Look what I caught in the wild,
then tamed on my shelf!

There is much about THROUGH THE EVER NIGHT that I love. The pacing is amazing. The scenes are beautiful and cinematic. The action is hair-rising. We get to know the characters and world in new and personal ways. But, as I talked about on Tuesday’s post, one thing that I really appreciate is the surprising character growth.

Many times in books with lots of swooning, forces of nature or authority figures keep our characters apart. However, in THROUGH THE EVER NIGHT Aria and Perry control their own destinies to a large degree – especially in terms of their relationship. They could just run away and be happy together…but that would mean hurting many, many other people (some of whom they don’t even like). They foresee the consequences of acting on their desires and they…wait for it…make the responsible decision. In many stories this sort of situation would kill the conflict, but for Perry and Aria, it elevates it while demonstrating a maturity I rarely see in novels (for all ages).

So not only does THROUGH THE EVER NIGHT have a great plot and spectacular writing, it demonstrates to the reader an admirable quality that most of us should strive for without losing an ounce of entertainment value. And that, in my opinion, is a sign of a truly great story. 

I thought I would start my post about Through the Ever Night with a bit of my favorite scene from the book, because it really exemplifies everything I love about this trilogy and V's gorgeous prose:

***

Even after he and Reef showed up to relieve them, Twig and Gren remained at the watch post, huddled at the edge of a rocky overlook. The four of them sat together in comfortable silence as a fine mist began to fall.

Hyde and Hayden arrived soon after, Straggler trailing behind them. They had the night off watch, all three. Perry had seen Hyde yawn half a dozen times during supper. They settled themselves along the lookout, watching as the mist thickened to rain. Still no one spoke, or left.

“Quiet night,” Twig said finally. “We’re quiet, I mean. Not the rain.” His voice sounded raspy and hoarse, after the long stretch of silence.

“You eat a frog, Twig?” Hayden asked.

“Maybe there were frogs in the soup tonight,” said Gren.

Hyde grunted. “Frogs taste better than that tripe.”

Twig cleared his throat. “You know I almost did eat a live frog once,” he said.

“Twig, you look like a frog. You have froggy eyes.”

“Show us how high you can jump, Twig.”

“Shut up and let him croak the story.”

The story itself wasn’t much. As a boy, Twig had been on the brink of kissing a frog, on a dare from his brother, when it slipped through his fingers and jumped into his mouth. It was the wrong story for Twig to tell. At twenty-three, he had yet to kiss a girl, and the Six knew it, as they knew nearly everything about one another. A massacre followed, as they took shots at Twig, saying things like maybe he was worried that after the frog, a girl would be a letdown, and that they supported his quest to find a prince.

Perry listened, smiling at the better jabs, feeling more himself than he had in the past two days. Eventually it grew quiet again, except for the rhythm of a few snores. He looked around him. The rain had stopped. Some slept. Others breathed steadily, focused on the night. No one spoke, but Perry heard them clearly. He understood why they’d been shadowing him and why they sat with him now, staying when they didn’t have to.

Given any choice, they wouldn’t leave. They’d stand by him. 

***

To me this scene is so layered and perfect.  On the surface, it's a light scene of male bonding.  Yet, it is rich with character detail, and the last bit of inner monologue is so precise and emotionally resonant.  Prior to this scene, Perry has been struggling with his role as Blood Lord.  Not everyone in the Tides respects his leadership, and even Perry questions whether he is equipped to lead his people to safety.  Perry needs allies so badly, and these men are there for him.  

Sigh.

I love Perry, and I love these guys for being there.  But more than anything, I am in awe of Veronica's ability to paint such a rich picture, to convey so much with so little.  This scene is probably my favorite in the trilogy so far (I haven't seen the third book yet, so I'm reserving my rights).

I picked this quiet scene because it tugged at my heart, but I think the book triggered all my emotions at one point or another. I loved the way all of the characters developed and grew, even the minor ones. And then there was the swoon-worthy romance, thrilling action, and page-turning revelations.  

Yep, this one's a keeper.  

Hello and welcome to today's stop on the Through the Ever Night blog tour!  For those of you who have never been here before, we are a blog of five authors of books for young adults who have been blogging together and sharing our work for three years.  We have loved Veronica (and her work) from the beginning, and we are thrilled to be able to welcome THROUGH THE EVER NIGHT into the world.


It's been months since Aria last saw Perry. Months since Perry was named Blood Lord of the Tides, and Aria was charged with an impossible mission. Now, finally, they are about to be reunited. But their reunion is far from perfect. The Tides don't take kindly to Aria, a former Dweller. And with the worsening Aether storms threatening the tribe's precarious existence, Aria begins to fear that leaving Perry behind might be the only way to save them both.

Threatened by false friends, hidden enemies, and powerful temptations, Aria and Perry wonder, Can their love survive through the ever night?

Today, we're going to tease you with our favorite quotes from TTEN...

Donna Cooner:

As she stepped outside, the ghostly moan of the wind raised the hair on her arms. Below, she saw the Snake River, its black water rippling with Aether light. Smoke lifted up from the chimneys of homes along the banks, and she could see the bridge she and Roar had crossed only yesterday. In the darkness it stood as an arc dotted with points of firelight.

It’s impossible to select one quote that is my absolute favorite, but I picked one that exemplifies one of the best things about THROUGH THE EVER NIGHT – the world building.  I write contemporary novels and still struggle at times with descriptions of a real world completely familiar to me and my readers.  Veronica, however, is able to write about places no one has ever seen and she does it in such a way that readers instantly connected to both the place and the characters.  There is just the right blend of the familiar with the unique.   Veronica writes about her creation with complete conviction.  She knows it—down to every tiny detail. Because of that, we experience the wonders of this world she has created for the first time as readers, and it seems completely plausible and real to us, too.

Katherine Longshore:

The ocean stretched out before her, alive, spreading to the end of everything.  She heard a million waves, each one distinct, ferocious, but together a chorus that was serene and grander than anything she'd ever known.  She'd seen the ocean plenty of times in the Realms, but it hadn't prepared her for the real thing.

"If beauty had a sound, this would be it."

"I knew it would help," Roar said, his smile a white flash in the darkness. "Auds say the sea holds every sound that's ever been heard.  All you have to do is listen."

I love Veronica's stories because they make an unknown world real, because they bring fresh characters alive in my imagination and because they capture my emotions and attention for hundreds of pages.  But I love Veronica's writing for this.  For passages so true and so beautiful that they bring tears to my eyes and make me feel as though I (who spent my childhood on the seashore and quite a bit of time at sea) am seeing and hearing the ocean for the first time--and all the beauty and grace it brings with it.  That beauty and grace comes from Veronica's talent, skill and dedication to bringing vibrant details to life.  Watch for them.  And savor them.

Talia Vance:


He leaned in, twisting a strand of her hair around his finger as he kissed her bottom lip. “But I was also wondering what you were doing around Butter today.”

Aria laughed. That was attractive. She smelled like horse. “Do you ever miss anything?”

Perry smiled. “You, all the time.”

I love this!  The first time I read it, I had to set down the book for a second, so I could literally swoon.  It's achingly romantic, adorable and funny.  With all Aria and Perry go through in this book, they really earned this light moment to just breathe and enjoy each other.

Veronica Rossi:


One of my favorite moments in THROUGH THE EVER NIGHT happens between Aria and Perry's sister, Liv. The girls have recently met, and a friendship is just beginning to form between them. It begins with Liv, who's decided to sleep in Aria's room, and I love it because it's so normal, and because Aria has sorely lacked for time with a girlfriend.

Here it is.

"I'm going to sleep here. Sorry if I snore."
"Sure, why don't you stay? There's plenty of room if neither of us moves."
"That won't be a problem. I can't move anyway. This dress is like wearing a tourniquet."
"You tied the belt wrong. I've worn that style of dress in the Realms. I could show you the right way."
"No need. It's a stupid dress."
Aria laughed. "It's not stupid. You look amazing in it. Like Athena."
"Yeah?" Liv yawned again and closed her eyes. "I thought Roar would like it. All right. Show me how to tie the stupid dress tomorrow."

Bret Ballou:

When Reef and two other men appeared, she and Perry stood several paces apart—the distance between strangers.

This is the last line of the second chapter of THROUGH THE EVER NIGHT and it was the moment when I stopped the treadmill, highlighted it, and thought, “Damn, she’s done it again.”

To me, the line sets the tone for the whole story: the forced distance between Perry and Aria. The two long to be together, but they must make decisions to stand apart for the betterment of both their societies. They are growing up and making more adult choices – as painful as those are. And that tension resonates through the entire story. In fact, I warn you that Aria and Perry are rarely together in this novel – but, in my opinion, it made the pages turn all that much faster.

And another word of caution: don’t try to work out while reading this book because you’ll be interrupted often highlighting entire passages just because they’re that good.  

We'd love to hear your favorite quote--and if you're new to the blog, we'd love to see you again!  Remember, it's all TTEN, all the time this week.  And don't miss the rest of the tour--it starts here.

And as a bonus for being here during the blog tour, you can enter for the chance to win super-fabulous TTEN prize pack, including swag, cover-matching nail polish, and signed copies of both UNDER THE NEVER SKY and THROUGH THE EVER NIGHT.

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Hooray!  This week marks a very special YAMuses' event.  The second borns are coming in to the world.  After a year of debuts, we are perhaps a little less stressed, a little more relaxed, and oh so happy to welcome the new crop of Muses books to hit the shelves.

Veronica Rossi kicks it off with the release of the much anticipated THROUGH THE EVER NIGHT.  If you loved UNDER THE NEVER SKY, you will be over the moon for the next installment.  Your favorite characters - Perry, Aria, Roar and Liv - are all back, and there's heart stopping action in every chapter.

So what do I love most about TEN?

That's a very difficult question, but I have to say I love that it is a fantastic "middle."

As many of you know, writing the middle of any story is difficult.  In my mind, writing the middle book of  a trilogy is even more challenging.  How do you write a whole book that can stand alone and can also be a suspenseful, engaging middle of a larger work?  I believe Veronica Rossi has done just that with THROUGH THE EVER NIGHT, and it's a masterful example of pacing.  Characters are introduced to new readers, but readers familiar with the story aren't bogged down.  The fantastical worlds Veronica created are described in meticulous detail, yet again, she doesn't lose fans who already know this world.

With perfect pacing and suspenseful action played out in wonderfully cinematic scenes, Veronica's new book will not disappoint.  My only frustration is in waiting for my next opportunity to experience the world of Perry and Aria.  I just didn't want to leave them.

Congratulations, Veronica.  We're so proud of you!

And welcome to the world, THROUGH THE EVER NIGHT!