, the book did not take place in the Realms but in the real world. The book had really pacing. Rossi alternates between Aria and Perry's points of view and did a good job of it. I loved getting to see how both of them were thinking and what was motivating them. She also built a very realistic world. I can't wait to see what happens next.

      I definitely recommend this book if you like dystopic/post-apocalyptic stories.
    • 5/5
      Under the Never Sky deposits the reader into a disconcerting futuristic world where most of the remaining population lives partially underground in what are called pods. In order to keep their sanity in such a crowded enclosed space, these Dwellers spend most of their time in virtual reality “Realms” which advanced technology has created to almost perfectly simulate life, including senses like touch and smell. Within these realms, a simple thought causes action, no need to even walk or talk, just think it and you will be doing it in these “realms.” Its absolutely fascinating.

      Aria’s mother is a geneticist doing some top secret studies in a pod hundreds of miles away from their home pod “Reverie.” When their link in the Realms is suddenly broken and Aria doesn’t hear from her mother for over a week, she is determined to find out what is going on. When her search causes her to cross people in high places, she finds herself exiled from the pods and deposited on the outside, which she is sure is a death sentence. All Aria knows of the outside is that those that live out there are savages, cannibals, and who knows what else. Not to mention the unpredictable Aether storms that rain fire down onto the earth, leaveing whole stretches of land nothing but scorched desolate wastelands. In order to survive, Aria strikes a deal with one of the dreaded Outsiders with the hope that he will help her locate her mother and get herself back inside and back into the Realms which is much better than reality.

      At the beginning of Under the Never Sky, the main characters, Aria and Peregrine are not very likable characters at all. Both are immature, selfish, and inconsiderate. Both have ideas about who the other is based on the things they have heard, the stories they’ve been told about “Moles” and “Savages". Aria thinks he is a mindless violent barbarian and he thinks Aria is a weak idiot. Neither of them do much to prove the other wrong for a while, both so focused on their own personal pain and intentions that the other’s needs seem inconsequential to them. Throughout their journey, however, they come to discover the value in each others strengths and learn to appreciate one another a bit more.

      Peregrine, or Perry, seemed at the beginning to be an immature, impulsive, brat who threw temper tantrums when he did not get his way and made dangerous choices with no thought for the consequences to himself or others. The power struggle with his brother over establishing dominance was fascinating but it was relationship with his nephew that brought out what was good in Perry at first. His character grows so much as he begins to learn from some of the consequences of his actions. By the end of this book, I’m halfway in love with him myself. I’m typically not one to go on about the romantic aspect of a book, but this was nearly perfectly done. The author made me go from dislike, to respect, to attraction right along with Aria, so of course the romance was completely believable for me!! And it definitely gets pretty hot and heavy!! Aria also grew as a character throughout the book and I came to really like and empathize with her. But to be honest, from when Peregrine first appeared in the pages, for me, the story became all about him. He’s one of those larger than life kind of characters that seems to fill up all the space on the page even when he’s the one that says the least.

      I really enjoyed the contrast of the high tech world that Aria grew up in with the almost primitive world that Perry inhabits. Those that live outside the pods have adapted to the everchanging landscape and fierce and unpredictable ether storms. Some have very primitive and animalistic features and have also developed intensified senses, such as sight (night vision), smell (can scent emotions) and auditory (can hear minute noises from long distances). Perry is one of those rare people that have two overdeveloped senses, sight and smell. For him, all emotions have a very specific scent and he can nearly determine someones thoughts by the smell they give off. Its incredibly intriguing. I hope to learn more about what occurred to cause these changes in those that live outside the pods and how that caused some people to inherit these abilities.

      There is so much I could say about how incredible this book was. From the fascinating yet terrifying world to the swoon-worthy romance to the intense plot, I LOVED this book. I also truly enjoyed the secondary characters, none of whom ever fell flat and each one continued to surprise me with unanticipated layers of depth. If I have one complaint about Under the Never Sky its that it ends on a cliffhanger, nothing is actually resolved in this story which is certainly frustrating, but I liked this books so much that I’m even willing to overlook that. That awesome twist at the end makes it all worth it! Wow, I didn’t even see that one coming at all!

      I think Under the Never Sky is one of the best YA dystopias I’ve read and I highly recommend it! If you like thrilling, intense, sweeping, dramatic dystopias filled with action and a bit of romance then trust me, you definitely want this incredible read on your shelf!! This is a brilliant debut by Veronica Rossi and I am simply dying to read the sequel!!
    • 4/5
      My heart is still beating fast after having just put down this book. It is a mixed bag of a novel, so hold on to your horses as I try to convey to you what you might hope to find in it! This isn't a book you can just breeze into and expect to put nothing into to get something out of. It's a book that demands a little thinking and some work on our part. In most cases I can only understand that if I think the author warrants that kind of respect. That is; if after having read a chapter or so of her work, I feel I can allow her a piece of my time. Or, if I know the author from reading one of her previous works. I found Veronica Rossi to be a respectable author, I allowed her the time.Having said that, if you will allow for the ground work that must be laid for the story, you will be drawn into a multifaceted tale of dystopian terror and survival...wilderness and survival...and hope for a future of survival. It's also a love story with burrs. It's edgy and hard sometimes, and I loved the rough characters with their savage hearts. Beautifully written, imaginative and explosive dystopian novel with a heart!Rossi has an amazing ability to imagine a world where one segment of mankind is encapsulated in technology for survival, never actually living in a real world anymore, and one segment is left to survive with their wits and instincts in a somewhat failing environment; both, subjected to natural catastrophes that can't be controlled: vicious weather patterns and viral strains that travel and mutate through the air. Of course, as in many dystopian novels, we can only imagine what has caused this breakdown in the world's environment. (Note to Selves!)What kept me glued to the pages of this book was my love for the female character Rossi created. Aria, the young girl who is thrown from her safe "Dweller's" environment, into the "Death Shop" to die or survive, is a fabulous creation. She's wise, brave and quick-witted, learning how to survive with the help of Perry, an Outsider "Savage," who begrudgingly becomes her companion in a chase to return to her Pod. She wants to find her mother, and he wants to get his nephew back. Aria maintains a sense of herself and her independence though she's far outside her element. She's never been on the "outside," and she's never felt pain or experienced fear before. She learns survival skills willingly and with dedication in an effort to help others and to get back home. Rossi brings us through the awakening of Aria as a young woman and a warrior. She's the Eve of a Brave New World.It's always such a joy ride for me when I find an author who champions a young woman as a strong warrior, one who is easily as capable or more so, than her male companions. Aria is also a gifted singer, and she has the heart of a woman. Her love, courage and perseverance made this novel enjoyable for me. I found myself cheering for her all the way. Wondering if I would have been as strong in her circumstances. Fearing I wouldn't be.I thoroughly enjoyed all the other characters as well, especially Perry ~ who wouldn't fall in love with an oceanic, tangle-haired blond, green-eyed hunk with a falcon tatooed to his muscular back? :] Not to mention his tender heart and his ability to sense everything you wanted... And, that he'd fight to the death for you... Need I say more??? Other characters I loved like Roar, a charming George Clooney-type who's gorgeous, has the Audie gift of hearing, and is Perry's sworn friend; Marron, an Elton-Johnish privateer who loves "antiques," offers safety and befriends Perry and all; and Cinder, a churlish little boy who channels the firey, Aether skies. There are so many interesting and obnoxious creatures in this otherworld of Veronica Rossi's, you'll love to read about them.There's no wonder Warner Bros. has opted this for the screen. It's a fabulous novel with great heart. Veronica Rossi is a wonderful writer of this genre. I would certainly buy anything else she wrote.All that being said, I have to give the book a lesser literary rating than I would ordinarily. The reason is because it does drag at the beginning, and it did take some time before I became involved with the characters. When I asked myself why I stuck with the book, it only had to be that the writing held promise as I mentioned before.I do recommend "Under the Never Sky" with the caution that you may need to give some patience to the book at first. But, if you will be patient, this novel will transport you like few ever do.
    • 5/5
      Just when I thought I might be getting burned out on Dystopian YA novels, comes this fantastic novel "Under the Never Sky" by Veronica Rossi. They book actually has a bit of paranormal in it as well as some of the citizens of this world have markings which signify special abilities. Aether storms have come down to earth and have destroyed civilization as we know it. When things reached crisis status many years ago, the majority of the population that wasn't killed moved into pods where they live basically a virtual life. There isn't physically much room but each person has an 'eye' which connects them to alternate locations and realities. Want to kiss someone? Do it virtually. Want to vacation on a beach somewhere? Go virtually with a mere thought. They actually simulate pain just to make the experiences more realistic. Aria is a teenage girl living in one of these realms. She doesn't know her father and her mother is on another pod working on a secret project. Then something happens and government abandons Aria to the outside. Left to vend for herself, completely unprepared for anything but a virtual world, the authorities must believe that this is a death sentence.Then Aria meets an outsider named Perry...a scary savage, or so she thinks. He is a part of a tribe called the Tides that is ruled by his brother Vale. The tribes are basically a group of outsiders that work together to hunt, cook, and live in the world under the aether skies as best as they are able. But they are poor, and they are hungry. When Vale's young ill son Talon is kidnapped by the pods and taken into the virtual world, Perry and Aria make a tentative partnership where they will work together to retrieve Talon and hopefully reunite Aria with her mother.The world is so well imagined and thought out. I can't emphasis how unique this set up is. The virtual worlds seem strangely realistic. There is a huge threat regarding the Realms as well that I thought was completely realistic and interesting. But the reason this book soars above its competitors in the book market right now? The relationships are so intricate and involved. These characters are written so beautifully that you can see them, hear them, smell them (even when its unpleasant). The love Perry has for Talon ripped at my heart. The entire plotline regarding a young boy named Cinder that they meet on their journey also ripped my heart. I wanted to hold Cinder and never let go. These characters meet more then their share of evil people, including a group of cannibals, and its how the others work together and relate to each other that holds them so apart from the bad guys.I loved the relationship between Perry and Aria. It evolves slowly and they go through many other feelings toward each other before it becomes love. The tension between them sizzles. The author does an amazing job at building up to their relationship and it pays off. They might be one of my favorite YA couples! "Under the Never Sky" is full of heartbreak, hope, action, and love. The story moves at a brisk pace but I found I broke this story up by reading another book occasionally. I think that is because the emotions were so high, I needed a break to catch my bearings once in awhile. I really don't know how I am going to wait for a year or more before I get more of this story. It is that good. I can't recommend this one strongly enough.
    • 5/5
      This is the story of relationships in a strange dystopian world. Not just the inevitable love interest which is brilliantly written but family relationships. The relationship between the two lead characters is engaging and a good read. The relationship I really loved was that between Perry and his nephew. The strong character development from this author makes these relationships believable and you feel that you invest in all of them. The story is thought provoking and warm in many places. There is sadness, joy, laughter and anger all in equal parts. I love this new strange land that Rossi has designed although I have to admit I hope in future novels we find out more of the history of this strange land. The ending to this book is perfect. It rounds the story of completely and could in fact be a stand alone novel. However, with the excellent characters that have been described by the author I know I have to pick the next book up and spend some more time with all my favourite new fictional friends.
    • 3/5
      I know this is one of those 2012 YA debuts that we’re suppose to blindly and unconditionally love but I have to be honest- my heart isn’t going pitty-pat in response to this story. Its rhythm is a bit more bradycardic.In a world (sounds like a movie trailer doesn’t it) devastated by storms that scorch and destroy everything they touch, civilizations have sprung up inside well enforced and protected underground settlements. Denied access to the outer world, the Dwellers have created a life based on continuous virtual reality, living through fantasy, inside their own heads. But beneath the storm ravaged sky, people are still struggling to exist. The Outsiders, a primitive people with heightened senses that allow them to be specially attuned to the land, seek to hold on to a rapidly fading way of life. When an accident forces Aria, a Dweller, out into the world of the Outsiders, a flimsy alliance with one of the rumored savages may be her only means of survival.There are several things I liked about the story. The romance was really quite touching and the chemistry between our lurvers was nearly tangible. The Outsiders extra senses were kind of cool and the run-in with the cannibals was a stellar touch of awesome (those guys were scary). I always appreciate a good bad guy and Consul Hess was a well played evil. But while Peregrine was extremely crush worthy and competent, I couldn’t find much to recommend Aria.From the word go the storyline was choppy and I could have really used a roadmap to help me navigate Rossi’s extremely messy world building. Messy, was in fact my initial and over all reaction. Nothing flowed. One scene wouldn’t even be completed before an entirely new and sometimes unnecessary concept was introduced (we can’t all be super human- it’s tedious and boring). I couldn’t get a firm handle, feel or picture of this world Rossi wanted me to envision- it was all skinny, gangling limbs, jutting out every which way when what it really needed was some meat on its bones. Less constant, directionless plot twists and more focus on the world and the way your people exist in it- else they’re just actors in front of a green screen.I don’t know how I feel about a sequel for I fear it would just be more running around in the same place. In a genre already flooded with trilogies, there are stronger contenders.
    • 4/5
      Originally posted at The Wandering Fangirl.As soon as I turned the final page on Under the Never Sky, I had the immediate thought that I've read this before. And, for once, it wasn't a bad thing. When you read enough of a certain genre (in this case, YA dystopian with a romance angle) you start to see the patterns and tropes that emerge. Most books take the tropes and work within them to produce something good.Then there's something like Under the Never Sky. It doesn't quite break new ground, but it does so well with all the dystopian romance tropes I've seen in the past that I didn't mind them one bit. The books that work the same themes to their advantage are just as great and important as the books that break new ground in their genres.And on top of all that, I really freaking enjoyed it.The world building. Oh my god, the world building. In this post-apocalyptic future, humans have been driven into giant pod shelters by something called the aether, which has replaced the blue sky with an ever-changing, ever dangerous, constant electrical storm that could touch down and destroy what it touches at any moment. To keep humans from going insane in the confined spaces, they're able to live and play in virtual realities called Realms. Our heroine Aria is one of these sheltered humans, and it isn't until she's tossed out of the shelter and into the real world that her story truly begins.Aria is the sort of heroine that can make or break this book for a reader. There were times I could see how easy it would be to tire of her, how hard it could be to like her. Eventually I fell hopelessly in like with her, and was glad to follow the enormous emotional journey and maturity she goes through.Then there's Perry, who splits the POV of the novel with Aria, and I absolutely adored him. Peregrine (his full name) is a Savage in Aria's eyes, descended from the humans who ended up living outside the shelters. He's a hunter, a brother, an uncle, and a man determined to do whatever he can to fix what he's wronged. I found his and Aria's growing alliance a slow, lovely read, and I didn't mind one bit when the friendship that grew between them finally blossomed into romance. The slow build up is exactly the sort of thing I love, not the insta-love so many YA novels fall back on these days.In the end, Under the Never Sky was a really enjoyable read. It's like Blood Red Road and Divergent had a not as bad-ass but still kind of awesome kid.
    • 4/5
      With all the hype surrounding it, UNDER THE NEVER SKY is not a book you can avoid – for long. After some wariness, I got myself a copy and dove in. Let’s just say that the hype on this one isn’t wrong, at least when it comes to me, a girl notoriously frightened by hype and more often than not surprisingly disappointed. With a strong mix of post-apocalyptic drama (not really fully dystopian in my opinion), awesome science fiction attributes, and mesmerizing adventures, UNDER THE NEVER SKY is a strong debut from an author who will definitely become one to watch for me.UNDER THE NEVER SKY is the story of Aria and Peregrine (aka Perry), two teens from different worlds told in third person past tense. Aria has spent her entire life in a Pod, ensconced from the world outside that has fallen victim to the Aether storms, which are like hyperactive lightning storms that destroy everything in their paths. Perry, meanwhile, is a member of a tribe on the outside, gifted with the ability to smell and see a lot better than normal. Fate crosses their paths when Aria follows a boy she likes into a forbidden dome, right as Perry sneaks inside against the orders of his brother.After Aria is expelled from the Pod for her role in subterfuge (thanks to the boy she followed inside), she is discovered again by Perry, who has been kicked out of his own tribe by his brother for his actions, and for getting his nephew kidnapped. This is where the action really takes off – as Aria and Perry try to find little Talon and Aria’s mother, lost in a far off pod where she was doing research. With cannibals, aether storms that threaten to destroy them (and entrance the reader at the sheer brilliance of these storms), and long hikes into danger, UNDER THE NEVER SKY mixes themes brilliantly.The main issue I had with this story was my inability to really connect with the main characters. With third person, you risk having your readers feel at arm’s length from the characters, never closer. For me, connecting with Aria was especially difficult. She just seemed like someone I was watching, never feeling, never really getting to know. Paired with naivety and half the book spent whining, it wasn’t until the very end (like…last 10%) where she came into her own as a person. Perry was somewhat better. I found him a much more tolerable character with a story and believability, but that brings me to my other issue…The romance. Yeah, I’ll admit it, I didn’t find there to be any chemistry. It was like Aria and Perry just up and decided “Let’s get together!” There was little in common between them besides the randomness of their meetings and their shared trip. Was that really enough to throw these two complete opposites together? Well, in the end, I liked them together, but the process of getting there was a bit annoying and unbelievable.Besides some minor faults, UNDER THE NEVER SKY is a wild ride and great opening chapter. I can’t wait to explore more of Aria and Perry’s story, especially with the threads created with the awesome not-so-cliffhanger-y ending. Veronica Rossi’s debut is great, mesmerizing, and definitely one you need to check out.VERDICT: With a strong, original plot grounded in the fantastical and solid characters (with just a few faults), UNDER THE NEVER SKY mixes genres into a great blend of can’t miss awesome.
    • 3/5
      First of all, is it just me or did the "Smarteyes" worn by Dwellers in this book remind anyone else of Google Glass? Secondly, I may just be tiring of young adult dystopian novels, but this one failed to capture me like Divergent, Legend, and Wither have. I will say I liked it well enough to consider reading the sequels, but I'm not eager to dive into them.
    • 4/5
      I won this book in a contest, and for whatever reason put off reading it. Nessa ended up reading it before I did, and kept urging me to make time to read it! Well, I finally did and am so glad I decided to, I adore Perry.

      The book begins with action. This definitely pulled me in. It's told from Aria & Perry's perspectives. I like when books offer you more than one point of view so that you can have an opinion about everything that is going on. It's not one-sided. I also appreciate the lack of insta-love. The relationships are slow to build. It's not rushed, and I think that's what adds to my love of this storyline.

      Ah, the characters.... They were done brilliantly. Aria, is independent. She proves again and again that she is capable of surviving. Nothing can get in the way of her finding her way home. She comes across some situations that would scare the daylights out of me, but manages to keep her composure as much as can be expected. Perry is smart, and only cares about his nephew. He's strong, independent, and in most cases an amazing leader. He always knows what to do, and does his damnedest to keep Aria safe, since she's never been outside the walls of Reverie. Oh, and Roar, how could i forget him. He's funny, and incredibly laid back.

      The storyline is very fast-paced, and you won't find any lulls. It's a quick read with characters you'll love. If you haven't stumbled across this read yet, definitely grab it. (And yes, I know I'm super late to the game in reading this awesome book.)
    • 5/5
      Yet another wonderful, wonderful debut novel!Aria and Perry were wonderful protagonists. They grew so much as characters. At first, they were both kind of unlikable, but they changed and developed together into two characters I adored. They were strong and independent and they learned to accept each other, despite all the differences they thought they had. They both had their own concerns that they were passionate about. These two were caring and love their families, so much. And they were together and I just love them, guys. I do. Especially when they're together, together.The story itself never dragged. They're traveling a lot, but that's never the only thing going on. There was always more to it, always something else to beware of. New characters and new dangers one wouldn't expect. Then they get places and there's more traveling and every thing was interesting. There was a lot going on through out the book, but they were either entwined or separate, starting and ending before the climax.The ending was also unexpected. So unexpected. I both loved it and hated it. I hated the position the characters were left in and I hated the fact I'd have to wait more than a year to know what happens next, but I loved the tension. I loved that it wasn't what was expected. I loved that Veronica Rossi made me feel all these things. Veronica's an incredible writer. There's a lot of emotion, a lot of tension. Everything was so well described I could paint it all in my head. My heart was with the characters, it broke with them, it loved with them, it feared with them. At the beginning, I wasn't sure I'd like this one so much, but as it went on, I loved it more and more.I just loved this book so hard by the time I finished. The beginning might be kind of tough, but just stick with it. It all works out well and becomes wonderful.
    • 4/5
      I had been wanting to read this book for some time. I had heard excellent things about it, and although I am a bit burnt out on YA dystopian books, I thought it was worth giving this a shot. This was a decent post-apocalyptic/dystopia young adult story...it’s better than a lot of the ones out there, but not my favorite either. I listened to this on audiobook and the audiobook was very well done. The narrator did an excellent job of capturing emotion and differentiating between different character voices.Aria is exiled from her home, the enclosed city of Reverie, and sent out to the Death Shop (the outside) when she gets into an altercation with an important individual inside Reverie. Peregrine (Perry) is out hunting when he stumbles upon Aria. Perry is an Outsider, a Savage. Perry has been forced to leave his tribe because him and his brother are butting heads for rulership of the tribe. Perry and Aria strike a deal. Perry wants Aria to help him retrieve his nephew from Reverie, while Aria needs to get her Smart Eye back to Reverie in order to prove her innocence, they will help each other out until they each get what they want.Aria and Perry travel through a wasted land where Ether storms ravage the landscape and make the Outside a very dangerous place to live. Each of them is trying to abide the other's company and struggling towards their goals.The story is told both from Aria and Perry's perspectives. It's a pretty typical post-apocalyptic/dystopia type of story. Aria and Perry both have assumptions about the others’ world and of course these assumptions are not quite right.I liked Aria and Perry as characters. Aria is obviously in a bit of shock when she is sent Outside, but she adapts well and is funny and witty. She is flexible enough to consider that what she learned in Reverie might not be the truth and tough enough to take the knowledge and make her own conclusions.Perry I didn’t like quite as much. He is just sooo intense and sooo moody. If I were Aria I would have smacked him a number of times and told him to lighten up.The chemistry between the two is okay. I felt like there was a bit of insta-love going in here. Perry was just drawn to Aria’s beauty right away and wants to protect her. He does back-off and they do take the time to get to know each other before getting too involved. So it wasn’t as bad as a lot of other young adult books out there.My favorite character by far was Roar, he was funny, honest, and helpful. He added a lot of fun to the story and was an excellent character to read about.There were a couple things I did enjoy about this world. I liked the idea of the Outsiders developing super hero like powers with one of their five senses. Perry can see in the dark and read people’s Tempers (emotions). There are other characters that have super hearing or can see super far away. The idea of humans adapting their sense to survive in a new world is interesting. I thought the idea of a landscape covered in Ether Storms was an interesting one too and wished this had been explained better. There is also a rumor of a place where the sky is still blue. This is a hope that kind of hovers in the background of the story. There is also the idea of Rendering which is something Perry has done with his nephew. Perry has Rendered to Talon and as such is attuned to everything Talon feels or does. It makes a person super-sensitive to what another person needs.The world building is a bit weak. Why there are Ether Storms is never well explained. The world outside of Perry and Aria's small area is never well explained either. I am hoping this is expanded upon in future books.Overall this was a decent dystopian story. It was better than many YA dystopian novels out there but not my favorite. At this point I am unsure if I will read the next one or not. This book just has a lot of the same underlying themes that a lot of these books have. Don't get me wrong it's not a bad post-apocalyptic/dystopia series...I just wasn't really dying to know what would happen next when I got to the end of it.
    • 4/5
      Here’s the thing, I didn’t like UNDER THE NEVER SKY at first. I’m not going to lie. I had to force myself to get through the first 90 or so pages. In fact, I was pretty close to giving up altogether, but all of the positive reviews made me push forward. And I’m glad that I did, because honestly? It would have been a terrible mistake to miss out on this book!I didn’t care for the beginning. In fact, I felt as though it moved too fast – I never really connected with the characters. But when Perry finds Aria after she’s been left to die with the outsiders? All of that changes. I fell in love with both characters shortly after.Their relationship isn’t smooth sailing. Perry blames Aria for Talon’s capture, and Aria is appalled by Perry. But in order to locate those that they love, they’ll need to work together and find a way to overcome their differences.Rossi’s world building is fantastic. Aria’s world is built around technology. There is actually a piece at the end of the Enhanced E-Book in which Rossi describes how she developed the smarteye. Taking our obsession, and dependency, upon technology, Rossi manages to create a believable world. The stark contrast between Aria’s world and Perry’s world is amazing. While Aria is used to a life spent in the realms, Perry has lived his life in the real world: where the food supply is low and death lingers constantly.And then there’s the romance! Aria and Perry’s relationship moves slowly, which I was beyond thrilled about. I’m not a big fan of insta-love, and I was worried that’s what we’d be getting in UNDER THE NEVER SKY. But it doesn’t work that way. It takes nearly 300 pages in order for Aria and Perry to express their feelings towards one another. And during that time, both Aria and Perry grow into strong characters you grow to love on their own. I think Aria may actually be one of my favorite characters created. The changes that she goes through, the courage that she manages to muster up, it’s honestly refreshing. She’s tough, caring, and relatable.My final thoughts: There were so many plot twists throughout UNDER THE NEVER SKY, most of which I definitely did not see coming. Especially the one’s near the end of the story. I spent the last fifty or so pages on the edge of my seat, anxious to see what would happen next. If you’re looking for a thrilling dystopian read, I’d definitely suggest picking this one up.
    • 4/5
      Under the Never Sky by Veronica Rossi is a young adult dystopian novel that has been hugely hyped and one I have been waiting for months to sit down and read. After finishing the novel, I understand the hype, but I'm not convinced I'll be joining the party just yet.Under the Never Sky is mainly about Aria, a girl who lives in the Realms (sort of a virtual reality world), who goes looking for her missing mother. She ends up revealing a sinister back story, and is ditched outside of the Realms, where she meets an intriguing Savage named Perry. They work together to figure out what is going on.Things I loved about this novel. Aria is a promising character. I love that she is named for her beautiful voice, and there are some really great passages about her and her mother's relationship. I was fascinated by Aether (no more on that, as I will let the reader discover this phenomenon for herself). I was very intrigued by the character, Cinder. I enjoyed a lot of the twists in the book.I found myself frustrated, however. This book had a lot of potential, and it's obvious that Rossi is very creative with a vast imagination. The beginning is much less strong than the last half, and I was tempted to put it down. Certain areas, the prose is very choppy. I know that some of it is deliberate (Rossi has created somewhat of a Slang language for the Savages), but other parts, it just detracted from the reading experience. I had a hard time liking Perry, the primary love interest. There are certain aspects of the worlds that I am still hugely confused by (if they are living in their minds, don't their bodies degenerate over time?). Overall, I thought this was highly imaginative and had some really compelling characters, but I'm not entirely convinced by it. I have read more compelling novels in this genre in the recent past, and it just doesn't quite make it to that level.
    • 4/5
      Summary: Fighting to survive in a ravaged world, a Dweller and a Savage form an unlikely alliance.Personal Reaction: Action packed and well developed characters. I liked that it was told from two points of view.Classroom Extension: A fun series to recommend to YA readers. It has a strong male and female character so it will appeal to both boys and girls. You can also use the book to discuss difference between groups of people. In this book, dwellers and savages don't trust each other, judge, and focus on their differences until they start working together and get to know one another and realize they each have strengths.
    • 5/5
      Loved this book. It was well crafted, set in an amazing world with great characters.
    • 4/5
      I read this book almost in one sitting and thought it was an amazing read. I will admit it started off a little rocky and I was wondering why people were raving about it but the fact that several friends whose taste I trust and the fact that I just love Veronica Rossi kept me going. It was definitely worth wading through the rough parts! Initially Aria just irritated me with her attitude towards Perry and how she treated him as a "savage" despite how he is constantly saving her life. But when I sat down and really thought about it I could not really blame her. She was raised with these images and stories about those who live outside the pods and has never had to face real life. In the realms she has never had to face real fear, pain, hunger, etc. If something got too uncomfortable she could just move on to another realm. Once I came to this realization I can understand why Perry would scare the heck out of her despite being her savior. I enjoyed seeing how she learns to adapt to Perry's world and eventually see how though Perry's world may seem more primitive it had so much to offer.I loved Perry's character. Despite not being able to read and in some senses the savage that Aria viewed him as you can't help but like him for his straight forward way of thinking and survival. I wonder how being able to smell what a person is feeling would affect how you view people in general. I would imagine it could skew things a lot because I know sometimes I have instinctive reactions that I suppress because I know they are wrong or impulsive but I wonder how someone like Perry would view those reactions? The fact that he is able to forgive Aria's horrible treatment of him and move past it was amazing and just made me love him all the more. The supporting characters were just as intriguing and I cannot wait to see more of them. Talon just tugs at your heartstrings, Roar was impossible not to like and I would love to learn more about Marron's background and how he built his community. The end was pretty predictable and I saw it coming from almost the beginning but I still loved the ride. The world Rossi builds reminded me Clan of the Cave Bear meets The Matrix and works much better than you would expect. This is one debut author you will not want to miss.
    • 2/5
      I was slightly disappointed in this book. Perhaps it’s because there’s been so much hype surrounding it and I set it up in my head as this amazing read, but it fell short. It was good and enjoyable, but I was expecting beautiful prose and a wonderful plot filled with unforeseeable turns, and what I read just wasn’t that. However, this is a good, just not wonderful, book. I really liked the following aspects:

      The characters, Aria specifically. They were easy to relate to and had strong motivations and desires that prompted their actions. Their actions never seemed forced or unrealistic. I like Aria’s growth through the book, how she realizes she can survive in the world outside. Perry was a intriguing character as well. I didn’t like him as much as I thought I would, but he was a well-written character.
      The plot was fairly interesting. I was involved and the story and the characters. I liked the addition of the strong senses and the cannibal tribes, which were rightly terrifying.

      The little bit of the book that took place inside the pods. This was so interesting, and what I wanted more of! I want to know about these pods. How did they come to be? What exactly has happened that force a society to live in these pods? We get a little bit of this, with the explanation that the Aether storms drove humans inside, but I wanted more, and I ate up every word where I did get to explore this world.
      The Aether storms. The description of them leaves quite a bit up to the imagination, but in my mind they are incredibly beautiful and incredibly beautiful. I like the addition of these massive lightening-type energy storms.

      I did really enjoy these aspects of the book, but there were just a few things I couldn’t overlook. I’m not convinced of the romance yet. I like both characters individually, and while I do applaud the rather mutual romance that’s going on here, I just haven’t bought it yet. I’ll probably read the future books and I hope it’ll grow on me, but so far the romance is a no-go. And my biggest disappointment with this book, which takes it from a potential 4 star down to a 3 star review is the world. There is so much interesting things that could be explored in this world that’s been built, and I want to know it all. The whole concept of smarteyes and the pods and the storms just left me wanting more, but not necessarily in a good way. This had the potential to be an insanely interesting story based on the unique world alone, and I feel it just kind of fell flat for me, because instead of the world we get a much narrower story.
    • 4/5
      I waited a while to buy this book. So by the time I read it, I had already read evey single review out there. I was somewhat pumped up when I started. I ended up being just a smidge disappointed. Sad to say that Under The Never Sky didn't live up to it's hype. Not to say it was a bad book, just different and a little weird. It kind of reminded me of the Uglies series, just not as good. I liked that Ms Rossi's world was indeed unique though. I just found the characters a little lacking, and im one of those YA readers who likes a little more romance in my novels, but thats just me. I will however read along to the next installment when it comes out though.
    • 5/5
      Loved this book. I don't care how you classify it - dystopian, post-apocalyptic, sci-fi, for me it's a love story. It's also about recognizing your strengths and doing things you never thought possible. I loved Aria and Perry and how they both grew and changed. Finished this morning and bought the 2nd one this afternoon. If it's as good as this one, it's going to be a long night!
    • 5/5
      This is a terrific read. I have to admit the jacket blurb sounded stupid to me, but I had seen gushing reviews, so I got it anyway, and was soon well-rewarded with some great story-telling. Violent energy storms have broken the surviving human population into parts. One part lives inside protected domes, or “pods,” and another, divided into tribes, lives a more primitive existence on the outside. They know each other as Dwellers and Outsiders, and each harbors misconceptions about the other. The Outsiders are thought to be caveman-like wild savages; the Dwellers elicit Outsider contempt because of their perceived softness and unearned privilege.Aria, who has spent all of her seventeen years inside the pods, is suddenly evicted out into the open (and presumably certain death) after being in the wrong place at the wrong time. She is rescued by an Outsider, 18-year-old Perry, who has his own reasons for wanting to get inside the pods. Together, they must fight the brutality of Outside in order to survive, but first, they need to overcome their own distrust and prejudice against one another. Discussion: The plot summary may sound predictable, but it’s really not; unfortunately it would be spoilery to tell you why! Not only are Perry and Aria (chapters alternate between each of their point of views) very special in unexpected ways, but the obstacles they encounter are unique and quite original. The jacket blurb, for instance, mentions “cannibals,” but this very small part of the story involves a complex religious practice and not at all a “zombie” situation. Rossi never once jumps the shark in spite of all of her innovative plot lines, such as some genetic mutations, because she has explanations for them that are neither outrageous nor outlandish, as is often the case in these books.Evaluation: I loved this post-apocalyptic story; it has it all: adventure, bravery, love, danger, tension, tenderness, betrayal, and loyalty. There is even a strong female lead who is not crabby – now there’s a departure! And there is suspense enough to keep you at the edge of your chair. Respect plays a large role in relationships, which gives both characters and readers a lot to think about. And yes, there is sex, but it is spoken of as “joining,” and it is so much more romantic than more explicit portrayals. But the love is really the best part. And I don’t just mean the love between the adults, but also the tenderness and devotion between the adults and children. In fact, the relationship between the young boy Talon and the adults who love him is perhaps the defining relationship of the story. Rossi employs the concept of “rendering” – a bond more than just love – a bond that makes another’s needs your own. There’s something in this book for everyone, whether you like post-apocalyptic books, medieval tales of tribes and bravery, or just plain old swoony love stories.Rating: 4.5/5Note: Although this is apparently only book one of a trilogy, it actually ends, but in this case, you don’t want it to end!
    • 5/5
      Due to copy and paste, formatting has been lost.The beginning of this one didn't really grab me-- at first I was a bit confused about what was going on, and what exactly it all meant. But as it started to come together, I realized that this is some kind of a mix between futuristic and dystopian, and that it's awesome.I liked Aria. She can be a bit condescending at times, but she has her heart in the right place. She's also fearless and wicked and one of those characters that I just want to be. I didn't find myself arguing with her decisions or her actions, and I liked getting in her head.Then we have Perry, who's equally awesome; but he's more steady...and I don't know, he just kind of seems like a rock type of guy? He's loyal and I loved how he explained the customs of his tribe. He's a bit rough around the edges, and he can't *GASP* read, but I loved him anyway.Since we're talking about Perry and Aria, let's talk about them as an entity-- they make an awesome couple. Their chemistry together is intense. I loved their love story-- they didn't fall into any kind of insta-love, or even insta-lust. Everything happened in it's own sweet time, and that makes me so proud! My only issue with them is the kind of love/hate thing they have going on. In the beginning it was cute, but now I'm hoping that they'll get over it. Ah, well, I can't have everything, now can I?Speaking of everything, this really did have it all-- there was plot! I'm talking true blue, awesome crew type plot. There was never a dull point in the book, nor did I ever feel like there was an empty lull. It all just came together perfectly, and I couldn't have been happier at the ending-- or more anxious for the next book!All in all, I really recommend Under the Never Sky, even if it's not your usual genre.