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. If the cannibals don't get her, the violent, electrified 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. (From Goodreads)
I finished this book feeling like I'd been on the longest journey, and I don't feel like I've come back yet. I was so utterly transported into this world that I feel like emerging from it is nearly impossible. I read it about a week ago, and I've been unable to read anything else because Under the Never Sky was just so engulfing. I try to pick up other books, but I find myself just wanting to re-read this one.
Under the Never Sky has been marketed as dystopia. While it certainly has those elements, they are not the main focus of the book. I found it was much more similar to Graceling with its fantastical elements and the epic journey aspect. It starts out in a dystopian society, but as soon as Aria is exiled those elements aren't as present. The first chapter of the book was very confusing, trying to figure out the structure of the society, as it does get thrown out there pretty quickly. However, once I got past the first two chapters everything felt as familiar as if I lived there too.
Aria was an extraordinary heroine, and her hero matched her step for step. He's incredible. He's tortured and mysterious, a little dangerous. But he doesn't feel like your typical bad-boy. He's chasing after responsibility. He's fighting to save his family and his tribe. And he can smell emotions, which makes him in tune with everything. I adored Perry. The relationship between Aria and Perry was perfect. It was perfectly paced, and it felt real. They came from totally different worlds and they took the time to process the parts of the world that were unfamiliar before they could even come to terms with feeling anything from each other. I appreciated that there were moments that Aria was definitely horrified by Perry and Perry was completely annoyed by her. They had different values and ideas going in and that was reflected.
This is the first book in a planned trilogy and with the way this book ended I'm already anxious to read the next installment. This is a world that started small and keeps expanding. It's great, thrilling, and so full of possibility. And the future of Perry and Aria...well, lets just say I won't be satisfied until I know how it turns out. Even if you're fed up with the dystopian trend, pick up this book. It goes beyond dystopia into something all its own. It's wonderfully written and it will take you places you never expected to go.
