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A review by ninascozydayreads
Under the Never Sky by Veronica Rossi
adventurous
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
When it comes to a dystopian novel, or even a sci-fi novel, I expect it to be a comment on the world we're currently living in; usually, society is doomed due to humanity's failings. The Hunger Games, for example, provides commentary on materalistic behaviour. The way Panem is shaped is due to Climate Change. The Earthseed Chronicles by Octavia E. Butler take it even further, also making it a discussion of race and gender. This book severely lacked that. It wasn't bad, don't get me wrong. I quite liked it. I liked the characters, they were grumps forced to spend time together and slowly warming up to each other; that’s a very good romantic trope. I actually did find myself squealing when they showed signs of caring for each other when one of them get hurt. But I wouldn’t classify this as a sci-fi or dystopian or any kind of speculative fiction. Sure, it’s set in a world where normal life has been destroyed, the earth barely habitable. People live in pods, where there experiences are rooted in simulations and virtual reality.
Maybe at best it’s comment on the internet, but even that felt glorified. Aria kept looking for a way back to that virtual world that kept her safe. But it was extremely focussed on the romance, and the evolving relationship between Perry and Aria. This is the sci-fi equivalent of a romantasy. In terms of story, I thought it was quite enjoyable. It wasn’t very action-packed, but it was also never dull. The worldbuilding was very well done too, and though the magic system might be a bit farfetched, I actually quite liked it. The one qualm I have with the story is that the stakes weren’t high enough for me. Sure, Aria wants to get back and that’s a good stake especially for a first book, but where’s the rebellion, where’s the corrupt government? Truly, that’s what I want in novels like these and I’m missing that fight. The last thing that I want to touch upon in this review is the character of Peregrine, and that is more as a warning for anyone who maybe is interested in this book. Peregrine is an outsider, often called a “savage”. Though I cannot find any proof of skin colour, a new cover art has revealed that he is at least darker than Aria. Aria is explicitly white. If Peregrine is dark-skinned, and often times called a “savage”, then I hope I don’t have to explain why that might be problematic. However, Peregrine’s description remains a bit unclear, but I just wanted to have that pointed out.
Maybe at best it’s comment on the internet, but even that felt glorified. Aria kept looking for a way back to that virtual world that kept her safe. But it was extremely focussed on the romance, and the evolving relationship between Perry and Aria. This is the sci-fi equivalent of a romantasy. In terms of story, I thought it was quite enjoyable. It wasn’t very action-packed, but it was also never dull. The worldbuilding was very well done too, and though the magic system might be a bit farfetched, I actually quite liked it. The one qualm I have with the story is that the stakes weren’t high enough for me. Sure, Aria wants to get back and that’s a good stake especially for a first book, but where’s the rebellion, where’s the corrupt government? Truly, that’s what I want in novels like these and I’m missing that fight. The last thing that I want to touch upon in this review is the character of Peregrine, and that is more as a warning for anyone who maybe is interested in this book. Peregrine is an outsider, often called a “savage”. Though I cannot find any proof of skin colour, a new cover art has revealed that he is at least darker than Aria. Aria is explicitly white. If Peregrine is dark-skinned, and often times called a “savage”, then I hope I don’t have to explain why that might be problematic. However, Peregrine’s description remains a bit unclear, but I just wanted to have that pointed out.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Xenophobia, Death of parent, and Abandonment