Scan barcode
srsanderson's review against another edition
4.0
4.5 stars!
I am so pleasantly surprised by how much I liked this book!
I have a huge interest in superheroes due to my Marvel obsessed boyfriend, so when Steven Bereznai offered to send a copy of "I Want Superpowers" my way, I wholeheartedly agreed.
I feel like it needs to be said that I am always mildly hesitant to accept books from authors. The reason being that when I because really interested in the book world and reviewing books seriously (rather than the old "it was good!" reviews I used to write when I first started using Goodreads), I told myself that I would always be honest with how I felt, whether I enjoyed a book or subsequently did not. I would never advocate for something that I didn't like, that just isn't who I am.
With that out of the way, holy hell.
Steven Bereznai has something really special here, something that speaks to the certified nerd in me. He has not only created a story that feels wholly original, characters that were intriguing and real, and a plot that kept me turning the pages; but he did all of this in less than 300 freaking pages. I have read several reviews that say this book combines aspects of The Hunger Games and 1984, and while I agree with that sentiment for the first quarter of the book, after that point I Want Superpowers finds its own unique path. While there is no doubt that this book should be classified as a dystopia subgenre (a genre I usually stay away from mind you) there was not a cliche dystopia feel to it.
The writing was, in one word, fantastic. I was engaged, and the story is told from a first person POV from a character who is competent in telling the story. There are messages of love, love that extends past a romantic relationship. Messages of friendship that are so real and true. The importance of independence and sacrifice can be found in these pages too, the fact that one can be a super being without having super powers.
I really don't want to get into any spoilers or talk about what happens and what doesn't because I read this book with a complete blank slate and I loved it for that reason. I highly recommend this book to any superhero fans out there, whether its a mild interest or a rabid obsession. If you liked Brandon Sanderson's Reckoners Trilogy, you should most certainly give I Want Superpowers a go.
And me, I will be sitting over here waiting for Bereznai to turn this into a series because dammit, I need to know what happens next.
I am so pleasantly surprised by how much I liked this book!
I have a huge interest in superheroes due to my Marvel obsessed boyfriend, so when Steven Bereznai offered to send a copy of "I Want Superpowers" my way, I wholeheartedly agreed.
I feel like it needs to be said that I am always mildly hesitant to accept books from authors. The reason being that when I because really interested in the book world and reviewing books seriously (rather than the old "it was good!" reviews I used to write when I first started using Goodreads), I told myself that I would always be honest with how I felt, whether I enjoyed a book or subsequently did not. I would never advocate for something that I didn't like, that just isn't who I am.
With that out of the way, holy hell.
Steven Bereznai has something really special here, something that speaks to the certified nerd in me. He has not only created a story that feels wholly original, characters that were intriguing and real, and a plot that kept me turning the pages; but he did all of this in less than 300 freaking pages. I have read several reviews that say this book combines aspects of The Hunger Games and 1984, and while I agree with that sentiment for the first quarter of the book, after that point I Want Superpowers finds its own unique path. While there is no doubt that this book should be classified as a dystopia subgenre (a genre I usually stay away from mind you) there was not a cliche dystopia feel to it.
The writing was, in one word, fantastic. I was engaged, and the story is told from a first person POV from a character who is competent in telling the story. There are messages of love, love that extends past a romantic relationship. Messages of friendship that are so real and true. The importance of independence and sacrifice can be found in these pages too, the fact that one can be a super being without having super powers.
I really don't want to get into any spoilers or talk about what happens and what doesn't because I read this book with a complete blank slate and I loved it for that reason. I highly recommend this book to any superhero fans out there, whether its a mild interest or a rabid obsession. If you liked Brandon Sanderson's Reckoners Trilogy, you should most certainly give I Want Superpowers a go.
And me, I will be sitting over here waiting for Bereznai to turn this into a series because dammit, I need to know what happens next.
ceskykure's review against another edition
3.0
This was an interesting read. somethings i thought would happen didn't somethings did.
Nice fun story.
I knew something was up with normand from the very beginning. it suprised me she didn't get powers. i thought she would manifest later in the book, but i'm pleased with the way she didn't.
The ending was abrupt. i personally wish there was more, but it was still good
Does being good at calibration means she's easily suggestable. I liked that even some of the supers didn't know what was going on.
Nice fun story.
I knew something was up with normand from the very beginning. it suprised me she didn't get powers. i thought she would manifest later in the book, but i'm pleased with the way she didn't.
The ending was abrupt. i personally wish there was more, but it was still good
Does being good at calibration means she's easily suggestable. I liked that even some of the supers didn't know what was going on.
the_original_shelf_monkey's review
4.0
Very strong YA novel, a fun and often fascinating cross of X-MEN and HUNGER GAMES, with a healthy (?) dollop of 1984 thrown in. Definitely worth your time.
More...