Monday, November 17, 2014

Under the never sky by Veronica Rossi

I have been in a sci-fi mood as of late, so many of the books I have read in the last few months have been of this genre.
I must say, the story intrigued me.  I love the dystopian/don't-know-what-is-beyond-the-walls/maniacal government sort of thing, and this novel delivered in that aspect.  Aria is a girl from one of the "pods".  She has lived her life underground, where everything is simulated with this eye patch-type of device that you wear over your eye (think Wall-e with Google glass).  You can visit different realms or worlds by searching a database fed to you through your eye cover.
When Aria must leave the pod, she discovers that the outside world is scary, desolate, and dangerous.  However, she also finds out that not everything she was told in her pod is true.  People do live and function in the outside world; living their lives around the power of the aether, the electrical force that can destroy an entire landscape or village in a matter of minutes.  In this outside world, Aria meets Perry, a would-be leader who has run from his village.  Aria and Perry find that in order to return to their respective worlds, they need each other's help.
What I liked - the story was very good - I liked the characters, and I felt the story progression worked very well - all of the action and adventure did not seem forced.
What I did not like - the love story.  I know, I know, it is YA, so there will be love.  I was prepared for that.  What had me rolling my eyes to the point that I could see the back of my head was the rushed/forced feeling of the love story.  Aria and Perry HATE each other.  They barely speak to each other, he finds her incredibly annoying to the point that he ignores everything about her, and she finds him so foul (smelling and acting) that she wants nothing to do with him.  Then, all of the sudden, they can't keep their hands off each other.  For, like, three chapters, I have to sit through them sharing their feelings and never wanting to part.  Blech!  Get on with the story arch, already!

Overall, I would definitely give this to my Divergent/Hunger Games kiddos, but my die-hard sci-fi fans would have trouble with the sudden shift from sci-fi action to romance.