Under the Never Sky by Veronica Rossi

Under the Never Sky by Veronica Rossi

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


I got Under the Never Sky by Veronica Rossi from Netgalley. I have to admit when I first started reading it, I had a few thoughts I wasn't going to really enjoy it. The dystopian future seemed a bit too out there at first. And I'm not sure why, because a lot of the technology they started with in this book is similar to what is in other books like Bumped and even Skinned, the 2nd of which is one of my favorite series. I guess the part where they went into the pod where all the plants were dead, and the way the guys with the main character, Aria, acted about the fire and all that. But when Aria was betrayed because what happened with the fire was caused by a high ranking official's son, and sent out into what they called The Death Shop to make it on her own, I was hooked. I knew as soon as she went to talk to the official that was probably going to happen. Just had a feeling. She meets up out there with the Outsider who had saved her from the fire that night. The outsider has what I'd consider a mutation, probably caused by whatever had driven so many people to live in the Pods. He has what she needs to try to find her way to where communication was lost with her mother in another Pod. He needs this eye piece tech as well because he believes he can use it to get his nephew back, who was kidnapped by the Dwellers he assumes so they can get the information Aria recorded on there of the Official's son. Out in this wilderness they come across all kinds of "real" nature, something that Aria has only experienced as what would be called virtual reality. Her body also starts reverting to its natural state. And in one thing that to some people may be TMI, to me, I wasn't sure how she got by in the clothes she had, she got her period, but didn't know what it was. Not sure how she dealt with it either. Call me crazy, but I wanted to know for sure. Other than that, the relationship between her and the outsider Perry develops in a fair way I felt. And as we got to the end, where once again we were left hanging, I found myself wanting to read on, and sad that it was over and I'd have to wait to learn more. I think this will be a good new dystopian series.



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The Book of Blood and Shadow by Robin Wasserman

The Book of Blood and Shadow by Robin Wasserman

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


I got this book from Netgalley, and am so glad I did! I'm a huge fan of Robin Wasserman's books because of the Skinned series, which I think is now called the Cold Awakening series. But anyway, this is a really good book. It is one that makes me realize why I can never finish any of the books I start. The depth of the detail and the back story in this is incredible! I love books that use letters or flashbacks to historical diaries or events like this one does. In a way this is a Da Vinci Code type of book in that it brings in an ancient religious sect. I also like the sciencey part to it, as I am a science teacher. This was a big book, lots and lots of story to read. It starts out and says where it starts is the middle of the story. But really, while it is kind of the start of the whole 2nd part, the 2nd part is HUGE! Not in a bad way, just you get to that part and it's not really the middle of the book, just the middle of the story. I do like that it starts like that, so that you know kind of what is to happen, but you don't know just what will happen after that until you get to that part. I loved that I was kept guessing on whether the boyfriend, Max, was a bad guy or a good guy the whole time. So many clues led you back and forth. And the cousin, the unknown guy who shows up after Chris's murder, again, you don't know if he's good or bad. I kind of wanted to like Eli, hated him at first for how he talked to Nora, the main character, but as the story went on, really liked the love-hate relationship they had, I often enjoy those types of stories.

The story talks about an elusive machine that is supposed to get the maker/user in touch with God, it is called the Lumen Dei. The way it works at the end when they finally get it together is really good and totally adds to the whole story, and makes up for waiting all through the story to know what it will really do, although you're not left knowing what actually happens.

Great book, I'll be putting it as a staff recommendation at the bookstore where I work when it comes out in January.



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Crashed by Robin Wasserman

I was so excited when this came out and I actually ordered it in to the bookstore because we didn't have it in. But, something else came up, can't remember what it was at this time, and I just now got around to reading it. And it was good, just like I knew it would be.

This is the sequel to Skinned by Robin Wasserman. Our main character is Lia Kahn. In Skinned, Lia died in a car crash and her father had her brain scanned and put into a robotic body. A skinner as the people call them. Well, people aren't really accepting of these robots. Including Lia's own family members. Even though she has all her memories and feels like herself, people won't give her a chance. There was one guy, Auden, who did believe in her, and at the end of Skinned he got hurt from trying to save her, and then he sent her away. So she's gone and lived with the other mechs, as they call themselves. Jude, Riley, Quinn, and Ani. Among others who come to live with them in Quinn's huge family home.

There is the religous group trying to stop this practice of putting people's memories into these robots. And Auden has joined in against Lia. It has become a big deal, mechs against orgs(living people). And after several attacks, the government has started to consider taking away any "rights" that the mechs have, turning them back into machines or property.

I'm told that the shortlived SyFy show called Caprica is a lot like the theme in this book, so I'll have to find it on DVD and watch it. Now I'm just looking forward to reading Wired, the third in the series.

Skinned by Robin Wasserman

I'm a bit ashamed to start this blog out by saying, I'd seen Robin Wasserman's books in our teen section for at least 4 or 5 years, yet I'd never read any till just now. I had picked up this very book, and read the back several times, so I was interested in it, just never got the commitment to reading it until I began following her on Twitter.

This was as good as I expected. It reminds me of one of my favorite series, the Uglies, by Scott Westerfeld, as well as a book I just read for the Truman nominees, The Adoration of Jenna Fox.

Our main character is Lia Khan, one of, or maybe "the" most popular girl. Lia has just been in a horrible car accident. Now this is a futuristic world, the cars drive themselves, so this should never have happened. Another thing is that it shouldn't even have been Lia, it should have been her younger sister Zo in the car. Lia should have died, but this is the future remember, they can download your brain and put you into a new body. It's a robot, but very lifelike. Normally, if you have time, you can get your new body to look just like you did. However, because of the abruptness of this accident, Lia's new body is only one that is similar in looks to her. Her family, her friends, many in the world, do not accept this. They are called, Skinners. One boy does stick up for her, Auden, a boy she would never have looked at before this happened. She also must go to support groups for other kids like her, where she soon meets people who take her to meet Jude. Another skinner. Only these skinners don't want to be integrated back into society, they want to be recognized for what they are.

Lia has to decide what she wants to be, who she wants to be. Along the way she learns some sad htings about her family and friends, and her boyfriend.

The ending is a cliffhanger, totally leaves you wanting more. So I was excited to see that the 2nd will come out in paperback in a month I think. I've got my copy ordered. :-)