I LOVED this book!!!! I'm frantically ordering books 2 and 3 on amazon right now. It's hard to stand out in this genre right now I think but I was so impressed! Rossi constantly surprised me with her plot. I kept thinking that something would happen that would be 'typical' and every time I was proved wrong. The story was original, well-thought out and put together, and really interesting! Both Perry and Aria were SO dynamic! There were aspects of each of their personalities that were very human but also parts that were so UNhuman compared to how we behave today. Perry seemed to have few qualms throughout the book about potentially having to kill his brother and Aria obviously was unaware about what it meant to be a teenage girl because she was so sheltered.
This book made me think a lot about what I would choose give the chance. Would I want the shelter and safety and 'freedom' of somewhat magical powers in the realms under the pods, or would I want the 'freedom' of living out in the open under dangerous conditions and lack of food? Clearly Aria still struggles with this at the end of the book even after all she's gone through.
I do wish I'd had a little more description of Aria throughout the book. I felt like I got a good picture of Perry in my head but not Aria, even though Perry described her scent CONSTANTLY. Oh wait, did you say she smells like violets? Violets you said? What did she smell like? Violets? VIOLETS?! But I don't remember ever getting a good sense of her height, hair color, skin tone, etc.

Also, SPOILERS BELOW!!!!!

I did think Aria and Perry's lovely time together on their way to Bliss stretched on a little bit. Maybe it was because I was listening to it but I got a little bit sick of the ooey-gooey love-ness they were going through, as sweet as it was.
I like that Rossi never expressed that they were ONLY MEANT FOR EACH OTHER BLAH BLAH BLAH like so many other YA books do. I get so sick of reading novels where the teenagers talk about how they'll NEVER FEEL THIS WAY AGAIN ABOUT ANYONE EVER WE R LYK TOTES SOULMATES. Perry and Aria both acknowledge that while they wouldn't like it, they would probably be happy and potentially better off with someone else. It's refreshing.
I just loved this book, because I see myself in Aria. I feel like I've lived a very sheltered and safe life. However, I do think I could thrive in the wild like she did. I think I'm an outsider at heart. Can't wait to see what happens next.