Just Finished Reading ... Through the Ever Night by Veronica Rossi

Through The Ever Night
by Veronica Rossi
To be published by HarperTeen
on January 8, 2013

Source: eARC from publisher via Edelweiss. See my FTC disclosure here.




This is book two of a series and my review may contain mild spoilers. If you need a refresher on book one, email me. I re-read it as part of an EpicReads challenge. And I took notes!

My summary: Aria and Perry are the unlikeliest of couples. She's a Dweller, he's an Outsider. He's a Scire who must marry someone who shares his special gift. He's also become a Blood Lord who rules over the people of the Tides, people who don't welcome a Dweller like Aria among them. But as both Aria's world of domes and alternate reality and Perry's world in the wilds is threatened by Aether storms running out of control, both of them have the same goal: to find the Still Blue, a place reputed to be safe and free of Aether. If they fail, they may all perish together.

My take: I liked Under the Never Sky -- you can read my review here. But I have to say that I enjoyed Through The Ever Night even more. I was already up to speed with the story world and its characters, and could just sit back and enjoy the show. Through The Ever Night benefits from all the groundwork set up on book one. We now have two pairs of starcrossed lovers, several different Outsider tribes in conflict with one another and also with Aria's Dweller community, a couple of great villains (both Commander Hess and Liv's betrothed, Sable) an environmental threat AND a mental illness that's plaguing the Dweller community. All this makes for a story that's chockfull of the kind of conflict, romance and suspense that YA fans long for.

As the book opens, Perry is looking for Aria. Though Aria is thrilled to be reunited with him, she can see right away that a lot has changed. Perry has become a leader -- a Blood Lord whose primary goal is the welfare of his people. Though Aria and Perry are in love and their communities share a common goal -- to find the Still Blue, it's also clear that the two of them have joined Roar and Liv on the Couples With Big Issues list. As a Scire and a Blood Lord, Perry is expected to choose someone suitable for him. So Aria convinces him that they must keep their relationship secret.

Unfortunately, most of the Tides dwellers seem to figure this secret out. To prevent the unrest she's seeing over her presence, Aria leaves the Tides with Roar, who's just received a tip on the whereabouts of his missing lover, Liv. I loved seeing Roar and Aria's friendship deepen as they traveled together. They find Liv. Poor Liv, pledged by her brother to a man she didn't love. I won't tell you what happens in that regard, but it isn't good. Aria also has to keep reporting back to Commander Hess, who has been blackmailing her since the first book. As Aria talks to him, she begins to get the feeling that her former Dweller community is in crisis.

The backdrop to all this is the Aether. We get a brief but satisfying explanation of what the Aether is and what caused it, and I'm buying it. Solar flares can unleash solar storms that can impact both satellites in space and power grids on earth. Or so Time magazine says. Cinder, the character who seems to be able control the Aether, is back in the story as well, though his role is still unclear.

Finally, there's Aria's singing, a gift that was genetically engineered in her. I'm still unsure about what part, if any, her name and her talent will have in the story. But as I read Through The Ever Night, I did begin to notice some operatic influences in the story. Themes of jealousy, of ill-fated love, of betrayal and sacrifice. Plus, in both books, Aria keeps dreaming about opera houses and stages. The two operas specifially referenced in the story are Tosca and Carmen. Both are dramatic stories of love gone wrong. Stories that end with bodies littering the stage. So I'm hoping that Still Blue, the third book in this trilogy, ends up as calm and peaceful sounding as its title. We'll see...

Comments

  1. Wow! I must read this series soon. It's one of those that gets hidden under a pile of review copies! So glad you enjoyed this, but I'm not going to read all of it because I haven't read book 1 :)

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  2. I enjoyed the first book a lot especially the slow building romance for Aria and Perry but did think it contained a lot of set up. I'm glad to hear that pays off in the sequel!

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    1. A lot more happens in this book-- hope you enjoy it!

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  3. I remember liking book one but was not sure if I would continue the series. I'm glad you liked it even more.

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    1. It's always hard to decide whether you'll commit to a series. But I think this one is going interesting places!

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  4. I didn't read your review because I don't want to spoil myself since I haven't read the first book. Once I do I will come back and read this though. Hopefully I will get to it soon.

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  5. Ha...Couples With Big Issues list. :) I liked the background on the Aether, too, and found it plausible, at least. Do we know how long the world has been like this? I can't remember...but I like knowing if it's more recent, like only one or two generations have suffered this fate or if it's a bigger problem, worsening by the day. (Which it kind of is in this story, regardless of how long it's been an issue.)

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    1. I can't remember either, but I have to say it is one of the more plausible post-apocalyptic scenarios I've read recently.

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  6. Oh, I have to skim, skim because I am like one of the ONLY people in all of Creation that hasn't yet read Through The Ever Night. And I own it!! Going to try and have it read by next week...I'll be back then:)

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  7. so excited to read this one. I should get my copy today.

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  8. Eeeee!!! Hoping my copy will be in the mail today. UtNS was one of my favorite books of 2012. I'm so happy you thought TtEN was even better. I have high hopes!

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  9. Okay, I skipped your review because I'm just now reading the first book. Is the dude on this cover supposed to be Perry, because while he's super hot, Perry's got dreadlocks, right? Or am I being to picky? I just read the arc for Things I Can't Forget, which is good, and the cover is cute, but the girl on the cover has normal brown hair, while the main character is supposed to have black hair. Of course, the model on this cover is hot enough that I'm willing to picture him as Perry, because right now I can only picture Jason Castro from American Idol, and that's not doing much for me... ;)

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    1. Yeah, I've seen other people complain online that the cover does not look like Perry at all!

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  10. I haven't read the first book, but it seems as if I need to move it up on my TBR list. :)

    Brandy @ A Little of the Book Life

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  11. I wish I could have gotten into this book. I didn't really like the first one. Glad you like it though.

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    1. It did take me a while to get into the first book -- to understand the world and warm up to Aria -- but I loved this one!

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  12. So glad to see you really liked the sequel! I really liked the first book, even though it took me a little bit to get into it in the beginning. I've got it pre-ordered, so it should be shipping soon! I've now read two reviews today that said this one is even better than the first! Yay! :-)

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    1. Let me know what you think after you read it!

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  13. I enjoyed Under the NEver Sky but I wasn't blown away. I think had read to many similar books in a row.

    I'm glad to hear the second book is as good or better than the first. I did like the characters so I may take a chance and keep going with this series.

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    1. The whole city under a pod seemed to be done a lot in 2012. If you have time, try the second book!

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  14. I agree, Jen! This one was even better than the first, and I was very glad for the brief explanations of the Aether this time around, as that was something I felt the first book was really lacking. I'm now satisfied with the world and so excited to see what happens with all of these characters!

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  15. I'm exactly the same as you - Under the Never Sky was okay for me, but Through the Ever Night ROCKED MY WORLD!! I didn't really care about the characters that much in the first book, but suddenly in the second book I felt so invested in them. I cared about their relationships and every ounce of storyline.

    AWESOME review!

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  16. Yep, this one was better than the 1st. LOVED it.

    Poor Cinder. I hope they save him before the jerks use him for the Still Blue.

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  17. I need to read this series still, but your review definitely makes it sound awesome! Plus the covers are so pretty :)

    Jesse @ Pretty In Fiction

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  18. Loved this one so much! I liked the explanation for the storms and when they explained it I found myself nodding and 'Oh, okay. That makes sense." I love when things seem plausible. I also really enjoyed the friendship between Roar and Aria. Very strong. :)

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  19. Great review Jen! I like Under The Never Sky and reading this I'm excited to pick it up! And I can't wait for some more action and Aria and Perry! :)

    Happy Reading :)

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  20. I've had Under The Never Sky loaded onto my computer to read...forever. I suppose now would be the time to read it! Great review and I love the mention of the operatic influences. Should be fun to see how it all ties together.

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  21. Another series I want to just read straight through. I can wait.

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  22. Cinder was an awesome character! :) (Kinda creepy, but still. :)) I'm glad that you liked Through the Ever Night- hopefully I will too! I kinda forgot what happened in UTNS already, but I'm so excited for this one! :D

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  23. So jealous you already got your hands on this! ;) I loved the first book even though it had some things I didn't like, but I am definitely reading the series. The characters and world seemed so flushed out, as in being real and with depth, and I loved them all. I also get the whole solar flare thing and think it makes sense. Can't wait to read it, especially after your review!

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  24. This is a series that is on my TBR list, I can't wait to read it. Great Review Jen

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  25. I loved this follow up to UTNS so much! And I agree completely with what you said about feeling like it was easier to jump back into the story, because we already understand the world. I also felt like this book filled in so many more details - including Aether storms, as you mentioned.

    One of my favorite aspects of this book was also Roar and Aria's friendship. I loved the scene when they were floating down the river and Aria was sharing all her thoughts with him. I adore a deep friendship - without weird feelings coming into play.

    I had almost forgotten about the illness. It wasn't mentioned much here, except that the Dwellers can cure it. And I keep wondering if we'll find out more about Aria's father. In any case, I cannot wait for Into The Still Blue, and seeing Perry and Aria work together as a team.

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