Å·±¦ÓéÀÖ

this book is Sheer Entertainment

RIVALRY REVIEW
INDIVIDUAL CHARACTERIZATION: 4/5. Regan and Elliot are good characters with good character arcs. It doesn't hurt that almost all of their background, strengths, and personalities are very similar to another rivalry that I really enjoyed (which will be reviewed later because duh), just switched around a little.
INITIAL DYNAMIC: 4/5. Very irritated with each other, very good. There was never the head-to-head element (except for One scene) that usually characterizes rivalries in a school setting, but the resentment was there.
RIVALRY DEVELOPMENT: 5/5. They nailed this one. The progression felt natural, not too rushed, and at the end it was clear the events that caused their relationship to change.
GENERAL CHAOS LEVEL: 4/5. I won't lie, while these two had the bickering and the petty revenge (see bonus points section) down pat, there was that extra little bit missing, the bit that causes an event to go completely absolutely off the rails. Maybe they're too well trained.

Average: 4.25/5

BONUS POINTS:
CROSSING A LINE (+0.5) - For those rivals that go above and beyond, that prove they have absolutely, completely ZERO chill. (view spoiler)[Making sure to hit your rival with the contents of 2 chamber pots while putting out a fire (hide spoiler)] is so out of pocket. Have some bonus points for it.
TRAGIC: YOU MAKE A GREAT TEAM (+1) - There's only one thing that makes rivals hate each other more, and that's being told "you two work so well together!" Absolutely devastating for them, highly entertaining for me. You go, guys, and your perfectly matched strengths and weaknesses. Good luck!
SITUATIONAL DRAMA (+1) - I would be dumb, and also a liar, if I didn't give bonus points to a plot that tells 2 mfs who hate each other, straight to their faces, that they're gonna be forced to stick together like glue. these two had to train, study, eat (pretty much everything but use the bathroom and sleep) side-by-side. Priceless.

TOTAL RIVALRY SCORE: 6.75/5.
With a satisfactory beginning, middle, and end, Regan and Elliot's rivalry might be missing a few style points, but it's a solid, no-nonsense showing that absolutely deserves its mention in the book description.

***

Although the beginning is a bit info-dumpy and there's kind of a lot of setup, this is really fun. also the not-sequel bait sequel bait makes me laugh because i've already read this book and it still surprised me