Holy cow. How and why did I not read The Extraordinaries sooner?! This is by far the most hilarious and entertaining superhero novel I have ever read. Seriously. Written by T.J. Klune, this novel is a masterpiece.
Nick Bell lives in a world where superheroes are real. They're called extraordinaries, and all Nick has ever wanted was to be one of them. He wants it so desperately that he even writes fanfiction (totally not of the insert variety) of his favorite hero – Shadow Star.
Unfortunately, Nick is more than a little bit obsessed with the idea of becoming extraordinary himself, and so he'll do whatever it takes, even if that means pulling stupid stunts or putting his life on the line.
“But sometimes, there are things greater than us. Things we must do to keep those we love safe. And he loves you. He loves you.”
Next time somebody asks me for a fun superhero read to try; I am going to shove The Extraordinaries in their hands. This novel is amazing! It's funny, charismatic, and delightfully gay all at once. I loved it.
Nick is a determined and quirky character, one who isn't afraid to let his passions take control of his life. Or his friend's lives, if we're totally honest. I found his character to be endearing, even when he let his hero worship go to extremes.
One of the many things that made this novel so amazing has to be the supporting characters, Seth, Owen, Gibby, and Jazz. They flesh out this world so much, and I mean it when I say that the story wouldn't be the same without them.
Or a strong sense of humor, for that matter. I have never read a novel that made me smile SO much. I certainly haven't read a superhero one that did that. It was comical and light and yet had some amazing messages woven into the narrative.
“Sometimes, the people we want to protect the most might not understand why we do the things we do. But that doesn't mean they love us any less. Only you can decide where your faith lies.”
This is not your ordinary 'kid gets powers, kid becomes ultra-special' story. It is so much more than that, and I just can't get enough of it. Thankfully, Flash Fire is ready and waiting for me to read. I better not keep it (or myself) waiting any longer.
Thanks to Tor Teen and #NetGalley for making this book available for review. All opinions expressed are my own.
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Reviewed by Quirky Cat on
Reading updates
- Started reading
- 19 July, 2021: Finished reading
- 19 July, 2021: Reviewed