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hannahfs7's review against another edition
4.0
It's so hard for me to find the rest of this series!!!
jeslyncat's review
5.0
This series is definitely one of a kind. I've always enjoyed indulging in Young Adult books, and even though I continue to read them--they're usually pretty predictable. But with this series Pascal creates a whole different animal. The characters are so realistic and believable, which shocks me because no one in the book is even close to normal. Pascal creates a young girl, Gaia, and there is a great dealing going on around her. The book alternated between Gaia struggling with being a teenager and Gaia struggling to stay away from the people who want to steal her gift. When you first meet Gaia, and begins to narrate her past, you realize that this is exactly how anyone would act. The best part of this book is that it's not any one thing--it's suspenseful, romantic, funny, emotional, and carries a serious note of science fiction. And it's not written like a young adult novel--the subject matters are mature and Pascal did a very good job bringing that maturity to the narrators, but still keeping the believability that they're just kids.
jessdlibrarian's review
4.0
I wanted to reread this after reading it in 7th grade, and unlike a lot of middle school reads from the 90s, it holds up! I'm going to have to put the next book on hold now.
lkthomas07's review
4.0
I read a ton of the books in this series in high school. I remember loving them, but I don't remember much about the books themselves. I'd definitely recommend giving them a try!
rachelmariereads's review
5.0
Fearless follows 17 year-old Gaia Moore as she starts junior year after moving to New York… but Gaia is anything but your typical teen. Gaia was born without the gene that produces fear, leaving her unafraid of anything. Her father took her abilities and honed her into a weapon: Gaia is a master of martial arts, with strength and reflexes off the charts. But since his disappearance, Gaia has been transplanted to New York, to live with a family friend.
You could say Gaia has a bit of an anger problem. She’s quick to a spiteful remark, and she doesn’t make friends easily. But she finds solace in Washington Square Park. There, at the chess tables, she finds other misfits like herself, and a place where she can find a modicum of peace— away from the judgmental high school cliques and, and away from the trauma of her past. But when that peace is threatened by a growing Neo-Nazi gang using the park as their hunting grounds, Gaia decides to play vigilante.
During the day Gaia goes to high school, and finds herself unexpectedly friends with Ed Fargo, and enemies with the popular and perfect Heather Gannis. In the afternoons Gaia frequents the chess tables, and where she meets Sam Moon, an NYU student that she feels a magnetic pull to. And by night, Gaia waits in the shadows of Washington Park, ready to fight any Neo-Nazi she comes across. But as the novel progresses her separate spaces start to bleed over into each other. And as Gaia navigates her new life in New York, someone else is watching her, taking notes on everything she does.
I was obsessed with this series when I was younger, and I’m so glad that it really held up! This book was first published in 1999, so it’s true that there are some cliché tropes (“not like other girls” & “popular girl vs misfit” to name a few) but I was surprised by just how engaging and interesting this story still is. Fearless really sets the stage for an epic 30+ book series, and I can’t wait to re-explore the rest of them! If you’re looking for a fun YA-thriller with all the late-90’s and early 2000’s vibes, I highly recommend checking this out!
You could say Gaia has a bit of an anger problem. She’s quick to a spiteful remark, and she doesn’t make friends easily. But she finds solace in Washington Square Park. There, at the chess tables, she finds other misfits like herself, and a place where she can find a modicum of peace— away from the judgmental high school cliques and, and away from the trauma of her past. But when that peace is threatened by a growing Neo-Nazi gang using the park as their hunting grounds, Gaia decides to play vigilante.
During the day Gaia goes to high school, and finds herself unexpectedly friends with Ed Fargo, and enemies with the popular and perfect Heather Gannis. In the afternoons Gaia frequents the chess tables, and where she meets Sam Moon, an NYU student that she feels a magnetic pull to. And by night, Gaia waits in the shadows of Washington Park, ready to fight any Neo-Nazi she comes across. But as the novel progresses her separate spaces start to bleed over into each other. And as Gaia navigates her new life in New York, someone else is watching her, taking notes on everything she does.
I was obsessed with this series when I was younger, and I’m so glad that it really held up! This book was first published in 1999, so it’s true that there are some cliché tropes (“not like other girls” & “popular girl vs misfit” to name a few) but I was surprised by just how engaging and interesting this story still is. Fearless really sets the stage for an epic 30+ book series, and I can’t wait to re-explore the rest of them! If you’re looking for a fun YA-thriller with all the late-90’s and early 2000’s vibes, I highly recommend checking this out!
kelseyinreallife's review
4.0
This book was a strong start to a great series. I am saddened that this was never successfully made into a comprehensive tv series or movie.
garnetofeden's review
2.0
Someone deleted my alternate cover edition and, along with it, my review and rating. >:/ This is my attempt at reconstructing my review from my notes, but I don't remember how many stars I really gave it at the time.
In junior high, I was never able to read the first book in this series because the library didn't have it. The books I did read were out of order, but I thought that Gaia seemed like such a cool character, and I thought the concept for the overarching plotline sounded pretty cool too. With these memories in mind, I decided to check out the first book in the series.
It became apparent to me pretty quickly that I was past the age where I could appreciate this book without over-analyzing it. There were inconsistencies in the language and descriptions throughout the book. For example, the following quote:. Or this lingering question: ?
Aspects of Gaia’s personality rubbed me the wrong way. The things that made her seem cool when I was younger weren’t cool anymore. It’s hard to like someone who has an enormous chip on their shoulder. Also, with more experience, I believe that Gaia qualifies as a Mary Sue: beautiful despite not trying, super smart/genius, excellent at karate and marksmanship. Just the fear gene wouldn’t be responsible for all of that…
Speaking of, math genius error?
Another thing that bugged me was the big deal made out of her being a virgin. Besides not being that big of an issue (being a virgin at 17 is not THAT uncommon), it is NOT a good role model for the target audience of young adolescent girls who might idealize or admire. I don’t mind kissing, but WHY must we jump right from “Gosh I want to get kissed” to “I have to have sex”?
Also, there was
As for the science behind Gaia:
Some possible context errors that I didn’t have a chance to totally verify and double-check:
Despite all that, some sections of the book didn’t seem as terrible as others, like they recaptured the essence of what caused me to like the series when I was younger.
Rating reviewed 1/20/2023.
In junior high, I was never able to read the first book in this series because the library didn't have it. The books I did read were out of order, but I thought that Gaia seemed like such a cool character, and I thought the concept for the overarching plotline sounded pretty cool too. With these memories in mind, I decided to check out the first book in the series.
It became apparent to me pretty quickly that I was past the age where I could appreciate this book without over-analyzing it. There were inconsistencies in the language and descriptions throughout the book. For example, the following quote:
Spoiler
“Although her capacity for nervousness was nil, her capacity for insecurity was all there." (pg. 78) Are nervousness and insecurity really all that different? Insecurity also is rooted in fear, so if she's lacking nervousness it would make more logical sense for her to lack insecurity as wellSpoiler
Why is her hair slightly fried if she doesn’t do anything with itAspects of Gaia’s personality rubbed me the wrong way. The things that made her seem cool when I was younger weren’t cool anymore. It’s hard to like someone who has an enormous chip on their shoulder. Also, with more experience, I believe that Gaia qualifies as a Mary Sue: beautiful despite not trying, super smart/genius, excellent at karate and marksmanship. Just the fear gene wouldn’t be responsible for all of that…
Speaking of, math genius error?
Spoiler
I was really confused on pg. 17 – the quadratic formula as written in the book (at least in the edition I read) was correct. What did Gaia change that made it incorrect? It says she changed the final plus to a minus sign but within the square root it IS a minus sign, not a plus. Regardless, for someone who is a math genius, it’s interesting that she doesn’t consider tangent as it applies to calculus – only trig.Another thing that bugged me was the big deal made out of her being a virgin. Besides not being that big of an issue (being a virgin at 17 is not THAT uncommon), it is NOT a good role model for the target audience of young adolescent girls who might idealize or admire. I don’t mind kissing, but WHY must we jump right from “Gosh I want to get kissed” to “I have to have sex”?
Also, there was
Spoiler
lots of weird out of character apologizing at the end before she went back to normal bitchy self. WTH? I don’t know why Gaia had such an issue with telling the truth about what happened to her and Heather, why she didn’t warn Heather.As for the science behind Gaia:
Spoiler
Gaia describes herself as "hormonally challenged" (5). This is probably a more accurate way of describing her condition than "born without the fear gene" (although, to give Gaia credit, she does say "gene or whatever it is that makes you scared"). By "hormonally challenged" it seems they are referring to the extreme boost of adrenaline she receives in certain situations. Adrenaline can make people faster and stronger than they normally would be, so if you lacked that response would that be how nature compensated? “Without fear, there’s nothing to stop you from using every bit of power you have” (pg. 6-7). At one point, they basically describe her condition as berserk. “Her rage exploded, less controlled, more intense than ever before. (…) Her adrenaline carried her, so she didn’t have to think or count or predict” (pg. 171). She even experiences the same extreme weakness side effect that occurs once your boost of adrenaline is gone.Some possible context errors that I didn’t have a chance to totally verify and double-check:
Spoiler
How does Gaia know Ed is an ex-skate rat? She barely knows the guy… she knows nothing about his life before his accident. Also, Heather calls Gaia insulting names at the party, but as far as I can tell never learns Gaia’s actual name, yet she calls Gaia by her actual name at the park. WTF? Maybe she learned it at the party, but still…Despite all that, some sections of the book didn’t seem as terrible as others, like they recaptured the essence of what caused me to like the series when I was younger.
Rating reviewed 1/20/2023.
nikksbookshelf's review
2.0
This book's premise is interesting, but a lot of the plot is secondary to the relationship between Gaia and Sam. I'm not sure why I should be rooting for them, as well, and it's hard to want them to be together when they have spent very little time together. I am interested to see where the plot with her dad goes, though, and liked to see Gaia in moments of action. I wish there were more of those, and more moments where her lack of fear caused her to make poor decisions/pushed forward the plot.
michellefleming33's review
3.0
I first read this in high school, when I was 16 yaers old. I remember thinking that Gaia was totally kick ass and very awe-inspiring.
When I re-read this now, I don't really remember why I thought she was so great. She's actually kind of vapid and there's not much to her. I'm supposing that as the series goes on more character development will ensue, but right off the bat the only thing she has going for her is the no fear gene.
Will keep reading to see where she ends up.
When I re-read this now, I don't really remember why I thought she was so great. She's actually kind of vapid and there's not much to her. I'm supposing that as the series goes on more character development will ensue, but right off the bat the only thing she has going for her is the no fear gene.
Will keep reading to see where she ends up.