Gearbreakers

DNFThis book...was not ready to be published. It still reeks of a young, inexperienced author trying to figure out how to tell a story, create a world and inspire with evocative prose, all of which Mikuta tries so hard at you can feel how hard she's trying.The world is incredibly flimsy, the different sides only vaguely established. Militaries that don't really behave like military, rebel factions that don't really seem like rebel factions. It all just seems like high school. Gearbreakers reminded me a lot of [b:Honey Girl 49362138 Honey Girl Morgan Rogers https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1591632931l/49362138.SY75.jpg 74797148], in the way it uses a lot of lyrical and flowery prose - or an attempt at it, anyway - and tries really really hard to make the characters sound like they have a youthful camaraderie, but mostly sounds forced. It sounds like a college student trying to replicate the spontaneity of their friend group on paper, but in this case its even more out of place because these are supposed to be trained killers. And honestly, the prose was better in Honey Girl.Here's the thing - it's not enough to make a sentence sound pretty. It has to serve your story, and you have to use words and structure that speaks to what is happening within the story. Mikuta uses a lot of passive voice because it sounds elegant and different, but it undercuts the action at every turn.The moment the Pilot recoils, her palm presses flat beneath his chin, and his enraged shout winds down to a single note before disappearing altogether. Even from here, I can see the point where his eye flickers out, and an almost sweet tone takes the girl's growl as she reaches the same conclusion. But before she can shove him away and leap to her feet, the butt of a guard's rifle falls against her temple, sending the dark eyes spinning back as she crumples.That is way too many words for an action sequence. I honestly could barely figure out what was going on most of the time, it gave me a headache trying to parse things out. I'd say this was a good start for someone working on their first manuscript, but not a published work. Mikuta has some interesting ideas, but not the skill those ideas called for.

DNF'd it like 50 pages in.
I wanted to like this. The premise is hella cool and I love me a good mecha.
But oh lord, the writing. I struggle with first person perspective at the best of times, but the characters put me off on multiple occasions, I just couldn't do it. I don't wanna be in these kids' heads if they just post cringe all the time.
Again, I wanted to like this. A shame, really.