Super Powereds: Year 1: Super Powereds, Book 1

There isn't much to dislike about the Super Powered series. This is a future where a small percentage of humans have various super powers. Those who can control those powers are called "supers", those who can't are called "powered" and any "super" who can pass a grueling certification program can join the official ranks of "Heroes" who are overseen by the government much like special forces. Heroes can use their powers in combat. Supers can use their powers in things like rescue efforts or sports leagues... and powered can't control their powers at all. This book is about the first five kids to undergo a procedure to control their powers, and it works, so they're enrolled in a hero college called Lander.This isn't some cheesy kid's or teen's story about heroes. The characters are interesting and appeal more than the admittedly well rounded characters of Harry Potter. But while Rowling can write emotionally resonating characters, there are a LOT more logical flaws in the Harry Potter world than in this world of Super Powered.Imagine if the Harry Potter books were more logical, with more realistic consequences, and with more defined and restricted various powers, with games and scoring that made sense, with progression that made more sense... so that when several people worked together, their strengths and weaknesses more logically complimented each other.Remember how, in The Incredibles, heroes had to go into hiding to avoid being sued for damages? This is a world where the Hero Certification Program (at 5 colleges, one of which is Lander) exist to allow some government oversight and only giving the best of the best heroes the right to battle to save cities or stop evil supers with the least casualties and damage possible. This allows heroes to operate and do damage if needed, but only the best of the best are trusted.Drew Hayes has done something special here. Do yourself a favor and buy all four of these books.

I switched to Kindle after deciding having over 600 books in my home was enough.At 53, I started reading early - Louis Lamour westerns in the 1st grade. I average 3 - 6 books a month.So do the math - I've read well over several Thousand books.Reviewed quite a few.Beta'd a few.Edited a few.Even helped with a few.Depending on what you read you might notice my handle...my creations have been in a few books and I have even been referenced myself in a post apocalyptic series.So when I say this was one of the best, most gripping and interesting books of the genre ever written...Please rest assured I know what I am talking about.It's long but...speed reader...so that is a huge plus to me.The characters are outstanding.Pacing is superb.I just hope all his books are this long and thos well written because I intend to read every single one.Absolutely Fantastic!!!

So I don't write many reviews, but this is essentially the first free book in a series of four free books, with a couple of free spin offs. In the last two weeks, I've read all of them...at least as much as he's written so far, and I'm looking forward to the rest. He's made these books available free, but I recommend buying the e-books here, in part to support Drew, and in part because they are simply easier to read. These books were, and continue to be, posted on his website in a serial fashion. A consequence of that, is that the flow is a little weird. The book is broken into fairly short chapters, some of which are stand-alone scenes, some of which aren't. It's a little slow getting started, but It's still a good book. In fact, Drew tells a GREAT story. Think of this as an American version of Harry Potter, a little more grown up and a lot more sophisticated in terms of plot complexity. He's created college students with all the insecurities and arrogance some of us fondly remember, and thrown in a lot of the humor that we probably forgot. Read the book. If you ever liked comic books, urban fantasy, or even enjoyed an X-Men movie, you won't be disappointed here. Drew is the best new (to me) author I've found in several years.

I described Super Powereds to my wife as "Harry Potter with Super Heroes". I think that the comparison is quite apt as this is quintessentially a coming of aged story about five young people who transition overnight from social pariahs into potentially elite, incredibly powerful individuals.I thought that this book was made more relatable than some similar books, as the setting is very similar to our world, but with a twist. So the reactions of society (e.g. Super Heros treated like rock stars) was quite interesting and believable.The story is very much about what the young people learn, and how they grow from an emotional and character perspective. I could see some other readers potentially wanting a bit more romance thrown in, but I was happy with the level provided.This book (and indeed all of the books in the series) is incredibly long, but to me it felt like good value for money, and not like filler. I would strongly recommend Drew's Super Powereds series to anyone who enjoys coming of age stories.

I have followed this series as it developed as an online serial chapter by chapter, and felt that I must purchase upon completion due to how entertaining the story arch and character development was. Writing this now I am on the final book to be released as a web series and have purchased all books (and spin offs!). Drew is now a favourite author of both myself and my long time girlfriend, we greatly look forward to each release and would both recommend his work to others. Pick this up!!NOW!also try Fred the vampire accountant!

With the advent of kindle and a gazillion books getting published each year, it's becoming increasingly difficult to separate the wheat from the chaff. And reviews aren't always trustworthy, especially since there are a lot of services that offer to sell five-star 'reviews' to help market your book. So I'm always dubious about a book that has dozens of 5-star reviews, when on closer inspection each of these reviews tell you absolutely nothing about what you're getting into; it's just 'excellent'. "I won't tell you why, but just trust me, stranger."So here's my honest two cents along with some actual insight to help you decide if this book is for you.Despite the misgivings above, I decided to check out 'Super-Powereds: Year One' as it had one of the highest ratings for its genre on goodreads, and there wasn't much else to choose from. I also used the 'Look Inside' feature, and immediately picked up on some of the writer's technical style of feeding you enough information to get you hooked, but leaving enough unsaid to keep you curious. I have to say he does this well, and he employs a similar style throughout the book, enticing you to keep reading. The chapters are also short and easily digestible; he doesn't veer off into whimsy or bore the reader with extraneous detail.For the most part, it's a good read. The characters are interesting and fairly unique. The writing is crisp and the dialogue is passable. There were more than a few moments that made me cringe and roll my eyes, but I expected as much from book of this nature.So why the three stars? Moreover, why did I not finish reading the book? (I reached the 64% mark)Well, I got a distinct impression this book was going nowhere. I'm guessing the author was trying to write 'Harry Potter' for the superhero genre, and I clearly wasn't the only one who felt this way after reading some of the other reviews. (Note: I've never read HP or watched the movies.) It takes place in a college for 'Supers'... and my guess is that it is going to stay there for at least 4 books. I wasn't expecting that.As of yet (>400 pages in) there is no antagonist, no sense of threat, none of the characters have personal stories I really care about, (e.g. none of it generates sympathy), and even the use of their powers is not very evocative. So far it's just a bunch of juveniles coping with the challenges of this intense course, and then going out to see who they can 'pull' on the weekends. Sorry, this is really not what I was looking for when decided to delve into the superhero genre.If you're looking for a teen/young adult soap opera in an unorthodox setting, this may work for you. Personally, I have no interest in seeing it through. And if I'm wrong and if their is some twist around the corner that I didn't get to, it's the writer's job to hold my interest until that point. But so far, after hundreds of pages, I see no reason to believe there is. I've been given nothing more than a bunch of awkward and sappy relationships, and not a hint of anything more.After seeing the future titles 'Year Two', 'Year Three', etc, I'm just left feeling what is the point? When I choose to pick up a book on superheroes, I expected the emphasis on them being *super* and *heroic*, not a bunch of young hipsters trying to score a date... who just happen to have some odd power as well.Really not my cup of tea.

I managed to complete this book but at the end of it I felt a bit deflated. The story just didn't go anywhere and lacked focus and depth. I didn't give two hoots about any of the main characters. I was more interested in the ancillary characters Mr Transport, Mr Numbers and Mr Stop who didn't have any real participation but had the potential of some amazing back stories (hence 2 stars instead of 1).I'm somewhat baffled how anyone can take the subject of people with Super Powers and make it so dull!I won't be bothering with book 2

I've been a comics fan for years but hadn't really considered superhero literature before. After wetting my whistle with the thoroughly enjoyable Ex-Heroes, I read a review of this on a website and decided to give it a try.The basic premise is that there are 2 sorts of super powered people in the world, super heroes how have control of their powers and powereds who ddon't.The story follows 5 powereds who volunteer for a new treatment that should grant them the control they lack and their attempt to become fully licensed heroes.The main characters have an interesting set of powers snd the story is really well written. Hayes draws you in and you really care what happens to the protagonists.Some people may find the very short chapters annoying but they didn't bother me.I you like your superheroes and you fancy something a bit different give this a try. I really really enjoyed it.