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Through the Ever Night
Through the Ever Night
Through the Ever Night
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Through the Ever Night

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

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A world-defying love is put to the ultimate test in the New York Times and USA Today bestselling sequel to Veronica Rossi's "masterpiece," Under the Never Sky (Examiner.com ). In this second book in her spellbinding Under the Never Sky trilogy, bestselling author Veronica Rossi combines fantasy and dystopian elements to create a love story as perilous as it is unforgettable.

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?

LanguageEnglish
PublisherHarperCollins
Release dateJan 8, 2013
ISBN9780062072085
Author

Veronica Rossi

Veronica Rossi graduated from UCLA. The first book in her New York Times bestselling Under the Never Sky trilogy was named an ALA Best Fiction for Young Adults selection and an Indie Next List Pick. The second book, Through the Ever Night, was a New York Times and USA Today bestseller. The series has been optioned for film. Veronica lives in northern California with her husband and two sons.

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Rating: 4.233624253275109 out of 5 stars
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  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    BookNook — Young Adult book reviewsSince i wasn't completely sold on Under the Never Sky, I was afraid I would feel the same way about Through the Ever Night, but Veronica Rossi managed to rock my world with this book! It almost makes me wonder if I just wasn't in the right mood or frame of mind when reading Under the Never Sky. If I were to read that book again, would I enjoy it more? Who knows.Through the Ever Night had everything that was missing for me in Under the Never Sky: a gripping plot, characters I cared about, and a story that felt necessary. This book does not suffer from the second-book-in-a-series-syndrome at all! The story is brilliant and has a very strong, clear purpose. Starting at about 50%, each chapter in Through the Ever Night had a little mini cliffhanger. I couldn't stop reading! I just had to find out what happened next!We are finally introduced to Liv in this book, and I loved her! Liv is strong, bold, self-sacrificing, and brave. She's definitely a character who is easy to admire and brilliant to read about. Her relationship with Roar and the tragedy of it is so heartbreaking! Roar is one of my favourite characters EVER! He's the kind of sweet, loyal, caring guy I just want to cuddle! That's why his relationship with Liv breaks my heart so much. They desperately want to be together, but Liv feels like she has a duty to The Tides with her arranged marriage.We also learn a bit more about the Aether and Cinder in this book. Cinder's role really becomes clear in Through the Ever Night, and it's clear that he will be one of the most important characters in the third book—Into the Still Blue.I came to really love Perry's chapters in Through the Ever Night. Perry really had a lot of depth in this book, something I think he was missing in Under the Never Sky. We really watch him struggle with his role as Lord of the Tides. He constantly has to win over the loyalty of The Tides and prove that he's fit to be their leader. And when The Tides don't really accept Aria, he is really torn between his duty to The Tides and his love for her.Part of me wishes that Perry and Aria spent more time together in Through the Ever Night. On the one hand, I love their relationship SO MUCH. It's so sweet when they're together and I love how they love each other so much! But on the other hand, I know why it was necessary for them to be apart, and both of their chapters and the events that occurred in them were so interesting. So I was never bored while I was reading, but I did miss their sweet intimacy when they were apart (which was most of the book).Through the Ever Night really surprised me with how much it affected me. It was full of action, love, heartbreak, loyalty, and survival. There are battles, deaths, conspiracies, starvation, and intimate moments. I have really become attached to this story and I'm now DYING to read the third book!
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    Sequels are hard to review - they're a bit hit-or-miss and these days more and more suffer from second book syndrome: they act like a filler book to tide you over until the real action begins again in the concluding book.I'm very happy to say that Through the Ever Night doesn't have any of these problems. Authors take note: this is how you write a sequel! The book is an all-round hit - just as riveting and action-filled as the first book, and it sets readers up for what is bound to be a thrilling climax in the final book of the series, Into the Still Blue.My one complaint about Under the Never Sky was that the cataclysmic event that forced people into the Pods, and left others to eke out a living in the harsh environment outside, was never explained. This is quickly and efficiently taken care of in Through the Ever Night, with the author briefly recounting the massive solar flare that wreaked havoc on Earth's atmosphere and now causes the brutal magnetic storms that plague our characters. I wonder why this was never mentioned in the first book, it seems the solar flare should have naturally come up whenever Aria was thinking about how her life inside the Pods differed from that of the 'Savages' outside.Perry and Aria are breathtakingly realistic characters, and they continue to pull at the heart-strings in this book. The secondary cast, including Roar, Reef, Molly and Bear, add dimension and warmth to the story, and I love that Rossi handled the loyalty of the Six and the mistrust of the rest of the tribe so well. I couldn't really blame any of the characters for feeling what they did, but it frustrated me that they didn't trust Perry as their leader. On the other hand, their blind hatred of Aria disappointed me, and it doesn't seem like this issue is going away any time soon.I also liked the tension Rossi created between Perry, Live, Aria and Roar. It was predictable, and a little cruel, but I think anyone in Perry's position would have been susceptible to doubt, and I hope it all gets worked out in the next book.Finally meeting Liv, Perry's sister, was one of my favourite things about Through the Ever Night. I felt like I should know her already, after all the stories Perry and Roar tell of her, but she's even more impressive in person. I think it would have been very easy for the author to ask readers to hate Liv because of the decisions she made, but her situation is impossible and my heart was breaking for her.Through the Ever Night is a captivating sequel: populated with amazing characters and full of twists and turns that will keep you reading way past your bedtime! Veronica Rossi has quickly become one of my favourite YA authors, and I encourage readers to pick up this brilliant series.A copy of this book was provided by the publisher for review.You can read more of my reviews at Speculating on SpecFic.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    This is the kind of love story that I want to read an crave for. Love this series!
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    A little slower than the first book. Hoping the third book offers a little more. Still, a well-written book and I am enjoying the story.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    So, I couldn't be happy until I bought and started this book. I was going to wait to get it from the library, so I tried to read 3 other books, and wasn't feeling it. So I put myself out of my misery and bought it. Then I read the summary, and I knew that more heartache and trouble were in store for Aria and Perry, but I just had to see more of their romance and find out what happens next. The characters did not let me down, they continued to be amazing and blow me away. I couldn't stop thinking about them and this world. Every time I had to put down the book I was thinking about Aria and Perry and Roar in the back of my mind and this beautiful but dark and treacherous world that Ms. Rossi has created. There were times that I wanted to cry, and I couldn't believe the obstacles and heart ache that happened. There were others that made me smile and still others that made me want to fan myself. Or possibly zap myself into Aria's shoes so I am there with Perry. There were other moments that I wanted to smack some sense into them because of the choices, or almost VERY bad decisions made. But luckily my rage wasn't waranted at the specific moment where I was ready to give up on my book boyfriend. Here is an example of the swoon worthiness:Perry’s hand settled on her hip, his grip firm. She felt their kiss shift into something deeper as his mouth moved with more urgency over hers. Suddenly there was real heat between them, and she had to force herself to draw away.When she did, a soft curse slipped through Perry’s lips. His eyes were half-lidded, unfocused. He looked as overcome as she felt.Aria leaned by his ear. “We’ll pick that up when we’re alone.He laughed. “That better be soon.” Yeah. Hose me down now. But I digress. The twists were amazing, and I was shocked that the unlikely alliance that formed, and also very glad to see the return of some of the characters that I liked a lot but wasn't sure I would see again after the end of the first book. The depth of the characters just really amazes me. They are so complex and they really found a way into my heart. I learned so much more about Perry in this one, and it was such a joy to be in his head. It was difficult watching him grow into the position of Blood Lord, but it was worth every minute. I just loved the devotion and loyalty in this book. The measures that Aria and Perry would not only take for each other but their friends such as Roar and Cinder, and the people that they are connected to by leadership, family, or place they grew up. And while I loved Roar in the first book, he has gone to a whole other level in this one. He never fails to bring a smile to my face, but knowing he is in so much pain makes my heart hurt too. His friendship with Aria deepens even more in this one, and I really appreciate that. It is not a love thing at all, but shows the depths that you can care for someone without being IN love. This series has worked its way into my top ten and maybe even higher. Aria and Perry's romance is up there with my favorite couples and the cast of secondary characters, esp Roar is there as well. I appreciated the continuing world building in this one, especially a more detailed description of the aether. I can picture this world in my head and feel myself right in the story with the characters. The pacing was great. There was always character development or action to keep things moving, and I almost wanted to press slow motion at times to savor the happy and together moments of Aria and Perry before the next impending disaster. Because you know there will be one. While I of course am still craving more of this world and of Aria and Perry, I think that Through the Ever Night ended at a good spot and it didn't make me want to through my kindle because it felt like it stopped in the middle of a chapter, like some books do with cliffies. It was heart breaking though!!Bottom Line: Loved it even more than the 1st. Perfection. Lots of character growth, swoon moments and heartache.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    Note: There are necessarily spoilers for Book One of this series but not for this second book in the "Under the Never Sky" trilogy.I loved Under the Never Sky; it was one of my “top ten” reads of the year. Rossi sets up a fascinating sociological confrontation in her post-apocalyptic world between those who live in sheltered pods (“Dwellers”) and those called "Savages" who were left on the perilous Outside. In some future time, a massive solar flare corrodes the earth’s protective magnetic field, allowing violent energy storms called “the Aether” to strike the earth and destroy much of it. The peril-filled landscape inhabited by the survivors is painted by Rossi with swirling Van-Gogh-like storm funnels roiling the exposed atmosphere. Both Dwellers and Outsiders have learned to survive in their own unique ways, but now the storms are intensifying, and both groups are in danger. In the first book, Aria, 17 and a pod dweller, gets evicted out into the open to prevent the secrets she discovered from being revealed. Her exposure should have meant her certain death, but she gets rescued by a “savage,” 18-year-old Perry (Peregrine). He was on his way to the pods to try and find his beloved nephew Talon, who had been captured by the Dwellers. Aria also wants to get (back) to the pods; she believes her mother is in danger there. Wary of each other, Aria and Perry reluctantly join forces to reach their common goal of infiltrating the pods. In the process, they come to see that they are not so different after all, and that in fact, they don’t want to be apart.This second book begins with Perry, now 19 and leader, or “Blood Lord” of his tribe – the Tides - trying to figure out how to get his people to accept Aria, a hated Dweller, into their midst; they still barely accept Perry as their leader! The two decide to pretend they aren’t involved romantically – that might be too much for the tribe. In fact, Aria fears even her very presence is undermining Perry’s authority, and she takes off in secret with Roar, Perry’s best friend. Roar is searching for Liv, his love who is Perry’s sister. And Aria is being blackmailed by one of the leaders of the pods, Counsul Hess, who is threatening to hurt Perry's nephew Talon if she doesn’t help Hess find a safe haven for the Dwellers.Meanwhile, back at the Tide compound, newcomers arrive, and one of them, a bold and beautiful woman named Kirra, causes Perry to question his faith in Aria. After all, she did run off with Roar, and indeed, she and Roar had undeniably become quite close. But when the compound comes under attack, Perry makes a discovery about himself and Kirra that clarifies to him what being a "Blood Lord" really means.Discussion: Book Two is also excellent, although some of the novelty and polarity of Book One is gone. But Rossi makes up for it by enabling us to deepen our knowledge of these very appealing characters, grow closer to them, and watch them mature. As they become stronger, they also learn how to use those strengths. Perry and Aria still have problems communicating, but they are trying to cope with that as well. As Perry remembered his father once advising him:"…love [is] like the waves in the sea, gentle and good sometimes, rough and terrible at others, but ... it [is] endless and stronger than the sky and the earth and everything in between.”Evaluation: As I noted about the first book, this series has it all: adventure, bravery, danger, suspense, tenderness, devotion, betrayal, and loyalty. Love of family and tribe are as important to this story as romantic love, and any of them can become inextricable by the process of “rendering.” Rendering is getting tied to someone in a bond that makes another’s needs your own, and makes it inconceivable for you not to have that person’s life bound up with your own. This series truly qualifies as a saga, and is one you won’t soon forget!
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    OMG! I can't believe that I have to wait to find out the end!!!! This is definitely not one of those sequels that falls flat, rather it is more exciting than the first! Anything Veronica Rossi writes, I will read!!
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    Continues where Under the Never Sky left off. Perry struggles to earn the title of Blood Lord of his tribe, the Tides, especially when Aria returns to him. As a Dweller, she won't easily be accepted, so they decide to hide their relationship and say that Aria is only there to help them find the Still Blue, a place that's supposedly safe from the Aether storms that plague their land. But Aria is also under orders from Hess, a powerful figure from the Inside, to find the Still Blue for him.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    Review courtesy of Dark Faerie Tales.Quick & Dirty: Excellent follow up to Under the Never Sky with many trials for Aria and Perry’s relationship.Opening Sentence: Aria was here.The Review:Through the Ever Night starts at exactly the same spot that Under the Never Sky ended but Aria and Peregrine’s reunion is rather short lived when they are forced to travel back to Peregrine’s village. As a former dweller, Aria knows that she will not be accepted by the people of Peregrine’s village. After Aria’s life is threatened she leaves the village and Perry behind to continue on her journey to find the Still Blue. Roar travels with Aria to the north to find the leader Sable. It is believed that he has the knowledge to find the Still Blue and Roar hopes to find Liv somewhere along the way.Aria and Peregrine spend much of the middle of this novel separated. They both undergo trials into their characters and emotions. Perry has the most problems to work through. He loses a bulk of his tiny tribe and tries to keep the rest happy under his guidance. He has to fight his feelings when it gets under his skin that Aria may have feelings for someone else. And Perry begins to doubt his instincts but follows through even though others don’t like his ideas. Aria learns to trust her instincts even though she knows she can’t always follow through. She is a strong and stable character even when it seems as though she should break down.The worldbuilding in the Under the Never Sky series still runs strong. The aether is still brutal and the storms are growing ever stronger. Villages and domes are being destroyed equally. It seems so unrealistic that there would ever be a calm enough place where the survivors could live. Dystopians like to kill the optimism in the world even though that is all Aria can hope for if she wants her friends and loved ones to be safe and happy.This novel, just like the one previous to it, does skip between Aria and Perry’s point of views. Although, sometimes I do wish I knew what Roar was thinking. Under the Never Sky had the feel of an adventure novel with some Romeo & Juliet mixed in while Through the Ever Night has adventure but much of the love story takes a backseat to the drama happening in separate places.Overall, Through the Ever Night gets Aria and Perry one step closer to finding the Still Blue but first they must rescue people from their pasts, happy reunions and tragic endings fill this novel. I wish that this novel could go back and undue some tragic events but you learn through tragedy and I can’t wait to read what is next in their journey. A huge fight is brewing over the Still Blue, and if it is real, will the survivors get along enough to live together. I’ll have to be patient until next year when Into the Still Blue is released.Notable Scene:She knew too well how that felt. Every day since her mother had died, she’d struggled with the idea that she didn’t have anything.Perry shook his head. “Maybe this won’t make sense, but I feel like the Aether’s the same way. We think we need this . . . this land. This house. This room . . . But it’s not the right way to live. We lost acres last night to fires, and a man I’ve known my entire life almost died. I almost did.”She closed the space between them in a shot and took his hands, holding on as tight as she could. As tight as she would have if she’d been at the jetty. He let out a slow breath, staring into her eyes, his grip just as tight as hers.“We lose and lose, but we’re still here. Shaking in place, afraid of doing something. I’m tired of settling for this because I don’t know if something better exists. It has to. What point is there otherwise? I can do something about it now. And I will.”He blinked, the intensity in his eyes vanishing as he shifted back to the present. He laughed at himself. “That was a lot. Anyway . . .” He lifted an eyebrow. “You’re pretty quiet.”She wrapped her arms around his waist, hugging him. “Because there isn’t a word for how perfect that was.”FTC Advisory: Harper Collins provided me with a copy of Through the Ever Night. No goody bags, sponsorships, “material connections,” or bribes were exchanged for my review.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    Review courtesy of All Things Urban FantasyUNDER THE NEVER SKY began in Aria’s ‘safe’ virtual reality life inside the Domes that were built to protect a part of the population from the destructive Aether storms that continue to plague the planet. The reality of the outside world was harsh and unforgiving. In THROUGH THE EVER NIGHT, we begin outside and for the first time in the series, Aria and Perry trade off telling the story. Once again the dystopian, sci-fi, and paranormal elements are blended together seamlessly in THROUGH THE EVER NIGHT. I appreciated the way Rossi set out to tell a much different story from the one in UNDER THE NEVER SKY, though I did find the shift in themes to take some getting used to.In the first book, we had two people from two diametrically opposed groups thrust together and forced to find common ground in order to rescue loved ones. The book mostly involved Aria and Perry alone, slowly shifting from hatred to suspicion, to tolerance, and then so beautifully into love. In this sequel, Aria and Perry are separated for a majority of the book. They are dealing with separate issues: Perry is attempting to unite and ensure the survival of his people while learning to embrace his new role as Blood Lord of the Tides, whereas Aria is paired with Roar and tasked with tracking down information about the semi mythical Still Blue (a place supposedly untouched by the devastating Aether storms). Both of their journeys are compelling and dangerous, but the romantic tension that was such a major part of the first book is noticeably absent.Unlike so many middle books in trilogies, THROUGH THE NEVER NIGHT is not just a filler book that serves just to pass the time until the final book. There is plenty of action and plot development. Not to mention a few rather shocking revelations. The time that Aria and Perry do spend together is powerful and, while not as engrossing in that sense as the previous book, still consuming. The ending in particular sets up what promises to be an amazing conclusion to the trilogy when INTO THE STILL BLUE releases in 2014.Sexual Content:Kissing
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    4.5/5 stars. Rossi's done it again, folks. If anything, I'd say "Through the Ever Night" beats out its predecessor in almost all technical areas - character development, worldbuilding, plot/arc development, and sensory imagery/language. The amount of depth and the amount of development, period, in this next installment in the Ever/Never trilogy really just blew me away. Even if you weren't impressed with the first book, I highly urge you to change your mind and read this second book. Rossi grew by leaps and bounds, and when that happens with a recently-debuted author, it's really a joy to watch.Seriously, guys, I'm not exaggerating when I say that Rossi improved in pretty much every single area. Expanded worldbuilding? You got it. Deeper characters? Yep. We finally get to see Liv and Roar in action (aside from the novella)? Yes we do. So, so much angst in this one (for good reasons, not useless teenage pining angst, either), and I don't think it's ever felt quite this good. There's a lot of hurting that goes on in this book for everyone, but it makes them grow. Rossi has really made her characters better and stronger, and for that, for having the courage to mercilessly torture her characters to get an absolutely wonderful emotional payoff? I tip my hat to her.Let's start with the world - we get to see the world beyond the land of the Tides, and that of Marron's hold and Reverie which we got to see in the last book. This time we go to the Horns' territory, the Rim, and at the end, we even get a sneak peek at where the Still Blue may be located. Ugh, to end on such a cliffhanger, I'd usually be shaking my fist out of frustration for taking the easy way out, but Rossi does it well by not only offering us a cliffhanger as to where the Still Blue may be located, but she also offers us decent closure for this book as a standalone within the trilogy (if that makes sense). As in, if this series were to end with this book, I'd be okay with it, because I'd feel enough closure. Maybe not enough concerning the tease about the Still Blue and Hess' plans to usurp it, but otherwise in every other area? I'm totally fine with that. And I was surprised to feel that way once I got to the end of the book. And it was a good kind of surprise. The imagery for the world - from the wet sea of the Tides to the frosty mountain steppes of the Rim - all of it was drop-dead gorgeous, and the sensory imagery was incredible. BRAVO.We get to see our characters really move and grow in this one - the most of which belongs to Perry as a fellow MC, and to Roar, who we really get to see more of in order to make him a fellow MC to Aria and Perry. There's a really great bromance (with the slightest hint of love triangle, but thankfully Rossi doesn't go there!) between Aria, roar, and Perry happening, and I really love it. Specifically, the bromance that develops between Roar and Aria was pretty impressive, and I'm glad that Rossi decided not to go into love triangle territory between them. Why? Because it would have been taking the easy way out. Sometimes the hardest thing is to love someone you have feelings for (though you may not be able to distinguish between romantic love/platonic love for them), and not act on it. Aria and Roar don't, and that was incredibly gratifying to see. Aria grew quite a bit too, just so I don't leave her out, but I do have to say that Perry, with taking on the Blood Lord title, really grew the most. He had to. And it wasn't fun, or easy. There was a lot of pain, and a lot of work he put into it (and Rossi put into it), but it was for the better. This, alongside of the main cast bromance in Laini Taylor's "Smoke and Bone" series, is now my favorite in all of YA. YES. I liked it that much. And seeing Liv...well, her with Roar, god, that was painful, but highly enjoyable.As for the plot advancement - there were a few places where the pace did drop off a bit, which is why this doesn't get a full five stars. But otherwise, I love the implications of Cinder being a former Dweller, and him possibly might not be the only one able to control aether. So what will happen to all of the Dwellers that Hess leaves behind? I really hope Rossi goes for the gold here and shows us the many possibilities that are here in terms of supernatural abilities, since Aria is half-Outsider, and Cinder is a former Dweller, and both have abilities as Scires. So, in terms of that, that was my biggest area of interest within the plot advancement in the "find the Still Blue" area of the plot. I definitely can't wait for book three now, though I hope we get another novella to tide us over before the next release in 2014.Final verdict? Even if it you weren't the hugest fan of book one, you NEED to read book two, if just for all of the shiny new improvements and growth in all the technical areas of this book. I'm definitely off to go order my physical copy ASAP. "Through the Ever Night" is now available in North America through HarperTeen, so what are you waiting for? This didn't make my best of 2013 list for nothing. Go and check it out as soon as you can!(posted to goodreads, shelfari, librarything, and birthofanewwitch.wordpress.com)
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    Through the Ever Night is an excellent follow-up to Under the Never Sky. The plot is action-packed and full of suspense. There is a lot of drama, both of the romantic and friendship varieties, and because of that, the book is impossible to put down. Both Aria and Perry grow throughout the course of the novel, and I really like where their relationship is headed. If you loved Under the Never Sky, then you'll absolutely adore Through the Ever Night. Rossi does not disappoint.Rossi refused to go easy on her characters. Awful things happened to Aria and Perry, and because of that, the characters and their relationships grew in surprising and wonderful ways. I really liked that Rossi basically placed a ton of road blocks in their paths and forced them to figure out how to deal with them. All of these changes and challenges seemed very organic, though. I never got the sense that Rossi was manipulating the story in order to fit a plot outline. She just did her job as an author and put obstacles in Aria's and Perry's way so that they could become what they were meant to become, and she did a terrific job of it. The plot is action-packed and suspenseful. Rossi continued to surprise me throughout the course of this novel. I laughed and cried and was extremely emotionally invested in the outcome of these characters. There were many points when I wasn't sure what would happen or if anyone would make it out alive. I really love that kind of suspense in a book, and I could not put this one down. Overall, I'd recommend Through the Ever Night to anyone who wants a good, suspenseful dystopian romance. However, I feel that I must warn you: You will lose sleep with this book.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    Through The Ever Night starts with the very romantic reunion of Perry and Aria, which sets the tone for a book that is filled with swoon. However, you know that nothing can be easy for our lovebirds, and it isn't long before the reality of Perry's new role as Blood Lord starts to create tension between them. To say that the Tides aren't happy to see Aria join them is an understatement, and the way that Veronica Rossi uses the people in the Tides to voice the inner fears of both Perry and Aria was brilliant. It's as if the mean little thoughts that they both try to bury are given voice through the suspicious people that Perry leads. While Perry must now worry about feeding his people and fending off attacks, Aria must decide if staying is the right thing to do. Talon is still being held captive and Aria is still looking for answers about her mom. And what of Roar? He was a likable character in Under he Never Sky, but if you don't fall in love with Roar in this book, there is no hope for you at all. I think one of my favorite things about book two was the way that we learn more about him and how much I started to care about his happiness, as well. I was trying to pin down exactly why I thought this book was even better than Under The Never Sky, and I think it was character growth. The inventive world that Rossi creates is still fascinating, but the changes that everyone goes through really made me love this book. Aria is tougher and more resourceful without losing who she is. Perry is certainly more comfortable showing his feelings for Aria, but he also changes as he assumes the heavy burden of leadership. It's a position that he is not really ready for and I appreciated the fact that he made some pretty big mistakes because I think it helped show how serious their situation was. This installment is not without heartbreak and I was surprised at how many twists and turns the story took, some of which made me so sad. There are so many heart-in-your-throat moments in this book that I started and finished it in one night because here was no way that I could put it down without knowing how it ended. I think that fans of this series will be extremely pleased with book two and, like me, will be waiting anxiously for the conclusion to this fantastic series.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    I have to say while I really enjoyed the first book in this series, Under the Never Sky, I loved Through the Ever Night! A lot of it had to do with the fact that I love Roar and we get to see a lot of him. I think I adore him even more than I adored Perry. Perry was a little too mopey and depressing in this book for my tastes.One of the highlights was Aria's relationship with Roar. It was refreshing to see such a strong friendship between and guy and a girl that didn't have the overtones of a love triangle in the making. They were simply friends who bonded together and supported each other heart and soul. Unlike in most other YA books this friendship didn't lead into the internal debate of do I love Roar or do I love Perry? Do I love Liv or do I love Aria? Each knew what they wanted and stayed the course.Veronica also threw in a few surprises that brought a wonderful twist to the story. They were worked in smoothly and served to move the story forward rather than tossed in haphazardly for the shock factor. I don't want to spoil them but I definitely didn't see some of them coming and I can't wait to see how they play out in the end.There is a lot of action, intrigue and amazing character building. Definitely a sequel that surpassed it's predecessor.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    Rossi manages to keep this futuristic tale fresh in a market saturated with dystopian trilogies. Aria and Perry are reunited quickly in the beginning of the story, with The Tides worried about the uneasy Aether sky, a result of some sort of sun/star flare up that caused the split between the Outside and the pods of Reverie long ago. The promise of safety lying within the Still Blue appeals to all factions in the book. It's interesting how almost medival the Outside seems, deals between all are brokered and sometimes kept, sometimes not.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    What I LovedBook TwoThe middle book in the trilogy can be so hard many times. We are so close yet not close enough to get the last bit of the story. Even though it was the dreaded second book it was still a fantastic read. I was kept intrigued every chapter with the switching POVs from Aria and Perry.CharactersIn the first book I really loved both characters and I still love them. They kept on proving how awesome they were at each and every turn. Some decisions they had to make where heart wrenching, but they stayed true to their character and I like that about them.RomanceA little more romance was added to the story, but not enough to label it a romance. Again just the perfect amount of romance to keep me very happy and content.StoryOnce again Rossi has delivered an amazing story. She threw her characters into so many different situations and made them choose the logical routes and not necessarily the route they truly wanted to take. So many different intense situations that kept me turning the pages and wanting more.Didn't LikeThat the book came to an end and I have to wait another year for the final book.Recommendation I great second book and I can't wait to read the final installment, so sad that I have to wait over a year to get it. If you haven't read the Under the Never Sky yet, you need to get on it!
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    This sequel did not disappoint (as sequels usually do!) Perhaps I've had more time with the characters now, but they've grown on me, especially Roar. I really enjoyed the setting of this book. Even though it takes place in post-apocalyptic times (i.e., the future)...it had such a pre-historic feel to it (and I love pre-historic stories like Clan of the Cave Bear.) It is an interesting concept to think that hundreds of years into the past could be so similar to hundreds of years into the future. I'm not sure if it's a statement the author intended to make, but I thought it was a powerful one nonetheless.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    Aria has to quest to find the Still Blue to save Talon, who is being held in Reverie to ensure she complies and hunts. She's back with Perry who is struggling with the balance of leadership and love for her. The politics of the situation is getting deadly and the storms are getting worse.Interesting read, the characters are fleshing out nicely, the stress is also visible and the situations are not getting any better. They are young to be dealing with these situations but they are also quite aware of the reality of this situation for themselves, this is not light stuff, it's pretty realistic within the parameters of the world and I'm quite interested to see what happens next.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    "She turned and nestled against him, resting her forehead against his cheek, and for a moment he had everything he needed."—PerryThe first book of this series, Under the Never Sky, was honestly brilliant that when it was finished, I couldn't wait for its continuation. So when I saw that this book finally came out, I managed to get my hand on it, and well, have to say it's really satisfying.Through the Ever Night continued where the previous book had left off, which was when Aria found out about Bliss and the truth about her mother, Perry became the Blood Lord succeeding his brother Vale, and the Aether storm continued to rage day by day. When Perry sensed that Aria was once again Outside, all he could think was bringing her to his homeland Tides. But the truth was not as sweet as he thought it would be, and when the Tides rejected her and endangered her life, Aria decided to take an action and turn to her old comrade, Soren.But when the Aether Storm threatened both the Tides and Reverie, what will they both do to keep it from falling apart?One thing I really love from this book was that we could get a better look at Perry's everyday life and how he live, not like the previous book where it was more concentrated on Aria's struggle. And the way the viewpoint switched between Aria and Perry—both with their own problem to manage—was really interesting and nicely done as well. The plot was quite fast and enjoyable, and honestly, I was begging for more and more when I reached the end of the book. Yep, it's that good.In Under the Never Sky, the character and the world building was great. However, in this book, I found that Rossi really gave us a brand new perspective of her character. Perry—the tough and badass Outsider—actually had a heart of gold, while Aria—also known as Dweller and shown as a weak and incapable girl—was actually quite brave and intelligent.I love how Perry showed a more sensitive side of his in this book, became confused when his tribe starved, and looked totally like a real person. It really helped for us to sympathize with him and to picture him easily. His concern for his people felt really true, and I also love his relationship with Roar and Reef, which was simple yet true. Aria's personality was well-developed too, with her showing more of her tough side and less of her helpless side. Her adjustment to the outside world wasn't feel forced at all, and it's really interesting how she looked more mature here than in the previous book. One change I noticed on her was that she was now less whinny and more practical, and that's just how I love it.One character I was really fond of was Liv, Perry's sister who had been sold to other tribe by Vale in exchange for food. Her background was really interesting, and when she finally made an appearance, there was already so much explanation about her that I felt I already known her. Even though she appeared very little in this book, I felt a really strong connection to her, mostly because of her interesting and unique personality, as well as her distinct voice. Even when she was portrayed as a strong woman, I really like how Rossi decided to balanced her toughness with a kind, loving heart, and selfless personality.One thing I'm not quite fond of was how Rossi decided to end this book. Even though it was quite satisfying, but it still feels so-so and ended way too quickly and abruptly. The pacing was great for most of the story, but nearing the end, it all happened too fast and didn't quite covered it all.Overall, if you love the first book, or you just want to read some dystopian book, you should definitely try this one. Totally recommended.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    So great, wish I had the last one... because I kind of feel lost without the story being complete!
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    Loved it! Very good, action packed, non stop! Reminded me of divergent which is equally as good. Better than legend!
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    If you haven’t read Under the Never Sky yet, the first in this series, then you definitely should get on that… We return the the story of Perry and Aria–Perry is Blood Lord of the Tides and Aria is searching for a way to the Still Blue and the safety from the Aether it promises in order to save Perry’s nephew, Talon (and all the rest of them). The Aether storms are getting stronger and more frequent, and Perry is trying to keep the Tides together and faces all the struggles that come with leading the tribe. Roar is searching for Liv and through it all, there’s a growing distance in Perry and Aria’s relationship. Can they survive it all? This one is a page-turner for sure, filled with action and suspense and frustrations and loss. I only put it down when I had to go to work, and picked it right up again as soon as I got home. This is a must-read series, and I hear that movie rights are being/have been talked about for it, so keep on the lookout for that:) Positively a 5/5 stars ;)
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    Aww... Well everyone of importance--minus one *sob*--survived and now I cant wait to find out how it all ends
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    VOYA Rating: 4Q 4PHighly Recommended After months of being apart, Aria and Perry reunite. Perry is now the Blood Lord of his tribe and Aria is an orphan cast out again from Reverie. Things are changing because both worlds are now threatened by the Aether storms. Both societies need to find the Still Blue in order to survive. Hess has sent Aria out to find it and Perry needs to find it for his tribe so that they survive. Fighting between other tribes is escalating and the Pods can no longer stand up to the storms. It is a fight for food and a safe place to live.I think this second book picks up right where the first book left off. Still lots of adventure and romance. Characters continue to be developed and new relationships and treachery are discovered. I think that if readers were to read only the second book, they would be confused. Aria keeps in contact with Hess with a Smarteye device. She has to because he is blackmailing her with the safety of Perry’s nephew, Talon. They need to find the Still Blue. This is a place that is safe from the Aether storms and people could live there and rebuild their society. Unfortunately, no one knows if it’s real or where it is.I would still recommend this to high school students. Not too much is objectionable, but there are some sex scenes and graphic violence. A lot of bad guys die. I would recommend this book to both boys and girls. The romance and the adventure balance each other out. Students would enjoy discussing this story. I think it’s a good choice for school libraries. It would be ideal for literature circles or book clubs. I thought it was a gripping dystopian story. I am looking forward to the conclusion of this trilogy.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    I’ve seriously had this book from the library for eight weeks. It wasn’t until the day before it was due for the second time that I finally started it. I knew it was going to be good so I don’t know what took me so long to pick it up.Once again author, Veronica Rossi, wastes no time diving right into the action, which I love! Since all the world building already took place in book one this book was able to focus more on the characters and developing their relationships with one another.I wasn’t that big of a Perry fan in the first book but we really got to learn a lot more about him in this book and I started to like him a lot more! That said, Roar is still my favorite. He was a lot more prevalent in this book and we learned a lot about his past with Liv.Once again the ending was both perfectly satisfying yet left you dying for the next installment!! When the third book comes out I won’t make the same mistake by letting it sit there for eight weeks, I’ll start reading while I’m still in the store.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    I was slightly worried about delving into Rossi's sequel to Under the Never Sky because I liked the first one so much. It turns out I shouldn't have been afraid. Sure, there's bad stuff that happens, but Rossi did something that many books (YA and non) tend to cling to -- she had her characters talk to each other about their secrets. I find it extremely frustrating to have characters keeping secrets just to create conflict that takes away from the stories (kdramas, I'm looking at you) and I was really worried that Through the Ever Night was going to fall victim to this. But Rossi makes sure this doesn't happen (I don't know if it's on purpose or not, but it doesn't matter, because it just made me like her book more). This is a strong follow up and I'm curious and eager to find out what happens next.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    Through the Ever Night is the 2nd book in the Under the Never Sky series by Veronica Rossi. It continues the story of Aria and Perry trying to survive in the outside world with its violent storms. Aria and Perry, from two different worlds, fell in love in the first book, Under the Never Sky. They were apart for a long time as Aria went home. With the beginning of Through the Ever Night, they are set to be together again.Perry is now leader of the Tides, the people who live out in the wild. They don't trust Aria's people, the Dwellers, so Aria has a hard time fitting in. Perry must keep his people safe, even if it's against their wishes, plus he and Aria still need to save his little brother. How do they keep their relationship alive if they must separate again?There's a lot of tension and in-fighting in the story. The people must learn to work together and accept help from outsiders in order to survive, and they may not be able to do it. The action never stops in this exciting sequel to Under the Never Sky. It's a must read series for dystopian lovers!
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    There's a lot going on in this series, enough to keep me entertained anyways but I'm just not particularly head over heels in love with it. I think mainly because, even though I like the alternate world it's set in, I can't say that I fully understand how the smart eye and the fractioning to the different realms could really work. Maybe if I could suspend my disbelief and ignore those pesky details then I might enjoy it more.

    I'm also listening to the audio version of this series and I don't particularly care for either narrators. Now, Michael Goldstrom, the narrator of this second book is better then Bernadette Dunne Flagler, who narrates the first and third books of the series but neither one are great. Both of their voices are monotone and kind of boring with no real emotion behind their narration so that's not helping my experience either.

    Rossi though, is very good with character development. I'm thoroughly invested now in all of the characters, especially Perry, Aria, Roar, Cinder and the Tides so I'm definitely going to continue with the final book. I wouldn't dare miss the outcome of their story for anything. 
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    I have read mixed reviews about this book but, I have to say I simply love this trilogy. I thought long about why I like it so much and others don't. I came to the conclusion that it is the romance I love throughout the book. It is so tender and well written it also doesn't shy away from the physical side of attraction that other YA novels do. It has been a criticism with may trilogies that the second book can drop off and be the poor relation to the other two. This is certainly not the case with Through the Ever Night. In fact I would say that this book is better than the first. The characters are well developed and engaging my favourite actually is one of the supporting characters. Roar for me is someone that I wish was my friend he is loyal, funny and charismatic. I have to also say that I love the two main characters although some have said they do not.Another strength of this trilogy is that the books finish. Both novels have a start, middle and end and do not rely on the other two books to complete part of the story. There is also enough joy in reading them to make you want to continue with the series. For me this is fast becoming one of my favourite YA trilogies and with competition such as The Hunger Games and Divergent that is quite a claim.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    Nice 2nd book, ties up some ends and makes new ones. Not a horrible cliffhanger like some other books. Satisfied but still waiting the next installment

Book preview

Through the Ever Night - Veronica Rossi

1

PEREGRINE

Aria was here.

Perry followed her scent, moving swiftly through the night. He kept his stride even as he scanned the darkened woods, though his heart hammered in his chest. Roar had told him she was back on the outside, had even delivered a violet with a message as proof, but Perry wouldn’t believe it until he saw her.

He reached a rise of boulders and dropped his bow, quiver, and satchel. Then he jumped up, leaping from rock to rock until he stood at the top. The sky was coated with a thick layer of clouds that glowed softly with Aether light. He scanned the rolling hills, his gaze stopping at a barren stretch of land. Scorched, silver in color, it was a scar left by the winter’s storms. Much of his territory, two days to the west, looked the same.

Perry tensed as he spotted the tail of a campfire in the distance. He inhaled and caught the smoky scent on a cool gust. That had to be her. She was close.

Anything? Reef called up. He stood some twenty feet below. Sweat glistened on his deep brown skin, running along the scar that reached from the base of his nose to above his ear, dividing his cheek, and he was breathing heavily. Just a few months ago they’d been strangers. Now Reef was the head of his guard, seldom leaving his side.

Perry climbed down, landing with a soggy crunch on a patch of melting snow. She’s due east. A mile. Maybe less.

Reef drew a sleeve across his face, pushing his braids away and wiping off sweat. Usually he kept up without any effort, but two days at a driving pace had brought out the decade between them. You said she could help us find the Still Blue.

She will help, Perry said. I told you. She needs to find it, just as we do.

Reef strode up, coming to within a foot of Perry, and narrowed his eyes. You did tell me that. He tipped his head and inhaled, the gesture bold and animal. He didn’t downplay his Sense like Perry did. But that’s not why we’ve come after her, he said.

Perry couldn’t read his own tempers, but he could imagine the scents Reef had taken in. Eagerness, green and sharp and alive. Desire, thick and musky. Impossible to miss. Reef was a Scire too. He knew exactly what Perry felt right now, moments away from seeing Aria. Scents never lied.

It’s one reason, Perry said tightly. He picked up his things, shouldering them with an impatient tug. Camp here with the others. I’ll be back by sunup. He turned to go.

Sunup, Perry? You think the Tides want to lose another Blood Lord?

Perry froze and then faced him again. I’ve been out here a hundred times on my own.

Reef nodded. Sure. As a hunter. He took a water skin from his leather satchel, his movements casual and slow though he was still out of breath. You’re more than that now.

Perry stared into the woods. Twig and Gren were out there, listening and watching for danger. They’d been protecting him since he left his territory. Reef was right. Here in the borderlands, survival was the only rule. Without his guard, his life would be at risk. Perry let out a slow breath, his hope of spending a night alone with Aria vanishing.

Reef stoppered the cork on his water skin with a firm thump. Well? What does my lord command?

Perry shook his head at the formal address—Reef’s way of reminding him of his responsibility. Like he could forget. "Your lord will take one hour alone," he said, and jogged away.

Peregrine, hold on. You need to—

One hour, Perry called over his shoulder. Whatever Reef wanted, it could wait.

When he was sure he’d left Reef behind, Perry firmed his grip on his bow and broke into a run. Scents flashed past as he threaded through the trees. The rich, promising smell of wet earth. The smoke from Aria’s campfire. And her scent. Violets, sweet and rare.

Perry relished the burn in his legs and the crisp air flowing through his lungs. Winter was a time for holding in place as the Aether storms wreaked havoc, and he hadn’t been in the open like this for too long—not since he’d taken Aria to the Dweller Pod in search of her mother. He’d been telling himself she was back where she belonged, with her people, and he had his own tribe to take care of. Then, just days ago, Roar had showed up at the compound with Cinder and told him she was here on the outside. From that moment he could only think of being with her again.

Perry tore down a slope soft with new grass and recent rain, panning the woods. It was darker beneath the trees, the Aether light filtering softly through the canopy, but every branch and leaf stood in sharp contrast, thanks to his Night-Sighted eyes. With each step, the scent of Aria’s campfire grew stronger. In a flash he remembered her game of sneaking up, silent as a shadow, and planting a kiss on his cheek. He couldn’t keep the smile from coming to his lips.

Up ahead he spotted movement—a blur through the trees. Aria ran into view. Sleek. Silent. Intent as she searched the area. When she saw him, her eyes widened in surprise, but her stride didn’t slow and neither did his. He shed his things, dropping them where they fell, and sprinted. Next thing he knew, she slammed into his chest, solid and fragrant in his arms.

Perry held her against him. I missed you, he whispered in her ear. He couldn’t hold her close enough. I should never have let you go. I missed you so much.

Words tumbled out of him. He said a dozen things he hadn’t meant to say, until she drew back and smiled up at him. Then he couldn’t speak at all. He took in the arch of her slender eyebrows, black like her hair, and the cleverness in her gray eyes. Fair and finely made, she was beautiful. Even more than he remembered.

You’re here, she said. I wasn’t sure if you’d come.

I left as soon as—

Before he could finish, her arms closed around his neck and they were kissing—a clumsy, hasty kiss. They were both breathing too hard. Smiling too much. Perry wanted to slow down and savor everything, but he couldn’t find a scrap of patience. He wasn’t sure if he started laughing first or if she did.

I can do much better than that, he said, just as she said, You’re taller. I swear you’ve grown.

Taller? he said. I hope not.

You are, she said. She studied his face like she wanted to know everything about him. She nearly already did. During their time together, he’d told her things he’d never said to anyone. Aria’s smile faded as her gaze stopped at the chain around his neck. I heard what happened. She reached up, and the weight at his collarbone lifted. You’re a Blood Lord now. She spoke softly, more to herself than to him. This is … It’s stunning.

He peered down, watching her fingers run over the silver links. It’s heavy, he said. This was the best moment he’d had since he’d taken the chain months ago.

Aria met his eyes, her temper cooling. I’m sorry about Vale.

Perry looked across the shadowed woods and swallowed through the sudden tightness in his throat. The memory of his brother’s death kept him awake nights. Sometimes, when he was alone, it kept him from breathing. Gently he took Aria’s hand from the chain and slipped his fingers through hers.

Later, he said. They had months of catching up to do. He wanted to talk to her about her mother. Had wanted to comfort her since he’d heard the news from Roar. But not now, when he’d just gotten her back. Later … all right?

She nodded, her eyes warm with understanding. Later. She turned his hand to see the scars Cinder had given him. Pale and thick as trails of wax, they made a web from his knuckles to his wrist. Does this still bother you? she asked, tracing the scars with her fingers.

No. It reminds me of you … of when you bandaged it. He lowered his head, bringing his cheek next to hers. That was the first time you touched me without hating it. This close, her scent was everywhere, running through him, somehow stirring and mellowing him at the same time.

Did Roar tell you where I’m going? she asked.

He did. Perry straightened and looked up. He couldn’t see the currents of Aether, but he knew they were there, flowing above the clouds. Each winter, the Aether storms were growing stronger, bringing fire and ruin. Perry knew they would only get worse. His tribe’s survival depended on finding a land rumored to be free of the Aether—the same thing Aria was searching for. He told me you’re looking for the Still Blue.

You saw Bliss.

He nodded. They had gone to the Pod together in search of her mother and found it destroyed by Aether. Domes the size of hills had collapsed. Walls ten feet thick had been crushed like eggshells.

It’s only a matter of time before that happens to Reverie, she continued. The Still Blue is our only chance. Everything I’ve heard points to the Horns. To Sable.

Perry’s pulse quickened at the mention of the name. His sister, Liv, should have married the Horns’ Blood Lord last spring, but she’d spooked and run away. Liv still hadn’t appeared. He’d have to deal with Sable soon enough.

The Horns’ city is still locked in by ice, he said. Rim won’t be reachable until the pass to the north thaws. Could be a few weeks before then.

I know, she said. I thought it would have cleared by now. I’ll go north as soon as it does.

She stepped away from him abruptly and scanned the woods, her head angling quick and sharp. He’d been there when she’d learned she was an Aud. Every sound had been a discovery. Now he watched as her attention shifted naturally to the noises of the night.

Someone’s coming, she said.

Reef, Perry said. He’s one of my men. No way had it already been an hour. Not even close. There are more nearby.

Perry caught the steep dive in her temper, a bracing, cool drift. In the next moment his heartbeat faltered. He hadn’t felt tethered to another’s emotions in months. Since he’d last been with her.

When are you going back? she asked.

Soon. Morning.

I understand. She looked from him to the chain, her expression growing distant. The Tides need you.

Perry shook his head. She didn’t understand. I didn’t come out here to see you for a night, Aria. Come back to the Tides with me. It’s not safe out here, and—

I don’t need help, Perry.

That’s not what I meant. He was too skitty to order his thoughts. Before he could say anything more, she took another step away, her hands hovering over the blades at her belt. Seconds later, Reef emerged from the woods, square shoulders hunched as he walked toward them. Perry cursed under his breath. He needed more time with her. Alone.

Reef’s steps caught when he saw Aria alert and armed. Probably not what he’d expected from a Dweller. Perry noticed her wary expression too. With the scar across his face and his challenging stare, Reef looked like someone to avoid.

Perry cleared his throat. Aria, this is Reef, head of my guard. It felt strange introducing two people who meant so much to him. Like they should already know each other.

Reef gave a tight nod, aimed at no one, and then shot Perry a hard look. A word, he said sharply, before he stalked off.

Anger streaked through Perry at being spoken to that way, but he trusted Reef. He looked at Aria. I’ll be right back.

He hadn’t gone far when Reef wheeled around, his braids swinging out. "I don’t have to tell you what your temper’s like right now, do I? It’s the scent of stupidity. You’ve brought us out here chasing after a girl who’s got you so—"

She’s an Aud, Perry interrupted. She can hear you.

Reef jabbed a finger in the air. "I want you to hear me, Peregrine. You have a tribe to think about. You can’t afford to lose your head over a girl—especially not a Dweller. Have you forgotten what happened? Because I promise you the tribe hasn’t."

The kidnappings weren’t her fault. She had nothing to do with them. And she’s only half Dweller.

"She’s a Mole, Perry! One of them. That’s all anyone’s going to see."

They’ll do as I say.

Or maybe they’ll turn on you behind your back. How do you think they’ll take to seeing you with her? Vale might have traded with the Dwellers, but he never brought one into his bed.

Perry shot forward, grabbing Reef by the vest. They stood, locked, inches apart. Reef’s temper brought an icy burn to the back of Perry’s tongue. You’ve made your point. Perry let Reef go and stepped back, drawing a few breaths. Silence stretched out between them, too loud after their arguing.

He saw the problem with bringing Aria back to the Tides. The tribe would blame her for the missing children, regardless of her innocence, because she was a Dweller. He knew it wouldn’t be easy—not at first—but he’d find a way to make it work. Whatever needed to be done next, he wanted her with him and it was his decision as Blood Lord.

Perry glanced to where Aria waited, then back at Reef. You know what?

What? Reef snapped.

You’re a terrible judge of time.

Reef smirked. He ran a hand over the back of his head and sighed. So I am. When he spoke again, his voice had lost its bite. Perry, I don’t want to see you make this mistake. He nodded at the chain. I know what that cost you. I don’t want to watch you lose it.

I know what I’m doing. Perry gripped the cool metal in his hand. I’ve got this.

2

ARIA

Aria stared at the trees, listening to Perry’s footsteps grow louder as he returned. She saw the gleam of the chain at his neck first and then his eyes, flashing in the darkness. They’d come together in such a rush before. Now, as he strode toward her, she took her first good look at him.

He was impressive. Much more than she remembered. He’d grown taller, as she’d first thought, and more muscular through the shoulders, settling into his lanky height. In the dim light she saw a dark coat and pants with fitted, clean lines, not the battered, patched-up clothes of the hunter she’d met in the fall. His blond hair was shorter, falling in layers that framed his face, so different from the long twisting waves she’d known before.

He was nineteen, but he seemed older than her friends in Reverie. How many of her friends had been through what he had? How many had hundreds of people to look after? None. They came from totally different worlds. Aether, she thought. That was the only thing Dwellers and Outsiders had in common. It threatened them both.

Perry stopped a few feet away. Pale light fell on the strong planes of his face, and she noticed shadows under his eyes. He ran a hand over the fine scruff on his jaw. The brushing sound was so familiar, Aria could almost feel the gold bristles beneath her fingertips.

Sorry about Reef.

It’s all right, she said, but it wasn’t. Reef’s words echoed in her mind. Dweller, he’d called her. Mole. Bitter insults. Words she hadn’t heard in months. At Marron’s, she’d fit in like she belonged.

Her gaze dropped to the ground between them. Three paces for her. Two for him. Moments ago they’d been pressed together. Now they stood apart like strangers. Like everything had just changed.

A mistake. Reef had said that, too. Was he right? Maybe I should go.

No—stay. Perry stepped forward and took her hand. Forget what he said. He’s got a temper.... Worse than mine.

She looked up at him. Worse?

His mouth lifted into the crooked smile she’d missed. Almost worse. He shifted closer, his expression growing serious. I didn’t come here to see you for a night, or to offer to help you. I’m here because I want to be with you. It could be weeks before the pass to the north thaws. We’ll wait until it does, then search for the Still Blue together. He paused, his gaze focused completely on her. Come back with me, Aria. Be with me.

Something brilliant unfolded inside of her at the sound of those words. She memorized them as she would a song: every note, unhurried, spoken in his deep, warm timbre. Whatever happened, she’d keep those words. She wanted nothing more than to say yes, but she couldn’t avoid the anxiety that swirled in her stomach.

I want to, she said. But it’s not just the two of us anymore. He had his responsibility to the Tides, and she had her own pressures. Consul Hess, Reverie’s Director of Security, had threatened Perry’s nephew, Talon, if Aria didn’t bring him the location of the Still Blue. It was the reason—one of the reasons—she’d come back to the outside.

Aria looked into Perry’s eyes and couldn’t bring herself to tell him about Hess’s blackmail. There was nothing he could do. Telling him would only make him worry. Reef said the tribe would turn on you, she said instead.

Reef’s wrong. Perry’s gaze flicked to the woods in annoyance. It may take them some time to adjust, but they will. He squeezed her hand, a smile lighting in his eyes. Say yes. I know you want to. Roar will beat me if I show up without you, and there’s another reason you should come. Maybe it’ll help you decide.

He slid his hand up her arm and ran his thumb over her bicep. The feel of his archer’s calluses, somehow both rough and soft, sent a thrill through her. She heard the trees rustle with a breeze, and then felt it brush cool against her cheeks. No one planted her as firmly in her skin as he did.

Perry was talking. She had to backtrack in her thoughts to catch up. You need Markings. It’s dangerous not to have them. Concealing a Sense is deceitful, Aria. People are killed for hiding them.

Roar told me, she said. She’d been hiding out in the woods since leaving Marron’s, so her lack of Markings hadn’t been a problem yet. But once she went north, she’d come across other people. She couldn’t deny that she’d be much safer with the Audile tattoos.

Only a Blood Lord can warrant them, Perry said. I happen to know one.

You’d support me getting Markings? Even though I’m only half Outsider?

He tipped his head to the side, blond waves falling across his eyes. Yes. I very much want to.

Perry, what about … Aria trailed off, not sure she wanted to voice the question that had plagued her for months, but she had to know. Even if it meant hearing something that would crush her. You told me you’d only be with another Scire, and I’m not … She bit her lip and finished the sentence in the safety of her thoughts. I’m not like you. I’m not what you said you wanted.

Her face warmed as he watched her. No matter what she said or didn’t say, he’d scent the depth of her insecurity.

He shifted closer, tracing the line of her jaw. You changed the way I think about a lot of things. That’s only one of them.

Suddenly she couldn’t imagine leaving him. She had to find a way to make this work. The tribe would hate her for being a Dweller—she was sure of that. And if she and Perry arrived at the compound hand in hand, the Tides would lose all faith in his judgment. But what if she and Perry turned the focus onto something else? Onto something they both needed? An idea took shape in her mind.

Did you tell the Tides anything about me? she asked.

He frowned. The question seemed to catch him off balance. I told a few people you’d help find the Still Blue.

That’s all?

"I haven’t talked about us with anyone, if that’s what you mean. He shrugged. It’s private.... Between us."

"We should keep it that way. I’ll go back with you as an ally, and we’ll keep us out of it."

He laughed, the sound flat and humorless. "You’re serious? You mean lie?"

It wouldn’t be lying. It’s no different from what you just said: keeping it private. We could ease the tribe into it that way. We won’t talk about us until we have a better idea of how they’ll take it. Roar would keep quiet if we asked him. Would Reef?

Perry nodded, his jaw clenched. He’s pledged to me. He’ll do anything I ask of him.

The sound of a branch snapping pulled her attention to the darkened woods. Three distinct strides took form, one heavier than the others. The rest of Perry’s guard was on the way. They spoke in quiet tones, yet each voice was unique to her ears, as singular as the features of a person’s face. The others are coming.

Let them come, Perry said. They’re my men, Aria. I don’t have to hide anything from them.

She wanted to believe him, but they had to be smart. As a new leader, he needed his tribe behind him. But she couldn’t deny that being Marked would improve her chances of finding the Still Blue, to say nothing of the advantage Perry would provide on her journey to Rim. He was a hunter, a warrior. A survivor. More at ease in the borderlands than anyone she knew. All good reasons to go to the Tides for a few weeks before searching for the Still Blue. She and Perry would get everything they wanted if they just showed a little caution.

Perry’s guards were closing in, their footsteps growing louder by the second. Aria stood on her toes, resting her hands on his chest. This is the best way—the safest, she whispered. Trust me.

She pressed her lips quickly to his, but it wasn’t close to being enough. She took his face between her hands, feeling the soft scruff she’d missed, and kissed him again firmly, fiercely, before she backed away.

When Reef and two other men appeared, she and Perry stood several paces apart—the distance between strangers.

3

PEREGRINE

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