Into the Still Blue (Under the Never Sky #3
by Veronica Rossi
To be published by Harper Teen
on January 28, 2014
Source: Thanks to Harper for allowing me to read an advance copy of this book via Edelweiss.
Connect with the author: website | blog | Twitter
Last year, when I read Through The Ever Night, my love for this trilogy was cemented. I thought that Through the Ever Night was definitely the strongest of the three books, an amazing story of loss and friendship, of the burdens of leadership, of good and evil. But I also think that Into the Still Blue was a satisfying and fitting end to the story. If you haven't yet tried this trilogy, I think it offers an interesting post-apocalyptic story world -- in my review of Through The Ever Night I explained that I find this post-apocalyptic world pretty plausible -- well-drawn characters, and a plot that's twisty enough without losing sight of the main story goal -- to escape a dying world for a fresh start in a new one.
As outlined by the summary above, Into the Still Blue follows a group of Dwellers and Outsiders as they try to reach a place where they can finally live in safety. As I was reading this book, it seemed to me to have strong Biblical themes -- you know, the whole "leader guiding his people to a promised land" thing. But I haven't been to Sunday school in a long, long time, so that could have just been me.
I will also agree with Christina Reads YA that at times the book felt bit anti-climactic and unsurprising. Through The Ever Night featured a pretty shocking development and a lot of emotional turmoil, and in contrast, Into The Still Blue felt more to me like a skillful and measured tying up of loose ends. But that didn't dampen my enjoyment of the book. For me, the greatest strength of this trilogy has always been the characters and their evolving relationships, which have ranged from platonic friendship to romance, from hate to love, from bitter rivalry to hard-won trust, from anger to forgiveness. I'm going to miss them, but I look forward to seeing what Veronica Rossi has in store for us next!
by Veronica Rossi
To be published by Harper Teen
on January 28, 2014
Source: Thanks to Harper for allowing me to read an advance copy of this book via Edelweiss.
Connect with the author: website | blog | Twitter
Summary of book from Goodreads: Their love and their leadership have been tested. Now it's time for Perry and Aria to unite the Dwellers and the Outsiders in one last desperate attempt to bring balance to their world. The race to the Still Blue has reached a stalemate. Aria and Perry are determined to find this last safe haven from the Aether storms before Sable and Hess do, and they are just as determined to stay together. Meanwhile, time is running out to rescue Cinder, who was abducted by Hess and Sable for his unique abilities. And when Roar returns to camp, he is so furious with Perry that he won't even look at him, and Perry begins to feel like they have already lost. Out of options, Perry and Aria assemble a team to mount an impossible rescue mission, because Cinder isn't just the key to unlocking the Still Blue and their only hope for survival, he's also their friend. And in a dying world, the bonds between people are what matter most.My spoiler-free take: I always associate this trilogy with the New Year. Into the Still Blue marks the third (and last!) January that I'll be reviewing one of the books in this series. I feel like I've come a long way with Perry and Aria and Roar and Cinder. I'll admit it -- in Under the Never Sky, I wasn't 100% sure about Aria, about her relationship with Perry, about the whole violets thing, or about the Dweller slang. Especially the slang.
Last year, when I read Through The Ever Night, my love for this trilogy was cemented. I thought that Through the Ever Night was definitely the strongest of the three books, an amazing story of loss and friendship, of the burdens of leadership, of good and evil. But I also think that Into the Still Blue was a satisfying and fitting end to the story. If you haven't yet tried this trilogy, I think it offers an interesting post-apocalyptic story world -- in my review of Through The Ever Night I explained that I find this post-apocalyptic world pretty plausible -- well-drawn characters, and a plot that's twisty enough without losing sight of the main story goal -- to escape a dying world for a fresh start in a new one.
As outlined by the summary above, Into the Still Blue follows a group of Dwellers and Outsiders as they try to reach a place where they can finally live in safety. As I was reading this book, it seemed to me to have strong Biblical themes -- you know, the whole "leader guiding his people to a promised land" thing. But I haven't been to Sunday school in a long, long time, so that could have just been me.
I will also agree with Christina Reads YA that at times the book felt bit anti-climactic and unsurprising. Through The Ever Night featured a pretty shocking development and a lot of emotional turmoil, and in contrast, Into The Still Blue felt more to me like a skillful and measured tying up of loose ends. But that didn't dampen my enjoyment of the book. For me, the greatest strength of this trilogy has always been the characters and their evolving relationships, which have ranged from platonic friendship to romance, from hate to love, from bitter rivalry to hard-won trust, from anger to forgiveness. I'm going to miss them, but I look forward to seeing what Veronica Rossi has in store for us next!
I never finished Under the Never Sky - I liked it but it just didn't WOW me like it did for everyone else. I think I was in dystopia burnout at the time and felt like I would come back to it at some point.
ReplyDeleteFrom what I've seen, the conclusion is good, just not amazing level of good.
I definitely had some reservations about the first book, but then the second really blew me away. On the plus side, this third book had a real ending, and one that felt true to the story and its characters, but I think I was hoping for a tiny bit more … resonance, I guess.
DeleteStill haven't read the second book but now that the third is almost out, maybe I'll try to get both at the same time. I think that will be part of my summer reading-second and third books of trilogies to finish them off. I liked the first part a lot especially seeing Aria and Perry's relationship go from hatred to love.
ReplyDeleteLOVED the second book and I have a summary of the first that I cam email you!
DeleteI still haven't read Through the Ever Night, but is the title I picked from my TBR Jar this week so I'm starting it soon. I hate that is taken me this long to get to it, but hopefully I can go straight to Into the Blue!
ReplyDeletePerfect to read them back to back!
DeleteI also only read the first book in this series and didn't love it thus I did not continue with this series.
ReplyDeleteBut others love these books. Everyone has a different taste:)
That's very true!
DeleteI've enjoyed this series and I'm definitely looking forward to this one. I just realized I still need to order it! Happy to see you liked it overall :-)
ReplyDeleteI did. It wasn't my favorite trilogy ending of all time, but it was pretty good :)
DeleteAfter Through the Ever Night, which was a huge success, I was slightly disappointed by this one too, and I agree that it was quite anticlimactic at times. Plus, the ending felt a bit rushed and I didn't get to enjoy it like I wanted to.
ReplyDeleteGreat review, Jen!
Yes, I agree about the ending. But I love the characters and I will miss them! Maybe Roar can have a spin-off series?
DeleteI'm so scared to read this one since I've loved the series. That sucks that it was kind of anticlimactic! I felt the same way about the end of the Delirium series. Boo. Oh well ... I'll still read it!
ReplyDeleteNo, it's not like that -- there is resolution! Don't be afraid -- it is a good book and I think you'll enjoy it!
DeleteI really enjoyed this series too--but I think I may be the only one who enjoyed Into the Still Blue the most of the three. For some reason Through the Ever Night didn't sit as well with me--though I really loved that we got more time with Roar (who is my very favorite of all the characters!) But I loved Into the Still Blue's continued exploration of Aria and Perry's relationship as well as Aria and Roar and Roar and Perry's friendship--really I think the friendship between those three characters is my favorite thing about this series.
ReplyDeleteI'm excited to see what projects Rossi has in the hopper too--she's a fantastic writer with a great knack for crafting amazing characters:)
I'll have to email you for your take. I didn't want any spoilers in my review as some people haven't read TTEN yet...
DeleteI picked up the first book and have yet to finish the series. Sigh, I much catch up.
ReplyDeleteI feel behind in so many series :)
DeleteI will be starting this really soon once I finish the book I'm currently reading and I'm super excited. I started this trilogy in 2013 and I am really glad I did because I ended up enjoying it when I thought I would like it. I can't wait to see how the author is wraps up the story. Great review!
ReplyDeleteJanina @ Synchronized Reading
Enjoy it!
DeleteI was so sad to see this trilogy end, but it was a great one. Rossi definitely has talent. I agree, can't wait to see what she does next.
ReplyDeleteI will miss the characters :(
DeleteYes!! It felt anti-climatic at times, but like you said I think that best part of the series was the characters. I felt like this book was the perfect ending to the series.
ReplyDeleteGreat review!!
- Tabitha @ Tabitha's Book Blog
Glad you loved it!
DeleteI just finished reading this one too! I agree with you about it feeling a bit anti-climatic though I really loved it. I can't wait to see what project Rossi has up next. I'm sad to see this series end though I think it did so elegantly.
ReplyDeleteI'm glad you enjoyed this but I really wasn't a fan. I liked the second book but the first and third really bored me :(
ReplyDeleteI'm glad you've enjoyed this series even though the ending book was slightly anti-climatic. The characters really sound like they make the book though. Glad it was a nice wrap-up for the series. :)
ReplyDeleteSee, I had very mixed reactions for the first book, but all this talk of the THING that happens in book two makes me curious! I wonder if there are spoilered reviews somewhere that I satisfy my curiosity. :P I'm glad the third book didn't disappoint, Jen. I feel like there have been so many series lately that have been sort of a let-down with their final books, and I'm not even talking about the scandalous thing in Allegiant. (Which I haven't read yet! Shhh.)
ReplyDeleteWendy @ The Midnight Garden