Review: Into the Still Blue
Tuesday, August 20, 2019

Into the Still Blue (Under the Never Sky, #3)Into the Still Blue by Veronica Rossi
My rating: 4.5 of 5 stars

Overview:
A solid conclusion to the series. Into the Still Blue was a very fast and fun read, just like the previous books. There were a couple places where things lined up a little too conveniently, and some decisions that didn't really make sense to me, but overall I enjoyed it immensely.

Worldbuilding:
There was not a whole lot of world building beyond what was already established in the first two books. The two new settings were the Komodo--the dwellers' mobile unit--and the Still Blue. That said, the descriptions where consistently satisfying and kept me grounded in the story. I particularly like Rossi's handling of the terrible storms that are ripping her world apart.

Characters & Voice:
As with the previous books, the novel alternates between the narrative voices of Aria and Perry. Both characters are fairly single-minded, they do not sway from their perceived duties or their love for each other. As narrators go, they are both very serious and a bit dramatic--though that's to be expected when dealing with teenagers with the weight of the world on their shoulders.

Beyond the two of them you'll find the crew of wonderfully rendered secondary characters who where introduced in the first two books. I think the only really new character we get to know is Sable's second-in-command, Loran. This cast of support characters added greatly to the feeling of growth in the book. Since neither of the main characters changed much, it was in the side characters that we got to see the most development.

Parting comments:
While Aria and Perry both made decisions and took action in this book, I was left with the overwhelming feeling that they were just being swept along for the ride, reacting to deteriorating circumstances. Sable is 100% in control of events from the very beginning of the book, while Aria and Perry mostly felt like they were floundering. Overall, I enjoyed the book very much, but it didn't quite live up to its potential as the conclusion of this unique and engaging series.

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