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A review by wasauthor
The Backup Superhero: Book One in The Backup Superhero Series by Kayla Hicks, Kayla Hicks
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.