Traitor

Empowered #2

by Dale Ivan Smith

When you are undercover as a super-villain, who can you trust?Mathilda Brandt leads a cell in the world’s most notorious super-villain organization. She’s also still struggling to make sure her sick grandmother gets medical help and that her twin teen-aged sisters stay out of trouble. When her cell uncovers man-made biological horrors, Mat vows to put an end to the monstrous creations. But she is working undercover for the secretive government agency known as Support, and doesn't dare blow her cover. When she discovers that the lives of millions of innocents are threatened, she faces a deadly decision. Who does she betray in order stop disaster?

Genres: Science Fiction, Urban Fantasy, Superheroes

300 pages, Paperback

Published March 21, 2017

About the author

I love writing fantasy novels, as well as reading, watching and gaming fantasy and science fiction of all kinds. I'm also a librarian for Oregon's largest public library system.

Reviews

[Michelle VanDaley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dale Ivan Smith has done it again! I absolutely love the world he has created. The characters he has created have these special abilities that are different from what we normally see and I LOVE that!!! Mat is a bad ass but deep down she is just trying to do what is best for her and her team. I love how relatable Mat and the other characters are. This book has tons of twists and turns and its hard to tell who is the good guy and who is bad.
I am excited to see where this story leads next!

[Joseph · Rating 5 out of 5]

A new kind of superhero book

This is a great addition to the superhero genre, because it's really a different take. For one thing, it's about villains, not heroes. But at the same time it asks the question "what is a hero? " That question drives the book, and finding the answer is really the end goal.

One thing I really didn't like is that there's a plot twist (not a major one) that I feel like I totally should have figured out before the end and I didn't.

[Charles Daniel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Unlife, Anthropo-Botanical Super Weapons, And Zombies

Well, not exactly zombies, but the people hosting the semi-botanical parasites certainly behave as robotically single minded as any zombie ever does. These are some of Mat's new foes in her continued tightrope walk between Support and Scourge. However, it may be that none of these new foes are as dangerous as her bosses in the two organizations that think they control her.

[Gary Blevins · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm really enjoying the Empowered series and the second book is no exception. The writing and character development has been wonderful. I'm enjoying the look of the world that is being built in the books.

I'm looking forward to the next in the series and can't wait to see where the story goes.

If you enjoyed the first book, you should definitely read the second.

[Glyder · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beware the powers that be

The complexity of your world is amazing.
The action is fast paced and the characters are well defined.
I have read your stories as fast as I can to get to the next chapter.
Superb work on your part.
I'll be starting the next book now.
Review you later.

[Marc Rieck · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wonderful read

This continues the story of Mat (Vine), and her attempt to save humanity, especially children, from the forces of the evil government and the evilish superpowered.

Well not as good as the first book, it is a wonderful book.

[Steve · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a fast-paced supernatural thriller, just as much fun as its prequel. The characters are sympathetic. I loved it.

[glenn williams · Rating 4 out of 5]

T

This is good story and has the potential to see what the future holds it we let happen. Look forward to the next one triple5gaw@hotmail.com

[S D Lawrie · Rating 5 out of 5]

As I said about book one, it will get better and it did. The characters deepened and I found myself liking them more. Book three awaits.

[Shawnta · Rating 4 out of 5]

This series has been great. It has been very entertaining. It is definitely worth reading. The characters are well developed. Mathilda is getting stronger starting to have more control of her abilities. I loved the relationship that has developed between Mat and Keisha. They were once at each others throat and now Keisha thinks of Mat as family to the point where she was willing to risk her life to save her. It's a great story that really pulls you in and it is a very easy read. Very enjoyable.

[Mark T · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great sequel to a terrific story. It's good to see the characters developing and changing through the series, bringing in some new faces while expanding on the old ones. There are some unexpected turns and twists, and plenty of questions about who are really the bad guys, or maybe who are the least bad? The second installment goes more in depth to these questions and more, and while maybe not a cliffhanger end, there is a lot to look forward to in the next book. Very enjoyable.

[Gea · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you've read Empowered Agent, you know a little of what you can expect of this book.
Mathilda gets in even more ridiculously dangerous situations. She is that much of an idealist, can't back off when she knows there is a tiny chance of changing everything for the better. She uses her gift for that to the limit.
Also to pay for the medication of Ruth, and housing for her and the twins.
Of course there are people who try to take advantage of her and her team. But she makes gut decisions and lives to see another day. I try to do the same.
A pageturner for sure!

[Janet · Rating 4 out of 5]

I raced through this book and found it completely engrossing. Mat's powers are still growing and she is maturing due to her responsibilities to her team and her family. The author's imagination is amazing and his creations in this story are well drawn and sinister. Mat is still torn between her shadowy "employers" and the equally shadowy organisation she has infiltrated because it is not clear to her or the reader who the good guys really are. This intriguing element of the novel is the strand that continues through the first book and the prequel. Each book will make more sense if they are read in order and they are all worth reading.
I received an Advance Reader's Copy of this book but this review is my own opinion and is not influenced by the author.