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A review by readwithev
Gravity by Melissa West
Did not finish book. Stopped at 51%.
Straight up not worth reading. The concept sounded interesting, but it was a half-baked idea with one-dimensional characters and lazy editing. (detailed explanation below with spoilers)
- The author tells instead of shows emotion, for example page 39 "...the mixture of emotions moving through me. Doubt. Confusion. Excitement." page 42. "In my head I'm having a mini panic attack." "Fear clutches me..." Doesn't use the 5 senses to describe emotion instead.
- The plot also feels chaotic and not in a good "keep you guessing" way. The characters forget what happened a few pages earlier, details of the alien world and the human's world war history don't line up, and personal issues between the characters are resolved too easily that everything feels low stakes. I lose interest in them immediately. Ex: Law and Ari are engaged since childhood, but the author breezes past that after a few pages after Ari falls for Jackson.
- The characters all lack flaws that would make them interested. Ari is a good fighter and top of her class, Jackson's alien abilities make him a good fighter, and Law is the president's son without any financial hardships. None of them have any internal or external motivations to change themselves.
- Also, Ari immediately forgives Jackson for keeping it a secret that Law is his half-brother. She doesn't even get mad. Suddenly, as a reader, I don't care about Law or Jackson's complicated family history. It was just brought up for no reason.
- Moreover, Ari completely trusts Jackson and willingly sneaks into Parliament's lab building to steal a video file for him. She also steals the key from her dad. At this point, it's only chapter 6!! Jackson hasn't given her any reason to betray her family's trust, risk the human race's survival, or proven that he's not a danger to her or anyone else. Trust is built on mutually sacrificing or sharing something that's risky. However, at this point in the story, Ari is the only one in their relationship taking risks (i.e. helping the aliens and not humans, sharing gov't secrets). Jackson is already a spy, so his risks are inherent, and I don't count them.
- In addition, Jackon's mission as a spy is unclear. He keeps saying their leader Zeus is unreliable yet still follows commands and still wants to deliver the human's war strategies to Zeus. He seems like a very one-dimensional character. Why doesn't he question his leader? Why doesn't he try to build his own rebellion?
- the fight scene with Ari in the maze in chapter 12 felt rushed and lacked suspense. She didn't even get hurt. Jackson helped her escape the alien attack too so that lowered the stakes again.
- The dream Ari has in Chap 11 where Zeus calls her queen and bows felt cliche. If the aliens have so many cool mysterious abilities (regrowing Earth after nuclear war, synthesizing antibodies, sharing memories via telepathy) why choose a dream? Dream sequences are overdone. It would have been more interesting if Zeus communicated to Ari through voices, hallucinations, or premonitions. This would have been a great opportunity to expand Ari's character. Perhaps the dream is a telepathic ability Zeus is using on Ari, but it's still a dream and still lacks originality.
- The plot also feels chaotic and not in a good "keep you guessing" way. The characters forget what happened a few pages earlier, details of the alien world and the human's world war history don't line up, and personal issues between the characters are resolved too easily that everything feels low stakes. I lose interest in them immediately. Ex: Law and Ari are engaged since childhood, but the author breezes past that after a few pages after Ari falls for Jackson.
- The characters all lack flaws that would make them interested. Ari is a good fighter and top of her class, Jackson's alien abilities make him a good fighter, and Law is the president's son without any financial hardships. None of them have any internal or external motivations to change themselves.
- Also, Ari immediately forgives Jackson for keeping it a secret that Law is his half-brother. She doesn't even get mad. Suddenly, as a reader, I don't care about Law or Jackson's complicated family history. It was just brought up for no reason.
- Moreover, Ari completely trusts Jackson and willingly sneaks into Parliament's lab building to steal a video file for him. She also steals the key from her dad. At this point, it's only chapter 6!! Jackson hasn't given her any reason to betray her family's trust, risk the human race's survival, or proven that he's not a danger to her or anyone else. Trust is built on mutually sacrificing or sharing something that's risky. However, at this point in the story, Ari is the only one in their relationship taking risks (i.e. helping the aliens and not humans, sharing gov't secrets). Jackson is already a spy, so his risks are inherent, and I don't count them.
- In addition, Jackon's mission as a spy is unclear. He keeps saying their leader Zeus is unreliable yet still follows commands and still wants to deliver the human's war strategies to Zeus. He seems like a very one-dimensional character. Why doesn't he question his leader? Why doesn't he try to build his own rebellion?
- the fight scene with Ari in the maze in chapter 12 felt rushed and lacked suspense. She didn't even get hurt. Jackson helped her escape the alien attack too so that lowered the stakes again.
- The dream Ari has in Chap 11 where Zeus calls her queen and bows felt cliche. If the aliens have so many cool mysterious abilities (regrowing Earth after nuclear war, synthesizing antibodies, sharing memories via telepathy) why choose a dream? Dream sequences are overdone. It would have been more interesting if Zeus communicated to Ari through voices, hallucinations, or premonitions. This would have been a great opportunity to expand Ari's character. Perhaps the dream is a telepathic ability Zeus is using on Ari, but it's still a dream and still lacks originality.