Under the Never Sky [Hardcover]

Veronica Rossi (Author)

Book Description

Release date: January 3, 2012 | Series: Under the Never Sky

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.

Editorial Reviews

Review

“The interwoven narratives of both male and female protagonists offer broad appeal. Already selling in more than twenty countries and with film rights optioned by Warner Bros. Entertainment, Rossi’s first novel has the potential to be a blockbuster.” (Voice of Youth Advocates (VOYA) )

“Rossi nails the feat of offering dual perspectives. Rossi grounds her worldbuilding in language, creating idioms for the Dwellers and Outsiders that add texture to their respective myths; her characters are brave and complex and her prose smooth and evocative. Inspired, offbeat and mesmerizing.” (Kirkus Reviews (starred review) )

“An incredibly original plot. You won’t be able to put this book down…we can’t wait for the next installment in the trilogy!” (Seventeen.com )

“An unforgettable dystopian masterpiece.” (Examiner.com )

“Fans of The Hunger Games will cheer Aria’s gradual, warrior-like transformation over the course of the novel. Perry is an enigmatic figure whose past emerges slowly and whose strength of character is only amplified by his flaws.” (Booklist )

“Aria is a memorable protagonist as she battles her own shortcomings with the same ferocity as she fights for the lives of those she loves. The world itself-sharply divided into garishly surreal Realms, cozy Pods, and harsh, unforgiving outside-is as creatively and lavishly developed as the characters themselves.” (The Horn Book )

“Rossi’s novel transcends. There’s a luminescence to her world that denies the grim realities of environmental degradation, domed cities, genetic disease, and roaming bands of cannibals. It comes across as the work of a master craftsman.” (School Library Journal (starred review) )

“Refreshing. Exhilarating. Rossi unravels the world’s secrets, perils, and wonders with a sure hand.” (Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books )

“Will capture your imagination and your heart.” (Justine )

About the Author

Veronica Rossi graduated from UCLA and studied fi ne art at California College of the Arts in San Francisco. She began writing fiction for teens and received first-place awards in the Pacific Northwest Writers Association and SouthWest Writers annual contests before completing Under the Never Sky, the first book in her Under the Never Sky trilogy. It's since been embraced by publishers in more than twenty-six countries worldwide and optioned for fi lm by Warner Bros. Veronica lives in northern California with her husband and two sons. 

Product Details

• Hardcover: 384 pages
• Publisher: HarperCollins; First Edition edition (January 3, 2012)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 9780062072030
• ISBN-13: 978-0062072030
• ASIN: 006207203X
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.9 x 1.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (607 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #28,889 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

VERONICA ROSSI is the NY Times and USA Today Best Selling author of the UNDER THE NEVER SKY series. Film rights to the series have been optioned by Warner Bros., and the books will publish in thirty foreign markets. Veronica was born in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil and now lives in Northern California with her husband and two sons.

Prior to becoming a writer, Veronica worked in television, design and fine art. Her favorite film is Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, and anything by Kathryn Bigelow. One day she hopes to tour the world, beginning with Australia.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

44 of 47 people found the following review helpful

3.0 out of 5 stars Caprica meets Graceling in a post apocalyptic wasteland December 3, 2011

By S. Power TOP 100 REVIEWERVINE™ VOICE

Format:Hardcover|Amazon Vine™ Review (What's this?)

Under the Never Sky by Veronica Rossi is told in alternating voice. Aria was born in a domed city, a world where everyone spends most of their time in the digital realms (like on Caprica). Perry lives in the real world in a settlement and has advanced senses. When Aria takes off her viewscreen and steps into the real world with some friends in a hope that one of them will be able to get some information on her mother. Things quickly get out of hand causing the deaths of a few of her friends and she finds herself kicked out of the dome and left to die where she meets up with Perry who is searching for his nephew who has been kidnapped by Aria's people. The two start on a journey together which will put both their lives at risk.

This is one of the books for the new year that has been over hyped and portrayed as totally fantastic. The back of the book compares it to The Hunger Games and Graceling which made me raise my eyebrows. It does not resemble the Hunger Games at all. In reality it's more like Graceling (people with strange enhanced powers and a couple going on a journey though a strange and dangerous world) combined with the digital world of Caprica set in a post apocalyptic wasteland. Ultimately however, it is a book about two unlikely characters meeting up going on a journey and falling in love while realizing they're more alike than they once thought.

This book was interesting but flawed. It has some major pacing issues and doesn't really come together until the two main characters meet up several chapters into the book and the book felt much longer than it really was. I had no problems putting the book down and wasn't anxious to pick it back up. The world is large and not fully explored and characters and situations are far too often left hanging with no resolution (although I'm sure they'll pop up in the later books). There were however some interesting ideas and situations in the book and I came to care about the characters and their motivations and I never felt like giving up on the book.

Appropriateness: This is a book that was obviously written for older teens. The characters act older and the book was fairly heavy, it is not a quick or light or fun read. There is one sex scene but it's so tame that you might miss it if you blink and the characters drink alcohol a few times (once with a character getting drunk and then getting himself into a fight because he's so upset). However there is a huge amount of senseless violence with characters killing without a second thought and for the most part feeling no remorse after the fact even when multiple people are killed. I would recommend this book to teens 14+ and caution parents of younger readers about the excesses of violence included in the story.

66 of 75 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Need Tea Reviews January 15, 2012

By Krystle Yanagihara VINE™ VOICE

Format:Hardcover|Amazon Vine™ Review (What's this?)

There are some books that click with you, and some that don't. Under the Never Sky, for me, was one that did. I really can't explain why I liked it so much as I did. But I'll make an attempt.

The characters in here were very real and goal minded. They weren't suddenly pulled along into some ambling romance plot that turns them into pale imitations of their former selves. No, they all had specific things they were aiming for and weren't easily drawn off track as they had desire or time to be fooling off on side adventures that weren't worth their time. All these characters were resilient, strong of mind, and exemplary morals that they wouldn't allow themselves to be sullied.

I think one of my favorite parts of this book is the contrasts between Aria and Perry. Aria is the girl who's safe, sheltered, and kept from harm. Life is easy for her, she never has to struggle or want for things, until her mother goes missing and doesn't contact her for an extended period of time. Perry is the Outsider who's brought up outside of the protection of the Domes and has to fight for everything he wants and needs; including the basic necessities for survival. This has left him with more primal instincts and it makes him seem quite feral.

When they clash it's so fun. For people who are raised in two drastically different environments it's not logical for them to suddenly get along without misunderstandings, arguments, or for them to understand beliefs the other person may hold wholeheartedly. Aria and Perry have to actually work through their own prejudices, preconceived notions they have of the other, and their own narrow-minded and often ignorant thinking. I love how they went through the process of getting to know each other on a personal level which is gradual, realistic, and much better for the story development.

The world building? I think it's interesting how, like the characters, there's a split between the technologically advanced world of the Domes and the devastated and desolate environment of the Outside world that Perry lives in. This is one story where everything is not thrown at you at once but built upon layer by layer. I think this is an effective method, one that can be successful if pulled off correctly because you risk the chance of having your readers being way too confused and disinterested by the time the explanations roll around. Her background was unrolled slowly at crucial times that were beneficial. Plus there are cannibals in here! How can you go wrong with that? They're creepy and scary!

The only thing I can really say negatively about her world is Aether. What exactly is it anyway? I was never able to conceptualize it in my head. Is it like parts of the sky that literally rains down fire or something akin to lightning strikes in thunderstorms? Or is it some volatile form of magic that unleashes in devastating amounts of power when it interacts with another magic user or there's just too much of it built up in the air? I don't know, I was really lost about that.

Her writing? It's swift, smooth, and excellent at ramping up the pace for action scenes. It's easy to read but there were times when it was absolutely beautiful. These are only two parts that stuck out in my mind but I'm quite sure there were a lot more in the book.

"A world of nevers under a never sky."

This next one is a long one but I really like it. Aria is telling Perry what the lyrics of a song she sings means, and then what happens after.

"How the stars shone. How sweet the earth smelled. The orchard gate creaked, and a footstep pressed on the sand. And she entered, fragrant as a flower, and fell into my arms. Oh, sweet kisses, lingering caresses. Slowly, trembling, I gazed upon her beauty. Now my dreams of true love is lost forever. My last hour has flown, and I die, hopeless, and never have I loved life more."

They reached for each other then like some force had pulled their hands together. Aria looked at their fingers as they laced together, bringing her the sensation of his touch. Of warmth and calluses. Soft and hard together. She absorbed the terror and beauty of him and his world. Of every moment over the past days. All of it, filling her up like the first breath she'd ever taken. And never had she loved life more.

Obviously this is referring to a part of the book that builds upon their romance. I wish it hadn't been so strong because while I loved how they spent the time to actually know each other first, I wasn't in the mood for the romance part of it. I guess I was hoping for more adventure. Don't worry; this doesn't devolve into some overblown relationship smorgasbord of angst, drama, and ridiculous character antics. Aria and Perry cherish the time together because it's all they have right now but they both have different goals and they're not going to put a relationship over them. They do what they have to.

I have to say, if you liked or loved Blood Red Road, I'm quite sure you'll like this book. The tone and adventure aspect of both books are very similar. Under the Never Sky might not be the new greatest dystopian novel on the market but it is good and well worth the read.

26 of 28 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars First half was good, second half was FANTASTIC July 3, 2012

By Gretchen @ My Life is a Notebook

Format:Hardcover

Actual rating 3 1/2 stars.

You guys have no idea how long this book was on my list. I mean, seriously. I wanted this SO MUCH when it first came out, and I was ecstatic to have finally gotten it after hearing such great things about it.

So you can imagine my frustration with the entire first half of this book.

The biggest issue for me was the amount of unexplained exposition. I kept having this feel of being THIS CLOSE to falling head over heels for this book, just as soon as a few more things made sense. However, it seemed like every time I approached that precipice, I was attacked with more words that I was supposed to figure out on my own. "Blood-Lord," "Scire," "Aether storms"-that's only the beginning of the strange words. Actually, I felt like I was being taught to read Shakespeare all over again, hearing my teacher say "Now, if you don't understand the word, read the words around it and see if you can infer its meaning." I can usually forgive this in a book somewhat, if I'm enjoying the read, but this continued until almost exactly half way through.

The characters of Aria and Perry aren't exactly stellar in the first part either. Aria seems to be devolving into your typical cliché female heroine and Perry is having a bipolar characterization where he isn't sure if he should kill his brother and take over his tribe or leave his tribe altogether because he doesn't want to hurt anyone.

But then you reach that almost exact middle point of the book. On one page, you have Perry thinking that menstruation smells like violets. On the opposite page (the book switches between Aria and Perry's POVs), you have Aria freaking out because she can now "conceive at random." I stared at these pages for a good long time wondering just what in the world was happening. Then I turned the page, warily.

And the book got exponentially better.

Aria and Perry become likeable characters. Aria shows you that she isn't a whiny, helpless girl, but she isn't obnoxious (too much, anyways) either. Perry gets more depth, and you begin to understand him (and his tribal structure, thank goodness) so much better. Add in Perry's best friend Roar and the interesting and there-for-too-few-pages Cinder with his AWESOME power, and you've got a fantastic mix of characters and story that flows along so much better.

You then, of course, proceed to have some YA romance, but it honestly wasn't so bad. Aria and Perry do take the chance to get to know and trust each other before deciding they love each other, which made me absolutely delighted. It was decidedly real. Until the last few pages of the book, which made me roll my eyes, but also made me want the next one NOW. So, you know.

Overall, I did enjoy this book. Perhaps someday I'll reread it a few more times and see if I can get some more understanding out of the first half. The world, the characters and the story throughout were wonderful, it was just in the second half that they were fantastic. Fans of dystopian should be aware that Under the Never Sky would have possibly been more appropriate with a sci-fi label, because it's very easy to forget this is supposed to be our Earth we're reading about, but I really liked that. You can bet I'll be reading the sequel!