Book Review: Through the Ever Night

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, hidden enemies, and powerful temptations, Aria and Perry wonder, Can their love survive through the ever night?

In this second book in her spellbinding Under the Never Sky trilogy, Veronica Rossi combines fantasy and dystopian elements to create a captivating story as perilous as it is unforgettable. Quoted from Goodreads

********************

Second books are hard. Too often, they simply bridge the gap between first and third.  The world building is mostly done, so the story has to step things up to keep my attention.  Too often it fails, but every so often I find a sequel that lives up to it's predecessor. This is one of those.

The first book was all about Aria's growth.  She learned to survive in her new environment, harsh as it may have been, and thrive on the challenge.  This second book was more Perry's story.  Yes, the chapters still alternate between them, but this time it's Perry on a journey. As Blood Lord of his tribe, he is given the opportunity to really grow up and come into his own.  Aria's still there, but her journey, while full of adventure, changes her less than Perry's does, and I enjoyed the chance to let a different character shine.

A lot of other things came together for me in this book.  There were several characters whose importance I didn't understand in the first book, or whose role was more like filler (I mean, you can't have a world with only five characters) that got fleshed out.  It added a wonderful depth to the book, and tied in loose ends from the first that perfectly set up the third installment.

Another thing I really enjoyed in this book is Aria and Perry's relationship.  Yes, there is the requisite heartache found in any YA sequel, but it was a normal, healthy kind. It didn't paralyze the characters or keep them from doing what they needed to do. It wasn't full of angst or dramatic bursts of tears. Plus, there still isn't a love triangle.  Aria and Roar are able to be good friends without Roar falling in love with Aria or Aria falling for him. In fact, I love Aria and Roar's relationship.  It's sweet, fun, and incredibly supportive.

If you haven't read Under the Never Sky, now is the time to pick it up, read it, and then read Through the Ever Night.  I thoroughly enjoyed it, far more than I thought I would. It deserves a solid 4 stars, maybe more, and is the pefect second book. It pulls things together, while still leaving me anxiously waiting for the thrid book to come out.