Way beyond my expectations! Amazing sequel

Let me start by saying I absolutely loved this one! I'm always nervous that the 2nd book in a trilogy will just be filler with no real substance. Well this book is no filler!
There is just as much action, heartbreak, romance, character development, pulse-pounding excitement and adventure as Under the Never Sky. I couldn't put this one down!
At first it took me awhile to adjust to the new male narrator. To me it just gave this book a different vibe then the first. Of course it doesn't help much that I didn't care for his narration (too flat in my opinion). However, the book is so good that it didn't really matter once the story got going.
If you loved Under the Never Sky then you will absolutely love this one too. Just be warned that it will leave you anxious for book 3.

17 people found this helpful

PLEASE bring back Bernadette Dunne Flagler!

What did you like best about Through the Ever Night? What did you like least?

I wish I had something constructive to say but alas, I am just going to rant about the narrator at this point. If you loved the narration on "Under the Never Sky", be very wary of this book.

I thought "Under the Never Sky" was one of the best listens I've ever had from Audible. Bernadette Dunne Flagler was AMAZING - she just did an amazing job performing that book. I was SO, SO looking forward to hearing her again on this sequel.

Well, they didn't bring her back, for whatever reason. (Only DEATH would be a good enough reason, to my mind, and I certainly hope and pray THAT wasn't the case!)

I am about fifteen minutes into the MUCH anticipated "Through the Ever Night", and already I can envision myself bashing my head against my keyboard in frustration and misery.

This narrator is TERRIBLE! And he doesn't pronounce "Scire" correctly! He says it "sire"...in the first book it clearly says that it is supposed to sound kind of like "scare". Rrrgghh! I can't stand narrators who don't do their research! And he .... reads.... so ....freakin' .... slowly! It just sounds so fake. Sigh. Weep. Weep. Sob.

Sniff.

What did you like best about this story?

Will update this review when (IF) I can make it through this audiobook. I hope I can hear past the narrator and get into the story so I can actually FIND something to like.

What didn’t you like about Michael Goldstrom’s performance?

Was there anything TO like about this "narration"? So unemotional, so fake...no feeling of really being WITH the characters, as in the first book. I feel like someone is reading to me, not like I am INSIDE another world. He makes the characters sound childlike and goofy.

Aria is read as though she is a total melodramatic, wussy ...CHICK.

Perry is read like he is about fifteen and a little mentally challenged. Totally NOT sexy.

Bring back the narrator from "Under the Never Sky"!!!! Tears on my laptop keyboard.

Did Through the Ever Night inspire you to do anything?

Stab my ears with a sharpened pencil.

Any additional comments?

Get Bernadette Dunne Flagler to reprise this book! PLEASE get Bernadette Dunne Flagler back and rerecord this book so that it can be worthy of the first one! PLEASE!

9 people found this helpful

MUST keep reading!

Who was your favorite character and why?

Cinder!

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

This book kept me involved, on edge, happy, sad, angry and had me laughing. This trilogy has it all. Worthy read!

Any additional comments?

The first book was a little slow trying to set it all up but then its fast pace and on edge the whole time. I finished in one setting.

2 people found this helpful

interesting story, slow motion narration

What did you like best about Through the Ever Night? What did you like least?

The storyline is very interesting.I like the different "worlds" that come with completely opposite ways of living. Also it is fascinating how the character of Aria is dealing / changing with being outside "her world".
I'm not finished with the audiobook yet due to the narrator... Although I very much would like to know what happens next in the story, I just HAVE TO take a break after about 20 minutes listening to that narrator - either because I'm about to fall asleep while waiting for him to finish one tiny sentence or because I'm getting too annoyed (almost aggressive) with the SLOW PACE and EMOTIONLESS narration! It's sad really, that a different performer wasn't picked to tell the story.

Would you be willing to try another one of Michael Goldstrom’s performances?

His performance is tempting me to NOT finish this audiobook - that should say it all...

Could you see Through the Ever Night being made into a movie or a TV series? Who should the stars be?

Yes, definitely I can see a movie coming. And I leave it up to HOLLYWOOD to decide on the stars:)

2 people found this helpful

Great book!

I really love this series. it is passionate and so well written.
Start with Under the Nerer Sky (book 1) which is also brilliant! If you can read the novella 'Liv and Roar Under the Never Sky' I would read it first, but you don't have to read the novella to understand book 2 if you have read book 1. It is not on audible.com, but it is pretty short and it really gives you a nice background.
I didn't love the narrator, but he wasn't distracting bad or anything.

2 people found this helpful

Romance isn't always easy

The second story of this (planned) trilogy is just as good as the first. Aria and Perry find that love doesn't smooth over all the bumps in the road, and there are plenty of bumps for them. Their love story helps to bring together the Dwellers and the Outsiders, though mostly they are kicking and screaming all the way! I'm looking forward to the next story. I just hope that the original narrator returns. Michael did an adequate job, but I got irritated at some of the mispronunciations.

2 people found this helpful

Awesome series, narration for this one is lacking

What a great follow up to the first novel! Gripping story and characters. New narrator for this book wasn't great - read VERY slow. At times I wondered if my app stopped working because he would pause so long between sentences. The voices he did for the female characters sounded nasally false - took a while to get used to. Still worth a listen!

1 person found this helpful

Decent - But Lacks Immediacy

This was a decent read - strong writing and fewer plot holes than most YA dystopian made it a interesting if bleak second novel.

In this second installment, the two main characters are separated for nearly the whole book. Each has a mission but minor stuff happens and the characters mope over missing each other and because they are in a romeo/juliet type of situation.

I honestly found this book a bit boring. As with the first book, it lacked immediacy and a real sense of danger. Nearly all characters are morally balanced and lacking the viciousness I'd expect in a 'mad max' type of scenario. But even odder, the question of nurture vs nature is explored and the 'city dweller' girl who had everything done for her physically is able to pick up fighting, do long treks, etc., because "her father was an outsider so she is half outsider." I honestly never considered adaptability to a harsh environment a genetic trait.

Also inexplicable for me are the decision made by people in the story. People do things because they are hard headed - and no one seems to feel any fear or worry (this includes all the side characters).

Again, the book seemed well written - better than a lot of YA Dystopian out there. But it really lacked enough emotion and immediacy to draw me in.

1 person found this helpful

As beautiful as I expected...

What did you love best about Through the Ever Night?

Perry and Aria, there love is pure, and it is a rare thing...I loved the whole story..and can not wait for book 3!

What did you like best about this story?

I liked the purity of there lives...the ability to go on even in such terrible circumstances...the love they all have for each other and there ability to go on and never give up!

Have you listened to any of Michael Goldstrom’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

No, but I thought he was excellent, I am not a fan of male narrators, but he was brilliant, and I settled into his reading very quickly....

If you were to make a film of this book, what would be the tag line be?

Oh this whole series thus far would make an excellent movie... and I think both titles would make excellent tag lines...

Any additional comments?

I loved this book, the one thing that did irritate me was the pauses between chapters...they were excessively long...but as a whole this was a wonderful listen, and a great story, it had everything a book needs, love, hate, struggle reward, friendship, loyalty, family and courage...it was fantastic, and I cant wait for #3!

1 person found this helpful

Middle Book Syndrome

I will admit I am a bit undecided on this one. It has been a couple days since I finished this book and honestly I am having a hard time vividly remembering it. I think that in itself says it all...

Middle book syndrome is a lot like middle child syndrome. It’s not the exciting beginning where everything is new and full of wonder. It's not the finale where all is uncovered and the pieces fall into place to reveal a beautiful picture you couldn’t even imagine, no the middle book is just that, the middle. Full of whatevers and what if's.

I still found myself enjoying this book and if you loved Through the Ever Sky then don't miss this one, for I have a feeling book three will be getting 5 stars all around!

1 person found this helpful