REVIEW: Into the Still Blue by Veronica Rossi

Into the Still Blue by Veronica Rossi (Under the Never Sky #3)
Publisher: HarperCollins
Publication Date: January 28, 2014
Source: Edelweiss via publisher
Rating: 5/5 stars
Get it: Amazon | B&N

Their love and their leadership have been tested. Now it's time for Perry and Aria to unite the Dwellers and the Outsiders in one last desperate attempt to bring balance to their world.

The race to the Still Blue has reached a stalemate. Aria and Perry are determined to find this last safe-haven from the Aether storms before Sable and Hess do-and they are just as determined to stay together.

Meanwhile, time is running out to rescue Cinder, who was abducted by Hess and Sable for his unique abilities. And when Roar returns to camp, he is so furious with Perry that he won't even look at him, and Perry begins to feel like they have already lost.

Out of options, Perry and Aria assemble a team to mount an impossible rescue mission-because Cinder isn't just the key to unlocking the Still Blue and their only hope for survival, he's also their friend. And in a dying world, the bonds between people are what matter most.
In this final book in her stunning Under the Never Sky trilogy, Veronica Rossi raises the stakes to their absolute limit and brings her epic love story to an unforgettable close.

My Review

In Under the Never Sky, Rossi impressed me with the world she created. In Through the Ever Night, she floored me with an upstanding, surpassing sequel that made me love Aria, Perry and Roar one million times more. And now in Into the Still Blue, Rossi completely took my breath away and left me whole and satisfied at such an end for a trilogy I’ve been holding so close to my heart. 



What I truly love about this last and final book is the balance of everything. It had developed closeness between characters, descriptive world building that never seemed to amaze me despite how familiar I was with it and adventure through the journey to getting to the Still Blue. The stakes were higher, deaths were inevitable, the love whether friendship or romance between one another was stronger and Outsider and Dweller came together. Best of all, the questions that have been roaming through my mind got answered.

There was no doubt in my mind that Aria and Perry’s relationship was rock solid and it continued to be throughout the whole book, probably more so with everything they went through. Like in the previous book, they had their own battles to contend with and I thought through each situation, they persevered. Even in the first book, I knew their relationship was authentic and natural. I appreciated that Rossi continued on with that here. While Perry and Roar’s relationship was rocky in this one, Aria with Roar was even stronger than ever, which gave me hope for all three of them. I really loved this trio so much. They were such a great team.

I thought the characters in this book went through so much more and not just the main three. There were definitely lots of struggle and pain but not without glory and triumph. Many characters who I hated were able to sway me and bring themselves some sort of redemption. And of course, this book was not without loss and sacrifice that left me with a heavy heart. I liked that a lot of acceptance and tolerance of one another seeped slowly, but surely into everyone. It was hard to see the hate, but even better to see the love.

Sable, the villain in all of this, although I hated him, was truly despicable. He was narcissistic, egotistical and oh so manipulative. I truly got to see what kind of leader and monster he was and how far he was willing to go to get what he wanted. He didn’t hesitate and was just so ruthless in nearly every way. He also had that creepy factor when it came to some situations in the novel; he definitely made my skin crawl. 

Into the Still Blue showed the life in the cave and the life in the Komodo. This was nice to see because it showed the different worlds of the Dwellers and the Outsiders, but it also showed just how much they needed to band together in order to survive and make it to the Still Blue. I thought Rossi did a great job of showing how some decisions were not going to be easy and not everyone was going to have a happy ending. Rossi didn’t hold back on this aspect and I thought she stayed true to the story. There were a few surprising revelations and twists, not so much to give too much shock value. However, the suspense of what was to happen next gave way for more than one heart stopping moment. In general, there was plenty of action, brutal beating and killing, and on the edge scenes that made this book that much more enjoyable and thrilling.

All in all, I thought Into the Still Blue was a mesmerizing finale. It was rich, beautiful, heartbreaking and certainly hopeful. I will surely miss the Aria, Perry and Roar as they have become friends I have gotten to know these past few years. 

*Thanks to HarperCollins for sending a copy for review

I was not compensated for my opinion

Read my review for book two: Through the Ever Night

Read my review for book one: Under the Never Sky

Favorite Quotes

*quotes taken from an eARC, all are subject to change from final finished copy.

The rough-edged hunter with the fierce glare she'd met half a year ago was almost gone. He was confident now, steadier. Still fearsome, but controlled. He was everything she'd expected him to become.

"Yes. Of course... I'll always... like you, Aria."
"I'll always like you too."

You know how hard it is to find trustworthy people. How impossible it is. People will turn on each other for the smallest reasons. For a meal, they will toss a friend aside. For a warm coat, they will stab each other in the back...

"So he got Brooke and her," Soren continued, indignant. "How does that even happen? He barely talks!"

"You know I'll go anywhere with you, Perry."

"Keep her safe."
"Of course. With my life."

"We all have the potential to do terrible things, Soren. But we also have the potential to overcome our mistakes."

"Your pants falling down is natural?"
He grinned. "Yeah. If they fall any further, it's going to be very natural."

"We can bring them together. Can't you see it? Can't you picture what we could be?"
"I can picture all the ways I want to end your life."

"Fine. Then I love you, my little Night Crawler."

REVIEW: Through the Ever Night by Veronica Rossi

Through the Ever Night by Veronica Rossi (Under the Never Sky #2)
Publisher: HarperCollins
Publication Date: January 8, 2013
Rating: 5/5 stars
Get it: Amazon | B&N

It's been months since Aria learned of her mother's death. 
Months since Perry became Blood Lord of the Tides, and months since Aria last saw him.

Now Aria and Perry are about to be reunited. It's a moment they've been longing for with countless expectations. And it's a moment that lives up to all of them. At least, at first.

Then it slips away. The Tides don't take kindly to former Dwellers like Aria. And the tribe is swirling out of Perry's control. With the Aether storms worsening every day, the only remaining hope for peace and safety is the Still Blue. But does this haven truly exist?

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

My thoughts, feelings, and reactions

Through the Ever Night by Veronica Rossi was a spectacular follow up to Under the Never Sky. I couldn’t have asked for a better, more riveting sequel! 

The novel picks up right where UTNS left off with Perry and Aria reuniting. It started off good, a strong lead in to the hope and tension that circulated throughout the novel. The reuniting of my favorite heroes meant good and bad things to come and while I expected some of these things, plenty of times I didn’t.

Through the Ever Night was more than just about Perry and Aria. While there was romance between them, I felt that it was set back to allow more important things to come forward that they needed to deal with. I cannot say that those stolen moments were not cute. I adored them together the most, even if it was short and fleeting. There was definitely more tension between Aria and Perry because of their situation and circumstances and those trials, tests and doubts solidified their relationship for me. 

I felt Aria and Perry grew more individually; strong separately, but stronger still together.  Aria was no longer the lost Dweller, terrified of the outside. She really embraced who she was even though she still struggled with where she belonged. Perry showed a more vulnerable and insecure side when it came to his feelings and his relationship with Aria. He struggled with wanting to protect the Tides while still doing the right thing in the end no matter how much his people disagreed.


Because both Aria and Perry had their own scores to settle, I think this added just a bit more adventure and thrill for the storyline. The friendship between Aria and Roar that was established in the first book definitely deepened in this book. It was probably my most favorite part because their bond was different from the Perry and Aria bond, but just as touching and heartfelt than ever. I liked seeing the previous secondary characters I barely got a glimpse of get bigger parts, even though some of those characters made me want to punch them in the face. 

Plot wise there were many problems the main characters had to face whether they be directly or indirectly related to one another. Each faced a whole lot throughout the novel and it really added depth to everything. This book wasn’t solely set on Aria and Perry finding the Still Blue, though that was their main goal. Other elements were definitely at play (Aether storms, Hess, the Horns, Dwellers vs Outsiders) coupled with Rossi’s talent to really emphasize the world surrounding the characters, there wasn’t room to be bored. There were just plenty of surprising twists that kept me on my toes and there wasn’t an ounce of pain, betrayal, loss and heartache that I didn’t feel along the way. 

Overall, Through the Ever Night was far beyond anything I ever expected. Rossi really outdone herself and all I can say is that I loved every single page of what she created here. 

Read my review for Under the Never Sky, the first book in this amazing trilogy!

REVIEW: Under the Never Sky by Veronica Rossi

Title: Under the Never Sky (Under the Never Sky #1)
Author: Veronica Rossi
Publisher: HarperCollins
Published 3 January 2012
Format: ARC: 374 pages*

Aria is a teenager in the enclosed city of Reverie. Like all Dwellers, she spends her time with friends in virtual environments, called Realms, accessed through an eyepiece called a Smarteye. Aria enjoys the Realms and the easy life in Reverie. When she is forced out of the pod for a crime she did not commit, she believes her death is imminent. The outside world is known as The Death Shop, with danger in every direction. 
As an Outsider, Perry has always known hunger, vicious predators, and violent energy storms from the swirling electrified atmosphere called the Aether. A bit of an outcast even among his hunting tribe, Perry withstands these daily tests with his exceptional abilities, as he is gifted with powerful senses that enable him to scent danger, food and even human emotions. 
They come together reluctantly, for Aria must depend on Perry, whom she considers a barbarian, to help her get back to Reverie, while Perry needs Aria to help unravel the mystery of his beloved nephew’s abduction by the Dwellers. Together they embark on a journey challenged as much by their prejudices as by encounters with cannibals and wolves. But to their surprise, Aria and Perry forge an unlikely love - one that will forever change the fate of all who live UNDER THE NEVER SKY.


My Review:
Under the Never Sky by Veronica Rossi was amazing! It was a beautiful dystopian/post apocalyptic read with the most endearing love story. I thought Veronica’s writing was smooth and very creative. The world building in UTNS was spectacular. It didn’t take long before I was wrapped up into the story. I thought Veronica Rossi’s ideas were most original. All down to the Dwellers, the Outsiders/Savages, Reverie, Crovens and the Aether filled sky. It was such an alluring read.

Aria has always lived in safety of Reverie, protected by the outside known as the Death Shop. Reverie and the Realms is all she’s ever known. Everything changes when she’s tossed out of Reverie. While roaming the outside, she runs into Perry. He’s an Outsider, a Savage. He has tattoos, hunts for his food and has eyes that gleam like an animal during the night. Together, they embark on a journey through the outside, fighting for their survival. For Aria, she wishes to be reunited with her Mother. For Perry, he wishes to save and bring his beloved nephew home. The two never thought they could get along, let alone be friends. However, their journey brings them much closer than that. Despite their differences, Perry and Aria fall in love under the never sky.



I have to admit that I had trouble in the beginning of the book, but this usually happens to me with dystopian/post apocalyptic novels. The beginning felt a little slow because I was so confused! I didn’t understand what was going on. However, I believe this made the book even better. I loved how I ended up learning more and more about the world in UTNS as I read along. The more I read, the more information became known and slowly everything unraveled for me. It was like discovering treasured gold. 



I really love how Veronica Rossi spilt the perspectives into two, between Aria and Perry. I always have a problem with this because some books I’ve read have failed at dual perspectives. This was not the case in UTNS. Veronica Rossi excels at making Aria and Perry’s voice completely different. I knew whose head I was in without having to look back at the chapter title. What I also love about the spilt POVs was the fact that we got into the head of not one character, but two. I love that so much. It’s different and gives you more insight into the story. Aria and Perry are two people from different parts of the same world so it made sense for the story to be told this way. 



Aria and Perry were lovely main characters. I fell in love with them instantly. Aria has this fire and spunk that I adore completely. Perry is hard and tough as nails, but has a soft and caring heart. Both of them together made a perfect twosome. Their banter with each other is very funny and enjoyable. I also loved their chemistry together. They reminded me of Pocahontas and John Smith only with reversed roles. 



The last few chapters surprised and shocked me as well. I never thought those last few scenes would happen. It was such a thrill to read. I thought the ending was perfect close to the book. 



Overall, UTNS was a very impressive dystopian novel. The world building was exceptional and the characters had distinctive personalities. I, for one will be waiting in agony for book 2.



Veronica Rossi’s Under the Never Sky is a must read!



My Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars.

*Thanks to @EpicReads (Harper) for sending me an ARC of this book. 
The publisher has no influence over my opinion/review of this book. It is solely my own.

Monday Current Read #4

My current read this week is..

Under the Never Sky by Veronica Rossi
Releases January 3, 2012

I'm reading this from an ARC won from @EpicReads

I always have a hard time getting sucked into a dystopian. It takes awhile for me to really visualize the world. It's the same for this book, but it didn't take long before I was lost :] I've been reading reviews and many believe it fits more in the sci-fi category. I honestly don't care if it's sci-fi or dystopian. It's a great book so far. I love Aria and Perry. But so far my favorite is Roar <3 I'm still getting to know the world Aria and Perry live in as I read and it's really cool. I'm nearly half way done. I want to finish before Veronica Rossi comes to San Diego for a book signed at Mysterious Galaxy on the 13th.

Be sure to pick this book up when it comes out! It's a good one!

Teaser Tuesday #1

Teaser Tuesday is weekly meme hosted by MizB from Should Be Reading.

My teaser for today is from an *ARC of Under the Never Sky by Veronica Rossi.
Expected release date is January 3, 2012.

Vale handed the rack to Bear. It grew so quiet that Perry heard Bear's leather vest squeak as he moved. Perry's vision started tunneling as it did when he hunted. page 74.

Thanks to Epic Reads (HarperCollins) and Veronica Rossi for sending me this ARC.

*Changes may have been made from ARC to Final Copy.