Review: Under the Never Sky

Under the Never Sky

Veronica Rossi
Published by: HarperCollins
Released: January 3, 2012

Description of book from inside flap of book jacket:

     Sinece 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 survival in the outer wasteland-known as the Death Shop-are slim. If the cannibals don't get her, the violent 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.
     In her enthralling debut, Veronica Rossi sends readers on an unforgettable adventure set in a world that's harsh but often beautiful.

Wow. I just loved this book. I was a little iffy at first because it was once again, another dystopian novel, but it's so different from all the others. First, there is no leading government and a group of rebles. You can all relax now. Second, no rebellion. FINALLY! Instead there are Dwellers and Outsiders, one group lives inside the safety of the Pods and the other on the outside in the vast unknown.

The story is written in third person point of view, switching between the two main characters, Aria and Perry. It gives us something different each time because we can see things from both people's point of view instead of just following one. You can understand Aria's weary feelings towards Perry at first and Perry's hatred of her. Then you can discover the feelings they have for each other as the story continues. Personally, I loved that! I often get bored following the same character throughout the book, so switching it up like this made me a very happy girl :)

The only thing that bugged me were some of the things in the story like the Smart Eye and Realms. I didn't feel like they were fully explained at some points and I got confused for a while until it was finally explained better. And then *SPOILER* when Rose started giving relationship advice to Aria about Perry, I was like "Wait? What? Go back and read this again" *END SPOILER* Things like that drove me crazy, despite the fact that I still loved the book.

The names. I love how Rossi connected their names to some personal connection. *SPOILER* Aria is named 'Aria' because of her beautiful singing ability and the fact that she sings arias for her mother, Lumina. Perry is short for Peregrine because of the fact he can smell feelings and see at night. *END SPOILER*




Then the name of the book. Under the Never Sky. Such a tantalizing, amazing, unique title! I have to admit, I think that is what convinced me to buy the book. That and the cover is just stunning!

Lastly, the whole love story. The two characters started out hating each other, both fearing each other because of their differences. But they push those aside and fall in love with each other. They were like a Romeo and Juliet minus all of the suicide. I still cry whenever I read the ending (And I have read this book at least four times. I'm a sucker for a happy ending).

This book has easily become one of my favorite books of 2012 so far. So if you are up for an epic love adventure, I highly recomend this one.

Review by Calypso

Side Note: The cover for book two, Through the Ever Night, was released yesterday. Frankly, I think the cover and title are even more beautiful than the first one. It keeps with the same design, only with Perry on front now.

Cannot wait to read it!

Movie News

So I'm not sure about anybody else, but I am dying to see City of Bones become a movie. It's probably my all time favorite book ever and I know Magnus just adores them too!

Today on Cassandra Clare's Tumblr, she released the movie date set for August 23, 2013. A whole year, but at least I know what I'm doing that day ;)

Filming for the movie starts in Mid-August in Toronto and New York. All I am saying is "Road Trip Anyone?"

~Calypso

Review: The Selection

The Selection

Kiera Cass
Published by: HarperTeen
Released: April 24, 2012

The Selection tells the story of a poor girl named America Singer. She has fallen in love with someone from a caste below her, Aspen, and is determind to live a happily ever after with him. Then she is chosen for the Selection, an opportunity to go to the capital and fight for the chance of winning the beloved Prince Maxon's heart. Determind to get out of there as soon as possible, America is willing to do anything in order to have the stuffy, spoiled Maxon send her home. Instead, she is surprised by how Maxon is completely different than the prince she watches on television. Maybe the Selection isn't so bad after all...


Okay. I was a little iffy reading this book. On Goodreads, there was so many hateful reviews. I was scared to even bother picking it up for fear that it would turn out to be hopelessly boring and dreadful. I couldn't put it down.

The world that Kiera Cass created is so compelling and wonderful and unique from all other dystopian novels. Instead of a traditional rich capital and poor districts (Hello Hunger Games!) it was more of a caste system that slowly become more poor as the numbers went up. And even the capital wasn't all that rich either. Marrying below your caste is unheard of, a problem for America and Aspen. And you're given a chance to escape it by entering the Selection in order to become the prince's wife.

Trust me, I am no fan of love triangles. I hate them with a passion. Just ask Magnus. I despise the triangles. Lines are perfectly fine. But this is probably the first love triangle in history, HISTORY, that I was not completely annoyed with. It wasn't some dilema that was suddenly dropped on you like in some horrific soap opera. You know it was there from the very beginning when Aspen told America to enter the Selection. I swear it was a Christmas miracle that it didn't annoy me.

But Aspen. Oh Aspen. Why did you have to go and ruin it? There is something about that guy that irks me. Is it his undying need to support everyone? Or is it his stubborness to be manly? And seriously? What was the need to *SPOILER* have him show back up in the castle and ruin any chances for America to live happily ever after with Maxon? WHY!?!?! *END SPOILER* I can't stand the guy. Sorry, I tried. Didn't work.

And then there's Maxon. Wow. What a guy! I was expecting some spoiled, uptight, bratty prince. But he is totally not like that in the slightest. He's clueless, caring, and so so so sweet. (Side note: Why can't any guys be like that in my school? -_- ) I'm rooting for Maxon all the way.

Lastly, NO CLIFFHANGER ENDINGS! Yay! If there is anything worst than a love triangle, it's a cliffhanger. This book ended in such a way that didn't leave me panting and crying for the next one to come out. I can lean back, drink some Snapple, and be completely happy for all of the characters since none of them are dying, or missing, or about to make the biggest mistake ever. I cannot wait to see how all of this plays out in the end

So 4 stars? Yes. I think this book deserves it. I'm not sure why all of the haters hate this book so much. Sure, I guess you can compare it to The Hunger Games because they are similar qualities. But seriously? You can compare any dystopian novel and find similar qualities with everything. Aspen has an attitude problem like Gale. They're *GASP* Selected! Weird names man. Why even bother?

So if you want a nice read, I highly recommend The Selection. Go out to your local book store, grab an ice tea, sit back, and enjoy a good read.

Review by Calypso

Review: Hush, Hush

Hush, Hush

Becca Fitzpatrick 

Published by: Simon and Schuster Books for Young Readers

Released: October 19, 2009

 

Hush, Hush is about a girl named Nora who finds herself stuck with the darkly (and annoyingly) compelling Patch. Patch is everything Nora isn't - fearless, flirty, bad-boy. Nora should be frightened by Patch, who turns up nearly everywhere she goes, but isn't. What does scare her is *spoilers!* the startlingly violent and feminine figure that is stalking her. Then, to make matters worse, it looks like the boy Vee, her best friend, is trying to set her up with is a murderer and wants to kill her and Vee. *end of spoilers!*

Ms. Fitzpatrick weaves a story that will keep you guessing, filled with fear, danger, and romance. It comes to a shocking conclusion with only a few mysteries solved. But the main question at the end of the book is: Was that an illusion? 

I found this book enticing to read, but it wasn't always my cup of tea. There were parts where it felt as if Nora was drunk or high - through no fault of her own, she wasn't really - and it messed with my head. There was a reason for that in the story, but I still didn't like it. Another thing I didn't fully appreciate was Patch. He's dark, yes, and has his secrets, but that's not always the best thing. There are some secrets you must keep in stories, but the level in which he was keeping Nora in the dark astounded me. I am generally an open person and I don't think the relationship between Nora and Patch can be sustained unless he stops lying to her and keeping secrets from her. 

What I did think Ms. Fitzpatrick did very well were some of the characters, Vee and Elliot. I feel like the relationship between Nora and Vee was thought-out and real. Even when they were in an argument, Vee still let Nora borrow her car and said something along the lines of "I love you, but you're wrong." I've been in that situation with friends of mine, too. With Elliot, he was kind and caring when Nora thought he was, but then turned *spoilers!* slightly psychotic. *end of spoilers!*I felt that she portrayed him really well and it was believable. You believed what Nora believed about him.

All in all, Hush, Hush was a decent book, but like all books, a book may be perfect for you but not for me.  

 Written by Magnus