Under the Never Sky by Veronica Rossi

Sorry I didn't post this yesterday -- le husband has a sinus infection and I'm desperately trying to not get sick as the musical I'm in is being performed in a few days (!!!).  So I was taking care of him, running errands, in rehearsals...you get the idea.

BUT

I have a nice new review for you, AND, next week, we'll take a look at Who Could That Be At This Hour? by Lemony Snicket!  I have a wonderful friend who let me borrow their copy!!  Exciting!!!

And now, for a review of Under the Never Sky by Veronica Rossi:

I found it a bit difficult at first to get into this book.  The story switches between two characters and they are so different that going back and forth took real effort.  I put the book down for a few days and did other things and when I came back to it -- something had changed.

I'm not sure if I just got to the point of the story where it became easier to switch between characters or if I was just too interested in what was happening to care, but whatever the reason, Under the Never Sky sucked me in and didn't let go until I'd turned the last page.

Literally -- I was laying on my couch reading and when I was done my arm hurt so badly from holding the book!  I was sore for hours.  It was ridiculous.


Oddly enough, one of the big things I liked is that the characters are so different.  There's the Insider and the Outsider and the way they see each other.  Of course, when they are thrown together, they have to learn to survive (each other and the elements) and throw their prejudices to the wind.  They're all each other has.  This makes for great story because you have internal and external conflict and there's so much you can do with that -- not just life-and-death situations, but the day to day living with someone you don't know/trust.

Over the course of the story, things take a romantic turn, but it wasn't a mushy, gooey, cheesy high school romance.  These are two people who have survived -- almost being killed, starved, living in the wild, etc.  They are tough.  They are brave.  They are willing to do whatever it takes to find their loved ones -- even if it means having to go their separate ways.  This means the love story is also tough (they know they probably won't be able to stay together), brave (they decide to be together anyway) and take the risk to be with each other, which ends up making them better people -- it brings about healing in their own lives, which is what real love should do.

It isn't completely tragic, but I know the book is the first of a series, so I'm wondering what the eventual conclusion is -- everything is set up as if they won't be able to stay together -- they're from different worlds, really.

I also want to mention how real the world felt, even though, again, there are two very different ways of life portrayed in the books -- one sci-fi and one primitive.  It made me consider how hi-tech parts of our world are, some right next to still primitive settlements.

The story isn't as much about the romance (thank goodness) as it is about the human spirit and what we'll do for love (familial love, romantic love, love of friends, etc.).

If you like science fiction, survival stories, epic romance, or exploring strange new worlds -- Under the Nevery Sky is for you.

Check it (and the sequels' covers) out here:  Under the Never Sky

See you on Wednesday -- I'll be discussing writing habits and more from Writing The Breakout Novel by Donald Maass!