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Supervillain High #1
Supervillain High
Did you see the guy in the video wearing the purple tights and mask robbing that bank?
That’s Brendan’s dad. He’s a supervillain. The law is after him. The internet loves him. Brendan wishes they weren’t related.
Fortunately a scholarship fell into his lap to an exclusive private high school across the country in California. The chance of a lifetime. The teachers are attentive and Brendan is making new friends, but Dutchman Springs Academy has its own mysteries.
A girl keeps showing up in his electronics lab who can vanish at will, the phone and internet keep going out, and Brendan believes the Headmaster of the school is conducting secret experiments on the students.
Set in a world where a superhero mania has gripped the nation and otherwise normal individuals don masks and take to the streets to fight one another, Supervillain High follows a boy trying hard to navigate a new school while keeping his relationship with his villain father a secret. But can he resist the temptation of real superpowers when he begins to unravel an otherworldly threat to the safety of the school?
That’s Brendan’s dad. He’s a supervillain. The law is after him. The internet loves him. Brendan wishes they weren’t related.
Fortunately a scholarship fell into his lap to an exclusive private high school across the country in California. The chance of a lifetime. The teachers are attentive and Brendan is making new friends, but Dutchman Springs Academy has its own mysteries.
A girl keeps showing up in his electronics lab who can vanish at will, the phone and internet keep going out, and Brendan believes the Headmaster of the school is conducting secret experiments on the students.
Set in a world where a superhero mania has gripped the nation and otherwise normal individuals don masks and take to the streets to fight one another, Supervillain High follows a boy trying hard to navigate a new school while keeping his relationship with his villain father a secret. But can he resist the temptation of real superpowers when he begins to unravel an otherworldly threat to the safety of the school?
- GenresSuperheroesFantasy
227 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 22, 2017
93 people are currently reading
114 people want to read
About the author
Gerhard Gehrke
35 books88 followersGerhard Gehrke is the author of several science fiction novels including the best seller Refuge and The Minder’s War series, Nineveh's Child, A Beginner's Guide to Invading Earth, and the Supervillain High series.
He's written and produced for local TV and currently creates story content for a video game company.
You can keep up with him at gerhardgehrke.com.
When not writing, he can be found hiking the hills and trails of Northern California with his wife, looking for snakes, insects, and raptors to annoy, and poking dead things with a stick.
He's written and produced for local TV and currently creates story content for a video game company.
You can keep up with him at gerhardgehrke.com.
When not writing, he can be found hiking the hills and trails of Northern California with his wife, looking for snakes, insects, and raptors to annoy, and poking dead things with a stick.
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
May 13, 2018
Why did I pick up this book and why did it disappoint me so much? I think it has to do with my expectations and what the book actually is.
First off, let me explain what I was expecting out of this book. I know it's free from some author out there trying to make a living and I'm here to get a decently entertaining superhero book. The problem is Supervillain High can't really be called a superhero book. I picked this up because I fought there would be fun characters, cool powers, and entertaining fights like other good free ebooks. This book is not that, which isn't bad, but rather misleading. This book is more of a mystery novel with some science fiction elements.
Any superhero stuff is nothing more than background. I expected for this book to handle the way we idolize heroes and villains like the description said, but instead that is barely handled. Some students watch a TV channel about superhero battles. That's it. A TV channel. There could be so many creative ways of showing how this concept effects the world created, but it is so minimal it's almost lazy.
And the main character doesn't seem to deal with his father issues at all. At first it seems like he'd hide away from the superhero craze because he finds it odd how people idolize his dad, but that happens for a handful of pages while the main character watches the TV channel with the rest of the invested students and even interjects in their conversations. It's almost like it doesn't effect him in any way. There goes any characterization or conflict with his friends that do enjoy the superhero craze.
I'm writing this review almost a week after I read this book, and I can't for the life of me remember any of the characters' names because they are so bland. Generic friend, mysterious girl, mean girl, "I learned to fight from my older brothers" girl.
Perhaps it's because the book is a mystery, but I found it boring. That actually might be looking down on the genre because mysteries have suspense and tension. This book had zero tension. Most of it was complaining about no wifi or the main character breaking the rules. Each time someone will eventually point out "You can't break the rules, you'll get expelled!" Except despite Brendan breaking the rules multiple times, he never gets more than a slap on the wrist. Each time the next suspenseful scene kicked in and the supposed threat was mentioned, I felt completely detached because I knew there would be no consequences. Even if Brendan did get kicked out, who cares? It was mentioned that he was kicked out of schools before, and what is happening at the school most of the time feels tensionless, so why bother?
When I say there is no tension, I mean there is a school shooting (with tranquilizer darts) in one scene and it feels like only one character reacts by crying or being overly scared. It happens, and then the story moves on like there is no sense of danger. I've been in lockdowns under mere threats of school shootings, and let me tell you, the first part of you being locked in a classroom everyone is dead silent and scared and expecting to be hurt (at least for the first half hour before everyone realizes through the rumor mill that it's unlikely something will actually happen).
Since the book says that there was someone on campus when they were locked down, everyone should be terrified, disregarding the fact that they're using tranquilizers for some reason. Kidnapping is still a thing, and the book mentions that the students are all from rich families. Plus the cell phones aren't working! They should be terrified that the police wont show up! They're completely helpless and no one seems too worried about that! Am I the only one who thought this was handled poorly? Even during a traumatizing event there is no danger. I don't care if you want your main character to be some sort of level-headed and strong piece of cardboard, he is supposed to be a human being with emotions and should have some fear or panic, especially in the situation that was set up.
Skip ahead to the one interesting scene at the end with one painfully obvious twist and the book ends with as much emotion that I felt throughout, which was none. This story is just so dull and boring that I don't think it's worth the time to read it.
First off, let me explain what I was expecting out of this book. I know it's free from some author out there trying to make a living and I'm here to get a decently entertaining superhero book. The problem is Supervillain High can't really be called a superhero book. I picked this up because I fought there would be fun characters, cool powers, and entertaining fights like other good free ebooks. This book is not that, which isn't bad, but rather misleading. This book is more of a mystery novel with some science fiction elements.
Any superhero stuff is nothing more than background. I expected for this book to handle the way we idolize heroes and villains like the description said, but instead that is barely handled. Some students watch a TV channel about superhero battles. That's it. A TV channel. There could be so many creative ways of showing how this concept effects the world created, but it is so minimal it's almost lazy.
And the main character doesn't seem to deal with his father issues at all. At first it seems like he'd hide away from the superhero craze because he finds it odd how people idolize his dad, but that happens for a handful of pages while the main character watches the TV channel with the rest of the invested students and even interjects in their conversations. It's almost like it doesn't effect him in any way. There goes any characterization or conflict with his friends that do enjoy the superhero craze.
I'm writing this review almost a week after I read this book, and I can't for the life of me remember any of the characters' names because they are so bland. Generic friend, mysterious girl, mean girl, "I learned to fight from my older brothers" girl.
Perhaps it's because the book is a mystery, but I found it boring. That actually might be looking down on the genre because mysteries have suspense and tension. This book had zero tension. Most of it was complaining about no wifi or the main character breaking the rules. Each time someone will eventually point out "You can't break the rules, you'll get expelled!" Except despite Brendan breaking the rules multiple times, he never gets more than a slap on the wrist. Each time the next suspenseful scene kicked in and the supposed threat was mentioned, I felt completely detached because I knew there would be no consequences. Even if Brendan did get kicked out, who cares? It was mentioned that he was kicked out of schools before, and what is happening at the school most of the time feels tensionless, so why bother?
When I say there is no tension, I mean there is a school shooting (with tranquilizer darts) in one scene and it feels like only one character reacts by crying or being overly scared. It happens, and then the story moves on like there is no sense of danger. I've been in lockdowns under mere threats of school shootings, and let me tell you, the first part of you being locked in a classroom everyone is dead silent and scared and expecting to be hurt (at least for the first half hour before everyone realizes through the rumor mill that it's unlikely something will actually happen).
Since the book says that there was someone on campus when they were locked down, everyone should be terrified, disregarding the fact that they're using tranquilizers for some reason. Kidnapping is still a thing, and the book mentions that the students are all from rich families. Plus the cell phones aren't working! They should be terrified that the police wont show up! They're completely helpless and no one seems too worried about that! Am I the only one who thought this was handled poorly? Even during a traumatizing event there is no danger. I don't care if you want your main character to be some sort of level-headed and strong piece of cardboard, he is supposed to be a human being with emotions and should have some fear or panic, especially in the situation that was set up.
Skip ahead to the one interesting scene at the end with one painfully obvious twist and the book ends with as much emotion that I felt throughout, which was none. This story is just so dull and boring that I don't think it's worth the time to read it.
October 5, 2017
This book is so fun! Mysterious goings on and supers!? It's one that grabs your attention and really pulls you into this almost similar, yet totally different world from our own! The struggles of dealing with a new school, a lurking evil, and being miles away from home all come together very well in this book. Brendan does the best he can, and ends up in the middle of something he could have never imagined. It's a fun look on the 'super' genera with its in story commentary and action which, if you think sounds interesting, I recommend checking out!
November 15, 2017
Ooof. The synopsis got me interested, but this one falls short of the blurb.
Blurb fail 1: Where was the part of the book where "the internet loved (MC's dad)"? I must have missed it. Supers seemed more like a goofy oddity in this world than internet sensations. Maybe this universe has a different bar for internet fame. Hard to tell.
Blurb fail 2: Where was the part where "everyone just seems too nice"? Who was too nice? I must have missed that, too.
The book is just weird. About halfway through the book, it dawned on me that the book is really moody and atmospheric. Which is great! I actually like that! But, I'm also not sure that it was intentional.
Some of the dialogue is unnatural. For example, this is a sentence uttered by the MC, a teenage boy talking with his friends: "Both Paul and I have experienced some kind of reprieve by the administration." "Experienced a reprieve"? Is this a phrase kids commonly use? Like those Dawson's River kids?
Beyond the dialogue, a lot of the action is also unnatural and confusing. The bully is introduced awkwardly, and so is the love interest. It's a high school story, so I suppose the bully is a requisite character, but the characterization is lazy and half-fast. (The love story is an afterthought, which is totally okay.)
The MC, Brendan, is at this school, under possibly mysterious circumstances (which he never wonders about?), and it looks like one of his classmates has some sort of super power? Are... are all the kids powered? Is that the secret of the school? Is Brendan powered?
The book is never clear about whether super powers exist, or if it's just ordinary people dressed up in tights and fighting crime. Are they just slightly enhanced, like not-quite Captain Americas? Or are they not-stinking-rich Bruce Waynes?
I stuck with this all the way to the end, but I was running out the clock during the last 15-20%. This was a solid not for me.
Blurb fail 1: Where was the part of the book where "the internet loved (MC's dad)"? I must have missed it. Supers seemed more like a goofy oddity in this world than internet sensations. Maybe this universe has a different bar for internet fame. Hard to tell.
Blurb fail 2: Where was the part where "everyone just seems too nice"? Who was too nice? I must have missed that, too.
The book is just weird. About halfway through the book, it dawned on me that the book is really moody and atmospheric. Which is great! I actually like that! But, I'm also not sure that it was intentional.
Some of the dialogue is unnatural. For example, this is a sentence uttered by the MC, a teenage boy talking with his friends: "Both Paul and I have experienced some kind of reprieve by the administration." "Experienced a reprieve"? Is this a phrase kids commonly use? Like those Dawson's River kids?
Beyond the dialogue, a lot of the action is also unnatural and confusing. The bully is introduced awkwardly, and so is the love interest. It's a high school story, so I suppose the bully is a requisite character, but the characterization is lazy and half-fast. (The love story is an afterthought, which is totally okay.)
The MC, Brendan, is at this school, under possibly mysterious circumstances (which he never wonders about?), and it looks like one of his classmates has some sort of super power? Are... are all the kids powered? Is that the secret of the school? Is Brendan powered?
The book is never clear about whether super powers exist, or if it's just ordinary people dressed up in tights and fighting crime. Are they just slightly enhanced, like not-quite Captain Americas? Or are they not-stinking-rich Bruce Waynes?
I stuck with this all the way to the end, but I was running out the clock during the last 15-20%. This was a solid not for me.
September 10, 2017
Oh man, this book really captivated me! I read it in the span of 4 days because the way Gehrke slowly reveals bits of crucial information is tantalizing in a way that, at least for me, makes it impossible to put down!! The overarching plot was convoluted, but in a way that fits perfectly within the world that he's built. On top of that, each one of the main character's peers is distinct and fascinating in a way that, while sometimes cartoonish, gives the reader something real and dynamic to hold onto in the midst of such unbelievable twists and turns. Really, it's a lot of fun!
Unfortunately, this book also suffers some symptoms of a literature disease I like to call being Written By A Man. That is to say - there IS a bit of diversity in terms of race and gender (don't hold your breath for sexual orientation, though), but nothing's terribly groundbreaking. The story plants itself in a (presumably) straight, white male's perspective and never sees any reason to venture out of that. While this doesn't make the book unreadable by any means, it stops the characters from reaching their full potential. Of course, this IS the beginning of a series, so there's always time to improve in these areas...
Overall, Supervillain High is definitely worth the read! It's exciting, endearing, and fast-paced in a way that makes for a fun little romp in the fields of Young Adult Lit! Its inclusion of diversity, however, is serviceable at best and, at worst, downright tropey. Don't get your hopes up for the representation of the century or anything, but definitely don't let that be the reason you don't pick up this book. Seriously, go read this right now!!
Unfortunately, this book also suffers some symptoms of a literature disease I like to call being Written By A Man. That is to say - there IS a bit of diversity in terms of race and gender (don't hold your breath for sexual orientation, though), but nothing's terribly groundbreaking. The story plants itself in a (presumably) straight, white male's perspective and never sees any reason to venture out of that. While this doesn't make the book unreadable by any means, it stops the characters from reaching their full potential. Of course, this IS the beginning of a series, so there's always time to improve in these areas...
Overall, Supervillain High is definitely worth the read! It's exciting, endearing, and fast-paced in a way that makes for a fun little romp in the fields of Young Adult Lit! Its inclusion of diversity, however, is serviceable at best and, at worst, downright tropey. Don't get your hopes up for the representation of the century or anything, but definitely don't let that be the reason you don't pick up this book. Seriously, go read this right now!!
October 11, 2017
What is a normal teenage boy supposed to do when his father is a supervillain? Most people love the villain, Drone King. But Brenden just wishes they weren't related. Thankfully a special grant has made it possible for Brenden to attend an exclusive private school on the other side of the country. But his school has its own mysteries that threaten not only Brenden, but his friends and the rest of the school.
This is a different type of superpowered story. There are no aliens, mutants, ancient demigods, or people who went through strange scientific accidents that should have killed them but instead gave them incredible powers. All of the supers in this story use technology. Bulletproof suits, hang gliders, electrified weapons, and other things to commit or fight crime. The world loves them, or least they love watching them. Brenden loves them too, he just wishes his dad wasn't one of them.
But now he is getting a fresh start., That is what makes this story standout. It doesn't focus on people in tights beating up on each other (although that does happen). It focuses on the normal, everyday kids and how a world of supers affect them. Of course, there are the mysteries that surround the school that the kids will have to try and solve. So they do become heroes in their own right, but that still doesn't mean they will come through without getting hurt.
This is a fun, fast read that looks to be a great start to a slightly offbeat kind of superhero story. 4.5 stars.
This is a different type of superpowered story. There are no aliens, mutants, ancient demigods, or people who went through strange scientific accidents that should have killed them but instead gave them incredible powers. All of the supers in this story use technology. Bulletproof suits, hang gliders, electrified weapons, and other things to commit or fight crime. The world loves them, or least they love watching them. Brenden loves them too, he just wishes his dad wasn't one of them.
But now he is getting a fresh start., That is what makes this story standout. It doesn't focus on people in tights beating up on each other (although that does happen). It focuses on the normal, everyday kids and how a world of supers affect them. Of course, there are the mysteries that surround the school that the kids will have to try and solve. So they do become heroes in their own right, but that still doesn't mean they will come through without getting hurt.
This is a fun, fast read that looks to be a great start to a slightly offbeat kind of superhero story. 4.5 stars.
August 26, 2017
Supervillain High is a new take on the superhero/YA genre. Brendan isn't a superhero, a superhero wannabe, or even a kid who is about to get bitten by something radioactive or fall into a vat of sludge. His father is a famous villain known as the Drone King, and Brendan just wants to have a normal life. Gerhard Gehrke does a great job creating and detailing the world, the characters, and the ongoing storyline.
Brendan is trying to be get ahead in life at Dutchman Springs Academy in California where he has become a newly matriculated student. In order to afford it, he's been awarded a grant to the prestigious school, but of course the grant was on the up and up, right? This is just the first of the tantalizing questions Gehrke raises. Cell phones don't work after ten pm although the school network does.
Supervillain High is a fun book. The descriptions and characterizations are solid, and it's easy to 'hear' the different characters as they interact. Although it is the first book in a series, it can easily be read as a standalone novel.
I was lucky enough to get an ARC of the book, and I'm glad I did.
Brendan is trying to be get ahead in life at Dutchman Springs Academy in California where he has become a newly matriculated student. In order to afford it, he's been awarded a grant to the prestigious school, but of course the grant was on the up and up, right? This is just the first of the tantalizing questions Gehrke raises. Cell phones don't work after ten pm although the school network does.
Supervillain High is a fun book. The descriptions and characterizations are solid, and it's easy to 'hear' the different characters as they interact. Although it is the first book in a series, it can easily be read as a standalone novel.
I was lucky enough to get an ARC of the book, and I'm glad I did.
December 3, 2019
Brenden was raised by his single mom. His dude is a super villain with an uncanny ability to make and control drones. Brenden gets a mysterious grant to attend a private high school that just might be more than it seems. Can he keep the embarrassing truth about his father a secret? Can he figure what weird things happen at night? Read it and find out!
This is my third Gehrke novel and each has had a different tone and feel. Each was in a totally different universe. What can’t this guy write?
I got a reviewer copy. There were no obligations. No one threatened to send their drones to Science Fantasy Hub’s real-world HQ aka the little room in my basement where I write, edit, podcast, review stuff, and do other geeky things. No coercion was necessary because this book was a heap of fun!
This is my third Gehrke novel and each has had a different tone and feel. Each was in a totally different universe. What can’t this guy write?
I got a reviewer copy. There were no obligations. No one threatened to send their drones to Science Fantasy Hub’s real-world HQ aka the little room in my basement where I write, edit, podcast, review stuff, and do other geeky things. No coercion was necessary because this book was a heap of fun!
October 26, 2017
I really like the concept and world building for this story. It’s a world much like ours but where there are active superheroes. These folks are all of the Tony Stark / Ironman variety, however, as this is not a world of paranormal heroes. Into this world comes our leading man, Brendan, who just wants to be a kid with a normal high school life where nobody knows that his dad is a supervillian. That ain’t gonna happen. Brendan’s luck into getting admitted to an elite high school across the country is a “two edged sword” as this is not your normal school at all and danger lurks in these here parts. Don’t worry though, he’ll be up for the job, and it sure is fun to follow along.
Definitely recommend.
Definitely recommend.
October 6, 2019
This has to be probably one of my favorite books ever! The setting of the story was super cool and original. Loved the supers being like sport teams. The characters were great, Brian being my favorite character. The romance felt perfect, it blended perfectly in the story without feeling out of place. The ending had me at the edge of my seat. Got the rest of the books on my wish list! Love this book! Would recommend to everyone! 10/10
November 16, 2018
Great Book
I so enjoyed this book. This author has a new fan. From the start to the finish it was great. Great detail was written about the characters throughout. I appreciated the at length description of each scene. The plot grew through the book. Great job. I will read more books from this author
I so enjoyed this book. This author has a new fan. From the start to the finish it was great. Great detail was written about the characters throughout. I appreciated the at length description of each scene. The plot grew through the book. Great job. I will read more books from this author
September 14, 2018
A solid Superhero-Lit novel.
The characters are very natural, the writing good. Parallel world stories always get a bit complicated, but this one pulls it off in the end. If superheroes is your thing, this book is that.
The characters are very natural, the writing good. Parallel world stories always get a bit complicated, but this one pulls it off in the end. If superheroes is your thing, this book is that.
October 14, 2017
I have been recommending this to all of my mid-level students. The second book is just as awesome.
October 26, 2017
I liked it.
This is a fun read. The storey line is tight. The plot is good. I liked the good guys and even some of the bad guys. Read it on unlimited. Recommended.
This is a fun read. The storey line is tight. The plot is good. I liked the good guys and even some of the bad guys. Read it on unlimited. Recommended.
November 10, 2017
I liked it but plot bunnies kept appearing.
December 1, 2017
Liked it
Interesting characters that you instantly start rooting for I will be buying the other books in the series. As soon as possible
Interesting characters that you instantly start rooting for I will be buying the other books in the series. As soon as possible
May 17, 2018
I liked the book. The suspense kept me interested. The characters were fascinating. The book was clean. I'd like to read more.
December 11, 2019
A fun superhero themed read with a nice dose of scifi, mystery, friendship, and character growth. I am looking forward to reading the rest of the books in the series.
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews