Tag: Dystopian (Page 8 of 31)

Synopsis:

The race for survival comes to a thrilling close in the earth-shattering conclusion to Veronica Rossi's New York Times bestselling Under the Never Sky trilogy.

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 find the fabled Still Blue and bring balance to their world.

Perfect for fans of the Hunger Games and Divergent series, Veronica Rossi's trilogy has been called "inspired, offbeat, and mesmerizing" (Kirkus Reviews, starred review) and "incredibly original" (Seventeen.com). Brimming with romance and danger and building to a climax that will leave you breathless, Into the Still Blue brings this "masterpiece" trilogy to an unforgettable close (Examiner.c

Review:

*Spoilers for previous books*

Into the Still Blue was an action packed, stunning conclusion!  And just like the two previous books, this story was an emotional journey.  Torture, love, sacrifice, it honestly felt like my heart would stop beating at times.  Even while they were strategizing, since the risks they were willing to take felt monumental.  This series has easily become one of my favorite dystopian series ever, and I can’t recommend it highly enough!

Why was it so hard to bring together the people she loved and keep them safe? Why couldn’t she just wake up and spend a day—one day—without running or fighting or losing someone?

I started out this book feeling overwhelmed.  Their situation had become dire.  The Tides and Dwellers were about to become trapped in the cave and die because of how the aether was changing.  They had to find the Still Blue!  But to do that they needed hoovers and Cinder, which were both in the custody of Hess and Sable.  And while that seemed daunting enough, their relationships with one another were all twisted.  Roar, Aria, Perry.  Nothing felt right.  Oh. My. Gosh.  I just wanted to curl into a ball and cry with how much each of them were struggling or suffering or pretending that they weren’t.  I felt suffocated from their drama, but thankfully there was an awesome distraction coming up!

“Soren,” Roar called. When Soren looked back, Roar flung his knife into the air. The blade spun end over end, heading right for Soren, who yelped and dodged aside.
It missed him by a hair, as Roar had surely intended. Roar never missed.
“Are you insane?” Soren yelled, his face turning red.
Roar jogged over and calmly picked up his knife, but he sheathed the blade with a vicious thrust. “That’s how you do a warning shot.”

They had to form a team to rescue Cinder and obtain more hoovers.  Hmm, I guess I should rephrase that, an unlikely team.  Perry, Aria, Roar, Soren, Brooke and Jupiter.  I definitely was uncertain about this, because while each of them was perfect for the mission, together they were not a good mesh.  They fought.  They didn’t always work together.  And they screwed up because of those issues.  But I will say that I found hope.  Aria played a joke on Soren, which made me laugh so hard.  And that moment led to that hope.  Hope that this mismatched team would pull together and make not only everyone else, but themselves proud too!  I mean, everyone’s survival rests on their shoulders.  No biggie right?

“If we get to the Still Blue,” Soren said, “we should look at how to make more people like you, Aria.”
She laughed. “Make more people like me? You mean half-breeds?”
“No. I mean people who are forgiving and optimistic and things like that.”

I have to say a word about each character that affected me so strongly:

Aria & Perry – She made me so proud with the strategizing she came up with.  Her and Perry have grown immensely since their first encounter.  And Perry now felt like a true leader.  The decisions and sacrifices he made, I’m so proud of him, even if I still can’t talk about it.

Roar – I never thought I’d find two book boyfriends in a story.  But I absolutely loved Roar.  Even when he was being an emotional ass.  I will never be able to get him out of my head.

Soren – That dweller pulled me in, no matter how hard I fought it.  He completely won me over and I was hoping he got a HEA too!

Cinder – He started out as a tag along, and in the Tides he finally found what he was always searching for.  A family.  He was braver than I ever could have been at his age, and I loved his moments throughout the story.

Aria didn’t even see Perry’s face before he hugged her. “I’ll be thinking about you,” he said, lifting her off the ground. “I love you.”
She said it back, and that was it.
All that mattered. Everything there was to say.

The twists and turns kept me on my toes, but the events that unfolded and affected the characters, that’s what moved my heart so deeply.  I sobbed.  I pleaded.  I hoped they would all survive.  Even though I should have known better.  This story was perfectly destructive and uplifting at the same time.  And I won’t be able to get their world or these characters out of my head for a long time to come.

PS Can we please have a novella looking into the future?  My heart desperately needs that!

Reading Order & Links: Amazon (click on covers), iBooks (click on titles) & Book Depository (click on book #)
Under the Never Sky #1 Reviews: Jen Chelsea	Roar and Liv #0.1 Review: Jen	Through the Ever Night #2 Reviews: Jen Chelsea
Brooke #2.5 Review: Jen	Into the Still Blue #3 Reviews: Jen Chelsea

Synopsis:

Set just before the events of Into the Still Blue, the conclusion to Veronica Rossi's "masterpiece" Under the Never Sky trilogy (Examiner.com), this breathtaking novella is a satisfying stand-alone for new readers as well as an exciting glimpse at favorite characters from the trilogy. Pulsing with romance and danger, Brooke will leave readers desperate for the conclusion to this epic and unforgettable saga.

The only fight she can't win is the one for Perry's heart. Following the stunning climax in Through the Ever Night, the Tides have been forced to seek shelter from the Aether storms in a dismal, secluded cave. But Brooke's memories of the cave go back much further, to when she and Perry used to come here together. That was before Perry fell in love with Aria and before Vale's dealings with the Dwellers altered the course of the Tides forever.

Now, with her sister back from a haunting year in captivity and Aria lying unconscious in the sick bay, Brooke struggles to put the pieces of her life back together. Without Perry, who is she? And what is her role in this frightening new world? As these questions swirl about her, an old threat to the Tides resurfaces, and Brooke is forced to put the lives of her people before her own. But in taking this step outside of herself, Brooke may finally discover what she truly wants.

Review:

*Spoilers for previous books*

I was not a fan of Brooke in the previous books.  They way she treated and spoke about Aria made me want to smack her.  And while I did see redeeming qualities in her, like when she stepped up and helped protect the tribe, it was never enough to push me to want to like her.  Those moments couldn’t erase the ickiness I felt towards her.  So when I saw this book was in Brooke’s POV, I hesitated.  Could I really endure listening to a woman I dislike?  Ultimately my curiosity got the better of me and I dived right into this book.

I can’t look into his worried eyes for another second, so I stare at the links of his chain. I want to wrap my fingers around it and pull his mouth down to mine. I want to feel his lips. His tongue. His body.
It makes no sense. He broke my heart and I still want him so much. How is that possible?

Starting out, I felt annoyed towards Brooke, which wasn’t shocking.  I viewed her as an inconvenience who I just wanted to go away.  Which is harsh, if I’m being logical.  This voice in my head kept reminding me that I’d probably act the same way, if I was in her shoes.  Well, I’d most likely be worse than her.  But I pushed that nagging voice aside and kept my dislike towards Brooke strongly in place.

She is everything I’m not.
And Perry chose her.
Over me.

Until I reached around 50%.  I couldn’t believe that Brooke won me over.  When the realization hit, I actually cussed out loud.  And I’m still upset at myself that I like her.  But here’s the thing, she has a good heart.  And she is loyal and fierce.  She contained qualities I absolutely love about a person.  And even when her good heart went wayward a time or two, when she was thinking horrible thoughts about Aria, she still won me over.  I can’t believe it!

I actually feel like trying to be nice.

One thing I was surprised to find in the pages, was that we got to learn more about the three brothers, Hyde, Hayden and Straggler.  They’re part of the group whom Perry trusts the most.  I read about them in Through the Ever Night, but they didn’t have a clear voice to me.  They were always just part of the Six.  But now they each stand out strong and clearly to me.  These brothers were charming, funny and left me hoping that they’ll have a bigger role in the final book!  But I will say that Brooke’s “interaction” with them *rolls eyes*, see now this is one of the many reasons I struggle with her.  Even if those last few pages left me wanting clap towards her in regards to Straggler.

Her arm was shot, apparently.
It’s becoming infected, apparently.
I should feel bad for her, I suppose.
I don’t.

So since I struggled with Brooke in the first half of the book, and rolled my eyes at her with the brothers, that’s why I’m left having to rate this book 4 Stars.  Even though the character development and the story that took place were a solid 5 Stars.  I know I’m being immature when it comes to Brooke.  Even though she won me over.  But I’m definitely sticking to this rating.   Ohhh before I forget, I want to throw out a guess.  My way out of left field guess is that Brooke will end up with Soren.  I know he’s a dweller, and she loathes dwellers, but there’s this spark between them.  I’m really hoping my guess pans out!

When everyone you know is on the verge of drowning, you don’t stop to tell the person next to you that you don’t like swimming.
You just don’t.

So yes, definitely pick up this book.  Even if you hate Brooke.  You’ll most likely feel stabby towards her in the beginning, but she could eventually win you over too.  And there are HUGE events that you’re going to want to know about!  This book takes place the moment #2 ends, and you’ll miss out if you just jump into #3.  So good luck with Brooke and I hope you enjoy!

Reading Order & Links: Amazon (click on covers), iBooks (click on titles) & Book Depository (click on book #)
Under the Never Sky #1 Reviews: Jen Chelsea	Roar and Liv #0.1 Review: Jen	Through the Ever Night #2 Reviews: Jen Chelsea
Brooke #2.5 Review: Jen	Into the Still Blue #3 Reviews: Jen Chelsea

Synopsis:

Before Perry and Aria, there was Roar and Liv.

After a childhood spent wandering the borderlands, Roar finally feels like he has a home with the Tides. His best friend Perry is like a brother to him, and Perry's sister, Liv, is the love of his life. But Perry and Liv's unpredictable older brother, Vale, is the Blood Lord of the Tides, and he has never looked kindly on Roar and Liv's union. Normally, Roar couldn't care less about Vale's opinion. But with food running low and conditions worsening every day, Vale's leadership is more vital—and more brutal—than ever. Desperate to protect his tribe, Vale makes a decision that will shatter the life Roar knew and change the fate of the Tides forever.

Review:

*Spoilers for Under the Never Sky*

This book is a definite must read for fans of Under The Never Sky and for anyone who fell in love with Roar. While the story is set before the first, I highly recommend reading it after the first book to avoid spoilers.  And I also recommend reading it before the second, I can’t say why, just know that you definitely should.

I choose you. Above everything else, I choose you. – Roar to Liv

Roar loved Liv with every single fiber of his being.  She was his whole world and lit up his life.  They were something that had always been, and they never thought that a future together wouldn’t exist.  Yet when Vale, Liv and Perry’s older brother and tribe leader, came back from his trip their time together started a countdown.  Liv’s hand in marriage to another tribe leader was Vale’s solution to feed his tribe.  So reading this novella was utterly heartbreaking, yet it gave me so much insight at the same time too.

✮Life Sucks

She’s mine.
The words rage through my mind. Liv is mine.

This book made me see so many things more clearly.  The first being that I finally got why Perry was adamant about not wanting to be with Aria.  In his world, true love doesn’t always matter.  Keeping up blood lines and good relations with other tribes trumps true love.  So while I watched the tribe and Vale believe that Liv’s future union with a stranger was the best, I was sick to my stomach.  I felt overwhelmed, depressed and utterly lost right along with Liv and Roar.  I wanted to scream at the unfairness of their life.  I felt entirely helpless that Roar and Liv’s hopes and dreams no longer existed.  That their future had become entirely bleak.  And while I watched this unfold, I realized that I would have been reluctant to liking Aria if I was Perry too.

✮Vale Must Die

Liv turns to me. “He wants me to marry into the Horns. He sold me to them! Tell him, Vale! Tell him what you did.”

Seeing Vale from only Perry’s POV, in Under the Never Sky, showed a manipulative bully whom I hated.  And while he still comes across as a bully through Roar’s POV, I also saw something else.  I watched as his tribe stood behind him.  I saw how they viewed him as a strong ruler who they adamantly followed.  Even when they didn’t always agree with him.  It was frustrating to watch the tribes loyalty to Vale.  And it was even worse witnessing how he treated Liv, Perry and Roar.  I truly hate that man and easily wished his death a thousand times over.

✮More Reasons To Love Perry

Beside me, I hear the slosh of the bottle as Perry takes a drink. Minutes pass before he speaks again. When he does, he’s so quiet that I know the words aren’t really meant for me.
“You’re better than a brother,” he says.

Seeing Perry through Roar’s eyes just validated how much I had fallen for him.  You see, Perry wasn’t just a best friend to Roar.  They were more than even brothers.  And the things Perry did to help out Roar in his life, oh my gosh.  Perry would try to lift the weight off of Roar’s shoulders, and it hurt to read.  I still can’t believe what happened. But it solidified what I already knew, that Perry was a truly beautiful man inside and out.

✮Hidden Feelings

If I have to lose everything to keep her, I will.
I will.
I will.
I will.

I always saw Roar as this confident man whose sex appeal was just as palpable as Perry’s.  But listening to his thoughts, and hearing about past events unfold, I saw a very different Roar.  I saw a Roar who at times was unsure in life.  I saw a Roar who didn’t value himself the way he should.  I was shocked.  It made me just want to sneak into the book and make everything in his life all better.

So while I’m not always a novella person, I’m so glad I picked this one up!  I got to understand things so much clearer and I fell even harder for Roar and Perry.  I definitely recommend picking up Roar and Liv after you read Under the Never Sky!

Reading Order & Links: Amazon (click on covers), iBooks (click on titles) & Book Depository (click on book #)
Under the Never Sky #1 Reviews: Jen Chelsea	Roar and Liv #0.1 Review: Jen	Through the Ever Night #2 Reviews: Jen Chelsea
Brooke #2.5 Review: Jen	Into the Still Blue #3 Reviews: Jen Chelsea

Synopsis:

A world-defying love is put to the ultimate test in the New York Times and USA Today bestselling sequel to Veronica Rossi's "masterpiece," Under the Never Sky (Examiner.com ). In this second book in her spellbinding Under the Never Sky trilogy, bestselling author Veronica Rossi combines fantasy and dystopian elements to create a love story as perilous as it is unforgettable.

It's been months since Aria last saw Perry. Months since Perry was named Blood Lord of the Tides, and Aria was charged with an impossible mission. Now, finally, they are about to be reunited. But their reunion is far from perfect. The Tides don't take kindly to Aria, a former Dweller. And with the worsening Aether storms threatening the tribe's precarious existence, Aria begins to fear that leaving Perry behind might be the only way to save them both.

Threatened by false friends and powerful temptations, Aria and Perry wonder, Can their love survive through the ever night?

Review:

Through The Ever Night captivated my attention and made me an emotional mess.  I was constantly flitting between butterflies, smiles, devastation and heartache.  And by that last page, I realized that this series has easily become one of my favorite dystopian series ever!  So saying I have HUGE expectations for the final book is definitely an understatement!  While I keep my fingers crossed for what will happen next, here are some of my favorite things about this series so far:

Perry held her against him. “I missed you,” he whispered in her ear. He couldn’t hold her close enough. “I should never have let you go. I missed you so much.”

✮A world that had become even more frightening – While I struggled grasping their world in the first few chapters of Under The Never Sky, everything is so clear and concise now.  But this time around it almost felt like their world was a living and breathing entity.  The weather, the land, it had all become so much more prominent in my eyes.  It felt as though the weather was alive.  Ready to strike at any moment.  It gave me the chills and added to the uncertainty of their fate.  Because you never truly knew what would happen next.

Her life was in danger. Her mission was in danger. She drew a breath and stood. She wouldn’t let herself fail.

✮A heroine and hero who grew separately and together – The amount that Perry and Aria grew throughout the book made me so proud of them.  They were able to act from not only the knowledge they learned from others, but also the knowledge they gained from the decisions they made.  Which definitely weren’t always the best ones.  So by the time I reached the end of this book, I was clapping my hands for how far each of them had come and grown!

What if this was a sign? Maybe I’m not supposed to be an Outsider.
He surprised her by taking her hand and threading his fingers through hers. “You already are an Outsider. You fit everywhere. You just don’t see it yet.” – Aria & Roar

✮Secondary characters that deserve the limelight – There were so many secondary characters that stood out vibrantly to me.  I was shocked and at the same time terrified, because I don’t want to be attached to that many characters.  In their brutal world, life can stop existing in the blink of an eye.  But among those secondary characters, Roar was my favorite by far.  He was Perry’s best friend, who became one of Aria’s closest friends.  He became just as important to me as Perry and Aria.  Roar was hilarious, charming and seductive.  He created butterflies in my stomach and I was always left wanting to know more about this man.  And as the pages unfolded, his happiness and suffering easily become mine.   I grew to attached to him, and his fate became just as important to me as Perry and Aria’s.

Her gaze dropped to the ground between them. Three paces for her. Two for him. Moments ago they’d been pressed together. Now they stood apart like strangers. Like everything had just changed.

✮I loved how the story developed – As the pages unfolded, we were taken back to a struggle the existed in Under The Never Sky.  Which was the stark differences between Aria and Perry.  Not only was their genetic makeup different, but they were from completely different worlds.  They were supposed to be enemies.  And although they had created a bond and started to care for one another, I loved how people threw this element into the forefront.  How it wasn’t just forgotten or swept under the rug.  It affected the journey that took place in this story.  But my favorite thing was that it caused some unexpected twists and turns which kept me on my toes.

This series has been so much fun to read so far.  The peril, the laughter, the unknown all has my full attention and I can’t wait to see what will come next!

Reading Order & Links: Amazon (click on covers), iBooks (click on titles) & Book Depository (click on book #)
Under the Never Sky #1 Reviews: Jen Chelsea	Roar and Liv #0.1 Review: Jen	Through the Ever Night #2 Reviews: Jen Chelsea
Brooke #2.5 Review: Jen	Into the Still Blue #3 Reviews: Jen Chelsea

Synopsis:

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. 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.

In alternating chapters told in Aria's and Perry's voices, Under the Never Sky subtly and powerfully captures the evolving relationship between these characters and sweeps readers away to a harsh but often beautiful world. Continuing with Through the Ever Night and concluding with Into the Still Blue, the Under the Never Sky trilogy has already been embraced by readers in twenty-six countries and been optioned for film by Warner Bros.

Review:

It took me a few chapters to become immersed in the story and wrap my head around their world.  But once I did, I fell madly in love with Under The Never Sky!  I loved how the story continually built with fascinating ideas.  I loved how rich and soulful the characters were.  And I absolutely loved how my emotions tangled together and parts kept my heart beating fast for a myriad of reasons.  Under The Never Sky was such a beautiful story, and I can’t wait to see where this series goes!

And in life, at least in her new life, chances were the best she could hope for. They were like her rocks. Imperfect and surprising and maybe better in the long run than certainties. Chances, she thought, were life.

Aria has lived her whole life in a dome, where they spend their time dually within their real world and a virtual one.  The reason they live in the domes was beyond unique to me – aether flows in the sky.  It’s a mixture of fire and water which builds together to create deadly storms that singe and destroy everything in it’s path that it touches.  And of course once I started to get a good grasp on Aria and the world she lived in, she was thrown outside the dome.  To die alone.  Yet that’s not what happened…..

“I should have let you die. I lost everything because of you.” – Perry to Aria

Aria meets Perry, an outsider who she refers to as a savage.  They are people who live outside the dome and have learned to survive the torrential land.  While Aria needs Perry to help survive, Perry needs Aria too, for reasons I can’t say haha.  I loved that this unlikely duo had to team up to get what they wanted.  Especially since they are enemies with a very flimsy peace in place.  But the best part?!  We get to hear both of their voices!  We alternate chapters between Perry and Aria and hearing their internal thoughts was so perfect and helpful, especially since they were good at wearing masks *cough Perry cough*.  I found myself caught up in their struggles and hoping that their hatred status could move to friendship.  Or even more!

“Hurt me again, I hurt you back harder,” he said through clenched teeth. She felt the rumble of his voice where their ribs pressed together. – Perry to Aria

Perry easily comes across to Aria as a heartless, killing, bastard.  And if you know me, I have a weakness for those lol!  Yes he was a jerk at times.  But his actions spoke volumes for what he was capable of not saying.  It showed that he was loyal, caring, thoughtful and someone who you would want to have your back in their horrific world.  I fell so unbelievably hard for Perry.  Especially with his past and current decisions that he made in life *clutches heart*.  He’s definitely going on my favorite tortured heroes list.  And he’s someone I hope you all get to meet.

With the weight of the rock resting in her hand and the dusty smell he’d brought in with him. Aria heard her own breathing and felt the quiet power of his attention. She felt completely where she was. There with him. With herself.
She’d never felt anything like it.

Which made me question Aria as his travel companion, since she could seem so unsure of herself.  But all I had to do was wait a little while, because she grew so much!  Aria started to show her true colors when she wouldn’t back down to Perry, and when I kept seeing how she hated having to rely on someone to survive.  She wanted to learn.  She wanted to survive on her own.  She was a fighter through and through and never gave in easily.  She was on a direct path to becoming brave and fearless like Perry, and as one of my favorite Heroines.  I can’t wait to see how much more she’ll grow with the next two books.  Okay, all this talk is making me antsy…..I have to see what happens next!  I am off to start Through The Ever Night, and if you haven’t picked up this book yet I highly recommend you do!

Reading Order & Links: Amazon (click on covers), iBooks (click on titles) & Book Depository (click on book #)
Under the Never Sky #1 Reviews: Jen Chelsea	Roar and Liv #0.1 Review: Jen	Through the Ever Night #2 Reviews: Jen Chelsea
Brooke #2.5 Review: Jen	Into the Still Blue #3 Reviews: Jen Chelsea