Killing Gods: A Superhero Novel

Powerless #2

by Tony Cooper

"When a physically mutated villain's son goes missing from protective care, he is determined to do whatever it takes to find his child and punish those responsible. In his way stand a Child Protection Officer following her heart above her duty, a violent anti-hero group desperate for media attention, a seemingly benevolent hero-worshipping cult, and Martin and Hayley trying to work out who they can trust." In a world much like our own, people born with extraordinary powers are called 'heroes'. In Britain today, laws forbid the use of powers in public and force those with abilities to register or face prosecution. Today, Martin, or Roadblock as he used to be known, secretly uses his abilities to fight crime, while reluctantly training up Hayley, a young teleporter to whom he owes his life. He had planned on a quiet retirement, but when he receives a request for help from an old enemy, he is further torn between following the letter of the law and doing the right thing. ALSO IN THIS SERIES: - POWERLESS (The 'Powerless' Superhero Novel Series Book 1)

434 pages, Paperback

First published July 20, 2014

About the author

Tony Cooper was born and raised in Scotland. He followed the traditional route of becoming a writer/artist by studying Medicine then making videogames for 16 years.

His grimdark urban fantasy superhero series is currently at three books, POWERLESS, KILLING GODS and DIE FAMOUS, and a tie-in comic book SOME KIND OF HERO.

He also created the graphic novel THE MURDER CLUB: USELESS DEATHS, a psychological thriller about a pair of schoolkids who plot to kill a fellow student.

He has also release a collection of dark short stories titled "The Resurrection Tree and Other Stories", and the science fiction comedy novella "Higgs & Soap: Galaxy Delivery".

Reviews

[Erin Penn · Rating 5 out of 5]

The grimdark world of the Powerless series continues in Killing Gods, a couple months after where Powerless left off. Martin and Hayley continue as a team, Martin continues to come out of his shell and reconnect with the world, and the world continues to be far too real - where those with Power are subject to abuse and prejudice.

One of Martin's old enemies comes knocking, only this time asking for help for his son. As a physical Power, like Martin, only one that can't "pass" in normal society, prejudice is out-and-out discrimination for the ex-con. He can't catch a break. Social services has come knocking and the SAVAGE is sure his past will haunt him as much as his claws do, and they will declare him an unfit father and take his son.

A son who is showing a VERY rare Power while still in diapers - a Power, if known, everyone would want control of. Governments, religious organizations, villains, corporations. The child's two parents are caught up in mechanisms beyond their control.

Can Martin help? Dare Martin help? He is playing vigilante in a world where using his Powers at all can get him incarcerated alongside Powers he put in the prison system.

This is not a world with win-win situations.

It is a world with a lot happening. The story has multiple plot lines and characters which twist together and spread apart wonderfully. Highly recommend to those who love grimdark superpowers.

(Read through Kindle Unlimited)

[Oliver Kitchen · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's a good continuation of the series. I especially liked the more in depth exploration of the world's history and the relationships between former heroes and villains. When you can feel manufacture sympathy for fictional characters facing injustice and wish things could have gone better for them in the face of a system stacked against them, you're doing something right, even if the subject matter is superhumans.

I think the ending was a bit unsatisfactory though, given that the cliffhanger seems highly unlikely to ever be resolved, unless there is one hell of a timeskip.

[John E · Rating 4 out of 5]

Different views of heroes

i enjoyed the multiple viewpoints about super heroes in this world where the heroes are second class citizens. This is not a standard hero story and the timeline and character changes limit the flow of the story at times. It you enjoy thinking about the public and supers, this is a good book to read.

[Becky · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely raced through this, loved the new characters brought in as well as how the old ones developed and the plot and world building we’re excellent

[Keary Birch · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent stuff. Could do with a good edit. Also, put a comma before a name, for Pete's sake. Good story, maybe a bit more on the main characters.

[Det Cornforth · Rating 2 out of 5]

Killing Gods

Nowhere near as good as the first powerless novel. Won't be reading the next novel. There is only so much boredom I can take.