Under the Never Sky by Veronica Rossi

It was the title of this book that made me read it and the rest of the books in this trilogy (Under the Never Sky, Through the Ever Night and Into the Still Blue) by Veronica Rossi… The ‘never sky’ sounded so beautiful and intriguing, and luckily, the books turned out to live up to the expectations. This series is not overly dystopian, more like YA fantasy/sci fi in a really good way. It’s a trilogy that just pulls you in. It’s a quick, fast-paced read, with nuanced characters and a complex, fascinating futuristic world.

This story is a kind of sci-fi Romeo and Juliet-tale with sheltered Aria meeting savage Perry and being forced to form an uneasy partnership to survive as outcasts. Aria has lived a protected, virtual, life in the enclosed city of Reverie; through the make-believe worlds she accesses through her ‘Smarteye’; the eyepatch that lets her tap into her virtual reality. Peregrine (Perry) is a savage from the outside world, where reality in the wasteland is harsh and dangerous. When Aria is expelled from the security of her dome, she has no-one but her wits and Perry to fall back on.

The narrative is told from dual perspectives, but from a third person perspective. Quite unique, but I liked it. It really helped build the characters of Aria and Perry. Truth be told, it’s actually Perry that is the most interesting character, who drives the story. He’s got all the manly hero attributes - tough, protective, and strong – yet Veronica Rossi managed to make him into one of the nicest guys ever in literature. Also, in the beginning he’s not that into Aria at all, but finds her fragile and annoying, with her artificial breeding and her aroma of rot. She in turn thinks he’s disgusting. It takes a lot of adjustment for them to begin to even see each other as people, rather than a means to an end.

Together they set out through the three books to find redemption, their lost loved ones and to unite the two people of Dwellers and Outsiders. The books are adventurous and thrilling, with interesting sci-fi tech and virtual reality aspects, and with the slow-romance between Aria and Perry as the draw. Basically, I think that the Under the Never Sky trilogy is a perfect mix of adventure and romance, sci-fi and dystopia, entertainment and heartbreak.

Find out more about the books and the author here: Veronica Rossi