Review: Under the Never Sky (Under the Never Sky #1)

Under the Never Sky (Under the Never Sky #1) by Veronica Rossi
Publication date: January 3. 2012
Publisher: HarperCollins

Exiled from her comfortable home, Aria knows her chances of surviving in the outer wasteland - called the Death Shop - are slim. Violent energy storms can strike suddenly, and even the air she breathes might kill her. Then Aria meets and Outsider named Perry. He's wild, dangerous - a savage. He's also her only hope. Because Aria alone holds the key to his redemption, Perry needs her, too. Their unlikely alliance will determine the fate of all who live under the never sky.

What a great start to a series.

The world that Rossi has created in Under the Never Sky is different from other YA books in its genre and, I think, it stands out among the rest. For example, I like her use of virtual reality and the tech gear used inside the Dome. Meanwhile, on the outside in the wastelands, Perry belongs to one of many tribes and lives a nomadic life. It's clear from the beginning of the book that Aria and Perry come from completely different backgrounds, so I was excited to experience when they meet up. Under the Never Sky has dual narration which sometimes doesn't work for me, but I think Rossi pulls it off successfully. I love both Aria and Perry, so I liked going into each of their heads and reading from their different perspectives (especially about each other!).

I also enjoyed the not-so-instant love connection Perry and Aria have. In fact, Aria smells bad to Perry for, like, the majority of the first half of the book. Adding that onto the fact he already doesn't like her (due to the blame he puts on her for his problems) leads to awkward companionship. You know what else is awkward? The fact that Perry can smell when Aria is on her period and the fact that she smells better when she is. I know for a fact this would probably not be true, but I guess it's nice to have that little fantasy none-the-less.

P.S. Perry has an excellent sense of smell. In fact, some characters born on the outside (I believe due to the Aether?) are born with heightened senses. I liked this idea, too.

I guess the only fault I have with it is the lack of explanation of the Aether storms. How, what, why? It's an excellent idea and one of the highlights of the story for me. It's a storm that I realize is deadly, but that I would love to stand outside and watch. Without dying. There are more books in the series, so I'm hoping there will be a gradual explanation.