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Suddenly Super
What if Violet became an agent of Syndrome?
After using her powers at a party she didn’t want to be at, Violet Parr is grounded ... indefinitely. Now her neighbour that smells like liquorice is coming to babysit her, Dash and Jack-Jack, since her mum needs to go help her dad at a conference. But the lady at the door the next day is not Mrs Caruso ... but a young lady named Mirage.
Mirage has been sent to protect the Parr children from the danger that their parents are entangled with. So when Violet is given the chance to help Mirage’s boss, Syndrome, and protect her brothers, she jumps at the opportunity. But as the mission unfolds, Violet feels that something is amiss. Are Mirage and Syndrome really who they say they are?
After using her powers at a party she didn’t want to be at, Violet Parr is grounded ... indefinitely. Now her neighbour that smells like liquorice is coming to babysit her, Dash and Jack-Jack, since her mum needs to go help her dad at a conference. But the lady at the door the next day is not Mrs Caruso ... but a young lady named Mirage.
Mirage has been sent to protect the Parr children from the danger that their parents are entangled with. So when Violet is given the chance to help Mirage’s boss, Syndrome, and protect her brothers, she jumps at the opportunity. But as the mission unfolds, Violet feels that something is amiss. Are Mirage and Syndrome really who they say they are?
368 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2023
83 people are currently reading
11068 people want to read
About the author
Jen Calonita
69 books3,693 followersHi Goodreads!
I'm Jen Calonita, a MG and YA author who loves what I do because it lets me connect with all of you (and no, I wasn't intending for that to rhyme!).
I've been writing ever since I can remember, but it was fourth grade when I put my "three wishes" for a genie down on paper. They were:
#1. Buy all the Cabbage Patch Kids in the world and give them away for free (because apparently that was how I rolled).
#2. I wanted a mansion, limo, lake house, pool and speed boat (still sounds quite nice).
#3. I wanted to be an author for young readers, which I am!
I love writing novels for teens (and for savvy grown ups who know that YA rocks at any age). My first series was "Secrets of My Hollywood Life" and it followed a teen star named Kaitlin Burke who struggled with the fame game. I have also written the stand-alone novels Sleepaway Girls, it's companion book, Summer State of Mind and the Belles series.
I've been writing middle grade too and am having so much fun with my series Fairy Tale Reform School! The fourth book in this series about a school run by former villains is called Tricked and will be out March 2018. Ever wonder what it would be like if your parents got a job with someone like Taylpr Swift? My other middle grade series, VIP, follows super fan Mackenzie Lowell as she tours with her favorite band, Perfect Storm.
I promise to give book updates here, and on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, or my website. I hope I hear from you!
xo
Jen
I'm Jen Calonita, a MG and YA author who loves what I do because it lets me connect with all of you (and no, I wasn't intending for that to rhyme!).
I've been writing ever since I can remember, but it was fourth grade when I put my "three wishes" for a genie down on paper. They were:
#1. Buy all the Cabbage Patch Kids in the world and give them away for free (because apparently that was how I rolled).
#2. I wanted a mansion, limo, lake house, pool and speed boat (still sounds quite nice).
#3. I wanted to be an author for young readers, which I am!
I love writing novels for teens (and for savvy grown ups who know that YA rocks at any age). My first series was "Secrets of My Hollywood Life" and it followed a teen star named Kaitlin Burke who struggled with the fame game. I have also written the stand-alone novels Sleepaway Girls, it's companion book, Summer State of Mind and the Belles series.
I've been writing middle grade too and am having so much fun with my series Fairy Tale Reform School! The fourth book in this series about a school run by former villains is called Tricked and will be out March 2018. Ever wonder what it would be like if your parents got a job with someone like Taylpr Swift? My other middle grade series, VIP, follows super fan Mackenzie Lowell as she tours with her favorite band, Perfect Storm.
I promise to give book updates here, and on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, or my website. I hope I hear from you!
xo
Jen
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 135 reviews
dnf
August 15, 2024I liked it at first but I hit a wall with the writing and I felt like I wanted to hide from the story.. that make sense?
I had an icky feeling with syndrome's plot so well done there.
The Icky feeling didn't go away 😕 though.. not saying anything bad, but this is just my experience.
There was also the feeling of so many pieces missing, and the writing at times didn't make sense.
It definitely had potential, but, at least for me, it wasn't there.
I'll probably check out the author's other work at some point.. with Mount tbr being so high *shrugs * not sure when.
I had an icky feeling with syndrome's plot so well done there.
The Icky feeling didn't go away 😕 though.. not saying anything bad, but this is just my experience.
There was also the feeling of so many pieces missing, and the writing at times didn't make sense.
It definitely had potential, but, at least for me, it wasn't there.
I'll probably check out the author's other work at some point.. with Mount tbr being so high *shrugs * not sure when.
October 1, 2024
I just watched the movie The Incredibles for the first time not too long ago, and after watching the movie, I decided it was time to read the Twisted Tale version of it. I’m glad I did because the book would have made NO SENSE without knowing the source material. This one was interesting because it was similar to the movie except that Violet ends up unwittingly helping Syndrome instead of her father. I liked seeing Violet become more confident in herself. As with the movie, my favorite character was baby Jack-Jack. I also liked seeing more of Kari the babysitter. Another solid installment in the Twisted Tales series.
Seriously, Jack-Jack is great! Look how happy he is!
Seriously, Jack-Jack is great! Look how happy he is!
July 28, 2023
I’m not gonna lie when I say I was so excited to read this Twisted Tale! When they originally announced The Incredibles 2, I went to see it the weekend of release (using my cousin as an excuse to see it 😂) so I’m defo a fan of the movies.
This twisted tale is mainly focused on Violet as she becomes an Agent of Syndrome who as we all know is the bad guy.
This is a perfect addition to the Twisted Tales series!
This twisted tale is mainly focused on Violet as she becomes an Agent of Syndrome who as we all know is the bad guy.
This is a perfect addition to the Twisted Tales series!
April 20, 2024
This was such a fantastic retelling, and it's the first that the original was the movie that it's retelling, I'm pretty sure, and I had such a great time reading it!
August 18, 2024
The Incredibles is one of my favourite Pixar films so when I heard that it was getting the Twisted Tales treatment, I was really looking forward to finding out what they were going to do to switch things up. Fair to say I wasn’t disappointed. The story focuses on the Parr children (Violet especially) and what happens when Syndrome takes them under his wing and trains them to help him carry out a secret mission. I personally really liked this concept and how it gave a fresh perspective on the original film, making it more interesting and exciting. Violet goes through a journey of self-discovery throughout the book and starts to gain more confidence in herself and her abilities, which was great. There were a few nods to other Pixar films within the story too (without giving too much away they involve a van and a seaside restaurant), which I thought was really clever. On the whole, Suddenly Super is a great addition to the Twisted Tales series and makes one of my favourite Disney films even better.
July 17, 2024
I have several, SEVERAL, problems with this book:
1. Mirage has worked for Syndrome for 6 months. But also 2 years. But also 1 year. This is just one of the MANY inconsistencies this book has.
2. Why do these American superheros all talk like British people? How hard is it to swap out the words "mum" and "biscuit" for "mom" and "cookie"?
3. Too much Mirage. I mean, I love Mirage in the movie, but this book fucking ruined her so it would have been better to leave her out as much as possible.
4. Not enough Mastermind. Mastermind was straight up the best character in this book.
4.5. But I know for a FACT she was referred to as HE several times by people who were supposed to know who she was before the big reveal that she is, in fact, a woman. I feel like the author probably just didn't decide she was going to be a woman until she got to that part.
5. (Chanting:) Plot holes Plot holes Plot holes!
6. Not enough Jack Jack.
7. Why would this book end on a cliffhanger when we all know there's never going to be a sequel?
1. Mirage has worked for Syndrome for 6 months. But also 2 years. But also 1 year. This is just one of the MANY inconsistencies this book has.
2. Why do these American superheros all talk like British people? How hard is it to swap out the words "mum" and "biscuit" for "mom" and "cookie"?
3. Too much Mirage. I mean, I love Mirage in the movie, but this book fucking ruined her so it would have been better to leave her out as much as possible.
4. Not enough Mastermind. Mastermind was straight up the best character in this book.
4.5. But I know for a FACT she was referred to as HE several times by people who were supposed to know who she was before the big reveal that she is, in fact, a woman. I feel like the author probably just didn't decide she was going to be a woman until she got to that part.
5. (Chanting:) Plot holes Plot holes Plot holes!
6. Not enough Jack Jack.
7. Why would this book end on a cliffhanger when we all know there's never going to be a sequel?
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 27, 2024
This book is such a missed opportunity. Sadly most of these Disney “Twisted Tales” books are, but this one is a hard missed opportunity.
You can tell a story to a younger audience without writing it in a tone that talks down to the audience or oversimplifies everything. Have faith in your audience to understand the material and understand context.
I have also read fanfiction with less plot holes and better sequence planning. For a world of superheroes, this narrative is entirely too convenient and the ending is entirely too rushed for this to be the level of intense or enjoyable it’s trying to come across as.
Also would have been worth at least one more star if
You can tell a story to a younger audience without writing it in a tone that talks down to the audience or oversimplifies everything. Have faith in your audience to understand the material and understand context.
I have also read fanfiction with less plot holes and better sequence planning. For a world of superheroes, this narrative is entirely too convenient and the ending is entirely too rushed for this to be the level of intense or enjoyable it’s trying to come across as.
Also would have been worth at least one more star if
October 2, 2024
A fun read that definitely fit with the movie. It was cool to see how the characters, Violet specifically, adapted to the new roles. It was cool to see a bit more backstory for Mirage as well.
April 29, 2025
* This is a standalone and therefore unrelated to the other Twisted Tales books.
Violet Parr has always hidden her powers and tried to blend in with the regular humans, but her Super powers sometimes have a kind of their own and therefore she is always on her guard. But when her mother mysteriously disappears to get her dad from a conference and does not return, leaving Violet with her little brothers and a strange woman claiming she will be attacked by a Super Villain soon. Violet and her brothers leave with the strange woman, since her boss Syndrome claims he can help to solve all Violets problems if she goes on a mission for him.
Pro's:
+ This is a very linear hero-story and even though there were multiple POV, the story stayed on the same timeline and following the same pace. It made the story very easy to follow and very enjoyable to read.
+ I like how teenage-y Violet is in this story, all the woo's of teenagers are mentioned and still she goes through a lot of adult emotions and processes, making this also a fun book for adults to read. It caters to a lot of readers and I think that is quite exceptional for a story like this.
Con's:
- I never found The Incredibles very interesting and as a result I've never seen the movie. That means I have no point of reference for this book. Even in this book the characters don't really do anything for me and the villain is not even that impressive or impactful.
This was a very easy story to follow and to read, even when The Incredibles is a movie/ characters that never were able to capture my attention. It is a very basic hero-story in a nutshell, but there is enough action to capture your attention until the end of the book. I've never seen the movie, not am I now interested to, and therefore I cannot comment to this book in comparison to the movie. It was basic fun for young and older readers and if you like the Disney universe this book will be fun enough for you.
Violet Parr has always hidden her powers and tried to blend in with the regular humans, but her Super powers sometimes have a kind of their own and therefore she is always on her guard. But when her mother mysteriously disappears to get her dad from a conference and does not return, leaving Violet with her little brothers and a strange woman claiming she will be attacked by a Super Villain soon. Violet and her brothers leave with the strange woman, since her boss Syndrome claims he can help to solve all Violets problems if she goes on a mission for him.
Pro's:
+ This is a very linear hero-story and even though there were multiple POV, the story stayed on the same timeline and following the same pace. It made the story very easy to follow and very enjoyable to read.
+ I like how teenage-y Violet is in this story, all the woo's of teenagers are mentioned and still she goes through a lot of adult emotions and processes, making this also a fun book for adults to read. It caters to a lot of readers and I think that is quite exceptional for a story like this.
Con's:
- I never found The Incredibles very interesting and as a result I've never seen the movie. That means I have no point of reference for this book. Even in this book the characters don't really do anything for me and the villain is not even that impressive or impactful.
This was a very easy story to follow and to read, even when The Incredibles is a movie/ characters that never were able to capture my attention. It is a very basic hero-story in a nutshell, but there is enough action to capture your attention until the end of the book. I've never seen the movie, not am I now interested to, and therefore I cannot comment to this book in comparison to the movie. It was basic fun for young and older readers and if you like the Disney universe this book will be fun enough for you.
October 22, 2023
[2.5 stars]
When I picked up signs that my favorite introverted superhero on the planet was being a full-blown introvert, I knew I'd have high hopes for this book. However, this one didn't quite meet my expectations. About halfway through the book, I felt like so many elements were missing and not up to par(r) (no pun intended). I'm sad to say that I almost didn't finish the book.
Firstly, where did Edna Mode go?! My favorite eccentric designer (sorry, Cruella, you're second), who plays a crucial role in plot development, was completely missing. She could have at least been mentioned when Dash and Violet found the supersuits, and she could've helped them develop their powers and escape from Syndrome and Mirage! She'd have been the most incredible (wink, wink) addition to the plot if the author had considered using her pure genius and comedic wit.
I would have also loved to see more of how Violet and Dash value their family and realize that their family is what makes them Super - not their powers, exactly, but the teamwork, support, and love they have for each other is what makes the Incredibles such an awesome team in the movies. I don't think this message shone through quite so much, as we focused more on Violet's internal fear and struggle with having powers than her family dynamic being explored. Mr. Incredible and Elastigirl being MIA for three-quarters of the plot doesn't help with the lack of family fluff to make this book truly shine.
I also would have enjoyed a new revelation from Violet after she escapes Syndrome. The supervillain taught her to control her powers using rage and grief over the supposed loss of her parents, but what if she realized that love and the urge to protect rather than destroy could also channel her powers? That would have been a better lesson and moral to bring into the story, rather than just basing Violet's entire character arc on realizing that her powers aren't bad after all.
(Don't think you can sneak the mention of Brad Bird past me, though.)
When I picked up signs that my favorite introverted superhero on the planet was being a full-blown introvert, I knew I'd have high hopes for this book. However, this one didn't quite meet my expectations. About halfway through the book, I felt like so many elements were missing and not up to par(r) (no pun intended). I'm sad to say that I almost didn't finish the book.
Firstly, where did Edna Mode go?! My favorite eccentric designer (sorry, Cruella, you're second), who plays a crucial role in plot development, was completely missing. She could have at least been mentioned when Dash and Violet found the supersuits, and she could've helped them develop their powers and escape from Syndrome and Mirage! She'd have been the most incredible (wink, wink) addition to the plot if the author had considered using her pure genius and comedic wit.
I would have also loved to see more of how Violet and Dash value their family and realize that their family is what makes them Super - not their powers, exactly, but the teamwork, support, and love they have for each other is what makes the Incredibles such an awesome team in the movies. I don't think this message shone through quite so much, as we focused more on Violet's internal fear and struggle with having powers than her family dynamic being explored. Mr. Incredible and Elastigirl being MIA for three-quarters of the plot doesn't help with the lack of family fluff to make this book truly shine.
I also would have enjoyed a new revelation from Violet after she escapes Syndrome. The supervillain taught her to control her powers using rage and grief over the supposed loss of her parents, but what if she realized that love and the urge to protect rather than destroy could also channel her powers? That would have been a better lesson and moral to bring into the story, rather than just basing Violet's entire character arc on realizing that her powers aren't bad after all.
(Don't think you can sneak the mention of Brad Bird past me, though.)
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 14, 2025
4.5⭐️ Violet was lowkey so annoying
July 20, 2024
+ Loved to read more about Syndromes plans and gadgets.
- The story started in a very slow pace.
- Would have liked to read the perspective of many other characters.
- Predictable and lack of excitement.
- The story started in a very slow pace.
- Would have liked to read the perspective of many other characters.
- Predictable and lack of excitement.
November 18, 2024
This was definitely in my top three out of the series. I really enjoyed how Violet took charge and I like the villain Master Mind she was awesome as well for the small role she had in the book. Overall, really fun read.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 22, 2023
Really nice fun easy read!
September 26, 2023
This was such an easy read. I just wanted more.
And more Jack-Jack please.
And more Jack-Jack please.
January 13, 2024
(4.5) New favorite Twisted Tale!
August 31, 2024
I feel like it needed at least another 3 chapters for the end battle. Didn't hate it, I just wanted more of it.
Loved the rest of the story, too, plus the addition of Violet's friends.
Loved the rest of the story, too, plus the addition of Violet's friends.
August 17, 2025
This is the first “twisted tale” book I’ve read so far and it was good!! I’ve never been a huge fan of The Incredibles movies but this was a cute book filled with adventure and action! Perfect for kids/young adults but also the adult Disney lovers out there (including me).
It had a good message to it too! You have to make mistakes and learn from them… but also, trust your intuition!
It had a good message to it too! You have to make mistakes and learn from them… but also, trust your intuition!
June 17, 2024
Violet was my favorite character in the incredibles movie with so much unused powers. So in this book I was expecting her to find her true power and use it. She did use it but she wasn’t the one to save the day at the end of the book which kind of threw me off.
February 2, 2025
Although the story is action-packed and described in great detail, providing a vivid depiction throughout, the writing style gets a bit too lengthy and tedious. Nonetheless, the tone of naiveté adopted throughout the story was a sweet touch.
April 23, 2024
Very quick and easy read. I like how different the story was to the original but it still sort of paralleled it. I wish the ending didn’t feel so rushed though.
June 5, 2025
I cannot for the life of me figure out why this isn't being released in the United States. Violet calling her mom "Mum" gives me hives. But I'm glad I own it. I'll consider this Jen's redemption and only give her books going forward a small side eye.
September 4, 2024
This was such a fun read! Violet is one of my favorite Pixar characters so I was really looking forward to this one! I thought the twist on the story where Violet and her brothers get trained by Syndrome was really interesting. The only thing I missed was probably more scenes with the rest of the family and Frozone for example as they only make short appearances in the book. Also loved the Easter eggs and nods to other Pixar movies.
October 13, 2023
“If only he could see the look on Mr Incredible’s face when he realised his Super children were now super villains.”
Fourteen-year-old Violet Parr lives by two rules: hide her superpowers, and blend in. But when a mysterious woman named Mirage claims that her parents have been killed by the National Super Agency, Violet realises everything she thought she knew about her life might be a lie. The only person that can protect Violet, Dash and Jack-Jack is the powerful Syndrome, who says that he's Mr Incredible's biggest fan...
We get to see a different side of Violet in this book compared to the Violet we see in the film. Here she’s cautious, scared of her unpredictable powers and their implications. All she wants is to be normal and keep her family safe. I really liked getting to see a vulnerable version of Violet. It helped spur the story along but also helped her feel realistic. No teenager would suddenly feel confident in their abilities, regardless of what someone told them, and Violet sticks with this. She is hesitant at first before finding what works for her at her own pace. She’s inquisitive, ensuring that her and her brothers’ best interests are at heart and when they aren’t, she fights like hell to ensure their safety. I think this was the perfect version of Violet.
I much preferred this version of Mirage to the one we see in the film too. Whilst she’s not entirely innocent, we get to see that Syndrome manipulates her into doing his bidding, using her insecurities and vulnerabilities against her. I liked that she wasn’t perfect and that despite her grumbles, she truly did care about the wellbeing of the Parr kids.
Syndrome seems more unhinged in this story than in the film and I think is suits him perfectly. He’s spurred on by revenge and it makes him sloppy and eager to cause havoc. I liked that we got to even have a few chapters in his POV just to get a taste of his delusion. Across the book, he is portrayed very well.
I’m a big fan of The Incredibles movies so I was very excited when I saw that there was a Twisted Tales book coming out centred around the first film. And it didn’t disappoint! The plot is great. It’s fast paced and an easy read - time seems to fly by when reading this book! The characters are well thought out and really match the versions we know from the film. I liked that we got multiple POVs throughout the story as well as it helped add further depth to the plot and allowed a deeper connection to multiple characters. The whole essence of The Incredibles was captured perfectly in this story - I could clearly see it playing out in my head which I absolutely love! The ending was fantastic, a brilliant wrap up for such a fast-paced, thrilling story.
Overall, Suddenly Super is an amazing addition to the Twisted Tales series.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
Fourteen-year-old Violet Parr lives by two rules: hide her superpowers, and blend in. But when a mysterious woman named Mirage claims that her parents have been killed by the National Super Agency, Violet realises everything she thought she knew about her life might be a lie. The only person that can protect Violet, Dash and Jack-Jack is the powerful Syndrome, who says that he's Mr Incredible's biggest fan...
We get to see a different side of Violet in this book compared to the Violet we see in the film. Here she’s cautious, scared of her unpredictable powers and their implications. All she wants is to be normal and keep her family safe. I really liked getting to see a vulnerable version of Violet. It helped spur the story along but also helped her feel realistic. No teenager would suddenly feel confident in their abilities, regardless of what someone told them, and Violet sticks with this. She is hesitant at first before finding what works for her at her own pace. She’s inquisitive, ensuring that her and her brothers’ best interests are at heart and when they aren’t, she fights like hell to ensure their safety. I think this was the perfect version of Violet.
I much preferred this version of Mirage to the one we see in the film too. Whilst she’s not entirely innocent, we get to see that Syndrome manipulates her into doing his bidding, using her insecurities and vulnerabilities against her. I liked that she wasn’t perfect and that despite her grumbles, she truly did care about the wellbeing of the Parr kids.
Syndrome seems more unhinged in this story than in the film and I think is suits him perfectly. He’s spurred on by revenge and it makes him sloppy and eager to cause havoc. I liked that we got to even have a few chapters in his POV just to get a taste of his delusion. Across the book, he is portrayed very well.
I’m a big fan of The Incredibles movies so I was very excited when I saw that there was a Twisted Tales book coming out centred around the first film. And it didn’t disappoint! The plot is great. It’s fast paced and an easy read - time seems to fly by when reading this book! The characters are well thought out and really match the versions we know from the film. I liked that we got multiple POVs throughout the story as well as it helped add further depth to the plot and allowed a deeper connection to multiple characters. The whole essence of The Incredibles was captured perfectly in this story - I could clearly see it playing out in my head which I absolutely love! The ending was fantastic, a brilliant wrap up for such a fast-paced, thrilling story.
Overall, Suddenly Super is an amazing addition to the Twisted Tales series.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
March 22, 2024
It was okay, but it felt like it was far too long for the story that was told! I didn’t really care about Mirage at all, yet there are chapters focusing on just her and I just skimmed them in the end.
The ending was also disappointing? They set it up like there’s going to be a sequel, with Mirage and Mastermind following Violet and Helen in the car, but none of these books get sequels! I know the movie ends in a way that leads on to a sequel, so maybe the book was trying to do the same thing? No idea, but it didn’t work for me.
Also, my book for some reason was British? I know I’m in the UK, but never in this series have I experienced a books words be changed to the British equivalent? Like “mum” instead of “mom” and “nappy” instead of “diaper”… I hated it, and found it super distracting. The story is in America! It shouldn’t matter where it’s published. The author is American, I don’t understand why the one I read was British.
But in the positives, I really liked Violet and her progression. Dash was the highlight of the book, with his character coming across from the movie perfectly and arguably the best out of everybody.
But, like other reviewers… where was Edna? I missed her a lot, and she was the one glaring thing missing from the story. We needed Auntie Edna!
The ending was also disappointing? They set it up like there’s going to be a sequel, with Mirage and Mastermind following Violet and Helen in the car, but none of these books get sequels! I know the movie ends in a way that leads on to a sequel, so maybe the book was trying to do the same thing? No idea, but it didn’t work for me.
Also, my book for some reason was British? I know I’m in the UK, but never in this series have I experienced a books words be changed to the British equivalent? Like “mum” instead of “mom” and “nappy” instead of “diaper”… I hated it, and found it super distracting. The story is in America! It shouldn’t matter where it’s published. The author is American, I don’t understand why the one I read was British.
But in the positives, I really liked Violet and her progression. Dash was the highlight of the book, with his character coming across from the movie perfectly and arguably the best out of everybody.
But, like other reviewers… where was Edna? I missed her a lot, and she was the one glaring thing missing from the story. We needed Auntie Edna!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 14, 2024
I saw there were Disney Twisted Tales before but I didn't look too far into them because the ones I had the most interest in have been said to just be retellings but I came to find out that this existed and stopped everything, even put the book I was reading on hold in order to get it.
I'm sorry but not only is it Incredibles material that's OFFICIAL but it's a completely different story taking place in an AU where Violet joins Syndrome. I literally didn't have to think beyond that, my money was already spending itself. I mean that scene where Bob is giving his speech and Violet just casually gets out of her shackles...imagine she never released them? But that doesn't happen! We have other things to worry about!
Now, hold your horses, don't go out and impulse buy like I did. Because you might want to make sure you're still up to accept this mission.
First thing is that it seems to understand and mix what we know of the Incredibles because in Incredibles 1, Tony is a cool and popular guy but in Incredibles 2, he's a wimp that works at a restaurant. (He can do both but it's all about attitude) And that's exactly what he does here. It starts with Violet at a party where Tony happens to be (Keep in mind, this is an AU so we don't have her character progression established from the first movie) so she's shy and finds herself accidentally going invisible. It's nice to see these characters in painstaking detail as Kari's life is mentioned and Lucius' niece? Neat. But Tony's family owns the restaurant and because he's so popular and kids need money, he offers to hire them. (See? Cool AND still under a teenage roof)
Perhaps the most annoying thing is that I read this in the characters' voices. I know them, they've been with me since 2004 when I saw it in theaters but certain words come off as...British to me? Like that wasn't used in the movie. Nappy for instance. Mum instead of Mom? Biscuit?? They knew that Jack-Jack called them Num-Nums but not cookies? Even the official Disney UK channel says 'cookies' from what I can tell and the author isn't British from what I see so what spurred this?
Wait...Autumn Publishing...
It's a UK/Australia exclusive? What? But why?
So, the story isn't like I dreamed of Violet being evil per say. It's just one big trick.
Violet is a little bit of a dummy and so is Syndrome because he lets up in saying he's done stuff like inventing the Omnidroid, inventing the nullifier, Bob telling him to 'fly home'. It's all written and Violet doesn't even suspect a thing?
Yet, Violet just kind of knows things from the movies because while I initially applauded it for knowing so much, it more or less makes reference to everything...like it was a quota or checklist. At first it's just little nods but stuff like how Bob pretended to go bowling to listen to the police scanner instead. Dash's 'New' Math. The house still getting blown up. And straight-up ripped quotes used in different situations. I'm sad this book isn't better, there's just too much going against it. It's like it unraveled itself the longer I read, the characters didn't resemble what I had come to know about them, it was just standard story nonsense that any teenage girl book could've had.
***SPOILERS***
They're alive. Nobody answered the communicator and nobody explained why ESPECIALLY Frozone because he shows up later in the book like "I wondered what happened to you." like what? She called you over and over again and you just ignored her.
Did anybody actually even read this book before publishing?
It might even been better if we weren't given all these hints as to Syndrome's true intentions before a big reveal but the writing was on the wall from the instant it started when you had Mirage saying her employer is Buddy Pine and it's later used as a shock to Vi...you have to actively convince us, the audience, that the villain is different from the one we know but instead you showed us the very conversations he had with Mirage in her pov.
They introduced all those characters at the beginning to establish Violet's relationship with them like Tony and Kari and newcomer Lucy only to throw them away, they show up at the end just to say they did, they tease that Violet would've learned from her experience and therefore enters another party but that's where it ends, we don't see that development. They had a good thing going where Violet would gain this confidence and control over her powers because of Syndrome but it's not used in social situations, she doesn't go back to school and suddenly start making friends or have sudden temper outbursts other than using her powers on the mission which if anything makes it seem more like using her powers is a bad thing...when you're trying to convince us the other way around. There's no payoff.
That mission is a heist to get a device of Mastermind's, which I guess is somewhat based on the scrapped villain of the first movie 'Xerek', (which was used to greater effect in the comic book) which sounds enticing but the character is entirely different, as I said, Syndrome is the big bad. At the very least, they could've made it so Syndrome was the lesser evil used to fight Mastermind with Violet, to get the Nullifier. He would explain her plan to bring Supers back and how her parents didn't want to fall in. Then maybe once Mastermind was beaten, Violet could beat Syndrome. But this book makes it so Mastermind has no idea what's going on, this is all Syndrome's plan. For a time, I wasn't convinced Mastermind existed, that the big reveal was that Syndrome was Mastermind but no, they add another character just to undermine them. (Ha, see what I did there?)
I could go on but it's at one star because it's so disappointing and that's the worse kind, the stuff with tons of potential just shoved out the door.
I'm sorry but not only is it Incredibles material that's OFFICIAL but it's a completely different story taking place in an AU where Violet joins Syndrome. I literally didn't have to think beyond that, my money was already spending itself. I mean that scene where Bob is giving his speech and Violet just casually gets out of her shackles...imagine she never released them? But that doesn't happen! We have other things to worry about!
Now, hold your horses, don't go out and impulse buy like I did. Because you might want to make sure you're still up to accept this mission.
First thing is that it seems to understand and mix what we know of the Incredibles because in Incredibles 1, Tony is a cool and popular guy but in Incredibles 2, he's a wimp that works at a restaurant. (He can do both but it's all about attitude) And that's exactly what he does here. It starts with Violet at a party where Tony happens to be (Keep in mind, this is an AU so we don't have her character progression established from the first movie) so she's shy and finds herself accidentally going invisible. It's nice to see these characters in painstaking detail as Kari's life is mentioned and Lucius' niece? Neat. But Tony's family owns the restaurant and because he's so popular and kids need money, he offers to hire them. (See? Cool AND still under a teenage roof)
Perhaps the most annoying thing is that I read this in the characters' voices. I know them, they've been with me since 2004 when I saw it in theaters but certain words come off as...British to me? Like that wasn't used in the movie. Nappy for instance. Mum instead of Mom? Biscuit?? They knew that Jack-Jack called them Num-Nums but not cookies? Even the official Disney UK channel says 'cookies' from what I can tell and the author isn't British from what I see so what spurred this?
Wait...Autumn Publishing...
It's a UK/Australia exclusive? What? But why?
So, the story isn't like I dreamed of Violet being evil per say. It's just one big trick.
Violet is a little bit of a dummy and so is Syndrome because he lets up in saying he's done stuff like inventing the Omnidroid, inventing the nullifier, Bob telling him to 'fly home'. It's all written and Violet doesn't even suspect a thing?
Yet, Violet just kind of knows things from the movies because while I initially applauded it for knowing so much, it more or less makes reference to everything...like it was a quota or checklist. At first it's just little nods but stuff like how Bob pretended to go bowling to listen to the police scanner instead. Dash's 'New' Math. The house still getting blown up. And straight-up ripped quotes used in different situations. I'm sad this book isn't better, there's just too much going against it. It's like it unraveled itself the longer I read, the characters didn't resemble what I had come to know about them, it was just standard story nonsense that any teenage girl book could've had.
***SPOILERS***
They're alive. Nobody answered the communicator and nobody explained why ESPECIALLY Frozone because he shows up later in the book like "I wondered what happened to you." like what? She called you over and over again and you just ignored her.
Did anybody actually even read this book before publishing?
It might even been better if we weren't given all these hints as to Syndrome's true intentions before a big reveal but the writing was on the wall from the instant it started when you had Mirage saying her employer is Buddy Pine and it's later used as a shock to Vi...you have to actively convince us, the audience, that the villain is different from the one we know but instead you showed us the very conversations he had with Mirage in her pov.
They introduced all those characters at the beginning to establish Violet's relationship with them like Tony and Kari and newcomer Lucy only to throw them away, they show up at the end just to say they did, they tease that Violet would've learned from her experience and therefore enters another party but that's where it ends, we don't see that development. They had a good thing going where Violet would gain this confidence and control over her powers because of Syndrome but it's not used in social situations, she doesn't go back to school and suddenly start making friends or have sudden temper outbursts other than using her powers on the mission which if anything makes it seem more like using her powers is a bad thing...when you're trying to convince us the other way around. There's no payoff.
That mission is a heist to get a device of Mastermind's, which I guess is somewhat based on the scrapped villain of the first movie 'Xerek', (which was used to greater effect in the comic book) which sounds enticing but the character is entirely different, as I said, Syndrome is the big bad. At the very least, they could've made it so Syndrome was the lesser evil used to fight Mastermind with Violet, to get the Nullifier. He would explain her plan to bring Supers back and how her parents didn't want to fall in. Then maybe once Mastermind was beaten, Violet could beat Syndrome. But this book makes it so Mastermind has no idea what's going on, this is all Syndrome's plan. For a time, I wasn't convinced Mastermind existed, that the big reveal was that Syndrome was Mastermind but no, they add another character just to undermine them. (Ha, see what I did there?)
I could go on but it's at one star because it's so disappointing and that's the worse kind, the stuff with tons of potential just shoved out the door.
October 4, 2023
Very good, felt like I was watching the movie or should I say a better version of the movie.
October 7, 2023
I really liked this book at the beginning, but as the story went on it just felt predictable.
The reason why Violet helped Syndrome is just bizarre and I can't imagine anyone falling for that kind of logic. I also think the ending was kind of rushed but all in all it was very fun and I really enjoyed it.
The reason why Violet helped Syndrome is just bizarre and I can't imagine anyone falling for that kind of logic. I also think the ending was kind of rushed but all in all it was very fun and I really enjoyed it.
April 5, 2024
Not great.
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