ARC Review: Into the Still Blue by Veronica Rossi

Into the Still Blue

(Under the Never Sky #3)

Author: Veronica Rossi

Publisher: HarperCollins

Publication Date: January 28, 2014

Genre: YA Dystopian/Fantasy

Source: eARC from HarperCollins via Edelwiess

~Synopsis~

The earth-shattering conclusion to Veronica Rossi's "masterpiece" Under the Never Sky trilogy and sequel to the New York Timesbestselling Through the Ever Night (Examiner.com).

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.

In this final book in her stunning Under the Never Sky trilogy, Veronica Rossi raises the stakes to their absolute limit and brings her epic love story to an unforgettable close.

~Review~

I absolutely love this trilogy and Into the Still Blue didn’t disappoint me. I was sad when it ended because I just wasn’t ready to say goodbye. Generally the final book in a series will either leave you extremely satisfied or extremely disappointed. I am happy to say that I was left extremely satisfied with the end of this one.

Into the Still Blue picks up where Through the Ever Night left off and I will admit, it took me a few chapters to get back into it. This was mostly due to the fact that it had been so long since I’d read the last book that I kind of forgot what happened and who a few people were. I highly recommend a re-read or at list skim through of the last book before you start if you haven’t read it in a while. Once I got my bearings and everything started to come back, I was quickly immersed in the events that unfolded. Things are getting worse outside as the storms become stronger and more deadly and Aria and Perry are under a lot of pressure to find a way out before for their people before it’s too late.

I absolutely love Perry, I always have. He is strong and determined and an excellent leader. He truly cares about his people and he wants to protect them and lead them to safety. More than that, he truly cares about Aria. His love and need for her consumes him and I think that scares him a little and makes him hold himself back a bit. He also doesn’t allow himself to “feel” because he is afraid it will make him weak in front of his people. This definitely causes a few problems between him and Aria as well as him and Roar. I also really love his relationship with Cinder. He treats him like a little brother and the way he takes care of him and looks out for him is so sweet and one of my favorite things about him. He is fiercely loyal and honorable.

Aria is one of my favorite heroines. She is smart, caring, loyal and also a good leader. She and Perry are so much alike and that’s what makes them perfect for one another. They understand one another and together, they are strong and powerful. Aria has no doubts about her love for Perry and she will do anything to protect him. She has proven that time and again and it only makes me like her even more. She has been through a lot throughout the series and she is tested even more during Into the Still Blue. Her determination and fierceness to protect the ones she loves is one of the reasons she is one of my favorites.

There is a lot of tension between Aria and Perry that has carried over from events in the previous book and it worried me a little at times because I love them together so much and I hate to see them fight with one another and doubt each other’s feelings. However, that didn’t last long and they both proved their love and devotion. I loved their sweet moments together and I only wish that they could have had a few more. So much has happened to these two and they have come a long way from the savage and dweller that they were when they first met. Who would have ever thought that they would fall in love considering the way it all started.

I’m not in the business of giving things away or spoiling plots for others and this is definitely a plot driven book. If you’ve read the first two, you know where this book is headed. Just like the first 2, there will be deaths and there will be surprises and there will be villains to overcome. I was very happy with the turn of events that this book took and I loved the mix of action and romance. This book was another reminder of why I love the Young Adult genre so much. If I had one complaint, it would be that I felt like the ending was rushed just a little bit. However, this was only a minor issue and I was still very pleased with the book as a whole. Veronica definitely did a great job of giving me all the feels. My emotions ranged from joy to anticipation to nervousness and to heartbreak. It really ended up being everything I hoped it would be.

PRE-ORDER LINKS:

AMAZON | BARNES & NOBLE