Review: Through the Ever Night by Veronica Rossi

  Through the Ever Night by Veronica Rossi
  Publisher: HarperCollins
  Publication date: January 8th 2013
  Source: Edelweiss
  Rating:  5 Stars

 

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, hidden enemies, and powerful temptations, Aria and Perry wonder, Can their love survive through the ever night?

In this second book in her spellbinding Under the Never Sky trilogy, Veronica Rossi combines fantasy and dystopian elements to create a captivating love story as perilous as it is unforgettable.

Through the Ever Night was AMAZING!  Everything I loved about Under the Never Sky was kicked up several notches and then some!  Epic adventure, heart-pounding action, romance, friendship, longing, and heartbreak are all found within the pages.  I’m still reeling with awe at the love I have for this story!

We pick up right where the story left off in Under the Never Sky where Aria and Perry meet again.  Their love for each other is strong, but they face so many outside challenges.  The Aether storms seem to be growing both in frequency and intensity, so all the tribes and even the Realms need to find a safe haven before everything necessary for life is destroyed.  Aria is tasked with the mission to find the elusive Still Blue, an area that is supposed to be unharmed by the Aether storms, by Consul Hess.  He’s blackmailed her into cooperating or risk the well-being of Talon, Perry’s beloved nephew.  Perry is now Blood Lord to the Tides but all is not smooth sailing.  The decision to bring Aria back to the Tides is met with suspicion, and most of the Tides members hate her even if she is half Outsider.  The Tides don’t fully trust Perry either, questioning his decisions as their leader, and Perry feels their doubt profoundly.

Oh man, was this good! I loved Under the Never Sky but I think this surpasses that story, something almost unheard of with a sequel.  No dreaded “second book syndrome” where much of the story is filler, gearing up for the final wrap-up in the last book.  This story was thrilling in every way and almost impossible to put down. 

I loved the romance between Perry and Aria.  Their characters are so well fleshed out, and you feel their concerns, despair, joy, and love right along with them.  They are from two different worlds but their care and love for the people around them, and their common goals make them well-suited for each other.  They had to weather a few storms, and I think they’ve become stronger for it.  I love this quote:

Her eyes blurred, and she wasn’t sure if it was from the pain or from the relief of being with him again.  He brought a sense of rightness.  She felt it every moment she spent with him. Even the wrong ones.  Even the painful ones, like now.  Perry’s hands stilled.  He looked up, and his gaze told her everything.  He felt it too.*

Secondary character such as Roar and Cinder, and even Soren add layers to an already amazing tale, and I found myself fully invested in their stories, as well.   This was an exciting adventure, filled with action, and danger.  Where we leave off in this installment has me anxious and super eager for the conclusion. I really like the way things are shaping up, and I think the next story has real potential to be just as exciting as this one.  Veronica Rossi has managed to stun an amaze me, and I can’t wait to pick up her next book!

*Quote taken from an uncorrected proof and may change in the final copy.