What's Your Story Reviews: Veronica Rossi

Monday, July 9, 2012

If you like... YA Romance

If you like... is a feature in which I point you in the direction of more wonderful books that you're inclined to enjoy if you liked a certain kind of book or genre.

So this week, we're talking about romance!

Ah, romance, l'amour. Who doesn't love it? (Answer: robots) Most of the greatest novels ever written have romance in some shape or form. But YA romance is special, in that it's almost always that first love, the first kiss, the first time.... erm, knockin' boots, if you know what I mean. It's all about the thrill of young love, and all the angst and teenage hormones that comes with it.

I personally am a sucker for a good angst-y romance, because I like it when it's not so easy. A few nice tension-filled scenes are great to read. I also love sweet romances that make your toes curl in happiness, because what girl honestly doesn't dream of having that someday? I know I sure do!

If you like romance, then here are my recommendations to you.

Firstly, we have my favorite YA romance author ever, Veronica Blade!

All of Veronica's novels are absolutely bursting at the seams with great romance, but my personal favorite is From Fame to Shame. It's a novella, about 125 pages, and it's just pure romance with a guy that is smoking hot. Woo boy!

Here's the synopsis:

When good-girl Maddie switches places with her famous bad-girl twin Jackie, she has some pretty high stilettos to fill.
Despite the danger of tabloid drama if their identity swap is discovered, Maddie has to save her sister's butt. When Jackie’s ex-boyfriend shows up with a rekindled spark for “Jackie,” his deep gray eyes and sweet kisses make Maddie's heart thumpety thump. But dating the guy who dumped her sister is a no-no. Too bad Dallas isn’t used to girls saying no. What will happen when he discovers Maddie’s deception?

Let me tell you, this novella was fantastic! I couldn't stop reading, and Dallas was HOT HOT HOT!

Another favorite of mine from Veronica is Something Witchy This Way Comes.

It's a paranormal romance, but trust me, the emphasis is on the romance.

Synopsis:

Brainiac Tessa McClean’s newly discovered magical powers give her hope of an escape from her inadequate life. But the thrill of being a witch fades when she learns of a rival coven and begins to suspect her own coven’s objective. Evidence tells Tessa to trust one side, but instinct drives her toward the other. When Hayden Anders, the most delinquent kid in school — and the toughest — offers self-defense lessons in exchange for tutoring, the timing couldn’t be better. Though the idea of hanging out with a bad-boy that tempting is unnerving, staying alive amidst warring witches takes priority. She vows to hold onto her values and not surrender to the bad-boy she begins to secretly want. Together, Tessa and Hayden uncover the truth about the two factions — a truth that explains why the covens will stop at nothing to lure her to their side. Tessa has only a matter of weeks to form an alliance with one coven or the other, but the wrong decision could cost Tessa the lives of all those she loves — including Hayden.

Hayden is one of those deliciously infuriating kind of guys. He's a bad boy, a bit of a womanizer, and what I loved was that Tessa didn't give in automatically. That it so much better when they finally got together. If you want a sizzling hot romance, definitely pick up Something Witchy!

Another favorite of mine this year is Under the Never Sky by Veronica Rossi. It's a dystopian, kinda sci-fi romance novel that really caught me by surprise just how amazing it was!

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.

The romance between Perry and Aria was slow-blossoming, but it was oh-so sweet and I absolutely loved it! Under the Never Sky is one of my favorite books of 2012, and such a great romance. Dying for book 2!

What are some other romance recommendations you'd give?
(Wow, I didn't notice until I after I finished that this post was a total Veronica post! Haha, spread the Veronica love!)

Friday, May 4, 2012

Review + {GIVEAWAY}: Under the Never Sky by Veronica Rossi

Under the Never Sky by Veronica Rossi
Pages: 374
Publisher: Harper Teen
Genre: YA Dystopian
#1 in Trilogy

GOODREADS
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 storm...

Quick Thoughts

Guys, I loved Under the Never Sky. There is so much awesome in this book that it's lethal. Seriously.

Review

So, let me start this review with the basics: the world. (Wow, I never knew the whole freaking world was basic, right? Well it is now.) In Under the Never Sky, the world is not how we know it now, nor has it been for a very long time. There are deadly electrical energy storms that plague the earth, called aether storms.

Imagine that, but apparently blue/purple.

Humanity, doing what it does best, found a way to beat mother nature and holed itself up in little pods, then created a virtual reality called the Realms so everyone wouldn't die of boredom. It's like playing Wii, but on steroids. All you have to do is imagine that you're somewhere, and you're there. You can feel it, smell it, see it, and do whatever you like. I loved the world that Rossi created, because it's something that I believe isn't so far off. We already have, as I mentioned earlier, the Wii, and our iPads and Xbox, and however many other virtual games out there. Who's to say that it won't ever go a step further and become real, in the sense that instead of just incorporating the sense of sight as it does now, these virtual realities will affect all five senses. At first the descriptions of the technology confused me, but once I understood it, I thought it was really cool.

Second up, our main character, Aria! Now, for me, when I first started the book, I wasn't too keen on Aria. I didn't dislike her at all, I just wasn't connected to her. However, once she's dumped on her butt out in the open and dangerous air, I started to like her. She's a fighter, this one, and she's smart too. I have a thing for heroines who are badass, and I tip my hat to Aria. She may not be the baddest of asses, but she can hold her own. I loved the play on words with Aria's name, because she's an opera singer, and an aria in opera is a solo. There's importance to the fact that she's such an amazing singer, but I won't spoil why. On another note, to tie it back into the 'world' aspect of the book, in the pods, the female reproductive system is basically turned off. Children are not born, they are engineered, and when people do the deed, they're doing it in virtual reality, so there's no risk of pregnancy. (You'll see the quote below, actually.) So, once Aria is thrown out into the real world... her body starts adapting... and awkwardness ensues. It was so funny, because I actually called it a few chapters earlier when she said she had cramps in the lower part of her stomach and I was like "OH, SHE'S GOING TO GET HER PERIOD." And, well... I'll just let you enjoy the awkwardness, so I won't spoil it, but it was fun-ney.

Now, we come to my favorite part of the review. PEREGRINE. Or, Perry for short. He's the kind of guy that can just...

Yep. Exactly. He's that kind of guy. What I liked was that this wasn't an instant love by any means. When Aria and Perry first meet--actually meet, as in she's conscious, and you'll understand why I'm clarifying that when you read the book--she's afraid of him, and they both mutually dislike each other. There's quite a bit of hostility between the two. Both Perry and Aria lost everything because of each other, and now they're stuck together as they search for the way out of their predicament. What I love is that Perry is quiet and brooding, but he can bring on the snark if the need arises. Plus, he's a Scire, which means he has extra sensitive smell. He can even smell people's emotions! Which can be both a blessing and a curse. But it was really amazing to read from his perspective, because it was so different from Aria's! The way Perry thinks was just... wow. Since he's so in tune with what people are feeling, it's like a constant flood of emotions. And Perry is actually extremely sensitive, he just doesn't show it on the outside. So, he would adjust his reaction according to what he was smelling. Oh, I just loved Perry. I want to marry him and have his children.

This book was riddled with awesome characters, the most awesome of which--besides Perry and Aria--was Roar. Ohmygod I love Roar. It's a true, all consuming love of the best kind. He is the type of guy that will be a wonderful gentleman one moment, and then would just as soon peek in on you while you changed. (Not that I would have a problem with that, mind you.) He added spark to the story, and plenty of comic relief.

Under the Never Sky wasn't really action packed, save for the very beginning, and the very end. There's a sort of lag in between those two where there is a lot of walking and talking (literally, I'm not just trying to be quirky). But, with the walking and talking comes vivid characterization, so it wasn't really noticeable, or at least it was easily overlooked that nothing really happened. That shows just how amazing this book is, that the vibrancy of the characters certainly outweighed the plot.

Who Should Read This Book?

EVERYONE. If you are a living, breathing human being, read this book. If you're a fan of fantasy, paranormal, dystopian, contemporary, historical--guess what? I DON'T CARE. READ THIS BOOK. There is honestly something in it for everyone, no matter what genre is your favorite.

Tyra agrees; YOU read this book. Now.

Memorable Quotes

She looked up. “A world of nevers under a never sky.”
She fit in well then, he thought. A girl who never shut up.

* * *

Roar leaned across the table and smiled at her seductively, his dark hair falling into his eyes. "When you say everything happens in the Realms, do you mean everything?"

Aria laughed nervously."Yes. Especially that.There are no risks in the Realms."

Roar's smile widened. "You simply think it and it happens? And it actually feels real?"

"Why are we talking about this?"

"I need a Smarteye," he said.

* * *

In the afternoon, they stopped to eat on a rocky outcrop. Perry brushed a kiss on her cheek while she was chewing, and she learned that it was the loveliest thing to be kissed for no reason, even while chewing food. It brightened the woods, and the never sky, and everything.

Read it for yourself!

Buy the Book

Amazon

Kindle: $10.99

Paperback: $8.04

Hardover: $11.98

Barnes and Noble

Nook: $9.99

Hardcover: $11.98

The Book Depository (Free shipping worldwide!)

Paperback: $9.76

Hardcover: $13.80

About the Author

Website • Twitter • Facebook
Veronica Rossi's debut novel, UNDER THE NEVER SKY, will be published in over twenty international markets, starting on January 3rd 2012 in the United States. Film rights to the trilogy have been optioned by Warner Bros.

When not writing, she chases after her boys, who make her laugh every day, and who teach her about love that's "a million gazillion times bigger than the ocean."