ARC Review: Into the Still Blue by Veronica Rossi

Title: Into the Still Blue (Under the Never Sky #3)
Author: Veronica Rossi
Genre: Young Adult, Dystopian
Release Date: 28 January, 2014
Source: HarperCollins via Edelweiss

Goodreads rating: 4.32 out of 5.00 (860+ ratings, pre-release)
Goodreads | The Reading Room

Their love and their leadership have been tested. Now it's time for Perry and Aria to unite the Dwellers and the Outsiders in one last desperate attempt to bring balance to their world.

The race to the Still Blue has reached a stalemate. Aria and Perry are determined to find this last safe-haven from the Aether storms before Sable and Hess do-and they are just as determined to stay together.

Meanwhile, time is running out to rescue Cinder, who was abducted by Hess and Sable for his unique abilities. And when Roar returns to camp, he is so furious with Perry that he won't even look at him, and Perry begins to feel like they have already lost.

Out of options, Perry and Aria assemble a team to mount an impossible rescue mission-because Cinder isn't just the key to unlocking the Still Blue and their only hope for survival, he's also their friend. And in a dying world, the bonds between people are what matter most.

In this final book in her stunning Under the Never Sky trilogy, Veronica Rossi raises the stakes to their absolute limit and brings her epic love story to an unforgettable close.

Review by Nara


Man...I am so sad this series is over. I really don't want to let go of all the characters so soon. Perry and Aria, Roar, Cinder...there were just so many fantastic characters and relationships. And while admittedly the world building was slightly shaky, on the whole, the world Rossi created was certainly one I'd love to keep reading about. Rossi did a brilliant job of tying up all the loose ends in the story. I truly don't think many fans will be disappointed by Into the Still Blue- action, romance, friendship- this book has it all, making for a very satisfying conclusion.

I feel like most people would say that the highlight of this series isn't actually the action and the plot in general, but the characters and how they develop. And I'm no different. While, of course, I did want to see whether the characters are able to reach the "Still Blue", I was actually more interested in the various relationships.

I have to say, the whole Roar vs Perry thing was so frustrating. I mean, we all saw how close they were in previous books, and I just wanted them to reconcile already. While I definitely did understand why their friendship fell apart (going for no major spoilers here), it was still rather upsetting to see such a fantastic relationship crumble.

On the other hand, Perry and Aria. Seriously. I LOVE these two. They're so supportive of each other and I find it very satisfying that whenever there are problems in their relationship, they actually talk it out rather than leave the other person hanging with misunderstandings. You know what else I like? NO CRAPPY LOVE TRIANGLE. Sure, I don't mind a love triangle when it's done well, but I do have to say I prefer no love triangle at all. So, good on you Veronica! Especially when you could have made Roar and Aria one side of the triangle- but decided to leave their relationship to be a platonic one. I think those two have to have one of the best male/female friendships I've ever read in YA.

I have to say that I was slightly confused about the ending. I was confused as to what exactly happens to this one character (ugh can't talk about it because spoilers). I suppose it was a tad rushed as well. These weren't really major issues though- the rest of the book was certainly enough for me to overlook those small flaws.

Just as captivating as the previous books, Into the Still Blue was a bittersweet ending to a truly fantastic series.

Incredible

Ratings
Overall: 9/10
Plot: 5/5
Writing: 5/5
Characters: 5/5
Cover: 3/5