Into the Still Blue by Veronica Rossi

Into the Still Blue by Veronica Rossi
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Wow, what a great series and this 3rd book was suspenseful, sickening, mesmerizing, hopeful, and down right awesome! Aria and Perry have to battle evil Sable of the Horn Tribe and Hess (of Aria's Realms) to gain entrance to the Still Blue before their world implodes. The pace is frantic, gripping and at times, sickening as good versus evil battle for life in a world that has been legend. Sable kidnaps Cinder due to his unique ability to control the Aether. They will have to try to pierce an opening in a solid Aether wall to make it into the Still Blue. The route and all that leads up to the Still Blue (trying to rescue Cinder) is fraught with all kinds of drama I can't even begin to name! Ties are tested between Perry's Tribe, Roar is inconsolable with Liv's murder by Sable, Aria meets her father, and her people from the Realms can't or won't accept their new life in the cave as part of Perry's Tribe. The reader is catapulted into a world that is dying, evil leaders, innocent children, and letting go of a world/life that will not sustain them anymore. Rossi does a tremendous job of ripping out your heart while building up the resolve of Perry and Aria to save their loved ones. p. 220 - "I'm thinking this, Soren said. "Sable killed Perry's sister, Perry killed his own brother. My father and Sable both left thousands of their people to die. I'm dependent on drugs to keep me sane. And we're the only ones who are trying to start over? How are we the best hope for a new world?" Aria said, "Because we are the only ones left. We all have the potential to do terrible things, Soren. But we also the potential to overcome our mistakes. I need to believe that. What point is there otherwise?"
p.262 Perry had no idea if he's expressed half of what he'd intended. He knew he'd been selfish , leaving Roar to deal with Liv's death alone. He hadn't let himself accept that she was gone, so he'd failed his friend, and himself, but he meant to change that. He was terrible at falling-Roar was right about that-but nothing would ever keep him down again. As they walked back to the cave, a piece of him that had been broken felt whole again. Nothing looked the same or smelled the same, and maybe the world was ending, but he and Roar would walk to that end side by side.
p. 277 What I was trying to say," Perry whispered, is that I see you in everything. There isn't a word for you that means enough, because you're everything to me." Perfect words," Aria said, her smile wobbling with emotion. "Magical." His mouth found hers again, his kisses hungry, his weight settling onto her. She wover her fingers in his damp curls, and she was gone. Swept away. Nothing else existed beyond his body and hers, moving like strength and surrender, folded into one.
I found the ending hopeful, meaningful and inspiring---a terrific conclusion to a fantastic trilogy. Highly recommended!

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Through the Ever Night by Veronica Rossi

Through the Ever Night by Veronica Rossi
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

In this 2nd installment of Under the Never Sky, the worlds of Aria and Perry are breaking down. The Aether is becoming more punishing and taking away lives and eroding the land. p. 143 - "The Aether flowed, corded and angry, giving the night a blue, marbled glow. After the storm, the calm skies had only held for a day. Now there was little difference between day and night anymore. Days were darkened by clouds and the blue cast of Aether. Nights were brightened by the same. They flowed together, the edges blurring into an endless day. An ever night."
Aria and Perry are definitely together but have to hide their relationship. Perry's people, the Tides, dislike her because she is a Dweller- not one of them. Perry realizes in order to save his people, they will have to leave their land and live in a cave underground. Perry knows the only way to keep his people alive is to get to the Still Blue. The Still Blue is a rumor, gossip that people have been talking about. Together Perry, Roar, Marron, and Aria realize they must make contact with Sable, the leader of the Horns, who has the coordinates and knowledge of what it needed to get to the Still Blue. But Sable is an evil character. Perry's brother sent his sister, Liv to become Sable's wife---and in turn food, animals and supplies would help keep the starving Tides alive a little longer. I could not put this book down; there is so much drama going on and as Perry becomes their Blood Lord (very graphic description!!!) he begins to question himself in every way as a person and a leader, but he only grew in my estimation. I never tired of Rossi's language, her descriptions, and her use of characters. I am so looking forward to Book 3!!! Highly recommended!

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Under the Never Sky by Veronica Rossi

Under the Never Sky by Veronica Rossi
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

When I saw Marissa Meyer's One Hundred Book Challenge, she had read all three of Veronica Rossi's books in the first quarter of the year, one right after the other. Now I know why!!! I finished the first book, Under the Never Sky, last night and jumped right into the 2nd book, Through the Ever Night. To say I am in love with this story, the main characters Aria and Perry and their "relationship", their quests, and everything and everyone in this fascinating dystopian world is an understatement. Rossi has spun a mesmerizing world of Scires, Seers, life as a Savage and life as a Dweller with fear, love, and passion driving the lives of Aria and Perry. I am so looking forward to reading all three of these books, one right after the other!!!

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Brown Girl Dreaming by Jacqueline Woodson

Brown Girl Dreaming by Jacqueline Woodson
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Jacqueline Woodson's novel in verse about growing up in the different worlds of Ohio, South Carolina and New York. She has loving parents who do not stay together for too long. It is difficult to move between the culture of the North and South and Woodson's words from a child's view point are so poignant, always reminded by the times of civil rights and unrest, being Jehovah's witnesses, but always knowing they are loved deeply. School is where Woodson discovers her love of words, writing, and creating stories. The friendships and relationships Woodson describes are deep and profound. I did not want this book to end. I think this book will be enjoyed by children, teens and adults alike. There is such a deep sense of history, family, and education running through Jacqueline Woodson's childhood. Highly recommended.

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Crash (Visions #1) by Lisa McMann

Crash by Lisa McMann
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I couldn't put down the Wake Trilogy and after reading Crash, I am thinking I will be gobbling these Visions books too! Jules and her family own a pizzeria, work constantly, has no life and friends. But Jules has begun to see a vision on billboards, stop signs, TV screens and it is increasing and always the same- a truck, out of control, bangs into their pizza rival, Angotti's building with 9 body bags laying in the snow; one of which is Jule's heartthrob, Sawyer Angotti. What I liked about Jules is that we see through her eyes the visions over and over again. She can't stop them, she can't tell anyone- they will think she is crazy. Jules doesn't care that she has no friends, she cares only for her family (and Sawyer), which has some major problems. The pace is a little plodding as you see the visions over and over (Jules is all alone with this torture)- but the suspense just keeps building as Jules figures out what she must do to try and stop this vision from happening. Heart-stopping with romance, humor, and good character development- I can't wait to read Bang!!!

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Glory O'Brien's History of the Future by A.S. King

Glory O'Brien's History of the Future by A.S. King
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

There were so many quotes I have marked; I love AS King and this book definitely seals the deal. I love her writing, her characters, and her grasp of the teen world and how their minds and psyches relate! Imagine you and your friend drink a bat and then every time you see someone, you begin to see into their past and future. That's right! Glory and her friend, Ellie, drink a petrified bat that has been doused with beer. On top of this, Glory O'Brien has always been very aware her mother killed herself when she was five by sticking her head in an oven. Glory has continued to wonder through the years, "Will I be like my mother?" and why doesn't anyone (including her dad) ever talk about her mom? Fast forward to her senior year and Glory has not applied to college, is the yearbook photographer (her mom was a photographer) with no friends and she confronts her father with questions, emotions, and raw anger about her mother that she has kept long buried. This is a must read book- Glory's thoughts and in her words, Glory O'Brien's History of the Future, are succinct, honest, scary, and evocative. She comes face to face with who she is and she does her best to live, one day at a time, doing great things. Highly recommended!

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Blue Lily, Lily Blue by Maggie Stiefvater

Blue Lily, Lily Blue by Maggie Stiefvater
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I am so glad this was not the end of The Raven Cycle books! There is so much more you learn about the main characters- Blue, Gansey, Ronan, and Adam. Blue's mom has disappeared and Blue vacillates between missing her terribly and being angry that she would leave and not tell anyone where she is or when she will return. Maggie Stiefvater really knows how to build the suspense, all the while providing humor, much of pondering by the boys and Blue, how much they really care about each other even if they don't show it. I liked Malory, one of Gansey's ley line experts who arrives with a dog and moves right in. The Gray Man has become one of my favorite characters and I am so glad this hit man is sticking around- yes, he is a hit man! I disliked Greenmantle and his wife intensely---Ronan and Adam dealt with Greenmantle rather nicely---if only his wife took a powder too! Jesse Dittley was another great addition to the story---his family owns the ground that houses the cursed cave (could Blue's mom be trapped there?)I am really looking forward to #4, Maggie Stiefvater is the queen of fantasy.

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