Under the Never Sky (2011) is the first installment in a young adult post-apocalyptic trilogy by Veronica Rossi. The series has been a New York Times and USA Today bestseller and has been published in over 25 foreign markets. Under the Never Sky is a dual-POV first-person narrative following Aria and Perry, two teens from opposing societies struggling to survive as they journey to save the only true family they have left. Throughout their journey, they find the beauty in love, individuality, and battle scars.

This guide refers to the e-book published by HarperCollins in 2012.

Plot Summary

In a futuristic world, the earth’s atmosphere is plagued by the Aether—strong electrical currents that scorch the earth when it storms. Survivors have since separated into opposing groups. Dwellers live in highly advanced Pods where disease has been eradicated, aging is a thing of the past, and anything can be experienced in a virtual reality called the Realms. Outsiders live in Tribes under the never sky, adapting to survive the Aether storms; some even have the gift of enhanced Senses.

Aria is a teen Dweller living in a Pod called Reverie. Most of her life is spent in the Realms with friends, where pain and fear don’t exist, and neither do risks or consequences. Dwellers may access these Realms through their Smarteyes, clear devices that attach to the skin around one eye. Aria’s only family is her mother, Lumina—a scientist doing top-secret medical research in a distant Pod called Bliss. It’s been a week since Smarteye communication was cut off with Bliss, and Aria is worried about Lumina. She plans to ask Soren, the son of Reverie’s Director of Security, about Bliss because she fears the Pod has been breached. Aria and her best friend Paisley join Soren and his friends in sneaking into the recently breached Ag 6 dome. Inside the dome, Soren and his friends start a real fire and grow frenzied. The fire spreads out of control, and Soren becomes violent. Aria distracts Soren to give Paisley time to escape. She glimpses a message from her mother addressed “Songbird” on her Smarteye but disregards it to record the following interaction. Soren tackles Aria and rips out her Smarteye but is interrupted by the appearance of Perry, a teen Outsider.

Perry is Marked—an Outsider blessed with a Sense. As a Scire and Seer, he has both enhanced scent and sight. His ability allows him to smell emotions and see in complete darkness. Perry hopes to steal medication from Reverie to treat his nephew’s rapidly worsening illness. Perry renders Soren unconscious and drags Aria to safety, pocketing an apple and her Smarteye before abandoning his mission. After a few days of travel, Perry arrives back at the Tide, the valley tribe he calls home. Perry lives with his older brother, Vale, and nephew, Talon. Vale’s wife, Mila, has recently passed away from the same sickness that’s threatening Talon’s life. Perry values Talon’s well-being over all else, which is why he resists his urge to challenge Vale for Blood Lord—the position of tribe leader. Vale and Perry are at odds over how best to rule the tribe. Though food is scarce and Aether storms are worsening, Vale wants to stay put in the valley rather than risk finding new land, while Perry encourages the opposite. Perry can’t challenge his brother for Blood Lord, though, because the end result is either Vale’s death or exile from the tribe.

Aria wakes in an infirmary. Dr. Ward, one of her mother’s colleagues, informs her that she and Soren are the only survivors of the Ag 6 fire. She’s brought to Consul Hess for trial and reveals Soren’s “madness” in Ag 6, for which he seems grateful. Soren’s side of the story blames Aria for the ordeal, but she claims she can prove otherwise with the recording of her Smarteye—which has gone missing in the fire. Consul Hess arranges transport for Aria to visit her mother in Bliss. Instead, the hovercraft abandons Aria in the Death Shop—the dangerous lands outside the Pods, which are rumored to be filled with “Savages” and “Cannibals.” Aria realizes Consul Hess plans to keep the truth a secret.

Back at the Tides, Talon convinces Vale to allow Perry to take him hunting. During their outing, Dwellers arrive in hovercrafts and demand Aria’s Smarteye from Perry. Perry puts up a desperate fight and keeps possession of the device but is unable to prevent Talon’s capture. Perry returns to the tribe, feeling guilty for what his actions have caused. Vale is furious to learn of Talon’s disappearance but refuses to rescue Talon out of fear the Dwellers might destroy the tribe. Perry deserts the Tides and vows to rescue Talon himself.

Aria travels through the Outside in search of a Pod. She and Perry cross paths during an Aether storm, which he helps her survive by finding them shelter in a cave stocked with provisions for traders passing through. Perry and Aria decide to ally in pursuit of their goals. They plan to journey to Perry’s friend, Marron, who can repair Aria’s damaged Smarteye. Aria will then use it to contact Lumina, who can locate and rescue Talon. Aria does not have proper footwear, which has caused extensive injuries to the soles of her feet, so Perry crafts shoes out of old book covers. Along their journey, Aria tells Perry about life in the Pods and the Realms while Perry remains silent. On their third day of travel, Perry leaves to hunt while Aria gathers berries. Aria is approached by three men who happen to be Croven (cannibals). Perry kills them in defense, horrifying Aria, who calls Perry a monster. They stop at the base of Mount Arrow for a night, taking shelter in an abandoned house.

Perry increases the pace of their journey, believing the Croven’s tribe will seek revenge. The following night, Perry and Aria cross paths with Perry’s old friend Roar. Roar is an Aud, an Outsider with enhanced hearing, tasked with delivering Perry’s sister, Liv, to Sable—a Blood Lord of the Horns tribe. She’s been betrothed to the man in exchange for food for the Tides. Roar informs Perry that Liv slipped away before their arrival, and he’s been searching for her for the past week. Along the way, Roar has picked up a lone traveler—a young boy named Cinder with a mysterious past and an unprecedented ability to wield the Aether. Roar promises to aid Perry and Aria in their journey.

Aria learns of Outsider senses and keeps her distance from Perry after learning he can scent her emotions. Perry becomes jealous of Aria’s friendship with Roar. When the Croven continue to close in, Perry asks Cinder to abandon them for his own safety but only manages to anger the child. Cinder accidentally strikes Perry with the Aether, severely burning his hand. Cinder physically exhausts himself using his ability, slowing down the group. The group makes it safely to Marron’s compound—Delphi—where she requests his help in repairing her Smarteye. Marron reveals that Bliss is rumored to have been destroyed in an Aether storm, devastating Aria. Perry visits Aria in her room, and she invites him to keep her company for the night.

A medic named Rose warns Aria about pursuing a relationship with Perry. Marked Outsiders are encouraged to mate only with those who share their abilities. Marron fixes Aria’s Smarteye, saving the recording of Soren and the message from Aria’s mother. Lumina’s recording reveals that her research involves testing on Outsider children to find a cure for Degenerative Limbic Syndrome (DLS), a disorder of the limbic system in Dwellers that causes psychotic breaks, which lead to chaos and murder inside breached Pods. She also reveals that Aria’s father is an Outsider, explaining Aria’s singing talent and her manifesting Audile ability. Perry realizes Talon must be one of the children taken for experimentation.

Aria has been locked out of the Realms by Consul Hess, so Perry is recruited instead to enter a research Realm. Lumina is absent, but Perry discovers testing rooms where he finds Talon. Talon claims he wants to stay in Reverie, where he isn’t ill, and mentions that Vale is with him. Perry is surprised by the implication that Vale attempted to save Talon after all but was captured by the Dwellers. Perry realizes Vale’s absence means the Tides need a new Blood Lord. Before returning to take up the mantle, Perry intends to keep his promise of reuniting Aria with her mother in Bliss.

Meanwhile, dozens of Croven gather outside Delphi. Perry and Aria plan to leave during an Aether storm while the Croven will be distracted finding cover. While they wait, Roar trains Aria in knife fighting, and Cinder sneaks out of the compound without anyone’s knowledge. When the storm comes, Perry and Aria leave with help from Roar and a few of Marron’s men. The Croven attack, killing Marron’s men and wounding Roar. Cinder arrives at the last moment to incinerate the Croven with a strike of Aether. Cinder and Roar remain in Delphi while Aria and Perry travel for Bliss. Wolves chase them during the journey, but Aria manages to placate them by perfectly replicating their howls. Perry and Aria admit their feelings for one another.

Bliss is evacuating when they arrive. Aria infiltrates the Pod, where she crosses paths with Dr. Ward. He shows her Lumina’s body before bringing her to Consul Hess, who extorts her. In exchange for Talon’s life, Aria must find the Still Blue—a safe place with clear skies rumored to be free of the Aether—which Consul Hess plans to bring Reverie’s inhabitants. When Aria never resurfaces from inside Bliss, Perry assumes she’s found her mother and decided to stay. Perry encounters a group of Outsiders in the forest, gets drunk on Luster, and provokes a fight with their leader, Reef. Perry’s win earns the group’s loyalty. They follow Perry back to the Tides, where Vale is still present. Perry learns that Vale sold Talon to the Dwellers in exchange for food to feed the tribe. He also arranged to have Perry murdered in the scuffle of Talon’s capture. Vale refuses to pledge his loyalty to Perry during their battle for Blood Lord, so Perry is forced to kill his brother.

Aria returns to Delphi, where she reunites with Roar and Cinder. Roar and Cinder leave to join Perry in Tide come spring, and Aria sends a violet with them—the flower Perry associates with her scent. Soon after, she leaves to search for the Still Blue. One night, as she huddles over a fire, she hears Perry’s familiar footsteps in the distance. The two reunite.