Review of Through the Ever Night by Veronica Rossi

Title: Through the Ever Night (Under the Never Sky, #2)
Author: Veronica Rossi
Published by: HarperCollins
Pages: 352
Source: Library
Format: Hardcover
Rating: 5 stars

Summary from Goodreads: It's been months since Aria last saw Perry. Months since Perry was named Blood Lord of the Tides, and Aria was charged with an impossible mission. Now, finally, they are about to be reunited. But their reunion is far from perfect. The Tides don't take kindly to Aria, a former Dweller. And with the worsening Aether storms threatening the tribe's precarious existence, Aria begins to fear that leaving Perry behind might be the only way to save them both.

Threatened by false friends, hidden enemies, and powerful temptations, Aria and Perry wonder, Can their love survive through the ever night?

What an adventure.  Veronica Rossi sure knows how to demand your attention; I couldn't put this book down.  It was so jammed packed with action, deceit, and unknown that one more page turned into one more chapter, which turned into staying up way too late to finish the story.  The Aether is still building and destroying the Tides along with other settlements, so not only does Aria need to find the Still Blue but so does everyone else and they'll stop at nothing to discover that secret.

Through the Ever Night introduces us to some new characters.  Some of these characters are wonderful and will earn a place inside your heart.  Others will make you cringe and make you want to channel your inner warrior to take these people out and to do it painfully.  At times there was almost a mob mentality, especially among the people of the Tides.  Not only does it put Aria's life in danger, but also puts Perry in an intense and complicated dilemma. 

I forgot how much I missed Aria and Perry until I started reading Through the Ever Night.  Personally I think they are one of the best YA couples because their feelings seem so pure and their relationship so uncomplicated.  Don't get me wrong, their lives are one battle after another, but when they are together everything seems perfect.  I wish there were more couples like them.  So often we get the dreaded love triangle or a bad relationship...not with Aria and Perry, they have this calming and serene quality that puts a smile on my face.

Through the Ever Night definitely lived up to it's predecessor.  While the novel does connect the series as a whole, it still had it's own plot and overall story line.  I'm highly impressed with Veronica Rossi and only wish that she would write a bit faster.  I want to know what's going to happen next!

Review of Under the Never Sky by Veronica Rossi

Title: Under the Never Sky

Author: Veronica Rossi

Published by: HarperCollins

Pages: 268
Source: Publisher/NetGalley
Format: ebook
Rating: ★★★★★

Summary from Goodreads: 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.

What a way to start off 2012.  If all of the debut authors are as good as Veronica Rossi, my TBR pile will be growing exponentially.

We start out by meeting Aria.  I wasn't really sure about Aria at first.  She was really sheltered and judgemental.  I'm sure I would be freaked to no end to be kicked out of my home and left to die, but I think I would hopefully accept any help, especially if it was given by the same person who saved my life days earlier.  Throughout the novel she ends up growing tremendously as a character.  Not only does she physically grow stronger, but she comes to realize that not everything is so black and white.  By the end of the story I really came to care for Aria and understand her inner strength and resilience.

One of the best things about this novel was the relationship between Aria and Perry.  There are so many complex emotions going on between the two.  Their alliance was formed under duress and their hatred for one another was evident.  As the spend more time together their feelings get confused and their emotions are in an uproar.  I really enjoyed the slow burning romance between the two.  For some reason the whole enemies turned lovers is a really gripping tale, especially when they are fighting for their lives.  And the best thing...the story is told in alternating POVs between the two, so we get both sides of the story.  I truly loved that part. 

Veronica Rossi creates a world like no other.  Where some people live in a made up, virtual life, others are fighting for their survival.  The sky is an enemy along with the cannibals, disease and other savages.  This novel was so gripping that I had a hard time putting it down and often read into the early hours of the morning.  And my favorite thing about this novel was the ending.  It was done fabulously.  The main conflict was resolved, but the bigger issues are still there.  This lady knows how to write a cliffhanger the right way!    

While I still have some questions about the Aether and other things, I am left wondering and not confused like other novels have left me.  I think Veronica Rossi figured out the perfect combination of how much information to give and how much to withhold to keep us wanting more.