Under the Never Sky

By: Veronica Rossi

Narrated by: Bernadette Dunne Flagler

Length: 9 hrs and 39 mins

Publisher's Summary

Since 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 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.

In her enthralling debut, Veronica Rossi sends readers on an unforgettable adventure set in a world brimming with harshness and beauty.

©2012 Veronica Rossi (P)2012 HarperCollins Publishers

Kept me listening!

This book had just enough sci-fi and just enough dystopia. And when I say sci-fi I mean futuristic high tech stuff, NOT aliens etc.

I know this book has mixed reviews but I really enjoyed it. The love story in it has a bigger part in the story than I thought it would, but that only made me like it more (I'm a sucker for a good love story!).

The book was both exciting and interesting, I really liked the juxtaposition of a futuristic society and a more or less primitive one. GREAT twist at the end :)

Excited for the next book!

Amazing! A must read

What did you love best about Under the Never Sky?

It was constantly thrilling and completely unpredictable! I get rediculously bored reading books where I can guess the ending.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Under the Never Sky?

The fight against the cannibals kept me in suspense, that's for sure.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Yes! If it was in hard copy, I'd say that I just couldn't put it down, it was great

Any additional comments?

I'm really excited for a hopeful sequel- but if there isn't one, this book stands great on its own.

Beware of the Triology

It seems all the rage these days to write a trilogy leaving the reader wanting and waiting for more (those evil genius marketing people) . I usually try to stay clear of reading a series until at least 2 books are complete, however, I gave this one a shot after seeing many positive reviews.
BEWARE: there is a big cliff hanger at the end
If you like a good YA story and don't mind waiting for a complete story resolution I would highly recommend this book. I was immediately drawn in and I enjoyed the high-tech dystopian society that Veronica Rossi has created. This book made me laugh, cry and scared me a little too. It had the right mix of everything.
I love YA books and I never expect any of them to be literary classics. I read them for pure pleasure and the joy of an easy read.

Excellent Story!

I wasn't really sure what to expect when I started this audiobook, but what I found was a wonderfully unique story that I really loved. The post-apocalyptic world that Veronica Rossi created was both terrifying and very creative. Even after Aria is kicked out of Reverie, the physical and emotional differences between Outsiders and Dwellers is described so well that, as a reader/listener, I felt immediately involved in the world of the book. Aria's transformation into a survivor and Perry's slow acceptance of her was integrated into a story that had a lot of twists and turns, as well as cannibals, strange talents and deadly storms. I am sad that I didn't listen to his book sooner, but at least I don't have to wait so long for book two!

The narration was good. Since this book shifts perspectives back and forth between Aria and Perry, the narrator had to find a different voice for almost every chapter. Overall, it worked, although there were times when I did have a bit of trouble telling the difference between make and female voices or between Perry and Roar. There is no doubt, though, that the reading was emotionally done and I really felt the tension during the many action scenes. I listened to much of this book while I was traveling and it definitely helped me pass the time while waiting in the airport. I enjoyed this audiobook very much and if you haven't read Under The Never Sky, I definitely recommend giving it a listen!

Exciting dystopian story.

If you could sum up Under the Never Sky in three words, what would they be?

vast, menacing, romantic.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Under the Never Sky?

Too many to pick just one and I wouldnt want to spoil it but it has action and adventure all the way through and all the characters are people you want to see succeed.

Which character – as performed by Bernadette Dunne Flagler – was your favorite?

I loved all the main characters but am interested to find out more about Roar.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Yes, and I have done a couple of times.

Any additional comments?

I loved the development of Arias character, it seemed real as she struggled to come to terms with life outside of her ordered world and she became a really likable and strong character by the end of the book.

Great Book

I really enjoyed getting to know the characters in this book. I liked the separate chapters with each main characters thoughts and point of view. The characters themselves grew throughout the story with each passing trial and new situation. My only complaint was the ending I felt like it was rushed and lacked explanation. I sincerely hope there is a second book to make up for the ending in this one.

Grest Concept

Would you listen to Under the Never Sky again? Why?

Yes

What was one of the most memorable moments of Under the Never Sky?

When the two main characters realize that they are in love.

Have you listened to any of Bernadette Dunne Flagler’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

Not sure.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Yes

Any additional comments?

This book mixes furturist and primative together. I loved how the person that had lived in the protected domes learns to live on the outside.

I certainly hope that a series is planned for this story line.

Excellent!

Where does Under the Never Sky rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

Finally a SciFi book with no vampires, angels. ! New story! New characters. First chapter I was very lost!! But if you follow the book it gets great!! Not a super hero. Just a girl. !

Who was your favorite character and why?

Perry- caring

Have you listened to any of Bernadette Dunne Flagler’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

No

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

Both!

Any additional comments?

A should read!!

Uniquely Intriguing Story/Frustrating Narration

I loved the juxtaposition of the worlds in which Aria and Peregrine live. Rossi is skilled in character building, in throwing in just the right amount of detail to build reader suspense, and in choosing the best storytelling method for readers to understand and empathize with the choices and emotions with which Aria and Perry must struggle. Having read many reviews and booklists and author reviews on Good Reads, I strongly suspected I would admire the work of Rossi and enjoy this tale. I was not disappointed. What a unique future Rossi envisions. There were plenty of moments when I was wrapped up in the cautionary messages that were embedded in the story line and what made those moments poignant was the very real sense that the outcome Rossi's world showed me could actually be one of the million different ways our future may go someday. She clearly understands the very tangible benefits technological advancements can have for humanity and yet she eloquently demonstrates that despite humanity's ability to invent tech the greatest barrier to our happiness, our stability, and our survival is our ability to protect the awesome environments in which we live, to understand how to thrive within those fragile environments, and to realize that nature is lasting while humans are really very temporary. The second book is already downloaded on my Tablet.

I have read and listened to hundreds and hundreds of book. These days, I listen to many more books than I actually read. I do have my favorite narrators. An amazing story teller makes a book come alive. I try very hard to be flexible. I had an annoyingly difficult time getting over one huge problem with this narrator. Close your eyes, put your earphones on (much the way I listen at night) and listen for awhile to this narrator. For the longest time I was confused about who was who in this story because of the way this narrator pronounces the name 'Perry or Peregrine." I thought there was a 'Harry" in this story which confused me because I had read the description and there was no "Harry" that I could find. She was inconsistent. I cannot understand how it is that a hard 'P' sound can sometimes come out with a breathy 'H' sound but this person managed it. I would be deep into the story, focused entirely on envisioning where the characters were, what they looked like, and how they were interacting with each other, and then, BAM, I would hear her say, "Harry" rather than "Perry," and my concentration was gone and I was more focused on the mechanics of listening and figuring out who she was talking about. Since Perry is one of the main characters the narrator's pronunciation of the name 'Perry' is super important. The narrator's emotion, timing, and energy were great. I just could not get over the hurdle her lack of enunciation was throwing up for me. At first I thought it was just me so I played several chapters for my family members and a close friend without telling them what I was asking them to look for in the narration. They heard it as well. I just downloaded the second book and I am excited for a different narrator.

A great book, but the audio could use some work.

What made the experience of listening to Under the Never Sky the most enjoyable?

The story line was phenomenal, had me guessing at every step, what a great imagination Rossi has.

What did you like best about this story?

That the author described things so well, I really got a good idea of what was going on. Also, the suspense. It is technically a YA novel, but there were some adult parts to it, I liked that.

Would you listen to another book narrated by Bernadette Dunne Flagler?

Probably not, unless it was a book I really wanted to listen to then maybe. But if I came across a random book and was on the fence, this narrator would make me say no. She has a pretty severe whistle when saying S's. It got to a point in the book that the book was so good I wanted to keep listening, but the narration was so obnoxious I almost gave up on it. Glad I didn't though.