Monday, February 13, 2017

BOOKREVIEW: I Want Superpowers by Steven Bereznai

Hello bookdragons! 
Welcome back to my blog!




First of all, I'm so sorry for disappearing! I was just a bit more busy than I usually am, because I was hosting another super fun #stefansreadalong and there's also a giveaway I'm hosting on instagram for my next #stefansreadalong so make sure to join! Any way, I'm back now with another SUPER review for another SUPER novel named I Want Superpowers, which is by Steven Bereznai! This review is non-spoiler, but it will include a mini section with some of the plot twists I did not see coming (so spoilers, duhhh), but it will be labelled "Spoiler Section blah blah", *still haven't decided how to call it, oops*!



“It’s like the lovechild of 1984 and The Chrysalids.”

-Joe Pedro, Passport magazine



If you don't know anything about I Want Superpowers:

  • It's a YA Dystopian book, hopefully to be expanded and become a series.
  • Highly recommended to fans of comics and super heroes! I'm not a huge fan of comics, but this book made me want to buy them all and read them haha!
  • Reminds me a lot of The Hunger Games and Divergent. Specially the beginning with all the dress and styling scenes, but afterwards the book follows its own unique path.
  • It's action packed and super-fast paced from the beginning!
  •  It's really cool how this feels like sci-fi and dystopian. I've read a lot of dystopian books, but none like this one. Like, this is supposed to be XMen with The Hunger Games, but I can't confirm about the XMen part since I haven't watched it (well, except cartoons, I think) *I know, shoot me*.
  • Interesting fact: our main instead of not wanting to join the "enemy", actually wants to join them, so wow.
  • Goodreads: 
The Genetic Wars that turned most of the planet into a wasteland are over. The so-called “dregs” (short for “DNA regulars”) and superpowered “Supergenics” now live separately from each other: the Supergenics in the shiny towers of Jupitar City, the dregs across the river in the squat concrete buildings of the boroughs. But Supergenic children are still born to dreg parents, and under repressive laws must be sent to live with their own kind. To find these special few, every teen faces their Testing Day. When her turn comes, socially isolated Caitlin Feral is determined to Manifest superpowers. If she fails, she faces a lifetime of loneliness and drudgery in the boroughs. But how much is she willing to sacrifice to be the supergirl she’s always wanted to be? And when she uncovers dark secrets kept by both sides, does she dare start another war to reveal the truth?


✨ Before we start the review, I'd liket to thank Mr Steven for providing me with a SIGNED first edition of his book! I trully appreciate this and I'm extra grateful!
 Fisrt of all: NO, this is not cheesy at all! YES, the title sounds like it, but once you read the actual book, you'll find the hidden meaning behind the title!
 I've already spoken of the beginning, so let's continue with the rest of the plot. I really like how realistic the book was, and how the teacher was portrayed as a mean lady, who only cares for her image, because let's face it: that's how people act in real life too. Also, Liliane's character as the rival of our main character was kind of predictable, but still good. 
✨ The relationship between Caitlin and Bardie was a bit unnatural. (MINOR SPOILER: I get that they faced something dangerous and kissed and Bardie was flirting and that kind of stuff, but that's not love, well at least not love at first sight from how Caitlin's POV shows us. It just isn't genuine.
✨On the other hand, I loved Caitlin's friendship with Normand! It took time to build and felt more real!
✨ The characters were cool most of the time (MINOR SPOILER: well except Trenton, who got weird but okayyy). I say most of the time, because sometimes they just felt flat. Like there was nothing going on and it just felt awkward and weird. Also, they were taking kind of reckless decissions when there was no reason at all.
 Last about the characters: I love how Caitlin overcame her struggles and found her own hero in herself by the end of the book! This sends such an empowering message towards everyone who is struggling!


✨ Now, more on the plot: This was quite unpredictable. There were a lot of plot twists which I was not expecting at all.
✨ The book was fast paced and it had a ton of action, which I absolutely love and actually, that's what I expect from dystopian/sci-fi/fantasy novels! So yes, this did meet my expectations!
✨ Though I enjoyed the book a lot, it obviously did have some holes that need filling, (if you've read it, you'll know what I mean) *hopefully will be filled in book 2, crosses fingers*.
✨ I need to read the sequel, which I hope will be written and published soon, so that I'll see if Mr Steven's writing improves (it's actually already really good) and if the characters get better! 


 ✨ The ending was really satisfying, but as I've said: I need the sequel to answer my questions haha! 
✨Overall, I did enjoy the book, and the small flaws I've pointed out are, as I've said, really minor, but they might seem a bit bigger right now because of my explanation of them. 
✨ I definitely recommend this book. It's a great choice if you're looking for something fresh in the dystopian genre! Specially if you love comics, superheroes, action, quick-reads and... PLOT TWISTS!
✨ Final Rating: 4.5/5s.
✨Recommend it? HIGHLY!

Mini Spoiler Section:
Wow, Eel Man turned out to be with the resistance, which I did not see coming (I think I should have, but I probably was so sucked in the main story, and so my brain did not have time to predict things lol).
And Liliane?! I didn't see that coming either! Omg just wow!
✨And omg! Normand's self-sacrifice!!! *sad face*





✨Paperbacks and ebooks are available on bookdepository, amazon, ibooks and kindle unlimited!
Stay tuned because I have more amazing giveaways coming soon here on my blog!