Review Guide

✩Against All Odds✩

✮Judge: jpsuchecki
✮Book: Against All Odds by @aniviawrites

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✮Written Review:

Against All Odds focus on the typical high school bully verses kid that doesn't know how to back down. Set in a wealthy private school, the main character goes there on a scholarship where everything and everyone seems to cater to the needs of a group known as the V4. After an unfortunate event (which seems contrived), the main instigator the group sets his sights on the main character (Basic plot up to chapter ten).

The story largely suffers from a believable plot. The main instigator's family owns the school and seems to get away with anything up to (and quite possibly) murder. Somehow, despite the fact the V4 are incredible and terrible bullies, everyone seems to be on their side. There is an attempt to explain this away towards chapter 10, but it really just pushes at the suspension of disbelief. Largely because it ignores human nature.

There is a line used in the book that everyone has a price, and while that is generally true, no amount of money is going change the way people feel about you. In fact, there are even people who will not like you just for the fact your popular. We don't see anything to the effect here. 

The story further suffers from some consistency of the third person omniscient point of view. I will admit, I'm not a fan of this style so its hard to ignore my own bias against it (the author even goes on to state this is the writing style in the beginning so the reader is warned). However, there were a number of times where the reader was told what people where thinking and others where we were told what the main character was perceiving. While the former dominated the later, its existence made no sense to even use the later. I understand sometimes the author doesn't want to put everything out there for a big reveal later, but it doesn't really seem to work in this point of view style. 

Despite its flaws, the story itself is well written. I saw nothing that would indicate grammar of syntax issues, at least not any glaring ones. It moves at generally well accepted pace without anything happening too fast or too slow. Despite what seems to be a contrived plot, its relatively easy to follow and understand what is happening whether it be dialogue, background, or interpersonal relationships.

I would have described the book as original, but cliché, but a stray comment caught my eye. The author admits it's a retelling of another book, and while I am not familiar with the book mentioned, by her own admission, I did dock it a few points in that category. Where I think the book really shines is its characters. The reader is instantly drawn to the heroine of the story: Alaina. Perhaps its because we've all suffered in someway to a bully or maybe even been a bully itself, we want Alaina to win. The plot might be unbelievable, but the character isn't.

Likewise, as much as we hate the villain Damon, it's hard not to appreciate how good of a villain he is. Good writing should make me hate and like people. I especially appreciate the fact that Damon can't keep his idioms straight. Reminds me of Biff from Back to the Future. For me the story doesn't illicit any strong emotions other than how it goes out of its way to be cringy. However, I suspect for anyone who's ever been in Alania's stolen shoes, they will feel her frustration. They will cry, as she cries. They will be angry at how unfair the world is. And they will know the distain for someone who has gone out of their way to make their life miserable. This book is for them. To them, I say 'enjoy.'

-Jpsuchecki