Mini Reviews: Roar and Liv by Veronica Rossi and Brooke by Veronica Rossi

Review: Roar and Liv by Veronica Rossi
Goodreads 
Release date: October 30, 2012
 Publisher: HarperCollins
Series: Yes, #0.5 in the Under the Never Sky series
Source: Purchased
Length: 68 pages
Rating: ROAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAR.



Before Perry and Aria, there was Roar and Liv.

After a childhood spent wandering the borderlands, Roar finally feels like he has a home with the Tides. His best friend Perry is like a brother to him, and Perry's sister, Liv, is the love of his life. But Perry and Liv's unpredictable older brother, Vale, is the Blood Lord of the Tides, and he has never looked kindly on Roar and Liv's union. Normally, Roar couldn't care less about Vale's opinion. But with food running low and conditions worsening every day, Vale's leadership is more vital—and more brutal—than ever. Desperate to protect his tribe, Vale makes a decision that will shatter the life Roar knew and change the fate of the Tides forever.

Set in the harsh but often beautiful world of Veronica Rossi's "unforgettable" Under the Never Sky (Examiner.com), this captivating prequel novella stands on its own for new readers and offers series fans a fascinating look into the character of Roar. Poignant and powerful, Roar and Liv is a love story that will "capture your imagination and your heart."

My reviews of Under the Never Sky | Through the Ever Night | Into the Still Blue

You may or may not know this, but I binge-read the entire Under the Never Sky trilogy in under five days, novellas included, which was one of my better life decisions. I STRONGLY recommend you ignore that #.05 designation up at the top and read this after you've read Under the Never Sky and before you read Through the Ever Night. I think the reading experience is much enhanced after you know a little bit about the world and have had a chance to become freakingly, unhealthily obsessed with attached to Roar, and so you can fall as deeply in love with this novella as I did.

 This BOOK. My God, does Rossi pack a whole lot if feels in not so many pages. I'd consider this an absolute must read and possibly the best thing Rossi's ever written. Well... Through the Ever Night might be first, but this is a close second. Roar and Liv is, obviously, about Roar and Liv's relationship and their love for one another, which is deep and true and gah, it will hurt your soul. This is set before the events of Under the Never Sky in the Tides compound, detailing the events before and after Liv gets forcibly engaged to a distant Blood Lord by Perry and Liv's older brother, Vale.

*mentally punches Vale between the legs*

Awesome. Glad to get that out of the way. This novella is written in first person from Roar's point of view, and if that hasn't sold you already, I am confused. Because Roar. Witty, passionate, handsome, adorable, lovable Roar. All the feels. All the Roar. ROAR. Enough said. End of argument.



Okay, fine, you also get to see how gorgeous Perry and Roar's friendship is, how much Perry and Liv love each other, the awful tensions between Vale and Perry, and the roots (and limitations) of Perry's relationship with Brooke. It gives background to the first book in the series and perfectly sets up the second. I was dying to get to Under the Never Sky after I read this, and I was also dying to give my Roar Baby the biggest hug ever.

Review: Brooke by Veronica Rossi
Goodreads 
Release date: November 23, 2013
Publisher: HarperCollins
Series: Yes, #2.5 in the Under the Never Sky series
Source: Purchase
Length: 82 pages
Rating: A novella that expands the world of UtNS and sheds some light on a difficult character



 Set just before the events of Into the Still Blue, the conclusion to Veronica Rossi's Under the Never Sky trilogy, this breathtaking novella is a satisfying stand-alone for new readers as well as an exciting glimpse at favorite characters from the trilogy. Pulsing with romance and danger, Brooke will leave readers desperate for the conclusion to this epic and unforgettable saga.

The only fight she can't win is the one for Perry's heart. Following the stunning climax in Through the Ever Night, the Tides have been forced to seek shelter from the Aether storms in a dismal, secluded cave. But Brooke's memories of the cave go back much further, to when she and Perry used to come here together. That was before Perry fell in love with Aria and before Vale's dealings with the Dwellers altered the course of the Tides forever.

Now, with her sister back from a haunting year in captivity and Aria lying unconscious in the sick bay, Brooke struggles to put the pieces of her life back together. Without Perry, who is she? And what is her role in this frightening new world? As these questions swirl about her, an old threat to the Tides resurfaces, and Brooke is forced to put the lives of her people before her own. But in taking this step outside of herself, Brooke may finally discover what she truly wants.

Well, look at that. Veronica Rossi just made me like one of the most unlikable (save for the villains) characters in Through the Ever Night.



Right? VRossi is just that good. When I first heard that Brooke, of all the characters in the Under the Never Sky series, had a novella, I was tres confused. She was definitely one of the characters I never truly got and had a hard time sympathizing with, since she's so cruel to Aria. I highly recommend reading this before getting to Into the Still Blue, because it will certainly change your opinion on Brooke. it was so wonderful of Rossi to give her a chance to speak and us a chance to see inside her head.

We get to learn more about her feelings for Perry and the past they shared, and how tangled up that is in her friendship with Liv.  We get to see how much her life fell apart when Liv left and Perry moved on from her. We learn more about the Tides, the people in them, how they work, how much of a family they are. Plus we get to see how TRULY TERRIBLE THINGS ARE right now after the disastrous events of Through the Never Sky). Brooke is wounded, compelling, angry, confused, determined, and funny. She flirts and she fights, and she's a surprisingly wonderful novella heroine. There's quite a bit of romance in this novella as Brooke tries to sort out her own feelings about boys and about herself. (By the way, I ship her with Soren, oh yes I do.)

And best of all, we get to learn things that Aria and Perry don't get to see or know, and that's what makes Brooke such a great read. Brooke is intensely lonely, something that's hard to see through Aria and Perry's eyes. Brooke is a perfect supplement to this series. You can certainly read the three main books without these novellas, but there's so much richness to be found here. While Brooke isn't quite as amazing as Roar and Liv, I still loved reading it. Plus, very importantly, AREN'T THE COVERS PRETTY? ANSWER: YES.