Into the Still Blue by Veronica Rossi
Under the Never Sky #3
Release Date: January 28, 2014
Publisher: HarperCollins
Source: Publisher (Edelweiss)
Star Rating: ★★
Rating: Bland
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.
Under the Never Sky has been a trilogy that I've been very much enjoying. I was a giant fan of the first book, and the second book was great. Unfortunately - yeah, you all see where this is going - Into the Still Blue fell completely flat for me.
While I still enjoyed the book, I don't feel any strong emotions towards it, nor did I while I was reading. It didn't tug on the heartstrings like I was expecting it to, I didn't cry over Roar or Aria, and the ending completely dragged. I have no idea what happened, because I was once so invested in this world and in these characters. Roar was a particular favourite of mine, and I was expecting to feel at least something for him while he grieved in this book. But I didn't.
Into the Still Blue wasn't boring, exactly. I still enjoyed it, and was quite entertained. I just didn't get that heart racing feeling that I should have. I wasn't flipping through pages at the speed of light, trying to figure out what happens next. Because very little did actually happen. Looking back, I can think of two major things that stand out, and that's it. There were no natural disasters, no epic deaths or battles or crying scenes. It was just simply just happening.
I feel like this review reflects the actual book. Nothing much was going on, it flowed at a steady pace, the characters were all in the background of their own story, and the whole thing was simply unmemorable. Which is severely disappointing, because I was expecting great things. I know that in a month's time, I will have forgotten most of this book. Even now, I'm struggling to pull up some details.
For a series so loved and adored, Into the Still Blue is an awful instalment, simply because it should have been brilliant. All the elements were there at the beginning to make it so, but for some reason it just wasn't.
Always sucks when a series finale lets you down :/
ReplyDeleteI knowwwww. This is why I hate finishing series! I'm always scared the finale will suck.
DeleteI rated this higher than you, because I did enjoy the ultimate ending. But I commented in my review about how this whole book reads like it's the end. Everyone is ready for the action and adventure to be over; they're ready to reach the Still Blue and to be done with living in fear. It definitely took away from the sense of suspense and urgency that I found in the first two books.
ReplyDeleteSo true! More suspense and urgency is exactly what this book needed, it felt like they had ended the war and were on their way home.
DeleteI totally agree... this one was quite the let down compared to the previous books, especially Through The Ever Night. I think if I was to reread it I would even like it less than the first time so I don't think this series will ever be a reread for me, sadly. It was fairly boring as far as plot goes and the Still Blue just wasn't thrilling for me. And I am still angry about the Cinder plot line. Just ANGRY! I still love V Rossi though and I will read her next book, whatever that may be :P Great review Amber!! I'm glad that someone has the same feelings as me, although I did rate it higher... I felt that everyone just LOVED this and I have only found a handful of us who were less than thrilled!
ReplyDeleteIt's such a shame because I really enjoyed the previous two! I think I gave #1 five stars and #2 four. I agree, I don't think this series is rereadable, unfortunately. I've been avoiding reviews for this, so hadn't noticed that everyone had been loving it. I'll have to go and check some of them out now!
Delete:( I actually didn't enjoy the first novel too much. I probably had really high expectations and then gave it 3 * out of goodness of my heart, because I don't do halfsies... But the second one was good, a lot better and more interesting. So now I am doubting I want to finish the series. It happens so often for me, too, not liking the last book. Agh, so sorry it was a let down for you.
ReplyDeleteI would probably do halfsies if Goodreads allowed it XD I wouldn't recommend finishing the series if you have better things to read, but then again it's always good to actually finish a series! Haha.
DeleteAw disappointing that you didn't like this one! I actually enjoyed it overall, because I thought it was a pretty solid conclusion to the series- although now that I think about it, I do have to agree that not much happened lol. The very ending was a bit anticlimactic as well...
ReplyDeleteI was definitely expecting more explosions and action and stuff. I'm so disappointed!
DeleteSorry you didn't enjoy this. I didn't think it was the best book in the series, I thought book #2 was the best, but I liked this one. And I love the series as a whole.
ReplyDeleteThrough the Ever Night was definitely better!
DeleteI felt similarly when I read this too. I enjoyed it, I just wasn't a page turner. I really wasn't worried how it would end or who would survive. The conclusion was disappointing :/
ReplyDeleteAgreed. It was enjoyable, but it wasn't thrilling or exciting in the slightest.
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