Every avid reader adopts a short list of books, authors and series that they hold above the rest. There are many great books out there, and then there are treasured books. Veronica Rossi’s Under the Never Sky series is treasured by me. It seems to me, to be a smorgasbord of science fiction, fantasy, character driven relationships and thrilling action.
As far as science fiction for teens go, this is always a strong recommendation for me. Familiar themes such as a Romeo & Juliet romance, a dying world and two teenagers who can save it, make it a comforting, seemingly easy read. On paper, summarised as such, it seems rather recycled. However, Rossi never seems content with a simple story.
She weaves into it themes of leadership, familial responsibility, questions of belonging, sacrifice and loss. Is it okay to murder your brother for his throne if you believe his rulership jeopardises the lives of your tribe? Can you stay with the boy you love if his people reject you? Should you take in impoverished allies who had previously saved you, if your own tribe is near starving? Can you ask a child to sacrifice themselves for a large group of people? These are just a few of the complex moral decisions that the main characters, Aria and Perry, have had to face over the course of the series already. Now there are more to come with Into the Still Blue, and Rossi doesn’t pull any punches.
Reading this book felt like being trapped in a hurricane—swirling around on a crazy adventure, not quite sure where you’ll end up next and how. I’m not sure if surfing a hurricane is fun, but this book definitely was. Fun, funny, sad, heart pounding, tragic, happy, terrifying. With two major villains teamed up for trouble and a looming deadline to save everyone, the situation seems impossible. Yet Rossi pulls it all off impressively, weaving it all together with impressive skill so that the story doesn’t lag or flounder under the weight of such a demanding end.
Most of all, it’s the characters that pull this story together. Not just the main leads, Aria and Perry, who have a beautiful relationship together without it falling into repetitive, dull territory. Roar and Aria’s is one of the best relationships in this book, their friendship and Soren’s interactions offering a comedic relief to the oppressively depressing content matter. No character in this series is wasted or under written, yet none are safe. People die, and often, but they are never throw away characters of little importance and their deaths are meaningful.
Rossi’s writing is in constant improvement, graduating since Under the Never Sky. It’s descriptive without being burdened by flowery prose, only taking the time to reference what’s necessary, but doing so richly. I can’t recommend this series enough. I’m definitely going to miss it, but I also cheerfully look forward to anything else Rossi writes in the future.
Into the Still Blue is available now from HarperTeen
Read an excerpt here on Tor.com
Kat Kennedy is one of the bloggers behind Cuddlebuggery, the Young Adult book blog dedicated to corrupting the reading community with sinister shenanigans.
Ooh, I’ve still not got round to reading this and now I need to read it even more.
Must get on it.
I’m sorry, I value your opinion in books a lot so that’s why I need to write this mini anti-review for your review.
“However, Rossi never seems content with a simple story.”
This seemed like a very simple story to me: teenager gets kicked out of perfect world, adjusts into the world of savages, then catastrophy claimes both worlds and they find a new place to live after they sacrifice a secondary character. Wow, so original.
“She weaves into it themes of leadership, familial responsibility, questions of belonging, sacrifice and loss.”
And she gives all the wrong answers to them. In real life bad characters are not so one dimensional as Veil and Sable were, so the answer to what’s best for you’re family, group is not always to kill the bad guy and sacrifice the second character. When he had to sacrifice Cinder Perry sayd he’s going with him because he’s afraid if he won’t Cinder might not help them. Not because Cinder was a small, scared child that needed someone beside him, but because he wanted to make sure Cinder will die for them. Wow Perry, you’re such an amazing leader, convincing all the readers you’re actually different from Sable just because you’re not a one dimensional bad character like he is, you’re actually a sort of complex one.
“not quite sure where you’ll end up next and how.”
Really? I didn’t believe for a second that Perry was dead, not even Aria cried very much for him (to confirm to all readers that he’s still there). Not even for a second did I believe that Sable will win. Also, the Still Blue was such a convenience for this story. Again, finding a place of perfect sanctuary. Their HEA was too easy. All they had to do was find the still blue and kill the bad guy. I’ve read stories like this in hundreds of books.
“Rossi’s writing is in constant improvement, graduating since Under the Never Sky.”
I lmust object again, especially the last book was particularrly bad. What was the reason for the chapters to be named Aria and Perry since the story is sayd using the 3th person. It was just annoying to switch between the 2 ‘perspectives’ of the 2 main characters that in the end had the same voice.
“Most of all, it’s the characters that pull this story together.”
Maybe the first 2 books. Last one was a disaster. After complaining for an hour that it’s not right to make Cinder sacrifice for them, the second Perry had the occasion to trade him, he did so. He even had the “decency” to cry for his own life because he had to go with Cinder in order to be sure Cinder won’t bail on them. *buhuhu* So glad you can still cry for your worthless heart. It’s like I don’t even recognize the characters anymore: Roar is stupid and always makes the wrong decision, Aria is worthless and she takes no decisions whatsoever (until the end when she is pushed to do so by her father, so again, not her
accomplishment), she just goes along with whatever everyone is asking of her and Perry is ready to sacrifice everyone and everything while still trying to claim that he’s doing the right thing. Not to mention the bad characters, they are just bad. No complexity to them whatsoever. If there’s something bad they can do, they will do it, just because they are bad and have no heart. Also, Aria’s reaction after she lost Perry was so weak…
She:”We have to save him.”
Other:”We can’t.”
She:”Ok.”
Wow, I can totally see you trying there.
On thop of all, this book bored me to tears. I think everyone is entitled to an opinion and I’m not judjing yours (I hope I’m not), but you are praising an average series like it’s gold and it’s not. Well, not for me and maybe not for others either.
Despite the spelling, I would have to agree with the majority of Tessa23’s comments.