The AFA is exploitative and manipulative, bent on making money and raising its ratings at the expense of the health and well-being of the athletes that it supposedly “serves.” The AFA corrupts and harms just about every other character in the book from Sicily to her coach, Sterling, and her best friend, Phin (better known as “Striker”). The system, embodied by the AFA (Amateur Fighting Association), is the true main villain/antagonist of this tale, and it almost rivals the Capital from Hunger Games in its despicableness. She's vulnerable, especially emotionally, and you really feel like-despite her might-she is up against something far bigger than her opponents: THE SYSTEM. This causes her shoulder injury not to heal at a normal rate. It's almost to a fault as she doesn't sleep well. She is a dreamer, a goal-setter, and a go-getter. She is often called “Dream Girl” both because some of the characters are attracted to her and also because of her ambition. She is essentially Ronda Rousey, a female fighter so skilled that she can roll with and defeat the boys. That's right, this book features a fighting season. This starts with a rather exceptional lead protagonist in Sicily “Sis” Jones, a female fighter who uses her speed, elusiveness, intellect, and otherworldly work ethic to lead an undefeated fighting season. Something else that really shines about the book is that all of the characters are distinct and memorable.

With that said, you can't expect something to always be good, that would be demanding perfection, and nothing's perfect.

This book drags into what feels like a Return of the King extended epilogue and is probably about 50-80 pages longer than it needs to be. Similar to Sheirer's work, the book sadly does not keep up that level of interest and intrigue into the second half, but it's great while it lasts. Where do we start with this great book? For one, it has one of the most exciting first-halves of any fiction book we read this year, arguably the best first-half to a novel since Stumbling Through Adulthood by John Sheirer. Lever features some of the best characters and best action of any novel this season! It also features a very clever critique of our competitive and aggression-rewarding society akin to something like The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins, and you've gotta know that's a huge compliment.

Surviving The Second Tier by M.K. Lever