Underestimate Me

Title: Underestimate Me

Underestimate Me starts off with a scene similar to that of The Hunger Games, but sets itself apart from that very quickly. The sharpened senses of the initially unnamed main character, described in incredible detail, prove that there is already a war being fought. The sense of anxiety that is created almost immediately will have you sitting up straighter; unconsciously checking around yourself for the same dangers that the character fears.

Rowen, however, is a different story. He knows, or thinks that he knows, exactly what he's walking into with his gaggle of "armored buffoons". He is not so afraid, but rather appears bored and bothered by his mission.

Conflict is introduced physically almost immediately in the third chapter, when for the wrongs that have been dealt Josselyn and her "sisters", they attack Rowen and his men. The conflict is depicted with once again incredible detail, and is very easy to picture. This is one thing that both Lady Nikki Nightmare and Alex Moore. do masterfully.

The main characters, Josselyn and Rowen, do not really interact until for an unknown reason, Josselyn directs an order to spare Rowen's life, claiming that he could be useful to the sisters. This is the first human interaction noted in the story, and is written incredibly well for the details that are included about each character.

A running theme through Underestimate Me is the respect that the female characters and male characters have for their respective gods, Maa and Balor. This presence of faith amidst such struggle is not a new concept, but is presented in a new light in this amazing original fiction.

There is a serious focus in this story on the pasts of both Josselyn and Rowen, both the past in which they interacted together as friends, and a separate, darker past for the both of them. Elrik, Rowen's father, seems to be at the center of it all. He is introduced solely as a dark man; a truly evil character whose intentions are unknown, but surely not good for either of the main characters.

This story is a journey; both in its actual content, and in the growth of the writers as it progresses. Conversations become more and more important as the journey continues, and techniques such as foreshadowing come into play strongly in the late teens. As the writers grow, so do the characters, becoming even more well-rounded than they began.

The treatment of women is also a focal point in Underestimate Me. Their sins are counted, and not forgiven, which is the driving force behind Josselyn and her sisters. While this persecution is not necessarily as physical as described in the story, depending on the culture being observed, the persecution of women for their lifestyles is universal, and Underestimate Me does an incredible job of taking these modern concerns and adapting them to the nature of the story.

No matter what kind of story you are looking for, Underestimate Me will fill your needs. There is plenty of action, there are real-world issues, and there are true, human connections that everyone can relate to, whether they've experienced the things that these characters have or not. I wholeheartedly recommend this story to anyone looking to try something new. The styles of Lady Nikki Nightmare and Alex Moore. are so incredibly compatible that the story reads just as two different perspectives, but not at all disjointed.

Underestimate Me is a worthwhile read. Be sure to check it out!