REVIEW: UNDER THE NEVER SKY BY VERONICA ROSSI.

Title: Under the Never Sky
Author: Veronica Rossi
Series: Under the Never Sky #1
Edition: Paperback
Publication: January 3, 2012 by HarperCollins
Source: Bought
Pages: 389
Category: Dystopian, Romance

Synopsis:

Aria is a teenager in the enclosed city of Reverie. Like all Dwellers, she spends her time with friends in virtual environments, called Realms, accessed through an eyepiece called a Smarteye. Aria enjoys the Realms and the easy life in Reverie. When she is forced out of the pod for a crime she did not commit, she believes her death is imminent. The outside world is known as The Death Shop, with danger in every direction.

As an Outsider, Perry has always known hunger, vicious predators, and violent energy storms from the swirling electrified atmosphere called the Aether. A bit of an outcast even among his hunting tribe, Perry withstands these daily tests with his exceptional abilities, as he is gifted with powerful senses that enable him to scent danger, food and even human emotions.

They come together reluctantly, for Aria must depend on Perry, whom she considers abarbarian, to help her get back to Reverie, while Perry needs Aria to help unravel the mystery of his beloved nephew’s abduction by the Dwellers. Together they embark on a journey challenged as much by their prejudices as by encounters with cannibals and wolves. But to their surprise, Aria and Perry forge an unlikely love - one that will forever change the fate of all who live UNDER THE NEVER SKY

The first book in a captivating trilogy, Veronica Rossi’s enthralling debut sweeps you into an unforgettable adventure.

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I nearly gave up reading this because I was confused with the first several chapters. Aside from I cannot understand the location or probably the year (dystopian setting with an old school tribe?). I also had issues differenciating the plot from the previous books I've read. It had a lot of similarities with:

• Twilight Edward Cullen's ability to hear thoughts (Perry's ability to scent tempers)
• Twilight Jacob Black's imprinting (Perry's rendering)
• The Hunger Games' Arena (Realms)
• Katniss Everdeen (Perry's awesomeness when it comes to hunting, archery and that epic berries)
• Eve's Califia in the mountains (Marron's Delphi)
• Delirium's labs, procedures (Lumina's Research)
• Delirium's The Wilds (Outsiders/Savages)

Noticing those, I really tried focusing on the book's originality and honestly, it took me a while before I've sensed it.

I've seen and read a lot (as in A LOT) of relationships/love stories and that's what I loved most in this book: its one of a kind. Readers can expect that sooner or later they would fall in love but there's something too endearing about the two. You could tag it as naive but again, there's this different level of kindness from both of them. One thing to point here as well is Aria's falcon soprano voice which I really think is a good gift you could give a character.

I hope that the next book would show its uniqueness that there would be more to it than this!

"If there was no fear, how could there be comfort? Or courage?"

Thanks to Liz of (Midnight Bloom Reads) for helping me figure out this Block Quote codes.

REVIEW: RAPTURE BY LAUREN KATE.

Title: Rapture
Author: Lauren Kate
Series: Fallen #4
Edition: Paperback
Source: Bought
Publication: June 12, 2012 by Delacorte Books for Young Readers
Pages: 432
Genre: Paranormal, Romance

Synopsis:

The sky is dark with wings . . . .

Like sand in an hourglass, time is running out for Luce and Daniel. To stop Lucifer from erasing the past they must find the place where the angels fell to earth. Dark forces are after them, and Daniel doesn’t know if he can do this—live only to lose Luce again and again.

Yet together they will face an epic battle that will end with lifeless bodies . . . and angel dust. Great sacrifices are made. Hearts are destroyed. And suddenly Luce knows what must happen.

For she was meant to be with someone other than Daniel. The curse they’ve borne has always and only been about her—and the love she cast aside. The choice she makes now will be the only one that truly matters.

In the fight for Luce, who will win?

The astonishing conclusion to the FALLEN series. Heaven can’t wait any longer.

PURCHASE THE BOOK HERE:

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What lead me to this series is the synopsis where Lucinda dies and reincarnates every after 17 years just to be with Daniel. It is interesting and extraordinary for me. Then add that captivating cover of course. When I finished Fallen, Torment and Passion, all I could ever think of is fast-forward time so I could read and know the ending of the series. And after several months of waiting, here I am, staring at my book and making the review.

I just couldn't believe how Lauren provided us with such amazing ending to the series that something quite unexpected. I thought that Rapture is just the perfect way to make Luce and Daniel be together. Aside from that, Lauren acknowledged her Filipino fans which I think is a very nice deed from an author. (Am so proud!)

You see, the first time I cried over a character's death was during Sirius Black's in Harry Potter and Rapture's several characters would be the second. Yes, a lot of great characters have died and again, you would never expect who those characters were. Its also answered all my parked questions since Fallen and clearly, this last one made the whole series extra-spectacular. One of my favorite parts is when Lucinda remembered that there are still Outcasts left and she spoke their names. There's this pride and respect not only for Lucinda but the way Lauren managed to give importance to all the characters equally. Friendship, trust and respect are all portrayed in such a way that you would never look at relationships ordinarily like you used to. (Cam and Daniel stayed together so as Roland, Annabelle, Shelby, Miles, Gabbe, Molly and Arriane. They've done so much because they believed in each other no matter what their differences are). I also would like to point the parts where the curse was thoroughly explained, how important that we learn from the lessons of the past, that there's no other things greater than God and love would really find its way to you.

Among all the books in the series, Fallen and Rapture are my favorites. Lauren started a story that is mind blowing and ended it with so much compassion. It is a truly endearing story that any angels would love to read over and over.

"The past is important for all the information and wisdom it holds. But you can get lost in it. You've got to learn to keep the knowledge of the past with you as you pursue the present."

"There is always some regret when we accept that love has moved away from us."

REVIEW: ACROSS THE UNIVERSE BY BETH REVIS.

Title: Across the Universe 
Author: Beth Revis
Series: Across the Universe #1
Source: Bought
Edition: Paperback
Publication: January 1, 2011 by Razorbill
Pages: 398 pages
Category: Dystopian, Sci-Fi

Synopsis:

Seventeen-year-old Amy joins her parents as frozen cargo aboard the vast spaceship Godspeed and expects to awaken on a new planet, three hundred years in the future. Never could she have known that her frozen slumber would come to an end fifty years too soon and that she would be thrust into the brave new world of a spaceship that lives by its own rules.

Amy quickly realizes that her awakening was no mere computer malfunction. Someone - one of the few thousand inhabitants of the spaceship - tried to kill her. And if Amy doesn't do something soon, her parents will be next.

Now, Amy must race to unlock Godspeed's hidden secrets. But out of her list of murder suspects, there's only one who matters: Elder, the future leader of the ship and the love she could never have seen coming.

PURCHASE THE BOOK HERE:

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I bought this book February of this year then I started reading it around last week of May. I know it took me a while to finish it not for any other reason but I was just busy and I finished some books I bought after it. It was my bad it took me this long and I regret it! I should've attended to this first!

It was phenomenal. Who would have thought of writing something about freezing people that could last centuries up until the moment you wake them up! That is just so futuristic and it could happen, you know. Plus the fact that both the main characters tell you the story and not just focus on one person. That took all the boredom because you have 2 person's thoughts. I also like the twist of the story: from being "not normal" to discovering why everybody is monoethnic. Story revolved not only on the high-tech ship but those secrets that are just not meant to be kept forever plus lies usually work at first but once you get busted, you'd see the damage! This is a mind-wrecking book!

Can't wait for the next Godspeed adventure!

"Power isn’t control at all — power is strength, and giving that strength to others. A leader isn’t someone who forces others to make him stronger; a leader is someone willing to give his strength to others that they may have the strength to stand on their own."

"I never thought about how important the sky was until I didn't have one."

NEW ON THE SHELF (24); THE JUNE 2012 EDITION.

Stacking the Shelves is a weekly meme hosted by Tynga's Reviews that showcases newly acquired books or goodies we bought, received or borrowed during the week.

04/2016 EDIT: I am editing old posts here to match the new blog theme.

Yesterday, after I fetched some documents I needed from our HR for Mom's hospitalization, I headed to Powerbooks Glorietta 3 for Rapture. I was really planning on purchasing only one book, but my itch for books got the best of me. Before purchasing Magyk and The Alchemyst, I did a little research about the series. I found them very interesting and these books were published several years back. I hope the fancy covers (and reviews) will keep up to my expectations. As for Crossed, it was my first time to see a smaller version of the paperback edition and thought that it would match my Matched when it comes to height. There.

BOUGHT: (Powerbooks Glorietta 3)
🔼 Rapture (Fallen #4) by Lauren Kate
🔼 Crossed (Matched #2) by Ally Condie
🔼 Magyk (Septimus Heap #1) by Angie Sage
🔼 The Alchemyst (The Secrets of the Immortal Nicholas Flamel #1) by Michael Scott

Thank you, Powerbooks!