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Rise of the Anointed #1
Launch
Sixteen-year-olds Demarcus Bartlett and Lily Beausoliel are among a select group of youth invited to an exclusive, all-expenses-paid conference at social media giant Alturas’ California headquarters. Led by charismatic founder Simon Mazor, the world’s youngest billionaire, this isn’t the typical honors society. It seems that everyone here has some secret, untapped potential, some power that may not be entirely of this world. An ancient prophecy suggests that if these teens combine their abilities, they could change the course of history. The only question is: Will it be for better or for worse?
Hardcover
Published July 3, 2018
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 37 reviews
June 24, 2018
Launch balances action, intrigue, suspense, fun, and faith. The result is an exciting first volume of what I anticipate to be a gripping trilogy! Each character is at a very different place in their journey, which makes them rely on each other in a believable way. There are a lot of promising threads I can't want to follow into the sequels!
October 23, 2022
I'm the author...so I think it's good. ;)
October 31, 2018
Launch: Rise of the Anointed, a superhero novel by Jason Joyner, is filled with appealing sixteen-year-olds. Two of them, Demarcus Bartlett and Lily Beausoliel, are at crisis points in their lives even before they discover that they have developed superpowers. Instead of yelling, “Hey! Look what I can do!” they try to hide their superpowers because they are afraid of being treated as freaks or being dissected by a lab somewhere. There is no evidence given that such a lab exists, but their fears of never fitting in are logical, given the disordered situations of their lives.
Then out of nowhere they receive invitations to attend an exclusive, all-expenses-paid conference held by a computer/social media guru. It’s almost as if Bill Gates had invited them to his house for the weekend. They are excited, their families are excited, and the hundreds of other teens invited are excited. Lurking under all of the excitement is worry and wonder with the question of “Why?” Why would anyone pay for a free weekend for these two teens with their problems? Why does anyone consider them to be future leaders of the world?
As time goes on, these two find other people with superpowers and befriend them and each other. Slowly the gathered group of people with powers find out why the guru wants them. They discover that they are not the only ones holding secrets.
While the story is a bit complex, as it follows the point of view of four people, the story is easy to follow. The reader will never wonder what just happened. In fact, that ease of following leads to my one complaint about the book. Because I prefer books that challenge my comprehension, I felt like the author overexplained things to me. I’m not sure that’s a fair evaluation. What the author has done here is written a book that someone who might have trouble following text can follow. And that’s a good thing.
My favorite character was Demarcus. Despite his problems, he always wants to help people. His superpower gives him the ability to do so in a number of ways, for example, carrying people to the hospital faster than any ambulance can. I also liked that he goes to church and prays. The scene where he melted his shoes made me laugh.
Each character is a separate person with their own agendas and characteristics. You’re bound to find somebody you can identify with. Each person is given their chance to be sacrificial and heroic. It’s fun to watch the assemblage of an ensemble superhero group and see how they learn to use their superpowers alone and with each other.
The book is explicitly Christian in its orientation. Scripture is quoted, God is talked about, and people pray. Even though we never see a church service, we learn that several of the characters do go to church. There is an assumption of evil spiritual powers that guide one of the main characters.
I highly recommend this book for the teenager in your life who likes Marvel movies.
Then out of nowhere they receive invitations to attend an exclusive, all-expenses-paid conference held by a computer/social media guru. It’s almost as if Bill Gates had invited them to his house for the weekend. They are excited, their families are excited, and the hundreds of other teens invited are excited. Lurking under all of the excitement is worry and wonder with the question of “Why?” Why would anyone pay for a free weekend for these two teens with their problems? Why does anyone consider them to be future leaders of the world?
As time goes on, these two find other people with superpowers and befriend them and each other. Slowly the gathered group of people with powers find out why the guru wants them. They discover that they are not the only ones holding secrets.
While the story is a bit complex, as it follows the point of view of four people, the story is easy to follow. The reader will never wonder what just happened. In fact, that ease of following leads to my one complaint about the book. Because I prefer books that challenge my comprehension, I felt like the author overexplained things to me. I’m not sure that’s a fair evaluation. What the author has done here is written a book that someone who might have trouble following text can follow. And that’s a good thing.
My favorite character was Demarcus. Despite his problems, he always wants to help people. His superpower gives him the ability to do so in a number of ways, for example, carrying people to the hospital faster than any ambulance can. I also liked that he goes to church and prays. The scene where he melted his shoes made me laugh.
Each character is a separate person with their own agendas and characteristics. You’re bound to find somebody you can identify with. Each person is given their chance to be sacrificial and heroic. It’s fun to watch the assemblage of an ensemble superhero group and see how they learn to use their superpowers alone and with each other.
The book is explicitly Christian in its orientation. Scripture is quoted, God is talked about, and people pray. Even though we never see a church service, we learn that several of the characters do go to church. There is an assumption of evil spiritual powers that guide one of the main characters.
I highly recommend this book for the teenager in your life who likes Marvel movies.
July 3, 2018
Launch by Jason C. Joyner is book 1 of the just launched (har-har ;-) ) Rise of the Anointed trilogy. And if it's anything to go by, this is going to be a fun and exciting series!
Set in modern day California, with maybe a little technological boost, the story begins when certain youth suddenly develop super powers. But this is no mutant evolution - it's supernatural. And as these teens come to grips with their newfound abilities, they also grapple with the questions that come with the powers. Why them? Why now? What's God's purpose behind these gifts?
Though told primarily from the point of view of Demarcus and Lily, the book centers around a group of four strangers who quickly become friends. But when bad things begin to happen, can they become a team and stop it?
With likable characters, a lot of humor, and constant intrigue and nail-biting suspense, I ended up reading this book in one sitting. (I just couldn't put it down!) Although billed as YA, with the younger age of the characters and mild hints at romantic attraction, it felt like an upper-middle-grade through adult. Highly recommended!
I voluntarily read an advanced reader copy by the author. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.
Set in modern day California, with maybe a little technological boost, the story begins when certain youth suddenly develop super powers. But this is no mutant evolution - it's supernatural. And as these teens come to grips with their newfound abilities, they also grapple with the questions that come with the powers. Why them? Why now? What's God's purpose behind these gifts?
Though told primarily from the point of view of Demarcus and Lily, the book centers around a group of four strangers who quickly become friends. But when bad things begin to happen, can they become a team and stop it?
With likable characters, a lot of humor, and constant intrigue and nail-biting suspense, I ended up reading this book in one sitting. (I just couldn't put it down!) Although billed as YA, with the younger age of the characters and mild hints at romantic attraction, it felt like an upper-middle-grade through adult. Highly recommended!
I voluntarily read an advanced reader copy by the author. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.
January 21, 2020
I liked...
- Superheroes! I always enjoy superhero stories.
- Theme and Plot - the story compared well with the Marvel movies, at least as far as theme and Plot go.
- Overt Christianity is hard to do well, especially in a YA novel, but I liked how he did it here. Christianity wasn't just a religion. It was portrayed as the truth, through and through - in spite of imperfect characters. I wish more stories were written that way.
.
I didn't like...
- The story felt... almost truncated. That is to say, I didn't feel the story had been cut short, but I had expected it to be more epic. On the other hand, the story would not have been made better by being more epic, so I wasn't disappointed. If that makes sense.
- It seemed like it could have had more action, but it didn't drag either, so I won't complain.
.
All told, I enjoyed this book, and look forward to reading the next one in the series.
- Superheroes! I always enjoy superhero stories.
- Theme and Plot - the story compared well with the Marvel movies, at least as far as theme and Plot go.
- Overt Christianity is hard to do well, especially in a YA novel, but I liked how he did it here. Christianity wasn't just a religion. It was portrayed as the truth, through and through - in spite of imperfect characters. I wish more stories were written that way.
.
I didn't like...
- The story felt... almost truncated. That is to say, I didn't feel the story had been cut short, but I had expected it to be more epic. On the other hand, the story would not have been made better by being more epic, so I wasn't disappointed. If that makes sense.
- It seemed like it could have had more action, but it didn't drag either, so I won't complain.
.
All told, I enjoyed this book, and look forward to reading the next one in the series.
Read
September 30, 2025Very fun!
December 31, 2019
Having read a few superhero novels, I felt like I had a good bead on the genre. I was pleasantly surprised to be wrong. Jason Joyner's debut YA superhero novel has everything you'd expect from a good entry in either of those genres. Superpowers, a supervillain, and world-in-peril stakes alongside making new friends, sorting out crushes, and finding your place in the world. It's so well blended neither sticks out as obvious or discordant. You find yourself believing in Demarcus, Lily, and the others as real people, so as more and more incredible things happen it's at once all the more stunning and yet more natural feeling. I wasn't prepared for that. I read through this book in pretty much one sitting, because it pulled me in.
Another element I was unsure of going into this book was the spiritual component to the story. As a Christian I've read some very overt and blunt portrayals of the faith and some so faint and obscure they're almost undetectable. Launch struck a fantastic balance. It wasn't so heavy handed that a non-Christian superhero fan would feel like he or she is in a sermon by any stretch, yet the spiritual component, the importance of the Faith is very much a core of this story. It toes the line with being a spiritual warfare story. Which is incredible.
In fairness, my one question with the book is the theological implications of the story within it's own world. But I'd imagine that those sorts of things are better addressed across the Rise of the Anointed Series rather in its origins entry.
In short, this is an engrossing and enjoyable read for fans of superhero action and YA dynamics. If you're not a Christian, it should still be a good read, and if you are in all three camps this one will be a memorable one to keep on your shelves.
In short, I need book 2!
Another element I was unsure of going into this book was the spiritual component to the story. As a Christian I've read some very overt and blunt portrayals of the faith and some so faint and obscure they're almost undetectable. Launch struck a fantastic balance. It wasn't so heavy handed that a non-Christian superhero fan would feel like he or she is in a sermon by any stretch, yet the spiritual component, the importance of the Faith is very much a core of this story. It toes the line with being a spiritual warfare story. Which is incredible.
In fairness, my one question with the book is the theological implications of the story within it's own world. But I'd imagine that those sorts of things are better addressed across the Rise of the Anointed Series rather in its origins entry.
In short, this is an engrossing and enjoyable read for fans of superhero action and YA dynamics. If you're not a Christian, it should still be a good read, and if you are in all three camps this one will be a memorable one to keep on your shelves.
In short, I need book 2!
July 10, 2020
If your teen enjoys superhero movies and stories, this might be a great book for them. When my kids were teens, they loved movies about heroes with incredible powers who protected the world from the evil villains. Launch is such a story—a Christian teen version of Avengers or X-men.
July 17, 2018
Is there a better way to grab the attention of teens than to mix social media, super powers, celebrities, and some rocking parties together into a giant conspiracy?
I honestly don't think so, and for the first time since I read The Chronicles of Narnia, I found myself wanting to be sucked into this book, trials and all!
Launch is full of powerful lessons about self identity, sacrifice, and tapping into our full gifting potential. The story has a smooth and sometimes exhilarating pace that keeps us fully interested and never bored.
I loved each of the characters so much. They all reflected different struggles, strengths, opinions, and personalities so it was easy to watch them with admiration as they grew to embrace who they were Created to be.
Launch is a Christian young adult book, but it's not one of those overly "preachy" books. The story certainly revolves around Christian content and Bible stories, but it's presented in a way that compliments the story rather than takes over the story. I was very pleased with it and because of its Christian based writing, it is a very clean book, though the action is decently high and I would definitely like to reiterate that its a Young Adult book, not Middle Grade.
So in complete overview, I give Launch 5 out of 5 stars and cannot wait to get my hands on book 2!
I received this book from the author for the purpose of this review. All comments and opinions are entirely my own.
This is a LiteratureApproved.com Review.
I honestly don't think so, and for the first time since I read The Chronicles of Narnia, I found myself wanting to be sucked into this book, trials and all!
Launch is full of powerful lessons about self identity, sacrifice, and tapping into our full gifting potential. The story has a smooth and sometimes exhilarating pace that keeps us fully interested and never bored.
I loved each of the characters so much. They all reflected different struggles, strengths, opinions, and personalities so it was easy to watch them with admiration as they grew to embrace who they were Created to be.
Launch is a Christian young adult book, but it's not one of those overly "preachy" books. The story certainly revolves around Christian content and Bible stories, but it's presented in a way that compliments the story rather than takes over the story. I was very pleased with it and because of its Christian based writing, it is a very clean book, though the action is decently high and I would definitely like to reiterate that its a Young Adult book, not Middle Grade.
So in complete overview, I give Launch 5 out of 5 stars and cannot wait to get my hands on book 2!
I received this book from the author for the purpose of this review. All comments and opinions are entirely my own.
This is a LiteratureApproved.com Review.
July 3, 2018
***I was given this book in exchange for an honest review.***
The mix of X-Men with the Bible had me curious from the start so, I dove right in! Demarcus, Harry, Lily, and Sarah Jane are all very easy to love and form an attachment to. I enjoyed the uniqueness of each of their personalities as well as the similarities that brought them together. Overall, the dialogue and humor with the deeper overarching message was a delight and I’m excited to read the sequel!
The mix of X-Men with the Bible had me curious from the start so, I dove right in! Demarcus, Harry, Lily, and Sarah Jane are all very easy to love and form an attachment to. I enjoyed the uniqueness of each of their personalities as well as the similarities that brought them together. Overall, the dialogue and humor with the deeper overarching message was a delight and I’m excited to read the sequel!
October 17, 2018
Mysterious, supernatural, and full of heart...that's what I felt after reading the first chapter and needed to know more.
My favorite character was John, he was so well written and helpful to the teens!
There is obviously a supernatural element to this story, with the teens and the bad guy, but I never saw the story as creepy or inappropriate (I have read Christian books that are inappropriate in this way or too violent). The ending was intense but grabbed my attention, was relieved when one death is reversed. I didn't get the gummy bears, but I tried to! I didn't understand what had happened to one or more of the teens, but then realized the characters are summarized in the front of the book and that helped me with the story.
Looking forward to the next book in this series, very interesting.
My favorite character was John, he was so well written and helpful to the teens!
There is obviously a supernatural element to this story, with the teens and the bad guy, but I never saw the story as creepy or inappropriate (I have read Christian books that are inappropriate in this way or too violent). The ending was intense but grabbed my attention, was relieved when one death is reversed. I didn't get the gummy bears, but I tried to! I didn't understand what had happened to one or more of the teens, but then realized the characters are summarized in the front of the book and that helped me with the story.
Looking forward to the next book in this series, very interesting.
July 1, 2018
There's nothing like sitting down with a book expecting one thing, only to be pleasantly surprised. Launch is such a book. Fast paced, but not so much it's hard to keep up. Compelling characters that you want to know everything about. Impressive plot and world-building. Launch simply has it all!
If I had to pick a favorite element out of all that goodness, it would be how well the characters and the plot are woven together. Not a single story thread is wasted, and everyone seen on screen is relevant.
This is a seriously impressive book!
If I had to pick a favorite element out of all that goodness, it would be how well the characters and the plot are woven together. Not a single story thread is wasted, and everyone seen on screen is relevant.
This is a seriously impressive book!
June 23, 2018
Launch is a great novel in a rare genre. I was very excited to see a Christian Superhero novel - probably the first I've ever read. I wasn't disappointed. I loved the way the author merged faith and fantasy to underscore an important lesson: God has given everyone gifts for a reason.
The only negative in the book was that the elderly mentor character lied and stole in the name of the greater good, and encouraged his proteges to do the same. This was mostly off-putting because he was supposed to be the spiritual mentor of the teens.
The characters were exciting and believable and the author did a great job of giving each of them a unique voice. I really loved the main cast, especially the main character Demarcus. They were multifaceted people with interesting backstories and struggles. I look forward to reading more about them in future books.
I received this book for free, but the opinions expressed in this review are my own."
The only negative in the book was that the elderly mentor character lied and stole in the name of the greater good, and encouraged his proteges to do the same. This was mostly off-putting because he was supposed to be the spiritual mentor of the teens.
The characters were exciting and believable and the author did a great job of giving each of them a unique voice. I really loved the main cast, especially the main character Demarcus. They were multifaceted people with interesting backstories and struggles. I look forward to reading more about them in future books.
I received this book for free, but the opinions expressed in this review are my own."
July 29, 2024
My rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫 (4.5/5 stars)
Launch is a fun, fast-paced YA book with a superhero fantasy flavor written from a Christian worldview.
The main characters are pretty well-written. I look forward to seeing how they continue to grow in the next book. The setting is believable and feels contemporary.
Despite there being quite a bit of violence in Launch, there are only a few replacement cusses. Some of the characters’ decisions fall in the gray area of “doing the wrong thing for the right reason.” Therefore, I would encourage parents of younger teens to read this one yourself before handing it off to your child, take the time to read it together so you can discuss it, or have your child wait to read this one when they’re better equipped for discerning those gray areas.
Overall, Launch was an enjoyable read for me, and I’m looking forward to continuing the series with the second book. I think this book would be best for older teens and young adults who enjoy reading Christian fantasy/superhero stories.
Launch is a fun, fast-paced YA book with a superhero fantasy flavor written from a Christian worldview.
The main characters are pretty well-written. I look forward to seeing how they continue to grow in the next book. The setting is believable and feels contemporary.
Despite there being quite a bit of violence in Launch, there are only a few replacement cusses. Some of the characters’ decisions fall in the gray area of “doing the wrong thing for the right reason.” Therefore, I would encourage parents of younger teens to read this one yourself before handing it off to your child, take the time to read it together so you can discuss it, or have your child wait to read this one when they’re better equipped for discerning those gray areas.
Overall, Launch was an enjoyable read for me, and I’m looking forward to continuing the series with the second book. I think this book would be best for older teens and young adults who enjoy reading Christian fantasy/superhero stories.
September 5, 2024
When your Warrior-cats-obsesssed daughter shoves this series at you and says, "This is better than Warrior Cats" you pay attention!
I haven't read Warrior Cats, but I'm fairly certain that this series and that series have nothing in common. However, the high praise (and the fact that I loved Interstice Undone and wanted to get to know the Anointed characters better) made this the next book I picked up.
This was a fun superhero origin story and I loved how the author managed to blend superheroes and Christian references in a way that made sense and didn't feel awkward or preachy.
Demarcus, Harry, Lily, and Sarah Jane are all sweet adorable beans and I love them.
Looking forward to book 2!
I haven't read Warrior Cats, but I'm fairly certain that this series and that series have nothing in common. However, the high praise (and the fact that I loved Interstice Undone and wanted to get to know the Anointed characters better) made this the next book I picked up.
This was a fun superhero origin story and I loved how the author managed to blend superheroes and Christian references in a way that made sense and didn't feel awkward or preachy.
Demarcus, Harry, Lily, and Sarah Jane are all sweet adorable beans and I love them.
Looking forward to book 2!
September 3, 2025
Fantastic YA Superhero Story
I highly enjoyed reading Launch from beginning to end! There’s plenty of suspense and action with an epic conclusion. I particularly enjoyed the development of the characters as they learned about their powers, interacted with their peers, and made decisions about how to use the gift they were given. I liked the connections to Bible history and the modern application of supernatural anointed gifts—this book gives a whole new mean to “with great power comes great responsibility.” I can’t wait to see how the story continues to develop and what Demarcus, Lily, and their friends will do next. The villains are up to something big, and it will be exciting to see how these teen heroes rise to their callings!
I highly enjoyed reading Launch from beginning to end! There’s plenty of suspense and action with an epic conclusion. I particularly enjoyed the development of the characters as they learned about their powers, interacted with their peers, and made decisions about how to use the gift they were given. I liked the connections to Bible history and the modern application of supernatural anointed gifts—this book gives a whole new mean to “with great power comes great responsibility.” I can’t wait to see how the story continues to develop and what Demarcus, Lily, and their friends will do next. The villains are up to something big, and it will be exciting to see how these teen heroes rise to their callings!
January 25, 2024
An Amazing YA Superhero Book
This book came out a few years ago, and I’ve had it sitting in my Kindle since then. I’m so glad I finally read it! I truly loved everything about. The short chapters. The interesting characters. The suspense. I literally screamed about five times reading this book! And I also loved the biblical messages that I believe are appropriate for YA Christians. I’m excited to read the rest of the series, hopefully sooner than a few years from now 😅
This book came out a few years ago, and I’ve had it sitting in my Kindle since then. I’m so glad I finally read it! I truly loved everything about. The short chapters. The interesting characters. The suspense. I literally screamed about five times reading this book! And I also loved the biblical messages that I believe are appropriate for YA Christians. I’m excited to read the rest of the series, hopefully sooner than a few years from now 😅
May 26, 2020
Superpowers and suspense!
What a delightfully fun story!
When teens with superpowers convene at a gathering for kids with "potential", they have no idea why they are there or how they were selected.
Demarcus can move fast. Incredibly fast. When we are introduced to him, he sets out to race a Camaro. With an open throttle. And he wins! This young man is a blend of faith and insecurity. His mom has taught him his entire life that God has given him gifts to be used for His purposes. Whatever that might mean!
Many of the characters have suffered at the hands of bullies. While this is not a major theme, I loved when Lily finally realized that enough is enough and decided to stand against it.
So as to not give anything away, suffice it to say it was great! Full of adventure and a fight of good against evil. Though there were certainly elements of fantasy, there was also a faith element as John, the custodian, shared Bible stories of those showing super powers (Samson, for one) and exhorted the boys to not allow pride to draw them from the Lord. There were hints at the end that more is still to come. I will be watching for more stories in the Rise of the Anointed series.
Well suited for teens and young adults, even older adults who appreciate a superhero story will want to read Launch.
I absolutely loved the names of the characters. They were thoughtfully given and many were subtle puns. If you aren't sure, do a search on the name - either first or last to see what you might find. Let me give you a few examples. Demarcus had to learn to distinguish the boundaries of right and wrong - demarcate. Simon Mazor was the mastermind behind the social media giant. Mazor Robotics is the real-life name for an Israeli robotic guidance system for surgery (with the author working in the medical field, I'm sure this is a name he is familiar with - I had to look it up.) John Presbus is an ancient man who is attempting to point the teens to Jesus. In case that word sounds slightly familiar, it means "leader" and is the root of "presbyter", an elder in the church. I'll leave you to see if you find others yourself.
Read my full review at Among the Reads
What a delightfully fun story!
When teens with superpowers convene at a gathering for kids with "potential", they have no idea why they are there or how they were selected.
Demarcus can move fast. Incredibly fast. When we are introduced to him, he sets out to race a Camaro. With an open throttle. And he wins! This young man is a blend of faith and insecurity. His mom has taught him his entire life that God has given him gifts to be used for His purposes. Whatever that might mean!
Many of the characters have suffered at the hands of bullies. While this is not a major theme, I loved when Lily finally realized that enough is enough and decided to stand against it.
So as to not give anything away, suffice it to say it was great! Full of adventure and a fight of good against evil. Though there were certainly elements of fantasy, there was also a faith element as John, the custodian, shared Bible stories of those showing super powers (Samson, for one) and exhorted the boys to not allow pride to draw them from the Lord. There were hints at the end that more is still to come. I will be watching for more stories in the Rise of the Anointed series.
Well suited for teens and young adults, even older adults who appreciate a superhero story will want to read Launch.
I absolutely loved the names of the characters. They were thoughtfully given and many were subtle puns. If you aren't sure, do a search on the name - either first or last to see what you might find. Let me give you a few examples. Demarcus had to learn to distinguish the boundaries of right and wrong - demarcate. Simon Mazor was the mastermind behind the social media giant. Mazor Robotics is the real-life name for an Israeli robotic guidance system for surgery (with the author working in the medical field, I'm sure this is a name he is familiar with - I had to look it up.) John Presbus is an ancient man who is attempting to point the teens to Jesus. In case that word sounds slightly familiar, it means "leader" and is the root of "presbyter", an elder in the church. I'll leave you to see if you find others yourself.
Read my full review at Among the Reads
July 8, 2019
In the book, Launch, by author Jason C. Joyner, the reader finds himself among a group of modern-day teens from the west coast of America. All of them have passed through some form of trauma in their short lives, leaving them feeling distant towards family, friends, and even themselves. Selected to attend an all-expense paid weekend retreat put on by the newest, up-and-coming, social platform, these same teens are brought together to secretly unleash the hidden and not understood talents latent within five of them.
Simon Mazor, himself a young, influential tech genius, founded Alturas and jump-started the Flare social network. Mazor hosts the Launch conference to find the girl-of-light and move forward with his hidden agenda of influencing youth globally.
Behind the scenes, an older man named John works for the Launch Conference and tries to guide four of the five teens to a better understanding of their abilities, alerting them to the dangers of the Alturas Collective.
Overall, this Reviewer found Launch to be an enjoyable read. Filled with the tech of today and the viewpoints/language of today’s teens, the story moves along at a fun and fast pace. However, at certain points within the narrative, this Reviewer felt that some words used did not fit the circumstances at that point in the story. When the action is quick, short, one or two syllable words are better. With slow action, longer, multi-syllable words would have been more appropriate.
This Reviewer found Launch family friendly. Recommended for older and younger teens.
Simon Mazor, himself a young, influential tech genius, founded Alturas and jump-started the Flare social network. Mazor hosts the Launch conference to find the girl-of-light and move forward with his hidden agenda of influencing youth globally.
Behind the scenes, an older man named John works for the Launch Conference and tries to guide four of the five teens to a better understanding of their abilities, alerting them to the dangers of the Alturas Collective.
Overall, this Reviewer found Launch to be an enjoyable read. Filled with the tech of today and the viewpoints/language of today’s teens, the story moves along at a fun and fast pace. However, at certain points within the narrative, this Reviewer felt that some words used did not fit the circumstances at that point in the story. When the action is quick, short, one or two syllable words are better. With slow action, longer, multi-syllable words would have been more appropriate.
This Reviewer found Launch family friendly. Recommended for older and younger teens.
January 1, 2019
I'd had high hopes for this book and really wanted to like it; I really do.
The premise drew me in and enticed me to check this book out from the local library.
Halfway through and I came across one too many Christian imageries like God's gifts, His Light, Gifts of God. I stopped and flipped the book from front to back and came across some fine small print at the bottom right of the book stating "Christian Fantasy". I have to admit that finding these words put a big damper on the continuation of this book. Nonetheless, I soldiered on.
The storyline is good, characters are well-paced and developed with the central focus on Demarcus (speed power) and Lily (some light lumination power). What didn't work for me as I kept asking myself why did Altrus gather these teens? If there's a good power, surely there's a bad power? But the evil agenda and/or people took a long time for me to surface and I grew impatient. Until almost the end of the book, I still didn't find the good vs evil or purpose of the conference and I started skimming through. I didn't get to the end though, I just couldn't.
Also, there were minor parts indicating that the janitor, John, could be working to uncover the dark power agenda but the use of weird names/cults didn't appeal to me.
Would I check out Book 2? Sure, why not. But I am not sure why this book got so many good reviews. Well, to each his own.
The premise drew me in and enticed me to check this book out from the local library.
Halfway through and I came across one too many Christian imageries like God's gifts, His Light, Gifts of God. I stopped and flipped the book from front to back and came across some fine small print at the bottom right of the book stating "Christian Fantasy". I have to admit that finding these words put a big damper on the continuation of this book. Nonetheless, I soldiered on.
The storyline is good, characters are well-paced and developed with the central focus on Demarcus (speed power) and Lily (some light lumination power). What didn't work for me as I kept asking myself why did Altrus gather these teens? If there's a good power, surely there's a bad power? But the evil agenda and/or people took a long time for me to surface and I grew impatient. Until almost the end of the book, I still didn't find the good vs evil or purpose of the conference and I started skimming through. I didn't get to the end though, I just couldn't.
Also, there were minor parts indicating that the janitor, John, could be working to uncover the dark power agenda but the use of weird names/cults didn't appeal to me.
Would I check out Book 2? Sure, why not. But I am not sure why this book got so many good reviews. Well, to each his own.
November 3, 2021
Wow!
I didn’t know what to expect from this new-to-me author, but I was blown away!
This story was very captivating and intriguing. It flowed so smoothly even though it had things I wasn’t familiar with, being that I’m an older person and not really up on the tech stuff. It was easy to understand and imagine.
Another thing that I loved was the whole idea of these kids with special gifts. Each one did not know what their gift was or why they had it. Only thought they were weird. This is so true for young teens. Many of them struggle to find who they are and what their worth is.
Jason Joyner is new to me as an author, and I really enjoyed the way he told this story. His writing was easy to read and full of wonderful images. The characters were well developed and very relatable.
I’ve worked with middle and high school students, and I know many would love to read this book. It draws the reader in and keeps them engaged.
I highly recommend picking this book up to read if you like YA fiction, superheroes, and Christian fantasy. It will keep you wanting to see what these kids can really do in the future.
I know I’ll be reading the next book in this series.
I was given this book by the publisher which did not influence my review in any way, all thoughts and opinions are my own.
I didn’t know what to expect from this new-to-me author, but I was blown away!
This story was very captivating and intriguing. It flowed so smoothly even though it had things I wasn’t familiar with, being that I’m an older person and not really up on the tech stuff. It was easy to understand and imagine.
Another thing that I loved was the whole idea of these kids with special gifts. Each one did not know what their gift was or why they had it. Only thought they were weird. This is so true for young teens. Many of them struggle to find who they are and what their worth is.
Jason Joyner is new to me as an author, and I really enjoyed the way he told this story. His writing was easy to read and full of wonderful images. The characters were well developed and very relatable.
I’ve worked with middle and high school students, and I know many would love to read this book. It draws the reader in and keeps them engaged.
I highly recommend picking this book up to read if you like YA fiction, superheroes, and Christian fantasy. It will keep you wanting to see what these kids can really do in the future.
I know I’ll be reading the next book in this series.
I was given this book by the publisher which did not influence my review in any way, all thoughts and opinions are my own.
July 17, 2018
Finally a young adult novel where the author does a commendable job of showcasing the positive characteristics of teens! The characters in Launch are like most teens that I work with in a professional counseling setting; conscientious, full of hope, willing to contribute to life, and full of fun. Joyner doesn’t make them out to be simple, self centered, reckless, and unintelligent youth as so many teens are often stereotyped. That right there makes the novel remarkable in of itself! Most teens want to fit in and stand out at the same time and the characters in the novel accomplish both. Launch is set in modern day with characters who find themselves confused and excited by their extraordinary abilities and who also find themselves in a battle to use their powers before they are exploited by the antagonist of the novel. The author's writing has a nice cadence, great geeky references, suspense and a smattering of humor. You'll like the brilliant plot, the variety of characters, and you'll finish the novel eager to read the next book in the line-up.
August 21, 2018
I really enjoyed Launch and look forward to reading the series.
Launch is a refreshing read for so many reasons. The story has deep topics and broken characters yet it never gets too dark. On the flip side, it's a solidly Christian book that never gets preachy or sacrifices story to push a message.
Demarcus, Lily, Harry, John, and Simon are all well-drawn characters.
I liked how pop culture and real places and things (like fast food chains, movies, TV shows, and social media) were blended with the fictional, Simon (a Silicon Valley celebrity) and his Flair social media site. The Silicon Valley setting was spot on; the tech inside corporate headquarters was a fun blend of realistic and over-the-top (in a good way).
While the characters are high school age, the book would appeal to a middle school audience, perhaps younger.
There isn't any objectionable content but some of the themes and subject matter might be a bit heavy for younger readers. That said, I wouldn't hesitate letting my 10 year-old, read it.
Launch is a refreshing read for so many reasons. The story has deep topics and broken characters yet it never gets too dark. On the flip side, it's a solidly Christian book that never gets preachy or sacrifices story to push a message.
Demarcus, Lily, Harry, John, and Simon are all well-drawn characters.
I liked how pop culture and real places and things (like fast food chains, movies, TV shows, and social media) were blended with the fictional, Simon (a Silicon Valley celebrity) and his Flair social media site. The Silicon Valley setting was spot on; the tech inside corporate headquarters was a fun blend of realistic and over-the-top (in a good way).
While the characters are high school age, the book would appeal to a middle school audience, perhaps younger.
There isn't any objectionable content but some of the themes and subject matter might be a bit heavy for younger readers. That said, I wouldn't hesitate letting my 10 year-old, read it.
July 9, 2023
(This is more like 4.5 stars - super good! I just don't know how to make the stars read that way ...)
The opportunity of a lifetime - an invitation to an all-expenses-paid conference hosted by the Alturas Collective - may be too good to be true. Demarcus, Lily, Harry, and Sarah Jane are some of the fifty teenagers invited to this conference hosted by the social media giant, but once there they struggle to understand why they were invited. An elderly janitor by the name of John searches for the why behind the conference with help from Demarcus and others because the why may be more important than anyone realizes ... the why of the conference could connect to Demarcus's superhuman speed and whatever is happening to Lily. But how does the Alturas Collective know about such things? And what do they plan to do with their knowledge?
The opportunity of a lifetime - an invitation to an all-expenses-paid conference hosted by the Alturas Collective - may be too good to be true. Demarcus, Lily, Harry, and Sarah Jane are some of the fifty teenagers invited to this conference hosted by the social media giant, but once there they struggle to understand why they were invited. An elderly janitor by the name of John searches for the why behind the conference with help from Demarcus and others because the why may be more important than anyone realizes ... the why of the conference could connect to Demarcus's superhuman speed and whatever is happening to Lily. But how does the Alturas Collective know about such things? And what do they plan to do with their knowledge?
July 23, 2019
I’m not a big fan of current day supernatural stories, but Launch was a pleasant surprise. Not only does this YA, award-winning novel include a unique plot, but it is full of relatable characters and quirky humor, contains a strong faith element, and has one of the best villains I’ve read – a man who genuinely believes he’s doing the right thing. My favorite character was Demarcus. Joyner did wonderfully in crafting a strong personality and drive to do right. In short, Launch is the beginning of a unique series, and well deserves it’s four star rating.
*I received this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.
** The full review is available at https://madismusingsblog.wordpress.com/
*I received this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.
** The full review is available at https://madismusingsblog.wordpress.com/
November 12, 2019
Social media mogul, Simon Mazor, and his mysterious Alturas foundation target gifted teens to attend his weekend launch conference. His goal is to identify youth with gifts of Biblical proportion and use their powers to fuel his plot to overthrow the world order. Four teens, Demarcus, Lily, Harry and Sarah Jane are in his gun sights. Will the disciple who never died rescue them and defuse the evil Alturas plot?
Launch is a snappy Paranormal that brings people with extraordinary Biblical gifts into the 21st-century. The nice character development and imaginative plot make this a great page-turner as well as a stimulating spiritual challenge.
Launch is a snappy Paranormal that brings people with extraordinary Biblical gifts into the 21st-century. The nice character development and imaginative plot make this a great page-turner as well as a stimulating spiritual challenge.
August 10, 2018
This is a great story, read by both myself and our 13-year-old son. Our son is dyslexic and a reluctant reader. He devoured this book, can't wait for book 2 to be released and today told me he wants to read it again. What?! This is fantastic! The characters and story are full of action, it's easy to dive into, and it's relevant for teens and tweens today. There's no swearing, no sexual references, nothing to concern parents. Refreshing! Well done, Jason, and keep writing so book 2 can be devoured as well. :)
July 26, 2018
Such a fantastic book! It kept me turning the pages until suddenly it was finished and somehow it was two in the morning! You'll love the characters, the intriguing gadgets, and the suspense. Of course, you can never go wrong with superpowers, but Joyner's twist is unique and special. Highly recommended. I can't wait for book two.
I was lucky enough to get a free copy, but all opinions are my own.
I was lucky enough to get a free copy, but all opinions are my own.
August 8, 2018
Launch was a fun book with great characterization and a wonderful message about obeying our convictions to maximize the gifts we have been given. I loved the diverse cast and the emphasis on friendship and the traditional good vs. evil conflict.
January 4, 2019
The premise is interesting and the conflict is good, but the writing is a bit flat. I'm encouraged by Christian storytelling that is fairly direct, and I think I would read a sequel to see what the forces of the enemy might attempt.
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