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Evil Genius #1
Evil Genius
Becoming the Apex Supervillain
Supervillains are murdering people in the streets, but yet superheroes are more concerned with gaining popularity than bringing the villains to justice.
These villains think they are above the law and that nobody can stop them, but they never planned for me. I’ll murder every one of them with my powersuit, traps, and sidekicks.
And if killing bad guys makes me a villain in the eyes of the heroes, well… I’ll destroy them too.
Supervillains are murdering people in the streets, but yet superheroes are more concerned with gaining popularity than bringing the villains to justice.
These villains think they are above the law and that nobody can stop them, but they never planned for me. I’ll murder every one of them with my powersuit, traps, and sidekicks.
And if killing bad guys makes me a villain in the eyes of the heroes, well… I’ll destroy them too.
288 pages, Kindle Edition
Published November 19, 2019
710 people are currently reading
325 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 66 reviews
February 20, 2020
I was enjoying it...until the MC got himself the hot morally good super girlfriend and left the average in every way assistant high and dry. Most would argue there's nothing wrong with that, except it was totally unnecessary. There was no need for the author to add in someone who is so close to the MC all the effing time and have them deeply in love the guy, only to have to watch him with someone else. And not just be sleeping with her, but have her as an actual girlfriend. To watch him come to care more and more for her. That's just cruel. Hopefully book 2 wont be as I imagined.
December 20, 2019
Excellent super hero book
If you are a fan of super hero books, or just like reading about charismatic villains, Evil Genius is a great choice.
MC is an amoral genius who starts the book trying to get his city to use his new surveillance system, until he finds out that the HEROES don’t want it because it would reduce their chances of being in the spotlight and making money.
After that he decides to go the vigilante route by creating his own team and killing villains. It’s an interesting take on things, where heroes are both good and bad guys.
His female companions are pretty varied (a classic super heroine, an artificial intelligence, and a civilian whose super power is being average at everything. Absolutely everything), the romance takes long enough to develop to be believable and the action scenes are well written. Also: no cringy dialogs.
If you like harem, or heroes, or Logan, buy this one. You will like it.
If you are a fan of super hero books, or just like reading about charismatic villains, Evil Genius is a great choice.
MC is an amoral genius who starts the book trying to get his city to use his new surveillance system, until he finds out that the HEROES don’t want it because it would reduce their chances of being in the spotlight and making money.
After that he decides to go the vigilante route by creating his own team and killing villains. It’s an interesting take on things, where heroes are both good and bad guys.
His female companions are pretty varied (a classic super heroine, an artificial intelligence, and a civilian whose super power is being average at everything. Absolutely everything), the romance takes long enough to develop to be believable and the action scenes are well written. Also: no cringy dialogs.
If you like harem, or heroes, or Logan, buy this one. You will like it.
January 1, 2020
Good, could be better. One to watch.
Liked the mousy, nerdy, big glasses wearing, shy, professional torturer and trap using sadist. She doesn't get enough time but I like the character. I thought the "Heroine" Dynamo changed her morals so fast it had to be mind control, which would have fit but no, it's just bad writing. I think the efforts to portray the main character as a principled man at heart just so he comes off as sympathetic is misguided. The book is called "Evil Genius". The audience showed up prepared to root for the bad guy, so let him be bad. We'll forgive him anything as long as its comically sadistic and funny and happening mostly to bad people.
Mostly liked it. Overall solid work even if it could use some more giant propeller deaths and crazy nerd torturers and joker-style lethal traps in it.
Liked the mousy, nerdy, big glasses wearing, shy, professional torturer and trap using sadist. She doesn't get enough time but I like the character. I thought the "Heroine" Dynamo changed her morals so fast it had to be mind control, which would have fit but no, it's just bad writing. I think the efforts to portray the main character as a principled man at heart just so he comes off as sympathetic is misguided. The book is called "Evil Genius". The audience showed up prepared to root for the bad guy, so let him be bad. We'll forgive him anything as long as its comically sadistic and funny and happening mostly to bad people.
Mostly liked it. Overall solid work even if it could use some more giant propeller deaths and crazy nerd torturers and joker-style lethal traps in it.
Read
June 4, 2022I kept thinking throughout; "Like, if they took all this creepy gross pervy shit out, you'd have an interesting premise here" and then I thought about it and realised that, that premise is the premise of Iron Man
October 16, 2020
This probably should have been called "Amoral Genius with Good Intentions", but I can see how that doesn't quite roll off the tongue nor catch a potential reader's attention.
Overall this was a pretty solid outing for this author. He takes a Lex Luther style character, mixes him with a bit of Ironman, and then sets him loose on a comic book style world filled with superheroes who refuse to kill even though not doing so only cost more lives in the long run. It's a really obvious message that doesn't get much deeper, but it doesn't need to. Instead, the book focuses on being fun… And that's okay… In fact, that's exactly what I look for in these books.
Don't get me wrong, I will never turn down a good story, but Logan Jacobs offers the kind of books that are escapism and wish fulfilment, and sometimes that's exactly what you're in the mood for.
I think one of the things that I liked most about this book was that the main character starts from a position of competence. He is not some down on his luck loser who is transformed instantly when the plot needs it to happen, but instead a hyper-competent genius who has already made a big impact on the world. It was a refreshing change of pace and I enjoyed reading about a character who was always one step ahead of everyone else.
I think the downside would probably be the female characters. Logan Jacobs does a better job in this book than a lot of authors do in the genre of creating female characters and not making them just cardboard cutouts for the protagonist to win. But at the same time, more could have been done with these characters to make them seem real to me.
At least they have personalities of their own, but they are too quick to fall in love with the main character for no other reason than the fact that he is the main character and their actions revolve entirely around him. If you've read any of my other reviews I probably sound like a broken record about now, but creating fleshed out and well-rounded characters make everything more interesting. If you're trying to set stakes, it does a great job of that, but even if you're trying to set up relationships it only gets better when you are invested in both parties and not just the main character. Wanting what the main character wants just because the main character wants it is not enough of a reason for this reader to get invested.
Therefore I came out of this book having enjoyed my time reading it but not yet so invested in this universe that it would bother me if I stopped reading right now. I'm happy that there is another book out already waiting for me to pick it up, but this wasn't a groundbreaker and hasn't earned my devoted interest quite yet.
Overall this was a pretty solid outing for this author. He takes a Lex Luther style character, mixes him with a bit of Ironman, and then sets him loose on a comic book style world filled with superheroes who refuse to kill even though not doing so only cost more lives in the long run. It's a really obvious message that doesn't get much deeper, but it doesn't need to. Instead, the book focuses on being fun… And that's okay… In fact, that's exactly what I look for in these books.
Don't get me wrong, I will never turn down a good story, but Logan Jacobs offers the kind of books that are escapism and wish fulfilment, and sometimes that's exactly what you're in the mood for.
I think one of the things that I liked most about this book was that the main character starts from a position of competence. He is not some down on his luck loser who is transformed instantly when the plot needs it to happen, but instead a hyper-competent genius who has already made a big impact on the world. It was a refreshing change of pace and I enjoyed reading about a character who was always one step ahead of everyone else.
I think the downside would probably be the female characters. Logan Jacobs does a better job in this book than a lot of authors do in the genre of creating female characters and not making them just cardboard cutouts for the protagonist to win. But at the same time, more could have been done with these characters to make them seem real to me.
At least they have personalities of their own, but they are too quick to fall in love with the main character for no other reason than the fact that he is the main character and their actions revolve entirely around him. If you've read any of my other reviews I probably sound like a broken record about now, but creating fleshed out and well-rounded characters make everything more interesting. If you're trying to set stakes, it does a great job of that, but even if you're trying to set up relationships it only gets better when you are invested in both parties and not just the main character. Wanting what the main character wants just because the main character wants it is not enough of a reason for this reader to get invested.
Therefore I came out of this book having enjoyed my time reading it but not yet so invested in this universe that it would bother me if I stopped reading right now. I'm happy that there is another book out already waiting for me to pick it up, but this wasn't a groundbreaker and hasn't earned my devoted interest quite yet.
November 8, 2020
Seeing the rate at which Logan belts out novels, I avoided him (and many other like him) for some time. But I was told that this book was above the rest, so I'm going to give it a try and see.
The author seems to have read the same "super villain" protagonist books I have, and took cues from them. He didn't implement them fully however. There seems to be something missing from the book that I can't put my hand on.
The author focuses on the characters (which is sensible), I however wanted to see someone masturbating over their tech, maybe that will occur next book.
I also need to address the elephant in the room. I read many reviews of this book months ago, in hopes of deciding if this was for me. One of the reviews that made me stay away was a review about the author not utilizing Norma. The reviewer (rightly) said that her being average at everything was an underused power. An average brain surgeon, is still a better brain surgeon than me. An Average heist driver is still a better driver than me, etc. Maybe she is utilized more, but every scene with Norma my head is just thinking how the author is wasting her potential.
I'm not sure if I will read the next book. This was very average (hehe) compared to the other super villains I read. I wanted more use of crazy futuristic gadgets. Where are the drones? Where is the tech mimicking super talents? I don't care about a hero seeing that the system is flawed.
I will give the next book a go, but if it isn't chock-full of crazy technology like he was hinting at I will drop the series.
2.5/5 Stars
The author seems to have read the same "super villain" protagonist books I have, and took cues from them. He didn't implement them fully however. There seems to be something missing from the book that I can't put my hand on.
The author focuses on the characters (which is sensible), I however wanted to see someone masturbating over their tech, maybe that will occur next book.
I also need to address the elephant in the room. I read many reviews of this book months ago, in hopes of deciding if this was for me. One of the reviews that made me stay away was a review about the author not utilizing Norma. The reviewer (rightly) said that her being average at everything was an underused power. An average brain surgeon, is still a better brain surgeon than me. An Average heist driver is still a better driver than me, etc. Maybe she is utilized more, but every scene with Norma my head is just thinking how the author is wasting her potential.
I'm not sure if I will read the next book. This was very average (hehe) compared to the other super villains I read. I wanted more use of crazy futuristic gadgets. Where are the drones? Where is the tech mimicking super talents? I don't care about a hero seeing that the system is flawed.
I will give the next book a go, but if it isn't chock-full of crazy technology like he was hinting at I will drop the series.
2.5/5 Stars
April 16, 2020
Alright, so Iv seen some people compare this dude to Tony Stark, he is not in the ballpark of Tony Stark. Tony Stark would NOT have gone in a lair of a Villain with just armor and a gun NOT built into the damn suit! He also would NOT have brought along his assistant that was not in armor along for the ride. What kind of idiot would do that. No drones or footage, no wire tapping, no gadgets at all to help infiltrate or DO ANYTHING. If he had any brains he would have drones all over the place to record for PR stunts like the Wardens are doing and use that footage against them!!.
May 16, 2025
I knew he would fall for dynamo. Poor norma I was rooting for her. I hope she finds someone.
****2nd read. man I was so naive when I first read this. I mean it was my first harem fantasy. lol this one is one of the 2 logan jacobs series I genuinely enjoy.
****2nd read. man I was so naive when I first read this. I mean it was my first harem fantasy. lol this one is one of the 2 logan jacobs series I genuinely enjoy.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 24, 2024
Entertaining superhero pulp scifi story with a twist and some weirdness. The twist is that the story is about a supergenius who dislikes 'real' superheroes with superpowers (although he's a pretty typical tech-based Tony Stark-type superhero, so bit of an artifical distinction). It does lead to some interesting changes of perspective, which I appreciate. The weirdness, besides what you'd expect from a genius inventor anyway, such as a robot assistant that shoots bullets from her nipples, and besides an unexpectedly low (but refreshing!) level of sex stuff in this story (it seemed harem lit but apparently it's not), is a dedication to the death penalty that is way beyond what makes sense in the context of this story. I'm assuming this is a pet peeve of the author, but it's a bit weird and distracting. So - an original story, I'm curious where the next installment will take us, but I hope they work out the judicial issues in the backstory, improve the supermax or whatever and stop the 'take no prisoners' craziness.
August 15, 2020
This book is an extremely interesting read. The main character is an intelligent, strategic, cunning, and pragmatic man who's dedication to achieving his goals is admirable. The fact that he chooses the smart route over the vainglorious approach of so many others is extremely satisfying.
There is only one problem that I have with this protagonist, but it is of such fundamental import, that I can't justify giving this book a higher rating. The problem is that the protagonist believes that nobody should ever receive mercy. While this moral stance allows him to accomplish great things, it turns choices that should be hard into a simple question of, "Does this bring me closer to my goal?"
While the story is compelling, spending time in the mind of a sociopath is draining on a moral level. I suggest reading this book followed by something with a protagonist who can truly be the good guy.
There is only one problem that I have with this protagonist, but it is of such fundamental import, that I can't justify giving this book a higher rating. The problem is that the protagonist believes that nobody should ever receive mercy. While this moral stance allows him to accomplish great things, it turns choices that should be hard into a simple question of, "Does this bring me closer to my goal?"
While the story is compelling, spending time in the mind of a sociopath is draining on a moral level. I suggest reading this book followed by something with a protagonist who can truly be the good guy.
December 5, 2019
Book one
Mistakes: I found three. Backup was used twice in a row in a sentence. Flippers was just out of place and made no sense. Say was used instead of saw.
Plot: Technology billionaire gets tired of superhero’s catch and release program with villains and decides to do something about it. This seemed more about sleeping with super models, building a sex robot, and sleeping with a sexy super hero then it does fighting bad guys.
Characters: The Mc does not come across as any type of villain. Seems rather shallow than anything. The main super hero is the definition of a bad man. Self absorbed and thinking every woman wants him or they must be gay. Main female lead is also rather uninteresting. Nothing makes her stand out, other than the obvious bed warmer of the Mc. The assistant is by far the most interesting character in the book.
5/10 Could have been so much better.
Mistakes: I found three. Backup was used twice in a row in a sentence. Flippers was just out of place and made no sense. Say was used instead of saw.
Plot: Technology billionaire gets tired of superhero’s catch and release program with villains and decides to do something about it. This seemed more about sleeping with super models, building a sex robot, and sleeping with a sexy super hero then it does fighting bad guys.
Characters: The Mc does not come across as any type of villain. Seems rather shallow than anything. The main super hero is the definition of a bad man. Self absorbed and thinking every woman wants him or they must be gay. Main female lead is also rather uninteresting. Nothing makes her stand out, other than the obvious bed warmer of the Mc. The assistant is by far the most interesting character in the book.
5/10 Could have been so much better.
December 2, 2019
Not bad; needs an editing sweep
This was a short and sweet story with a very interesting twist on superheroes; supers that are more focused on sponsorships and getting social media attention than on saving people. And the people are the same! They're not interested in things like collateral damage, they just want to see their favorite heroes win.
My main reason for three starts were the typos in the book. Some of them were pretty obvious and some of the misspellings were hard to miss. I dropped a little for the overall simplicity of the story, but I can see the appeal as well.
All in all a fun story, the beginning of a world, and just a small editing sweep to get a ratings bump from me.
This was a short and sweet story with a very interesting twist on superheroes; supers that are more focused on sponsorships and getting social media attention than on saving people. And the people are the same! They're not interested in things like collateral damage, they just want to see their favorite heroes win.
My main reason for three starts were the typos in the book. Some of them were pretty obvious and some of the misspellings were hard to miss. I dropped a little for the overall simplicity of the story, but I can see the appeal as well.
All in all a fun story, the beginning of a world, and just a small editing sweep to get a ratings bump from me.
January 16, 2020
I did not expect that
Or that... nor that other thing... pretty much this is outside of the usual parameters for Master Jacobs, yet he really pulled a good-guy-does-the-right-thing and you get to enjoy it! Lots of books punish the good guys for doing the right thing, but this series is promising to be properly transparent. The pace is natural, the characters are true to themselves and believable, even have their own mind-voices (you will see what I mean as you read- it’s not a spoiler)
Or that... nor that other thing... pretty much this is outside of the usual parameters for Master Jacobs, yet he really pulled a good-guy-does-the-right-thing and you get to enjoy it! Lots of books punish the good guys for doing the right thing, but this series is promising to be properly transparent. The pace is natural, the characters are true to themselves and believable, even have their own mind-voices (you will see what I mean as you read- it’s not a spoiler)
November 29, 2019
Great start for a superhero story
This was an interesting introduction to this series.
The MC was a good character, felt like a Batman that actually enjoys life and is morally grey.
His trio of girls were also good characters. While Dynamo started out as bland, in the end she became her own character.
The plot was easy to follow but hope it expands later on.
Will definitely read the next book when it comes out.
This was an interesting introduction to this series.
The MC was a good character, felt like a Batman that actually enjoys life and is morally grey.
His trio of girls were also good characters. While Dynamo started out as bland, in the end she became her own character.
The plot was easy to follow but hope it expands later on.
Will definitely read the next book when it comes out.
May 26, 2020
First of all, my reading this book is definitely my own fault. I should've read the bad reviews as well as look at the books overall star rating.
It's basically a nice and well thought of plot hidden in the masturbation fantasies of young Tony Stark.
What else can I say? Nothing really. I liked the story, but definitely won't read the other books. Nothing against well thought out romance or even sex IF IT FITS the story. But here the sex is just there so you can say it's there.
It's basically a nice and well thought of plot hidden in the masturbation fantasies of young Tony Stark.
What else can I say? Nothing really. I liked the story, but definitely won't read the other books. Nothing against well thought out romance or even sex IF IT FITS the story. But here the sex is just there so you can say it's there.
December 23, 2019
Very good start
I'm a fan of superhero stories but this definitely an alternate point of view. I enjoyed the development. I liked the Tony Stark turned up to 11 nature of the main character. I look forward to the next and hope it has the same alternate morality with a bit more polish.
I'm a fan of superhero stories but this definitely an alternate point of view. I enjoyed the development. I liked the Tony Stark turned up to 11 nature of the main character. I look forward to the next and hope it has the same alternate morality with a bit more polish.
December 29, 2019
The way it's meant to be played
Love this book. Our hero he's a true superhero. Protecting citizens by taking out the villains. My kind of guy. Tech genius and Playboy. Also bonuses. Can't wait for more of these jokes. I want Norma to get some love to she's a great character how faithful can you get. She need her reward.
Love this book. Our hero he's a true superhero. Protecting citizens by taking out the villains. My kind of guy. Tech genius and Playboy. Also bonuses. Can't wait for more of these jokes. I want Norma to get some love to she's a great character how faithful can you get. She need her reward.
January 2, 2020
A fun anti-hero story. The main character reminds me very much of Tony Stark in all of the right ways, with a pragmatic dark streak. The occasional short perspective shifts we're interesting to give us an insight into what the other characters were thinking without making them the protagonists. I'm very much looking forward to the next one.
May 4, 2020
His original series Arena got me interested in Logan Jacobs writing. It was an interesting and funny story. But, more of his work is moving into straight masturbatory fantasy than anything worth reading. More sex and less story is not the way to go. He's clearly lost something in the push to put out more works.
August 1, 2020
Yes,
I read quite a few negative reviews and I don't understand why they would be there. This has SO MUCH potential. I can definitely see the team dynamic growing, adding more sexy heroines and possibly a few villains turned hero for the D. Miles has a great idea and a great plan. Looking forward to seeing more.
I read quite a few negative reviews and I don't understand why they would be there. This has SO MUCH potential. I can definitely see the team dynamic growing, adding more sexy heroines and possibly a few villains turned hero for the D. Miles has a great idea and a great plan. Looking forward to seeing more.
November 24, 2019
OH ' YES '
This one is as good as 'Arena' Not the same very very much not the same.Mind it's got the usual base line a hero his woman ,villains ,sex .But the story is well plotted and put together.Thank you Mr Jacobs.
This one is as good as 'Arena' Not the same very very much not the same.Mind it's got the usual base line a hero his woman ,villains ,sex .But the story is well plotted and put together.Thank you Mr Jacobs.
November 26, 2019
Awesome
This was an impressive opening novel for a new series. I really enjoy the angle of approach for the MC. Human in a super powered world. I also like his moral arc. It feels organic and right. Can't wait for the next one.....and more of the sexy assistants.
This was an impressive opening novel for a new series. I really enjoy the angle of approach for the MC. Human in a super powered world. I also like his moral arc. It feels organic and right. Can't wait for the next one.....and more of the sexy assistants.
November 30, 2019
Above average
Pretty good. The writing was well done. Felt a bit flat. Long lead up with a pretty good fight late in the book. Yes there is some sex. Not as much fun as his Arena series. But good enough to read book 2. As the blurb suggests, there is some killing.
Pretty good. The writing was well done. Felt a bit flat. Long lead up with a pretty good fight late in the book. Yes there is some sex. Not as much fun as his Arena series. But good enough to read book 2. As the blurb suggests, there is some killing.
December 3, 2019
Awesome
This is an interesting start to the series. Not quite a hero ,and not quite a villain. No commonly recurring intimate scenes, so the story is focused and nicely developed in terms of the character and plot. I'm definitely interested to see where the story takes us!
This is an interesting start to the series. Not quite a hero ,and not quite a villain. No commonly recurring intimate scenes, so the story is focused and nicely developed in terms of the character and plot. I'm definitely interested to see where the story takes us!
December 5, 2019
Loved it.
Really enjoyed reading it. Looking forward to the next book. Sort of a mix of Tony Stark and Batman with less morals about killing villains. And The Boys with Super heroes being more about image then doing their jobs.
Really enjoyed reading it. Looking forward to the next book. Sort of a mix of Tony Stark and Batman with less morals about killing villains. And The Boys with Super heroes being more about image then doing their jobs.
December 11, 2019
Absolutely amazing!
Loved this one. Started well enough, standard antihero plotlines. But the extra characters and the dynamic between them all is what kept me reading nonstop. As long as that keeps up, I'll keep reading.
Loved this one. Started well enough, standard antihero plotlines. But the extra characters and the dynamic between them all is what kept me reading nonstop. As long as that keeps up, I'll keep reading.
December 15, 2019
Ingeniously Delightful
A great balance of several genres, with good POV shifts, interesting characters, and a very promising plot. There’s a great potential for both fun and mayhem here, and I’ll be following it. Recommended (16+)
A great balance of several genres, with good POV shifts, interesting characters, and a very promising plot. There’s a great potential for both fun and mayhem here, and I’ll be following it. Recommended (16+)
December 24, 2019
The Boys meets Lex Luther
Love the narrative. Can't wait to see more.
The main character is similar to Lex Luthor and the overall story is very close to The Boys. This book was like a teaser and promises so much more to come.
Love the narrative. Can't wait to see more.
The main character is similar to Lex Luthor and the overall story is very close to The Boys. This book was like a teaser and promises so much more to come.
January 15, 2020
Excellent
This book is great, it's got an MC who does what's necessary without trying to hold to some lofty moral high ground that's impossible to obtain. He intelligent and is not afraid to carry out his plans.
This book is great, it's got an MC who does what's necessary without trying to hold to some lofty moral high ground that's impossible to obtain. He intelligent and is not afraid to carry out his plans.
January 21, 2020
Good and funny as well
It's not Shakespeare,but it's well written for the genre and pretty funny at times. Jacobs can actually write. I'll get the next one in the series. Give it a try.
It's not Shakespeare,but it's well written for the genre and pretty funny at times. Jacobs can actually write. I'll get the next one in the series. Give it a try.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 66 reviews