Through the Ever Night (Under the Never Sky Trilogy, 2)

Title: Through the Ever NightAuthor: Veronica RossiRating: 5 StarsMy Review - CONTAINS SPOILERS!I had to go back and re-read a lot of UTNS because it had been so long, but I have to say it was worth it. The reread reminded me of everything I loved about this story.Lately I feel like I've been keeping too tight a hold on my 5 star ratings, making everything I enjoy come out in this very narrow 4 star range. This book reminded me of the things that make something a "5 Star" for me. It's very simple. I loved the story. I will read it again. I wanted to read again about the minute I finished and I did go back and re-read sections of the 1st again, I like it that much. I realized that some people may save their 5 Stars for prize-winning, earth-shattering, every-kid-in-America-is-going-to-be-forced-to-read-this-in-school level...but that's not the qualifier for me. For me, it's about what I loved. And I love this series.So on to Through the Ever Night.I love the relationship between Perry and Aria, as well as both characters individually.Aria - Re-reading UTNS made me remember how large a transformation that Aria underwent in that book alone. By the tine Through the Ever Night begins, she's a genuine Outsider in her own right. She's getting better as an Aud, learning how to use her abilities more and more every day. She likes the outdoors and holds her own hunting, hiking, and even fighting. She seems older and calmer, somehow. And then she is exposed to Reverie again, and her friends, and it brings back all of that transformation to the forefront of your mind. This is a girl between worlds, unwelcome in either, yet entirely at home within her own skin. She's so confident, in fact, that at times you forget how much it hurts her to see her home crumble, some of her friends and all of her comrades bereft as they are left behind by their leader, Consul Hess, to die. Despite Aria's strength in those moments, Rossi lets you feel her pain as well, reminding you of who she once was and what she's lost...as well as what she's gained.Perry - Personally, Perry is right in my fictional-male-lead "wheelhouse" so I'm not sure that I can be unbiased in my consideration of him. That being said, I really loved the way that Perry evolved into the true Blood Lord of the Tides. Learning by experience, listening to his mentors and supporters, and being willing to also listen to the courage of his own convictions in the end. These qualities all molded Perry into an excellent leader. Not that you doubted that he could be...but everyone else besides Aria, including Perry, doubted it. What's worse, his relationship with Aria put him at odds with his tribe at just the wrong time.Their realization at the end that they were better together than apart, no matter what people thought, was the most important aspect of their maturation as individuals and as a couple.Mate-swapping. Ok, I know it's hard to write about two people hopelessly devoted to one another without any temptation...particularly lovers as young as Aria and Perry. It could seem boring or unrealistic, especially across three books. But there is such as thing as loyalty in relationships. Some people are naturally faithful, particularly when they are deeply in love. And so I have to say that I never bought the whole, "Uh, oh...is Aria going to hook up with Roar and Perry with Kirra?"In the case of Aria and Roar, that groundwork was laid in UTNS, but I never really bought it. You don't "feel" it from Aria at all...so you don't expect her to waver. In the case of Kirra, she was obviously temptation on two feet - the siren intended to lead him astray. Given that you're aware that prior to Aria, Perry *ahem* enjoyed women, you might buy this. Except that Kirra is so unbelievably icky. I know she's a Scire, but she's so gross I couldn't imagine Perry with her. I'd sooner imagine him with Brooke than Kirra. So unfortunately Ms. Rossi, you sold me so completely on Aria + Perry Forever that I couldn't follow you down temptation's path. I was antsy for us to push past it and get to the real fireworks! :)Roar and Liv - The Great Tragedy. Whenever you read about Roar, the next thing you hear about is always Liv. It was like they were two halves of one whole. In fact, one reason you never suspected Roar and Aria was because you were aware of Roar's being rendered to Liv (ie - I can't freaking live without you, basically). So when Liv rejected him when they first arrived at Sable's, I thought, "Is Rossi trying to set up Aria + Roar, because I don't think Aria is on board with that." But no...it was a bit of fun misdirection. Roar and Liv are one in all the stories, in all the family memories Perry shares (eventually), and in Roar's heart forever. The severing of this tie will have world-shaking consequences, I believe. I expect to feel the reverberations throughout Into the Still Blue.The Return of Cinder. You almost forget about Cinder every other chapter even though you have a sense that he's really important. He's a shadow. I imagine him like Caspar the ghost, always running away and showing up again, always on the edges, flickering, wavering, wanting to be in the center of life, but afraid he will snuff it accidentally. Your heart aches for this character that is more spirit than boy. He's obviously really powerful and yet, in this book what you love most about him is the way that he slowly opens up to Willow's constant loving ministrations and friendship. His story is so heartbreaking, his desperation so deep. In the end you find that despite having nearly forgotten him over and over, you're not surprised that the story centers on him once again.World-building. Rossi's world-building is fairly impressive, IMHO. I can picture her world, despite it's being very foreign, and there are at least quasi-scientific explanations for some of the elements of this strange post-apocalyptic landscape. The Aether is a very interesting idea and I think she gives you an excellent sense of it, like a cross between lightning and plasma. And the idea that under such energy, living things might mutate in response to the energy...that is plausible enough for me to go with the story. I enjoy her world and look forward to Into the Still Blue so that I can see more of it.Villains - Sable, Hess, Soren. Of the three primary villains in the story, I like the re-introduction of the Soren character the best (unexpectedly). Rossi manages to create Soren as a layered character with his tragic "Phantom of the Opera" persona. Even so, danger hovers around his edges like an aura and you never trust him, despite the fact that he comes through for Aria and lives up to his agreements. He will be an interesting one to follow in the next story.Hess is too "pure evil" for me to be super-interested in him. Yes, you detest him, but so far, he's not that interesting. Sable we don't know well enough to totally judge, but seems interesting so far. He's stronger and more in control in some ways, than Hess, which makes you respect him as a villain. But he also will evolve quite a bit (I expect) in the next story. I wish we could have a movie version of this and see the look on Sable's face when Aria grabs Roar and pitches them both backward out the window into the river. THAT was totally BA!A Thought About the Author's Choices - I like the break points Rossi chose. Her story has enough potential "break-points" that she could have stopped at different ones than she ultimately chose. For example, a lot of people would have left you hanging in Under the Never Sky without confirmation that Aria and Perry had found one another again. I LOVED that she cut you off just as you were sure they'd find each other. Awesome. At the same time, the interactions between Perry and "Braids" (Reef) and his guys toward the end of this book seemed weird to me, like, "Why is she telling me so much about these guys all of the sudden?" And then the role they play in Through the Ever Night tells you, "Oh, that's why. It would be weird to introduce them for the first time in this book." I felt the same way when I read Through the Ever Night - that there were several points at which she could have ended it in readiness for the next book. But I can appreciate the decision-making Rossi has done so far. Writing my own trilogy has been more challenging and more fascinating than I'd ever anticipated and these "cut-off points" in the story are one of the harder decisions to make. I changed my second book's ending point significantly and I'm glad I did. But it could have gone either way... Rossi seems adept at this. I'll definitely trust her judgement for the rest of this ride.Through the Ever Night - Veronica RossiThrough the Ever Night - Veronica RossiThe Cover - Normally I don't comment too much on covers. I love them pretty, of course, but generally, I love them related to the story. The one at the top of this post appears to be the true cover but I have to say I'm perplexed. I can't tell if the character on the cover has a scar so I'm not sure if it's Soren, but that doesn't make any sense. It's not Perry. So that leaves me Roar? I'm assuming this is Roar because he plays a major, central role in this story, but...Roar and only Roar on the cover? I just don't get it.I found this alternate image (right) that appears to be a legit version as well (rather than Fan Love). I like it MUCH better because it is Aria and it gives you a little more feeling of the world and the Aether. I wish that with a story with this kind of world-building, that they'd committed to more fantastical covers along these lines...SummaryI know this may seem a bit scattered, but it's my review all the same. I love this story. It makes me think about so many things that I can't get it all in one post. I think about the characters and feel for them hours, days, weeks after reading about them. I want to go back and feel their feelings and experience their experiences again. I recommend this book and can't wait for the next. It was worth the wait.

Wow, I don't even know what to say. To say I was anticipating this book would be an understatement. I truly loved Under the Never Sky. I relished it and couldn't get enough of the characters, the world building, the emotions it brought out in me. And now, to have read the second book in this series, I can honestly say that it was even better than the first. How did Rossi do that? How did she take me from loving her characters to REALLY loving her characters? From being held in suspense with her cliffhanger ending, to not wanting this second installment to end? I'll tell you how: with great story telling and magnificent writing, that's how!Blurb from Goodreads: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 unforgettableI'd like to take a moment to comment on this totally and completely Amazing cover. I have to say that the original cover of Under the Never Sky did not capture me, despite the fact that the story did. And when Rossi released the new cover, I almost cried. It was so perfect. Fit the story of Aria just so well. And then when I saw this amazing cover, I couldn't contain myself. The colors, the guy on the front, everything about it, just captures and enthralls me. It calls to me, making me want to open and relish what is inside.And could Rossi have made her characters better. I didn't think I could like Aria more. She's strong and efficient, affectionate and knowledgeable. But most of all, she knows what to do and when to do it and she's not afraid to do what she needs to do. And she will fight to get it. In Under the Never Sky, she was closed and disorienting, she was weak and fragile. In this book, she is open and understandable; she stands as a fighter and is a force to be reckoned with. She doesn't do stupid things, although some might say she does. She does what she feels is right, what needs to be done to keep those she loves safe.And Perry, oh Perry, he's just totally "swoonable." More so now with how he will readily show that he has a great love for Aria. That she needs to be part of his life because he is rendered to her and will never be able to let go. And his growth in this book is amazing. He goes from a simple hunter, to the Blood Lord, someone who is in charge. And this responsibility is a hard load for him to handle, something that sits like a huge weight upon his shoulders. He doesn't take comfortably to it at first, he slowly grows into it earning the respect of the tribe as he makes mistakes and learns from them, but also makes decisions that he knows are right.But, my favorite character, by far, is Roar. I just cannot get enough of him. He is arrogant and completely cocky. He loyal and totally loving. He is hysterically funny and knows just the right thing to say in every situation. But, most of all, he's completely loveable and easily understandable. He is open, there is nothing cryptic about him. Nothing mysterious that leaves you wondering why he is the way he is. Roar is very much an open book that tugs at your heart strings and really sticks it right to your emotions. To say that I did not feel his emotions in this book would be a lie because, despite the book really being from Aria and Perry's POVs, you can totally see and feel every part that Roar is in. Every scene that he enters is crisp and clean, raw and intense. I love him so much.And we get a short glimpse into the woman that is Liv. Too short, in my opinion, and I wonder if there will be more of her in the future. I certainly hope we get some kind of HEA for Roar because he so deserves it.The story line is loaded with action and adventure. I wasn't sure that Rossi would surpass what she was able to do in the first book, how can you top the sensations you felt as Aria and Perry got to know one another? But she really was able to do it, and with ease, it seems. Rossi balanced the happy so well with the heartbreak, you didn't want to stop reading, even though you knew it might break you in two. But most of all this story loaded with emotion and raw intensity. I love Rossi's use of words and how she totally draws you into her story through the aether and the tension it brings to the tribes and dwellers. I also love the survival instinct she instills in her characters throughout the book. And how this overflows to all the characters who know that in order to survive they must look out for one thing, themselves. Yet, her "leaders" are determined to live and fight along side their keep and do what is best for them.I think one of my favorite parts of the story line is how well Rossi is able to help you picture the differences in the worlds of the dwellers and outsiders. It's amazing that she can take you from this savage, unpredictable landscape to the enclosed, sterile realms of the pods. Simply amazing.If you thought you loved Under the Never Sky, thought there was now way Rossi could top herself, you will find that you were dead wrong when you read this story. Already I am wondering what will happen next. Already I am thinking I want the next book and the wait will be more than I can bear. So, do I recommend this book, um, from my 5 star rating I am sure that you will say yes! Go, run, prance, dance to the store or online and get this book NOW. Because, if you were a fan of the first book, I promise this second installment does not fall flat or to the wayside in any way, shape or form!5 stars from me.

This book was everything I loved about the first book, only more. It strikes the perfect balance between character progression and action - Rossi gets it exactly right.We all know a middle book is often disappointing, but not this time. Through the ever night has Aria and Perry adjusting to their new roles - Perry is learning how to be a leader, and his development into that role is tumultuous at best which makes for a great read. Meanwhile, Aria has to adjust to fitting into a tribe of people who really don't want her there and has her own mission with fellow Aud Roar as they set off to rescue Liv and Talon.I love that this book isn't heavy on the romance. Aria and Perry are separated for a large part of the book, leaving room for secondary relationships and secondary characters like Talon, Soren and most importantly Cinder to really blossom. This book helps you get to know the members of the Tides and honestly I absolutely fell in love with the dynamics; many arguments, combined with the familiarity of living in a small community, really make this book. Cinder has a particularly integral role to play in this book and his character flourishes - you will adore him! Equally Soren, who you might imagine to be a typical bad guy of the story, is actually given a more detailed role in this book and I'm looking forward to seeing how this might progress.And finally, Roar and Liv are reunited! I've been waiting since the "Roar and Liv" novella to see this.This book leaves a lot open for the final instalment, which is great. I have no idea how it's going to go. Rossi brilliantly develops this story with a more realistic approach, such that the main characters may not always get the happy ending we predicted at the beginning. I love not knowing who might make it - happy endings are boring!I can't wait to see what happens next.

Through the Ever Night by Veronica Rossi is the second book in the trilogy which started with Under the Never Sky. That book introduced us to this world and these characters. I remember absolutely loving Under the Never Sky when I read it several years ago. It felt addictive and emotional and incredibly exciting.Unfortunately for me, that same level of emotion and excitement wasn't quite there when I was reading this sequel. I could see that there were lots of several very tense scenes, lots of people being reunited and being separated but I couldn't quite bring myself to feel very much about these comings and goings. And I can't quite put my finger on if it's the writing style that let me down or if it's just the huge gap in time between reading the first book in the series and this book?The following review will have minor spoilers for the first book in the series, Under the Never Sky, but will not contain any spoilers for Through the Ever Night. If you have not yet read Under the Never Sky and would like to, I would suggest not reading any further!Through the Ever Night takes place directly after the ending of Under the Never Sky and Perry and Aria are reunited after the explosive events of Under the Never Sky. Perry is now the Blood Lord of The Tides and Aria is being blackmailed by Hess to find the location of the Still Blue with Talon, Perry's nephew, being used as leverage. Perry and Aria are determined to stay together and work with each other to find the Still Blue in order to save Talon but also to save The Tides.But what neither of them realise is how much things have changed. Especially for Perry who now have hundreds of people depending on him to lead them into safety. Because things aren't great for them right now. They're facing starvation and uncertainty with the Aether throwing down storms that threaten their very existence. And while Perry might have thought the hard work was done when he became Blood Lord, it's actually a lot more complicated as he must earn the respect of those he's leading. And none of them are all that keen to accept Aria as one of them.What I found interesting about this book is that the challenges that are placed upon Perry and Aria help each of them to see that it might be better to be with other people - other people who share their special gift, or other people who would be more acceptable to their families and communities. These things, I thought, helped them both to see that love is hard and that it's going to be difficult but that they what's important is the choosing to be with someone during the good times and the bad.A lot happens during Through the Ever Night. There are lots of new twists and alliances made and I thought it was an interesting second book in this trilogy. I'm hoping to read the third book very soon as I'd love to know how this story will end and I hope the best for these very intriguing characters!

It was twelve months ago that I was introduced to a new and amazing series by Veronica Rossi which of course, was her debut novel, Under the Never Sky. And since waiting them twelve long months, never once were Aria and Perry far from my mind. It's not often that I read a debut novel and even without having read the sequel, does it make me nervous, but I was for Through the Ever Night. I was nervous to start because as you know, some sequels are major let downs and I really didn't want this to happen with this series. However, I'm thrilled to say, Through the Ever Night did not disappoint one bit! Brilliantly written, very imaginative and captivating from the start, Veronica Rossi has done it again and now, my twelve month - long wait has started all over again, while I wait for Into the Still Blue.Through the Ever Night starts perfectly. Aria and Perry meet up after a few months apart and their reunion was fantastic. It wasn't unrealistic; it was very real and true. I was worried that Perry and Aria may not have many scenes together and while this is the case in the middle of the book, it's not the case from the start or the ending. The start, admittedly, is a little slower paced than what were used to, but not once does it wavier your thoughts to something else. I was compelled and 100% committed to this story and even though both Aria and Perry have to take journeys apart, I honestly didn't mind.The plot of the story thickens also and you can see every little detail slowly coming together. I was dying to know what Aria and Perry were going to do, what happened to Liv and what Cinder's real story is and boy do we find out. Cinder for me, is a secondary character that you automatically love, but you know there's more to him than meets the eye. He's got a bigger role to play than anyone could have ever imagined, and you're only going to find a solution within the third book. The rest of the characters I feel I have a very strong bond too. I feel as though I'm right there with them during the story - experiencing what they feel and what they do. My heart breaks for them, it broke for Perry, for Aria, for Roar, for Cinder and for Liv. Here are five people that love with all their hearts, and have so much hope and strength, but everything threatens to tear them apart. It's heart-breaking to read!All in all, Veronica Rossi does the readers proud with Through the Ever Night because of how beautiful her work is. She's a fantastic writer - one that I believe will deliver an epic finale with Into the Still Blue.

I bought this book not long after reading the first book, I was both intrigued with what would happen between Perry and Aria and what was in store for them as a couple.I think this book was a lot different from the first in terms of Perry having to stay and be the Blood Lord and Aria heading out with Bear. There was an obvious distance both physically and emotionally between Aria and Perry and I feel the short lived and rather unneeded introduction of Kirra was both annoying and boring.I am looking forward to the next book and can honestly admit .. I can't wait for it !!

Good 2nd book of the series - I felt it really got going in this book and lots of things became clear. Raced through it, one of the better teen trilogies.