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Collateral Damage
Power. Courage. Invincibility. The marks of a true hero.
Meg Sawyer has none of these things.
Meg has never stopped a moving bus with her bare hands, been bitten by a radioactive insect, or done anything moderately resembling saving the world. She doesn't have to. She's a background citizen, a nobody, one of the swarms of faceless civilians of Lunar City--where genetically enhanced superhumans straight out of the comics have thwarted evil for years.
For as long as the Supers have existed, Meg has had one goal: to not become a casualty in their near-daily battles for justice. And for the last seventeen years, she's managed to do just that. Sure, her minimum-wage job at the local coffee shop isn’t great, she can’t even leave her apartment without loading herself up with protective gear, and her car was just hijacked to throw at a supervillain (again), but she’s not dead yet.
But when Meg accidentally finds one of the city's perfect, invincible protectors murdered under extremely suspicious circumstances, her whole “innocent bystander” strategy falls apart. After being coerced by his determined girlfriend into a mission to help prevent the deaths of the remaining Supers, Meg finds herself forced into the foreground of a story she never wanted to be part of—one that challenges everything she thought she knew about both her city and herself.
Meg Sawyer has none of these things.
Meg has never stopped a moving bus with her bare hands, been bitten by a radioactive insect, or done anything moderately resembling saving the world. She doesn't have to. She's a background citizen, a nobody, one of the swarms of faceless civilians of Lunar City--where genetically enhanced superhumans straight out of the comics have thwarted evil for years.
For as long as the Supers have existed, Meg has had one goal: to not become a casualty in their near-daily battles for justice. And for the last seventeen years, she's managed to do just that. Sure, her minimum-wage job at the local coffee shop isn’t great, she can’t even leave her apartment without loading herself up with protective gear, and her car was just hijacked to throw at a supervillain (again), but she’s not dead yet.
But when Meg accidentally finds one of the city's perfect, invincible protectors murdered under extremely suspicious circumstances, her whole “innocent bystander” strategy falls apart. After being coerced by his determined girlfriend into a mission to help prevent the deaths of the remaining Supers, Meg finds herself forced into the foreground of a story she never wanted to be part of—one that challenges everything she thought she knew about both her city and herself.
318 pages, Paperback
First published June 25, 2019
17 people are currently reading
1234 people want to read
About the author
Taylor Simonds
3 books103 followersTaylor Simonds is an Orlando-based sci-fi/fantasy author and former Disney entertainment escapee. She holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Marketing from the University of Central Florida and a Juris Doctor from Stetson University College of Law.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 109 reviews
August 23, 2019
July FaeCrate Unboxing! Click on the link below the pic to see all of the GOODIES including the awesome hardback special edition of the book!
GOODIES LINK
That was fanfreakingtastic! Loved these characters!! 😉
Mel 🖤🐶🐺🐾
GOODIES LINK
That was fanfreakingtastic! Loved these characters!! 😉
Mel 🖤🐶🐺🐾
July 19, 2019
Review posted on Fafa's Book Corner!
Beware spoilers ahead!
Trigger Warning(s): Grief and gun violence.
Rep: Oliver is Korean. Sanjeet is an Indian. Penny is a Latina.
My Synopsis: Meg lives a regular life. She works at a coffee shop and lives on her own. She also has her GED. Meg doesn’t really have any hobbies. Her primary concern is putting food on the table and protecting herself from various superhero fights.
To please her boss Meg agrees to deliver some paperwork. Though Meg forgets to do it in the daytime and has to do it at night. After sending in the paperwork she crosses paths with one of the Supers. Much to Megs surprise the two of them get along. Said Super even agrees to help her financially.
The day after Meg’s building is set on fire and on her way to safety, she gets into a minor accident. Fearing someone may be hurt she moves around the wreckage only to find the Super dead.
Confused and in shock Meg decides to go to the police and report what she saw. On the way she runs into her former neighbor Juniper, who is the Super’s ex-girlfriend. The fireman produce the Super’s dead body making Juniper believe he died in the fire. Meg tells her otherwise. And thus gets dragged into a conspiracy along with her best friend Oliver.
Book Format: Collateral Damage is written in first person limited following Meg. There is one chapter that is narrated in third person limited following Oliver. There are table of contents and chapter numbers.
Where I Heard About This Book: I found the author through Twitter sharing her arc copies. The cover drew me in and I decided to read the synopsis. When I saw that it was a superhero book I knew I had to read it!
My Thoughts Before Reading: I was so excited to read Collateral Damage!
I was really hoping that I would enjoy it because I usually don’t like characters like Meg. I’m not a big fan of cynics in real life and I wasn’t sure what I would think. It didn’t help that most reviewers were comparing Renegades to Collateral Damage. Which I DNFed.
I am happy to say that I enjoyed it!
What I Liked: I absolutely adored Meg! Her snark was so good and I found her to be relatable. While not always the most kind, Meg was compassionate and brave. I’m really surprised that there aren’t more characters like her. Especially in Superhero media.
I felt that her reactions to situations were realistic. Not everyone will faun over the hero and will in some cases be frustrated. Also no one likes getting dragged into something they didn’t ask for.
Meg and Oliver’s friendship was so cute! I loved how close they were. And it was nice that there weren’t any romantic feelings between the two of them. Their relationship was strictly platonic.
Juniper was so brilliant! When I read the synopsis I was expecting a normal person with a typical office job. Juniper actually works for the police. In the Super department. After Meg tells her about her boyfriends murder Juniper forces Meg to help her. As Meg is also apart of the whole situation and the only witness.
It took sometime for Juniper and Meg to be on the same page. Juniper spends a majority of the book talking over and bossing Meg around. Despite all of this the two become close friends.
Sanjeet was so much fun to read about! I liked that he was a hardworking nerd and compassionate towards others. Specifically Meg in the beginning. Penny was a little rough around the edges but she grew on me.
The world building was unique! And very much rooted in real society. I thought it was cool that the Super’s were switched around in intervals. And the whole concept of specific serums giving those powers.
There is no romance whatsoever. The only character that had any romantic feelings was Juniper. And unfortunately her boyfriend is found dead in the beginning. Instead Collateral Damage focused on the friendship between all the characters.
The humor was on point! Initially I thought that Meg would be the only source of humor. When I started reading I found out that it wasn’t just Meg but most of the characters and situations. I laughed out loud at several points!
The thing I appreciated the most after reading was how character driven Collateral Damage was. I find that a lot of superhero stories fail because they are plot driven rather than character driven. And considering how most of the science is made up to fit those stories, it makes more sense to have them be character driven instead.
My Criticism(s): Collateral Damage was very predictable. I saw most of the plot coming. Which isn’t bad and was most likely the intention. I think you can still enjoy the story regardless.
What I’m Looking Forward To: I’m assuming because of number 1 on the cover we might be getting a sequel. Which I would definitely read! I’d love to see where all the characters are and how their coping with the entire city being Supers.
Conclusion: Overall I thoroughly enjoyed Collateral Damage! I highly recommend it.
Beware spoilers ahead!
Trigger Warning(s): Grief and gun violence.
Rep: Oliver is Korean. Sanjeet is an Indian. Penny is a Latina.
My Synopsis: Meg lives a regular life. She works at a coffee shop and lives on her own. She also has her GED. Meg doesn’t really have any hobbies. Her primary concern is putting food on the table and protecting herself from various superhero fights.
To please her boss Meg agrees to deliver some paperwork. Though Meg forgets to do it in the daytime and has to do it at night. After sending in the paperwork she crosses paths with one of the Supers. Much to Megs surprise the two of them get along. Said Super even agrees to help her financially.
The day after Meg’s building is set on fire and on her way to safety, she gets into a minor accident. Fearing someone may be hurt she moves around the wreckage only to find the Super dead.
Confused and in shock Meg decides to go to the police and report what she saw. On the way she runs into her former neighbor Juniper, who is the Super’s ex-girlfriend. The fireman produce the Super’s dead body making Juniper believe he died in the fire. Meg tells her otherwise. And thus gets dragged into a conspiracy along with her best friend Oliver.
Book Format: Collateral Damage is written in first person limited following Meg. There is one chapter that is narrated in third person limited following Oliver. There are table of contents and chapter numbers.
Where I Heard About This Book: I found the author through Twitter sharing her arc copies. The cover drew me in and I decided to read the synopsis. When I saw that it was a superhero book I knew I had to read it!
My Thoughts Before Reading: I was so excited to read Collateral Damage!
I was really hoping that I would enjoy it because I usually don’t like characters like Meg. I’m not a big fan of cynics in real life and I wasn’t sure what I would think. It didn’t help that most reviewers were comparing Renegades to Collateral Damage. Which I DNFed.
I am happy to say that I enjoyed it!
What I Liked: I absolutely adored Meg! Her snark was so good and I found her to be relatable. While not always the most kind, Meg was compassionate and brave. I’m really surprised that there aren’t more characters like her. Especially in Superhero media.
I felt that her reactions to situations were realistic. Not everyone will faun over the hero and will in some cases be frustrated. Also no one likes getting dragged into something they didn’t ask for.
Meg and Oliver’s friendship was so cute! I loved how close they were. And it was nice that there weren’t any romantic feelings between the two of them. Their relationship was strictly platonic.
Juniper was so brilliant! When I read the synopsis I was expecting a normal person with a typical office job. Juniper actually works for the police. In the Super department. After Meg tells her about her boyfriends murder Juniper forces Meg to help her. As Meg is also apart of the whole situation and the only witness.
It took sometime for Juniper and Meg to be on the same page. Juniper spends a majority of the book talking over and bossing Meg around. Despite all of this the two become close friends.
Sanjeet was so much fun to read about! I liked that he was a hardworking nerd and compassionate towards others. Specifically Meg in the beginning. Penny was a little rough around the edges but she grew on me.
The world building was unique! And very much rooted in real society. I thought it was cool that the Super’s were switched around in intervals. And the whole concept of specific serums giving those powers.
There is no romance whatsoever. The only character that had any romantic feelings was Juniper. And unfortunately her boyfriend is found dead in the beginning. Instead Collateral Damage focused on the friendship between all the characters.
The humor was on point! Initially I thought that Meg would be the only source of humor. When I started reading I found out that it wasn’t just Meg but most of the characters and situations. I laughed out loud at several points!
The thing I appreciated the most after reading was how character driven Collateral Damage was. I find that a lot of superhero stories fail because they are plot driven rather than character driven. And considering how most of the science is made up to fit those stories, it makes more sense to have them be character driven instead.
My Criticism(s): Collateral Damage was very predictable. I saw most of the plot coming. Which isn’t bad and was most likely the intention. I think you can still enjoy the story regardless.
What I’m Looking Forward To: I’m assuming because of number 1 on the cover we might be getting a sequel. Which I would definitely read! I’d love to see where all the characters are and how their coping with the entire city being Supers.
Conclusion: Overall I thoroughly enjoyed Collateral Damage! I highly recommend it.
June 28, 2019
I received an ARC of this book from Parliament House Press in exchange for an honest review. Thank you! In no way does this affect my rating or review.
All included quotes have been taken from an ARC and may not match the finished publication.
What a fun read! I was honestly a bit apprehensive going into Collateral Damage. Comics and superheroes are either winning my heart over, or missing the mark for me. But, I loved Collateral Damage. It was engaging, hilarious, and totally geared toward the sarcastic cynic. To put it plainly, this book is like if Deadpool wasn’t a superhero and was just a spectator on the sidelines. (He would be a nightmare as a bystander, don’t you think?)
The story is told for the perspective of Meg Sawyer, a sarcastic, sassy, and satirical young adult. After living in Lunar City all of her life, casualty is no stranger. Meg, herself, was orphan during one of the Super's "heroic" endeavors in defending the city against the ever-challenging Dr. Defect. Meg, along with her closest friend Oliver, brave the deteriorating streets to get to their dismal jobs. With a city so focused around their Supers, it tends to forget about the damage they leave behind.
Collateral Damage is written from the perspective of the non-valiant; the bystanders that are affected by the "cool" fights that the heroes entangle themselves in, at the expense of everyone's livelihood. I feel that there is very little to dislike about this story. At times, the pacing would dip, but it didn't bother me much. The only thing I wish there was more of was the world building. I'd like to have known more about Lunar City, it's layout, and simply more insight into the details of the surroundings. Other than that, I thought this was such a fun, refreshing read!
Vulgarity: Minimal.
Sexual content: None.
Violence: Mild.
My Rating: ★★★★1/2
My Blog ¦ Bookstagram ¦ Twitter ¦ Pinterest ¦ Facebook
All included quotes have been taken from an ARC and may not match the finished publication.
I don’t know whose idea it was, exactly, to start turning random citizens into genetically enhanced superhumans, but I would like to meet them someday. I’ve got some bills I’d like to send them.
What a fun read! I was honestly a bit apprehensive going into Collateral Damage. Comics and superheroes are either winning my heart over, or missing the mark for me. But, I loved Collateral Damage. It was engaging, hilarious, and totally geared toward the sarcastic cynic. To put it plainly, this book is like if Deadpool wasn’t a superhero and was just a spectator on the sidelines. (He would be a nightmare as a bystander, don’t you think?)
The story is told for the perspective of Meg Sawyer, a sarcastic, sassy, and satirical young adult. After living in Lunar City all of her life, casualty is no stranger. Meg, herself, was orphan during one of the Super's "heroic" endeavors in defending the city against the ever-challenging Dr. Defect. Meg, along with her closest friend Oliver, brave the deteriorating streets to get to their dismal jobs. With a city so focused around their Supers, it tends to forget about the damage they leave behind.
Collateral Damage is written from the perspective of the non-valiant; the bystanders that are affected by the "cool" fights that the heroes entangle themselves in, at the expense of everyone's livelihood. I feel that there is very little to dislike about this story. At times, the pacing would dip, but it didn't bother me much. The only thing I wish there was more of was the world building. I'd like to have known more about Lunar City, it's layout, and simply more insight into the details of the surroundings. Other than that, I thought this was such a fun, refreshing read!
Vulgarity: Minimal.
Sexual content: None.
Violence: Mild.
My Rating: ★★★★1/2
My Blog ¦ Bookstagram ¦ Twitter ¦ Pinterest ¦ Facebook
January 29, 2019
Thank you to Taylor and Parliament House for providing me with an e-ARC!
It’s not every day that someone I know personally publishes a book. I’m beyond honored to get to read Collateral Damage in advance of its publish date (6/25/19!), and I loved every minute, page, character...everything.
Meg Sawyer is the exact opposite of me in that absolutely tired of superheroes and would probably roll her eyes at my adoration of Marvel’s version of Thor without thinking twice. It’s cool - she has a good reason to not want to be dealing with the destruction the SuperVariants leave in their wake. Meg’s a normal human just trying to live her life, but finds even that simple task infuriatingly difficult when buildings are constantly falling around her (literally).
And I love her dearly. Meg has all the makings of a typical cynical teenager, AND she’s funny and compassionate - even towards people she inherently detests right off the bat. She sees the humanity in everyone that still has a shred of it in them, and she is the heart and soul of this book, this world (maybe not literally but that doesn’t change what I said!), and the tears I shed at 5am when I was reading instead of sleeping.
The thing about Taylor’s characters in general - from the charming, pure, wonderfully optimistic Oliver Lee to the snappy, intelligent, takes-no-shit Juniper Jensen - are so real, round, and relatable that I’m gonna be carrying them all with me for a good, long while. Almost everyone in this book deserves a hug (should they want one), a mug of their favorite warmed beverage, and a damn BREAK.
But like all good hero stories, it’s never that easy for the characters we love the most. For someone who never wants to be involved in SuperVariant business, Meg is always in the wrong place at the wrong time. Which, of course, leads to many a hilarious (for readers, not Meg) and (more often than not) life-threatening situation, despite the fact that all Meg wants is to find a safe place so she can breathe for once! The more complicated things get around her, the more Meg knows she can’t run from her problems - even and especially when things get Super personal in a way she’d never before imagined they could.
Every twist and turn is fresh, despite how overrun we are with superhero stories these days. Not a single one of those stories that I’ve seen outside of Collateral Damage (so far) does the work to analyze the sensationalization of the very genre it takes influence from. This book is one of a kind, especially because it’s not afraid to have complex feelings about criminal justice in a sci-fi/superhero setting. It’s not afraid to tell you, “Hey, maybe violence really isn’t the answer because violence only ends in destruction. Every time. That real humans have to clean up and live with.”
In essence, Collateral Damage is what Captain America: Civil War should have been.
I’m so excited for June 25th! Doesn’t matter that I’ve already read the book - I can’t wait to have a physical copy in my hands as proof of how GOOD - genuinely great - this book is!
It’s not every day that someone I know personally publishes a book. I’m beyond honored to get to read Collateral Damage in advance of its publish date (6/25/19!), and I loved every minute, page, character...everything.
Meg Sawyer is the exact opposite of me in that absolutely tired of superheroes and would probably roll her eyes at my adoration of Marvel’s version of Thor without thinking twice. It’s cool - she has a good reason to not want to be dealing with the destruction the SuperVariants leave in their wake. Meg’s a normal human just trying to live her life, but finds even that simple task infuriatingly difficult when buildings are constantly falling around her (literally).
And I love her dearly. Meg has all the makings of a typical cynical teenager, AND she’s funny and compassionate - even towards people she inherently detests right off the bat. She sees the humanity in everyone that still has a shred of it in them, and she is the heart and soul of this book, this world (maybe not literally but that doesn’t change what I said!), and the tears I shed at 5am when I was reading instead of sleeping.
The thing about Taylor’s characters in general - from the charming, pure, wonderfully optimistic Oliver Lee to the snappy, intelligent, takes-no-shit Juniper Jensen - are so real, round, and relatable that I’m gonna be carrying them all with me for a good, long while. Almost everyone in this book deserves a hug (should they want one), a mug of their favorite warmed beverage, and a damn BREAK.
But like all good hero stories, it’s never that easy for the characters we love the most. For someone who never wants to be involved in SuperVariant business, Meg is always in the wrong place at the wrong time. Which, of course, leads to many a hilarious (for readers, not Meg) and (more often than not) life-threatening situation, despite the fact that all Meg wants is to find a safe place so she can breathe for once! The more complicated things get around her, the more Meg knows she can’t run from her problems - even and especially when things get Super personal in a way she’d never before imagined they could.
Every twist and turn is fresh, despite how overrun we are with superhero stories these days. Not a single one of those stories that I’ve seen outside of Collateral Damage (so far) does the work to analyze the sensationalization of the very genre it takes influence from. This book is one of a kind, especially because it’s not afraid to have complex feelings about criminal justice in a sci-fi/superhero setting. It’s not afraid to tell you, “Hey, maybe violence really isn’t the answer because violence only ends in destruction. Every time. That real humans have to clean up and live with.”
In essence, Collateral Damage is what Captain America: Civil War should have been.
I’m so excited for June 25th! Doesn’t matter that I’ve already read the book - I can’t wait to have a physical copy in my hands as proof of how GOOD - genuinely great - this book is!
September 12, 2020
Maybe I do like superhero books after all.
This book was everything! Not only did it deliver on the m/f friendship front (OMG did it give me everything I'm always searching for in books), but I loved all the characters and the plot. Meg's attitude and character was so endearing from the first moment I met her. I don't really have the words to describe just how happy this book made me, so just going to leave it there. I highly highly recommend this.
This book was everything! Not only did it deliver on the m/f friendship front (OMG did it give me everything I'm always searching for in books), but I loved all the characters and the plot. Meg's attitude and character was so endearing from the first moment I met her. I don't really have the words to describe just how happy this book made me, so just going to leave it there. I highly highly recommend this.
April 1, 2020
i admittedly don't read that much superhero fiction, but this felt like a fresh take on it? it was light-hearted and fast moving and full of fun :3
the cast was great, all the characters were amazing (altho oliver really does take the cake) and i'm so Here for Meg/Oliver's friendship, just <3333 (don't mind me fangirling the fact that it's a platonic male/female friendship that didn't have anything romantic about it :OOOOO)
definitely an enjoyable book, would recommend -fingerguns-
cw:
the cast was great, all the characters were amazing (altho oliver really does take the cake) and i'm so Here for Meg/Oliver's friendship, just <3333 (don't mind me fangirling the fact that it's a platonic male/female friendship that didn't have anything romantic about it :OOOOO)
definitely an enjoyable book, would recommend -fingerguns-
cw:
June 1, 2019
4.5/5
Full disclosure: I am friends with the author and was given the ARC for reviewing purposes. This was my second time reading this book, as I was a beta reader for an earlier draft in 2018, but it was long enough ago that I feel like I was able to enjoy the book with relatively fresh eyes.
"Let's make fun of superheroes" is a definitely a favorite thing of mine to consume (I was one of the few people that liked NBC’s short-lived series Powerless), so I was very excited to (re-)read this book. And if you enjoy superhero stories, I have no doubt you’ll enjoy this one. It’s a compelling and easy read with fun characters, plenty of wit, and a real sense of mortality.
Every time I sat down to read just a few chapters, I found myself getting so sucked in after only a page or two that I didn’t want to put it down. It’s an impressive achievement for a book I’ve already read. The mystery is intriguing, but readability isn’t lost by knowing the answers.
The story is self-aware without being smug. Simonds has the jokes but she’s also got the know-how. She has a clear understanding of (and affection for) not just specific superheroes and their histories, but also the tropes. References and easter eggs are peppered throughout rather than thickly laid on (something I’m noticing a lot more in recent YA especially).
It’s not perfect, but the issues I had were relatively minor (there was occasionally casually ableist language), and some of the ideas brought up were ones I wish had been further explored. Ultimately, it’s a thoughtful critique of superhero story conventions while also being a worthy contribution to the genre.
Full disclosure: I am friends with the author and was given the ARC for reviewing purposes. This was my second time reading this book, as I was a beta reader for an earlier draft in 2018, but it was long enough ago that I feel like I was able to enjoy the book with relatively fresh eyes.
"Let's make fun of superheroes" is a definitely a favorite thing of mine to consume (I was one of the few people that liked NBC’s short-lived series Powerless), so I was very excited to (re-)read this book. And if you enjoy superhero stories, I have no doubt you’ll enjoy this one. It’s a compelling and easy read with fun characters, plenty of wit, and a real sense of mortality.
Every time I sat down to read just a few chapters, I found myself getting so sucked in after only a page or two that I didn’t want to put it down. It’s an impressive achievement for a book I’ve already read. The mystery is intriguing, but readability isn’t lost by knowing the answers.
The story is self-aware without being smug. Simonds has the jokes but she’s also got the know-how. She has a clear understanding of (and affection for) not just specific superheroes and their histories, but also the tropes. References and easter eggs are peppered throughout rather than thickly laid on (something I’m noticing a lot more in recent YA especially).
It’s not perfect, but the issues I had were relatively minor (there was occasionally casually ableist language), and some of the ideas brought up were ones I wish had been further explored. Ultimately, it’s a thoughtful critique of superhero story conventions while also being a worthy contribution to the genre.
April 9, 2020
I think there’s this thing, like if you want to prove that you’re strong, you have to never show any emotion. Like if you do, no one will ever take you seriously. But you shouldn’t have to. Being motional isn’t gonna make us think you’re weak.
.
Estoy gritando. Déjenme gritar un poco más. Ya termino. Listo, ya está.
Decir que seguro va a estar en mi top 10 de favoritos del año es quedarme corta. Este libro merece eso Y MUCHO MÁS. Tiene acción, una protagonista sassy, superhéroes y supervillanos. No sé, nadie puede superar esto.
Si bien de a momentos se vuelve muy predecible, tengo que admitir que más de una vez me sorprendió y me dejó barriendo el piso. La escritura me encantó. Es fluida, entretenida y limpia y perfecta para la historia que se está contando. Obvio que el world building y la trama me parecieron buenísimas y re bien construidas, así que no digo nada más.
Si les gustan Marvel, DC, Los Increíbles, Kick-Ass, The Umbrella Academy o cualquier cosa con súperhumanos, les presento su próxima lectura favorita: este libro.
(no sé si es una serie de libros o un stand-alone y el no saberlo me está VOLVIENDO LOCA)
.
Estoy gritando. Déjenme gritar un poco más. Ya termino. Listo, ya está.
Decir que seguro va a estar en mi top 10 de favoritos del año es quedarme corta. Este libro merece eso Y MUCHO MÁS. Tiene acción, una protagonista sassy, superhéroes y supervillanos. No sé, nadie puede superar esto.
Si bien de a momentos se vuelve muy predecible, tengo que admitir que más de una vez me sorprendió y me dejó barriendo el piso. La escritura me encantó. Es fluida, entretenida y limpia y perfecta para la historia que se está contando. Obvio que el world building y la trama me parecieron buenísimas y re bien construidas, así que no digo nada más.
Si les gustan Marvel, DC, Los Increíbles, Kick-Ass, The Umbrella Academy o cualquier cosa con súperhumanos, les presento su próxima lectura favorita: este libro.
(no sé si es una serie de libros o un stand-alone y el no saberlo me está VOLVIENDO LOCA)
June 15, 2019
4.5*
Me aggressively recommending this book to everyone for the next year:
HEY. I HOPE YOU PLAN TO READ THIS BOOK.
Taylor Simonds is the best debut I've read this year, and I promise not to shut up about this for the next year.
This book featured so many things I LOVE, like:
- Sarcastic, absolutely-done-with-your-bullshit MC
- Funny AF one-liners
- Absolutely fantastic voice
- SuPeRhErOeS
I could probably pitch this book best to people who read Patrick Ness' The Rest of Us Just Live Here and were expecting those average, every day people to become the protagonist of the story, because that's exactly what this book did.
I originally planned this to be a succinct, in-depth review but it turns out my brain is only capable of producing love goo for this. I'll settle again for yelling again to READ IT.
Me aggressively recommending this book to everyone for the next year:
HEY. I HOPE YOU PLAN TO READ THIS BOOK.
Taylor Simonds is the best debut I've read this year, and I promise not to shut up about this for the next year.
This book featured so many things I LOVE, like:
- Sarcastic, absolutely-done-with-your-bullshit MC
- Funny AF one-liners
- Absolutely fantastic voice
- SuPeRhErOeS
I could probably pitch this book best to people who read Patrick Ness' The Rest of Us Just Live Here and were expecting those average, every day people to become the protagonist of the story, because that's exactly what this book did.
I originally planned this to be a succinct, in-depth review but it turns out my brain is only capable of producing love goo for this. I'll settle again for yelling again to READ IT.
June 26, 2019
I loved this book.
That's it. That's the review.
Just kidding. But not about loving it, because I absolutely did, further proven by the fact that I finished this in less than a day. I seriously woke up early to finish it before work. I'm by no means a "superhero fanatic," but what I am a huge fan of is an action-packed, fast-paced plot, characters with original voices that are so strong I'm convinced they're living and breathing somewhere in the world, and witty dialogue that makes me actually laugh out loud on multiple occasions.
COLLATERAL DAMAGE excels in each of these things and more, and the only thing that I hate is I can't be Meg's friend. We would get along great. She's so sassy and sarcastic and questions every unbelievable event that goes on around her with a roll of her eyes and a super (get it) relatable line. The most relatable, fun, and real protagonist I've read in a really long time.
But I can't just single out Meg, because every character had such a prominent presence in the book, each standing strong with unique and real personalities that had me loving them all. Aside from the awesome tone of the book and the lovable characters, the plot itself was genius and so creative. I never saw anything coming, which I feel is not the norm especially in high-acton, superhero-esque stories.
It takes a lot as of late for me to really lose myself in a story and want to race through the pages to see what happens next, but it came effortlessly with COLLATERAL DAMAGE. I will 100% be recommending this book to everyone I know, including those who aren't the biggest superhero fans, because this book is so much more than that. Taylor Simonds crafted a beautiful debut that's full of wit, heart, and friendship, and I can't wait to read many more of her stories in the future.
That's it. That's the review.
Just kidding. But not about loving it, because I absolutely did, further proven by the fact that I finished this in less than a day. I seriously woke up early to finish it before work. I'm by no means a "superhero fanatic," but what I am a huge fan of is an action-packed, fast-paced plot, characters with original voices that are so strong I'm convinced they're living and breathing somewhere in the world, and witty dialogue that makes me actually laugh out loud on multiple occasions.
COLLATERAL DAMAGE excels in each of these things and more, and the only thing that I hate is I can't be Meg's friend. We would get along great. She's so sassy and sarcastic and questions every unbelievable event that goes on around her with a roll of her eyes and a super (get it) relatable line. The most relatable, fun, and real protagonist I've read in a really long time.
But I can't just single out Meg, because every character had such a prominent presence in the book, each standing strong with unique and real personalities that had me loving them all. Aside from the awesome tone of the book and the lovable characters, the plot itself was genius and so creative. I never saw anything coming, which I feel is not the norm especially in high-acton, superhero-esque stories.
It takes a lot as of late for me to really lose myself in a story and want to race through the pages to see what happens next, but it came effortlessly with COLLATERAL DAMAGE. I will 100% be recommending this book to everyone I know, including those who aren't the biggest superhero fans, because this book is so much more than that. Taylor Simonds crafted a beautiful debut that's full of wit, heart, and friendship, and I can't wait to read many more of her stories in the future.
December 21, 2022
I really enjoyed this! It was fun, fast-paced, and not your typical super hero book.
June 26, 2019
Yes. 100x yes. When my roommate first told me about this book and about the premise I was immediately interested. A YA book not under the aegis of the big names about a superhero-verse? Yes.
I finished it in about 5 hours and enjoyed it IMMENSELY. Loveable characters. Well written dialogue. Diverse. Original. Fun plot. Great ending. Great hook. Incredible premise.
“Can I bring my rat?” Thank you, so much, for that line.
I finished it in about 5 hours and enjoyed it IMMENSELY. Loveable characters. Well written dialogue. Diverse. Original. Fun plot. Great ending. Great hook. Incredible premise.
“Can I bring my rat?” Thank you, so much, for that line.
June 13, 2019
Look at this beautiful cover! So stunning! I LOVE how it looks like a vintage comic book, such a neat idea!
EDIT - FULL REVIEW:
I have been anticipating Collateral Damage for it seems like forever, and I was lucky enough to receive an E-ARC, courtesy of Parliament House Publishing. I read the entire book in 2 days and needless to say, it did not disappoint!
Collateral Damage is such a fresh take on the superhero genre. Most of us think it would be exciting to live in the world of superheroes. Meg Sawyer, the main protagonist of the novel, would disagree and probably slap you with her titanium umbrella she carries around for safety. Do you even realize how inconveniencing it is to have your car used as a projectile to stop a super villain (AGAIN) and have no way to work? Or how about having to live in an apartment with a wall missing, because a superhero probably smashed into it during the latest battle? Or having to look over your shoulder every time you step out of your house to make sure you don't get crushed during another power struggle between good and evil on the way to work. This is what the citizens of Lunar City have to deal with. Yes, super heroes are amazing. The aftermath, not so much.
This is the premise of Collateral Damage. It's about a young girl who just wants to survive living amongst superheroes. This book was unique, inviting, funny, exciting, and mysterious. It kept me turning pages just to find out what would happen to Meg and her friends next. The plot is rich and the twists are definitely ones I didn't see coming! She weaves life into her story that is just so tangible and created characters I fell in love with immediately. Meg and Oliver have the best friendship of any characters I have read about in a long time, they make me so happy. I didn't expect to like Juniper as much as I did, but I fell in love with her by the end as well. Penny and Sanjeet are just precious. I want to hug them all. Even Meg, though she'll probably protest loudly.
I don't want to give away too much, but seriously, Collateral Damage was such a refreshing read for me. I have been in a book rut for a few months and this was just what I needed! I'm so happy I was lucky enough to read it early, but I ordered it months ago and I am still excited to receive my physical copy in the mail. I wanna hold these precious babies and amazing story in my hands!
I highly recommend this book to any and all who enjoy superheroes or need a new take on an old genre, or just want to read a great story!
EDIT - FULL REVIEW:
I have been anticipating Collateral Damage for it seems like forever, and I was lucky enough to receive an E-ARC, courtesy of Parliament House Publishing. I read the entire book in 2 days and needless to say, it did not disappoint!
Collateral Damage is such a fresh take on the superhero genre. Most of us think it would be exciting to live in the world of superheroes. Meg Sawyer, the main protagonist of the novel, would disagree and probably slap you with her titanium umbrella she carries around for safety. Do you even realize how inconveniencing it is to have your car used as a projectile to stop a super villain (AGAIN) and have no way to work? Or how about having to live in an apartment with a wall missing, because a superhero probably smashed into it during the latest battle? Or having to look over your shoulder every time you step out of your house to make sure you don't get crushed during another power struggle between good and evil on the way to work. This is what the citizens of Lunar City have to deal with. Yes, super heroes are amazing. The aftermath, not so much.
This is the premise of Collateral Damage. It's about a young girl who just wants to survive living amongst superheroes. This book was unique, inviting, funny, exciting, and mysterious. It kept me turning pages just to find out what would happen to Meg and her friends next. The plot is rich and the twists are definitely ones I didn't see coming! She weaves life into her story that is just so tangible and created characters I fell in love with immediately. Meg and Oliver have the best friendship of any characters I have read about in a long time, they make me so happy. I didn't expect to like Juniper as much as I did, but I fell in love with her by the end as well. Penny and Sanjeet are just precious. I want to hug them all. Even Meg, though she'll probably protest loudly.
I don't want to give away too much, but seriously, Collateral Damage was such a refreshing read for me. I have been in a book rut for a few months and this was just what I needed! I'm so happy I was lucky enough to read it early, but I ordered it months ago and I am still excited to receive my physical copy in the mail. I wanna hold these precious babies and amazing story in my hands!
I highly recommend this book to any and all who enjoy superheroes or need a new take on an old genre, or just want to read a great story!
January 26, 2019
5 out of 5 stars
COLLATERAL DAMAGE is a fast read with tons of action. Let’s talk about Meg, the protagonist. I loved her sarcasm and her adventures with the Supers! Also, do you see that cool cover up there? Take a moment to study it. What’s with the umbrella? It’s there for a reason, but I can’t tell you why because of spoilers.
Okay, next topic: As I was reading COLLATERAL DAMAGE, vivid images popped in my mind, kind of like a super-hero movie or a comic, which I found quite interesting. Meaning, great, engaging descriptions.
The whole “Semi-destroyed city protected by superheroes” premise is over-the-top funny but with scary moments where you’re like, “Don’t. Don’t do that!” There’s also some sad moments, too. But the novel’s tone is light and very sarcastic, a thing I love!
Overall, a well-written, action-packed book with a kickass-n-cool protagonist.
More on my blog: https://gerardowrites.wordpress.com/2...
COLLATERAL DAMAGE is a fast read with tons of action. Let’s talk about Meg, the protagonist. I loved her sarcasm and her adventures with the Supers! Also, do you see that cool cover up there? Take a moment to study it. What’s with the umbrella? It’s there for a reason, but I can’t tell you why because of spoilers.
Okay, next topic: As I was reading COLLATERAL DAMAGE, vivid images popped in my mind, kind of like a super-hero movie or a comic, which I found quite interesting. Meaning, great, engaging descriptions.
The whole “Semi-destroyed city protected by superheroes” premise is over-the-top funny but with scary moments where you’re like, “Don’t. Don’t do that!” There’s also some sad moments, too. But the novel’s tone is light and very sarcastic, a thing I love!
Overall, a well-written, action-packed book with a kickass-n-cool protagonist.
More on my blog: https://gerardowrites.wordpress.com/2...
March 11, 2019
This hilarious look at the background characters of ever super hero movie you've ever watched had me so gripped that I read it all in one day. Meg is a damn hero in her own right for putting up with all she's ever owned being used as weaponry when Supers need something to throw at a villain. Although I occasionally figured things out ahead of the characters, I was also thrown curve balls I didn't see coming, and just want to hug all of these precious panic children. As a side note to how much I enjoyed this novel, if this is never optioned to become a major motion picture, I'll be seriously upset.
June 28, 2019
MORE PEOPLE NEED TO KNOW THAT THIS BOOK EXISTS. I'm normally pretty up-to-date on YA releases because, well, blogs typically have to feature new content if they want to get views, but I had no idea this was coming out until a few weeks before the released date. (Criminal.) I honestly don't remember how I found it, but I did...and now it is my mission to make everyone read this. I've got a feeling that the intensity of my gushing in this review might help with that.
I am so obsessed with superheroes that it's a little bit ridiculous. Slapping a Marvel logo on a movie is pretty much the only way to get my butt in a theater seat, I have a MCU Tumblr and an AO3 account that is populated almost solely by MCU and/or X-Men fanfiction, I've spent the last several days plotting how to smuggle home comic books from my volunteering shift at the library without being caught (this is a very closeted obsession), and I'm even working on a superhero-related WIP. So...yeah. I'm a little obsessed. Thus, this was an auto-buy the second I found out it existed. And did it disappoint?
No hecking way.
I actually feel like this was written for me. Even discounting the superhero theme, it has everything I love in a book: humor, heartwarming and supportive friendships, high-quality writing, exciting action set-pieces, strong morals, and a wonderful sense of camaraderie. Meg and her friends (I can't reveal much about this without spoiling a major plot point, so you'll just have to trust me on this) are all fantastic, most of them very snarky and all of them fundamentally great people, and Juniper (the girlfriend mentioned in the summary) is delightfully terrifying. And the outsider-perspective element introduced by having the story narrated by a non-enhanced character works surprisingly well. The action is high-stakes but fun, and the sense of camaraderie among the young heroes is fantastic.
Meg and friends had a great group dynamic; superhero team-ups are another thing I'm extremely weak for and this was a really fun take on that gang-of-misfits concept. It's not really Avengers-like despite that being the obvious comparison - I'd say that it sort of had an earthbound "Guardians of the Galaxy" vibe (my favorite movie, so that's a HUGE PLUS for me), what with its featuring a ragtag group of people with nothing in common coming together to defeat a common enemy. Just...*squees* I have all the good feelings after reading this. I don't even mind the fact that there is zero moral grey area in the story whatsoever and everyone is either totally pure-hearted or irrevocably evil - sometimes that can be refreshing.
Guys, READ THIS BOOK. It deserves all the things.
RUNNING THE NUMBERS
Plot: HARD 5/5. (Can you tell that I was absolutely *heart eyes* over this premise?) Teen superhero adventures = literal automatic 5/5 from me in all cases, but it didn't hurt that "Collateral Damage" featured well-executed twists, fantastic banter, and a compelling "more-than-meets-the-eye" dynamic. I have absolutely zero complaints about that.
Characters: 5/5 - I loved all of them, okay? I'm very invested in this gang of smol powered kids. All of them were absolutely delightful, *especially* in the second half when *spoiler* the team members finally got to showcase their abilities in a banter-and-stakes-filled final battle worthy of the MCU. *end spoiler*
Content: 4/5 - largely clean, but there's a bit of language and typical comic book-style violence.
Writing Quality: 5/5 - I almost never give out 5s in this category because few books are of standout quality technically, but banter is the quickest way to my heart, and the writing is of excellent quality otherwise as well.
Overall: 4.75/5
I am so obsessed with superheroes that it's a little bit ridiculous. Slapping a Marvel logo on a movie is pretty much the only way to get my butt in a theater seat, I have a MCU Tumblr and an AO3 account that is populated almost solely by MCU and/or X-Men fanfiction, I've spent the last several days plotting how to smuggle home comic books from my volunteering shift at the library without being caught (this is a very closeted obsession), and I'm even working on a superhero-related WIP. So...yeah. I'm a little obsessed. Thus, this was an auto-buy the second I found out it existed. And did it disappoint?
No hecking way.
I actually feel like this was written for me. Even discounting the superhero theme, it has everything I love in a book: humor, heartwarming and supportive friendships, high-quality writing, exciting action set-pieces, strong morals, and a wonderful sense of camaraderie. Meg and her friends (I can't reveal much about this without spoiling a major plot point, so you'll just have to trust me on this) are all fantastic, most of them very snarky and all of them fundamentally great people, and Juniper (the girlfriend mentioned in the summary) is delightfully terrifying. And the outsider-perspective element introduced by having the story narrated by a non-enhanced character works surprisingly well. The action is high-stakes but fun, and the sense of camaraderie among the young heroes is fantastic.
Meg and friends had a great group dynamic; superhero team-ups are another thing I'm extremely weak for and this was a really fun take on that gang-of-misfits concept. It's not really Avengers-like despite that being the obvious comparison - I'd say that it sort of had an earthbound "Guardians of the Galaxy" vibe (my favorite movie, so that's a HUGE PLUS for me), what with its featuring a ragtag group of people with nothing in common coming together to defeat a common enemy. Just...*squees* I have all the good feelings after reading this. I don't even mind the fact that there is zero moral grey area in the story whatsoever and everyone is either totally pure-hearted or irrevocably evil - sometimes that can be refreshing.
Guys, READ THIS BOOK. It deserves all the things.
RUNNING THE NUMBERS
Plot: HARD 5/5. (Can you tell that I was absolutely *heart eyes* over this premise?) Teen superhero adventures = literal automatic 5/5 from me in all cases, but it didn't hurt that "Collateral Damage" featured well-executed twists, fantastic banter, and a compelling "more-than-meets-the-eye" dynamic. I have absolutely zero complaints about that.
Characters: 5/5 - I loved all of them, okay? I'm very invested in this gang of smol powered kids. All of them were absolutely delightful, *especially* in the second half when *spoiler* the team members finally got to showcase their abilities in a banter-and-stakes-filled final battle worthy of the MCU. *end spoiler*
Content: 4/5 - largely clean, but there's a bit of language and typical comic book-style violence.
Writing Quality: 5/5 - I almost never give out 5s in this category because few books are of standout quality technically, but banter is the quickest way to my heart, and the writing is of excellent quality otherwise as well.
Overall: 4.75/5
June 25, 2019
Disclaimer: I received this book from the publisher. Thanks! All opinions are my own.
Book Series: Standalone so far
Rating: 4.5/5
Diversity: Not that I can remember, but I read this a bit ago
Publication Date: June 5, 2019
Genre: MG/YA Superhero
Recommended Age: 13+ (superheroes, experimentation, and sarcasm)
Publisher: Parliament House
Pages: 318
Amazon Link
Synopsis: ower. Courage. Invincibility. The marks of a true hero.
Meg Sawyer has none of these things.
Meg has never stopped a moving bus with her bare hands, been bitten by a radioactive insect, or done anything moderately resembling saving the world. She doesn't have to. She's a background citizen, a nobody, one of the swarms of faceless civilians of Lunar City--where genetically enhanced superhumans straight out of the comics have thwarted evil for years.
For as long as the Supers have existed, Meg has had one goal: to not become a casualty in their near-daily battles for justice. And for the last seventeen years, she's managed to do just that. Sure, her minimum-wage job at the local coffee shop isn’t great, she can’t even leave her apartment without loading herself up with protective gear, and her car was just hijacked to throw at a supervillain (again), but she’s not dead yet.
But when Meg accidentally finds one of the city's perfect, invincible protectors murdered under extremely suspicious circumstances, her whole “innocent bystander” strategy falls apart. After being coerced by his determined girlfriend into a mission to help prevent the deaths of the remaining Supers, Meg finds herself forced into the foreground of a story she never wanted to be part of—one that challenges everything she thought she knew about both her city and herself.
Review: This book is so cute and amazing! The book is sarcastic and witty, funny and touching, and the characters are perfection! They have an amazing voice and it feels like they’re real! The book is also well written and the plot is pretty well done!
My only issue is that the book had a bit of issue with pacing. It felt slow in areas and fast in others. I also don’t like how the characters aren’t multi-layered but I consider this book to be for younger audiences so I’m giving it leeway.
Verdict: If you like superheroes you’ll love this one!
Book Series: Standalone so far
Rating: 4.5/5
Diversity: Not that I can remember, but I read this a bit ago
Publication Date: June 5, 2019
Genre: MG/YA Superhero
Recommended Age: 13+ (superheroes, experimentation, and sarcasm)
Publisher: Parliament House
Pages: 318
Amazon Link
Synopsis: ower. Courage. Invincibility. The marks of a true hero.
Meg Sawyer has none of these things.
Meg has never stopped a moving bus with her bare hands, been bitten by a radioactive insect, or done anything moderately resembling saving the world. She doesn't have to. She's a background citizen, a nobody, one of the swarms of faceless civilians of Lunar City--where genetically enhanced superhumans straight out of the comics have thwarted evil for years.
For as long as the Supers have existed, Meg has had one goal: to not become a casualty in their near-daily battles for justice. And for the last seventeen years, she's managed to do just that. Sure, her minimum-wage job at the local coffee shop isn’t great, she can’t even leave her apartment without loading herself up with protective gear, and her car was just hijacked to throw at a supervillain (again), but she’s not dead yet.
But when Meg accidentally finds one of the city's perfect, invincible protectors murdered under extremely suspicious circumstances, her whole “innocent bystander” strategy falls apart. After being coerced by his determined girlfriend into a mission to help prevent the deaths of the remaining Supers, Meg finds herself forced into the foreground of a story she never wanted to be part of—one that challenges everything she thought she knew about both her city and herself.
Review: This book is so cute and amazing! The book is sarcastic and witty, funny and touching, and the characters are perfection! They have an amazing voice and it feels like they’re real! The book is also well written and the plot is pretty well done!
My only issue is that the book had a bit of issue with pacing. It felt slow in areas and fast in others. I also don’t like how the characters aren’t multi-layered but I consider this book to be for younger audiences so I’m giving it leeway.
Verdict: If you like superheroes you’ll love this one!
July 22, 2019
Taylor Simonds takes the tropes, formulas, props, costumes and structure of your favorite comic books and superhero cinema, shakes it all up, and creates a beautifully witty mosaic of rearranged pieces called “Collateral Damage.” This book has all the proper earmarks of both YA and superhero lit, layered expertly within a surprisingly in depth plot and delightful characters. Narrator Meg is perfectly snarky with exactly the right amount of justice and love fueling her fire, and all of the characters she encounters along the way are fully realized and easy to connect with and imagine as a reader. For a debut novel, this is an impressive and exciting book and I am confident that Simonds will go on to dazzle and amaze - good storytelling is clearly one of her many superpowers.
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February 16, 2021
I really loved this book - a book about superheroes but from the POV of the 'normal' people that live in a city where villains and superheroes alike keep wrecking everything around them. I loved Meg as a character, and I loved Oliver as well.
This book was incredibly fast-paced (I read the majority of this book in a day) and I could not put it down. If you love anything Marvel or DC and if you want to read a book from the perspective of a non-powered person living in those worlds, definitely pick up Collateral Damage!
This book was incredibly fast-paced (I read the majority of this book in a day) and I could not put it down. If you love anything Marvel or DC and if you want to read a book from the perspective of a non-powered person living in those worlds, definitely pick up Collateral Damage!
June 26, 2019
I adored this book from start to finish! For starters, any book where the main character shares my name gets an instant boost. I would challenge anyone who doesn't feel the same way. Meg is such an awesome MC and she had me laughing constantly with her dry wit and chronic exasperation.
I instantly loved Oliver, Meg's best friend, who is a total cinnamon roll. This book contains no romance (which is always refreshing) but I totally ship them in my mind. BFFL to BF is one of my fav tropes. Sorry not sorry. I am also perfectly okay with them staying besties. But also I married my BFFL so we CAN HAVE OUR CAKE AND EAT IT TOO (also...why wouldn't you eat a cake that you had? That's just wasteful). Ships aside, their friendship is awesome and totally something to aspire to.
I love the whole Super aspect to this story. The whole of Lunar City adores their heroes, except Meg, who is tired of her car getting smashed by falling billboards, and having to submit accident reports when the roof of her work gets ripped off...again. It was such a fun take on what it means to live in a city policed by superheroes. From the constant ruckus to the poor abused secretary in the insurance claims office, this was the background character story we didn't know we needed. Meg even gets to tell off a Super for being so oblivious, which was so funny.
The identities of the Supers are kept secret, of course, but I love Meg's determination to find them anyway and alert them to upcoming danger. I won't give any spoilers, but I was totally surprised by the identities of 2 out of 3 of the remaining Supers, and only suspected on the third! The author did a great job hiding the signs and keeping us guessing. Or maybe the signs were there but I was just too focused on everything else to notice them? Either way, well played madam.
This is a standalone novel, but I would LOVE to see more from this universe. The book also left openings for future books, which is awesome and also leaves me hopeful for more. Also, I am lowkey obsessed with the author.
I instantly loved Oliver, Meg's best friend, who is a total cinnamon roll. This book contains no romance (which is always refreshing) but I totally ship them in my mind. BFFL to BF is one of my fav tropes. Sorry not sorry. I am also perfectly okay with them staying besties. But also I married my BFFL so we CAN HAVE OUR CAKE AND EAT IT TOO (also...why wouldn't you eat a cake that you had? That's just wasteful). Ships aside, their friendship is awesome and totally something to aspire to.
I love the whole Super aspect to this story. The whole of Lunar City adores their heroes, except Meg, who is tired of her car getting smashed by falling billboards, and having to submit accident reports when the roof of her work gets ripped off...again. It was such a fun take on what it means to live in a city policed by superheroes. From the constant ruckus to the poor abused secretary in the insurance claims office, this was the background character story we didn't know we needed. Meg even gets to tell off a Super for being so oblivious, which was so funny.
The identities of the Supers are kept secret, of course, but I love Meg's determination to find them anyway and alert them to upcoming danger. I won't give any spoilers, but I was totally surprised by the identities of 2 out of 3 of the remaining Supers, and only suspected on the third! The author did a great job hiding the signs and keeping us guessing. Or maybe the signs were there but I was just too focused on everything else to notice them? Either way, well played madam.
This is a standalone novel, but I would LOVE to see more from this universe. The book also left openings for future books, which is awesome and also leaves me hopeful for more. Also, I am lowkey obsessed with the author.
May 13, 2020
4.5 stars
This was such a surprise! I really enjoyed this! It felt like a classic, fun, superhero adventure, like an old cartoon of my childhood! Great pacing, relatable characters, and an entertaining plot!
This was such a surprise! I really enjoyed this! It felt like a classic, fun, superhero adventure, like an old cartoon of my childhood! Great pacing, relatable characters, and an entertaining plot!
March 28, 2020
I liked the characters, but this book was cheesy and extremely predictable.
December 26, 2021
*4.25 stars
November 23, 2021
This was really good! I love the concept of following an everyday teen instead of the actual supers. All that damage and fighting really has to get annoying.
March 6, 2025
Okay, I’ll give credit where it’s due. The organized crime syndicates did dissipate after the Supers showed up. Most of the petty criminals got scared into hiding. The police are less corrupt (although again, I’m pretty sure that’s just because of the staff changes). Fine. Bring out the confetti cannons. But all it really did was leave a gaping hole of potential disaster that was filled by weirdos with homemade genetic enhancements trying to take over the city, wielding bizarre weapons with physics-defying abilities and building nonsense like the cartoonishly large robot currently ransacking the street behind me. See? The crime isn’t really gone. It’s just weirder, and more theatrical.
Great job, Lunar City.
Do I sound cynical? I don’t mean to be. It can just get a little trying when I have to leave my apartment every day wondering if I’m going to be the kind of background extra who runs away screaming from the wreckage or the kind who dies trapped under it.
(Taylor Simonds, Collateral Damage, p.13)
Don't judge this book by its cover. I know the character designs/positioning on it are a little bland and cutsie (it’s designed to mimic a comic book so you'd expect the artwork to look more... 'heroic'?) but the book is pretty fantastic.
[Juniper’s] face lights up with something like mania. “Still got that grenade?” she asks.
I thought I’d made it abundantly clear that I didn’t have any interest in handling explosives today, but yes, I do still have the grenade.
(Taylor Simonds, Collateral Damage, p.246)
The humor is genuinely funny and a lot of that is thanks to Meg's realist perspective. She calls attention to clichés, and provides social commentary on things like how cleaning out the corrupt police force probably had a bigger effect on the crime rate than introducing superheroes (I have other examples but none I could figure out how to introduce without getting into spoilers). She's down to earth and, always a win, knows her tropes. Not to say Collateral Damage doesn’t indulge in the action-adventure staples we all know and love.
His head snaps toward mine. I don’t know if he heard what I said, but he can definitely see the glint of the vial off the reflection of light from the keypad screen. I feel myself flood with relief at knowing that my diversion has worked, then terror as I realize that, dammit, now I’m the target.
Shit. I didn’t think this through.
(Taylor Simonds, Collateral Damage, p.266)
Despite the healthy amount of wry comedy, the book is solidly a love letter to the superhero and comic books. And the laughs only serve to make the emotional moments more of a punch to the throat when they happen.
CHARACTERS:
Everyone other than Meg was a solid character and even the ones only introduced at the end were given enough time to endear themselves to you. Meg, however, was an absolute joy.
SETTING/WORLD BUILDING:
The world building was pretty amazing, and with a premise like this it couldn’t afford to be anything less.
PLOT/SOLUTION:
A+ plot.
OTHER ASPECTS:
-
As I mentioned above, the cover art really doesn’t fit the book for me. From what I understand from Simonds’s blog, Simonds commissioned her favorite Instagram artist and provided instructions and initial sketches. The artist, Loremae Albano, after a quick look at her posts, specializes in character portraits, not dynamic full-body poses or comic book-style art. Then the graphic designer did what she could to make it look like a comic book cover, which might have worked well if the artwork were more engaging. Everyone did their best, but it was a mishmash of talents that didn’t do anything for me.
THE VERDICT?
Collateral Damage does a lot of things right and I’m happy to have picked it up after all. It’s got a great sense of humor and plenty of action, and I’m getting a copy for myself.
Great job, Lunar City.
Do I sound cynical? I don’t mean to be. It can just get a little trying when I have to leave my apartment every day wondering if I’m going to be the kind of background extra who runs away screaming from the wreckage or the kind who dies trapped under it.
(Taylor Simonds, Collateral Damage, p.13)
Don't judge this book by its cover. I know the character designs/positioning on it are a little bland and cutsie (it’s designed to mimic a comic book so you'd expect the artwork to look more... 'heroic'?) but the book is pretty fantastic.
[Juniper’s] face lights up with something like mania. “Still got that grenade?” she asks.
I thought I’d made it abundantly clear that I didn’t have any interest in handling explosives today, but yes, I do still have the grenade.
(Taylor Simonds, Collateral Damage, p.246)
The humor is genuinely funny and a lot of that is thanks to Meg's realist perspective. She calls attention to clichés, and provides social commentary on things like how cleaning out the corrupt police force probably had a bigger effect on the crime rate than introducing superheroes (I have other examples but none I could figure out how to introduce without getting into spoilers). She's down to earth and, always a win, knows her tropes. Not to say Collateral Damage doesn’t indulge in the action-adventure staples we all know and love.
His head snaps toward mine. I don’t know if he heard what I said, but he can definitely see the glint of the vial off the reflection of light from the keypad screen. I feel myself flood with relief at knowing that my diversion has worked, then terror as I realize that, dammit, now I’m the target.
Shit. I didn’t think this through.
(Taylor Simonds, Collateral Damage, p.266)
Despite the healthy amount of wry comedy, the book is solidly a love letter to the superhero and comic books. And the laughs only serve to make the emotional moments more of a punch to the throat when they happen.
CHARACTERS:
Everyone other than Meg was a solid character and even the ones only introduced at the end were given enough time to endear themselves to you. Meg, however, was an absolute joy.
SETTING/WORLD BUILDING:
The world building was pretty amazing, and with a premise like this it couldn’t afford to be anything less.
PLOT/SOLUTION:
A+ plot.
OTHER ASPECTS:
-
As I mentioned above, the cover art really doesn’t fit the book for me. From what I understand from Simonds’s blog, Simonds commissioned her favorite Instagram artist and provided instructions and initial sketches. The artist, Loremae Albano, after a quick look at her posts, specializes in character portraits, not dynamic full-body poses or comic book-style art. Then the graphic designer did what she could to make it look like a comic book cover, which might have worked well if the artwork were more engaging. Everyone did their best, but it was a mishmash of talents that didn’t do anything for me.
THE VERDICT?
Collateral Damage does a lot of things right and I’m happy to have picked it up after all. It’s got a great sense of humor and plenty of action, and I’m getting a copy for myself.
June 16, 2020
Y'all this book is such a good time I don't even have a bad word to say about it. I came across it via an unrelated tweet from the author and decided to try it out, and honestly I wasn't expecting a whole lot since every book I've read recently seems to be letting me down.
Not this book though. Not today.
I love how full this world is and how every single character is absolutely bursting with personality. I genuinely would love to be friends with Meg and Oliver -- and I didn't have a problem with them staying platonic! Meg should date Sanjeet anyway! But I digress!
I got so invested in this book so quickly. Taylor Simonds is such a strong character writer it's unreal - Sam had one single conversation with Meg and I was hook line and sinker in love with him. I had a similar reaction to Sanjeet, who is so precious and sweet.
Another of Simonds' strengths? THE TWISTS, Y'ALL. THIS BOOK HAD ME GASPING AT MULTIPLE POINTS, BUT NONE SO MUCH AS THIS ONE THAT I WON'T SPOIL BUT IT HAPPENS JUST ABOUT HALFWAY THROUGH AND BOY!!! WHEN I SAY I WASN'T READY.
Admittedly when it was first being established I didn't love the ending, but I quickly got won over when I imagined how an attack on this new city would look. I love when people look after each other, what can I say. I'm trying really hard not to spoil anything because I want people to read this book.
So yes READ THIS BOOK! If you enjoy superhero movies (I particularly got MCU Spiderman vibes the whole way through) this is a perfect, lighthearted read with possibly the coolest cover art I've ever seen. I had a great time, thank god I saw that tweet, 5*
OH WAIT I thought of something to complain about: Trashface deserved better. 4.99*
Not this book though. Not today.
I love how full this world is and how every single character is absolutely bursting with personality. I genuinely would love to be friends with Meg and Oliver -- and I didn't have a problem with them staying platonic! Meg should date Sanjeet anyway! But I digress!
I got so invested in this book so quickly. Taylor Simonds is such a strong character writer it's unreal - Sam had one single conversation with Meg and I was hook line and sinker in love with him. I had a similar reaction to Sanjeet, who is so precious and sweet.
Another of Simonds' strengths? THE TWISTS, Y'ALL. THIS BOOK HAD ME GASPING AT MULTIPLE POINTS, BUT NONE SO MUCH AS THIS ONE THAT I WON'T SPOIL BUT IT HAPPENS JUST ABOUT HALFWAY THROUGH AND BOY!!! WHEN I SAY I WASN'T READY.
Admittedly when it was first being established I didn't love the ending, but I quickly got won over when I imagined how an attack on this new city would look. I love when people look after each other, what can I say. I'm trying really hard not to spoil anything because I want people to read this book.
So yes READ THIS BOOK! If you enjoy superhero movies (I particularly got MCU Spiderman vibes the whole way through) this is a perfect, lighthearted read with possibly the coolest cover art I've ever seen. I had a great time, thank god I saw that tweet, 5*
OH WAIT I thought of something to complain about: Trashface deserved better. 4.99*
June 29, 2019
Wow.
Absolutely wow.
This was my first time reading anything of the superhero variety and let me tell you Taylor has created a new obsession for me. I just finished reading Collateral Damage and I’m in tears. It was an emotional roller coaster of laughter, crying, and happiness. This book was addictive, the last few nights I kept telling myself one more chapter, one more chapter, up until now where I told myself that three hours ago. This book had the perfect amount of action and character moments and has created the perfect blend. I felt myself in Megs shoes and felt as though I was the one actually experiencing what it was like to live in a city full of Supers. Taylor’s writing to me flowed very well and was descriptive enough to paint a mental picture of the scenes in the story. On top of the mental pictures, the inside art is STUNNING. This book has my favorite book art to date. I am honored to have been able to read this and be apart of the book launch. I cannot wait to see what else Taylor writes in the future.
Absolutely 5/5 and one of my new favorite books. 💕
Absolutely wow.
This was my first time reading anything of the superhero variety and let me tell you Taylor has created a new obsession for me. I just finished reading Collateral Damage and I’m in tears. It was an emotional roller coaster of laughter, crying, and happiness. This book was addictive, the last few nights I kept telling myself one more chapter, one more chapter, up until now where I told myself that three hours ago. This book had the perfect amount of action and character moments and has created the perfect blend. I felt myself in Megs shoes and felt as though I was the one actually experiencing what it was like to live in a city full of Supers. Taylor’s writing to me flowed very well and was descriptive enough to paint a mental picture of the scenes in the story. On top of the mental pictures, the inside art is STUNNING. This book has my favorite book art to date. I am honored to have been able to read this and be apart of the book launch. I cannot wait to see what else Taylor writes in the future.
Absolutely 5/5 and one of my new favorite books. 💕
September 27, 2020
I love superheros and really enjoyed this book. It is very entertaining and I laughed out loud at several points. I hope several sequels are written.
June 25, 2019
This book was SO GOOD! There were so many things I loved about it, but I don’t want to give anything away!
For starters, the main character, Meg, was so sassy and funny and snarky. She basically says out loud everything I think but am too afraid to say, and I LOVE IT! There were so many times I literally laughed out loud while reading, and my husband would make me read it out loud because he wanted to be in on the fun.
I also loved that there were no romantic relationships in this book, but there were so many great friendships. It was really refreshing to see that a story doesn’t HAVE to have romance for it to be good! Yay asexual representation!!
And as far as twists and turns, oh my GOSH they were good! Every time I thought I’d figured out a plot twist, BAM! It would go in a completely different direction. It kept me on my toes!
It was such a fun and easy read! I really loved this book and would recommend it for anyone who loves YA! I’m not even that big of a “super heroes” person, and I really enjoyed this! Such a fun and refreshing point of view!
For starters, the main character, Meg, was so sassy and funny and snarky. She basically says out loud everything I think but am too afraid to say, and I LOVE IT! There were so many times I literally laughed out loud while reading, and my husband would make me read it out loud because he wanted to be in on the fun.
I also loved that there were no romantic relationships in this book, but there were so many great friendships. It was really refreshing to see that a story doesn’t HAVE to have romance for it to be good! Yay asexual representation!!
And as far as twists and turns, oh my GOSH they were good! Every time I thought I’d figured out a plot twist, BAM! It would go in a completely different direction. It kept me on my toes!
It was such a fun and easy read! I really loved this book and would recommend it for anyone who loves YA! I’m not even that big of a “super heroes” person, and I really enjoyed this! Such a fun and refreshing point of view!
January 17, 2019
Loving this cover!
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