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A review by paradoxically
Compete by Vera Nazarian
2.0
In this book Gwen is given the choice to either become a Cadet and join the space fleet or become a Civilian which is just what it sounds like. Of course she does neither and voices her desire to enter the Atlantis Grail competition. She's given one year to prove herself to Aeson, the year that it takes to get from Earth to Atlantis. Shenanigans ensue. It's not as tightly plotted as I make it sound, ha.
I... I don't really know what to think. On one hand, the ideas are interesting, even if you have to heavily lean on suspension of disbelief. The plot isn't wholly predictable as there are some surprising moments (not a lot, but enough that I go "Hm, okay"), and Gwen is tolerable, even if her endless looks at Aeson makes me sigh. I also like the idea of Gwen and Aeson together, much more than I enjoy the thought of Gwen and Logan (because he's boring and you never see another side to him other than his spy-side, and even that is fleeting and not really explored). The problem is, I like the idea of them together, but the actual... relationship... is weird.
But let's start off with the plot and how it wanders. Because it wanders to weird places and emphasizes things that just baffle me. The laser focus on dances are hilarious, if vaguely satisfying in that heck-yeah sort of way. Gwen is supposed to be trying her best to get Aeson's approval to join the Atlantis Grail, but you never... really see it... She works hard, she does her classes, but it's all sort of glossed over. She spends more time brooding over her relationships (or lack there of) than her impending task. Her priorities seem a bit skewed--she remembers what she needs to do, but you're never really shown her trying her hardest in classes other than piloting class. The plot heavily leans on Gwen's emotional battles between Logan and Aeson and it reallyyyy gets tiring after a while.
All the characters, except for Gwen, are a bit one-note. Even Logan and Aeson are a bit flat, though the latter is shown to have more to him than the former. But Gwen's family, her friends, the people she meets, they never seem very nuanced beyond what Gwen tells you of them. And it's flat out telling, not showing. There's a character that is described as ostentatious and a bit over the top, but then you're told that no, he's nuanced and sharp and--I would like to be shown this, okay. I would love to see that character act and speak in the way that Gwen describes him.
Aeson and Gwen's relationship is mostly nonexistent? Gwen spends a lot of time not even knowing she likes Aeson, really likes Aeson, and when she does it kind of smacks her in the face. I actual did appreciate the But then you get scenes upon scenes of Gwen angsting over this, trying to figure out how he feels about her, then resigning herself to the inevitability of separation. Aeson is like... he is basically a stone wall with 'intense eyes' (sometimes). Lot of repression there, but maybe too much, as it made the final scene
Just... the author is surprising. Sometimes in good ways, and sometimes in what-the-hell ways. I am glad that the nerds versus jocks obsession Gwen has toned down a bit in this book, but it's still there and present and annoying. The writing still needs a heavy dose of show-not-tell. 2 stars.
I... I don't really know what to think. On one hand, the ideas are interesting, even if you have to heavily lean on suspension of disbelief. The plot isn't wholly predictable as there are some surprising moments (not a lot, but enough that I go "Hm, okay"), and Gwen is tolerable, even if her endless looks at Aeson makes me sigh. I also like the idea of Gwen and Aeson together, much more than I enjoy the thought of Gwen and Logan (because he's boring and you never see another side to him other than his spy-side, and even that is fleeting and not really explored). The problem is, I like the idea of them together, but the actual... relationship... is weird.
But let's start off with the plot and how it wanders. Because it wanders to weird places and emphasizes things that just baffle me. The laser focus on dances are hilarious, if vaguely satisfying in that heck-yeah sort of way. Gwen is supposed to be trying her best to get Aeson's approval to join the Atlantis Grail, but you never... really see it... She works hard, she does her classes, but it's all sort of glossed over. She spends more time brooding over her relationships (or lack there of) than her impending task. Her priorities seem a bit skewed--she remembers what she needs to do, but you're never really shown her trying her hardest in classes other than piloting class. The plot heavily leans on Gwen's emotional battles between Logan and Aeson and it reallyyyy gets tiring after a while.
All the characters, except for Gwen, are a bit one-note. Even Logan and Aeson are a bit flat, though the latter is shown to have more to him than the former. But Gwen's family, her friends, the people she meets, they never seem very nuanced beyond what Gwen tells you of them. And it's flat out telling, not showing. There's a character that is described as ostentatious and a bit over the top, but then you're told that no, he's nuanced and sharp and--I would like to be shown this, okay. I would love to see that character act and speak in the way that Gwen describes him.
Aeson and Gwen's relationship is mostly nonexistent? Gwen spends a lot of time not even knowing she likes Aeson, really likes Aeson, and when she does it kind of smacks her in the face. I actual did appreciate the
Spoiler
breakup scene between Logan and Gwen. It was messy, it wasn't nice, and it was necessary.Spoiler
with him grabbing Gwen and announcing her as his bride to be REALLY OUT THERE. And also, definitely NOT something you just spring on someone last minute. Especially after you spend a lot of time telling said person that the relationship between the two of you will never work out. Really. What the hell were you thinking Aeson? In fact, what the hell were you thinking, author?Just... the author is surprising. Sometimes in good ways, and sometimes in what-the-hell ways. I am glad that the nerds versus jocks obsession Gwen has toned down a bit in this book, but it's still there and present and annoying. The writing still needs a heavy dose of show-not-tell. 2 stars.