Reviews

Not Your Villain by C.B. Lee

lenahe's review against another edition

adventurous funny hopeful inspiring

3.75

I really like this series. It's very accessible for younger readers, and I love the queer representation in it. It also reflects on power and information control on our modern age. 
However, this installment suffers from second book syndrome. The first 40% of the book are before the timeline of the previous book, and It just felt too long a recap. The second half is nice, but also here the pacing felt a bit off. 

juphip's review

adventurous

• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

4.0

This books series almost bums me out because it has the potential to be reaallllyyy good but like sooo many editing and writing errors among the 3 books out and like it just feels like a first draft among all the books. It’s such a cool idea and I like the queer and diverse characters. I would love for each one of these books to be returned to by the author and just redone. Specifically the third it just really went in random directions losing a plot line. 

arsenic's review against another edition

4.0

Le livre est la suite de Not Your Sidekick mais cette fois, le personnage principal est Bells (et la suite aura Emma comme perso principal).

Le premier tiers du livre rappelle les évènements de Not Your Sidekick ce que je pensais être pas mal vu que je ne me souvenais pas de tous les détails du premier tome. En fait, j'étais un peu déçue, c'est pas mal quand Bells est seul (et encore, j'aurais aimé en voir plus sur l'entrainement) mais les évènements quand ils se retrouvent tous sont un peu résumés de façon précipitée. Si on a pas lu le livre d'avant, on comprend rien, si on s'en souvient mal, on s'en rappelle vaguement mieux.
Du coup, j'ai trouvé ça un peu long mais en même temps, pas assez détaillé... :/

Je trouve le monde dans lequel les personnages évoluent vraiment intéressant : un mélange entre Sky High, Les Indestructibles et un truc post apocalyptique futuriste (c'est l'impression que ça me donne en tout cas ! :D). Dommage que certains aspects ne soient pas plus détaillés.

Les personnages sont top. Bells est vraiment attachant. Il a super bon caractère, il est enthousiaste et c'est un super ami. Sa famille est top aussi, j'ai beaucoup aimé les parents qui soutiennent leurs enfants et qui les connaissent assez pour savoir qu'ils ne tiendront pas en place ^^
On retrouve avec plaisir Jess et Abby et on en sait plus sur le petit frère de Jess qui est finalement assez fun. Certains échanges sont vraiment très réussis, entre Bells et Orion, quand Emma parle de ce qu'elle ressent, la frustration d'Abby, le fait que Bells se sente comme la 5e roue du carrosse, etc.
J'ai également aimé l'humour un peu nerd (le Han shot first était magique ! XD)
En matière de représentation, c'est vraiment top, y'a des persos LGBT, des persos racisés,... mais y'a pas de drama autour de ça et ça fait du bien aussi de lire ce genre d'histoires.

Dans les points négatifs, je trouve que tout est précipité. Ça manque souvent de transitions (à un moment, je me suis même demandé si j'avais pas loupé une page tellement j'étais surprise de trouver un personnage dans la situation où il était). Il se passe plein de choses mais en même temps, le livre n'est pas très long donc tout parait se succéder rapidement. Certaines choses auraient mérité d'être plus détaillées.

J'aurais souhaité mettre 3.5 mais vu qu'on peut pas, je mets un peu plus en étant consciente que le bouquin n'est pas parfait.

raeanne's review against another edition

4.0

I LOOOOVED Not Your Sidekick. Of course, I had to read the next one. I finally got to and while I did enjoy it, it's as a strong love. I was anxious to find out what happened next while the first quarter of the book is catching up on what Bells was doing during the first book. And the romance has so much going for it, but it's not the linear sweet happy romance like Abby & Emma's in Not Your Sidekick. I love the trans and ace rep. I love the unusual powers and the twists and all. But it did drag a bit and felt meandering. At least, before the end where it fixes it. I will of course read the next one. I think that will go better with all three of them caught up and on the right track.


Notes From Listening:

Spoiler

>>First several chapters run concurrent with the beginning of Not Your Sidekick from Bells' day of leaving for summer
>>Aww the name choosing scene!!
>>Interesting about the farming.
>>Emma = crush volleyballer
>>Jess + Abby = <3
>>Chapter 3 Jess gets internship, getting rides with Abby
>>Chapter 4 the heart to heart
>>Chapter 5 Emma's Heart
>>Chapter 6 Jess's House
>>Brandon aka B Mastermind is Jess's little bro
>>Ouch the rejection
>>But no need to be an asshole!
>>LOL Christine!! Smart Clever Girl!!!
>>Awww the kitty sock lol
>>KISS KISS KISS KISS
>>Why mind cluttered with all these junk!?!?
>>Bells is bi or pan?!? YES
>>Aww no chemistry :((((
>> Interesting triple date
>>Hmmmm developments
>>Oh you idiot!!
>>Stealing the registry feels like National Treasure
>>Aww Abby & Emma! <3
>>Bells...WTF...Stupid...Smart
>>Robo revolt thread finally picked up at like 75%
>>Aww Emma giving Bells the binder!!
>>I'm kinda disappointed they didn't think of this before...
>>I do love how food and sustainability & independence are included
>>haha you show 'em Bells!
>>Good ace talk w/ Emma. Sounds kinda like demi??
>>Wait, skipped the escape?? Straight to the train??
>>Awww
>>Wait more skipping around??
>>Awwwwwww <3
>>Okay the resistance thread comes back and is not useless

alexbooksandmore's review against another edition

adventurous funny medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

This series is so fun, full of adventures and diversity, both in terms of sexuality and ethnic background.
If the first book main character was Jess, in the second book we have Bells in the center, a trans boy, who is discovering his power as Chameleon. Everything goes well until Jess tells him the truth about the superheroes squad and powers. And they start to fight to make eveything right. 
The story takes place in the future, where watching old movies and interacting with the past is strictly forbidden. 

I cannot wait to get to the next book. 

nglofile's review against another edition

This book has a genuine variety of appeals to recommend it; unfortunately the pluses do not include plotting, pacing, nor prose.

Completed: 70%

mngwa's review against another edition

adventurous funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted 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? Yes

3.25

abookwormspov's review

adventurous emotional fast-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

5.0

im_thehbic's review against another edition

4.0

I smashed through the audiobook! I love how it started a little before the events of the first book, overlapped, then took me on a new journey. This is the narrative from Bells perspective and it’s wonderful.

SPOILER

One of my favorite parts about Bells is that his power is being able to shape shift which matches the character being trans. I love how supportive his family, friends, and everyone else is. The fact that Bells is trans isn’t even a massive plot point. It just is what it is. Considering the books are set in the distant future, that’s a future I can define hope for.

evelynhugosbitch3bc79's review against another edition

4.0

Cute and Gay like the first one