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rjsreadingnook's review against another edition
5.0
Erin is fueled by rage. They get misgendered, bullied, lied to, assaulted, and they’re a teenager, so the rage is understandable. I found Erin fascinating, and I kept wondering if their anger and inner turmoil would become a strength or their downfall.
The world-building was intricate, and I really enjoyed the snippets from Evanstar family documents and other records at the beginning of each chapter. This bonus material solidified the paranormal world and made it authentic.
To read the full review, visit my blog: https://www.rjsorrento.com/blog/book-review-power-surge
If you’re seeking a paranormal mystery with a badass nonbinary protagonist, check out Power Surge by Sara Codair.
Note: I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
The world-building was intricate, and I really enjoyed the snippets from Evanstar family documents and other records at the beginning of each chapter. This bonus material solidified the paranormal world and made it authentic.
To read the full review, visit my blog: https://www.rjsorrento.com/blog/book-review-power-surge
If you’re seeking a paranormal mystery with a badass nonbinary protagonist, check out Power Surge by Sara Codair.
Note: I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
iam's review
DNF @ 61%
I liked this, especially the nonbinary protagonist and learning about magical world, but I unforunately read this at the wrong time. I got so busy I couldn't read, and then never found my way back into it. Really hoping to pick it up some other time though, I enjoyed the companion novella, [b:Life Minus Me|52325902|Life Minus Me (Evanstar Chronicles)|Sara Codair|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1575752422l/52325902._SX50_SY75_.jpg|73039255], a lot.
I liked this, especially the nonbinary protagonist and learning about magical world, but I unforunately read this at the wrong time. I got so busy I couldn't read, and then never found my way back into it. Really hoping to pick it up some other time though, I enjoyed the companion novella, [b:Life Minus Me|52325902|Life Minus Me (Evanstar Chronicles)|Sara Codair|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1575752422l/52325902._SX50_SY75_.jpg|73039255], a lot.
zaqlovesbooks's review against another edition
3.0
First off, this was not for me. Don’t get discouraged by the rating. It was not for me. I loved the plot and the characters. Especially with a mc using they/them pronouns. I even loved the diversity in species and quotes . I loved the chaotic personality from the mc.
What if I did not like the rushed romance. But than again I don’t like romance. So, on that half kind of made me lose interest. I’m grateful for the author sending me a ARC. I’m here to put it down. Cause it was a good book.
I definitely recommend it if you’re into friends to lovers, demons, elves , a mc who who’s very different, and just overall more everything in this.
But I definitely don’t recommend it , if your like me . Someone who’s not a fan of romance, cause it’s there and it’s most likely going to stay. That’s it.
What if I did not like the rushed romance. But than again I don’t like romance. So, on that half kind of made me lose interest. I’m grateful for the author sending me a ARC. I’m here to put it down. Cause it was a good book.
I definitely recommend it if you’re into friends to lovers, demons, elves , a mc who who’s very different, and just overall more everything in this.
But I definitely don’t recommend it , if your like me . Someone who’s not a fan of romance, cause it’s there and it’s most likely going to stay. That’s it.
melissaw1126's review against another edition
5.0
This book has so much creativity and emotion woven throughout it. I loved that the main character had amazing friends and family to lean on when they needed it. A great YA book with lots of great messages!
adeniverville's review against another edition
3.0
Such a fun and imaginative read! I really enjoyed the creativity that went into the world building. While there were some aspects of world building that readers may be familiar with from folk tales, the author also added their own spin on things. Like having the character make a sword out of water? Super cool.
I really liked Erin as a protagonist and I enjoyed how real they were. They made mistakes and they have very human issues they were dealing with on top of all the demon stuff. It was really cool to read a supernatural story with an enby protagonist.
I really liked Erin as a protagonist and I enjoyed how real they were. They made mistakes and they have very human issues they were dealing with on top of all the demon stuff. It was really cool to read a supernatural story with an enby protagonist.
mxphoebesviewpoint's review against another edition
5.0
Sara Codair has created a wondrous world for the “Evanstar Chronicles.” At first I was a little intimidated because there is so much information that Codair provides. Finally, it just seemed to click for me at about chapter six (I think). It isn’t the world today that is the abundance of information, that tracked fine - it was the information from the past. What is important? What do I need to know right now? Is this just backstory? Should I be taking notes? (laugh) I am such a geek.
Erin is such a wonderful character. I am sure that anyone who has had to take medication can relate to Erin’s predicament. Side effects can be brutal, no matter what the medication is for and Erin has had some tough side effects. So imagine suddenly seeing things that may or may not be there (laugh). Head trip.
Then add in high school life and living your true gender identity. High school sucks on the best of days. If you are even slightly different it can be hell. Erin is hitting all of the bully target marks. It gets worse when José, an athlete and popular guy at school, dumps the top mean girl to ask out Erin. Codair brings all of this to life with anger, pain, and humor from Sam and Mel.
Codair adds bisexuality, young love, self-trauma, attempted rape, and death to this already compelling story. Did I forget to mention the action sequences? Or the mysteries involved? Or the plethora of interesting secondary characters?
If you have not started the “Evanstar Chronicles” you still have time, because the latest book just came out! I love this one and cannot wait to get started on the next one.
I received an ARC of this book and I am writing a review without prejudice and voluntarily.
Erin is such a wonderful character. I am sure that anyone who has had to take medication can relate to Erin’s predicament. Side effects can be brutal, no matter what the medication is for and Erin has had some tough side effects. So imagine suddenly seeing things that may or may not be there (laugh). Head trip.
Then add in high school life and living your true gender identity. High school sucks on the best of days. If you are even slightly different it can be hell. Erin is hitting all of the bully target marks. It gets worse when José, an athlete and popular guy at school, dumps the top mean girl to ask out Erin. Codair brings all of this to life with anger, pain, and humor from Sam and Mel.
Codair adds bisexuality, young love, self-trauma, attempted rape, and death to this already compelling story. Did I forget to mention the action sequences? Or the mysteries involved? Or the plethora of interesting secondary characters?
If you have not started the “Evanstar Chronicles” you still have time, because the latest book just came out! I love this one and cannot wait to get started on the next one.
I received an ARC of this book and I am writing a review without prejudice and voluntarily.
rjsreadingnook's review
5.0
Erin is fueled by rage. They get misgendered, bullied, lied to, assaulted, and they’re a teenager, so the rage is understandable. I found Erin fascinating, and I kept wondering if their anger and inner turmoil would become a strength or their downfall.
The world-building was intricate, and I really enjoyed the snippets from Evanstar family documents and other records at the beginning of each chapter. This bonus material solidified the paranormal world and made it authentic.
To read the full review, visit my blog: https://www.rjsorrento.com/blog/book-review-power-surge
If you’re seeking a paranormal mystery with a badass nonbinary protagonist, check out Power Surge by Sara Codair.
Note: I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
The world-building was intricate, and I really enjoyed the snippets from Evanstar family documents and other records at the beginning of each chapter. This bonus material solidified the paranormal world and made it authentic.
To read the full review, visit my blog: https://www.rjsorrento.com/blog/book-review-power-surge
If you’re seeking a paranormal mystery with a badass nonbinary protagonist, check out Power Surge by Sara Codair.
Note: I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
vani's review
emotional
medium-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
booksthatburn's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
*I received a free review copy in exchange for an honest review of this book.
Power Surge blends mundane kinds of trauma, pain, and grief with the heady rush of learning that magic is real and there's more going on than most people know. Erin is sad and brave and wonderful; fighting against darkness and despair.
It fits within the genre of "person who thinks they're ordinary finds out they have powers and also responsibilities", but it feels like it takes seriously the idea that these are otherwise ordinary people who have to deal with some very dark and stressful things, both because they have powers and from things that have nothing to do with their abilities. It has strong themes of unaddressed grief and trauma, and part of the story is how some of those things are examined and addressed.
The narrator is very blunt and matter-of-fact which helps to ground the story when so many strange things are happening. Depending on whether you read the prequel story, Life Minus Me, the early parts of the book can either be a gradual reveal of the truth or feel a bit like a detective story where the reader is waiting for the MC to figure out what we already know to be happening. I read Life Minus Me before this book, and I think I recommend doing it the other way around. I think they can be enjoyed in either order, but it depends on whether you want a quick sketch of the world and then to watch someone else slowly discover it (read Life Minus Me, then Power Surge) or you want to discover a brand new world with the main character, then explore an older story from it with an\ relatively experienced character as a guide (read Power Surge, then Life Minus Me).
The depictions of trauma are handled well in terms of spacing, level of detail, and relative attention paid to each one. Look to the CWs at the end of this review (they can also be found in the front of the book), but the way each event is spaced out and they are balanced in relation to each other meant that, at least for me, I had enough detail to understand Erin's state of mind without being subjected to pages of ideation all at once. This is a book which takes the time to show the lingering effects of various kinds of trauma and that means it sometimes depicts characters not handling trauma well.
Power Surge blends mundane kinds of trauma, pain, and grief with the heady rush of learning that magic is real and there's more going on than most people know. Erin is sad and brave and wonderful; fighting against darkness and despair.
It fits within the genre of "person who thinks they're ordinary finds out they have powers and also responsibilities", but it feels like it takes seriously the idea that these are otherwise ordinary people who have to deal with some very dark and stressful things, both because they have powers and from things that have nothing to do with their abilities. It has strong themes of unaddressed grief and trauma, and part of the story is how some of those things are examined and addressed.
The narrator is very blunt and matter-of-fact which helps to ground the story when so many strange things are happening. Depending on whether you read the prequel story, Life Minus Me, the early parts of the book can either be a gradual reveal of the truth or feel a bit like a detective story where the reader is waiting for the MC to figure out what we already know to be happening. I read Life Minus Me before this book, and I think I recommend doing it the other way around. I think they can be enjoyed in either order, but it depends on whether you want a quick sketch of the world and then to watch someone else slowly discover it (read Life Minus Me, then Power Surge) or you want to discover a brand new world with the main character, then explore an older story from it with an\ relatively experienced character as a guide (read Power Surge, then Life Minus Me).
The depictions of trauma are handled well in terms of spacing, level of detail, and relative attention paid to each one. Look to the CWs at the end of this review (they can also be found in the front of the book), but the way each event is spaced out and they are balanced in relation to each other meant that, at least for me, I had enough detail to understand Erin's state of mind without being subjected to pages of ideation all at once. This is a book which takes the time to show the lingering effects of various kinds of trauma and that means it sometimes depicts characters not handling trauma well.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death
Moderate: Violence, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, and Bullying
Minor: Physical abuse and Sexual assault
CW for violence, discussion of off-page abuse, death of a parent, mentions of off-page sexual assault, brief on-page depictions of attempted sexual assault, self-harm, suicidal ideation, bullying.spamwisegamgee's review
4.0
It's exciting to see non-binary characters finally receive representation in YA literature, especially by an #ownvoices author! Erin's character is complex, and while their identity is very much a part of who they are, it doesn't define them nor their struggles. They're also grappling with a new partner (and his abusive ex who won't leave Erin alone) as well as the realization that, as someone with Elven blood, they belonged to a world that they thought was a product of mental illness.
The world that Erin discovers, too, makes Power Surge a fascinating read. It's just the right mixture of fairytale and the author's own creativity to make it feel familiar in some ways but still stand out. What tied me most to the novel were how believable its characters felt despite a fantastical setting. And while the book has dark moments, it also has its share of hope, plus enough loose ends to hint at a sequel.
In some ways, this book reminded me of The Mortal Instruments by Cassandra Clare (but with its own voice)–which is very much a good thing! If you're looking for a queer paranormal YA novel or an unique take on the urban fantasy genre, check this one out!
The world that Erin discovers, too, makes Power Surge a fascinating read. It's just the right mixture of fairytale and the author's own creativity to make it feel familiar in some ways but still stand out. What tied me most to the novel were how believable its characters felt despite a fantastical setting. And while the book has dark moments, it also has its share of hope, plus enough loose ends to hint at a sequel.
In some ways, this book reminded me of The Mortal Instruments by Cassandra Clare (but with its own voice)–which is very much a good thing! If you're looking for a queer paranormal YA novel or an unique take on the urban fantasy genre, check this one out!