Roar and LIV (Under the Never Sky, #0.5)

by Veronica Rossi

[Jo]

Originally posted on Once Upon a Bookcase.

I've read at least one review of Through the Ever Night, heard how awesome it was, and have been convinced I need to read it soon. But before I do that, I knew I had to catch up by reading Roar and Liv, a prequel short story to Under the Never Sky, and I loved it.

In Under the Never Sky, we meet Roar while he's searching for Liv, and discover he's looking for her because she ran away when her older brother Vale, Blood Lord of the Tides, was giving her in an arranged marriage to the Blood Lord of another tribe in return for food for the Tides. Roar and Liv covers this story; of Vale announcing his intentions for Liv, and the journey that's made to take her to Sable, Blood Lord of the Horns. I remember at the time not being wowed by Under the Never Sky, but looking back on the story, I feel nothing but love for it. And had the same reaction to Roar and Liv (Can I just say, I can't get enough of Roar's name?)

Roar and Liv, narrated by Roar, is not a surprising story, as we already know what happens through reading Under the Never Sky. What it does is show us what leads to those events, and how they panned out. We get to meet a very strong, determined young woman in Liv. It was just fantastic getting to see her, and how Roar reacts to her. He is so enthralled and so in love. And then Vale has to go and put a big ol' spanner in the works, by arranging a marriage between Liv and Sable. Both Liv and Roar are distraught and angry, and want to fight. Roar is losing the one he loves, the same for Liv, but she's also losing any choice in how her life pans out. There is a lot of anger, fear and sadness in this story.

We also get to see just what a git Vale can be. It seems to me that he doesn't only have the the Tides best interests at heart, but also likes reminding people he's the one in charge, the one in power. He enjoys hurting people he disapproves of or fears (read: Roar and Perry), and putting them in their place. He's sneaky, and strategises ways to show he's in charge and to do what is expected of him as Blood Lord, but also cause as much pain as possible to those he wants to hurt. I disliked him in Under the Never Sky, I hate him in this.

A fantastic story that shows more of the characters we love, the ones we don't, introduces us to Liv, and pulls at the heartstrings. If you enjoyed Under the Never Sky, you should definitely read this.