Review: Riders by Veronica Rossi

Riders by Veronica Rossi
Publisher: Tor Teen
Release Date: February 16th, 2016
Purchase: Amazon

Nothing but death can keep eighteen-year-old Gideon Blake from achieving his goal of becoming a U.S. Army Ranger. As it turns out, it does.

While recovering from the accident that most definitely killed him, Gideon finds himself with strange new powers and a bizarre cuff he can’t remove. His death has brought to life his real destiny. He has become War, one of the legendary four horsemen of the apocalypse.

Over the coming weeks, he and the other horsemen—Conquest, Famine, and Death—are brought together by a beautiful but frustratingly secretive girl to help save humanity from an ancient evil on the emergence.

They fail.

Now—bound, bloodied, and drugged—Gideon is interrogated by the authorities about his role in a battle that has become an international incident. If he stands any chance of saving his friends and the girl he’s fallen for—not to mention all of humankind—he needs to convince the skeptical government officials the world is in imminent danger.

But will anyone believe him?

My thoughts:
I really enjoyed this book and I am honestly baffled at all the negative reviews.  I've been trying to stay away from them for the most part so that I could reach my only conclusion about the story, but I've seen a few and I think I must have read a totally different book than everyone else! 

This story incorporates Revelations and the four horsemen.  This right off the bat grabbed me.  I was completely intrigued by this new idea so from the get go I was all in.  I will be honest and say I am not fully in the know about Revelations so maybe this helped me enjoy the story a bit more.  I thought the opening was great and I really liked the way the author chose to deliver her story.  Having Gideon tell his story through an interrogation was unique and made me feel more connected to him as a character.  We got to see how he felt reliving it all and the breaks in between when he would talk to the interrogator helped clarify certain spots. Brilliant in my opinion.

I did see that a few people were frustrated with the lack of movement in the story and thought it was incredibly slow.  I did not see it that way. I thought everything happened for a reason and the story moved just fine for me. In so many stories I can pick the villain, the murderer, and basically call everything before I even make it halfway through the story. So for me to be left completely in the dark was nice.  I also liked that there was a reason why we were left in the dark.  Early on Rossi explains through Daryn why Gideon and his crew can only know a limited amount of information and I bought it.  I thought it kept things interesting and for me it let my brain kinda relax.  I wasn't constantly searching for clues because I wanted to let Daryn call the shots.

I also really enjoyed the characters.  I wish Jode and Bas would have toned it down a bit. but all in all I can see why the author chose to make them the way she did.  The other thing that bugged me a bit is that I wish they would have been a bit more badass.  They are the four horsemen they should be all out amazing!  What we get though is a few guys who really don't know what they are doing.  This is more realistic, but for me I wanted more swagger.  I'm hoping in the next book they bring it!

I do have two other gripes. One being that Gideon should have called his mom.  This bugged me and bugged me and BUGGED ME!  No she wouldn't have understood and yes she would have been mad, but she needed to know his was okay.  I was completely frustrated that he never picked up the phone.  That was a plot line that really needed to be tightened up.  My other complaint is the ending.  After reading the last chapter I can see where Rossi is hoping to take her readers, but I didn't like the military getting involved like they did.  If this was going to be the case I would have liked a little bit more build up and involvement from them from the get go.  I didn't buy them showing up like they did as quick as they did.  That to me was a plot hole.  I'm curious to see how this all plays out because like I said Rossi threw a few things at us at the end that helped.

All in all though even with my gripes I really enjoyed this one.  I think it's a quickish read that brings a fresh new idea to the YA table.  Some will love it some will hate it as I have seen, but for me it was a huge hit!  And I can't wait to read the sequel!

4 snowflakes

 

Waiting on Wednesday - Riders by Veronica Rossi

Welcome to Waiting On Wednesday here at

 Winterhaven Books!

This is a feature created by Jill at Breaking The Spine where we share some books we are anxiously awaiting.

This week's pick...

Riders (Riders #1) 
by Veronica Rossi
Expected publication: February 16th 2016
by Tor Teen

For eighteen-year-old Gideon Blake, nothing but death can keep him from achieving his goal of becoming a U.S. Army Ranger. As it turns out, it does. Recovering from the accident that most definitely killed him, Gideon finds himself with strange new powers and a bizarre cuff he can’t remove. His death has brought to life his real destiny. He has become War, one of the legendary four horsemen of the apocalypse. Over the coming weeks, he and the other horsemen—Conquest, Famine and Death—are brought together by a beautiful but frustratingly secretive girl to help save humanity from an ancient evil on the emergence. They fail. Now—bound, bloodied, and drugged—Gideon is interrogated by the authorities about his role in a battle that has become an international incident. If he stands any chance of saving his friends and the girl he’s fallen for—not to mention all of humankind—he needs to convince the skeptical government officials the world is in imminent danger. But will anyone believe him?

The lore surrounded this one sounds great! I haven't read to much about the four horseman so i am very excited to finally get to. It's also Veronica Rossi so ya know....

Review: Into the Still Blue (Under The Never Sky, #3) by Veronica Rossi

Into The Still Blue By Veronica Rossi
Publisher: HarperCollins
Expected Publication Date: January 28, 2014
Amazon / B&N

The earth-shattering conclusion to Veronica Rossi's "masterpiece" Under the Never Sky trilogy and sequel to the New York Times bestselling Through the Ever Night (Examiner.com).
Their love and their leadership have been tested. Now it's time for Perry and Aria to unite the Dwellers and the Outsiders in one last desperate attempt to bring balance to their world.
The race to the Still Blue has reached a stalemate. Aria and Perry are determined to find this last safe-haven from the Aether storms before Sable and Hess do-and they are just as determined to stay together.Meanwhile, time is running out to rescue Cinder, who was abducted by Hess and Sable for his unique abilities. And when Roar returns to camp, he is so furious with Perry that he won't even look at him, and Perry begins to feel like they have already lost.Out of options, Perry and Aria assemble a team to mount an impossible rescue mission-because Cinder isn't just the key to unlocking the Still Blue and their only hope for survival, he's also their friend. And in a dying world, the bonds between people are what matter most.
In this final book in her stunning Under the Never Sky trilogy, Veronica Rossi raises the stakes to their absolute limit and brings her epic love story to an unforgettable close.

My Thoughts:
Into the Still Blue is the final installment of Veronica Rossi’s stellar Under the Never Sky Trilogy. I will miss this world and the characters I had grown attached to. This was the perfect example of my fictitious HEA. 

The intensity of the story elevated with Hess and Sable joining forces, and they have Cinder in their possession. Roar was still torn up from the loss of Liv. And the red streaked sky slowly replaced the blue, and threatened to wipe out everyone and everything in its path. Their time was running out and desperation to find the Still Blue and save their friends pressed heavily on their hearts.

I love the undeniable chemistry between Aria and Perry. There’s the perfect blend of romance weaved into and throughout the story, but yet, it didn’t veer away from the plot. The drama continued and the action maintained a steady pace up until the very end. Sorren had always been a little bit much to swallow at times, but he really stood out in this one. I felt that he’d matured and finally opened up. There was one specific scene where Aria gave him a dose of his own medicine, and I couldn’t help but laugh. It was nice to have a good laugh when their world seemed so bleak.

Followers of Rossi’s trilogy will not be displeased. The story is tied up nicely and capped off with something I found as sweet as it could be. I am trying to keep this spoiler free and it is very difficult after devoting my time and connecting emotionally with these beloved characters on their journey. This is a Five Star in my book. And, a Must-Read trilogy!

Review: Under The Never Sky by Veronica Rossi

Under The Never Sky by Veronica Rossi
Publisher: HarperColling
Publish Date: January 3, 2012
Purchase: Amazon / B&N

Since she'd been on the outside, she'd survived an Aether storm, she'd had a knife held to her throat, and she'd seen men murdered. This was worse.

Exiled from her home, the enclosed city of Reverie, Aria knows her chances of surviving in the outer wasteland - known as The Death Shop - are slim. If the cannibals don't get her, the violent, electrified energy storms will. She's been taught that the very air she breathes can kill her. Then Aria meets an Outsider named Perry. He's wild - a savage - and her only hope of staying alive.

A hunter for his tribe in a merciless landscape, Perry views Aria as sheltered and fragile - everything he would expect from a Dweller. But he needs Aria's help too; she alone holds the key to his redemption. Opposites in nearly every way, Aria and Perry must accept each other to survive. Their unlikely alliance forges a bond that will determine the fate of all who live under the never sky.

My Thoughts:
Under the Never Sky was better than I had anticipated. I’m so glad I decided to read this book. I wanted to see what all the hype was. At first when I started Under The Never Sky, I wasn’t connecting with the characters or the world that was heavily developed in the first half of the book. I stuck with it and I’m so glad I did. Like I said, the beginning was heavy with world building but it was necessary in order to understand the world these people lived in and what obstacles they were facing.

Aria lived in a Pod which was heavily structured to protect the people inside from the Aether that is in the sky. Not only the threat of Aether, but they are protected from disease and illnesses. Being so protected they are oblivious to the dangers that are beyond the Pod. Aria’s mother Lumina has gone to another Realm, Bliss. The communication had been cut off and Aria wants to find information so she seeks this from the Counselors son, Sorren.  

In the Pod everyone wears a Smarteye which is suctioned to an eye and allows them to faction into made up Realms. You could go to just about any century or atmosphere your heart pretty much desired. For example, if you wanted to be in a Renaissance era, you could faction into what resembled just that. Sounds fun to me, but they live in this world where it’s so perfect that they truly are oblivious to the “real world” and what’s going on out there.

Aria crosses a path with a “savage” while on her pursuit to obtain information on her mother from Sorren. His behavior becomes strange and the repercussions of his actions change Arias life forever.

This is written in multiple POV’s. Aria and Perry (savage) When their lives entwine the story moves forward and the connection to the characters deepen.  There are multiple lives and relationships that we follow, but it is easy to get invested in each one. Aria being tossed out into the outside. Perry has an internal conflict but not only that, his nephew Talon was taken by the Dwellers (people in the Pods), and a new character is introduced which is Roar. He wants to find Liv, Perry’s sister who has ran off due to a particular situation.

The story made a huge turn for me once Roar entered the pages. I loved this character and he was amusing.  Another character that enters about the same time as Roar, is Cinder. He plays a vital role as well in this story.

Perry has Aria’s Smarteye but they need to get it fixed so they travel to a friend of Perry’s, Marron.  On the journey Aria learns that these savages can have special abilities. Some are Marked and some are not. For instance, Scire. Scire’s can smell emotion. Auds have impeccable hearing and said to be sly.

“There are some differences between the Senses. Scires tend to be tall. They’re the rarest Marked. Seers are the most common. Seers are good at looking and good-looking, but before you start wondering, no, I’m not a Seer. Just lucky.”

Under The Never Sky was such complex but very intriguing read. I don’t know why I waited so long to read this but I’m so glad I did. The story is rich in world building, and the characters are intriguing and well developed. Aria is a strong protagonist. Perry is swoonworthy and very masculine. He’s tough but along the journey develops a soft spot for Aria. Their connection is slow growing but very addicting.

 This is one dystopic adventure you won't want to miss out on.

 

Teaser Tuesday, #12

Teaser Tuesday, #12

 

Welcome to Teaser Tuesdays!

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

• Grab your current read
• Open to a random page
• Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
• BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
• Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

My Teaser Tuesday is for the following:

 

Under The Never Sky by Veronica Rossi

 

Publication Date: January 3, 2012

 

Publisher: Harper Collins Publishers

 

 

My Teasers: Page 48 & 49

 

 

 

"Aria's gaze moved to the chair next to her. It shouldn't be empty. Her mother should be there instead of hundreds of miles away."

 

 

"Aria looked down at the table. She didn't want to picture Soren with disfiguring scars. She didn't want to picture him at all."  

 

 

 

 

 

 PLEASE LEAVE A COMMENT with either the link to your own Teaser Tuesdays post, or share your ‘teasers’ in a comment here if you don’t have a blog Thanks!

Under the Never Sky

                                        Under the Never Sky, by Veronica Rossi

Publisher: Harper Teen

Release Date: 02/12/12

Summary Blurb from Goodreads:
Aria is a teenager in the enclosed city of Reverie. Like all Dwellers, she spends her time with friends in virtual environments, called Realms, accessed through an eyepiece called a Smarteye. Aria enjoys the Realms and the easy life in Reverie. When she is forced out of the pod for a crime she did not commit, she believes her death is imminent. The outside world is known as The Death Shop, with danger in every direction.

As an Outsider, Perry has always known hunger, vicious predators, and violent energy storms from the swirling electrified atmosphere called the Aether. A bit of an outcast even among his hunting tribe, Perry withstands these daily tests with his exceptional abilities, as he is gifted with powerful senses that enable him to scent danger, food and even human emotions.

They come together reluctantly, for Aria must depend on Perry, whom she considers abarbarian, to help her get back to Reverie, while Perry needs Aria to help unravel the mystery of his beloved nephew’s abduction by the Dwellers. Together they embark on a journey challenged as much by their prejudices as by encounters with cannibals and wolves. But to their surprise, Aria and Perry forge an unlikely love - one that will forever change the fate of all who live UNDER THE NEVER SKY

The first book in a captivating trilogy, Veronica Rossi’s enthralling debut sweeps you into an unforgettable adventure

My Thoughts:
Under the Never Sky in my opinion is one of the strongest dystopia books out there. I felt like the author gave us a great mix of raw, intense, and just what every dystopia needs ugliness. That being said, all that great mix of emotions did not continue throughout the whole book and by the end I was very disappointed. The story was violent from the start so I guess certain events shouldn’t surprise me but the did and I just don’t know where to go from there. I keep thinking back to the story and I really, really want to love it but I just can’t let go of these unfortunate events.

I never connected with Aria and I loved Perry until the end. Their choices both bothered me and I just don’t know if Perry unparticular can come back from what he does in the end. I can understand all the reasoning, but I really wish things would have turned out differently. I am really scared for him in the sequel. Aria needed more Katniss in her. I felt like Aria was headed for that direction. You know the whole kick your butt girl who can take care of herself, but she never got there. I think she was supposed to but even with a few unexpected turn of events I just don’t buy her being able to take care of herself.

The story itself has great promise and I am really hoping that the sequel will iron out all the nasty events and take a turn for awesomeness because I know it is there. I know this review is very scattered but honestly my thoughts are too. I think I need a few days to sort this one out and let things settle in me.
3 snowflakes