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The Legacy of Cameran Monroe #1
Talented
Engineered superhumans, lost memories…and a secret that could consume the world. After awakening with no memory of who she is, Cameran Monroe discovers she’s more than human. She trains as a Talent—a superhuman, with telekinetic abilities. Under the watchful gaze of Dr. Anthony Riker, Cameran becomes the best of the Talents. Faster, stronger…perfect. But resurfacing memories soon incapacitate her. Memories about life as a young mechanic, who never wanted to become Talented. Warring between the life she remembers, and the guidance she’s given by those who created her, Cameran must decide if she’s meant to be a hero, or a weapon. To discover the truth about her evolution, Cameran fights the abilities taking over her body. But with each memory she uncovers, she grows weaker, and must race the unreliability of her own mind. Talented is the first installment in this unique Science Fantasy trilogy—where engineered heroes protect against a dystopian future, yet the hero may not be a hero at all.
- GenresYoung Adult
420 pages, ebook
First published February 1, 2019
50 people are currently reading
86 people want to read
About the author
S.E. MacCready
6 books125 followersS.E. MacCready graduated from the University of Pittsburgh in 2015 with degrees in English Literature and Poetry Writing. She lives in Pennsylvania with her daughter, and their four cats. When she's not writing, she can be found reading or playing video games.
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
March 10, 2019
Captivating
In the Posh group I am in, one of the ladies asked if we would like to read her cousins book. I like to read and downloaded the book. I am so glad she asked and that I was given the opportunity to read Talented. Intriguing, captivating and well worth your time.
In the Posh group I am in, one of the ladies asked if we would like to read her cousins book. I like to read and downloaded the book. I am so glad she asked and that I was given the opportunity to read Talented. Intriguing, captivating and well worth your time.
November 23, 2020
The beauty of literature: you can take any narrative—any genre—and reformulate it into a new story.
In Talented: A Dystopian Superhero Origin Story, SE MacCready lays the foundation for a world filled with superpowered heroes, villains, and everything in between.
It’s fundamentally character-driven, and the devastating moments of heart-wrenching brutality are where MacCready’s writing shines the most. Cameron Monroe, daughter of a brilliant entrepreneur, is thrown into a world she doesn’t fully understand with only part of her memories available to remind her of a lost past.
She thinks she knows what’s happening. But with every page and every shift in her strength and power, a new truth is revealed.
The first-person narrative of the tale is pivotal to the story’s voice and style, keeping us in Cameron’s head for the entire ride. In moments, though, it can be its downfall, especially when Cameron’s psyche and experience cause a scene’s illustration to devolve into confusion. Thankfully, those moments are few and far between.
I listened to the audiobook, and while the narrator is clear and concise, she was a little slow for my tastes, making the book feel a tad longer than I think it actually was. About halfway through, though, I upped the listening speed to 1.25x, and it sounded more crisp.
If you’re looking for a story clearly inspired by the modern era of superhero films, Talented is absolutely for you. It’s definitely a book, too, that both adults and kids would enjoy reading. Get it for yourself—or buy it for your superhero obsessed child!
On to the scores.
Writing: 7/10. SE MacCready’s use of the first-person voice was powerful and brilliant, though the book was a tad long and wordy at times when it felt like the pace should have been accelerated. It’s hard to tell, though, how much of that experience was colored by the slow pace of the narrator.
Characters: 9/10. This book features a massive cast of characters, and it was difficult to keep track of all the heroes, the characters that mattered stand out. Alongside Cameron, Will, Tawny, Chris, and Derek stand out as characters worth remembering.
Plot: 8/10. Though a little overly opaque and drawn out at times, the overarching themes and plot of Talented are compelling, driven primarily by the quick attachment to the characters driving the narrative. The third act, in particular, does a great job of tying together almost all of the book’s loose ends, with a satisfying conclusion for reading the book either as a stand-alone or as a Book 1 of the whole Legacy of Cameron Monroe series.
Setting: 7/10. The story primarily takes place in a giant corporate tower surrounded by a fictional city somewhere in the United States. The corporation owning the tower is explored in full, though the city and company’s place in relation to the outside world was never fully clear to me. That may be just a personal preference—and based on how the first book ends, I suspect the sequels may explore beyond the setting of book 1.
Overall: 7.75/10. A solid four stars! If you’re looking for a new kind of superhero epic, dive into the pages of Talented today.
In Talented: A Dystopian Superhero Origin Story, SE MacCready lays the foundation for a world filled with superpowered heroes, villains, and everything in between.
It’s fundamentally character-driven, and the devastating moments of heart-wrenching brutality are where MacCready’s writing shines the most. Cameron Monroe, daughter of a brilliant entrepreneur, is thrown into a world she doesn’t fully understand with only part of her memories available to remind her of a lost past.
She thinks she knows what’s happening. But with every page and every shift in her strength and power, a new truth is revealed.
The first-person narrative of the tale is pivotal to the story’s voice and style, keeping us in Cameron’s head for the entire ride. In moments, though, it can be its downfall, especially when Cameron’s psyche and experience cause a scene’s illustration to devolve into confusion. Thankfully, those moments are few and far between.
I listened to the audiobook, and while the narrator is clear and concise, she was a little slow for my tastes, making the book feel a tad longer than I think it actually was. About halfway through, though, I upped the listening speed to 1.25x, and it sounded more crisp.
If you’re looking for a story clearly inspired by the modern era of superhero films, Talented is absolutely for you. It’s definitely a book, too, that both adults and kids would enjoy reading. Get it for yourself—or buy it for your superhero obsessed child!
On to the scores.
Writing: 7/10. SE MacCready’s use of the first-person voice was powerful and brilliant, though the book was a tad long and wordy at times when it felt like the pace should have been accelerated. It’s hard to tell, though, how much of that experience was colored by the slow pace of the narrator.
Characters: 9/10. This book features a massive cast of characters, and it was difficult to keep track of all the heroes, the characters that mattered stand out. Alongside Cameron, Will, Tawny, Chris, and Derek stand out as characters worth remembering.
Plot: 8/10. Though a little overly opaque and drawn out at times, the overarching themes and plot of Talented are compelling, driven primarily by the quick attachment to the characters driving the narrative. The third act, in particular, does a great job of tying together almost all of the book’s loose ends, with a satisfying conclusion for reading the book either as a stand-alone or as a Book 1 of the whole Legacy of Cameron Monroe series.
Setting: 7/10. The story primarily takes place in a giant corporate tower surrounded by a fictional city somewhere in the United States. The corporation owning the tower is explored in full, though the city and company’s place in relation to the outside world was never fully clear to me. That may be just a personal preference—and based on how the first book ends, I suspect the sequels may explore beyond the setting of book 1.
Overall: 7.75/10. A solid four stars! If you’re looking for a new kind of superhero epic, dive into the pages of Talented today.
September 5, 2020
I received a free copy of this audiobook in exchange for my honest review.
There wasn’t a single thing I liked about this book, which was incredibly disappointing because the summary sounds like something I’d enjoy. I was bored. I didn’t care about the characters. I didn’t care about the plot. There wasn’t anything that drew me in and held my interest.
I thought there would be a bunch of action but the first three hours could have easily been cut and I wouldn’t have known the difference. It takes forever for them to even leave the laboratories and then instead of superheroes fighting bad guys like I expected, I got them running around with only the vaguest of purposes.
Also, I didn’t like this narrator at all. She constantly sounded like she was on the verge of tears and even when there was action she didn’t make it sound intense, she just sounded even closer to tears than before.
If there had been less of the laboratories at the beginning and less jumping back and forth between present and past, I might have liked it a bit more. As it is, I got 60% of the way through and I just can’t make myself finish. DNF.
There wasn’t a single thing I liked about this book, which was incredibly disappointing because the summary sounds like something I’d enjoy. I was bored. I didn’t care about the characters. I didn’t care about the plot. There wasn’t anything that drew me in and held my interest.
I thought there would be a bunch of action but the first three hours could have easily been cut and I wouldn’t have known the difference. It takes forever for them to even leave the laboratories and then instead of superheroes fighting bad guys like I expected, I got them running around with only the vaguest of purposes.
Also, I didn’t like this narrator at all. She constantly sounded like she was on the verge of tears and even when there was action she didn’t make it sound intense, she just sounded even closer to tears than before.
If there had been less of the laboratories at the beginning and less jumping back and forth between present and past, I might have liked it a bit more. As it is, I got 60% of the way through and I just can’t make myself finish. DNF.
July 18, 2020
This series should really be getting more attention. Like, wow!
I went into this expecting the typical cheesy superhero story, but that's not it at all. Yes, the characters have abilities and yes, they're heroes. But that's not the focus. Rather, the story is driven by the main character, Cameran, while she learns and explores her new life--because she remembers very little about her past.
Early in the book, this is done through flashbacks. It's a little jarring at first but once I realized what was going on (the text being in italics helped!) it was very well done. It helped me connect with the character more. I learned about her life as she did, and felt loss when she did. The writing was lyrical and compelling.
For a sci-fi, this was very easy to get into. And the "superhero-y" bits weren't cheesy at all! There are hints at futuristic technology and past wars, but the focus remains on one central question: who is Cameran Monroe?
I went into this expecting the typical cheesy superhero story, but that's not it at all. Yes, the characters have abilities and yes, they're heroes. But that's not the focus. Rather, the story is driven by the main character, Cameran, while she learns and explores her new life--because she remembers very little about her past.
Early in the book, this is done through flashbacks. It's a little jarring at first but once I realized what was going on (the text being in italics helped!) it was very well done. It helped me connect with the character more. I learned about her life as she did, and felt loss when she did. The writing was lyrical and compelling.
For a sci-fi, this was very easy to get into. And the "superhero-y" bits weren't cheesy at all! There are hints at futuristic technology and past wars, but the focus remains on one central question: who is Cameran Monroe?
January 12, 2020
I'm rating this a solid 4.5. There are few books that can pull off the white room scenario, where the protagonist wakes up in a strange room with few clues as to how they got there. MacCready manages to pull this off because the trope is done well. I felt the main character's disorientation throughout the entire book and learned of her past bit by bit as she does. I felt the character's anger at what had been done to her as well as the confusion about her situation. I'm not going to say more lest I give away spoilers, but suffice it to say that not is all as it appears. The ending also left me wanting more.
June 4, 2020
This title came up in on my Facebook suggestions through Kindle Unlimited and I am glad to have read this book.
The story of the girl with the memory loss and enhanced gift could have become a risky cliché, but in this case it is pulled off quite nicely.
The characters were well developed on both books - Talented (book 1) and Gifted (book 2); however between the allegiance switch and lies, the memory loss and the ambiguity of some of those characters, at times it is hard to follow some of the event in the books.
Nevertheless, I look forward to reading book 3 - once is out and hope to read more books from this "talented" writer.
The story of the girl with the memory loss and enhanced gift could have become a risky cliché, but in this case it is pulled off quite nicely.
The characters were well developed on both books - Talented (book 1) and Gifted (book 2); however between the allegiance switch and lies, the memory loss and the ambiguity of some of those characters, at times it is hard to follow some of the event in the books.
Nevertheless, I look forward to reading book 3 - once is out and hope to read more books from this "talented" writer.
November 5, 2019
If you are unsure if you will like this book, I urge you to take a chance on it--you won't regret it.
The detail this novel contains makes it easy to follow the story while making it seem as though you are watching the world through Cameran's eyes. You feel the experiences of Cameran almost as if it were your own.
The words and story of Talented are powerful, and as soon as you start the book, I guarentee you won't be able to put it down.
The detail this novel contains makes it easy to follow the story while making it seem as though you are watching the world through Cameran's eyes. You feel the experiences of Cameran almost as if it were your own.
The words and story of Talented are powerful, and as soon as you start the book, I guarentee you won't be able to put it down.
February 9, 2023
It kept me engaged, but there were a few chapters that I struggled powering through with not enough “excitement”, but maybe because I was so anxious about what was going to happen next!
the ending was frustrating only because I got attached to the characters 😭😭 was very good, I did not guess the ending! and can’t wait to read the next 2 books!
the ending was frustrating only because I got attached to the characters 😭😭 was very good, I did not guess the ending! and can’t wait to read the next 2 books!
March 1, 2023
Great
A very well-written book. Fast-paced and in today's world it is a reminder that the world needs to hear.
I am looking forward to the next book.
A very well-written book. Fast-paced and in today's world it is a reminder that the world needs to hear.
I am looking forward to the next book.
May 23, 2019
Talented (The Legacy of Cameran Monroe) follows the adventures of (surprise) Cameran Monroe. She wakes up in a strange room with no memory of her past or how she got there. She learns she is "Talented", part of a group of people who have been given fabulous powers.
The writing is crisp and breezy and the MC is compelling enough to spend time with. Overall I enjoyed the book and would recommend a look.
Small complaint - the book kind of takes forever to get going. It's not until about page 100 that the main plot is introduced, up until then, it's mostly backstory. Well-written, entertaining backstory, but still - backstory.
Still, a good read that I had no regrets purchasing. I'll be keeping my eye out for the next book in the series.
The writing is crisp and breezy and the MC is compelling enough to spend time with. Overall I enjoyed the book and would recommend a look.
Small complaint - the book kind of takes forever to get going. It's not until about page 100 that the main plot is introduced, up until then, it's mostly backstory. Well-written, entertaining backstory, but still - backstory.
Still, a good read that I had no regrets purchasing. I'll be keeping my eye out for the next book in the series.
May 1, 2019
Beautifully Written and Imaginative
Talented is a relatively fresh tale, well-executed by the deft mind of S.E MacCready. The prose is uplifted by her wonderful use of language to create vibrant imagery and considerable suspense.
The plot had more than enough meat to hold my attention for the length of the text, with perhaps my only criticism being that it may have been a little longer than it needed to be.
If your looking for something fresh and literary to read, look no further!
Talented is a relatively fresh tale, well-executed by the deft mind of S.E MacCready. The prose is uplifted by her wonderful use of language to create vibrant imagery and considerable suspense.
The plot had more than enough meat to hold my attention for the length of the text, with perhaps my only criticism being that it may have been a little longer than it needed to be.
If your looking for something fresh and literary to read, look no further!
April 23, 2020
Great read!
When I first started reading this book, I had no idea what to expect. It was beautifully written, and I loved the characters. Cameran Monroe wakes up in a strange room with no memory of the past, or how she ended up there. She learns she is "Talented" with strange abilities. This book definitely took me on an adventure. Highly recommend!
When I first started reading this book, I had no idea what to expect. It was beautifully written, and I loved the characters. Cameran Monroe wakes up in a strange room with no memory of the past, or how she ended up there. She learns she is "Talented" with strange abilities. This book definitely took me on an adventure. Highly recommend!
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews