Under the Never Sky (Under the Never Sky, #1)

by Veronica Rossi

[nannah]

Yikes. This book . . . was something else. Put shortly: a mess of racism, sexism, ableism, and hypermasculinity.

Book content warnings:
eugenics
(those isms mentioned above)
sexual assault

We start with your typical dystopia/post-apocalypse: we have people who live in Domes (protected places where people live in advanced civilizations with future technology, every child is "made" to be perfect, etc., etc., etc.) and people who live . . . everywhere else. Those people are basically organized into Tribes or are loners who die of starvation. The outside is very dangerous, blah blah blah, especially because there are Aether storms ravaging the world and leveling vast areas of land at a time.

That's the setting. The protagonists are Aria (aptly named since she was genetically modified to be a perfect falcon soprano), a Dome-dweller; and Peregrine the Outsider who lives in the Tides Tribe. Their lives become intertwined when Aria is banished from her dome and Perry's nephew is taken by Aria's people. Together, they have to find a way to save Perry's nephew and get Aria back home.

Not the most original plot, but it could be told in a very beautiful way, right? Not here. Definitely not here.

I'm glad this cover art shows Perry as being dark-skinned because it's definitely not clear in the book. Through Aria's eyes, the only thing clear is that he has "dirty, matted blond hair" or something in a way that she'd never encountered before . . . let's just let that sink in. First, that she considers it dirty and matted or whatever (and if he IS actually black, that's NOT what dreadlocks are?? It's a natural-forming type of hair that does NOT form into "matts" jfc). Second, the fact that she's never seen it before tells us a lot about her Dome, and probably about the author, since she figures black people don't survive into civilized societies or that people "don't want to make more" black people. I just . . . this is just so weird and racist. Also . . . why blond hair? Why? Everything's just so weird.

This "future" world of hers is just so animalistic and strange, too. Certain Outsiders gain super-powerful senses, for some reason. Mutations from the Aether, it seems. For example, Perry is what's called a Scire, which means he has a very strong sense of smell--so powerful, he can literally "smell" people's moods. And get this!! It's what makes him fall in love with Aria! Because he really doesn't like her much until she starts menstruating for the first time. And then she starts smelling like violets, which is his favorite scent, and then whoaaaaa, he just can't stay away from her. How creepy and disgusting is this? It becomes even worse after he "renders" to her (which even after an explanation, I can't really understand it)--and then he can't really do anything but touch her, because of the way she smells.

Not to mention this Outsider culture is just reeking of hypermasculinity and sexism. Everything is Blood Lord this, and Fight to be Leader that, and in both cultures, only men rule. But especially on the outside, Men Are Supreme (for some ridiculous reason). All characters (except one doctor) are male. They fight like alpha males in a pride of lions for their Tribe, and everything is about fighting prowess and physical abilities. People with extra senses can only mate with others with that same sense, etc. It's all so fucking disgusting, I'm sorry.

But wait! There's more! Because this is where some ableism comes in as well. We have Perry's nephew, Talon. He's chronically ill--fatally ill on the Outside where medicine isn't available. Apparently, his disability is considered "punishment" for his parents mating when they didn't have the same kind of "sense". Like wow.

And this isn't even mentioning the eugenics going on inside the Domes, where "all illness has been eliminated". It's a ridiculous kind of statement in its own right, since bacteria is going to mutate all the time, and it's going to be very hard to kill, especially in places where humans are concentrated. But whatever! All illness is gone! Like the snap of the fingers. And you know why this is so important? Because Aria's people equate "illness" with the Savages on the Outside. AKA, illness = gross, disgusting people. There's actually a line I wish I took down because it basically sums up that previous sentence.

As a disabled person myself, with several chronic illnesses, what a thing to read! People like me obviously weren't meant to read this book. Good to know this author wrote this without even thinking of us in mind as a potential audience.

(This book is also one of the straightest things I've ever read.)

All in all, I can't believe this passed through so many critical eyes to get published. Where are all the good agents/publishers/editors when we need them?