Under the Never Sky (Under the Never Sky #1) by Veronica Rossi

Title: Under the Never Sky
Author: Veronica Rossi
Publisher: Atom
Release Date: February 7th, 2012
Pages: 374, Hardcover
Stars: 5 Stars

Summary from Goodreads:
Since she'd been on the outside, she'd survived an Aether storm, she'd had a knife held to her throat, and she'd seen men murdered. This was worse.

Exiled from her home, the enclosed city of Reverie, Aria knows her chances of surviving in the outer wasteland - known as The Death Shop - are slim. If the cannibals don't get her, the violent, electrified energy storms will. She's been taught that the very air she breathes can kill her. Then Aria meets an Outsider named Perry. He's wild - a savage - and her only hope of staying alive.

A hunter for his tribe in a merciless landscape, Perry views Aria as sheltered and fragile - everything he would expect from a Dweller. But he needs Aria's help too; she alone holds the key to his redemption. Opposites in nearly every way, Aria and Perry must accept each other to survive. Their unlikely alliance forges a bond that will determine the fate of all who live under the never sky.

I had heard great things about this series and lately even more with the second book coming out. I was really hoping it was going to live up to the hype and not disappoint… and OH MY, I LOVED IT. From the first chapter, Rossi immediately pulled me into the story and the characters. There is no slow introduction; I was quickly thrown into both Perry and Aria’s life. Aria is from the Reverie, a protected world, filled with Realms, perfection, and manipulation. Perry lives in the Real, in a world of struggle, dangerous storms, and survival.

After being unjustly exiled for a crime, Aria is left to die in the Real either by the elements or by the ‘Savages.’ Meanwhile, Perry is facing his own problems, he wants to challenge his brother for Blood Lord and to make matters even worse his only nephew gets kidnapped by the ‘Dwellers.’ Perry blames himself and sets of to rescue Talon. Aria and Perry cross paths again and make a pact; he will help her get to her mother and she will help rescue Talon. While facing the dangers of being on the run, pursued by people who want them dead, and the deadly Aether storms, Aria and Perry form a special bond.

"They reached for each other then like some force had pulled their hands together. Ari looked at their fingers as they laced together, bringing her the sensation of his touch....She absorbed the terror and beauty of him and his world. Of every moment over the past days. All of it, filling her up like the first breath she'd ever taken. And never had she loved life more"

That pretty much sums up how I felt reading the second half of the book and seeing their relationship unfold. Aria is able to listen to one last message her mother gave her, learning the secrets of her family and her mother’s job. Perry learns terrible truths about his brother. With this new knowledge, the two know what needs to be done; Aria must go back into the Reverie.

Under the Never Sky was an amazing story, full of adventure, passion, and survival. I don’t even know where to start to explain the greatness of this book. Rossi paints such a vivid world,
“On the third morning, she stepped out of the elevator to a new sky, shot through with swirls or blue light. The eddies ran calm above her, but turned brighter and faster on the horizon. It was Van Gogh's Starry Night, right before her eyes."
You can envision the powerful storms and the never sky so clearly. Not only is the world well described, but the way of life is believable, everything is perfectly thought out.

I loved the alternating POVs between Aria and Perry. Although their relationship grew rather quickly, it was not forced in the least. And a bonus, no love triangle! The development was well paced and story just flew by. Even when parts seem a bit cliché, Rossi throws in humor to offset it. For example, when Aria and Perry have to stay in a cave Aria thinks, "She'd have laughed if she could. Of course it would be a cave."

Under the Never Sky has a well imaged/described world, passion, secrets, surprises, and adventures all rolled up into one great book. This was easily a 5 star read, I already started Through the Ever Night. This is how I felt finishing the book.  Oh, and the ending.. was PERFECT :)