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Hero Worship
Ever since becoming an IWP—Individual with Powers—Marvin Maywood has dreamed of joining the Core, a group of gifted heroes who save lives and stop crimes. But because he's a homeless teenager who is forbidden to use his amazing powers, wanting and achieving that dream are two very separate things.
But when Marvin saves a family from dangerous hoodlums with his incredible strength and speed, his chance to try out for the Core comes at last. The opportunity seems like a dream come true—until he realizes that the idyllic hero life he imagined is just a mask for the corrupt reality. And when a beloved hero is murdered, Marvin is suspected of being the villain behind the crime.
But when Marvin saves a family from dangerous hoodlums with his incredible strength and speed, his chance to try out for the Core comes at last. The opportunity seems like a dream come true—until he realizes that the idyllic hero life he imagined is just a mask for the corrupt reality. And when a beloved hero is murdered, Marvin is suspected of being the villain behind the crime.
240 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2014
9 people are currently reading
296 people want to read
About the author
Christopher E. Long
41 books9 followersChristopher E. Long’s comic books have been published by the likes of Marvel Comics, DC Comics, IDW Publishing and Image Comics.
His articles and short stories have been published in a variety of magazines, including Flaunt, Spinetingler Magazine, and Thuglit.
His first published comic book was “Easy Way,” which he got the title tattooed on his arm. “Hero Worship” is his debut young adult novel, so he’s getting that tattooed on his arm soon.
Christopher was born in Seattle, Washington, raised in Logan, Utah, and currently lives in Southern California with his wife and son.
His articles and short stories have been published in a variety of magazines, including Flaunt, Spinetingler Magazine, and Thuglit.
His first published comic book was “Easy Way,” which he got the title tattooed on his arm. “Hero Worship” is his debut young adult novel, so he’s getting that tattooed on his arm soon.
Christopher was born in Seattle, Washington, raised in Logan, Utah, and currently lives in Southern California with his wife and son.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 37 reviews
May 21, 2015
I received a digital ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review...just so you know.
Marvin. What a boring name for a character.
On the up side, Marvin has superpowers!
Except he can't be a superhero, because he's been labeled as having 'dirty' powers. Only those with 'clean' powers are allowed to use them. And since Marvin is a good boy who believes in following the law, he works as a dishwasher in diner instead of becoming the hero he wants to be. In fact, unlike his roommates (aka two other homeless kids with dirty powers), Marvin idolizes the crime fighting organization called the Core.
Hero Worship? Get it?!
Ahhh...so clever.
Anyway, most of the people who have been classified as 'dirty' don't exactly collect the Core's action figures. Marvin's roommate, Yvonne is a classic example. Her hatred for the Core (especially their leader) is not exactly a secret. But since she makes a living getting junkies high with her power, Marvin doesn't really take her opinion seriously. So Marvin continues to follow the rules, collect Core memorabilia, and dream of one day being a member of the elite team.
Marvin is such a good guy that when he encounters a family in need of his help, he breaks the law to save them, even though he knows if he is discovered using his powers it will be bad news for him. This brings him to the attention of the youngest member of the Core, who may or may not have Marvin's best interests at heart. She tells him that he has been chosen to try out for the Core, and like any good fanboy Marvin jumps at the chance.
Poor Marvin. You hate to see his idyllic views tainted, but you know it's just a matter of time before everything comes crashing down on him.
And it does. In a big way. Not only does he discover that the Core is shady, but when one of the founding members is murdered Marvin becomes a wanted fugitive.
I liked the characters, the plotline, and the pace of the book enough to glide through the story with ease. I don't see any other books coming after this one (yet), but the ending leaves it open for more stories about these characters. And as much as my boys like comics, this is definitely a book that I'll be buying as soon as it comes out.
I was expecting this to be more of a middle grade reader (Think: Percy Jackson or Harry Potter), but there's quite a bit of adult content in this which pushes it up to the young adult category. Maybe even mature young adult, since there is a non-descriptive rape scene in it. It's actually quite different considering it was a female using her powers to have sex with an unwilling male. Still rape, baby! I'm wondering (if this turns into a series) if this will be brought up as an issue that the character needs work through.
Marvin. What a boring name for a character.
On the up side, Marvin has superpowers!
Except he can't be a superhero, because he's been labeled as having 'dirty' powers. Only those with 'clean' powers are allowed to use them. And since Marvin is a good boy who believes in following the law, he works as a dishwasher in diner instead of becoming the hero he wants to be. In fact, unlike his roommates (aka two other homeless kids with dirty powers), Marvin idolizes the crime fighting organization called the Core.
Hero Worship? Get it?!
Ahhh...so clever.
Anyway, most of the people who have been classified as 'dirty' don't exactly collect the Core's action figures. Marvin's roommate, Yvonne is a classic example. Her hatred for the Core (especially their leader) is not exactly a secret. But since she makes a living getting junkies high with her power, Marvin doesn't really take her opinion seriously. So Marvin continues to follow the rules, collect Core memorabilia, and dream of one day being a member of the elite team.
Marvin is such a good guy that when he encounters a family in need of his help, he breaks the law to save them, even though he knows if he is discovered using his powers it will be bad news for him. This brings him to the attention of the youngest member of the Core, who may or may not have Marvin's best interests at heart. She tells him that he has been chosen to try out for the Core, and like any good fanboy Marvin jumps at the chance.
Poor Marvin. You hate to see his idyllic views tainted, but you know it's just a matter of time before everything comes crashing down on him.
And it does. In a big way. Not only does he discover that the Core is shady, but when one of the founding members is murdered Marvin becomes a wanted fugitive.
I liked the characters, the plotline, and the pace of the book enough to glide through the story with ease. I don't see any other books coming after this one (yet), but the ending leaves it open for more stories about these characters. And as much as my boys like comics, this is definitely a book that I'll be buying as soon as it comes out.
I was expecting this to be more of a middle grade reader (Think: Percy Jackson or Harry Potter), but there's quite a bit of adult content in this which pushes it up to the young adult category. Maybe even mature young adult, since there is a non-descriptive rape scene in it. It's actually quite different considering it was a female using her powers to have sex with an unwilling male. Still rape, baby! I'm wondering (if this turns into a series) if this will be brought up as an issue that the character needs work through.
June 5, 2016
Whether they have superpowers or not, there’s almost something magical about heroes. Marvin belongs in a small group of friends, two young adults and himself, together since childhood, now living together, supporting each other emotionally, all ‘dirties’. In this fantastical society children are tested when they display any power ability. Dirties are either sent away or receive ‘treatment’ to remove their abilities. Those who come ‘clean’ are allowed to use their powers and some will become a member of The Core, a group akin to the justice league.
The story makes an intriguing world. Being a superhero fan, I found it cool to read about people with powers. It was even cooler to find flaws, corruption, deceit and not knowing who to trust. All that glitters is not gold. All heroes are not heroes.
Even if the beginning chapters hadn’t delved into the heart of the action yet, they were my favorite since they held a genuine humor that made me laugh out loud more than once.
“He's so close that I can reach out and touch him. I actually consider doing this, but let's face it, that would be creepy."
Unfortunately the humor climbed down and disappeared as the plot progressed. There was definitely darkness later, but the ending shakes on a lighter coating again. Nothing wrong with this as I like the corruption angle and finding out what happened intensified the story and what was at stake, but it felt a bit inconsistent with the writing style.
Marvin is one reason the book soars; he’s amusing, intelligent, compassionate, a normal and tempted male teenager. His friends quirky antics and strange gifts were fun accompanists. I didn’t invest much in the core but they are backdrops anyway. The main villain is a yucky one it’s easy to dislike, and the superheroes who were corrupt beyond measure were intriguing to read about, even if we only get glimpses of them and not deep insight.
The ending is a powerful rush of bravery which leaves the closing of the book with a peaceful finish. Overall good action, creative storyline, an intriguing world, super powers, and deluded societal traits make a good story. It’s true I think the first part of the book is the strongest, but all is worth a read. Memorable.
The story makes an intriguing world. Being a superhero fan, I found it cool to read about people with powers. It was even cooler to find flaws, corruption, deceit and not knowing who to trust. All that glitters is not gold. All heroes are not heroes.
Even if the beginning chapters hadn’t delved into the heart of the action yet, they were my favorite since they held a genuine humor that made me laugh out loud more than once.
“He's so close that I can reach out and touch him. I actually consider doing this, but let's face it, that would be creepy."
Unfortunately the humor climbed down and disappeared as the plot progressed. There was definitely darkness later, but the ending shakes on a lighter coating again. Nothing wrong with this as I like the corruption angle and finding out what happened intensified the story and what was at stake, but it felt a bit inconsistent with the writing style.
Marvin is one reason the book soars; he’s amusing, intelligent, compassionate, a normal and tempted male teenager. His friends quirky antics and strange gifts were fun accompanists. I didn’t invest much in the core but they are backdrops anyway. The main villain is a yucky one it’s easy to dislike, and the superheroes who were corrupt beyond measure were intriguing to read about, even if we only get glimpses of them and not deep insight.
The ending is a powerful rush of bravery which leaves the closing of the book with a peaceful finish. Overall good action, creative storyline, an intriguing world, super powers, and deluded societal traits make a good story. It’s true I think the first part of the book is the strongest, but all is worth a read. Memorable.
August 9, 2014
It's easy to root for a winner, but it takes integrity to root for someone who's outgunned yet stays in the game to the bitter end.
-Marvin's Father
Marvin Maywood lives in a corrupted world where only the Core, a group of the greatest super heroes, is a shining light through the darkness. It's Marvin's deepest desire to join the Core, but this is impossible. After Marvin discovers that he is an IWP (Individual With Powers), he goes to get tested, a government requested action that must be exercised if a one begins to manifest powers. His results come back with a devastating end result telling him that he's a "dirty." It turns out that his powers are fueled by others' fears. This means that, like all other dirties, he may not use his powers to gain a profit. This privilege is only an option for the "clean," those who are allowed to use their powers for monetary purposes. If they are caught illegally using their powers, the authorities are allowed to take them into custody. For this reason, Marvin refuses to usitlize his gifts.
Years after this horrible news, Marvin's a runaway who lives with two other dirties, Yvonne and Kent. Still refraining to use his abilities, he takes up a normal occupation that includes working at the Midtown Cafe under a strange yet comforting man named Gus. Yvonne and Kent have no problem using their dirty powers for money and exercise them daily so that they can live without picking up an honest job. Marvin still longs to be a member of the Core and dreams of joining them in their never ending battle of good against evil.
One night, Marvin finds a family in trouble on his stroll home from work. While the attackers are armed and vicious, Marvin is determined to help these innocent people. No matter what others say, no one should stand by, clean or dirty, while helpless people are being wronged. Powering up from the surrounding fear, he saves the parents and their little boy. Soon after, his story is all over the news, an unfortunate kickback after his heroic endeavors. It's then that someone by the name of Eliza comes by the cafe soon after. She claims to be one of the Core's very own super heroes, Roisin. She promises that she is going to give Marvin the opportunity to try out for the Core. This unexpected happenstance leaves Marvin reeling. He finally has the opportunity and means to fulfill his utmost desire, but can this be real? He has been labeled "dirty" after all. Deciding to take Eliza up on her offer, Marvin starts to do all that she tells him, losing and distancing himself from the rest of his world, including his friends, job, and sense of right and wrong. After finding out more about the inner workings of the Core, Marvin believes that they might not be the heroes he loved to worship. Something dark and sinister is going on within it. Will the secrets suffocate him, locking him up inside the insane web of deception, or will Marvin rise above it all and be the true hero that he always thought he could be?
Marvin Maywood is such an interesting character. He's driven by his past mistakes and regrets, a trait that various people can easily connect with. He's also the type of guy who has a strong sense of justice and a need to practice what he preaches. It's not hard to observe that Marvin has a strong connection with this friends, even to the extent in which he challenges and changes their own habits and ideals. It's evident that his desire for good rubs off on both Yvonne and Kent in such a remarkable way. Maywood's inner struggle to figure out the correct paths to take when Roisin shows up and yanks him by the collar is a true and honest battle that is described like a true war that we humans encounter countless times over and over again. Sure, Marvin sometimes fell short of himself and staggered towards becoming a different person entirely, but he was a real fighter, a true hero. He knew who he was, who he is, and who he wanted to be. Nothing could get in the way of that. This is definitely a plus on Long's writing style and character building.
In some cases, writing a book with super heroes is difficult. Do they live in a world like ours or is it different? What's the extent of which someone's powers can reach? Are there rules to their powers? I can only imagine the extensive building it takes to create something like that, and really, this applies to all books. I think that Mr. Long did a great job doing that in his book. The action scenes were well placed and not to mention perfectly written. I have come across some books that just come up dry when action or battles hit the story. Whether it's the improper execution or confusing descriptions, they're sometimes just not easy to follow or read. This was not he case with Hero Worship. Long's conflicts were nicely done.
At the end of the day, I was pretty happy with this book. There was action, a little bit of romance, and tons of super heroes! These types of books or just stories about people with any power(s) in general make me happy. I guess that these characters hold something that we all want, even if it's just a little. That is, we want to make a difference in more than simply a small way. Hero Worship was a decent super hero book. It was even funny at points. It just wasn't one of my all time favorite crime fighting books which is why I gave it four out of five stars. Nonetheless, if you love this type of thing or are a huge comic book lover, definitely give this one a try. You can definitely see this book play out just like a comic book, a unique quality for a chapter book.
You can see reviews like this one and more at http://knightingalereviews.blogspot.com/.
(http://knightingalereviews.blogspot.c...)
-Marvin's Father
Marvin Maywood lives in a corrupted world where only the Core, a group of the greatest super heroes, is a shining light through the darkness. It's Marvin's deepest desire to join the Core, but this is impossible. After Marvin discovers that he is an IWP (Individual With Powers), he goes to get tested, a government requested action that must be exercised if a one begins to manifest powers. His results come back with a devastating end result telling him that he's a "dirty." It turns out that his powers are fueled by others' fears. This means that, like all other dirties, he may not use his powers to gain a profit. This privilege is only an option for the "clean," those who are allowed to use their powers for monetary purposes. If they are caught illegally using their powers, the authorities are allowed to take them into custody. For this reason, Marvin refuses to usitlize his gifts.
Years after this horrible news, Marvin's a runaway who lives with two other dirties, Yvonne and Kent. Still refraining to use his abilities, he takes up a normal occupation that includes working at the Midtown Cafe under a strange yet comforting man named Gus. Yvonne and Kent have no problem using their dirty powers for money and exercise them daily so that they can live without picking up an honest job. Marvin still longs to be a member of the Core and dreams of joining them in their never ending battle of good against evil.
One night, Marvin finds a family in trouble on his stroll home from work. While the attackers are armed and vicious, Marvin is determined to help these innocent people. No matter what others say, no one should stand by, clean or dirty, while helpless people are being wronged. Powering up from the surrounding fear, he saves the parents and their little boy. Soon after, his story is all over the news, an unfortunate kickback after his heroic endeavors. It's then that someone by the name of Eliza comes by the cafe soon after. She claims to be one of the Core's very own super heroes, Roisin. She promises that she is going to give Marvin the opportunity to try out for the Core. This unexpected happenstance leaves Marvin reeling. He finally has the opportunity and means to fulfill his utmost desire, but can this be real? He has been labeled "dirty" after all. Deciding to take Eliza up on her offer, Marvin starts to do all that she tells him, losing and distancing himself from the rest of his world, including his friends, job, and sense of right and wrong. After finding out more about the inner workings of the Core, Marvin believes that they might not be the heroes he loved to worship. Something dark and sinister is going on within it. Will the secrets suffocate him, locking him up inside the insane web of deception, or will Marvin rise above it all and be the true hero that he always thought he could be?
Marvin Maywood is such an interesting character. He's driven by his past mistakes and regrets, a trait that various people can easily connect with. He's also the type of guy who has a strong sense of justice and a need to practice what he preaches. It's not hard to observe that Marvin has a strong connection with this friends, even to the extent in which he challenges and changes their own habits and ideals. It's evident that his desire for good rubs off on both Yvonne and Kent in such a remarkable way. Maywood's inner struggle to figure out the correct paths to take when Roisin shows up and yanks him by the collar is a true and honest battle that is described like a true war that we humans encounter countless times over and over again. Sure, Marvin sometimes fell short of himself and staggered towards becoming a different person entirely, but he was a real fighter, a true hero. He knew who he was, who he is, and who he wanted to be. Nothing could get in the way of that. This is definitely a plus on Long's writing style and character building.
In some cases, writing a book with super heroes is difficult. Do they live in a world like ours or is it different? What's the extent of which someone's powers can reach? Are there rules to their powers? I can only imagine the extensive building it takes to create something like that, and really, this applies to all books. I think that Mr. Long did a great job doing that in his book. The action scenes were well placed and not to mention perfectly written. I have come across some books that just come up dry when action or battles hit the story. Whether it's the improper execution or confusing descriptions, they're sometimes just not easy to follow or read. This was not he case with Hero Worship. Long's conflicts were nicely done.
At the end of the day, I was pretty happy with this book. There was action, a little bit of romance, and tons of super heroes! These types of books or just stories about people with any power(s) in general make me happy. I guess that these characters hold something that we all want, even if it's just a little. That is, we want to make a difference in more than simply a small way. Hero Worship was a decent super hero book. It was even funny at points. It just wasn't one of my all time favorite crime fighting books which is why I gave it four out of five stars. Nonetheless, if you love this type of thing or are a huge comic book lover, definitely give this one a try. You can definitely see this book play out just like a comic book, a unique quality for a chapter book.
You can see reviews like this one and more at http://knightingalereviews.blogspot.com/.
(http://knightingalereviews.blogspot.c...)
January 7, 2014
1.5 Stars
A copy was provided through NetGalley and the Publisher in exchange for an honest review
I requested this book specifically because it was about superpowers, heroes and villains. The main character is 17 going on 18 years old, so I was expecting a decent slightly mature male voice, but unfortunately that wasn't the case here.
Hero Worship is a very fast read, which is about the only thing that kept me reading, because as most of you lovely readers know by now, I have the attention span of a gnat and by the 18% mark I already wanted to drop the book and pick something else, but since it would have only taken me another hour and half to finish I figured I should just get it over with, not like I had any pressing matters to attend to anyway :P
You are probably wondering what was so bad about the book that it made me want to mark it down as a DNF. It was a multitude of certain aspects that just weren't working for me. As I already mentioned at the start of this review I was expecting a somewhat mature male pov and I didn't get it. For a person to have witnessed his father killing his mother and then ending up living in the streets because of it and dropping out of school, you would think the guy was a bit cynical and hard and tough, but he was the softest marshmallow ever and so damn gullible and naive it was sickening. Okay, maybe sickening is a bit harsh, but my point is it didn't make it any easier to read. I couldn't fathom how a person who was in the situation he was in could so completely accept what he was being told and just go on his merry way. He also had absolutely no loyalty towards his friends at first. He kept everything from them, but believed everything the strange psycho girl who made him walk through hoops said.
I should also say that I've never been a fan of the boy scout types, they are just entirely too goody-two-shoes for my liking. I'm not saying I like criminals now, but a healthy sense of distrust and paranoia goes a long way xD
The plot while mildly interesting it also wasn't anything to write home about. What it all comes down to is the book came off as too childish for my liking. Everything, from the characters, to the writing to the plot was too cookie-cutter. If you go in not expecting anything much more than a fast, generic, but entertaining superhero book then you will end up having a good time.
A copy was provided through NetGalley and the Publisher in exchange for an honest review
I requested this book specifically because it was about superpowers, heroes and villains. The main character is 17 going on 18 years old, so I was expecting a decent slightly mature male voice, but unfortunately that wasn't the case here.
Hero Worship is a very fast read, which is about the only thing that kept me reading, because as most of you lovely readers know by now, I have the attention span of a gnat and by the 18% mark I already wanted to drop the book and pick something else, but since it would have only taken me another hour and half to finish I figured I should just get it over with, not like I had any pressing matters to attend to anyway :P
You are probably wondering what was so bad about the book that it made me want to mark it down as a DNF. It was a multitude of certain aspects that just weren't working for me. As I already mentioned at the start of this review I was expecting a somewhat mature male pov and I didn't get it. For a person to have witnessed his father killing his mother and then ending up living in the streets because of it and dropping out of school, you would think the guy was a bit cynical and hard and tough, but he was the softest marshmallow ever and so damn gullible and naive it was sickening. Okay, maybe sickening is a bit harsh, but my point is it didn't make it any easier to read. I couldn't fathom how a person who was in the situation he was in could so completely accept what he was being told and just go on his merry way. He also had absolutely no loyalty towards his friends at first. He kept everything from them, but believed everything the strange psycho girl who made him walk through hoops said.
I should also say that I've never been a fan of the boy scout types, they are just entirely too goody-two-shoes for my liking. I'm not saying I like criminals now, but a healthy sense of distrust and paranoia goes a long way xD
The plot while mildly interesting it also wasn't anything to write home about. What it all comes down to is the book came off as too childish for my liking. Everything, from the characters, to the writing to the plot was too cookie-cutter. If you go in not expecting anything much more than a fast, generic, but entertaining superhero book then you will end up having a good time.
August 9, 2013
Read as digital ARC.
FINALLY. This is the first superhero book since Perry Moore's Hero that actually stood up as a superhero novel. Granted, writing books about superheroes is what I want to do "when I grow up" (i.e. NOW), so I'm notoriously judge-y, but this lived up to my expectations.
Here's what you can look forward to: a world that had actual thought put into it--heroes test as either dirty or clean, powers you recognize and powers you don't, problems that are not high school related--YES!
FINALLY. This is the first superhero book since Perry Moore's Hero that actually stood up as a superhero novel. Granted, writing books about superheroes is what I want to do "when I grow up" (i.e. NOW), so I'm notoriously judge-y, but this lived up to my expectations.
Here's what you can look forward to: a world that had actual thought put into it--heroes test as either dirty or clean, powers you recognize and powers you don't, problems that are not high school related--YES!
October 20, 2017
Christopher E. Long demonstrates his ability to capture a reader's attention in this short but engaging piece of fiction. Plentiful dialogue fitted with descriptive scenes of action will keep you intrigued throughout all 233 pages. If you're into excitement, this book will be a perfect read. A struggle between what is best and what is right is the main problem in this book. With a happy ending, conflict is resolved and lessons are taught. Overall, a great book for teenagers and still anyone else with a desire for action.
October 17, 2014
In the story Hero Worship, Long has created a world where you are either classified as a clean, dirty, or normie. The main character, Marvin, is classified as a "dirty," which means his powers are of no use and is harmful to the community. Marvin's power is to feed off the fear in people. Ever since he was a kid he's had a dream of becoming a hero and becoming apart of the Core, but with his powers he won't be accepted, until he saves a family from a group of gangsters. A member of the Core comes to meet him and asks him if he wants to try out for the Core.
The thing that I liked in Hero Worship was that it's from the main character's point of view because it allows you to connect to the main character more than just reading it from a third person point of view. For me, I think first person is like someone talking to me. Christopher E. Long allows you to get to know Marvin from beginning to end. Long also keeps giving action and giving straight to the point events. But like all books it has a drawback. The drawback is that the author made the Core very similar to Marvel's Avengers and DC's Justice League. Also some of the story started to become predictable as the events of the story unfolded. The overall message of the story is things aren't always what they seem because Marvin’s childhood superheroes aren’t really heroes; they actually are corrupt villains that have failed their city.
I really enjoyed this book because of all the action and adventure that I experienced while I read this amazing book. I would recommend this to any person who is into the Marvel and DC Comics because many of the heroes in the book are similar to the heroes in the comics. That would be due to Long’s history of comics published by Marvel and DC.
The thing that I liked in Hero Worship was that it's from the main character's point of view because it allows you to connect to the main character more than just reading it from a third person point of view. For me, I think first person is like someone talking to me. Christopher E. Long allows you to get to know Marvin from beginning to end. Long also keeps giving action and giving straight to the point events. But like all books it has a drawback. The drawback is that the author made the Core very similar to Marvel's Avengers and DC's Justice League. Also some of the story started to become predictable as the events of the story unfolded. The overall message of the story is things aren't always what they seem because Marvin’s childhood superheroes aren’t really heroes; they actually are corrupt villains that have failed their city.
I really enjoyed this book because of all the action and adventure that I experienced while I read this amazing book. I would recommend this to any person who is into the Marvel and DC Comics because many of the heroes in the book are similar to the heroes in the comics. That would be due to Long’s history of comics published by Marvel and DC.
May 24, 2014
DNF.
The dialogue was so awkward and hilariously inaccurate, the MC was too naive to be believable, and everything was stupidly obvious.
This was a cool concept but the execution left a lot to be desired.
The dialogue was so awkward and hilariously inaccurate, the MC was too naive to be believable, and everything was stupidly obvious.
This was a cool concept but the execution left a lot to be desired.
August 17, 2018
I enjoyed this book very much, but it was not without its problems. I'll start with the positives, The world the Long created was interesting and nuanced, the characters were deep and interesting. Take Eliza for example, or better known as Roisin. She was the member of the core that discovered Marvin in the first place, and when we first meet her she is calm cool and collected, she is in control of whatever situation she is in. But as the story progresses, we start to see the true colors of her, and she might not have been the righteous heroin we all thought she was. But now for some negatives. The story is a little fast. It feels like one minute Marvin is trying out for the Core and everything is amazing, and then five pages later he is a wanted criminal running from the authorities. It just feels like there need to be a little more inner monologue of the characters between action scenes.
I would recommend this book to other people, for a multitude of reasons. One of witch being it's interesting take on superheros. They are usually portrayed like perfect men and women, fighting for the justice of others, through no other motive than just wanting to make the world a better place. But this book shows them in a very different light. It shows how even the world's greatest heroes are not perfect and just as flawed if not more so than everyone else. Through its expiration of different themes such as, the idolizing of flawed people, and the struggle between different social classes. This book bring up these complicated subject and disguises it as a fun superhero story. Even though it could have explored a little deeper into the mind and thoughts of the characters, enlighten the reader on the inner working of these characters minds. Giving the book a little more depth. But overall it is a great story that deserves a read.
I would recommend this book to other people, for a multitude of reasons. One of witch being it's interesting take on superheros. They are usually portrayed like perfect men and women, fighting for the justice of others, through no other motive than just wanting to make the world a better place. But this book shows them in a very different light. It shows how even the world's greatest heroes are not perfect and just as flawed if not more so than everyone else. Through its expiration of different themes such as, the idolizing of flawed people, and the struggle between different social classes. This book bring up these complicated subject and disguises it as a fun superhero story. Even though it could have explored a little deeper into the mind and thoughts of the characters, enlighten the reader on the inner working of these characters minds. Giving the book a little more depth. But overall it is a great story that deserves a read.
November 3, 2016
1.5 stars, rounded up because I was thoroughly entertained throughout the first 75 percent of it.
Toward the beginning of this book, I was certain I would give it three stars.
No, the writing wasn't fantastic. It wasn't terrible, but it was nothing to write home about. But it got the job done, and as I read, the story came to life in my head like a comic book. If Long does anything right, he does a great job of evoking classic comic-book images, deconstructing old tropes and making them dark and fresh.
Around the 40 percent mark, I considered giving it four stars. Sure, the plot had been done before, but the world rang true and his characters were surprisingly engaging. I was willing to overlook its faults and only take off the extra star for the lackluster writing.
And then the final quarter of the book kicked into gear.
I won't go into all of the logic fails here, but I will ask a few questions. Like….
1. Why would a superhero agency obsessed with its public image hire a known sociopath? It could be argued that their leader was one, but c'mon. She stole a founding member's credit card and thought nothing of it, and later sliced a man in half with her laser vision. You'd think they wouldn't want someone that dangerous working for them.
2. Why would said superhero agency not put more stock in the skills of a freaking MIND READER? If Mystic can't read someone's mind, it means they are mentally ill and/or unstable. That should be a warning sign, guys.
3. Why is Roisin the ONLY known sociopath on the team when it's clear both Rocket and Streak show signs of sociopathy, and Mercury would most likely be diagnosed as a psychopath? Come to think of it, why didn't Mystic turn and run straight the other way when they recruited her, if the minds of her teammates were so broken?
4. Why do so many writers think big words are a good way to show a character's intelligence? They are A way, but they're not the ONLY way. Having Rocket reach the correct answer within seconds, giving him a skill for some brainy hobby, or something like that would have been a much better way to show his intelligence.
5. Why was Mystic so laissez-faire about her teammates' illegal activities?
6. Why did Eliza record everything—including the things that might incriminate her? That seemed like a lazy way to get Marvin and his friends off the hook.
There were aspects of this novel I enjoyed. I liked his brief, gritty descriptions of Loganstin. I liked the clean vs. dirty dichotomy. I liked the way he showed the tragedies behind the superheroes' devil-may-care attitude toward collateral damage (something I always wondered about in movies like Man of Steel and The Avengers). I liked the portrayal of media relations with the Core. I liked the way Long slowly unraveled the mystery of Eliza/Roisin, taking her from upbeat and fun superhero to a real monster. I did NOT like the way she became rather cartoonish in the last few pages. I understand that she's a sociopath, but I would have liked to see her get more motivation in killing Mercury than just "I want to be in charge NAO."
In books like this, I usually complain about the content. And while there was some pretty mature content here that keeps me from recommending it to anyone under the age of 16, it didn't bother me as much. The mature content was judiciously used, and none of it felt gratuitous. Long used it to show the depravity of his so-called heroes and how far downhill the city has gone. It served a purpose, and wasn't there merely to make the story sound "darker' or "edgier" than it actually was. I applaud Long for that.
I wanted to like Gus. I really did. But every single thing he said wound up sounding like one of those advice fortune cookies—you know, the kind everyone hates because you open up that cookie for a FORTUNE, dang it, and instead all you get is a strip of paper giving you some vague warning about how "fair-weather friends and unwise investments will rob a good man"? That's how I felt with Gus. I wanted to appreciate him for his wisdom, but I only ever saw him in fortune-cookie mode.
Speaking of which, I could have done without the little moralistic asides. When Marvin notices the heavy makeup Mystic uses to cover up her wrinkles and scars, the bit about people not being perfect up close felt unnecessary. Had Long left that final sentence off and just pointed out Mystic's imperfections, I would have thought it a lovely bit of symbolism. I HATE it when writers point out symbolism in their own stories. And the last two paragraphs of the novel, where Marvin sums up everything he's learned were skimmed by me. Just show us the themes and leave us to find them, Long. Trust that your story is strong enough to get them across to us.
If this book had a saving grace, it was its three leads: Marvin, Kent, and Yvonne. I really liked Marvin. He reminded me of Captain America with his unflagging commitment to goodness and truth. I loved the way he always believed the best of humanity, while not being blind to its dark side. Yvonne had a sweet-tough-girl attitude going on, and I loved her for it. And Kent….well, what's not to love? One of the most creative uses of a "Mister Fantastic" type character I've seen.
All in all, this is a deeply flawed book that falls apart in its final quarter. There is some strong content, which I would not recommend for everyone. However, if you want to try this book out for yourself, go for it. It isn't perfect, but it is not without its merits. I wish I could have liked it more than I did.
And the search for the perfect superhero novel continues.
Toward the beginning of this book, I was certain I would give it three stars.
No, the writing wasn't fantastic. It wasn't terrible, but it was nothing to write home about. But it got the job done, and as I read, the story came to life in my head like a comic book. If Long does anything right, he does a great job of evoking classic comic-book images, deconstructing old tropes and making them dark and fresh.
Around the 40 percent mark, I considered giving it four stars. Sure, the plot had been done before, but the world rang true and his characters were surprisingly engaging. I was willing to overlook its faults and only take off the extra star for the lackluster writing.
And then the final quarter of the book kicked into gear.
I won't go into all of the logic fails here, but I will ask a few questions. Like….
1. Why would a superhero agency obsessed with its public image hire a known sociopath? It could be argued that their leader was one, but c'mon. She stole a founding member's credit card and thought nothing of it, and later sliced a man in half with her laser vision. You'd think they wouldn't want someone that dangerous working for them.
2. Why would said superhero agency not put more stock in the skills of a freaking MIND READER? If Mystic can't read someone's mind, it means they are mentally ill and/or unstable. That should be a warning sign, guys.
3. Why is Roisin the ONLY known sociopath on the team when it's clear both Rocket and Streak show signs of sociopathy, and Mercury would most likely be diagnosed as a psychopath? Come to think of it, why didn't Mystic turn and run straight the other way when they recruited her, if the minds of her teammates were so broken?
4. Why do so many writers think big words are a good way to show a character's intelligence? They are A way, but they're not the ONLY way. Having Rocket reach the correct answer within seconds, giving him a skill for some brainy hobby, or something like that would have been a much better way to show his intelligence.
5. Why was Mystic so laissez-faire about her teammates' illegal activities?
6. Why did Eliza record everything—including the things that might incriminate her? That seemed like a lazy way to get Marvin and his friends off the hook.
There were aspects of this novel I enjoyed. I liked his brief, gritty descriptions of Loganstin. I liked the clean vs. dirty dichotomy. I liked the way he showed the tragedies behind the superheroes' devil-may-care attitude toward collateral damage (something I always wondered about in movies like Man of Steel and The Avengers). I liked the portrayal of media relations with the Core. I liked the way Long slowly unraveled the mystery of Eliza/Roisin, taking her from upbeat and fun superhero to a real monster. I did NOT like the way she became rather cartoonish in the last few pages. I understand that she's a sociopath, but I would have liked to see her get more motivation in killing Mercury than just "I want to be in charge NAO."
In books like this, I usually complain about the content. And while there was some pretty mature content here that keeps me from recommending it to anyone under the age of 16, it didn't bother me as much. The mature content was judiciously used, and none of it felt gratuitous. Long used it to show the depravity of his so-called heroes and how far downhill the city has gone. It served a purpose, and wasn't there merely to make the story sound "darker' or "edgier" than it actually was. I applaud Long for that.
I wanted to like Gus. I really did. But every single thing he said wound up sounding like one of those advice fortune cookies—you know, the kind everyone hates because you open up that cookie for a FORTUNE, dang it, and instead all you get is a strip of paper giving you some vague warning about how "fair-weather friends and unwise investments will rob a good man"? That's how I felt with Gus. I wanted to appreciate him for his wisdom, but I only ever saw him in fortune-cookie mode.
Speaking of which, I could have done without the little moralistic asides. When Marvin notices the heavy makeup Mystic uses to cover up her wrinkles and scars, the bit about people not being perfect up close felt unnecessary. Had Long left that final sentence off and just pointed out Mystic's imperfections, I would have thought it a lovely bit of symbolism. I HATE it when writers point out symbolism in their own stories. And the last two paragraphs of the novel, where Marvin sums up everything he's learned were skimmed by me. Just show us the themes and leave us to find them, Long. Trust that your story is strong enough to get them across to us.
If this book had a saving grace, it was its three leads: Marvin, Kent, and Yvonne. I really liked Marvin. He reminded me of Captain America with his unflagging commitment to goodness and truth. I loved the way he always believed the best of humanity, while not being blind to its dark side. Yvonne had a sweet-tough-girl attitude going on, and I loved her for it. And Kent….well, what's not to love? One of the most creative uses of a "Mister Fantastic" type character I've seen.
All in all, this is a deeply flawed book that falls apart in its final quarter. There is some strong content, which I would not recommend for everyone. However, if you want to try this book out for yourself, go for it. It isn't perfect, but it is not without its merits. I wish I could have liked it more than I did.
And the search for the perfect superhero novel continues.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 10, 2023
If you like stories about superheroes, you will like this book. Marvin is an 18 year old with powers of speed and strength that he gets by feeding off fear of others. The problem is that he will pass out after using them because it drains him so badly. He is propositioned by the Core to join the elite group of superheroes who help the citizens of the city. It turns out that there is corruption among the team, and it becomes the mission of Marvin and his two friends Yvonne and Kent to stop them and make the public aware.
July 28, 2023
Male mc
Summary: He was screwed over by a fake superhero and goes from being hated to being loved/ adored. He was known as a villain and a fake superhero tricked him. Then he was hated for being falsely accused and then after he saved the day he became adored
9/10 good read loved it
Summary: He was screwed over by a fake superhero and goes from being hated to being loved/ adored. He was known as a villain and a fake superhero tricked him. Then he was hated for being falsely accused and then after he saved the day he became adored
9/10 good read loved it
August 4, 2014
Individual's With Powers (IWP) fall into two categories, clean and dirty. Only cleans are allowed to use their powers, and dirties are encouraged to go through DNA manipulation to remove their powers. A group of powerful cleans have formed a superhero team called The Core, and they protect Loganstin City. 17 year old Marvin has dirty powers, and so do his friends Yvonne and Kent, who he lives with in an underpass (technically they're all homeless). Marvin's powers are fed by fear and seem to fall into the generic super strength and speed categories, but as a dirty he's forbidden from using them. He works as a dishwasher for Gus, who's really cool but has a thing against IWP's so Marvin doesn't open up to him. Everything seems fine until Marvin uses his powers to rescue a family being robbed, bringing him to the attention of the youngest ever member of The Core, Eliza/Roisin. Eliza tells Marvin he's being offered a tryout to join The Core, even though his powers are dirty. It all seems too good to be true, and maybe it is, but Marvin has idolized The Core since he was a child, and he'd do anything to become a member. That is, until he finds out what The Core really does.
This book was good, but I felt it got a bit rushed and the writing kind of tapered off in quality near the end. The writing was fast-paced and didn't get in the way of speeding through the story, and there weren't any glaring flaws. I like this sort of slightly-more-serious depiction of superheroes. As another reviewer said, it reminded me of Perry Moore's excellent (and more mature) book Hero, as a more realistic view of young people with special abilities (without being X-Men-like). It also reminded me of Garth Ennis' ongoing comic series The Boys, Vol. 1: The Name of the Game and Austin Grossman's Soon I Will Be Invincible.
Marvin and his friends were all great; Yvonne was hardened and cynical, Kent's role expanded from comic relief to caring friend as the book went on, and even Marvin's boss Gus served as a kind of hands-off mentor-type who I wanted to have more of a part in the story. Marvin's motivations make sense, even his idolization of The Core and his dreams of using his powers for good. He's a good person who doesn't hide his powers for personal gain (as opposed to getting them removed) but rather because he wants to be lawful - just like The Core. Once the story moved around to Eliza/Roisin and the other Core members, I felt a little too much influence from something like The Boys. Like it wanted to go that far, with superheroes being legitimate scumbags, but as a YA novel it didn't want to be too upsetting. There was also a female on male rape scene with no description - so trigger warning I guess. Hats off for including a scene like that with the genders reversed from the norm, though. Although, I felt like it was an out-of-character turn for the female character, who is a bit of a spoiled bratty jerk up to that point, but suddenly becomes a caricature of evil afterwards.
I'd recommend this book for high schoolers or more mature 8th graders, since most of the older content is implied more than written. As I mentioned, it doesn't go as far as say The Boys, Vol. 1: The Name of the Game in negative portrayal of superheroes, but it isn't all sunshine and buttercups either. It provides a good example of "absolute power corrupts absolutely" but also stays hopeful and positive somehow, not an unimpressive feat.
I received a digital galley of this book through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
This book was good, but I felt it got a bit rushed and the writing kind of tapered off in quality near the end. The writing was fast-paced and didn't get in the way of speeding through the story, and there weren't any glaring flaws. I like this sort of slightly-more-serious depiction of superheroes. As another reviewer said, it reminded me of Perry Moore's excellent (and more mature) book Hero, as a more realistic view of young people with special abilities (without being X-Men-like). It also reminded me of Garth Ennis' ongoing comic series The Boys, Vol. 1: The Name of the Game and Austin Grossman's Soon I Will Be Invincible.
Marvin and his friends were all great; Yvonne was hardened and cynical, Kent's role expanded from comic relief to caring friend as the book went on, and even Marvin's boss Gus served as a kind of hands-off mentor-type who I wanted to have more of a part in the story. Marvin's motivations make sense, even his idolization of The Core and his dreams of using his powers for good. He's a good person who doesn't hide his powers for personal gain (as opposed to getting them removed) but rather because he wants to be lawful - just like The Core. Once the story moved around to Eliza/Roisin and the other Core members, I felt a little too much influence from something like The Boys. Like it wanted to go that far, with superheroes being legitimate scumbags, but as a YA novel it didn't want to be too upsetting. There was also a female on male rape scene with no description - so trigger warning I guess. Hats off for including a scene like that with the genders reversed from the norm, though. Although, I felt like it was an out-of-character turn for the female character, who is a bit of a spoiled bratty jerk up to that point, but suddenly becomes a caricature of evil afterwards.
I'd recommend this book for high schoolers or more mature 8th graders, since most of the older content is implied more than written. As I mentioned, it doesn't go as far as say The Boys, Vol. 1: The Name of the Game in negative portrayal of superheroes, but it isn't all sunshine and buttercups either. It provides a good example of "absolute power corrupts absolutely" but also stays hopeful and positive somehow, not an unimpressive feat.
I received a digital galley of this book through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
November 10, 2016
this book is a really good read I couldn't put it down.
Read
March 13, 2017This is a compelling coming of age story with a superhero twist. The author treats his teenage subjects with respect and makes you really care about them.
September 9, 2013
originally posted here> http://alwayslostinbooks.wordpress.co...
The beginning of this book instantly made me think about The Incredibles movie, where people with superpowers live among normal people. But I found that it went way deeper than that where powers are classified as either “clean” or “dirty,” and only those deemed “clean” are free to use their powers to save others. This line in the book just hit the spot for me:
“Isn’t it ironic? We have powers, but we’re powerless.”
The main character, Marvin, was classified as dirty, eradicating his hope to ever be part of The Core. The Core is the group of people that have been considered clean, and is the group of heroes of Loganstin City. And Marvin just adores them. He even collects action figures and other merchandise. Hence, hero worship. When the opportunity arises for Marvin to join The Core, he latches on instantly, but it’s never really as simple as it all seems.
I really love the characters in Hero Worship. Marvin is kind-hearted and heroic in every way. He makes a couple of mistakes in the story, but I still like him. Even though he was considered dirty, he wouldn’t allow himself to participate in any illegal activities so he works as a busboy at Midtown Cafe to earn a living. And his boss, Gus, is a character that I definitely love. He’s like Gandalf or Obi-wan or any of those side-characters that guide the main character along even though they don’t really participate much. Gus had a lot of good advice to offer to Marvin, and I just really like him. He was a really good friend to Marvin even though Marvin wouldn’t really open up to him. And once I got to know Gus more, I loved him more and more.
Marvin’s best friends, Yvonne and Kent, were both also qualified as dirties. The three of them stuck together and lived together in an underpass. They weren’t able to live a normal life – a home with a family, a high school life, etc. The three of them pretty much only had each other for years, living illegally under the radar (except for Marvin). Yvonne is a pretty tough girl, but I think that her character was given more depth throughout the story. Kent is one of my favorite characters. I think he’s a good source for comic relief, but he’s also a sensitive person. He shows off different sides of himself, and I pretty much fell in love with him.
Honestly, this was the kind of book that I vividly pictured in my head like a movie. I like the whole feel of it, even though I don’t normally read or watch about superheroes. The story and characters were really engrossing that I finished this in a few hours. And when it was time for the epilogue, I was playing epic music in my head (like one you would hear in an ending of a movie).
I think that the content is more for mature YA, considering the language and violence. Or maybe that’s just me.
OVERALL, this was an epic hero novel that I just simply loved. The characters were amazing, especially Marvin’s group of friends, but my favorites would definitely be Gus and Kent, who are both funny, smart, and great friends. Hero Worship is action-packed with chase scenes and fight scenes, showing off the powers of the individuals. I’m not really sure if there will be more after this book, but I would definitely read a sequel!
The beginning of this book instantly made me think about The Incredibles movie, where people with superpowers live among normal people. But I found that it went way deeper than that where powers are classified as either “clean” or “dirty,” and only those deemed “clean” are free to use their powers to save others. This line in the book just hit the spot for me:
“Isn’t it ironic? We have powers, but we’re powerless.”
The main character, Marvin, was classified as dirty, eradicating his hope to ever be part of The Core. The Core is the group of people that have been considered clean, and is the group of heroes of Loganstin City. And Marvin just adores them. He even collects action figures and other merchandise. Hence, hero worship. When the opportunity arises for Marvin to join The Core, he latches on instantly, but it’s never really as simple as it all seems.
I really love the characters in Hero Worship. Marvin is kind-hearted and heroic in every way. He makes a couple of mistakes in the story, but I still like him. Even though he was considered dirty, he wouldn’t allow himself to participate in any illegal activities so he works as a busboy at Midtown Cafe to earn a living. And his boss, Gus, is a character that I definitely love. He’s like Gandalf or Obi-wan or any of those side-characters that guide the main character along even though they don’t really participate much. Gus had a lot of good advice to offer to Marvin, and I just really like him. He was a really good friend to Marvin even though Marvin wouldn’t really open up to him. And once I got to know Gus more, I loved him more and more.
Marvin’s best friends, Yvonne and Kent, were both also qualified as dirties. The three of them stuck together and lived together in an underpass. They weren’t able to live a normal life – a home with a family, a high school life, etc. The three of them pretty much only had each other for years, living illegally under the radar (except for Marvin). Yvonne is a pretty tough girl, but I think that her character was given more depth throughout the story. Kent is one of my favorite characters. I think he’s a good source for comic relief, but he’s also a sensitive person. He shows off different sides of himself, and I pretty much fell in love with him.
Honestly, this was the kind of book that I vividly pictured in my head like a movie. I like the whole feel of it, even though I don’t normally read or watch about superheroes. The story and characters were really engrossing that I finished this in a few hours. And when it was time for the epilogue, I was playing epic music in my head (like one you would hear in an ending of a movie).
I think that the content is more for mature YA, considering the language and violence. Or maybe that’s just me.
OVERALL, this was an epic hero novel that I just simply loved. The characters were amazing, especially Marvin’s group of friends, but my favorites would definitely be Gus and Kent, who are both funny, smart, and great friends. Hero Worship is action-packed with chase scenes and fight scenes, showing off the powers of the individuals. I’m not really sure if there will be more after this book, but I would definitely read a sequel!
July 25, 2016
Review courtesy of All Things Urban Fantasy
Back in the day, superheroes could just be super. Now stories about people with powers all struggle to answer the same question: how would a group of super beings get by in this modern world of 24-hour news networks and jaded capitalism? Christopher E. Long attempts to answer this question in his debut young adult novel, HERO WORSHIP.
A veteran of the world of comic books, Long has no trouble putting his own twist on the superpowered residents of the fictional Loganstin, and HERO WORSHIP is full of great ideas. Unfortunately, the YA novel reads like a script for a comic, which prevents me from really sinking into the story. The use of present tense, in particular, keeps me at arms-length, jarring me out of the narrative during important moments. Present tense is so rarely worth the trouble in fiction, and has a tendency to turn prose into directions. This works when Long tells the reader what he or she is seeing, which is why scenes at Midtown Café, Eliza’s hideaway, and Marvin’s overpass-underground apartment are vivid and easy to picture. But without an artist to interpret the words, using the same technique to tell the reader what the characters are thinking and feeling is much less successful.
It feels particularly awkward every time a character comes to a stop in the middle of a scene to reveal a significant chunk of backstory. This gives me the impression that Long’s history in comics has left him uncertain as to whether or not his audience (particularly a young audience) will pick up on subtleties.
Some of the ideas put forward in HERO WORSHIP – such as the corruption of the Core and the systems in place to control the IWP, from media relations to the Clean Powers Act – are really intriguing, and I want to know more about them, but I don’t want a Wikipedia article. I want to explore them along with the characters, especially Marvin’s roommate Kent, whose ability to reshape his body is as fascinating as it is disgusting. Who doesn’t love a character who sleeps in a chest after turning into a gelatinous puddle at the end of each day?
Back in the day, superheroes could just be super. Now stories about people with powers all struggle to answer the same question: how would a group of super beings get by in this modern world of 24-hour news networks and jaded capitalism? Christopher E. Long attempts to answer this question in his debut young adult novel, HERO WORSHIP.
A veteran of the world of comic books, Long has no trouble putting his own twist on the superpowered residents of the fictional Loganstin, and HERO WORSHIP is full of great ideas. Unfortunately, the YA novel reads like a script for a comic, which prevents me from really sinking into the story. The use of present tense, in particular, keeps me at arms-length, jarring me out of the narrative during important moments. Present tense is so rarely worth the trouble in fiction, and has a tendency to turn prose into directions. This works when Long tells the reader what he or she is seeing, which is why scenes at Midtown Café, Eliza’s hideaway, and Marvin’s overpass-underground apartment are vivid and easy to picture. But without an artist to interpret the words, using the same technique to tell the reader what the characters are thinking and feeling is much less successful.
It feels particularly awkward every time a character comes to a stop in the middle of a scene to reveal a significant chunk of backstory. This gives me the impression that Long’s history in comics has left him uncertain as to whether or not his audience (particularly a young audience) will pick up on subtleties.
Some of the ideas put forward in HERO WORSHIP – such as the corruption of the Core and the systems in place to control the IWP, from media relations to the Clean Powers Act – are really intriguing, and I want to know more about them, but I don’t want a Wikipedia article. I want to explore them along with the characters, especially Marvin’s roommate Kent, whose ability to reshape his body is as fascinating as it is disgusting. Who doesn’t love a character who sleeps in a chest after turning into a gelatinous puddle at the end of each day?
January 9, 2014
I have a weakness for superhero books. Thus I was super excited to sit down and read HERO WORSHIP, the young adult debut from Christopher E. Long. He does have a background in comics, so I had pretty high expectations.
HERO WORSHIP was an incredibly fast read for me. I didn't expect to finish it in a single day! (It's hard to read a full book on a work day, after all.) I really liked Marvin Maywood, the protagonist. He's the Superman or Captain America type of hero -- the guy who does the right thing because it is the right thing. Unfortunately for Marvin, it's illegal for him to use his powers.
In the world of HERO WORSHIP, people with powers are tested when they manifest. "Clean" powers are a fast track to celebrity and possibly membership in superhero team The Core. "Dirty" powers are illegal, and most pay to have therapy to get rid of them. Marvin and his two best friends are homeless and scraping by as a result, since they refuse to get rid of their powers. Then Marvin saves a family and finds himself being courted by Eliza, a clean superhero.
It's an interesting world starring some characters I love (Marvin and his friends), but I thought the plot was a little weak. Marvin fails to notice obviously bad things staring him in the face. Once he clues in, he still walks into an obviously bad situation. If you can't tell from the previous paragraph, Marvin's world is pretty obviously corrupt. Yet I never quite believed that the cover up works, given how many people have to be involved. And there was an incredibly off-putting scene of sexual violence that hangs there like a bad taste. It doesn't affect the plot and there's no scene of emotional reaction (which I would expect) and . . . the book just goes there and then basically ignores that it happened.
I enjoyed HERO WORSHIP, but I think its appeal is mostly restricted to superhero fans. There are other stories out there that have more cross-genre appeal. The central characters are strong enough that I'm interested in reading whatever Long writes next.
HERO WORSHIP was an incredibly fast read for me. I didn't expect to finish it in a single day! (It's hard to read a full book on a work day, after all.) I really liked Marvin Maywood, the protagonist. He's the Superman or Captain America type of hero -- the guy who does the right thing because it is the right thing. Unfortunately for Marvin, it's illegal for him to use his powers.
In the world of HERO WORSHIP, people with powers are tested when they manifest. "Clean" powers are a fast track to celebrity and possibly membership in superhero team The Core. "Dirty" powers are illegal, and most pay to have therapy to get rid of them. Marvin and his two best friends are homeless and scraping by as a result, since they refuse to get rid of their powers. Then Marvin saves a family and finds himself being courted by Eliza, a clean superhero.
It's an interesting world starring some characters I love (Marvin and his friends), but I thought the plot was a little weak. Marvin fails to notice obviously bad things staring him in the face. Once he clues in, he still walks into an obviously bad situation. If you can't tell from the previous paragraph, Marvin's world is pretty obviously corrupt. Yet I never quite believed that the cover up works, given how many people have to be involved. And there was an incredibly off-putting scene of sexual violence that hangs there like a bad taste. It doesn't affect the plot and there's no scene of emotional reaction (which I would expect) and . . . the book just goes there and then basically ignores that it happened.
I enjoyed HERO WORSHIP, but I think its appeal is mostly restricted to superhero fans. There are other stories out there that have more cross-genre appeal. The central characters are strong enough that I'm interested in reading whatever Long writes next.
Read
March 1, 2016The book Hero Worship is about a population where increasing amounts of people have powers and there are those who have ‘clean’ and those who have ‘dirty’ powers, which either allows or disallows them to use their powers. People with dirty powers are expected to get rid of them, discriminated against and feared, but those with clean powers can be recruited to become superheros.
After Marvin is discovered to have saved a family from a gang who was attacking them he is pursued and being considered to become a superhero, but he quickly discovers that just because these people wear capes that that doesn’t mean they are good.
I would recommend this book to people to read as a fun read but I wouldn’t recommend it as a good book. Hero Worship had all the elements for a great story but it felt choppy because you were only given the information that the character was given but you still were able to question the main character. The main character made some questionable decisions in his pursuit of super heroism. Marvin chose to do things for the other superheroes that he thought would make him a more likely candidate as a superhero but it always came off to me as the reader that there was something more at stake than Marvin realized. I found myself wanting to tell Marvin that what he was doing was wrong to the point where I was annoyed but that could also mean that I cared about the character.
In the beginning I was disinterested in the characters but as the story developed I found myself creating my own opinions on them as they tried to grow or shrink.
After Marvin is discovered to have saved a family from a gang who was attacking them he is pursued and being considered to become a superhero, but he quickly discovers that just because these people wear capes that that doesn’t mean they are good.
I would recommend this book to people to read as a fun read but I wouldn’t recommend it as a good book. Hero Worship had all the elements for a great story but it felt choppy because you were only given the information that the character was given but you still were able to question the main character. The main character made some questionable decisions in his pursuit of super heroism. Marvin chose to do things for the other superheroes that he thought would make him a more likely candidate as a superhero but it always came off to me as the reader that there was something more at stake than Marvin realized. I found myself wanting to tell Marvin that what he was doing was wrong to the point where I was annoyed but that could also mean that I cared about the character.
In the beginning I was disinterested in the characters but as the story developed I found myself creating my own opinions on them as they tried to grow or shrink.
December 2, 2015
I'm going to start of with saying the superhero genre is my absolute favourite, as such that makes me unfairly critical and quite a lot of people wouldn't agree with my opinion. First off Christopher Long is a good writer, he keeps things moving, never lets things stagnate, I didn't notice any glaring grammar mistakes (not that I'm particularly good with that myself) and his characterisation and power set for his protagonists are original and relatable.
Unfortunately this is where I get critical, the power sets for the other characters were bland, inconsistant even with the main characters in some cases. The story was swift and enjoyable but things were glossed over; such as severe sexual assault never being mentioned after the fact, the character of Kent opening up to Joel in the school was a great character moment (his fear for the future and knowing things cant last etc) but its there for a moment and gone the next never to be mentioned or reflected in the character again. The price is also quite the blow, I find myself in a temporary situation where I have a bit of disposable cash but even I balked at the price. Its the sort of pricing I'd expect for an established author with a fan base and at a larger page count, Hero Worship is a short book and it reads as such with its fast pacing, nothing wrong with that but far too overpriced.
Overall its a good book but its got heavy flaws, being a debut I'd like to think the author will learn and improve and adopt a more novel approach rather than a comic one.
Unfortunately this is where I get critical, the power sets for the other characters were bland, inconsistant even with the main characters in some cases. The story was swift and enjoyable but things were glossed over; such as severe sexual assault never being mentioned after the fact, the character of Kent opening up to Joel in the school was a great character moment (his fear for the future and knowing things cant last etc) but its there for a moment and gone the next never to be mentioned or reflected in the character again. The price is also quite the blow, I find myself in a temporary situation where I have a bit of disposable cash but even I balked at the price. Its the sort of pricing I'd expect for an established author with a fan base and at a larger page count, Hero Worship is a short book and it reads as such with its fast pacing, nothing wrong with that but far too overpriced.
Overall its a good book but its got heavy flaws, being a debut I'd like to think the author will learn and improve and adopt a more novel approach rather than a comic one.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 7, 2014
This book was received as an advanced reader copy from the publisher at the aasl convention in Connecticut in exchange for an honest review.
The premise and world building were very well done, and much in line with the comic book world building that you would normally see in a graphic novel or comic book. The twist on the Core characters (the supposed heroes) was quite interesting because it lets you know that heroes are not perfect and can even fall to temptations. The clean versus dirty powers helped to explain the back story and what Marvin and his friends had to overcome in order to be heroes.
There were several places where this book fell apart for me...there needed to more in depth discovery into the relationships Marvin had with Gus and with Yvonne. Some of the scenes don't seem realistic because there was not a lot of attention paid to those relationships. Roisin came across as spoiled at the very beginning of the story and very quickly turned evil with not a lot of build up as to how that happened. There should have been more leading up to how that happened. Also, there was no dealing with the male rape scene. It just happened and was over.
This book would definitely be for mature high school students due to content and language. I can definitely see that there is room for sequels and an audience that would love the expansion of comic book heroes into the novel market.
The premise and world building were very well done, and much in line with the comic book world building that you would normally see in a graphic novel or comic book. The twist on the Core characters (the supposed heroes) was quite interesting because it lets you know that heroes are not perfect and can even fall to temptations. The clean versus dirty powers helped to explain the back story and what Marvin and his friends had to overcome in order to be heroes.
There were several places where this book fell apart for me...there needed to more in depth discovery into the relationships Marvin had with Gus and with Yvonne. Some of the scenes don't seem realistic because there was not a lot of attention paid to those relationships. Roisin came across as spoiled at the very beginning of the story and very quickly turned evil with not a lot of build up as to how that happened. There should have been more leading up to how that happened. Also, there was no dealing with the male rape scene. It just happened and was over.
This book would definitely be for mature high school students due to content and language. I can definitely see that there is room for sequels and an audience that would love the expansion of comic book heroes into the novel market.
June 6, 2014
I would give this book 4 out of 5 stars ever since becoming an IWP Individual with Powers Marvin Maywood has dreamed of joining the Core, a group of gifted heroes who save lives and stop crimes. But because he's a homeless teenager who is forbidden to use his amazing powers, wanting and achieving that dream are two very separate things. But there is a problem with the core
"You know the difference between the members of the Core and god? God doesn't think he's a member of the Core. This is talking about how the Core thinks that they are the rulers of the world and they command everyone which is very corrupt and wrong and it is shows in the book.
Then there are the trouble makers in the book."One of the hoodlums points and laughs. The young boy turns to look, but his mother whispers at him not to stare. He looks at his parents, confusion on his face as he senses their agitation. Fear swirls around them like a bad odor." These are the hoodlums in the book that cause trouble and mischief and cause a bad name for powers because either you're in the core or you get you're powers removed and they cause trouble in the book along the way. Thought the book the Hooligans and the core make plenty of challenges for Marvin and his friends and if you want to see what Marvin does to stop this madness then read Hero Worship.
"You know the difference between the members of the Core and god? God doesn't think he's a member of the Core. This is talking about how the Core thinks that they are the rulers of the world and they command everyone which is very corrupt and wrong and it is shows in the book.
Then there are the trouble makers in the book."One of the hoodlums points and laughs. The young boy turns to look, but his mother whispers at him not to stare. He looks at his parents, confusion on his face as he senses their agitation. Fear swirls around them like a bad odor." These are the hoodlums in the book that cause trouble and mischief and cause a bad name for powers because either you're in the core or you get you're powers removed and they cause trouble in the book along the way. Thought the book the Hooligans and the core make plenty of challenges for Marvin and his friends and if you want to see what Marvin does to stop this madness then read Hero Worship.
May 31, 2014
It reads like a first draft. The main character, Marvin, is the most gullible person alive. He mentions feeling stuff in the past that didn't come up like when the stuff was actually happening. The fact that he doesn't see Eliza is an awful person and doesn't intend to have him join the Core was pathetic. It was so obvious. The twist with Gus at the end should have been foreshadowed more. The dialogue wasn't okay, but the characterization fell flat. The characters felt two-dimensional. And giving Eliza some random disorder it doesn't seem like he researched at all (or if he did, it didn't translate into Eliza's character very well) was such a cop-out. The only reason I even finished the book was because it was so short.
This book has an interesting plot, but it needs a shitload of work to be a good read. For one thing, develop the subplots more. Foreshadow the Gus thing more, and less foreshadowing with the Core = evil stuff. Give more of what they're feeling. Make Marvin less gullible and naive. Turn the characters, especially Mystic, into real people.
This book has an interesting plot, but it needs a shitload of work to be a good read. For one thing, develop the subplots more. Foreshadow the Gus thing more, and less foreshadowing with the Core = evil stuff. Give more of what they're feeling. Make Marvin less gullible and naive. Turn the characters, especially Mystic, into real people.
September 13, 2014
An extremely quick read about Marvin, a homeless teen with super powers. Unfortunately he's a "dirty," meaning it's against the law for him to use his powers. When he saves a family during a carjacking, he's offered the opportunity to try out for the Core, a group of revered superheroes who protect the city.
The author has a background in comic writing, and it shows. It's a thoughtful take on public heroism, corruption, and doing the right thing. The writing is straight forward and the dialogue and action scenes flow naturally. Overall, this is a nice surprise from a small publisher and highly recommended for reluctant readers and fans of Steelheart.
Note: there's an unexpected rape scene - not graphic, but it's pretty clear exactly what happens.
The author has a background in comic writing, and it shows. It's a thoughtful take on public heroism, corruption, and doing the right thing. The writing is straight forward and the dialogue and action scenes flow naturally. Overall, this is a nice surprise from a small publisher and highly recommended for reluctant readers and fans of Steelheart.
Note: there's an unexpected rape scene - not graphic, but it's pretty clear exactly what happens.
September 3, 2014
I've noticed a trend lately, especially in YA literature, that books are getting longer and longer, but not really adding to the content. So I was exited when I found this at just over 200 pages. However, the brevity of the book just meant that absolutely nothing was developed. the characters, plot and setting are all strictly one-dimensional. The author is making a very interesting point, but if he wasn't going to bother to actually create a world in which to fully realize a metaphor for his message, he would have been better off just publishing an essay, making the point without the cliches.
May 13, 2014
I really liked the protagonist in this story, mostly because he represented justice and good which I admire. The plot itself was interesting, but I felt that it was a little rushed at the end and a little inconclusive. There were also times that I felt could have been developed and described more in detail which I was disappointed in. Nonetheless, I did enjoy the fast pacing of the story that cut to the chase without going over the tiny details. I finished the book in a day, so that probably means that it had a good enough for me to continue to be interested in reading it.
August 19, 2015
This is a simple book about the delusional view most people have of superheroes. While it is a good read and I was up all hours of the night finishing it, I can't say it was perfect or even noteworthy. It's really just another nifty short novel involving superheroes.
There are a lot of Greek Mythology references which I found kind of dry. I mean really? Nothing more original to reference superheroes to than the Olympians? It wasn't enough to be a motif but darn close.
There are a lot of Greek Mythology references which I found kind of dry. I mean really? Nothing more original to reference superheroes to than the Olympians? It wasn't enough to be a motif but darn close.
April 16, 2014
A nice little comic book hero novel, about teenagers whose powers are deemed 'dirty.' But in order to keep their powers from being neutralized, they have to remain hidden and as human as possible.
An interesting tale of corrupt super heroes. Short and sweet.
An interesting tale of corrupt super heroes. Short and sweet.
January 5, 2014
For my review, check out: Hero Worship on All Things Urban Fantasy.
November 23, 2013
Interesting premise and fun to read, but didn't really stand out from the crowd.
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