Qualify

Written by Vera Nazarian

Narrated by Sofia Willingham

You have two options. You die, or you Qualify.

Sixteen-year-old Gwenevere Lark is determined not only to Qualify but to rescue her entire family.

If you are good enough to Qualify, you are eligible to compete in the brutal games of the Atlantis Grail, which grants all winners the laurels, high tech luxuries, and full privileges of Atlantis Citizenship. And if you are in the Top Ten, then all your wildest wishes are granted . . . Such as curing your mother's cancer.

There is only one problem. Gwen Lark is known as a klutz and a nerd. While she's a hotshot in classics, history, science, and languages, the closest she's come to sports is a backyard pool and a skateboard.

This time she is in over her head, and in for a fight of her life, against impossible odds and world-class competition-including Logan Sangre, the most amazing guy in her school, the one she's been crushing on, and who doesn't seem to know she exists.

Because every other teen on Earth has the same idea.

You Qualify or you die.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Tantor Media, Inc
• Release date: Nov 5, 2019
• ISBN: 9781515943273

Vera Nazarian

VERA NAZARIAN is a two-time Nebula Award Finalist, 2018 Dragon Award Finalist, award-winning artist, a member of Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America, and a writer with a penchant for moral fables and stories of intense wonder, true love, and intricacy.She immigrated to the USA from the former USSR as a kid, sold her first story at the age of 17, and since then has published numerous works in anthologies and magazines, and has seen her fiction translated into eight languages.She is the author of critically acclaimed novels DREAMS OF THE COMPASS ROSE and LORDS OF RAINBOW, the outrageous parodies MANSFIELD PARK AND MUMMIES and NORTHANGER ABBEY AND ANGELS AND DRAGONS, and most recently, PRIDE AND PLATYPUS: MR. DARCY'S DREADFUL SECRET in her humorous and surprisingly romantic Supernatural Jane Austen Series, as well as the Renaissance epic fantasy COBWEB BRIDE Trilogy.Her bestselling and award-winning series THE ATLANTIS GRAIL is now a cross-genre phenomenon -- a high-octane YA / teen dystopian apocalyptic science fiction adventure, romance, and historical mystery thriller -- has been optioned for film, and is in development as a major motion picture franchise or TV series.After many years in Los Angeles, Vera lives in a small town in Vermont, and uses her Armenian sense of humor and her Russian sense of suffering to bake conflicted pirozhki and make art.Her official author website is http://www.veranazarian.comTo be notified when new books come out, subscribe to the Mailing List:http://eepurl.com/hKaeo

Reviews for Qualify

[Karli · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

An amazing introduction into a whole new world! You will be hooked on this series! Vera Nazarian is a gifted story teller and so incredibly creative. You will be glad you read/listened to this book for sure!

[CHRISTINA A NUNEZ · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

The story is good and I was immediately invested by chapter one. My only/biggest hang up is the narrator. She sounds like Siri reading the book- with barely any inflection for any of the characters except the black friend and British character.

[scrib7gums · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I haven't completed the book as yet, but 40% of the way through and I've purchased the second in the series. Yes, it's a bit wordy but not so much that I want to give up on it. I like sci fi style novels and this is pushing the right buttons. Perfect for the frequent flying I do for work.

[al9g · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I have read several of her books and I believe that Nazarian builds consistently relatable and compelling characters for her stories. Her books are always very readable and this one is no exception. One of the traits that her main characters seem to always exhibit is an inner drive, often unrealized, that allows them to rise above what they think is their potential. Again, this book is no exception. The main character here, Gwen, is self-deprecating bookworm who is physically unsuited to the challenges that are presented to her. But there is determination and a drive that even she didn't suspect she had that moves her past obstacles and over hurdles. I enjoyed this book, though I confess at times it was a bit predictable, nevertheless the plot is well done with a couple of twists, and as always with her writing when you turn the last page, you keep looking for more, hoping there is more - there's not, you have to get the next book. Which I certainly will.

[mtbearded1_1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Easily one of the most compelling works of Science Fiction I have read in many years, I would put Nazarian right up with Heinlein, Campbell, or Niven. With the protagonist a sixteen-year-old young woman (Gwen Lark) from Vermont, the story line takes the reader through a series of tests designed to qualify the teenager to leave Earth on board a space ship operated by the descendents of the ancient denizens of Atlantis, a departure that will save her life when an asteroid destroys Earth in a few months hence. There are actually three tests Gwen and her peers face, beginning with the Qualification Test Gwen, her three siblings, and all other teenagers across the country (and implied around the world) face at the very beginning of the book. It is understood that anyone not passing the test will return home to face anihilation with their parents and (non-qualifying) siblings, hence the saying "Qualify or Die," which is repeated throughout the story. Those students who pass the first test are immediately taken to a Regional Qualification Center (in Gwen's case in Pennsylvania) where they will train for a month before taking their "Semi-Final" exam. The Semi-Final winnows the thousands of students from each regional center (over 6,000 in Pennsylvania) down to 200. Those who survive the Semi-Final are taken to a National Qualification Center (believed to be in eastern Colorado) where they will train for an additional month with all their fellow countrymen before facing the Final exam. The book's six hundred pages take the reader through all three exams as well as the training sessions leading up to the exams. Most students, including Gwen, are well aware that the chances are rigged against them. All know that if they do not pass the Final Exam, they will die anyway when the asteroid destroys the Earth. Make no mistake, this is a long book, but it is never dull, never slow, and the cast of characters is fully fleshed out, whether they be nerds, geeks, or even the bullies that seem to inhabit all levels of teen-age (and even adult) life. Throw in an alien, yet related, race with an almost unbelievably advance level of technology, and the story line fascinates on so many different levels. My highest recommendation!

[karen813 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

What a great book! This story is set in the year 2047, when the earth is being threatened by an asteroid. There seems to be no way to avoid total destruction but for a lucky few there might be a chance for escape. The citizens of the ancient city of Atlantis who fled the earth years ago for an alien planet, have returned to save as many people as they can. In order to be saved you must be a teenager and you must first Qualify for rescue. The Atlanteans don't have room for everyone so they have set up a Qualification process and will only be taking the winners. The story centers around Gwen Lark and her two brothers and sister from Vermont as they make the attempt to Qualify so they can survive. The story goes on to follow the Larks and their friends through the many levels of competition. It is a long and complicated journey but I found myself wanting more when the book ended and I am looking forward to the next book in the series. The real strength of this book is in the world building and character development. I really felt like I knew the world the Larks were living in and I am really looking forward to the trip to Atlantis. The only thing I missed was a little more development of the other main characters. The story really centers on Gwen but I would have loved to see what her siblings were doing in their own competitions occasionally. All in all a great, exciting book!I received a free, e-copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

[velmeran · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This was a well-written, fast-paced young adult read. The author has a good grasp of moving the action forward while providing necessary information. She also makes no apologies for moving the story along and allowing time to pass. I really enjoyed the characters. They feel like friends and I am excited to find out what happens in book 2!

[loopyem · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Fans of dystopian type novels will love this book. I know I did. I thought the book started well, developed characters well, and threw in a few twists and turns in the right places. The 'challenges' young people have to face are along the lines of 'hunger games' and 'the testing'. The book was engaging, well written and the plot had a good pace. My only dislike was towards the end, I felt the detail was lacking, and perhaps the final challenge a little 'boring', but perhaps this stopped it from being too 'samey'. I would definitely recommend this book to others, and I really look forward to the sequel!

[sirenremi · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This book takes place in the year 2047 and an "extinction-leveled" asteroid is hurtling towards Earth. The descendants of Atlantis (Yes. Ancient Atlantis) are here to offer humanity some help. However, there is a dramatic catch to this and the Atlanteans can only bring such a small percent of Earth's population back with them. Of course, only the fittest teens who must Qualify can go!I won this in a giveaway here and I have to say it was an amazing story! I've read a lot of dystopian novels but this one is the best I've read and it beats out Divergent and the Hunger Games. This book is vivid in detail and truly, the plot is outstanding and gripping! The story is told by the our determined protagonist, Gwenevere Lark who is pretty much a klutz and a geek. Which is amazing because we learn through Gwen through most of the story and none of it will ever leave you hanging. It is easy to comprehend, but oh so interesting!If you are tired of dystopian books, I understand since there are so many out there. But I would really recommend reading this one before you take that break! Qualify by Vera Nazarian is definitely worth the read! You will not be disappointed.I'm honestly curious what the next book has to offer.

[joannemonck · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This book will give all the other books of this genre including the Hunger Games a run for their money. From beginning to end the writer keeps you engrossed and guessing about what is to come. Ms. Nazarian tells the story from the mouth of a teenager who is caught in an impossible situation. Bringing Atlantis (which has always been a mystery) to the forefront as the savior of man is an intriguing way of merging the past with the future. The way she shows her main character evolving from a nerdy teenager with a crush on a schoolmate to a leader with the resolve to save her entire family is well done. I can't wait for the next book to see where she goes from here.

[lnrcta · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This was an interesting story, well plotted and well told. Like a friend telling you what she did yesterday.But what a yesterday it was! Reach in emotions and challenges, the story that Gwen tells bring us in a world of high sound technology, space shuttles, unreadable and powerfull Atlantean which seem to be so alien but oh! so human in small ways.I was delighted about the "no dating rule" since usually I tend to skip the love part in books, but in this one even the love part is told in a light, subtle way that doesn't interfere with the rest but make the story more interesting. The characters feel real, you suffer and doubt and rejoice with them. The alien technology is plausible and there's interesting science notions cleverly used from the protagonist to qualify.Just a couple of things nagging at me:the qualification challenge seems too easy, I was expecting a harder fight. Seems as the book had only so much space and there wasn't enough for a more articulate end. Or maybe it's me that just wanted more.Then a question: why did the Atlanteans decided to help humans? They don't seem to be such an altruist population. The answer may lay in the second book, which I hope is coming very very soon.All in all a very good and enjoyable reading, looking forward for more.

[amberlouichu · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

WOW what a gripper! Qualify is a dystopian, sci-fi and YA novel set in 2047 after the human race is all facing a fatalistic oncoming asteroid that will wipe out the Earth. The descendants of the historic and sunken Atlantis are the only hope as they offer to save humanity by taking them back to their new home on a different planet; the new Atlantis. What’s the catch? Only those between the ages of 12-19 can apply to be saved and they will ONLY be saved if they qualify.We follow the protagonist Gwenevere Lark through the trials and tribulations of the qualification challenges and through challenges of a more personal nature. Along with the remaining “Four Gees” (her siblings) she must learn all there is to know about Atlantis, how to fight, survive and the limits to which the body can reach before breaking. You either qualify, or you die.This book… wow, this book! Even thought there are a LOT of dystopian YA novels out there at the moment, this is DEFINITELY worth the read. It’s kind of a combination between Hunger Games and Harry Potter… somehow. You are immersed into this world of space shuttles, sound controlled technology and hover boards and just FEEL like you’re experiencing everything along with the characters. It is incredibly well written with a pace that keeps you on the edge of your seat throughout and grips you in all the best ways.Each and every character within this book is interesting as they all struggle through their own personal developments and battles. The Atlanteans add a touch of mystery and power, which somehow intimidates us through the words in the book in the same way as their interactions with the other characters.We actually gain knowledge through the book too thanks to our very intelligent protagonist and can really believe in the sci-fi elements in the book, which is something I personally struggle with usually. I can’t wait to learn more about Atlantis in the next book and see how certain relationships develop!For a 600 page book it was easy to read and digest and I was left wanting more at the end. Some of the best topics covered in this novel are: life and death situations, tests of ability and competence, overcoming bullying, combat and the fighting style Er-Du, sabotage and terrorist groups and a love that you don’t know if you can trust.I had only a few niggles: (****SPOILERS****… kind of)How quickly candidates were prepared to kill after a strict “No Violence” rule, how bullying within the dorms went unnoticed and how easy it actually seems to qualify (since most around the main character never seem to get hurt or struggle even when ranked lowly). Overall a highly gripping, fast-paced book with lots to think about whilst eagerly waiting for the next instalment ☺

[stacypilot · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Superb! This well plotted novel will keep a Hunger Games lover riveted. I could vividly picture the settings and action as if I were seeing it on a big screen. Here's to hoping this gets made into a movie! I definitely want to read the future books in the series. I received my copy of the novel through LibraryThing in return for an honest review.

[deshanya · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This book is similar in many ways to The Testing, by Joelle Charbonneau. Both heroines face multiple tests of their abilities, including life or death races. The Testing is heavier on tests while Qualify is heavier on challenges. Both books involve an untrustworthy love interest and sabotage from the inside.What makes this book unique is that the heroine's siblings are all struggling to qualify for a slot on the ships to Atlantis at the same time. And that they're all being trained as part of the qualifying process.What I found strange was how the rules specifically forbid fighting between the candidates, while a great deal of bullying went on, oftentimes right under the noses of the instructors. I was expecting there to be a revelation that Atlantis believes in survival of the fittest, and giving in to bullies makes you weak, but no, both the bullies and their victims stay.I'm very much looking forward to the next book, which seems to also revolve around a competition; a topic I'm always interested in.I received an electronic copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.