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kenna92005's review against another edition
4.0
Actual star rating 3.5
Premise:
All her life Kenna has lived as an ordinary person in the extraordinary world of superheroes and villains. Her mom is the top scientist and her best friend’s dad the President of the Superhero League, so Kenna has had access to just about everything she thought she knew about this world…but then her world gets flipped upside down when villains start being heroic and she learns some villainous secrets that the heroes are doing. Confused?
I really did enjoy this book. The commentary was witty and for the most part the characters were likable. It was a fast paced read. So why isn’t it a 5 star book to me?
It was definitely predictable. The twists weren’t really twists.
Parts of it were definitely cheesy (but then when aren’t heroes and villains cheesy?)
I didn’t like the “woe is me” internal monologue that Kenna would sometimes get on.
The romance wasn’t very believable. Don’t get me wrong, I like the two characters together. It just felt rushed and not authentic.
The timing of this book also kind of threw me off. Everything seemed to have happened in the span of a week, but the characters never really rested or recovered from previous battles. It was always, go go go.
I want to reiterate that I did enjoy this book. It definitely makes me want to continue and read the next one.
If you’re into superheroes, villains and a female lead that takes a backseat to no one, you may just like this book.
Premise:
All her life Kenna has lived as an ordinary person in the extraordinary world of superheroes and villains. Her mom is the top scientist and her best friend’s dad the President of the Superhero League, so Kenna has had access to just about everything she thought she knew about this world…but then her world gets flipped upside down when villains start being heroic and she learns some villainous secrets that the heroes are doing. Confused?
I really did enjoy this book. The commentary was witty and for the most part the characters were likable. It was a fast paced read. So why isn’t it a 5 star book to me?
It was definitely predictable. The twists weren’t really twists.
Parts of it were definitely cheesy (but then when aren’t heroes and villains cheesy?)
I didn’t like the “woe is me” internal monologue that Kenna would sometimes get on.
The romance wasn’t very believable. Don’t get me wrong, I like the two characters together. It just felt rushed and not authentic.
The timing of this book also kind of threw me off. Everything seemed to have happened in the span of a week, but the characters never really rested or recovered from previous battles. It was always, go go go.
I want to reiterate that I did enjoy this book. It definitely makes me want to continue and read the next one.
If you’re into superheroes, villains and a female lead that takes a backseat to no one, you may just like this book.
jscarpa14's review against another edition
4.0
It CAN NOT END LIKE THAT!!!!! I need the sequel YESTERDAY!
Okay, I think I might have the meltdown out of my system enough to talk about the book... maybe. This book was OUTSTANDING! The pacing and flow is so continuous and quick that it's seems like you've finished the book only seconds after opening it. There are no slow parts where you're thinking something needs to happen already. Every page is a new mind blowing occurrence, a new action and new discovery. Some things I will admit was a little predictable. I've got a good idea of what really happened when Kenna was four though it hasn't been confirmed yet, I'd guessed about the serum in the first couple chapters, and within the first chapter I knew who the romantic leads were. But I think a little bit of predictability in a book is a good thing, it gives you a feeling of safety, something you can cling to. That is not to say that most of the book was predictable because there were a lot of surprises in this book that happened and I was just blown right away. The ending, the ending was OMG! I definitely didn't see it coming. And yeah I know that's entirely vague but I want to gush and fangirl without being the jerk that gives away the whole story. Because I want to fan girl I really wouldn't call this a review but an avid reader's rambles.
Kenna is the sort of heroine that you can get behind, she begins at a disadvantage but doesn't allow it to stop her from taking on any obstacle that stands in her way. She has her whole world view and security blanket yanked away from her and just pulls it together despite wanting to fall apart and forges a new path. She exceptionally smart and see all these different plans and possibilities and despite the fact that she's the one who should be hiding, she's a natural leader who seems to understand how to navigate any obstacle she has to face.
I'm afraid to say too much about this one because I'm likely to give away more than I should about the plot. One of the things I really loved is that it had just a touch of comic book feel without dancing too far into feeling like I'm reading a comic book without pictures. It is in my opinion just the right amount of superhero/villain pizzazz and an exceptional story. This book is a must read, can put down, page turner from beginning to end.
Okay, I think I might have the meltdown out of my system enough to talk about the book... maybe. This book was OUTSTANDING! The pacing and flow is so continuous and quick that it's seems like you've finished the book only seconds after opening it. There are no slow parts where you're thinking something needs to happen already. Every page is a new mind blowing occurrence, a new action and new discovery. Some things I will admit was a little predictable. I've got a good idea of what really happened when Kenna was four though it hasn't been confirmed yet, I'd guessed about the serum in the first couple chapters, and within the first chapter I knew who the romantic leads were. But I think a little bit of predictability in a book is a good thing, it gives you a feeling of safety, something you can cling to. That is not to say that most of the book was predictable because there were a lot of surprises in this book that happened and I was just blown right away. The ending, the ending was OMG! I definitely didn't see it coming. And yeah I know that's entirely vague but I want to gush and fangirl without being the jerk that gives away the whole story. Because I want to fan girl I really wouldn't call this a review but an avid reader's rambles.
Kenna is the sort of heroine that you can get behind, she begins at a disadvantage but doesn't allow it to stop her from taking on any obstacle that stands in her way. She has her whole world view and security blanket yanked away from her and just pulls it together despite wanting to fall apart and forges a new path. She exceptionally smart and see all these different plans and possibilities and despite the fact that she's the one who should be hiding, she's a natural leader who seems to understand how to navigate any obstacle she has to face.
I'm afraid to say too much about this one because I'm likely to give away more than I should about the plot. One of the things I really loved is that it had just a touch of comic book feel without dancing too far into feeling like I'm reading a comic book without pictures. It is in my opinion just the right amount of superhero/villain pizzazz and an exceptional story. This book is a must read, can put down, page turner from beginning to end.
gracexo7's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
erinarkin20's review against another edition
4.0
Powerless was one of those books I came across while scanning through upcoming releases and I am glad I did! As soon as I read that this book was about heroes and villains and their superpowers, I immediately had to request it.
Kenna is the main character and she is sick of being “normal” and being treated differently from everyone around her because they have some sort of superpower and she doesn’t. This is the catalyst to Kenna’s secret experiment that she happens to be working on in her mother’s lab after hours when she is taken by surprise by some villains who are looking for something specific. After her father was killed by a villain, Kenna has some pretty strong opinions about villains and when she thwarts their plans, Kenna is pulled into something bigger than she expected.
As Kenna realizes things aren’t black and white in the world of superheroes, she finds herself working together with some villains to protect her friends and family from those she thought were there to protect her.
I liked Kenna and if I were dodging some dangerous people, I wouldn’t mind being on the same side as her. I also would want to be working together with the group she is working with. Not only do they each have their own specific powers but they are also great characters. Childs and Deebs did a great job developing these characters and I found myself enjoying each and every one.
This story has a solid foundation of sci-fi and the story was good but I wanted to know more about what was going on outside of the lab and this world of heroes and villains. We never really got a glimpse outside of a news story and the fact that Kenna’s father was killed by a villain of what they did that was so bad. I guess I wanted more story to show why the villains were really….villainous.
Once I started this book, I couldn’t put it down so that hopefully tells you that it was good. Along with the science fiction stuff, the story has plenty of action and some definitely swoony bits. I loved seeing the relationship develop between Draven and Kenna and I also appreciated seeing the friendship Kenna had not only with Rebel but also with her ex, Jeremy. This was a fairly quick read and add to that the fact that it was entertaining and had some fantastic characters, I will definitely be checking out the next book in this series to see where Childs/Deebs goes with the story.
Thank you to Sourcebooks and Netgalley for the review copy!
Kenna is the main character and she is sick of being “normal” and being treated differently from everyone around her because they have some sort of superpower and she doesn’t. This is the catalyst to Kenna’s secret experiment that she happens to be working on in her mother’s lab after hours when she is taken by surprise by some villains who are looking for something specific. After her father was killed by a villain, Kenna has some pretty strong opinions about villains and when she thwarts their plans, Kenna is pulled into something bigger than she expected.
As Kenna realizes things aren’t black and white in the world of superheroes, she finds herself working together with some villains to protect her friends and family from those she thought were there to protect her.
I liked Kenna and if I were dodging some dangerous people, I wouldn’t mind being on the same side as her. I also would want to be working together with the group she is working with. Not only do they each have their own specific powers but they are also great characters. Childs and Deebs did a great job developing these characters and I found myself enjoying each and every one.
This story has a solid foundation of sci-fi and the story was good but I wanted to know more about what was going on outside of the lab and this world of heroes and villains. We never really got a glimpse outside of a news story and the fact that Kenna’s father was killed by a villain of what they did that was so bad. I guess I wanted more story to show why the villains were really….villainous.
Once I started this book, I couldn’t put it down so that hopefully tells you that it was good. Along with the science fiction stuff, the story has plenty of action and some definitely swoony bits. I loved seeing the relationship develop between Draven and Kenna and I also appreciated seeing the friendship Kenna had not only with Rebel but also with her ex, Jeremy. This was a fairly quick read and add to that the fact that it was entertaining and had some fantastic characters, I will definitely be checking out the next book in this series to see where Childs/Deebs goes with the story.
Thank you to Sourcebooks and Netgalley for the review copy!
chichiasanchen's review against another edition
adventurous
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
alyram4's review against another edition
5.0
4.5/5 stars
I can never get over how much I love this book! It blends the areas of good and bad into kinda good and kinda bad. I LOVE all our characters and they way they interact with each other. It was nice to see the development between our heroes and villians, seeing how they learn to trust one another. They all have a common goal, which is to stop the corrupt heroes and save the innocent villians. This book really turns the terms hero and villian upside-down and makes you wonder who exactly is who. The ending left me so distraught, but the next one is worth it! I can't recommend this enough!
I can never get over how much I love this book! It blends the areas of good and bad into kinda good and kinda bad. I LOVE all our characters and they way they interact with each other. It was nice to see the development between our heroes and villians, seeing how they learn to trust one another. They all have a common goal, which is to stop the corrupt heroes and save the innocent villians. This book really turns the terms hero and villian upside-down and makes you wonder who exactly is who. The ending left me so distraught, but the next one is worth it! I can't recommend this enough!
elena_r's review against another edition
4.0
I read this book at my friend's recommandation and boy was it a good one.
I really liked the whole hero-villan universe which was neat, and the way it portrayed the fact that the world is grey not white and black. In addition I liked the main protagonist, Kenna, who is really great, she's hard working and tries to do the best she can in any situation. I look forward to the next book.
I really liked the whole hero-villan universe which was neat, and the way it portrayed the fact that the world is grey not white and black. In addition I liked the main protagonist, Kenna, who is really great, she's hard working and tries to do the best she can in any situation. I look forward to the next book.
dani_bugz's review against another edition
2.0
Actual rating 2.5
I did not enjoy this book very much, largely due to the fact that there is a lot of exposition, repetition and predictability, not to mention shallow characters. BUT the writing style was entertaining and I did manage to read the whole thing! I think it was probably just that I am too old and seasoned a reader take much out of it. I think the target audience is probably more for preteens to early teens, and I think it would be immensely popular with those ages. As such I would definitely recommend to customers of that age, but don't bother if you are maybe not a teenager anymore, or read a crazy amount of YA!
I did not enjoy this book very much, largely due to the fact that there is a lot of exposition, repetition and predictability, not to mention shallow characters. BUT the writing style was entertaining and I did manage to read the whole thing! I think it was probably just that I am too old and seasoned a reader take much out of it. I think the target audience is probably more for preteens to early teens, and I think it would be immensely popular with those ages. As such I would definitely recommend to customers of that age, but don't bother if you are maybe not a teenager anymore, or read a crazy amount of YA!
thesydda's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75