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Specular
The first installment of the IXI PRESS series by author L.K BROOKS-SIMPSON
This novel is of the fantasy/superhero fiction genre and tackles some important implications of mental health and Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID).
Imagine being afraid to fall asleep in fear that you will not wake up to the life you know. This is exactly what Tre Moon experienced at nine years old. He awakes to his second dissociative identity having set his house aflame. With his home ruined and his parents murdered at his own hands, he is sentenced to trial for a life sentence. Young Tre Moon is forced to walk a path that will change his life forever. When seventeen year old Tre comes into contact with a prohibited substance called Colloidal Supersilver his life will change forever when he finds out he has the ability to change how light refracts from his body. His new powers come with new challenges to an already complicated life, having battled Dissociative Identity Disorder for the majority of his youth. Follow the origin story of IXI COMICS first hero as he becomes Indiana's newest vigilante, Specular! In a city full of crime, recession, drug underlords and other mysterious vigilante's, the legend of Tre Moon will unfold, all the while, his dark past tries to catch up with him...
This novel is of the fantasy/superhero fiction genre and tackles some important implications of mental health and Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID).
Imagine being afraid to fall asleep in fear that you will not wake up to the life you know. This is exactly what Tre Moon experienced at nine years old. He awakes to his second dissociative identity having set his house aflame. With his home ruined and his parents murdered at his own hands, he is sentenced to trial for a life sentence. Young Tre Moon is forced to walk a path that will change his life forever. When seventeen year old Tre comes into contact with a prohibited substance called Colloidal Supersilver his life will change forever when he finds out he has the ability to change how light refracts from his body. His new powers come with new challenges to an already complicated life, having battled Dissociative Identity Disorder for the majority of his youth. Follow the origin story of IXI COMICS first hero as he becomes Indiana's newest vigilante, Specular! In a city full of crime, recession, drug underlords and other mysterious vigilante's, the legend of Tre Moon will unfold, all the while, his dark past tries to catch up with him...
244 pages, Kindle Edition
Published August 16, 2018
1 person is currently reading
7 people want to read
About the author
L.K. Brooks-Simpson
4 books14 followersL.K. Brooks-Simpson is a native of London, England.
Aside from his creative ventures, he is a strong supporter of philanthropy. He cites his biggest influences as J.R.R. Tolkien, Sanyika Shakur, J.K. Rowling, Tsugumi Ohba, Stan Lee and Maya Angelou, among many others.
Three sentences he would use to describe himself - A book is for the mind. Travel is for the heart. Family is for the soul.
Lara has always considered himself a student of literature and story form and for this reason, his taste is eclectic. Ranging from novels to manga - poems to screenwriting and even comic book story boards. Just as genres define certain works, there are a lot of elements that define his creative process. He has aspirations to write in many different genres.
Author Amazon Page: https://www.amazon.com/author/ixicomics
YouTube Channel: https://youtube.com/@IXIPRESS?si=I5x0...
Aside from his creative ventures, he is a strong supporter of philanthropy. He cites his biggest influences as J.R.R. Tolkien, Sanyika Shakur, J.K. Rowling, Tsugumi Ohba, Stan Lee and Maya Angelou, among many others.
Three sentences he would use to describe himself - A book is for the mind. Travel is for the heart. Family is for the soul.
Lara has always considered himself a student of literature and story form and for this reason, his taste is eclectic. Ranging from novels to manga - poems to screenwriting and even comic book story boards. Just as genres define certain works, there are a lot of elements that define his creative process. He has aspirations to write in many different genres.
Author Amazon Page: https://www.amazon.com/author/ixicomics
YouTube Channel: https://youtube.com/@IXIPRESS?si=I5x0...
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 41 reviews
December 7, 2018
As a mental health professional, this superhero fiction book covers many important themes by raising awareness for conditions and behaviours that are prominent in today’s society. Having read Specular as a keen reader and as a clinical professional, I would recommend this book to read no matter what your age, especially for superhero lovers and those with special interests in psychology and physics.
The story addresses the protagonist, Tre, who has a diagnosis of Dissociative Identity Disorder since the age of eight. Mental health awareness is so important and as a blogger and professional, I believe that addressing topics within fiction, brings to life that nobody is perfect and that we must accept one another for who we truly are. I believe that my connection with Tre is one that is similar to Edith Hills (the psychologist in Specular); it’s built on an understanding of what he is going through and how tough life can be with a mental health condition that is yet to be diagnosed. Mental health comes with many stigmas and my hope is that people who are diagnosed do not feel like they should hide it. Seeking help is not a sign of weakness. There are services and many professionals around you who are ready to support your needs and I hope that readers of Specular do reach out.
Specular is bursting with a range of characters that fulfil their own roles within the story. This superhero book has been incredible to read and I commend authors for tackling brave themes and raising awareness for very serious causes. I’m very excited to see the future of Tre in IXI Comics, alongside the other characters from Specular.
The story addresses the protagonist, Tre, who has a diagnosis of Dissociative Identity Disorder since the age of eight. Mental health awareness is so important and as a blogger and professional, I believe that addressing topics within fiction, brings to life that nobody is perfect and that we must accept one another for who we truly are. I believe that my connection with Tre is one that is similar to Edith Hills (the psychologist in Specular); it’s built on an understanding of what he is going through and how tough life can be with a mental health condition that is yet to be diagnosed. Mental health comes with many stigmas and my hope is that people who are diagnosed do not feel like they should hide it. Seeking help is not a sign of weakness. There are services and many professionals around you who are ready to support your needs and I hope that readers of Specular do reach out.
Specular is bursting with a range of characters that fulfil their own roles within the story. This superhero book has been incredible to read and I commend authors for tackling brave themes and raising awareness for very serious causes. I’m very excited to see the future of Tre in IXI Comics, alongside the other characters from Specular.
June 11, 2020
I love films but one genre I can not stand is superhero movies (especially Avengers - unpopular opinion!). Therefore when I was approached to read a copy of Specular, the origin story of IXI COMICS first hero, I was tentative in my acceptance. However, as mentioned previously, I'm trying to read different genres and I don't think I've ever read a superhero book so thought it was worth a try!
...
This is one of the most well written books I've read this year, which took me by surprise based on my expectations of this genre of book! Even more surprisingly, it's a superhero book that tackles mental health, which is done so brilliantly (and what a way to target a different group of readers to broach this issue with!). Though the plot and villain were rather standard superhero fare, the range of characters and pace of the plot made up for it and kept me engaged regardless.
...
This is one of the most well written books I've read this year, which took me by surprise based on my expectations of this genre of book! Even more surprisingly, it's a superhero book that tackles mental health, which is done so brilliantly (and what a way to target a different group of readers to broach this issue with!). Though the plot and villain were rather standard superhero fare, the range of characters and pace of the plot made up for it and kept me engaged regardless.
July 2, 2020
Review was originally published on www.jasperandspice.com (https://jasperandspice.com/books/spec...)
I'm a sucker for superheroes but I haven't read many (if any) superhero novels. So, when I was approached by @bed.and.books on Instagram, I took the opportunity right away. Not only was I intrigued by the superhero storyline, but I also wanted to see the way in which this novel treated Dissociative Identity Disorder (otherwise known as DID).
REVIEW!
I am so happy to be writing my review about this book because there is so much I want to talk about and it all starts with the part of the blurb that caught my attention in the first place: the implication that the story contained a character with Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID).
Now, I love to learn about mental illnesses that I have no prior knowledge in and DID has been something I have been looking up and watching on YouTube for a while. From creators like DissociaDID and TeamPinata who are both really interesting systems with such a diverse range of alters, I have learnt about the disorder and their opinions on the portrayal of their disorder in the media.
I would actually really love to know what someone with DID or a medical professional thinks about this novel (and I'll be reading reviews after I post my own) in order to truly understand how it was portrayed within the novel.
Storyline & Writing
I was worried that throughout the start of the novel, the disorder was being portrayed wrongly and just a way to explain the evil voice inside Tre Moon's head. But as I powered on through the novel and found that Tre Moon himself was just as doubtful of his own diagnosis.
If there is anything perfect in Specular, it is the author's writing style. It may not be for everyone but I loved it! All the long and detailed descriptions of places and characters really made the entire reading experience feel immersive.
The background we received when the story placed us in a new location along with the description of the place (and people Tre encountered along the way) made me feel as if the details of the story were being painted behind my eyelids with every word I read.
Although, one bother I had in regards to the storyline was how it felt a little disjointed at times, sometimes feeling rushed or as if there was a piece missing between two scenes.
Characters & Character Development
Tre Moon was used to keeping his head down, thriving on his own and making sure no one knew who he was lest his second-chance at life be jeopardised. That was until a forced group assignment in his extra-curricular physics group changed all of this.
His group is made up of the outcasts of the class. The rich-kid-player-boy, smart-girl-activist from out of town, and quiet-boy-hasn't-spoken-to-anyone-in-class-Tre. Now call me a sucker for a lil mismatched group of outcasts forced together with group work but I freaking love that trope!
After some events transpire, including a close call with a very expensive research element, Tre Moon is suddenly filled with great power of which the source must be kept a secret. He confides in his group, who just so happen to become his closest friends and allies and over the course of the story, the three of them try to uncover the reason for Tre's new abilities. Furthermore, trying understand how and why all of it is possible.
In turn, the three of them end up with a group name and thus, the 'golden trio' trope exists within this story and I freaking love it! It was such a natural transition, I have to applaud the author for his excellent writing.
I wasn't sure how the superhero aspect of the story was going to play out within the novel, but when it did... Damn... It's been a long time since we've had an original superhero with a unique suit and unique powers.
As dedicated physics students, the trio worked together tirelessly to understand the complex science behind Tre's powers. Throughout the novel, I geeked out with them as explanations of his powers were explained, talking about light absorption and projection. And though I don't know a single thing about physics, I was able to follow along just fine, feeling like I was learning something sciency from a fictional story.
The characters were deep, motivated and had clear goals and objectives they wanted to achieve, individual of Tre's storyline. These objectives and goals just worked around their friendship with Tre Moon and their physics group.
I really appreciated that each character had their own goals and objectives, but that these goals and objectives linked into the broader happenings of the city. It made them feel individual, able to live their own lives and juggle their commitments but also connected to the story in more ways than their relationship with the protagonist.
The end of the story took a really crazy turn that introduced Tre's denial of his DID diagnosis. I didn't want the story to cure his DID or treat it as something horrible - since many people live with it and deserve to see themselves respected in works of fiction. In some way I was glad it was being denied and also questioned.
Fight Scenes
The fight scenes were epic! As I said, I haven't read superhero novels, but I do read lots of fantasy and Tre's fight with the 'villain' of the story was really really fun to read, especially since they were almost matched in strength and power.
The entire story came together really well in the end, concluding on a cliffhanger that actually has left me really excited for the second novel in the series. I believe it focuses on another superhero, an intriguing character that made her mysterious debut in this novel.
I'm a sucker for superheroes but I haven't read many (if any) superhero novels. So, when I was approached by @bed.and.books on Instagram, I took the opportunity right away. Not only was I intrigued by the superhero storyline, but I also wanted to see the way in which this novel treated Dissociative Identity Disorder (otherwise known as DID).
REVIEW!
I am so happy to be writing my review about this book because there is so much I want to talk about and it all starts with the part of the blurb that caught my attention in the first place: the implication that the story contained a character with Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID).
Now, I love to learn about mental illnesses that I have no prior knowledge in and DID has been something I have been looking up and watching on YouTube for a while. From creators like DissociaDID and TeamPinata who are both really interesting systems with such a diverse range of alters, I have learnt about the disorder and their opinions on the portrayal of their disorder in the media.
I would actually really love to know what someone with DID or a medical professional thinks about this novel (and I'll be reading reviews after I post my own) in order to truly understand how it was portrayed within the novel.
Storyline & Writing
I was worried that throughout the start of the novel, the disorder was being portrayed wrongly and just a way to explain the evil voice inside Tre Moon's head. But as I powered on through the novel and found that Tre Moon himself was just as doubtful of his own diagnosis.
If there is anything perfect in Specular, it is the author's writing style. It may not be for everyone but I loved it! All the long and detailed descriptions of places and characters really made the entire reading experience feel immersive.
The background we received when the story placed us in a new location along with the description of the place (and people Tre encountered along the way) made me feel as if the details of the story were being painted behind my eyelids with every word I read.
Although, one bother I had in regards to the storyline was how it felt a little disjointed at times, sometimes feeling rushed or as if there was a piece missing between two scenes.
Characters & Character Development
Tre Moon was used to keeping his head down, thriving on his own and making sure no one knew who he was lest his second-chance at life be jeopardised. That was until a forced group assignment in his extra-curricular physics group changed all of this.
His group is made up of the outcasts of the class. The rich-kid-player-boy, smart-girl-activist from out of town, and quiet-boy-hasn't-spoken-to-anyone-in-class-Tre. Now call me a sucker for a lil mismatched group of outcasts forced together with group work but I freaking love that trope!
After some events transpire, including a close call with a very expensive research element, Tre Moon is suddenly filled with great power of which the source must be kept a secret. He confides in his group, who just so happen to become his closest friends and allies and over the course of the story, the three of them try to uncover the reason for Tre's new abilities. Furthermore, trying understand how and why all of it is possible.
In turn, the three of them end up with a group name and thus, the 'golden trio' trope exists within this story and I freaking love it! It was such a natural transition, I have to applaud the author for his excellent writing.
I wasn't sure how the superhero aspect of the story was going to play out within the novel, but when it did... Damn... It's been a long time since we've had an original superhero with a unique suit and unique powers.
As dedicated physics students, the trio worked together tirelessly to understand the complex science behind Tre's powers. Throughout the novel, I geeked out with them as explanations of his powers were explained, talking about light absorption and projection. And though I don't know a single thing about physics, I was able to follow along just fine, feeling like I was learning something sciency from a fictional story.
The characters were deep, motivated and had clear goals and objectives they wanted to achieve, individual of Tre's storyline. These objectives and goals just worked around their friendship with Tre Moon and their physics group.
I really appreciated that each character had their own goals and objectives, but that these goals and objectives linked into the broader happenings of the city. It made them feel individual, able to live their own lives and juggle their commitments but also connected to the story in more ways than their relationship with the protagonist.
The end of the story took a really crazy turn that introduced Tre's denial of his DID diagnosis. I didn't want the story to cure his DID or treat it as something horrible - since many people live with it and deserve to see themselves respected in works of fiction. In some way I was glad it was being denied and also questioned.
Fight Scenes
The fight scenes were epic! As I said, I haven't read superhero novels, but I do read lots of fantasy and Tre's fight with the 'villain' of the story was really really fun to read, especially since they were almost matched in strength and power.
The entire story came together really well in the end, concluding on a cliffhanger that actually has left me really excited for the second novel in the series. I believe it focuses on another superhero, an intriguing character that made her mysterious debut in this novel.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 22, 2019
Received from Xpresso Book Tours
OMG, this was so good. It starts with a bang, from the first page on, I was pulled in completely.
Specular is basically superhero origin story and I love reading those. You get to see him grow up, understand him and his life before he became a hero. Following him from a young age, all trough challenges of life, you can really understand why he does what he does. It makes the story relatable and real and extremely good. :)
The story starts with Tre as a young boy, punished by his parents because he got into a fight. He is not alone, there is a voice in his head, talking to him, telling him what to do, until he takes over one night and sets the family home on fire.
Tre is locked up for life and full of guilt. He gets out in is teen thanks so family friends diagnosing him with Dissociative Identity Disorder. Not all is easy and well as he gets back out. He tries to live a normal life, trying to control the voices in his head, until he comes in contact with Colloidal Supersilver, his life is turned upside down once more.
It's just such a great story, I hope there will be a lot more books in the series. :)
Highly recommend it to superheroes fans!
OMG, this was so good. It starts with a bang, from the first page on, I was pulled in completely.
Specular is basically superhero origin story and I love reading those. You get to see him grow up, understand him and his life before he became a hero. Following him from a young age, all trough challenges of life, you can really understand why he does what he does. It makes the story relatable and real and extremely good. :)
The story starts with Tre as a young boy, punished by his parents because he got into a fight. He is not alone, there is a voice in his head, talking to him, telling him what to do, until he takes over one night and sets the family home on fire.
Tre is locked up for life and full of guilt. He gets out in is teen thanks so family friends diagnosing him with Dissociative Identity Disorder. Not all is easy and well as he gets back out. He tries to live a normal life, trying to control the voices in his head, until he comes in contact with Colloidal Supersilver, his life is turned upside down once more.
It's just such a great story, I hope there will be a lot more books in the series. :)
Highly recommend it to superheroes fans!
June 8, 2020
This is the origin story of Indiana’s newest superhero…Specular!
This is book one in the IXI PRESS series by the author L. K. Brooks-Simpson, which focuses on mental health and Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID). He examines through his main character what it is like to live with this mental disorder and explores an interesting way as to how DID would be affected when superpowers are added into the mix.
Tre Moon is not like all the other kids his age. While he goes to school and studies physics and generally appears like every other seventeen-year-old, he is very different - Tre suffers from DID. His other personality has plagued him for most of his life; he is responsible for the death of Tre’s parents. Upon gaining his freedom, he tries to have some semblance of a normal life, all the while keeping himself distant from others, lest the voice in his head takes over and tries to hurt more people. However, after a freak accident when Tre encounters Colloidal Supersilver, he gains amazing powers, including the ability to bend light so that he can become invisible!
This book was well written and a good, accessible read. The author used such vivid language; I could picture every inch of the city of Signot. However, I did find that some of the dialogue was rather stilted and didn’t seem completely natural. I liked how this book wasn’t afraid to delve into mental health, which not only helps to raise awareness but also shows that it is not something to hide. The twist at the end, when the villain is revealed, was predictable, but enjoyable none the less. I would recommend this book, especially if you are a fan of superheroes and comics. It’s not a lengthy read, but it really didn’t need to be; the story was laid out concisely with a little sneak peak at the end to hint at book two.
This is book one in the IXI PRESS series by the author L. K. Brooks-Simpson, which focuses on mental health and Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID). He examines through his main character what it is like to live with this mental disorder and explores an interesting way as to how DID would be affected when superpowers are added into the mix.
Tre Moon is not like all the other kids his age. While he goes to school and studies physics and generally appears like every other seventeen-year-old, he is very different - Tre suffers from DID. His other personality has plagued him for most of his life; he is responsible for the death of Tre’s parents. Upon gaining his freedom, he tries to have some semblance of a normal life, all the while keeping himself distant from others, lest the voice in his head takes over and tries to hurt more people. However, after a freak accident when Tre encounters Colloidal Supersilver, he gains amazing powers, including the ability to bend light so that he can become invisible!
This book was well written and a good, accessible read. The author used such vivid language; I could picture every inch of the city of Signot. However, I did find that some of the dialogue was rather stilted and didn’t seem completely natural. I liked how this book wasn’t afraid to delve into mental health, which not only helps to raise awareness but also shows that it is not something to hide. The twist at the end, when the villain is revealed, was predictable, but enjoyable none the less. I would recommend this book, especially if you are a fan of superheroes and comics. It’s not a lengthy read, but it really didn’t need to be; the story was laid out concisely with a little sneak peak at the end to hint at book two.
June 10, 2020
I have an interest in mental health and how it can affect a person and be felt through the sufferer. This amazing superhero fiction book covers such a wealth of knowledge that many people are living with in a non scary and respectable way. I would recommend this book to anyone who likes superhero's mental health or wants to know about mental health it really is good.
From the beginning you meet Tre, who has a diagnosis of Dissociative Identity Disorder since the age of eight, when he lost control of himself and made a mistake he wished he could have stopped. with how much mental health has been in the media and how some who suffer feel isolated and pin-pointed as crazy this is a very important book. Mental health has a negative stigma still after all the research and work that has gone into them, and this book shows in a new accessible way that people who suffer are real and they live and you might know them and they are n to alien, they are not scary or dangerous, they are just suffering unfairly.
This book had so many amazing characters and connections as well as dialogue and I really enjoyed it, there were some minor grammatical issues throughout but this did not affect the book and how well it read.
I cannot wait to see more from this author.
From the beginning you meet Tre, who has a diagnosis of Dissociative Identity Disorder since the age of eight, when he lost control of himself and made a mistake he wished he could have stopped. with how much mental health has been in the media and how some who suffer feel isolated and pin-pointed as crazy this is a very important book. Mental health has a negative stigma still after all the research and work that has gone into them, and this book shows in a new accessible way that people who suffer are real and they live and you might know them and they are n to alien, they are not scary or dangerous, they are just suffering unfairly.
This book had so many amazing characters and connections as well as dialogue and I really enjoyed it, there were some minor grammatical issues throughout but this did not affect the book and how well it read.
I cannot wait to see more from this author.
June 11, 2020
----------------------------------------------------- Thank you for the arc and I am leaving this review voluntarily ✨
.
Everyone talk to own self at certain stage , in this book author has touched this sensitive disorder ,(Mental disorder is still a #taboo in this society )
▶️give it read if you are into superheros , you will love it ❤️
.
BLURB~
💥
This novel is of the fantasy/superhero fiction genre and tackles some important implications of mental health and Dissociative Identity Disorder .
How the protagonist "Tre" deal with it after knowing it . Tre comes in contact with the prohibited substance changing his life forever , giving him powers.
💥
In a city full of crime, recession, drug underlords and other mysterious vigilante's, the legend of Tre Moon will unfold, all the while, his dark past tries to catch up with him ✨.
-----------------------------------------------------
June 11, 2020
I am honestly trying to gather my mind together because while reading this book my mind was totally blown away!! What a spectacular plot, carried forward so smoothly and beautifully!!!
I finished the book in no time because the writing is so fast paced, that it will make you sacrifice your sleep and keep reading. The journey with Tre Moon and witnessing his magnificent saga is just amazing. The events happening in the first few chapters are weird, unusual and make you question which world is it happening in. But then slowly and slowly, the pieces of the puzzle are put together and will leave you gasping at moments.
This is a must read for those who are a sucker for fantasy and mystery alike. Lastly, I would like to thank the author for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
I finished the book in no time because the writing is so fast paced, that it will make you sacrifice your sleep and keep reading. The journey with Tre Moon and witnessing his magnificent saga is just amazing. The events happening in the first few chapters are weird, unusual and make you question which world is it happening in. But then slowly and slowly, the pieces of the puzzle are put together and will leave you gasping at moments.
This is a must read for those who are a sucker for fantasy and mystery alike. Lastly, I would like to thank the author for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
June 7, 2020
This is the first time I am reading fantasy/fiction book and I thoroughly enjoyed this book by L.K Brooks Simpsons.
The story is about the character Tre who has the Dissociative identity disorder(DID). It's very difficult to accept these mental disorders. The story is how Tre handles the situations when he came to know about this. Of course, he has to face many problems and how seeking help is not a weakness.
I think the Authors really should write these unique books which helps the society. It is great that this author has looked into this matter and wrote a book about this. Really APPRECIATED! I loved this book. Waiting for more new books to release.
E-copy was generously provided for an honest review.
The story is about the character Tre who has the Dissociative identity disorder(DID). It's very difficult to accept these mental disorders. The story is how Tre handles the situations when he came to know about this. Of course, he has to face many problems and how seeking help is not a weakness.
I think the Authors really should write these unique books which helps the society. It is great that this author has looked into this matter and wrote a book about this. Really APPRECIATED! I loved this book. Waiting for more new books to release.
E-copy was generously provided for an honest review.
June 8, 2020
This is not my usual go-to genre however I really enjoyed reading it. There were some confusing sections near the start but once the characters were developed it was much easier to understand! I think Tre's whole journey was extremely interesting and I love the friendship element of this book, especially the characters quick and left. I would love to read more from this author when the time comes❤
January 22, 2019
Tre hates the voice inside him. I makes him do bad things. When the voice inside kills his parents Tre is incarcerated, first in a juvenile facility then prison. With help he is finally released. Trying to have a semblance of normalcy he uses drugs to keep the voice at bay. Attending school, making friends. A project for one of his classes changes his life when he accidentally absorbs a substance. He becomes more than just Tre and so does the voice.
A good superhero needs an origin story. This book definitely gave Tre his. I’ll admit the science of the book was well beyond my understanding. As a reader I had to let go of what is normal and accept that even the the story happens in a familiar place, it really doesn’t. (Kind of like Gotham City) I really liked the origin of Specular and would recommend it to any one who enjoys a good angsty superhero.
Review Copy requested and reviewed on behalf of OMGReads.
A good superhero needs an origin story. This book definitely gave Tre his. I’ll admit the science of the book was well beyond my understanding. As a reader I had to let go of what is normal and accept that even the the story happens in a familiar place, it really doesn’t. (Kind of like Gotham City) I really liked the origin of Specular and would recommend it to any one who enjoys a good angsty superhero.
Review Copy requested and reviewed on behalf of OMGReads.
January 6, 2019
This is a really enjoyable book. I love books that deal with mental illness and when a author puts his or her own spin to it. L. K. Brooks-simpson does a great job with his debut novel!
January 6, 2019
This is a well written and interesting story. Tre is a great character and having to deal with DID while doing what he does makes for an entertaining story. I would recommend it.
January 21, 2019
Full review to come soon.
June 18, 2020
Imagine how it would be like if we heard a voice other than ours in our head all the time? How it would be feel like that we don’t have any control over our self and how it would be like if someone else is doing something through you without our control but we have to face the consequences of that?
This is the situation of Tre moon, the protagonist of this story. He was having Dissociative Identity Disorder from childhood. Because of this other identity of him, his parents were murdered by him when he was only nine. He was sent to juvenile jail to spent his life sentence. One day, he had an unexpected visitor, Edith Hill, his best friend's mom. She proved him innocent and gave him a second life. But life never stopped to shock him with an unexpected turn of events. He came to contact with colloidal super silver, which had the most unique properties, in his science research lab. After that incident, he started to experience the weird and unimaginable powers within him that he would never even imagine in his worst nightmares.
This is the Sci-Fi thriller YA fiction. It explains many scientific and psychological terms. If you may seem that terms are hard to understand, just go with the flow. Don’t stress yourself. The author used simple language for writing, easy to understand. Some scenes are a little difficult to understand but only a few not many. That won't affect the flow of the plot. The story left with many questions unanswered so it has a sequel too. Like any other scifics, it has superhero type vigilante who saves the people, the psychological patient turned research student turned superhero, people from other planets, the private army who always protects the organization and all that stuff.
Whoever loves to read YA scifics will like this book. I enjoyed the read.
This is the situation of Tre moon, the protagonist of this story. He was having Dissociative Identity Disorder from childhood. Because of this other identity of him, his parents were murdered by him when he was only nine. He was sent to juvenile jail to spent his life sentence. One day, he had an unexpected visitor, Edith Hill, his best friend's mom. She proved him innocent and gave him a second life. But life never stopped to shock him with an unexpected turn of events. He came to contact with colloidal super silver, which had the most unique properties, in his science research lab. After that incident, he started to experience the weird and unimaginable powers within him that he would never even imagine in his worst nightmares.
This is the Sci-Fi thriller YA fiction. It explains many scientific and psychological terms. If you may seem that terms are hard to understand, just go with the flow. Don’t stress yourself. The author used simple language for writing, easy to understand. Some scenes are a little difficult to understand but only a few not many. That won't affect the flow of the plot. The story left with many questions unanswered so it has a sequel too. Like any other scifics, it has superhero type vigilante who saves the people, the psychological patient turned research student turned superhero, people from other planets, the private army who always protects the organization and all that stuff.
Whoever loves to read YA scifics will like this book. I enjoyed the read.
June 17, 2024
Being a fan of superheroes, it's no surprise I was thrilled to read this. What struck me first was how it instantly grabs your attention from page one. As a strong advocate for mental health awareness, I was delighted that DID was prominently discussed in the novel. The way everything was explained highlighted the significant effect of the diagnosis on the main character. Tre was one of those incredibly well-developed characters whose every misfortune tugged at your heartstrings. Despite facing DID and a tragic history, Tre continues his journey towards forgiveness.
The fact that this novel was directed to a younger audience did not affect my reading experience. It was fast-paced, exciting and full of wonderful supporting characters. I usually like a novel with a bit more world building, but with the way the plot develops, I didn’t feel like anything was missing in this case. If you need a quick, entertaining read full of emotion and excitement, this is a great one to pick up.
As someone who is well acquainted (obsessed) with the superhero universe, I must commend the originality of the superpowers and their fascinating backstory! It's hard to create something different in a world we’ve seen done a thousand times before. From the heart-wrenching hook to the unexpected twist, the story captivated me from start to finish. For anyone interested in exploring this genre, I highly recommend this book and look forward to seeing Tre in future works.
The fact that this novel was directed to a younger audience did not affect my reading experience. It was fast-paced, exciting and full of wonderful supporting characters. I usually like a novel with a bit more world building, but with the way the plot develops, I didn’t feel like anything was missing in this case. If you need a quick, entertaining read full of emotion and excitement, this is a great one to pick up.
As someone who is well acquainted (obsessed) with the superhero universe, I must commend the originality of the superpowers and their fascinating backstory! It's hard to create something different in a world we’ve seen done a thousand times before. From the heart-wrenching hook to the unexpected twist, the story captivated me from start to finish. For anyone interested in exploring this genre, I highly recommend this book and look forward to seeing Tre in future works.
June 8, 2024
Thanks to Lovebookstours and Inspired Press for having me on this tour.
This was my first superhero book that was not a comics/graphic novel. This, in fact, is a full-fledged novel, and I found that to be a fresh change is pace. Even though my experience (or lack thereof) in superhero prose made me sometimes wonder how great a graphic novel this would have been, I realized that the depth of emotions this particular book showcased needed some explanatory prose.
I loved how this book took the difficult yet important topic of dissociative identity disorder (DID) and mixed it with superhero themes. Every superhero has a backstory. This one brought into focus the important issues dealing with mental health. This not only made the topic more accessible, but also easier to understand and empathize with.
The plot itself was fast paced and riveting. It kept me turning the pages until I finished the book. Tre Moon's development from a misunderstood child to an introverted teenager was extremely well portrayed, as was his strength in character even through dark phases in his psyche. There are some really dark themes lining this book, but good prevails over evil in the end.
The book ended in a sight cliffhanger introducing the next book in the series, and now I'm eagerly waiting to read the next in the series, which I'll be reviewing soon as well 🙂
This was my first superhero book that was not a comics/graphic novel. This, in fact, is a full-fledged novel, and I found that to be a fresh change is pace. Even though my experience (or lack thereof) in superhero prose made me sometimes wonder how great a graphic novel this would have been, I realized that the depth of emotions this particular book showcased needed some explanatory prose.
I loved how this book took the difficult yet important topic of dissociative identity disorder (DID) and mixed it with superhero themes. Every superhero has a backstory. This one brought into focus the important issues dealing with mental health. This not only made the topic more accessible, but also easier to understand and empathize with.
The plot itself was fast paced and riveting. It kept me turning the pages until I finished the book. Tre Moon's development from a misunderstood child to an introverted teenager was extremely well portrayed, as was his strength in character even through dark phases in his psyche. There are some really dark themes lining this book, but good prevails over evil in the end.
The book ended in a sight cliffhanger introducing the next book in the series, and now I'm eagerly waiting to read the next in the series, which I'll be reviewing soon as well 🙂
June 9, 2024
I love superhero stories so I was excited to read this one! The story follows Tre, who was sent to prison for killing his parents. He is only freed when he is diagnosed with Dissociative Identity Disorder. When he encounters a prohibited substance, he discovers that it has changed the way his body refracts light and he has extraordinary powers like healing himself and becoming invisible. It also helps him control his other personality. However, when his best friend gets into some trouble with her boyfriend, his other personality takes over and seeks revenge. Tre is devastated by what he has done and decides to end his life. It’s then that he meets N.O.M.A. a vigilante who enlists his help to try to rid the city of evil. I really liked how Tre had a conscience whereas you don’t see a lot of superheroes actually warring with themselves over their actions. It may well be that he is depicted in this way because of his DID. Either way, it was a unique take and I really enjoyed it. The story was well written with plenty of action to keep me engaged throughout. I’m really looking forward to reading more books in this series.
June 10, 2024
I absolutely loved the concept of this book straight way!
Dealing with issues that are still, in the main, hidden from general acceptance - this book highlights one such condition and not only teaches that it's acceptable to talk and share - but also gives the 'sufferer' that superhero status too!
DID or dissociative identity disorder is a diagnosis that I don't know too much about, although I have recently watched Moonknight which has a similar such theme - also, which I adored - and this book gave me those same vibes!
Despite his tragedy, I instantly related to Tre.
Having already been struggling, to have no support for his condition, especially at such a young age, just made me feel so sad.
His discovery of the mystery substance then takes us on a different journey as we see Tre comes to terms with and hone his new powers.
With well developed and interesting characters that I know we'll explore further into the series - and a storyline that was full of action and intrigue.
I was completely hooked from the first few pages and think that this was such a great introduction to the IXI Press series.
I will be reading and reviewing books 2 and 3 over the coming weeks and can't wait to get reading.....
Dealing with issues that are still, in the main, hidden from general acceptance - this book highlights one such condition and not only teaches that it's acceptable to talk and share - but also gives the 'sufferer' that superhero status too!
DID or dissociative identity disorder is a diagnosis that I don't know too much about, although I have recently watched Moonknight which has a similar such theme - also, which I adored - and this book gave me those same vibes!
Despite his tragedy, I instantly related to Tre.
Having already been struggling, to have no support for his condition, especially at such a young age, just made me feel so sad.
His discovery of the mystery substance then takes us on a different journey as we see Tre comes to terms with and hone his new powers.
With well developed and interesting characters that I know we'll explore further into the series - and a storyline that was full of action and intrigue.
I was completely hooked from the first few pages and think that this was such a great introduction to the IXI Press series.
I will be reading and reviewing books 2 and 3 over the coming weeks and can't wait to get reading.....
June 5, 2024
Specular was such an interesting read! On one hand it’s a superhero origin story and on the other it’s a great look at mental health issues, especially Dissociative Identity Disorder.
I think talking about the importance of mental health and getting help is a superhero story is an amazing way to do it! Superheroes are something that resonate with all ages, genders, races, etc. and so using it as a way of bringing awareness is fantastic!
The story itself is fast paced and action packed, I was gripped from the very start. At a little over 200 pages, it��s a great length for the start of a series.
The characters were wonderfully written. I love that we get to follow Tre from such a young age and really see his path to becoming Specular!
If you have an interest in superheroes, want to read a unique way of talking about mental health, or a combination of the two, then Specular is definitely worth a read for you!
I think talking about the importance of mental health and getting help is a superhero story is an amazing way to do it! Superheroes are something that resonate with all ages, genders, races, etc. and so using it as a way of bringing awareness is fantastic!
The story itself is fast paced and action packed, I was gripped from the very start. At a little over 200 pages, it��s a great length for the start of a series.
The characters were wonderfully written. I love that we get to follow Tre from such a young age and really see his path to becoming Specular!
If you have an interest in superheroes, want to read a unique way of talking about mental health, or a combination of the two, then Specular is definitely worth a read for you!
June 7, 2024
Thank you so much Love book tours for sending me an E-Book copy of specular!
✨RATINGS✨
✨✨✨✨/5
✨REVIEW✨
Okay I don’t know where to start with this review. The plot was the normal villain and superhero story line however what makes this book a good book is how well written it is!
This was really good and very easy to read. The characters were also really good. I loved them all so much.
The pace of the plot was also really good. Even this it’s like a usually superhero/villain story the way the plot was written didn’t make it boring to read or anything like that and it was actually really entertaining and a great read. I also liked how they included mental health.
As someone who struggles with my mental health it’s nice to see it’s getting acknowledged in books especially ones with superhero/ strong mmcs and the way the author wrote about the superhero dealing with it was written really well.
This is a great book for anyone who likes superhero’s!
✨RATINGS✨
✨✨✨✨/5
✨REVIEW✨
Okay I don’t know where to start with this review. The plot was the normal villain and superhero story line however what makes this book a good book is how well written it is!
This was really good and very easy to read. The characters were also really good. I loved them all so much.
The pace of the plot was also really good. Even this it’s like a usually superhero/villain story the way the plot was written didn’t make it boring to read or anything like that and it was actually really entertaining and a great read. I also liked how they included mental health.
As someone who struggles with my mental health it’s nice to see it’s getting acknowledged in books especially ones with superhero/ strong mmcs and the way the author wrote about the superhero dealing with it was written really well.
This is a great book for anyone who likes superhero’s!
June 5, 2024
To quote Taylor Swift - "Its must be exhausting rooting for the Anti-hero"
This is how this book made me feel, We have a main character who presents with DID - a well known mental illness which affects lot of young people in the world. The author of this has done an amazing job in this story to make sure everyone knows how this presents and how the diagnosed patients feel. This was a very well written story which give us a storyline which shows us how relationships are formed and how people can be pushed aside while they are suffering. We see in this story that the sufferer gains control over this and building strong relationships while fighting their demons. People need to read this story and I can not wait to see where this series goes.
This is how this book made me feel, We have a main character who presents with DID - a well known mental illness which affects lot of young people in the world. The author of this has done an amazing job in this story to make sure everyone knows how this presents and how the diagnosed patients feel. This was a very well written story which give us a storyline which shows us how relationships are formed and how people can be pushed aside while they are suffering. We see in this story that the sufferer gains control over this and building strong relationships while fighting their demons. People need to read this story and I can not wait to see where this series goes.
May 25, 2024
As soon as I saw this superhero storyline I jumped as getting it to read.
I genuinely feel like this series ( IXI PRESS ) will be the next marvel and L.K. brooks-simpson will go down as the next stan-lee.
I absolutely loved this gripping fast paced action packed epic adventure. I love how it explored the mental health condition D.I.D as not many superhero storylines do.
Love the characters big and small! Very well thought out and all brought a different vibe to the story.
Bring on the next one - Vaniti At Sea (book2)
I genuinely feel like this series ( IXI PRESS ) will be the next marvel and L.K. brooks-simpson will go down as the next stan-lee.
I absolutely loved this gripping fast paced action packed epic adventure. I love how it explored the mental health condition D.I.D as not many superhero storylines do.
Love the characters big and small! Very well thought out and all brought a different vibe to the story.
Bring on the next one - Vaniti At Sea (book2)
January 10, 2025
I thoroughly enjoyed this book, more than any I have read in a little while. The author does a fantastic job immersing you into the look and feel of the city of Signot where the story unfolds. The plot itself is well paced and it is obvious the author thoroughly thought out every aspect of this story. The superhero genre is saturated but this one in particular displays powers/abilities I have not seen explored yet. I found myself truly invested in each character’s arc and have already ordered the next book within the series. A rewarding read and I would highly recommend to all!
June 4, 2024
I’ve never read this genre before so instantly jumped at the chance to sign up for this. I’m so very glad I did!
Specular is the first instalment of the IXI Press series by LK Brooks Simpson and it was such a brilliant introduction into the series!!
I was hooked from the first couple of pages!
We are introduced to Tre Moon a young boy who is battling against a voice inside his head, a voice so overwhelming it completely takes over and causes complete devastation resulting in the deaths of Tre’s parents, and Tre being sent to prison. Tre is helped out of his predicament though by a childhoods friends psychologist mother, who thinks Tre has DID (Dissociative Identity Disorder) and she helps to try and keep Tre’s alter ego at bay and get his life back on track.
While trying to lead a ‘normal’ life Tre gets a pretty sweet scholarship with the Indiana science youth research team and this is where he comes into contact with the mystery substance colloidal supersilver and everything in Tre’s life changes again.
This was a brilliant superhero origin story and I really bought into the characters as they were so well written!! As was the storyline it was full of action intrigue and suspense,I was so invested from beginning to end!! Can’t wait to read the next instalment ’Vaniti at Sea’ after that brilliant cliffhanger 🤩
Specular is the first instalment of the IXI Press series by LK Brooks Simpson and it was such a brilliant introduction into the series!!
I was hooked from the first couple of pages!
We are introduced to Tre Moon a young boy who is battling against a voice inside his head, a voice so overwhelming it completely takes over and causes complete devastation resulting in the deaths of Tre’s parents, and Tre being sent to prison. Tre is helped out of his predicament though by a childhoods friends psychologist mother, who thinks Tre has DID (Dissociative Identity Disorder) and she helps to try and keep Tre’s alter ego at bay and get his life back on track.
While trying to lead a ‘normal’ life Tre gets a pretty sweet scholarship with the Indiana science youth research team and this is where he comes into contact with the mystery substance colloidal supersilver and everything in Tre’s life changes again.
This was a brilliant superhero origin story and I really bought into the characters as they were so well written!! As was the storyline it was full of action intrigue and suspense,I was so invested from beginning to end!! Can’t wait to read the next instalment ’Vaniti at Sea’ after that brilliant cliffhanger 🤩
June 6, 2024
Starting with a notable bang. Specular instantly drew me in. It was fascinating to see this superhero grow up and develop, I loved seeing his origin story. The main character has DID (Dissociative Identity Disorder) and the author brings a brilliant light onto it, giving awareness to those who did not previously have it. With being both educational and entertaining, I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys superhero story’s or has an interest in psychology.
June 9, 2024
Recommend.
Specular by LK Brooks-Simpson.
IXI PRESS Book 1.
I loved the cover. I knew I would love this book. I did like the writing style. I did like Tre. I liked most of the characters. I love superheroes and this didn't disappoint. It was very well researched. Mental health is a tough subject. Very cleverly written. I read this in 2 sittings. I couldn't put it down. There was some surprising moments which I didn't see coming. I'm looking forward to the next book. 5*.
Specular by LK Brooks-Simpson.
IXI PRESS Book 1.
I loved the cover. I knew I would love this book. I did like the writing style. I did like Tre. I liked most of the characters. I love superheroes and this didn't disappoint. It was very well researched. Mental health is a tough subject. Very cleverly written. I read this in 2 sittings. I couldn't put it down. There was some surprising moments which I didn't see coming. I'm looking forward to the next book. 5*.
April 2, 2021
The writer has a great way of catching the reader's attention.
Right from the first sentence in the book...I feel like wanted to read more and know more
I will just give this phare from the book that says..."I don't think I can sleep tonight after this, it doesn't feel right if I don't drop an authentic opinion"
waiting for more edition
Right from the first sentence in the book...I feel like wanted to read more and know more
I will just give this phare from the book that says..."I don't think I can sleep tonight after this, it doesn't feel right if I don't drop an authentic opinion"
waiting for more edition
April 5, 2021
One of the books I have added to my shelf on Goodreads
Specular is basically a superhero origin story and I love reading those. You get to see him grow up, understand him and his life before he became a hero. Following him from a young age, all through the challenges of life, you can really understand why he does what he does. It makes the story relatable and real and extremely good. :)
Specular is basically a superhero origin story and I love reading those. You get to see him grow up, understand him and his life before he became a hero. Following him from a young age, all through the challenges of life, you can really understand why he does what he does. It makes the story relatable and real and extremely good. :)
April 5, 2021
To be honest... This is a book everyone should at least read..
It helps to arouse the mind, it's self help and brings back hope (depending on how you take it though).
It applies to all ways of life.... Try read it for once
It helps to arouse the mind, it's self help and brings back hope (depending on how you take it though).
It applies to all ways of life.... Try read it for once
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