Series: Under the Never Sky #2
It’s been months since Aria last saw Perry. Months since Perry was named Blood Lord of the Tides, and Aria was charged with an impossible mission.
Now, finally, they are about to be reunited. But their reunion is far from perfect. The Tides don’t take kindly to Aria, a former Dweller. And with the worsening Aether storms threatening the tribe’s precarious existence, Aria begins to fear that leaving Perry behind might be the only way to save them both.
Threatened by false friends and powerful temptations, Aria and Perry wonder, can their love survive through the ever night?
4 Drink Me Potions
Through the Ever Night is a heart-pounding, fast-paced novel that left me breathless as I raced through it in one sitting. This is one sequel that definitely surpassed its predecessor. And I rarely say that, so it’s one BIG compliment.
Now that the details of this dystopian world has been settled in Under the Never Sky, the action really starts coming from all directions. Starting right where Under the Never Sky left off (at that sweet hint of a reunion between our two protagonists), things get hairy – real fast. Perry is now the Blood Lord of his tribe, the Tides. He’s rather young and not as heartless as his brother who was before him. That could cause problems. And to make things worse, he’s bringing a Dweller – aka Aria – into the fold.
I wasn’t very into Perry and Aria’s romance in the first novel, but their relationship takes a realistic turn that I enjoyed here. Their first fight and how to deal with a potential future for the both of them when they come from such different backgrounds. Their sweet, hidden moments away from the prying eyes of the Tides. Dealing with jealous exes. It was real, poignant and their love was so very tangible that I felt I could almost taste it (or should I say, smell it?). They didn’t say “I love you” to each other at any point, but a good romance doesn’t need the words physically there in order to show that the love is still present. So this made everything drastically better from the awkward transition in their relationship in the previous novel.
Secondary characters were immensely well-written. I had said in another review that I absolutely adored Roar, Perry’s best friend. He’s funny and he is more laid-back among Perry and Aria, so it gives a nice comical edge to a story that’s otherwise filled with impending doom and trouble. He also has his own problems – romantic ones – that just tugs at my heartstrings. I wish Rossi would just soothe away all his heartache.
I am glad, though, that there’s no hint in his friendship with Aria that moves beyond the platonic. I guess he’s a very suitable character for a potential love triangle to form, but it really isn’t necessary so I love the fact that things aren’t thrown into more chaos by something like that. Their friendship is as strong as Roar’s friendship with Perry, but different at the same time. They’re both Auds (people with enhanced hearing) so they understand the melody and tunes of the world. He’s like the guy best friend you can talk about the bad stuff with, but also tease and joke with as well.
Beyond Perry having difficulties leading his new tribe and settling Aria in, Aria had her own problems to deal with. The Dwellers were exploiting the fact that she was Outside of the safety of their Pod (aka a dome-like structure that housed people from the fury of the strange storms). In this world, there are weird electrical storms shooting through the sky, and it’s getting worse. This strange element is called the Aether.
And Rossi finally explains what the Aether is/how it came to be. Apparently, in past centuries, a freak solar flare changed the magnetic fields of the Earth and caused it to fluctuate, letting cosmic rays into the atmosphere. This somehow made the Aether that’s constantly flowing through the sky. Or rather, shooting electrical currents or waves through the sky. Don’t ask me if that’s scientifically sound, but as far as fiction goes, I’d say it’s good enough.
Anyway, Perry and Aria attempt to find out the location of a rumoured haven where there is no Aether destroying the land in funnels of fire coming from the sky. A beautiful piece of paradise called the Still Blue. This was no easy attempt, as the only person they could ask for this information was a Blood Lord of another tribe who sounds immediately unlikeable. Hence, they embark on an epic (ish) adventure in order to save their peoples. Action, action and action galore. This is why I loved Through the Ever Night more.
And with such adventure and conflict concludes the second novel of this trilogy. I do recommend you read this. Like now.
Overall Recommendation:
Through the Ever Night was by far better in every way compared to the previous novel in the series. With a romance that sweeps you off your feet and roaring to cheer their forbidden love, as well as conflict among Perry’s people, this book doesn’t let you bore easily. It sets the stage for the conclusion of the trilogy but never falls into the trap of “second book syndrome”. Continuing to follow both Perry and Aria’s POVs, Through the Ever Night will definitely satisfy fans of the first book and I highly recommend you read this. You’ll be whooping and crying with them, that’s how brilliantly this world has captured me.
Down the Rabbit Hole 