Superheroes – Read at Midnight

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Title: Not Your Sidekick

Author: C. B. Lee

Rating: 4/5 Stars

Series? Yes, 1 of 3.

Do you remember Steelheart by Brandon Sanderson? That series where super powered humans emerge in a post-apocalyptic world, quickly dividing society into factions? Well, I have good news for those who enjoyed it – Not Your Sidekick gives you a similar premise, but filled with a whole lot more of diversity and heart. Although it dresses up in superhero capes and fun action – at its heart Not Your Sidekick is the perfect book for anyone who’s ever felt the yearning to be a part of something more.
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Comic book superheroes and supervillains gets a makeover in Not Yout Sidekick. Aside from action sequences and save-the-world type plotlines, we also get an introspective and character centred novel. While the book was extremely fun during its engaging action scenes and exposition, it shined brightest due to the lovable and diverse cast of characters. Alongside with saving the day, Jess and the crew also have to contend with romantic mixed signals, embarrassing siblings, and the difficulties of finding gainful employment without work experience. It’s comic superheroes at their most relatable. Continue reading “Book Review: Not Your Sidekick” →

Title: Steelheart

Author: Brandon Sanderson

Rating: 5/5 stars

Series: Yes. 1 of 3.

Goodreads

Oh my goodness this book was so fun! If the rest of my reads this August is as entertaining as Steelheart, I’m in for a treat this month!

I know I was harping on about how I was sick of dystopia just like one review ago. This book is a post-apocalyptic type scenario but I loved it so much, here’s all my reasons why. SPOILERS: It’s because Brandon Sanderson is a freaking genius.

Steelheart-by-Brandon-Sanderson — Silhouettes + Cityscape Vectors from Freepik.

1. SUPERVILLAINS!

Epics had a distinct, even incredible, lack of morals or conscience. That bothered some people, on a philosophical level. Theorists, scholars. They wondered at the sheer inhumanity many Epics manifested. Did the Epics kill because Calamity chose—for whatever reason—only terrible people to gain powers? Or did they kill because such amazing power twisted a person, made them irresponsible?

Since an event known as Calamity, numerous humans throughout The Fractured States developed superpowers. Instead of following down Spiderman’s path and exercise the whole ‘with great power comes great responsibility’ stint, all of these mutants – now called Epics – just kinda went ‘Hey, screw the rest of mankind, I’m gonna enslave you all’. You know the old adage, ‘absolute power corrupts absolutely’.

“I’ve seen Steelheart bleed.
And I will see him bleed again.”

The villain of this piece is Steelheart, a High Epic with super strength, impervious to all assaults, shoots lasers out of his hands, and oh… he can turn everything into steel. No one’s ever seen him vulnerable, except for our young protagonist: David. David witnessed Steelheart bleed when he was 8, right before the Epic ruthlessly killed his father. He’s been plotting his revenge ever since.

All of the different Epics and their varied super powers + corresponding weaknesses: there’s Faultline who can cause earthquakes, Nightwielder who can hold an entire city in darkness, Fortuity with precognitive abilities, all must be taken down by a different method. I’ve always admired Brandon Sanderson’s magic systems, despite set laws so much is possible! The plans our protagonists have to devised to take down each Epic is particularly fun.

If you loved the X-men, you’ll adore this. If you liked superheroes, you’ll adore this. Heck, even if you’re sick of Marvel’s cinematic sea of sameness (like myself), you’ll adore this! Continue reading “Book Review: Steelheart” →