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astalnar's review
2.0
The novel starts really strong. Right at the start we're thrown in the middle of the action of a gigantic fight involving Achilles, Pendragon, Banshee, and their nemesis Thanatos. From there on, comes 20 year timeskip, and what we're left with is at times endearing protagonist Victoria who is looking out for teenage Primes who don't really know how to use or want to use thier superpowers.
Still, no matter how interesting the story might have been, I can't forgive it the idiocy of the main cast of characters including Victoria and Achilles. From reading the blurb, I was expecting an exciting tale of superheroes defending their city from supervillains. What I got was superheroes who lie, supervillains who tell the truth.
The conclusion to the novel is also pointless,
The entire book feels like a prequel that should've never been published in the first place. Or at least be written with different stakes in mind, because some things Pendragon did are just unforgivable, and if it takes to other heroes to hide and lie for him to avoid justice, then the villain trying to expose him is in the right.
I don't know if this was the intent of the authoress, but the implications, as far as my understanding of superheroes genre goes are damning. What are we left with, when the villains are villains for exposing the truth, while the heroes are the ones covering up straight up crimes?
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Still, no matter how interesting the story might have been, I can't forgive it the idiocy of the main cast of characters including Victoria and Achilles. From reading the blurb, I was expecting an exciting tale of superheroes defending their city from supervillains. What I got was superheroes who lie, supervillains who tell the truth.
The conclusion to the novel is also pointless,
Spoiler
as the sacrifice Victoria and Achilles make in order to save the reputation of Pendragon, and with that the public image of superheroes is void.The entire book feels like a prequel that should've never been published in the first place. Or at least be written with different stakes in mind, because some things Pendragon did are just unforgivable, and if it takes to other heroes to hide and lie for him to avoid justice, then the villain trying to expose him is in the right.
I don't know if this was the intent of the authoress, but the implications, as far as my understanding of superheroes genre goes are damning. What are we left with, when the villains are villains for exposing the truth, while the heroes are the ones covering up straight up crimes?
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
hteph's review
3.0
Good, buuuut ...
... there are just too many plot holes for me to really give it a four star.
The worldbuilding is interesting, the main cast reasonable well written, if a bit cookie-cut and vague at times.
The plot ... is twisty and interesting ... but in points it relies too much on people overlooking things and it feels forced at several scenes, like people acting out a script rather than the scene actually being lived through. While reading I got the feeling you get when playing a computer rpg and are presented with three options but you want to do something else and just go by the presented options to continue.
So in the end, promise and potential but in execution it misses the bullseye.
... there are just too many plot holes for me to really give it a four star.
The worldbuilding is interesting, the main cast reasonable well written, if a bit cookie-cut and vague at times.
The plot ... is twisty and interesting ... but in points it relies too much on people overlooking things and it feels forced at several scenes, like people acting out a script rather than the scene actually being lived through. While reading I got the feeling you get when playing a computer rpg and are presented with three options but you want to do something else and just go by the presented options to continue.
So in the end, promise and potential but in execution it misses the bullseye.
fiannawolf's review
adventurous
emotional
inspiring
medium-paced
5.0
What this doesn't have:
LIT RPG and Harem/Reverse Harem, thank goodness.
What it is:
Superhero Prose novel/universe as rich as C.J. Carella's New Olympus Saga. I have been like Indiana Jones looking for a grail in the desert. I have found it. Can't wait to dive even deeper into this setting. If you need that kind of fix, buy the whole dang universe.
LIT RPG and Harem/Reverse Harem, thank goodness.
What it is:
Superhero Prose novel/universe as rich as C.J. Carella's New Olympus Saga. I have been like Indiana Jones looking for a grail in the desert. I have found it. Can't wait to dive even deeper into this setting. If you need that kind of fix, buy the whole dang universe.
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