Mundie Moms

Sunday, January 15, 2012

Book Review: Under The Never Sky by Veronica Rossi

Published by: Harper Teen
Released on: January 3rd, 2012
Source: ARC from publisher to review, purchased book
5 stars: I LOVED It!
Browse inside the book via Harper Teen

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 -quoted from Goodreads

What a stunning debut! I really wasn't prepared to be totally swept off my feet with this book like I was. Veronica's writing is brilliant and it didn't take me long at all to totally fall in love with her amazing story. I LOVED the feel of this book. For me it felt like a blend of fantasy, dystopian and a little bit of sci-fi, which worked beautifully for this book. Along with the fascinating world that Veronica's created are some unforgettable characters. I really enjoyed the journey I took with Aria and Perry, so much so that I kept turning the blank pages of the ARC hoping to find just a little bit more of the story. I didn't want to leave the world or the characters just yet, and I'm sure I'll have the same longing feeling even with this series ends, and it's just beginning.

Aria is one of those beautiful characters who truly grows so much through out this story. I liked her from the moment the story opens, but I really feel in love with the person she becomes. Her story begins when she's banished from her home and left to "survive" on her own in a world she knows nothing about, except for the scary stories she's been told. Someone like her isn't made to survive in the "wild", or so she thinks. Aria isn't one to sit back and accept her fate, she's a fighter and a survivor, and she's also has the help of Perry, a Savage. These two have such an awesome chemistry together! I loved every moment I spent reading about them.

They both start having these preconceived prejudices against each other, but during the course of their journey things start to change between them as they learn more about each other and their abilities. I really enjoy watching the two of them change and grow closer together as they learn to trust in each other. Veronica does such a beautiful job at unraveling their relationship little by little. Their relationship really comes full circle during their journey, and that ending...*sigh* The world they're surrounded by is enticing, wild and totally dangerous, and I really liked that Veronica created characters who were able to adapt to this world, and in Aria's case learn to adapt in it. Aside from Perry and Aria, I absolutely adored Roar! He totally brings the humor into this story and at all the right moments too. He's the best sidekick for Perry and Aria, and I loved the history he and Perry have together. There's some hilarious moments between the three of them. He's someone I seriously wanted to spend more time with in this story.

I'm going to sound generic when I say this, but I seriously loved everything about this book. I swear I was completely mesmerized by it. Veronica's writing is one that just hooks me. It's clear, it's beautiful, it's inviting and she makes me feel as though I'm right there experiencing everything her characters are. Under the Never Sky's world is truly unique and completely fascinating. I love a book that makes me wish I could hang out in it's world for just a little bit longer. The characters are brilliant! They're detailed, realistic and so easy to just love. Plus there's this little bit of history we get to learn about with both Perry and Roar's tribes, and the complex world they all live in. I really liked the attention to detail that Veronica gives with Perry's people, also known as the Outsiders. While there are still things that I'm curious to know more about in the next book, I really liked how Veronica wrapped up everything up with the first book. It felt complete even though I know there's a lot more to come.

There are so many more things I want to say about this book, but I don't know what else I can say that won't be a spoiler. I seriously highly recommend picking up this book! It's definitely being added to my shelf of all time favorites. I'm blown away this is only Veronica's debut book. I'm eagerly waiting the rest of this series to be released.

In My Mailbox #106 & Weekly Feature

Happy Sunday! Last week was a lot of fun as I was able to take part in a few blog tours, and I kicked off my blog tour for Cynthia Hand's HALLOWED. Be sure to follow the blog tour as there's a lot of AWESOME giveaways, author guest posts, interviews and spoiler free reviews that will be posted through out the two week tour.

Thank you to everyone who stopped by and visited my A Million Suns Launch Party blog post. If you've not yet picked up this book, I highly recommend it. You can read my spoiler free 5 star review here. Thank you to Beth Revis for asking MM's to be apart of it.

Don't miss Sophie's post about Veronica Rossi's Under A Never Sky launch party she attended in California last weekend. If you've not year read this book, we both HIGHLY RECOMMEND IT! It's sooooo good.


This coming weekend I'll be at ALA!! If you're coming, let me know as I'd love to meet you in person and say HI! You can find out all about this weekends upcoming events HERE. I'm looking forward to this coming weekend and sharing all about my ALA adventures next week on the blog.

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Here's this week edition of In My Mailbox is a weekly meme hosted by The Story Siren. I still don't have a voice, so I didn't do a vlog this week. Here's the goodies I received this week for review, were gifted and purchased.


For Review:

* Everneath by Brodi Ashton, published by Harper Teen, to be released on 1/24/12 , published copy

* Perception by Kim Harrington, published by Scholastic, to be released on 3/1/12

* Last Rite by Lisa Desrochers, published by Tor, to be released on 5/8/12, signed

* Masque of Red Death by Bethany Griffin, published by Harper Teen, to be released on 4/24/12

* Halfmoon by Jordan Deen, published by Blackrose Writing, to be released on 1/13/11, signed

* Windchaser by Krissi Dallas, published by Tate Publishing, released on 12/13/11 , signed

* Windfall by Krissi Dallas, published by Tate Publishing, released on 12/13/11, signed

* My Family of the War by Anne C. Voorhoeve, published by Dial, to be released on 2/16/12

* The Final Four by Paul Volponi, published by Viking, to be released on 3/1/12


Gifted/for Giveaway:

A ton of Don't Breathe a Word swag from Holly Cupala. I'll be giving away book marks, stickers, mini posters and some other cool stuff here on the blog and on twitter.

I also received signed book marks from Lisa Dez to giveaway

Mundie Kid Reviews:

* The Boy on Cinnamon Street by Phoebe Stone, published by Scholastic, to be released on 2/1/12

* The Case of the Deadly Desperadoes by Caroline Lawrence, published by Putnam & Sons, to be released on 2/14/12

* The Dreamer by Pam Munoz Ryan & Peter Sis, published by Scholastic, paperback edition to be released on 3/1/12

* The Underworlds, The Battle Begins by Tony Abbott, published by Scholastic, to be released on 4/1/12

* The Underworlds, When Monsters Escape by Tony Abbott, published by Scholastic, to be released on 4/1/12

* Rainbow Magic, The Magical Animal Fairies: Ashley the Dragon Fairy by Daisy Meadows, published by Scholastic, to be released on 3/1/12

* Rainbow Magic, The Magical Animal Fairies: Caitlin the Ice Bear Fairy by Daisy Meadows, published by Scholastic, to be released on 3/1/12

* Dragons Easter Egg Hunt adapted by Mae Marks, published by Scholastic, to be released on 3/1/12

* The Fairy Treasure Hunt by Daisy Meadows, published by Scholastic, to be released on 3/1/12


Purchased:

* Bloodrose by Andrea Cremer (B & N special edition)

* Shatter Me by Tahereh Mafi

* Touch of Power by Maria V. Snyder

* The Fault in our Stars by John Green, signed

* Diary of a Wimpy Kid, Cabin Fever by Jeff Kinney

* LadyBug Girl collection of books


Thank you to:

Scholastic, Harper Teen, Penguin, Lisa Dez, Jordan Deen, Krissi Dallas, and Holly Cupala for this week's awesome reads and goodies. What did you receive this week? Leave me a link so I come check out your goodies!

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