Weekend Reads #70 – The Hero Agenda by Tera Lynn Childs and Tracy Deebs

Two weeks ago Captain America: Civil War hit theaters and I was unable to go see it (yes, I’m whining just a little), but I stumbled upon Tera Lynn Childs, Tracy Deebs‘s series The Hero Agenda and all was right with the world. I planned to just read the first one, as the second was still a month from release and then I remembered: “I have a copy from Netgalley!” Yay for advanced copies because I devoured this series in just over 24 hours. Anyone that enjoys urban fantasy and superheroes needs to read these books ASAP! I’m hoping there will be more though if not it wraps up nicely as a duology….but if Tera Lynn Childs, Tracy Deebs are reading this I will happily read any and all future books 😀

Powerless by Tera Lynn Childs, Tracy Deebs
Series: The Hero Agenda
on 2015-06-02
Length: 310 pages
Reviewing eBook from TN R.E.A.D.S.
Rating:

Kenna is tired of being "normal."

The only thing special about her is that she isn't special at all. Which is frustrating when you're constantly surrounded by superheroes. Her best friend, her ex-boyfriend, practically everyone she knows has some talent or power. Sure, Kenna's smart and independent, but as an ordinary girl in an extraordinary world, it's hard not to feel inferior.

So when three villains break into the lab where she interns, Kenna refuses to be a victim. She's not about to let criminals steal the research that will make her extraordinary too.

But in the heat of battle, secrets are spilled and one of the villains saves her life. Twice. Suddenly, everything Kenna thought she knew about good and evil, heroes and villains is upended. And to protect her life and those she loves, she must team up with her sworn enemies on a mission that will redefine what it means to be powerful and powerless...

Powerless by Tera Lynn Childs, Tracy Deebs is the first in a new series about superheroes and villains. I honestly enjoyed this book way more than I expected to. From the first lines to the last I was fully engaged with the characters, their plight, and the world in which they lived. Kenna Swift is an ordinary living in the world of heroes. She works in her mother’s lab and everything is right in her world. Heroes are good, villains are bad and there is no gray area. That is until she catches three villains breaking into her mother’s lab and everything she thought she knew about the world is shattered.

Kenna is one of those main characters that will stick with me for a long time. While she sees herself as powerless, I see her as fearless. She willingly puts herself in danger time and again to help her friends. She isn’t afraid to ask the hard questions and face the truth head on. Now that isn’t to say she doesn’t struggle with the truths she learns because she does, a great deal. This is what makes her character great! The authors pour into her growth and as a reader it is wonderful to see.

Even though Kenna is the main character, the story wouldn’t have been so addictive without the side characters. There is an entire cast of characters that fight alongside and against Kenna that make this story so gripping. I loved Rebel, her best friend and super heroine. Like her name suggests, she is a rebel and it through her that Kenna’s eyes begin to open to the gray areas that surround her life. And I can’t write a review without mentioning Draven, the villain who turns Kenna’s world inside out. *swoon*

My only complaint (and it’s minor, not even worth dropping my love a star) was the world-building. The authors immerse the reader into Kenna’s world with little to no information about it. There’s this great opener that’s like a memo/office email about the world she lives in and then boom! We’re right in the action and suppose to understand the world of heroes and villains. Honestly it didn’t bother me, though I really wanted to know more! I loved the dynamic, the informal laws, and the action-packed adventure that Kenna and her friends find themselves in.

Overall I adored this book! I’ve always been a fan of superheroes and villain stories. Tera Lynn Childs, Tracy Deebs take it to a new level! They combine the things I love about the comics and movies and created a wonderful book for teens everywhere! There’s snark and humor, diversity, and even a little romance. I can’t recommend this book enough!

Final Conclusion:

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I received this book via Netgalley. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of this review.

Relentless by Tera Lynn Childs, Tracy Deebs
Series: The Hero Agenda,
on 2016-06-07
Length: 292 pages
Reviewing eARC from Netgalley
Rating:

Revenge is easy, but justice is worth fighting for...

Kenna is tired of being lied to-and hunted by the very allies she once trusted. Unearthing the dark secrets of the superhero world has not only endangered her life, now her boyfriend faces execution for crimes he didn't commit and her mother is being held captive in a secret governmental prison.

Kenna is determined to stand up for what's right and save those she loves from unspeakable fates. It's time for the betrayal to end. It's time for the real criminals to face justice.

But the truth is even more terrifying than Kenna could imagine. A conspiracy threatens the fate of heroes, villains, and all of humanity. If Kenna's going to survive, she must draw on her deepest strength: her resilience. Because when Kenna's pushed to the limit, she doesn't break down. She fights back.

Relentless by Tera Lynn Childs, Tracy Deebs is a fantastic conclusion to the duology The Hero Agenda. Honestly I really hope there’s more but if there isn’t I’m satisfied 😀 At the end of Powerless, Kenna and her friends are separated, Draven is possibly dead, and Kenna’s mom is still missing. I am SO thankful I had an ARC of this one when I finished book one because I don’t think I could have waited to find out what happened!

Kenna has quickly become one of my favorite characters! She’s feisty and at the end of book one, she finds out about her powers. She’s no longer powerless, but powerful and I LOVED reading her transformation!

The first book in the series (while excellent!) really set up the action for this installment. It is jam packed with action! It was like reading one of my favorite Marvel movies. Kenna and her friends, a mixture of villains and heroes, must figure out what the leader of the heroes is up to before it is too late for everyone. There’s more world-building in this installment than in the first book which just increased how much I liked it.

In addition to the world-building and action-packed plot, there’s a lot going on with the characters. Where the first book was plot-driven, this one is more character-driven in my opinion. Kenna is learning her new powers but the other characters are learning to adapt to her and each other. Heroes and Villains have never worked together, they are indoctrinated to hate each other, but they are working together and they are finding that not much is different among them.

If you can’t tell, I loved this book! I would love more of this world and Kenna and her friends. I enjoyed it from the first word to the last and could not get enough. In fact, I read it twice 😀 If you enjoy a good vs evil tale, a little romance, and a lot of adventure, I highly recommend you read the series!

Final Conclusion: 

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