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Marrow
Marrow is a fourteen-year-old prodigy at FIST (Fantom Institute for Superheroes-in-Training). With a perfect score on his finals, the ability to smash through walls, and leaps that can launch him over a city block, the Sidekick Internship Program is bound to place him with a top-notch superhero mentor for the summer. But when a series of disastrous events lands Marrow on academic probation, he is forced to team up with Flex—a drunk, hippie bum with the power of elasticity.
The two Supers' powers and personalities clash as they are forced to overcome their differences to prevent the return of Cosmo City's most notorious foe, a supervillain so powerful that no one will survive the cataclysm he is sure to unleash.
The two Supers' powers and personalities clash as they are forced to overcome their differences to prevent the return of Cosmo City's most notorious foe, a supervillain so powerful that no one will survive the cataclysm he is sure to unleash.
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First published April 1, 2015
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About the author
Preston Norton
11 books239 followersPreston Norton teaches environmental science to fifth graders. He is the author of Neanderthal Opens the Door to the Universe, Where I End & You Begin, and Hopepunk. He is married with three cats.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 56 reviews
July 5, 2017
Marrow by Preston Norton is a fun, exciting teen super hero book that I enjoyed all the way through. Lots of action, super hero powers, mysteries, good vs bad but who was on what side? It was a fun read and made me feel young again! Just needed a POW and WHAM here and there, LOL.
November 11, 2019
First off, I stopped reading this book at 26%.
Secondly, it is not a bad book...IF you read at a teenage level.
I had to stop reading, having determined this book wasn't sufficiently deserving of my time, because it was too simply written. Also I felt that the characters weren't living up to their descriptions and that was frustrating for me.
Central to that, Marrow is frequently said to have the highest IQ and to be incredibly intelligent, but nothing is shown to support that. This is a book, a format which allows writers an incredible freedom to grant readers insight into the characters thoughts and motivations. Something which is hard to do in other media formats. On film, therefore, this is probably something Norton could have gotten away with. However, this is a book. So that glaring lack of supporting evidence in the face of the multiple claims is insufferable to me. Even something as simple as Marrow mentioning that the mental calculations he has to perform regarding the when and where of his density manipulations to be most advantageous would have gone a long ways for me.
The other issue I had was Marrow's power to manipulate his bone density. Leaving aside the issue of where the matter comes from and goes, as this isn't the realistic sort of superhero novel...I can understand how lessening the weight may enhance his speed and increasing it at the apex of an arc could increase the velocity and force of his fist. However, there is no mention of additional powers or of this manipulation ability to affect anything other than his bones. If so, then while he may be able to hit harder, it is going to have an effect on his skin and muscles. He would always have busted knuckles, who knows what damage he would be doing to his ligaments, and several times I recall the writer having Marrow mention an ability to nearly float. If his bones are that light, what effect will the weight of his organs have on his body? I feel like this wasn't thought out. Also, his dad has his same ability, with the added bonus of being able to grow bone spikes like Wolverine or Kimimaro. However, he lacks the ability to heal so wouldn't he bleed out or leave a Hansel and Gretel blood trail all the way back to his lair after fighting?
The pieces simply don't add up and that irrationality killed this book for me.
Secondly, it is not a bad book...IF you read at a teenage level.
I had to stop reading, having determined this book wasn't sufficiently deserving of my time, because it was too simply written. Also I felt that the characters weren't living up to their descriptions and that was frustrating for me.
Central to that, Marrow is frequently said to have the highest IQ and to be incredibly intelligent, but nothing is shown to support that. This is a book, a format which allows writers an incredible freedom to grant readers insight into the characters thoughts and motivations. Something which is hard to do in other media formats. On film, therefore, this is probably something Norton could have gotten away with. However, this is a book. So that glaring lack of supporting evidence in the face of the multiple claims is insufferable to me. Even something as simple as Marrow mentioning that the mental calculations he has to perform regarding the when and where of his density manipulations to be most advantageous would have gone a long ways for me.
The other issue I had was Marrow's power to manipulate his bone density. Leaving aside the issue of where the matter comes from and goes, as this isn't the realistic sort of superhero novel...I can understand how lessening the weight may enhance his speed and increasing it at the apex of an arc could increase the velocity and force of his fist. However, there is no mention of additional powers or of this manipulation ability to affect anything other than his bones. If so, then while he may be able to hit harder, it is going to have an effect on his skin and muscles. He would always have busted knuckles, who knows what damage he would be doing to his ligaments, and several times I recall the writer having Marrow mention an ability to nearly float. If his bones are that light, what effect will the weight of his organs have on his body? I feel like this wasn't thought out. Also, his dad has his same ability, with the added bonus of being able to grow bone spikes like Wolverine or Kimimaro. However, he lacks the ability to heal so wouldn't he bleed out or leave a Hansel and Gretel blood trail all the way back to his lair after fighting?
The pieces simply don't add up and that irrationality killed this book for me.
January 29, 2016
I'm a sucker for superheroes, so I cannot figure out why I waited so long after buying this Kindle book to actually read it. Marrow is a fast-paced superhero adventure that keeps you on your toes with frequent action and mind-blowing plot twists, but laughing the whole time with witty dialogue and snarky narration by Marrow, the book's teenage super-MC.
Mr. Norton wastes no time at all in dropping readers straight into the action: it is the day of the final exam at Fantom Institute for Superheroes-in-Training, during which teams of would-be graduates face off against mechanical supervillains in a Danger-Room-style training arena. Marrow gets paired with his least favorite classmate, Nero, but things seem to be going fine despite his partner until the last minute, when Nero uses his telekinesis to prevent Marrow from striking the final blow to defeat their supervillain, instead stealing the glory for himself. Naturally Marrow is furious, and his socking Nero in the face lands him in some serious hot water. As punishment, he is assigned as the sidekick to disgraced superhero Flex, a lazy drunkard whose powers are basically identical to those of Mr. Fantastic or Elastigirl. At this point I should probably mention Marrow's powers: he can manipulate his bone density. This is great for delivering punches that are first super-sped up by reducing his hand's density and then, once his hand is up to speed, suddenly super-weighted by piling on the density at the last second for a heavy blow with none of the effort required to move a heavy object.
Anyway, Marrow gets teamed with Flex, while Nero is given the honor of becoming Fantom's sidekick--Fantom being the founder of FIST and probably the most famous superhero in the world. Their first mission (which Flex refuses to take part in) is to investigate a supposed intruder spying on Oracle, who is this story's equivalent of Destiny from Marvel's Brotherhood of Evil Mutants--that is, a blind precog, although much more grandmotherly. Oh and by the way, she can read your mind.
I don't want to give too much of the story away, but suffice it to say that pretty much nobody in this story is who they seem at first. That was one thing I really loved about Marrow--the way the plot twists kept surprising me. First you think the villain is A, and then B starts taking hostages and making threats to draw A out, and then B is defeated and C attacks and is subsequently defeated, and it isn't until you're almost 80% through the book that the actual criminal mastermind is revealed. I just loved the way I was kept guessing.
At the beginning of my review I mentioned witty dialogue and snarky narration. Here are some of my favorite examples:
Another reviewer on GoodReads said that Marrow is like a cross between Percy Jackson and The Avengers, and I think that's an apt description, especially in light of the outrageous and hilarious comparisons Marrow makes. If you crack up just reading the chapter titles in Percy Jackson like I do, Marrow's humor will be right up your alley.
Another thing I liked about this book was the development of a relationship between Marrow and his father, Spine. For a good deal of the book Marrow hates Spine because he's a supervillain, but I thought the book sent a good message about second chances and the importance of family.
Know what else is awesome about Marrow? It's, like, squeaky-clean. The edgiest word in the entire book is "heck", there is virtually no romance except for a teen crush and maybe a chaste kiss, and the violence (of course there's fighting; how do you expect to read a book about superheroes without it?) is easily suitable for middle schoolers, in my opinion.
Really, the only thing I can think of that bothered me about this book was the characters' names. Not one of the supers, hero OR villain, seemed to have an alter ego--you know, a regular name like Peter Parker or Bruce Wayne or Jean Grey or Selina Kyle that their parents gave them at birth? And I thought that was weird. Did Marrow's parents just assume when he was born that his powers would be like his father's and name him Marrow accordingly? Kinda awkward if the only name you go by turns out not to match your abilities.
All in all, I thoroughly enjoyed the book. The ending definitely points toward a sequel, which I am looking forward to reading! Well done, Mr. Norton. *slow clap*
Mr. Norton wastes no time at all in dropping readers straight into the action: it is the day of the final exam at Fantom Institute for Superheroes-in-Training, during which teams of would-be graduates face off against mechanical supervillains in a Danger-Room-style training arena. Marrow gets paired with his least favorite classmate, Nero, but things seem to be going fine despite his partner until the last minute, when Nero uses his telekinesis to prevent Marrow from striking the final blow to defeat their supervillain, instead stealing the glory for himself. Naturally Marrow is furious, and his socking Nero in the face lands him in some serious hot water. As punishment, he is assigned as the sidekick to disgraced superhero Flex, a lazy drunkard whose powers are basically identical to those of Mr. Fantastic or Elastigirl. At this point I should probably mention Marrow's powers: he can manipulate his bone density. This is great for delivering punches that are first super-sped up by reducing his hand's density and then, once his hand is up to speed, suddenly super-weighted by piling on the density at the last second for a heavy blow with none of the effort required to move a heavy object.
Anyway, Marrow gets teamed with Flex, while Nero is given the honor of becoming Fantom's sidekick--Fantom being the founder of FIST and probably the most famous superhero in the world. Their first mission (which Flex refuses to take part in) is to investigate a supposed intruder spying on Oracle, who is this story's equivalent of Destiny from Marvel's Brotherhood of Evil Mutants--that is, a blind precog, although much more grandmotherly. Oh and by the way, she can read your mind.
I don't want to give too much of the story away, but suffice it to say that pretty much nobody in this story is who they seem at first. That was one thing I really loved about Marrow--the way the plot twists kept surprising me. First you think the villain is A, and then B starts taking hostages and making threats to draw A out, and then B is defeated and C attacks and is subsequently defeated, and it isn't until you're almost 80% through the book that the actual criminal mastermind is revealed. I just loved the way I was kept guessing.
At the beginning of my review I mentioned witty dialogue and snarky narration. Here are some of my favorite examples:
To put a lack of cleanliness in the ranking order, this apartment fell somewhere between filthy stinkin' disgusting and sweet-mother-of-Moses-what-poor-creature-died-in-here?
"You sure you don't want to go?" I asked, hopeful.
"I would rather glue acorns to my naked body and be eaten alive by an army of rabid squirrels."
I had endured every sick death ever conceived by man or nature. I was caught in a mudslide, eaten by a lion, got run over by a crappy purple Scion...
Okay, okay, those are the lyrics to a Train song. But the first two really did happen. I was sure the Scion would be only a matter of time.
Specter was a tall, statuesque blonde with full lips and eyelashes that belonged on a camel. Okay, maybe that's not the best comparison in the world since she was a drop dead gorgeous cold hard ten, and camels are...camels. But seriously. Her eyelashes were huge.
Seriously, the guy was like a smiley mutant hybrid between the Joker and the Cheshire Cat.
Another reviewer on GoodReads said that Marrow is like a cross between Percy Jackson and The Avengers, and I think that's an apt description, especially in light of the outrageous and hilarious comparisons Marrow makes. If you crack up just reading the chapter titles in Percy Jackson like I do, Marrow's humor will be right up your alley.
Another thing I liked about this book was the development of a relationship between Marrow and his father, Spine. For a good deal of the book Marrow hates Spine because he's a supervillain, but I thought the book sent a good message about second chances and the importance of family.
Know what else is awesome about Marrow? It's, like, squeaky-clean. The edgiest word in the entire book is "heck", there is virtually no romance except for a teen crush and maybe a chaste kiss, and the violence (of course there's fighting; how do you expect to read a book about superheroes without it?) is easily suitable for middle schoolers, in my opinion.
Really, the only thing I can think of that bothered me about this book was the characters' names. Not one of the supers, hero OR villain, seemed to have an alter ego--you know, a regular name like Peter Parker or Bruce Wayne or Jean Grey or Selina Kyle that their parents gave them at birth? And I thought that was weird. Did Marrow's parents just assume when he was born that his powers would be like his father's and name him Marrow accordingly? Kinda awkward if the only name you go by turns out not to match your abilities.
All in all, I thoroughly enjoyed the book. The ending definitely points toward a sequel, which I am looking forward to reading! Well done, Mr. Norton. *slow clap*
April 18, 2017
Reader thoughts: Such a fun book! I stayed up too late to finish it. However, I have quite a few issues with this book, most of which have to do with plot holes. I took notes.
Marrow's power is affecting the density of his bones. More dense = stronger. Less dense = lighter, right? He describes skimming, almost floating. He describes himself like a spider zooming around a room. In chapter 36, he even says he ways about half his normal weight. No. Bones don't work that way. They are only 15% of our body weight. So, at most, Marrow can drop himself to 85% of his normal weight, and that's if his bones are so non-dense that they would crumble to carry the rest of him. Maybe Marrow has negative density. But, if that's the case, why does he only make himself HALF his normal weight when he's trying to not fall to his death?
Too many supers. 5% of the population are affected by Gaia's comet and become supers (according to an early chapter). Oracle, a crazy old cat telepath/seer lady, meets with every single super as they come into their power. Assuming this is a normal earth with about 7 billion people, that means there are about 17000 super births every day. Do I think Oracle meets 17,000 people daily? No.
Timing issues. Flex is supposed to be in his upper twenties. Since he was Spine's sidekick before Marrow was born (or, at least, was Spine's sidekick for quite a while and had stopped before Marrow was old enough to remember), then he's probably 26-28. Marrow is 14, and you can only become a sidekick at age 14. BUT Flex supposedly spent time at an orphanage with Whisp. Whisp is 14. Even if Flex went straight from the orphanage to sidekicking, Whisp would have been MAYBE 2 when Flex left. How can he remember Flex so well??
Mindcuffs. Why didn't more people wear/use them? With all the rogue supers, you'd think mindcuffs would be a standard part of the armor. What's the big deal having people immune to mental powers if everyone could be immune? Why not put one on Marrow earlier to stop the torture? They don't act like they're super expensive, not when Sapphire loses hers later with no comment.
Flex's character doesn't make sense. He's supposed to be a bum with high standards, I think? He acts lazy most of the time (and gets himself drunk and avoids responsibility and complains about everything) and maybe fun (plays video games all day and night) and every now and then spouts unpopular opinions about celebrity supers. "They only save people to become more famous," he says. Then, when he's in front of the camera, he soaks it up, ecstatic, showing off for the media. Hypocrite. I don't understand why Marrow (and maybe Whisp) like him.
Flex's powers don't make sense. How can anyone lock him up? Can't he just stretch his way out? Why would any punches/blows hurt him? Wouldn't he just flex out of the way?
More timing issues. Flex spent his 7th birthday with Oracle, already adopted. That must have been 20 years ago. How could he have met Whisp at an orphanage? And why in the world would Oracle have adopted a non-cat anyway? Read chapters 33 and 34. Location 2983 says 6-year-old, but the other mentions say 7-year-old. Basically, Flex was YOUNG.
Spine was the worst villain for years? How old was Marrow when Spine went bad? How long has it been since Spine has not been seen? Why is the reader not told any of these details?
They knock out the omnipotent. 1st, this should be impossible because this guy can stop bullets in mid-air, and yet he doesn't manage to stop some punches. Seriously? (I despise telekinesis as a power; no one ever uses it to its full potential; even Jedi only come close.) 2nd, THEY SHOULD KILL HIM NOW! Really. They know the bad guy has been killing supers and framing others and is planning to take over society. They know he's too powerful to stop. Why not kill him now? What, are they that desperate to force him into a confession?
Good line: (context, Marrow was covered in guts and goo). "Good think I kissed her earlier because I definitely wasn't getting anything now."
Marrow has slow reactions. In the middle of a fight, the bad guy swings for Marrow, and he's like, "There was no time to make my bones denser." Really? Aren't your bones already dense? You're in the middle of a fight with an omnipotent trying to kill you! Why would you stand there watching him and NOT prepare your bones to be hit?
Marrow starts laughing in the middle of the epic battle. I don't understand. I think he was stressed.
Good line: "I believe true power is what drives someone who's been hurt to forgive his friend, helping him whn he needs it he most. It's what drives a man to sacrifice his life for some kid he barley met. It's what drive a father to fight for the son he never knew. This is the power that makes us heroes."
Writer thoughts: Most of the above sounds like complaints and plot holes. How in the world could a book riddled with so many plot holes gain such a high rating from me?
Voice. The author made Marrow interesting. He was sarcastic and witty and flawed. He made mistakes and learned and cared about his friends and thought hard about himself and society.
Action. There was never a dull moment. Hardly even a dull paragraph. They went from tests to new people to ambush to hospitals to car crashes to spying and more.
So, wait, these two measly story aspects carried the entire book despite all the other issues with it? Yes, that is what I'm saying. That is why voice and action are so important. Authors really have to get them right, especially if they're writing for a YA audience with short attention spans.
Oh, and Norton's writing style is clear and easy to follow, so there was nothing wrong with that or his dialogue. It was just all the problems with numbers (percent supers, percent weight, number of years, and price of mindcuffs).
Marrow's power is affecting the density of his bones. More dense = stronger. Less dense = lighter, right? He describes skimming, almost floating. He describes himself like a spider zooming around a room. In chapter 36, he even says he ways about half his normal weight. No. Bones don't work that way. They are only 15% of our body weight. So, at most, Marrow can drop himself to 85% of his normal weight, and that's if his bones are so non-dense that they would crumble to carry the rest of him. Maybe Marrow has negative density. But, if that's the case, why does he only make himself HALF his normal weight when he's trying to not fall to his death?
Too many supers. 5% of the population are affected by Gaia's comet and become supers (according to an early chapter). Oracle, a crazy old cat telepath/seer lady, meets with every single super as they come into their power. Assuming this is a normal earth with about 7 billion people, that means there are about 17000 super births every day. Do I think Oracle meets 17,000 people daily? No.
Timing issues. Flex is supposed to be in his upper twenties. Since he was Spine's sidekick before Marrow was born (or, at least, was Spine's sidekick for quite a while and had stopped before Marrow was old enough to remember), then he's probably 26-28. Marrow is 14, and you can only become a sidekick at age 14. BUT Flex supposedly spent time at an orphanage with Whisp. Whisp is 14. Even if Flex went straight from the orphanage to sidekicking, Whisp would have been MAYBE 2 when Flex left. How can he remember Flex so well??
Mindcuffs. Why didn't more people wear/use them? With all the rogue supers, you'd think mindcuffs would be a standard part of the armor. What's the big deal having people immune to mental powers if everyone could be immune? Why not put one on Marrow earlier to stop the torture? They don't act like they're super expensive, not when Sapphire loses hers later with no comment.
Flex's character doesn't make sense. He's supposed to be a bum with high standards, I think? He acts lazy most of the time (and gets himself drunk and avoids responsibility and complains about everything) and maybe fun (plays video games all day and night) and every now and then spouts unpopular opinions about celebrity supers. "They only save people to become more famous," he says. Then, when he's in front of the camera, he soaks it up, ecstatic, showing off for the media. Hypocrite. I don't understand why Marrow (and maybe Whisp) like him.
Flex's powers don't make sense. How can anyone lock him up? Can't he just stretch his way out? Why would any punches/blows hurt him? Wouldn't he just flex out of the way?
More timing issues. Flex spent his 7th birthday with Oracle, already adopted. That must have been 20 years ago. How could he have met Whisp at an orphanage? And why in the world would Oracle have adopted a non-cat anyway? Read chapters 33 and 34. Location 2983 says 6-year-old, but the other mentions say 7-year-old. Basically, Flex was YOUNG.
Spine was the worst villain for years? How old was Marrow when Spine went bad? How long has it been since Spine has not been seen? Why is the reader not told any of these details?
They knock out the omnipotent. 1st, this should be impossible because this guy can stop bullets in mid-air, and yet he doesn't manage to stop some punches. Seriously? (I despise telekinesis as a power; no one ever uses it to its full potential; even Jedi only come close.) 2nd, THEY SHOULD KILL HIM NOW! Really. They know the bad guy has been killing supers and framing others and is planning to take over society. They know he's too powerful to stop. Why not kill him now? What, are they that desperate to force him into a confession?
Good line: (context, Marrow was covered in guts and goo). "Good think I kissed her earlier because I definitely wasn't getting anything now."
Marrow has slow reactions. In the middle of a fight, the bad guy swings for Marrow, and he's like, "There was no time to make my bones denser." Really? Aren't your bones already dense? You're in the middle of a fight with an omnipotent trying to kill you! Why would you stand there watching him and NOT prepare your bones to be hit?
Marrow starts laughing in the middle of the epic battle. I don't understand. I think he was stressed.
Good line: "I believe true power is what drives someone who's been hurt to forgive his friend, helping him whn he needs it he most. It's what drives a man to sacrifice his life for some kid he barley met. It's what drive a father to fight for the son he never knew. This is the power that makes us heroes."
Writer thoughts: Most of the above sounds like complaints and plot holes. How in the world could a book riddled with so many plot holes gain such a high rating from me?
Voice. The author made Marrow interesting. He was sarcastic and witty and flawed. He made mistakes and learned and cared about his friends and thought hard about himself and society.
Action. There was never a dull moment. Hardly even a dull paragraph. They went from tests to new people to ambush to hospitals to car crashes to spying and more.
So, wait, these two measly story aspects carried the entire book despite all the other issues with it? Yes, that is what I'm saying. That is why voice and action are so important. Authors really have to get them right, especially if they're writing for a YA audience with short attention spans.
Oh, and Norton's writing style is clear and easy to follow, so there was nothing wrong with that or his dialogue. It was just all the problems with numbers (percent supers, percent weight, number of years, and price of mindcuffs).
July 8, 2025
“This is the power that makes us heroes.”
Marrow is SUCH a great superhero stand-alone novel. With humor you’d find in Percy Jackson or the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Marrow is a fun, entertaining, action packed story that’ll keep you turning the pages.
There’s some language and a little romance but it’s nothing terribly bad. I would say the best age for Marrow is 12+ (just for the language alone. They use quite a few craps, crappy, heck, and freaking and actual swear words, but nothing beyond the H word and D word).
The cover is what got my attention. It’s extremely eye catching and immediately got me invested. The cover. Got me invested. What an honor to the artist!
The characters in Marrow are all infectious. Marrow is a mix between Percy Jackson, like I said before, and Tom from Mazerunner. He’s a character who you want to be in the perspective of, which is great for a fast spaced superhero novel. His character development is pretty solid too. Other characters that were truly great to read were Flex (my favorite), Nero, Sapphire, and Spine.
The author’s writing style is fast and fun but also detailed and leaves you feeling satisfied. Norton did a fantastic job with making a great superhero novel. It’s hard to do.
All and all, Marrow is a fantastic book I would recommend to anyone who loves superhero fiction with lots of twists! And I do mean LOTS of twists.
Marrow is SUCH a great superhero stand-alone novel. With humor you’d find in Percy Jackson or the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Marrow is a fun, entertaining, action packed story that’ll keep you turning the pages.
There’s some language and a little romance but it’s nothing terribly bad. I would say the best age for Marrow is 12+ (just for the language alone. They use quite a few craps, crappy, heck, and freaking and actual swear words, but nothing beyond the H word and D word).
The cover is what got my attention. It’s extremely eye catching and immediately got me invested. The cover. Got me invested. What an honor to the artist!
The characters in Marrow are all infectious. Marrow is a mix between Percy Jackson, like I said before, and Tom from Mazerunner. He’s a character who you want to be in the perspective of, which is great for a fast spaced superhero novel. His character development is pretty solid too. Other characters that were truly great to read were Flex (my favorite), Nero, Sapphire, and Spine.
The author’s writing style is fast and fun but also detailed and leaves you feeling satisfied. Norton did a fantastic job with making a great superhero novel. It’s hard to do.
All and all, Marrow is a fantastic book I would recommend to anyone who loves superhero fiction with lots of twists! And I do mean LOTS of twists.
July 28, 2016
While I liked this, it did roam about in the cliche a bit, but managed to make the cliche elements...novel by giving them some depth. I'm not sure I found any of the characters to be wholly likable, but I suppose that is not something I would find in the real world either.
If you like superhero/superhero origin novels, this one runs down the center, not great, but not bad.
If you like superhero/superhero origin novels, this one runs down the center, not great, but not bad.
November 30, 2020
The book I chose to reread for the November Book Review was Marrow by Preston Norton. I remember reading this book a few years back and thinking it was so good that I’d try to forget it so I could experience it all over again. I took this review as an opportunity to read it again and although I remembered some of the details it was great to have my mind refreshed on all the other events that took place to make the book intriguing. This book is about Marrow, a teenager that has powers like many others. However, he is forced to work with Flex, a superhero that greatly contrasts in personality. These two are required to get along in order to take down their enemy. I gave this book a rating of 5 stars because it gave great detail, character build-up, and many plot twists as well. I would recommend this book to anyone who is interested in superheroes or superhuman abilities, and if he/she wants to be caught off-guard with an unexpected ending.
January 10, 2017
I don't know why this book isn't as popular as it should be because IT'S FREAKING AMAZING. If you like a fast-paced, action-packed, overall cool plot book, this is it.
GOOD STUFF
- The writing itself is good, at least for me. It's not super descriptive, which I love. It's told from a first person perspective, which I love, again. The jokes are okay, sometimes very hilarious too.
- It's a middle grade book but it didn't try to be like Percy Jackson, you know what I'm saying? There are too many books using Percy Jackson as their main character, but changed the name so it wouldn't be plagiarism. Marrow is a cool character, but he's very ambitious and rather cocky. At first it might seem like Norton's portraying PJ, but no, they're really different, which I love.
- SUPERPOWER, need i say more?
- My personal favorite part is everything about Flex. He's so relatable, I love him.
MEH STUFF
- I can see who's the bad guy from miles away. It's very predictable.
BAD STUFF
- Sapphire. There's this girl character called Sapphire who's just SUPER ANNOYING. Like I literally, highlight every part in the ibook where she whines and stuff BCS I HATE HER SO MUCH. Like, who the hell are you to tell Marrow stuff?
- No other bad stuff but SAPPHIRE NEEDS TO DIE.
GOOD STUFF
- The writing itself is good, at least for me. It's not super descriptive, which I love. It's told from a first person perspective, which I love, again. The jokes are okay, sometimes very hilarious too.
- It's a middle grade book but it didn't try to be like Percy Jackson, you know what I'm saying? There are too many books using Percy Jackson as their main character, but changed the name so it wouldn't be plagiarism. Marrow is a cool character, but he's very ambitious and rather cocky. At first it might seem like Norton's portraying PJ, but no, they're really different, which I love.
- SUPERPOWER, need i say more?
- My personal favorite part is everything about Flex. He's so relatable, I love him.
MEH STUFF
- I can see who's the bad guy from miles away. It's very predictable.
BAD STUFF
- Sapphire. There's this girl character called Sapphire who's just SUPER ANNOYING. Like I literally, highlight every part in the ibook where she whines and stuff BCS I HATE HER SO MUCH. Like, who the hell are you to tell Marrow stuff?
- No other bad stuff but SAPPHIRE NEEDS TO DIE.
June 15, 2015
It took quite a book to draw me out of my shell and write a review. This is that book. I've been a reader of comic books since I was a kid - going on 30 years. So there's nothing truly new in Mr Norton's book. What there is is a ton of fun and excitement. It keeps you wanting to read on, and in the end it left me wanting more. That fact alone is one of the measures of a good book for me. It's written in such a way that you can completely picture what's happening. For any book based on superheroes, that's an absolute requirement. I genuinely hope there are more books coming set in this world. I think you could easily make a series focusing on each one of the characters mentioned here. And I for one would read each and every one.
June 23, 2015
Wow !!! Just wow !!! Please let there be more. Maybe more of Gaias race come ask for help ?
August 12, 2015
A fairly decent superhero novel.
July 2, 2018
If you like superhero stories, you'll probably like Marrow. The main character, Marrow, has the power of changing his bone density, which might seem like kind of a lame power, but he is actually able to do some pretty cool things with it - provided you can suspend your disbelief enough (more on that in a second). At the end of his schooling, he's placed with a superhero named Flex, a Stretch-Armstrong powered deadbeat. Together they end up having to save the world. I won't give away much more plot, since there's a twist about every chapter, and to say more would be to spoil more.
My main complaint with the book would be that Marrow can do some very unrealistic things with his power. Like, when he minimizes his bone density, suddenly he's so light he can practically fly? But bone tissue only makes up about 15% of body mass, so a 200 lb. person who completely minimized their bone density would lose about 30 pounds, and... yes, I'm overthinking it badly, but I do like when there's either a logical explanation for breaking the rules of science, or at least a cursory effort to adhere to those rules.
Marrow is a very plot-driven book, and while some of the twists were interesting and unexpected, it came at the expense of developing side characters. Sapphire, the main love interest in the book, is hardly explained as a character other than she's hot and she cries a lot. I would have preferred to sacrifice some of the twists for some character moments.
One of the things Norton does best is combining Marrow's power with other superheroes' powers (like the slingshot). Marrow's power by itself is a little bit boring, but he works best when he's fighting with a teammate by his side.
My main complaint with the book would be that Marrow can do some very unrealistic things with his power. Like, when he minimizes his bone density, suddenly he's so light he can practically fly? But bone tissue only makes up about 15% of body mass, so a 200 lb. person who completely minimized their bone density would lose about 30 pounds, and... yes, I'm overthinking it badly, but I do like when there's either a logical explanation for breaking the rules of science, or at least a cursory effort to adhere to those rules.
Marrow is a very plot-driven book, and while some of the twists were interesting and unexpected, it came at the expense of developing side characters. Sapphire, the main love interest in the book, is hardly explained as a character other than she's hot and she cries a lot. I would have preferred to sacrifice some of the twists for some character moments.
One of the things Norton does best is combining Marrow's power with other superheroes' powers (like the slingshot). Marrow's power by itself is a little bit boring, but he works best when he's fighting with a teammate by his side.
September 1, 2019
Passable but not great read. Owes a huge debt to Drew Hayes and Brandon Sanderson’s “Steelheart” both of which are done much better.
The writing is actually ok, no huge grammar or syntax errors, which was a pleasant surprise. My main concern was that, for an author who claims to love comic books, his protagonist was woefully underpowered versus all the threats he faced. The hero is basically Wolverine without the adamantium, so while his pummeling of non-powered bad guys was fine, there was a HUGE gap in explaining even halfway realistically how he could keep up, much less overcome, opponents with tk/frost/mind powers. It was this, more than anything else, made me quickly become bored, than irritated, and finally begin to actively root against “Marrow”. Both the character and the book itself.
It would’ve made MUCH more sense for Nero (terrible hero code name) to be the protagonist, and Marrow to be a Whisp (another terrible code name)-type side character. At the very least, the battles might’ve been more understandable/realistic.
The writing is actually ok, no huge grammar or syntax errors, which was a pleasant surprise. My main concern was that, for an author who claims to love comic books, his protagonist was woefully underpowered versus all the threats he faced. The hero is basically Wolverine without the adamantium, so while his pummeling of non-powered bad guys was fine, there was a HUGE gap in explaining even halfway realistically how he could keep up, much less overcome, opponents with tk/frost/mind powers. It was this, more than anything else, made me quickly become bored, than irritated, and finally begin to actively root against “Marrow”. Both the character and the book itself.
It would’ve made MUCH more sense for Nero (terrible hero code name) to be the protagonist, and Marrow to be a Whisp (another terrible code name)-type side character. At the very least, the battles might’ve been more understandable/realistic.
May 22, 2018
Well folks this one is a fast read, at least for me! I could not put it down. The main character Marrow is a 14 yr old who is currently at the final phase of testing prior to being teamed with a superhero for Sidekick Internship. We get a little back story with each chapter. I dont do spoilers, but there are definitely daddy issues here. The heros powers are well written and even supplied some interesting takes on a few old standbys. Preston Norton has written an excellent superhero coming of age tale. I hope this story continues in further adventures as I would love to see where Marrow can go from here.
August 27, 2015
This is another superhero fiction I picked up for the summer. (Okay, really, my sister found it and I pilfered it from her. When she was finished, though. I don't rip books out of people's hands, what's the matter with you?!)
This is a fairly straight-forward superhero world. Comet crashed to earth, creating superheroes with its outer space dust. Not all people like those with superpowers. Superheroes have taken over the justice system, but what I thought was really interesting is that the heroes are just heroes. They don't have secret identities or even normal names. Marrow is Marrow. Fantom is Fantom. Flex is Flex. There's no subterfuge or hiding from the public.
The voice of this character. My gosh. This is told from the first person, and I love Marrow's attitude. He's sarcastic and funny and his descriptions can be kind of out there. Marrow is snarky and arrogant, but he's got emotional issues to deal with too, like not having a decent parental figure around. Really, isn't that the best kind? Preston Norton also earned serious bonus points when Marrow compares characters to both Mr. T and Tom Selleck.
Serious. Bonus. Points.
All of the characters in this story were fantastic. You always hear that characters should jump off the page, and I felt like these ones really did. The dialogue is really what caught me. They not only felt genuine but they also sounded like real people. Random, funny, often confused, and sometimes selfish real people. Yep. These guys totally exist in another dimension somewhere.
The one big thing that stood out for me, aside from the fun characters, were the actions scenes. Seriously. These are not often interesting for me, but Marrow nailed them. This is superhero fiction, and Norton brought the comic-book style fighting to life. I could almost see the colored frames themselves. It wasn't even until I read this that I realized the other superhero fictions I've read don't compare in this area. I think the big thing is that Norton gave his characters some really fun powers.
Marrow, for example, can change his bone density. Light as a feather one second, heavy as an anvil the next. You can see how that comes in handy. Flex, another super, is a rubber man. It seems like the books I've read mainly steer toward mind powers, or electricity, or super strength, so it was fun and refreshing to see some more unique powers at play. More than that, Norton is FANTASTIC at portraying them. He messes around with them a lot, always finding clever new tricks, and he plays them off each other with the mastery of a true superhero comic fanatic. Paired with the witty comebacks, I think this is why the action really stuck out for me.
The action starts pretty quick, and the story twists a lot, but it's packed with emotional punches too. This is definitely a fun, well-written romp, and it kept my attention the whole way.
I did feel like Marrow's character was just a bit off. He consistently sounded like a cocky sixteen-year-old to me, but in actuality he's an incredibly cocky fourteen-year-old. This threw me off a couple of times, because that seemed like quite an age difference. Other than this, the book primarily got fives across the board in character, concept, execution, and plot.
A really fun book. It's quick to get through, but it also has good substance. I'd recommend this for anyone who likes superheroes, but it could also make a good choice for an otherwise reluctant reader.
This is a fairly straight-forward superhero world. Comet crashed to earth, creating superheroes with its outer space dust. Not all people like those with superpowers. Superheroes have taken over the justice system, but what I thought was really interesting is that the heroes are just heroes. They don't have secret identities or even normal names. Marrow is Marrow. Fantom is Fantom. Flex is Flex. There's no subterfuge or hiding from the public.
The voice of this character. My gosh. This is told from the first person, and I love Marrow's attitude. He's sarcastic and funny and his descriptions can be kind of out there. Marrow is snarky and arrogant, but he's got emotional issues to deal with too, like not having a decent parental figure around. Really, isn't that the best kind? Preston Norton also earned serious bonus points when Marrow compares characters to both Mr. T and Tom Selleck.
Serious. Bonus. Points.
All of the characters in this story were fantastic. You always hear that characters should jump off the page, and I felt like these ones really did. The dialogue is really what caught me. They not only felt genuine but they also sounded like real people. Random, funny, often confused, and sometimes selfish real people. Yep. These guys totally exist in another dimension somewhere.
The one big thing that stood out for me, aside from the fun characters, were the actions scenes. Seriously. These are not often interesting for me, but Marrow nailed them. This is superhero fiction, and Norton brought the comic-book style fighting to life. I could almost see the colored frames themselves. It wasn't even until I read this that I realized the other superhero fictions I've read don't compare in this area. I think the big thing is that Norton gave his characters some really fun powers.
Marrow, for example, can change his bone density. Light as a feather one second, heavy as an anvil the next. You can see how that comes in handy. Flex, another super, is a rubber man. It seems like the books I've read mainly steer toward mind powers, or electricity, or super strength, so it was fun and refreshing to see some more unique powers at play. More than that, Norton is FANTASTIC at portraying them. He messes around with them a lot, always finding clever new tricks, and he plays them off each other with the mastery of a true superhero comic fanatic. Paired with the witty comebacks, I think this is why the action really stuck out for me.
The action starts pretty quick, and the story twists a lot, but it's packed with emotional punches too. This is definitely a fun, well-written romp, and it kept my attention the whole way.
I did feel like Marrow's character was just a bit off. He consistently sounded like a cocky sixteen-year-old to me, but in actuality he's an incredibly cocky fourteen-year-old. This threw me off a couple of times, because that seemed like quite an age difference. Other than this, the book primarily got fives across the board in character, concept, execution, and plot.
A really fun book. It's quick to get through, but it also has good substance. I'd recommend this for anyone who likes superheroes, but it could also make a good choice for an otherwise reluctant reader.
October 24, 2017
I enjoyed the book even though it was not difficult. The grammar in the book is not that difficult. I think that the author could have used tougher word choices instead of all the simple and easy words. Although they were still simple I liked how the author progressed the story throughout the book. A great way that the author did that was by not telling us anything about him or his father’s back story until farther into the book. This helped the book because it helped you see what was going on and why at the time in the book right then. I also loved how the book started because it starts with us picking up right at the day of the finals at the academy and then we lead right into the first action scene in the book. This is why I liked this book the amount that I did.
July 17, 2015
Marrow by Author Preston Norton is a superhero fantasy about a fourteen-year-old named Marrow who has the ability to control his bone density and his journey to becoming one of the greatest superheroes of all time.
At the start of the novel we're given a glance at FIST (Fantom Institute for Superheroes-in-Training) - an X-Men-esque school for superpowered young teenagers who aspire to become mainstream superheroes. Marrow, the protagonist, is top of his class and prepared for the final test - the Sidekick Placement Assessment. Should he prove himself in the test, he shall be teamed up with the greatest hero of all: Fantom. But after an accident that may or may not have been staged against Marrow, he is forced to pair with Flex - a lazy disgraced hero with the power of elasticity whose only concern is his next drink.
Together, they unwittingly unfold a plot by Cosmo City's greatest supervillain, all the while working through their own personal issues.
This was a fascinating novel, in my opinion. The idea of a world where superheroes are so common you don't even blink when you see someone flying in the air is truly remarkable. It's very X-Men-like, but sets itself apart from that with its own set of rules. Heroes are accepted by society, even given sponsorship deals. They are celebrities; giants with red capes and millions of dollars at their disposal. To be the best hero is to be the one who has the most billboard ads with your face on it.
Marrow wants it all, but is hindered by the stigma of his father. He is the son of the greatest supervillain yet, Spine, and Marrow aims to set himself apart from his dastardly father in the hopes of winning everyone's approval. But the lines of good and evil are twisted when Marrow learns more about his father and his possible return to Cosmo City, not to mention Flex - Marrow's hero mentor - sheds some more light on the actual person behind the mask of Spine.
Through it all, Marrow's struggle is the best part of this whole novel. His struggle with his lot in life, mastering his powers, maintaining his cool when first meeting his bum of a mentor, and handling the weight of the world when everything starts falling apart.
Unfortunately, the reason I give this a four star review is because of two reasons:
1) At times the writing got a little simplistic, and I had to skim just a bit. Certain scenes felt rushed, and when I felt elaboration was needed none was given. A good editing job could fix this book up a bit.
2) The big twist at the end was a little predictable.
But, aside from those two issues, I did enjoy this novel and would suggest it to all those looking for a new superhero fantasy to excite!
At the start of the novel we're given a glance at FIST (Fantom Institute for Superheroes-in-Training) - an X-Men-esque school for superpowered young teenagers who aspire to become mainstream superheroes. Marrow, the protagonist, is top of his class and prepared for the final test - the Sidekick Placement Assessment. Should he prove himself in the test, he shall be teamed up with the greatest hero of all: Fantom. But after an accident that may or may not have been staged against Marrow, he is forced to pair with Flex - a lazy disgraced hero with the power of elasticity whose only concern is his next drink.
Together, they unwittingly unfold a plot by Cosmo City's greatest supervillain, all the while working through their own personal issues.
This was a fascinating novel, in my opinion. The idea of a world where superheroes are so common you don't even blink when you see someone flying in the air is truly remarkable. It's very X-Men-like, but sets itself apart from that with its own set of rules. Heroes are accepted by society, even given sponsorship deals. They are celebrities; giants with red capes and millions of dollars at their disposal. To be the best hero is to be the one who has the most billboard ads with your face on it.
Marrow wants it all, but is hindered by the stigma of his father. He is the son of the greatest supervillain yet, Spine, and Marrow aims to set himself apart from his dastardly father in the hopes of winning everyone's approval. But the lines of good and evil are twisted when Marrow learns more about his father and his possible return to Cosmo City, not to mention Flex - Marrow's hero mentor - sheds some more light on the actual person behind the mask of Spine.
Through it all, Marrow's struggle is the best part of this whole novel. His struggle with his lot in life, mastering his powers, maintaining his cool when first meeting his bum of a mentor, and handling the weight of the world when everything starts falling apart.
Unfortunately, the reason I give this a four star review is because of two reasons:
1) At times the writing got a little simplistic, and I had to skim just a bit. Certain scenes felt rushed, and when I felt elaboration was needed none was given. A good editing job could fix this book up a bit.
2) The big twist at the end was a little predictable.
But, aside from those two issues, I did enjoy this novel and would suggest it to all those looking for a new superhero fantasy to excite!
August 15, 2016
I have not read this yet, but it's next on my book pile. Four of my kids read Marrow and they all loved it. Here are their reviews:
((Herbie, age 11: Marrow is about this kid who can change his bone density to help people. This book was hilarious. Some of things he says and the things that happen and how he responds to them were really funny.))
((Neve, age 13: This book tells the story about a comet called The Gaia Comet which crashed into the earth and the radiation from it gave different people different powers like telepathy and elasticity and being able to control your bone density. Marrow is a kid who can change his bone density. He goes to FIST, an academy to train people to use their powers. Right before graduation he gets in trouble so no one really wants him as their sidekick. So he gets put with a rogue kind of superhero guy named Flex - and I don't want to give away any more. It's a really good book. It has a lot of sarcasm, which I thought made it funny. It's actually hilariously sarcastic. I'd recommend it to anyone.))
((Eden, age 15: This is about a kid superhero who gets in trouble with the school he's at, so he's sent to be a sidekick of a lame superhero in an attempt to get them both out of the way. The two of them actually become a great team. It's a super funny book because both Marrow and Flex are super sarcastic, which makes a great mix. This book had lots of surprises. Tons of things happened that I didn't expect. It was fun to learn about the different superpowers, especially Marrow's, because it was something I'd never heard of before. It's a really good book. I think lots of people would like it.))
((Kobe, age 17: A great, well thought out book with lots of action and humor. Comparable to Steelheart by Brandon Sanderson. I would definitely recommend this book to friends.))
((Herbie, age 11: Marrow is about this kid who can change his bone density to help people. This book was hilarious. Some of things he says and the things that happen and how he responds to them were really funny.))
((Neve, age 13: This book tells the story about a comet called The Gaia Comet which crashed into the earth and the radiation from it gave different people different powers like telepathy and elasticity and being able to control your bone density. Marrow is a kid who can change his bone density. He goes to FIST, an academy to train people to use their powers. Right before graduation he gets in trouble so no one really wants him as their sidekick. So he gets put with a rogue kind of superhero guy named Flex - and I don't want to give away any more. It's a really good book. It has a lot of sarcasm, which I thought made it funny. It's actually hilariously sarcastic. I'd recommend it to anyone.))
((Eden, age 15: This is about a kid superhero who gets in trouble with the school he's at, so he's sent to be a sidekick of a lame superhero in an attempt to get them both out of the way. The two of them actually become a great team. It's a super funny book because both Marrow and Flex are super sarcastic, which makes a great mix. This book had lots of surprises. Tons of things happened that I didn't expect. It was fun to learn about the different superpowers, especially Marrow's, because it was something I'd never heard of before. It's a really good book. I think lots of people would like it.))
((Kobe, age 17: A great, well thought out book with lots of action and humor. Comparable to Steelheart by Brandon Sanderson. I would definitely recommend this book to friends.))
April 14, 2015
This book is like reading a comic book, including the smart banter, the action, the super powers. But it's more meaty. Instead of getting 26 colored pages, you get about 300 pages of story.
This book is basically like Percy Jackson meets Avengers. It starts out with Marrow- he is the main character- trying to score really high on his superhero placement test. He's basically a really powerful superhero who has the power to change his bone density, allowing him to smash through walls and jump really really high since he can make himself very heavy or very light. He gets teamed up with his least favorite superhero as his sidekick, Flex. Flex has stretchy powers, and Marrow think that's kind of dumb. They end up having to figure out how to work together even though sometimes they really get on each other's nerves. There's a super awesome climax that I won't spoil here, with twists that you don't expect. You just have to read it for yourself.
I would see this book is really good for anyone who likes Hunger Games or Maze Runner, but it also has an added touch of humor that makes it unique. It's especially awesome if you love comic books or superheroes. Even if you don't you will be engaged with the story. I recommended it!
http://www.amazon.com/Marrow-Preston-...
This book is basically like Percy Jackson meets Avengers. It starts out with Marrow- he is the main character- trying to score really high on his superhero placement test. He's basically a really powerful superhero who has the power to change his bone density, allowing him to smash through walls and jump really really high since he can make himself very heavy or very light. He gets teamed up with his least favorite superhero as his sidekick, Flex. Flex has stretchy powers, and Marrow think that's kind of dumb. They end up having to figure out how to work together even though sometimes they really get on each other's nerves. There's a super awesome climax that I won't spoil here, with twists that you don't expect. You just have to read it for yourself.
I would see this book is really good for anyone who likes Hunger Games or Maze Runner, but it also has an added touch of humor that makes it unique. It's especially awesome if you love comic books or superheroes. Even if you don't you will be engaged with the story. I recommended it!
http://www.amazon.com/Marrow-Preston-...
September 12, 2015
Marrow is a teen-ager who is a superhero in training - he's got great scores, grades and powers so chances are really good that he'll wind up with a plum assignment in the sidekick internship program. Things go wrong on his finals and he winds up sidekick to a drunk hippie bum of a burnout superhero. That is only the beginning of the changes that Marrow is going to face.
I really enjoyed this book.
The world building is well developed and engaging. The characters, hero's, villain's and super powers are all fully formed and believable. Sure you have to suspend disbelief to a certain extent when we're talking about a comic book world but Mr. Norton doesn't stretch that disbelief too far.
We're talking about a lot of action, some romance, fights, battles, evil villains - the whole works. I've been a comic fan for about 40 years so this was right up my alley.
The book did have some problems. The twists, hooks, reveals and surprises were not surprising and in fact I guessed them ALL about 100 pages before the reveals (not a good sign for a book). Since I knew how the book was going to go and end I wasn't drawn in as much as I'd have liked - I was along for the ride and enjoying it but I wasn't totally absorbed in the world, more like watching from the sidelines.
I'd still recommend this book to most people and definitely to all comic book fans.
Good read.
I really enjoyed this book.
The world building is well developed and engaging. The characters, hero's, villain's and super powers are all fully formed and believable. Sure you have to suspend disbelief to a certain extent when we're talking about a comic book world but Mr. Norton doesn't stretch that disbelief too far.
We're talking about a lot of action, some romance, fights, battles, evil villains - the whole works. I've been a comic fan for about 40 years so this was right up my alley.
The book did have some problems. The twists, hooks, reveals and surprises were not surprising and in fact I guessed them ALL about 100 pages before the reveals (not a good sign for a book). Since I knew how the book was going to go and end I wasn't drawn in as much as I'd have liked - I was along for the ride and enjoying it but I wasn't totally absorbed in the world, more like watching from the sidelines.
I'd still recommend this book to most people and definitely to all comic book fans.
Good read.
August 11, 2016
This was such a good story I went looking for more! I'm looking forward to Preston's next book!
The unlikely superhero, motivated by a show of unlikely courage, who must save humanity in secret!
For me, reading fiction is mindless entertainment. I read to unwind, and I like it better than Television. Therefore, the fact that this is great YA material is 100% fine. In fact, I'm not sure I understand the woes in some reviews about it. If you want to read difficult material, why choose a superhero book? When I want to read mind expanding works, I don't opt for fiction, that would just be too juxtaposed!
Enough about the haters... This is not my normal fiction genre. I love vampire romance... I still loved this book! It had action, mystery, suspense, motivation, and generally encapsulated the human condition in a few hundred pages. I give the author (I believe a first time author?!) a lot of credit for a captivating story that left me looking for more
Great job.
And to you readers? Download the book! You won't regret it.
The unlikely superhero, motivated by a show of unlikely courage, who must save humanity in secret!
For me, reading fiction is mindless entertainment. I read to unwind, and I like it better than Television. Therefore, the fact that this is great YA material is 100% fine. In fact, I'm not sure I understand the woes in some reviews about it. If you want to read difficult material, why choose a superhero book? When I want to read mind expanding works, I don't opt for fiction, that would just be too juxtaposed!
Enough about the haters... This is not my normal fiction genre. I love vampire romance... I still loved this book! It had action, mystery, suspense, motivation, and generally encapsulated the human condition in a few hundred pages. I give the author (I believe a first time author?!) a lot of credit for a captivating story that left me looking for more
Great job.
And to you readers? Download the book! You won't regret it.
August 4, 2016
I flew through this book, which for me means that I loved it. I had a hard time putting it down, even when there were other things I really should have been doing. I've read a decent number of YA with superpowers books recently, from the Michael Vey series to Dangerous to Blackout to the Reckoners (that I can name off the type of my head), mostly with pretty mixed reviews.
In my opinion, Marrow is as good as Steelheart. I know. I know. A lot of you are probably skeptical. After all, this is a book coming out of a small press whereas Steelheart is from a New York Times Bestselling author publishing with one of the Big 5 Publishers.
But it really is that good.
I loved the main character from his first two sentences, and I loved him for the rest of the novel. The rest of the characters were great too. Did I guess some of the plot? Sure. Did I guess all of it? Not even close. He had me on the edge of my seat through one of the longest and most exciting twisty-turny climaxes I've ever read.
Well done.
In my opinion, Marrow is as good as Steelheart. I know. I know. A lot of you are probably skeptical. After all, this is a book coming out of a small press whereas Steelheart is from a New York Times Bestselling author publishing with one of the Big 5 Publishers.
But it really is that good.
I loved the main character from his first two sentences, and I loved him for the rest of the novel. The rest of the characters were great too. Did I guess some of the plot? Sure. Did I guess all of it? Not even close. He had me on the edge of my seat through one of the longest and most exciting twisty-turny climaxes I've ever read.
Well done.
May 24, 2017
"Being a hero doesn't have anything to do with superpowers. Supervillains have some of the greatest powers, don't they? Does that make them heroes? What the heck do you think a real hero is, Marrow?"
While I've not read many comics, I was a huge fan of the cartoons as a kid, giving me an appreciation of all things comic/superhero related. Many YA books are also be enjoyed by adults, but Marrow is much better suited for 6th-8th graders, and will certainly keep them enthralled and interested in reading. If a well written book with some morals thrown in can accomplish that, I'm definitely giving it two thumbs up.
At 14 years old, protagonist Marrow is trying to prove himself as an adept Super, with dreams of being one of the best. The story is action-packed and fun, with a plot line following much how you think it would and a few twists for added conflict. As predictable as it is, Morrow is exactly what a young kid would want in this type of read, and is well written.
While I've not read many comics, I was a huge fan of the cartoons as a kid, giving me an appreciation of all things comic/superhero related. Many YA books are also be enjoyed by adults, but Marrow is much better suited for 6th-8th graders, and will certainly keep them enthralled and interested in reading. If a well written book with some morals thrown in can accomplish that, I'm definitely giving it two thumbs up.
At 14 years old, protagonist Marrow is trying to prove himself as an adept Super, with dreams of being one of the best. The story is action-packed and fun, with a plot line following much how you think it would and a few twists for added conflict. As predictable as it is, Morrow is exactly what a young kid would want in this type of read, and is well written.
September 4, 2016
This book puts the comic back in comics!
Marrow is absolutely hillarious, emotionally turbulent and super action packed. A perfect novel adaptation of the comic book. You get all the down time between the action that a comic book doesn't have from superheroes playing video games, to dealing with spandex wedgies. It has everything you would want or expect from a superhero book: witty banter, impossible odds, complex backstory, plot twists and a brutally comical look into the high profile life of superheroes from the perspective of a newly graduated sidekick.
You owe it to yourself to read this book if you loved X-men comics and The Incredibles, have a secret fetish for Spiderman or found yourself mildly disappointed in the latest comic book movie adaptation you saw. Read, laugh, enjoy.
Marrow is absolutely hillarious, emotionally turbulent and super action packed. A perfect novel adaptation of the comic book. You get all the down time between the action that a comic book doesn't have from superheroes playing video games, to dealing with spandex wedgies. It has everything you would want or expect from a superhero book: witty banter, impossible odds, complex backstory, plot twists and a brutally comical look into the high profile life of superheroes from the perspective of a newly graduated sidekick.
You owe it to yourself to read this book if you loved X-men comics and The Incredibles, have a secret fetish for Spiderman or found yourself mildly disappointed in the latest comic book movie adaptation you saw. Read, laugh, enjoy.
July 17, 2015
I'm mystified why this has been reviewed so well. It was okay, but barely. I must admit I liked the first half, but the book devolved into an incoherent but predictable mess with about a quarter to go. Incoherent AND predictable. Sigh.
This sort of thing has been done far, far better in works like Soon I Will Be Invincible or (especially) Chelsea Campbell's Renegade X series, though I admit I've not yet read the third installment.
Might be worth a peek if you've got KindleUnlimited, as I do, but beyond that? Not really seeing it.
This sort of thing has been done far, far better in works like Soon I Will Be Invincible or (especially) Chelsea Campbell's Renegade X series, though I admit I've not yet read the third installment.
Might be worth a peek if you've got KindleUnlimited, as I do, but beyond that? Not really seeing it.
July 19, 2018
This book was so much fun. If I were 13 again this would be my favorite book ever. I'm excited to see in the comments below that this is planned to be a series and I will be eagerly anticipating the next one. It doesn't take itself seriously, it's well written, it's age-appropriate, the story was great, I loved the characters. If you like superheroes and you recognize that this is a book meant for pre-teens and teens you will love the book. If you don't like superheroes and you're expecting a Pulitzer Prize winner, you might be disappointed. I'll be over here waiting for the movie.
I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
August 28, 2015
A few things bugged me about this book but overall it was good. First, the writing was really goo. Good descriptors and action and funny characters. The drawbacks were that this felt like a retelling of everything else superhero. It had some common elements that were a let down creativity wise. And also weird references to 90's things and "adult" topics like getting drunk, yet the writing was geared towards younger YA with immature jokes and childish banter. So overall conflicted. The author should try his hand at writing an "adult book" next and stay away from the childish aspects. Think Avengers instead of Teen Titans.
June 16, 2015
Whatever you do, don't stop after the first page or two. I almost did, because it was drenched with verbal kitsch. It was a caricature of comic books. But ... that was on purpose. This was written by someone who loves comic books, but grew up. Mostly. _Marrow_ turned out to be a really enjoyable story with a message. The denouement was a little too fast for me and missed some details, and the love story subplot -- though it fits the comic book atmosphere fine -- didn't quite have enough groundwork laid to feel believable. But I liked it.
June 2, 2015
A Great Read
It's been a while since I've written a review on a book. Sad to say most of the books I read are just ok. I mean their alright but nothing to write about. But "Marrow" was a darn good book. It keep you interested through the whole book. It had great characters, great action and a great plot, who could ask for more. I'm 57 and I really enjoy a good Superhero book and this one of those so I think it doesn't what your age you will enjoy this book.
It's been a while since I've written a review on a book. Sad to say most of the books I read are just ok. I mean their alright but nothing to write about. But "Marrow" was a darn good book. It keep you interested through the whole book. It had great characters, great action and a great plot, who could ask for more. I'm 57 and I really enjoy a good Superhero book and this one of those so I think it doesn't what your age you will enjoy this book.
May 1, 2015
Good super hero story
Main character was fairly consistent in personality. Some of the other characters were well developed. A few could have used more development however. The heroes power levels weren't unbalanced. Story and setting were interesting. Future stories set in this world would be worthwhile and a few of the characters could support their own storylines.
Main character was fairly consistent in personality. Some of the other characters were well developed. A few could have used more development however. The heroes power levels weren't unbalanced. Story and setting were interesting. Future stories set in this world would be worthwhile and a few of the characters could support their own storylines.
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