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Battlecry #1
Battlecry
For one superhero, the good guys can be deadlier than the bad guys.
Jillian Johnson, known as the mighty Battlecry, was born into a superhero cult. She craves a life of freedom, far away from her violent and abusive team leader, Patrick. With no education, no money, and no future to speak of, she's stuck in the dangerous life...until she meets the mysterious and compelling Benjamin, a civilian with superpowers. When Patrick confronts her, she fights back--and then runs for her life. One by one, her ex-teammates join her until a new team has formed.
But Patrick will not let his upstart teammates get away so easily. Humiliated and hellbent on vengeance, he waits for his chance to strike back and kill the new team, and he is happy to murder superheroes and civilians alike. On top of that, Benjamin has joined Jillian and her comrades, angering his own lethal family. Jillian's enemies begin to close in from all sides.
Desperate and in hiding, Jillian must shed everything she thinks she knows about what it means to lead. Can she rise up to the challenge of defeating Patrick? Can she save Benjamin from his family? Or will she die like every other superhero who's dared to challenge the cult?
Jillian Johnson, known as the mighty Battlecry, was born into a superhero cult. She craves a life of freedom, far away from her violent and abusive team leader, Patrick. With no education, no money, and no future to speak of, she's stuck in the dangerous life...until she meets the mysterious and compelling Benjamin, a civilian with superpowers. When Patrick confronts her, she fights back--and then runs for her life. One by one, her ex-teammates join her until a new team has formed.
But Patrick will not let his upstart teammates get away so easily. Humiliated and hellbent on vengeance, he waits for his chance to strike back and kill the new team, and he is happy to murder superheroes and civilians alike. On top of that, Benjamin has joined Jillian and her comrades, angering his own lethal family. Jillian's enemies begin to close in from all sides.
Desperate and in hiding, Jillian must shed everything she thinks she knows about what it means to lead. Can she rise up to the challenge of defeating Patrick? Can she save Benjamin from his family? Or will she die like every other superhero who's dared to challenge the cult?
354 pages, Kindle Edition
Published January 1, 2018
106 people are currently reading
298 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 43 reviews
November 20, 2019
I received a review copy from the author through #ReviewPit. This does not affect my rating or opinions.
3.5 stars.
Since Jill and her teammates are mostly in the NA age range, the youngest team member being her cousin Marco at almost 18, and the narrative gets dark at points, I would consider this New Adult rather than YA, which is nice since I'm in the NA range myself and always in search of characters in a comparable/similar life stage. I love that this isn't about a teenager learning how to use her powers and finding a team — nothing wrong with that, but it's a story that's been told many, many times — but rather a 20-year-old who already has an understanding of her powers and Super society (i.e., the authority umbrella), plus a team to rely on; there's both external and internal conflict as Jillian, aka the titular Battlecry, takes on a leadership role in direct defiance of the elders' teachings.
Each character is on their own journey in certain ways, but at its heart they're a found family, with all the love and bickering (and genuine fights) that you'd expect. They have each other's backs despite their disagreements, and there are quite a few heartwarming domestic scenes: superheroes off the clock, a la The Incredibles! To be completely honest I didn't feel like I connected very strongly with any of them, not even Jill, but I did appreciate their group dynamic and sympathize with their struggles.
Personally I also felt like some of the character development and romance was a bit too overt, not quite organic. But it didn't significantly hinder my enjoyment — on a plot level it's entertaining, and it tackles some interesting issues of ethics and personal values.
rep: biracial secondary character, vegan secondary character
cw:
3.5 stars.
Since Jill and her teammates are mostly in the NA age range, the youngest team member being her cousin Marco at almost 18, and the narrative gets dark at points, I would consider this New Adult rather than YA, which is nice since I'm in the NA range myself and always in search of characters in a comparable/similar life stage. I love that this isn't about a teenager learning how to use her powers and finding a team — nothing wrong with that, but it's a story that's been told many, many times — but rather a 20-year-old who already has an understanding of her powers and Super society (i.e., the authority umbrella), plus a team to rely on; there's both external and internal conflict as Jillian, aka the titular Battlecry, takes on a leadership role in direct defiance of the elders' teachings.
Each character is on their own journey in certain ways, but at its heart they're a found family, with all the love and bickering (and genuine fights) that you'd expect. They have each other's backs despite their disagreements, and there are quite a few heartwarming domestic scenes: superheroes off the clock, a la The Incredibles! To be completely honest I didn't feel like I connected very strongly with any of them, not even Jill, but I did appreciate their group dynamic and sympathize with their struggles.
Personally I also felt like some of the character development and romance was a bit too overt, not quite organic. But it didn't significantly hinder my enjoyment — on a plot level it's entertaining, and it tackles some interesting issues of ethics and personal values.
rep: biracial secondary character, vegan secondary character
cw:
July 14, 2018
The thing about superheroes is that they're perfect. Blessed with attributes that set them apart, at their best they operate with and over the law to bring the worst of their number to justice. They're virtuous forces of good, figures to look up to... right?
Nope. Turns out, superhero society is positively dystopian, but they have a heck of a PR campaign going for them.
Jillian (aka Battlecry) was born into a highly-controlled society. Food, clothing, entertainment, and education are strictly regimented by the Elders, who operate at the top of a strictly-enforced 'Umbrella of Authority.' (Think Gothardism, minus the theology). Obedience is mandated. Rebellion against the status quo is intolerable. It's a system primed for abuse, and no one in the 'civilian' world knows anything about it.
We meet Jillian after she's already working as part of a superhero team in Georgia. Possessed of superior strength, speed, agility, and senses, she tends to be relegated to the position of 'Muscle.' Her abusive team leader makes a point of disparaging her intelligence, looks, and personality. Her other teammates are subjected to their own trials in the run-down house where they all live. In public, all of them smile anyway.
One small rebellion brings Jill into contact with a superpowered civilian named Benjamin, and their developing relationship sparks a series of deadly events that cause Jillian to question everything she thinks she knows, and splits her team apart.
Superhero fiction is an odd subgenre; it doesn't fit neatly into the big speculative fiction categories of SF, Fantasy, and Horror, but tends to bridge across them in interesting ways. (For what it's worth, I'd place this at the 'fantasy' end of the SF<-->F superhero genre spectrum.) The writing is good--not poetry on paper--but quite solid. Pacing is well-measured, and if there were plot holes, I didn't notice them.
Make no mistake, there's some heavy stuff in here. Beyond the expected superpower-induced carnage, there's also systemic emotional and physical abuse, along with the cultish programming that Jillian and the others are only just learning to question. Dodge handles this all very well.
Characters are a particular strong point. Solar-powered Marco's strength and youth in equal measures, subtle Ember's need to prove herself, Reid's difficulty with change, and Patrick... Patrick is despicable. The reader can understand how he developed the way he did, but it doesn't lend sympathy to his positions.
And then Jillian, who is the badass female character I've been waiting to read for a while. She's strong, but that's not where the story ends. She grows and develops past the imposed identity of "The Muscle," learning that she can be more and forging a family along the way.
I also appreciate the romantic subplot with Benjamin; it builds slowly through identity shenanigans to something that has real potential, is sweet without being cloying, and doesn't end in ill-advised swapping of bodily fluids. (Thank you, Emerald Dodge.)
Wrapping this up, I want to point out that indie publishing is an absolute bear. Authors face the trial of marketing their work without the benefit of a publishing house, and readers are confronted with a roulette wheel of possibilities--some better than others.
This is a solidly-written story with a compelling plot, world, and protagonist, and I found it well-worth the read.
Nope. Turns out, superhero society is positively dystopian, but they have a heck of a PR campaign going for them.
Jillian (aka Battlecry) was born into a highly-controlled society. Food, clothing, entertainment, and education are strictly regimented by the Elders, who operate at the top of a strictly-enforced 'Umbrella of Authority.' (Think Gothardism, minus the theology). Obedience is mandated. Rebellion against the status quo is intolerable. It's a system primed for abuse, and no one in the 'civilian' world knows anything about it.
We meet Jillian after she's already working as part of a superhero team in Georgia. Possessed of superior strength, speed, agility, and senses, she tends to be relegated to the position of 'Muscle.' Her abusive team leader makes a point of disparaging her intelligence, looks, and personality. Her other teammates are subjected to their own trials in the run-down house where they all live. In public, all of them smile anyway.
One small rebellion brings Jill into contact with a superpowered civilian named Benjamin, and their developing relationship sparks a series of deadly events that cause Jillian to question everything she thinks she knows, and splits her team apart.
Superhero fiction is an odd subgenre; it doesn't fit neatly into the big speculative fiction categories of SF, Fantasy, and Horror, but tends to bridge across them in interesting ways. (For what it's worth, I'd place this at the 'fantasy' end of the SF<-->F superhero genre spectrum.) The writing is good--not poetry on paper--but quite solid. Pacing is well-measured, and if there were plot holes, I didn't notice them.
Make no mistake, there's some heavy stuff in here. Beyond the expected superpower-induced carnage, there's also systemic emotional and physical abuse, along with the cultish programming that Jillian and the others are only just learning to question. Dodge handles this all very well.
Characters are a particular strong point. Solar-powered Marco's strength and youth in equal measures, subtle Ember's need to prove herself, Reid's difficulty with change, and Patrick... Patrick is despicable. The reader can understand how he developed the way he did, but it doesn't lend sympathy to his positions.
And then Jillian, who is the badass female character I've been waiting to read for a while. She's strong, but that's not where the story ends. She grows and develops past the imposed identity of "The Muscle," learning that she can be more and forging a family along the way.
I also appreciate the romantic subplot with Benjamin; it builds slowly through identity shenanigans to something that has real potential, is sweet without being cloying, and doesn't end in ill-advised swapping of bodily fluids. (Thank you, Emerald Dodge.)
Wrapping this up, I want to point out that indie publishing is an absolute bear. Authors face the trial of marketing their work without the benefit of a publishing house, and readers are confronted with a roulette wheel of possibilities--some better than others.
This is a solidly-written story with a compelling plot, world, and protagonist, and I found it well-worth the read.
May 21, 2018
On the outside, life looks fine for Jillian Johnson and her super-powered team. They fight crime, maintain the peace, and get all the glory they could ever want. But Jillian’s life is far from perfect.
Superheroes are governed by dozens of unfair, ridiculous rules, ones that hardly make life worth living, and to top it off, her leader is both verbally and physically abusive. However, when Jillian meets a strange young man at a coffee shop, her world is forever changed as she learns what life is like outside the superhero grid and what it takes to be a true hero.
This is the second book of Emerald Dodge’s that I’ve read, and I received a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion free of bias.
This book gripped me pretty much immediately. The action draws you in, and Jill’s superhero teammates all have distinctively different personalities that set them apart. And the powers? Oh, the powers! I like how unique each superhero’s power is, especially Ben’s. The plot makes you keep turning those pages, and the chapters are nice and short for lunch time reading.
Overall, this book had all the action, tension, grit, and romance that I could ever ask for, and I can’t wait to read more from this author.
Superheroes are governed by dozens of unfair, ridiculous rules, ones that hardly make life worth living, and to top it off, her leader is both verbally and physically abusive. However, when Jillian meets a strange young man at a coffee shop, her world is forever changed as she learns what life is like outside the superhero grid and what it takes to be a true hero.
This is the second book of Emerald Dodge’s that I’ve read, and I received a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion free of bias.
This book gripped me pretty much immediately. The action draws you in, and Jill’s superhero teammates all have distinctively different personalities that set them apart. And the powers? Oh, the powers! I like how unique each superhero’s power is, especially Ben’s. The plot makes you keep turning those pages, and the chapters are nice and short for lunch time reading.
Overall, this book had all the action, tension, grit, and romance that I could ever ask for, and I can’t wait to read more from this author.
May 30, 2018
I loved Battlecry. It kept me engaged the entire time and a beautiful scene even made me cry. The relationships between the characters are great and the world is so fascinating.
July 27, 2018
A different type of superhero novel.
This novel has great world building and a very different look at superhero development. I enjoyed reading it and recommend it.
This novel has great world building and a very different look at superhero development. I enjoyed reading it and recommend it.
August 28, 2018
Actual rating: 2.5/5
As a fan of superhero comic books, I'm eager to read books in the genre. Battlecry's premise sounds exciting. It twists superheroes mythos a bit.
Jillian Johnson fights crime as Battlecry. She belongs to a team of superpowered individuals micromanaged by a psychotic leader - Patrick (codename Atropos). Superheroes keep up appearances in public, but their reality is grim.
Bred to fight and raised in camps with no access to education or modern technology, they don't understand the society and reality they're supposed to protect. Interacting with civilians, accessing the internet or public libraries are forbidden.
The situation changes when Battlecry fights back. The band breaks up and reorganizes. One of them becomes a threat to everyone in the city.
The book’s main strength is its brisk pacing — the plot moves smoothly from one event to another and remains engaging throughout. Don't expect impossible twists and turns - it's a straightforward and predictable story told in a clean, uncomplicated prose. Twists and turns are obvious but aptly delivered.
Unfortunately, weak characterization and half-baked world-building overshadow interesting setting and decrease overall enjoyment of the story.
Characters lack charisma and complexity, most of them are one- or two-dimensional. The story's villain is utterly flat, one-dimensional individual. Imagine a paranoid control freak who regularly abuses (physically, verbally and emotionally) others and has no believable motivations to do so nor any redeeming qualities. He's that evil. Sigh.
Jillian's friends and romantic interest have some distinct traits and cool superpowers. None of them is fully developed but I can see potential here.
The story is told through Jillian's POV. She's reckless, action-oriented and internally conflicted. Her self-loathing and conflicts weren't believable. The other problem I have is with her powers - Battlecry can throw punches through walls and yet when she unleashes the fury of blows on another superpowered individual (who has none invulnerability powers) he recovers surprisingly fast. He should be dead.
Another thing that bothers me is how team members are cut off from society - I mean they have phones, they patrol streets. Sure, they're forbidden to interact with civilians but I just can't imagine how they haven't heard the word euthanasia. The explanation isn't entirely satisfying, not in the 21st century that floods us with streams of information.
The writing is neat, but some scenes lack logic. For example, Jill and Ben are hiding in a closet. Their potential oppressor stands 20-30 centimetres from them and just when he reaches for the doorknob this happens:
How exactly do you jump soundlessly in a closet without alarming the person standing outside it?
Overall, this is the kind of book that is fun for the commute. It isn’t long and it's doesn't require deep thinking.
As a fan of superhero comic books, I'm eager to read books in the genre. Battlecry's premise sounds exciting. It twists superheroes mythos a bit.
Jillian Johnson fights crime as Battlecry. She belongs to a team of superpowered individuals micromanaged by a psychotic leader - Patrick (codename Atropos). Superheroes keep up appearances in public, but their reality is grim.
Bred to fight and raised in camps with no access to education or modern technology, they don't understand the society and reality they're supposed to protect. Interacting with civilians, accessing the internet or public libraries are forbidden.
The situation changes when Battlecry fights back. The band breaks up and reorganizes. One of them becomes a threat to everyone in the city.
The book’s main strength is its brisk pacing — the plot moves smoothly from one event to another and remains engaging throughout. Don't expect impossible twists and turns - it's a straightforward and predictable story told in a clean, uncomplicated prose. Twists and turns are obvious but aptly delivered.
Unfortunately, weak characterization and half-baked world-building overshadow interesting setting and decrease overall enjoyment of the story.
Characters lack charisma and complexity, most of them are one- or two-dimensional. The story's villain is utterly flat, one-dimensional individual. Imagine a paranoid control freak who regularly abuses (physically, verbally and emotionally) others and has no believable motivations to do so nor any redeeming qualities. He's that evil. Sigh.
Jillian's friends and romantic interest have some distinct traits and cool superpowers. None of them is fully developed but I can see potential here.
The story is told through Jillian's POV. She's reckless, action-oriented and internally conflicted. Her self-loathing and conflicts weren't believable. The other problem I have is with her powers - Battlecry can throw punches through walls and yet when she unleashes the fury of blows on another superpowered individual (who has none invulnerability powers) he recovers surprisingly fast. He should be dead.
Another thing that bothers me is how team members are cut off from society - I mean they have phones, they patrol streets. Sure, they're forbidden to interact with civilians but I just can't imagine how they haven't heard the word euthanasia. The explanation isn't entirely satisfying, not in the 21st century that floods us with streams of information.
The writing is neat, but some scenes lack logic. For example, Jill and Ben are hiding in a closet. Their potential oppressor stands 20-30 centimetres from them and just when he reaches for the doorknob this happens:
There was a tiny, almost imperceptible sound of metal clicking against metal as he grasped the doorknob. A knife? A gun? I angled my body so I could spring at him as soon as the door opened.
Benjamin's breath stopped.
"XXX! Come on!" A woman's voice called from downstairs, making us jump.
"Yeah, I'm coming.".
How exactly do you jump soundlessly in a closet without alarming the person standing outside it?
Overall, this is the kind of book that is fun for the commute. It isn’t long and it's doesn't require deep thinking.
April 21, 2019
Awesome
Who doesn’t love a super hero and who wouldn’t love this group of kids/ super heroes who have been forced into servitude and yet have no idea of the world around them except what they’ve been told from within. Can’t wait to continue their journey.
Who doesn’t love a super hero and who wouldn’t love this group of kids/ super heroes who have been forced into servitude and yet have no idea of the world around them except what they’ve been told from within. Can’t wait to continue their journey.
December 24, 2018
Something different
I read lots. I reread even more. I can’t remember how this got on my reader. But I’m so glad I clicked on it. This wasn’t the ending I was expecting. After all the romance I’ve been reading this was so clean. So sweet and makes me wanna root for the good guys again. I’m all for the bad boys but sometimes the good ones are better. Now I gotta find out what happens next for our heroes. Thanks for such a wonderful story.
I read lots. I reread even more. I can’t remember how this got on my reader. But I’m so glad I clicked on it. This wasn’t the ending I was expecting. After all the romance I’ve been reading this was so clean. So sweet and makes me wanna root for the good guys again. I’m all for the bad boys but sometimes the good ones are better. Now I gotta find out what happens next for our heroes. Thanks for such a wonderful story.
June 4, 2018
I've never read a superhero book before, so I wasn't sure what to expect when I opened Battlecry. What I got was one part Jessica Jones, one part gritty urban fantasy, and another an introspective experience coming from an oppressive cult environment. And that might sound depressing... It is, but our heroine, Jillian Johnson, takes us through it with an incurable hope and optimism that has you rooting for her throughout. And her interactions with her fellow teammates/friends and budding love interest, Benjamin, help ground this deeply psychological drama/adventure in the personal realm, keeping the focus on the characters rather than a sprawling and remote world map.
The characters are, far and away, this book's strong suit. They want to help people, to be safe, to be happy, and they're easy to relate to even while having super strength, telepathy, or even the power of the sun. What separates Battlecry from your average superhero story is the oppressive cult system the superheroes are born into--with rules for rules for rules brainwashed deep into the psyche. They're not allowed more than a pittance, are taught that libraries are evil, must look/act a certain way, and this would sound outlandish if not for the uncomfortable events in history where such systems turned into infamous tragedies. But even when brainwashing, how long can you oppress a superhero?
Patrick Campbell--the violent and cruel team leader, Atropos--pushes Jillian (Battlecry) to the edge, and I wanted to cheer for her at full volume when she decided enough was enough! Her breaking away from this intolerable environment and exploring what a normal life might be (Benjamin! *swoon*) touched me deeply, and of course the action was awesome. The final battle took the cake for me--with the stakes pushes BEYOND the limit (you'll see what I mean!)--and the ending was SO satisfying (Helios MVP!!!) while still making me want to read book 2 to find out what happens next.
So if you like superheroes, female characters finding their strength, a touch of fun banter, heartwarming friendship and romance, and a peek into the dark corners of the human condition, this is the book for you. Hint: read "Ignite" first from the author's website. And read on a weekend... you won't be sleeping much. :)
The characters are, far and away, this book's strong suit. They want to help people, to be safe, to be happy, and they're easy to relate to even while having super strength, telepathy, or even the power of the sun. What separates Battlecry from your average superhero story is the oppressive cult system the superheroes are born into--with rules for rules for rules brainwashed deep into the psyche. They're not allowed more than a pittance, are taught that libraries are evil, must look/act a certain way, and this would sound outlandish if not for the uncomfortable events in history where such systems turned into infamous tragedies. But even when brainwashing, how long can you oppress a superhero?
Patrick Campbell--the violent and cruel team leader, Atropos--pushes Jillian (Battlecry) to the edge, and I wanted to cheer for her at full volume when she decided enough was enough! Her breaking away from this intolerable environment and exploring what a normal life might be (Benjamin! *swoon*) touched me deeply, and of course the action was awesome. The final battle took the cake for me--with the stakes pushes BEYOND the limit (you'll see what I mean!)--and the ending was SO satisfying (Helios MVP!!!) while still making me want to read book 2 to find out what happens next.
So if you like superheroes, female characters finding their strength, a touch of fun banter, heartwarming friendship and romance, and a peek into the dark corners of the human condition, this is the book for you. Hint: read "Ignite" first from the author's website. And read on a weekend... you won't be sleeping much. :)
September 21, 2018
So, I found this book on KU by accident - was looking for something else entirely, but the blurb sucked me in - all I can say is WOW. I liked this so much that as soon as I finished it I picked up book 2 and am now gleefully reading it. This is a different take on the superhero/super villain trope. The main character Battlecry is a conflicted young woman trying to follow the rules but feeling as though something is wrong. I wont give away any more, but there is some serious conflict, a little bit of angst, and a splash of romance. However, as a over 55 male, I found this book utterly enjoyable and as I said, was so taken with it that I already am deep into book 2 and have completely forgotten what I was originally looking for.....lol
June 11, 2018
Well written, sharp, thoroughly enjoyed this book, this story.
Great action, intense fight scenes, clever dialogue, thoughtful, emotional character development. I really enjoyed the smooth, logical,, gritty, world building involved in this story. I look forward to reading much more by this fresh, creative, disciplined and talented writer, author, ....well done, mam'', work well done! Thank you.
Great action, intense fight scenes, clever dialogue, thoughtful, emotional character development. I really enjoyed the smooth, logical,, gritty, world building involved in this story. I look forward to reading much more by this fresh, creative, disciplined and talented writer, author, ....well done, mam'', work well done! Thank you.
August 6, 2018
Loved This Story
Superhero to the rescue! This is a very good and well written story. Great characters, magnificent plot with an even better storyline. Not only did I TRULY enjoyed this story and it's characters, I loved the names given to these protectors of man kind. Great Read for all who ENJOY reading.
Superhero to the rescue! This is a very good and well written story. Great characters, magnificent plot with an even better storyline. Not only did I TRULY enjoyed this story and it's characters, I loved the names given to these protectors of man kind. Great Read for all who ENJOY reading.
July 29, 2018
THIS BOOK IS SO GOOD!!
This book is seriously the best thing I've read in ages. I am both excited and terrified of what's going to happen next because the characters are so likeable and relatable!
This book is seriously the best thing I've read in ages. I am both excited and terrified of what's going to happen next because the characters are so likeable and relatable!
May 1, 2019
Battlecry is torn between her upbringing, which has turned her into the superhero she is today, and the dark reality of her life as a superhero. Her leader rules with an iron fist, and she knows she deserves it for being so insolent. But when things become unbearable, she has to make a choice - defy the umbrella that she's been taught is her only form of protection, or continue to go against her instincts and try to become the superhero and team member that's demanded of her.
This book was incredibly dark. I knew it was going to be a bit like that, but this took a much darker turn. The superheroes are trained in an environment that is almost cultish, enforcing ideals with little regard to individuals, and upheld by a "boys club" hierarchy. If these themes make you squeamish, this may not be the book for you.
But if you like a superhero tale that isn't all shiny suits and clear-cut good vs. evil, then I think you'll enjoy Battlecry.
This book was incredibly dark. I knew it was going to be a bit like that, but this took a much darker turn. The superheroes are trained in an environment that is almost cultish, enforcing ideals with little regard to individuals, and upheld by a "boys club" hierarchy. If these themes make you squeamish, this may not be the book for you.
But if you like a superhero tale that isn't all shiny suits and clear-cut good vs. evil, then I think you'll enjoy Battlecry.
Want to read
July 14, 2018Y'all, do you see the description on this baby? Ughhh, I want this one so much now!! <3
March 28, 2019
I totally enjoyed this book! Such a new take on superheroes. Heroes are people too. They have issues and problems like the rest of us. I felt like I was a fly on the wall reading this. I can't wait to read more!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 10, 2018
Even with superhuman abilities, Jillian knows next to nothing about the world.
Being train to be a superhero catch a glimpse of what life can be like a team of superheros.
I received an advance copy and I am so glad I signed up this book is awesome.
Being train to be a superhero catch a glimpse of what life can be like a team of superheros.
I received an advance copy and I am so glad I signed up this book is awesome.
May 31, 2022
It has been a minute since a book has really grabbed me, and made me lose track of time. I literally lost two afternoons in Battlecry without even knowing it and I do not regret a minute of it!
As someone who enjoys the YA field especially The Selection, Delirium and The Hunger Games I was recommended this new series to check out. The basic premise is that super heroes are real. But they aren’t what you think.
In a Margaret Peterson Haddix type twist people born with Super type powers grow up in “camps” away from normal society and are shrouded in secrecy. Only allowing small teams to go to large cities to help out with crime but under extremely strict rules involving not watching television or talking to “civilians”.
What I really enjoyed the most about the book wasn’t the nonstop action or the gripping tension of how they are going to survive or even the romantic plot which are all fantastic but the very real and eerie clarity the author the shows how emotional and physical abuse can change a person’s thought process and how easily anyone can become controlled and targeted. Reading about someone so strong that still struggled with getting out of an abusive relationship and how those little thoughts can stay with you and keep you trapped really stuck with me.
This isn’t a happy-ending-everything-is-perfect YA book but one that looks long and hard about abuse, rape, death, cults, and their aftermath with unflinching accuracy and is all the more better for it.
I can’t wait to read the second in the series and hopefully it’ll come out soon! I have so many questions!
Read less
As someone who enjoys the YA field especially The Selection, Delirium and The Hunger Games I was recommended this new series to check out. The basic premise is that super heroes are real. But they aren’t what you think.
In a Margaret Peterson Haddix type twist people born with Super type powers grow up in “camps” away from normal society and are shrouded in secrecy. Only allowing small teams to go to large cities to help out with crime but under extremely strict rules involving not watching television or talking to “civilians”.
What I really enjoyed the most about the book wasn’t the nonstop action or the gripping tension of how they are going to survive or even the romantic plot which are all fantastic but the very real and eerie clarity the author the shows how emotional and physical abuse can change a person’s thought process and how easily anyone can become controlled and targeted. Reading about someone so strong that still struggled with getting out of an abusive relationship and how those little thoughts can stay with you and keep you trapped really stuck with me.
This isn’t a happy-ending-everything-is-perfect YA book but one that looks long and hard about abuse, rape, death, cults, and their aftermath with unflinching accuracy and is all the more better for it.
I can’t wait to read the second in the series and hopefully it’ll come out soon! I have so many questions!
Read less
May 15, 2018
Kindle Unlimited, at bottom is also Ignite {Battlecry} which does not show up on ku nor listed on amazon so must have been one of my freebies but since listed on goodreads will reviewing that one as well, so back to back. I'm not really 'in to' superhero type books, but if you are, would think you would probably enjoy it {and more so than I did, I take spells on what genre in mood to read}.
For one superhero, the good guys can be deadlier than the bad guys.
Jillian Johnson, known as the mighty Battlecry, was born into a superhero cult. She craves a life of freedom, far away from her violent and abusive team leader, Patrick. With no education, no money, and no future to speak of, she's stuck in the dangerous life...until she meets the mysterious and compelling Benjamin, a civilian with superpowers. When Patrick confronts her, she fights back--and then runs for her life. One by one, her ex-teammates join her until a new team has formed.
But Patrick will not let his upstart teammates get away so easily. Humiliated and hellbent on vengeance, he waits for his chance to strike back and kill the new team, and he is happy to murder superheroes and civilians alike. On top of that, Benjamin has joined Jillian and her comrades, angering his own lethal family. Jillian's enemies begin to close in from all sides.
Desperate and in hiding, Jillian must shed everything she thinks she knows about what it means to lead. Can she rise up to the challenge of defeating Patrick? Can she save Benjamin from his family? Or will she die like every other superhero who's dared to challenge the cult?
Ignite (Battlecry 0.5)
Battlecry
For one superhero, the good guys can be deadlier than the bad guys.
Jillian Johnson, known as the mighty Battlecry, was born into a superhero cult. She craves a life of freedom, far away from her violent and abusive team leader, Patrick. With no education, no money, and no future to speak of, she's stuck in the dangerous life...until she meets the mysterious and compelling Benjamin, a civilian with superpowers. When Patrick confronts her, she fights back--and then runs for her life. One by one, her ex-teammates join her until a new team has formed.
But Patrick will not let his upstart teammates get away so easily. Humiliated and hellbent on vengeance, he waits for his chance to strike back and kill the new team, and he is happy to murder superheroes and civilians alike. On top of that, Benjamin has joined Jillian and her comrades, angering his own lethal family. Jillian's enemies begin to close in from all sides.
Desperate and in hiding, Jillian must shed everything she thinks she knows about what it means to lead. Can she rise up to the challenge of defeating Patrick? Can she save Benjamin from his family? Or will she die like every other superhero who's dared to challenge the cult?
Ignite (Battlecry 0.5)
Battlecry
May 10, 2018
I was very impressed by this book. It went in unexpected directions and kept me guessing. The author is not afraid to take risks.
Superheroes are not what you expect in this series. They lead very hard lives with limited income and lots of rules. They are more like a cult then anything else.
I really liked Jullian who has been born into a role that does not match her abilities and desires. She wants to do what is right but it goes against everything she has been taught. Benjamin is the young man is a catalyst in many ways for her to take the action she needs to protect herself, her friends and the city.
The story is told from her point of view and you feel very intimately entwined with her and the other characters. The author develops them all very well.
It ends with a big cliffhanger and I am eager to see what is next for them all.
I am voluntarily reviewing a copy I received.
Superheroes are not what you expect in this series. They lead very hard lives with limited income and lots of rules. They are more like a cult then anything else.
I really liked Jullian who has been born into a role that does not match her abilities and desires. She wants to do what is right but it goes against everything she has been taught. Benjamin is the young man is a catalyst in many ways for her to take the action she needs to protect herself, her friends and the city.
The story is told from her point of view and you feel very intimately entwined with her and the other characters. The author develops them all very well.
It ends with a big cliffhanger and I am eager to see what is next for them all.
I am voluntarily reviewing a copy I received.
May 11, 2018
Battlecry is a book you won’t be able to put down! Emerald Dodge creates a vibrant, lush world where superheroes save the cities they protect, but below the surface, sinister leadership and domination are standard. Enter the heroine, Jillian, a strong-willed, determined and sweet superhero set on saving those she cares about, and herself in the process. Featuring exciting characters, surprises and action, Battlecry is a novel that completely elevates storytelling. The love story that’s built between Benjamin and Jillian is moving and all-encompassing, and I can’t wait to see where these characters go in the next book. Dodge writes with humor, empathy, twists and turns, and I enjoyed every minute of it. She is one of my favorite authors, period. I need the next book by her, pronto!!!
September 11, 2018
Very interesting story exploring the world of superheros, cults, and a totalitarian superhero society. It was great how the author wove together the main character's thought process, and how her thoughts have been altered by the brainwashing of her superhero society. She addresses the negatives and positives to living in a Spartan-istic society all created in the goal of making tough superheros who are completely obedient. The one thing I think the author could have elaborated on was their powers, I mean the main character's only special powers was strength and speed...it would have been interesting if her powers grew and evolved througout the book, rather than focusing only on the cult aspect.
September 11, 2018
So much more than a tale of superheroes
I have recommended this book already to people, because many think like I did *oh it's superheroes, like comicbooks?;* Boy was I wrong!!
This is some amazing and different writing from what I usually go for, Fae and dragons, but you really have no clue as to what is going on. and there are several gasping moments when you're truly surprised about the twists if this book. Jillian makes some big changes and finds she has so more to offer than just be a covering doormat.
Fresh and exciting, read it yesterday 😊
I have recommended this book already to people, because many think like I did *oh it's superheroes, like comicbooks?;* Boy was I wrong!!
This is some amazing and different writing from what I usually go for, Fae and dragons, but you really have no clue as to what is going on. and there are several gasping moments when you're truly surprised about the twists if this book. Jillian makes some big changes and finds she has so more to offer than just be a covering doormat.
Fresh and exciting, read it yesterday 😊
September 30, 2018
A Unique and Creative Story
I enjoyed reading this book and could not put it down until I read the last word. Battlecry is a super hero who rebels against her team leader and starts her own team. The problems begin but the new team must form a strong bond to fight their new enemies. The characters are believable with human flaws and the story pulls you in. On to book two to track their successes and trials.
I enjoyed reading this book and could not put it down until I read the last word. Battlecry is a super hero who rebels against her team leader and starts her own team. The problems begin but the new team must form a strong bond to fight their new enemies. The characters are believable with human flaws and the story pulls you in. On to book two to track their successes and trials.
May 9, 2018
This is such a wonderful read with a lot of twist and turns threw the whool story, I love the characters and the way this story is so adveturest. I highly recommend this author and the book you definately won't be disappointed when you read it loved it.
I received an ARC and am giving an unbias opinion.
I received an ARC and am giving an unbias opinion.
January 11, 2020
This was a really interesting take on superheroes!
The FMC Jillian is part of a superhero team, where all teams are pretty much raised in a superhero cult where they are cut off from a lot of things with very strict rules and regulations in place.
The more her leader starts pushing her and lashing out at the team, the more Jillian starts questioning things and pushing back until she decides to leave.
Because of how they were raised, Jillian is very naïve to how the world actually works, so is even braver for leaving and venturing out to make her own way. When her teammates and friends join her, and together they work to figure out what they'll do next and how their new team should work. Ben joining the team really throws a spanner in the works, but ultimately helps show them some of the basics they've missed out on.
I really liked the friendships between the team members, thought Jillian did frustrate me a couple times with how she treated Marco.
Really looking forward to see what happens next in this series.
The FMC Jillian is part of a superhero team, where all teams are pretty much raised in a superhero cult where they are cut off from a lot of things with very strict rules and regulations in place.
The more her leader starts pushing her and lashing out at the team, the more Jillian starts questioning things and pushing back until she decides to leave.
Because of how they were raised, Jillian is very naïve to how the world actually works, so is even braver for leaving and venturing out to make her own way. When her teammates and friends join her, and together they work to figure out what they'll do next and how their new team should work. Ben joining the team really throws a spanner in the works, but ultimately helps show them some of the basics they've missed out on.
I really liked the friendships between the team members, thought Jillian did frustrate me a couple times with how she treated Marco.
Really looking forward to see what happens next in this series.
June 19, 2020
Superhero Cult
This is a unique take on a "superhero" team consisting of older teens acting as a city's heroes after being raised in extreme poverty and an extremely rigid environment. In a short period of time, the story not only is about super heroes but includes physical, mental and emotional abuse and even touches on racism and courtship and self knowledge. Jillian, is a 20 year old with heightened physical abilities and part of a team led by a powerful, abusive, photogenic hero with strong telekinetic abilities. Jillian is becoming aware that while the team she is part of has been key in helping the city, it is only the public actions that are heroic. An encounter with a powered individual in a coffee shop is key in chain of upheaval for everyone. There are flaws in the creation of the heroes, villains and their way of life but the story being told still resonates. As a fan of comics and superheroes and heroic behavior, this story, was a good read.
This is a unique take on a "superhero" team consisting of older teens acting as a city's heroes after being raised in extreme poverty and an extremely rigid environment. In a short period of time, the story not only is about super heroes but includes physical, mental and emotional abuse and even touches on racism and courtship and self knowledge. Jillian, is a 20 year old with heightened physical abilities and part of a team led by a powerful, abusive, photogenic hero with strong telekinetic abilities. Jillian is becoming aware that while the team she is part of has been key in helping the city, it is only the public actions that are heroic. An encounter with a powered individual in a coffee shop is key in chain of upheaval for everyone. There are flaws in the creation of the heroes, villains and their way of life but the story being told still resonates. As a fan of comics and superheroes and heroic behavior, this story, was a good read.
December 31, 2020
I'm always up for a super hero book, but this one made me start to cringe while reading. I liked Battlecry/Jillian, but she's in an abuse situation. Her leader beats on her for not doing exactly what he says, the group gets a lecture when someone (in this case Jullian) messes up to show how they should have acted. Then there is the lack of personal space, walking in her room while she is in the shower, waiting on her bed, going through her phone. I found myself astounded when Jillian stopped at a coffee house, but had no clue what to order because she never had fancy coffee, in a city, a city she works to protect, and how happy she was to have saved $20 in 6 months because she got to keep a percentage of money given in her name...$20 in 6 months. WTF! I wanted to reach into the book and drag her out. I was glad that she found a friend, even as I know it will get her in trouble. I just can't keep reading this one, not for me.
July 17, 2019
I admit
I didn’t read this book for a bit after downloading. Thought it would not live up to reviews.
But I was pleasantly surprised. The different spin on superhero and Villains was interesting.
Didn’t think it was perfect or the results realistic in any way but I tried to suspend disbelief and just follow along with authors world.
Didn’t get lost or felt like I was living story, but I did want to see how the story unfolded.
Will read second, but I didn’t like preview so hope I’m surprised again.
I didn’t read this book for a bit after downloading. Thought it would not live up to reviews.
But I was pleasantly surprised. The different spin on superhero and Villains was interesting.
Didn’t think it was perfect or the results realistic in any way but I tried to suspend disbelief and just follow along with authors world.
Didn’t get lost or felt like I was living story, but I did want to see how the story unfolded.
Will read second, but I didn’t like preview so hope I’m surprised again.
July 16, 2020
Jillian is Battlecry, Battlecry is a super heroine. Her team is lead by an elders son that is mean, vindictive and controlling. That’s not how teams are supposed to be. Then she meets a Supervillian that can heal and he changes her thinking.
Really what is the difference between a super hero and a super villain? Good versus evil? It comes down to the choices you make. Atropos was a super hero that chose to become a villain and Mercury is a super villain that wished to become a hero.
Great start to this trilogy.
Really what is the difference between a super hero and a super villain? Good versus evil? It comes down to the choices you make. Atropos was a super hero that chose to become a villain and Mercury is a super villain that wished to become a hero.
Great start to this trilogy.
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