Review: Into the Still Blue by Veronica Rossi

Summary:

The earth-shattering conclusion to Veronica Rossi's "masterpiece" Under the Never Sky trilogy and sequel to the New York Times bestselling Through the Ever Night (Examiner.com).

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.

Publication Date: January 28, 2014

I was definitely nervous starting Into the Still Blue. So many conclusions to YA trilogies that I’ve loved have turned out disappointing lately. The entire time I was reading Into the Still Blue, I was waiting for everyone to die or the book to end with no definitive answers. Although it wasn’t a HEA for all of the characters, I think Rossi did a wonderful job of concluding the series.

The beginning was a little slow for me and I think I needed some time to get reacquainted with the characters and recall the major plot points of the last book. Once I immersed myself fully in the world Rossi created, I really enjoyed the novel. I think the beginning was rough too because of Roar. He’s a favorite character of mine and it was tough to see him tormented. It tore at my heart to see him hating the world after the devastating loss he suffered in the last novel. The one thing I was happy about in regards to Roar was that the friendship between him and Aria continued to develop. At times it seemed like the starting of a love triangle and I was thrilled Rossi decided not to go in that direction.

Aria and Perry are equally great characters and I liked reading from their dual POVs. There was still romantic angst between the two, but they have certainly grown through the books. Less time is spent on their romance and more on the showdown between the Tides and baddies Sable and Hess. They are equally scary villains and neither came off as one-dimensional. Hess’s son Soren really grew on me in this book and he provided comic relief while Roar was brooding. The one character arc I was displeased with was Cinder’s part in the story. Although he was the savior, it was almost like he had a walk on part in this book. 

I love Rossi’s writing style and felt transported to the stormy world where Perry and Aria reside. Although her descriptive writing is phenomenal, I never felt like the story got bogged down with flowery language. Action scenes were exciting and the suspense had me biting my nails until the tension was resolved.

Although this book may not be my favorite of the series, I still liked it a lot and felt like the series ended in a satisfactory manner.

Rating: 4/5 Stars

Thanks to the publisher for a copy of this novel for review!  

Review: Through the Ever Night (Under the Never Sky #2) by Veronica Rossi

Goodreads Summary:

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?

In this second book in her spellbinding Under the Never Sky trilogy, Veronica Rossi combines fantasy and dystopian elements to create a captivating love story as perilous as it is unforgettable.

Publication Date: January 8, 2013

This sequel to Under the Never Sky was absolutely amazing! After this book, this series has probably earned the title of my favorite YA dystopian reads. Rossi got everything right in this book: the characters, the world building, the romance and the conflict were all written expertly.

To be honest, it took me a little while to get into the first book. It was good, but I had read so many other dystopians around that time, the book kind of got lost in the mix. However, this wasn’t the case with Through the Ever Night. The book grabbed me from the beginning and didn’t let go until I finished.

Rossi’s talent lies in how she’s able to make the reader feel connected to her characters, even though they’re from a completely foreign world. I love Perry, Aria and Roar. The characters’ emotions jump off of the page without the work getting bogged down in angsty inner monologues. The relationships between the characters feel real and the emotions aren’t forced merely to move the plot along.

Perry and Aria are probably one of my top five favorite book couples. Their interactions were amazing and it was obvious how much love they have for one another. Each was willing to make sacrifices for the other and I love the portrayal of such a beautiful and selfless love. My second favorite relationship was the friendship that developed between Roar and Aria. I love Roar! My heart broke for him as he set off to have Liv returned home to the Tides.

The plot moved at a great pace. There’s plenty of action and a lot of suspense in the book, especially the scenes with Sable at his compound. Sable was a great villain and I think he was even scarier than Hess. I enjoyed how readers were always kept guessing at the intentions of the characters and was never sure who was good and who was bad.

The world building was just as well done as the first book. I can easily picture the Aether and the world’s desperation to find the Still Blue. What I liked about this book was that it explored more about how the outsiders lived and how their tribes survived without the assistance of the pods.

I loved how many of the politics of Aria and Perry’s world could be applied to any society. The hatred between the “savages” and “dwellers” is obvious and it’s easy to sympathize with the difficulties that Aria and Perry face as a couple coming from two different factions.

Go and read this series! Five stars are not enough to demonstrate my love for this book. I can’t wait for the final installment! It’s going to be a long wait for 2014 =(

Rating: 5/5 Stars!!!

Thanks to the publisher for a copy of this book for review!

Waiting on Wednesday #3

Waiting on Wednesday is hosted by Breaking the Spine and highlights an upcoming release we're eagerly awaiting.

Through the Ever Night (Under the Never Sky #2) by Veronica Rossi

Publication Date: January 8, 2013

Goodreads Summary:

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?

In this second book in her spellbinding Under the Never Sky trilogy, Veronica Rossi combines fantasy and dystopian elements to create a captivating love story as perilous as it is unforgettable.

The first book had one of my favorite YA couples in it and I can't wait to see where their story goes. What books are you waiting on?