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wasauthor's review
3.0
The BackUp Superhero tells the story of Tanser Girl, a superhero in a world populated with powerless heroes. Following the emergence of superheroes, to reassure the public they are more than simple vigilantes, they have fallen under the jurisdiction of the Superhero League Board. They are all ranked by their level of importance: Level A are the top-level heroes, who get all the credit for solving crimes, front the media, and are the shining examples of heroism. Level B heroes are the sidekicks. Level C heroes are the back-up sidekicks. And Level D heroes do the grunt work when nobody else is available.
Tanser Girl is a Level D superhero. When fellow Level D-er, Dwighter, appears on television, taking credit for his actions, it leads him to trouble, and Tanser Girl to a conspiracy she must stop. It's a fun hook that unfolds nicely throughout the book.
At 66 paperback pages, I wish this book had more space to flesh out the characters and world. As entertaining as the story is, this length doesn't give it room to breathe. More space would have added additional depth to the world and mystery, and would have helped the climax which wrapped up a little quickly and easily. Another casualty of the length is the cast of characters. While the characters are engaging, the length doesn't allow them to grow past their archetypes.
With this being the first part of the series, though, there is obviously more story to be told, which allows more space to deepen the world and its characters. The book leaves a lot to be resolved in subsequent entries, and the result means it feels like the first chapter in an ongoing story. This may frustrate some readers who like stories to feel complete without having to read further, but this serialised nature mirrors ongoing superhero comic books, where there's always more to come.
Throughout the book, the author writes in an engaging style, and uses her voice to invite the reader to enjoy the story. It's a lighthearted romp with plenty of winks and nudges. The story, action and drama are inoffensive; suitable for readers of most ages and sensibilities. This is a fun book that knows it's fun, and is determined to put a smile on the reader's face.
The BackUp Superhero is a light story that knows how to entertain. While I would have preferred it was expanded into a full-length novel that added more depth to the characters and world, it remains a fun story that serves as the first part of a continuing adventure.
My full review will be available on my website from Wednesday, 22 June, 2022. To read it (and my other reviews), click here.
Tanser Girl is a Level D superhero. When fellow Level D-er, Dwighter, appears on television, taking credit for his actions, it leads him to trouble, and Tanser Girl to a conspiracy she must stop. It's a fun hook that unfolds nicely throughout the book.
At 66 paperback pages, I wish this book had more space to flesh out the characters and world. As entertaining as the story is, this length doesn't give it room to breathe. More space would have added additional depth to the world and mystery, and would have helped the climax which wrapped up a little quickly and easily. Another casualty of the length is the cast of characters. While the characters are engaging, the length doesn't allow them to grow past their archetypes.
With this being the first part of the series, though, there is obviously more story to be told, which allows more space to deepen the world and its characters. The book leaves a lot to be resolved in subsequent entries, and the result means it feels like the first chapter in an ongoing story. This may frustrate some readers who like stories to feel complete without having to read further, but this serialised nature mirrors ongoing superhero comic books, where there's always more to come.
Throughout the book, the author writes in an engaging style, and uses her voice to invite the reader to enjoy the story. It's a lighthearted romp with plenty of winks and nudges. The story, action and drama are inoffensive; suitable for readers of most ages and sensibilities. This is a fun book that knows it's fun, and is determined to put a smile on the reader's face.
The BackUp Superhero is a light story that knows how to entertain. While I would have preferred it was expanded into a full-length novel that added more depth to the characters and world, it remains a fun story that serves as the first part of a continuing adventure.
My full review will be available on my website from Wednesday, 22 June, 2022. To read it (and my other reviews), click here.
justgeekingby's review
3.0
Originally posted on Just Geeking by.
The BackUp Superhero is a novella and therefore, it’s a quick and easy read. It was an enjoyable and an interesting take on the superhero genre which picks up on some of the inherent flaws of the genre, namely the huge issue of accountability and the destruction of property that superheroes often leave in their way. In Hicks’ superhero world, superheroes enjoy a celebrity status, with Level A superheroes at the top and Level D at the bottom. To become a superhero you must go through rigorous training and if you become injured at any point you have to start all over again. At the end of the training, if successful, heroes are placed into a Level and each Level “knows their place”.
Level D’s place is to stay out of the way, help out as much as they can, and never ever get in the spotlight. As the title of the book suggests, they are “the backup”. Like all systems it’s hugely broken and there’s a lot more happening beneath the surface which is what the book is about. The plot is interesting, and the protagonist, Tanser girl, is likeable, as is the barkeeper Frank. I couldn’t stand the other level D superhero, Dwighter, who was extremely irritating throughout.
I personally favour novels over novellas, and that certainly did affect how much I enjoyed The BackUp Superhero. While I enjoyed the story, I felt like I was just getting the first part of a novel rather than a complete novella, or even a complete short story. The way the novella end felt a little incomplete to me, with one event being concluded while the wider story arc was only just beginning. Just as I was getting into the story, it abruptly ended. Despite my preference for novels, this isn’t my first time reading fiction in an episodic format, and in this case it felt like the end of a chapter rather than the end of a novella.
The BackUp Superhero is an interesting and enjoyable start to The BackUp Superhero series, however, for me personally the emphasis there is on the start. Thankfully book two is already available to read so if you loved book one you can head straight onto book two to continue the story. Both books are available to read on Kindle Unlimited. While The BackUp Superhero had some intriguing world-building, it just didn’t quite get there for me in terms of plot and characters. For readers looking for a fun quick read it’s right on track, but for readers who prefer a bit more of a meatier read, like myself, you might find it not quite your thing.
For more of my reviews please visit my blog!
The BackUp Superhero is a novella and therefore, it’s a quick and easy read. It was an enjoyable and an interesting take on the superhero genre which picks up on some of the inherent flaws of the genre, namely the huge issue of accountability and the destruction of property that superheroes often leave in their way. In Hicks’ superhero world, superheroes enjoy a celebrity status, with Level A superheroes at the top and Level D at the bottom. To become a superhero you must go through rigorous training and if you become injured at any point you have to start all over again. At the end of the training, if successful, heroes are placed into a Level and each Level “knows their place”.
Level D’s place is to stay out of the way, help out as much as they can, and never ever get in the spotlight. As the title of the book suggests, they are “the backup”. Like all systems it’s hugely broken and there’s a lot more happening beneath the surface which is what the book is about. The plot is interesting, and the protagonist, Tanser girl, is likeable, as is the barkeeper Frank. I couldn’t stand the other level D superhero, Dwighter, who was extremely irritating throughout.
I personally favour novels over novellas, and that certainly did affect how much I enjoyed The BackUp Superhero. While I enjoyed the story, I felt like I was just getting the first part of a novel rather than a complete novella, or even a complete short story. The way the novella end felt a little incomplete to me, with one event being concluded while the wider story arc was only just beginning. Just as I was getting into the story, it abruptly ended. Despite my preference for novels, this isn’t my first time reading fiction in an episodic format, and in this case it felt like the end of a chapter rather than the end of a novella.
The BackUp Superhero is an interesting and enjoyable start to The BackUp Superhero series, however, for me personally the emphasis there is on the start. Thankfully book two is already available to read so if you loved book one you can head straight onto book two to continue the story. Both books are available to read on Kindle Unlimited. While The BackUp Superhero had some intriguing world-building, it just didn’t quite get there for me in terms of plot and characters. For readers looking for a fun quick read it’s right on track, but for readers who prefer a bit more of a meatier read, like myself, you might find it not quite your thing.
For more of my reviews please visit my blog!
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