What do you think?
Rate this book
The Resonant Duology #2
The Somebody People
A group of outcasts with extraordinary abilities must save a crumbling world from annihilation in this gripping follow-up to The Nobody People .
Fahima Deeb changed everything seven years ago when she triggered the Pulse, imbuing millions of people with otherworldly gifts like flight, telekinesis, or superhuman strength. She thought that would herald the end of the hostilities between those with abilities and those without, but it instead highlighted a new There is someone behind the scenes, able to influence and manipulate these newly empowered people into committing horrible acts against their will. Worse still, that shadowy figure is wearing the face of Fahima’s oldest friend, Patrick Davenport. Fahima is horror-struck when she realizes that Patrick has built an army entirely under his control to wipe out all who oppose him.
With nowhere to turn and few she can trust, Fahima must rely on uncertain Carrie Norris, whose illusion of a normal life vanishes at Fahima’s reappearance. Clay Weaver, a retired soldier fighting to keep his husband and son safe—and to keep Patrick from taking over his mind. And, finally, Emmeline Hirsch, adrift and untethered from her ability to travel through time. Together, they might be able to topple Patrick’s shadowy regime . . . though it may spell destruction for the entire world.
Fahima Deeb changed everything seven years ago when she triggered the Pulse, imbuing millions of people with otherworldly gifts like flight, telekinesis, or superhuman strength. She thought that would herald the end of the hostilities between those with abilities and those without, but it instead highlighted a new There is someone behind the scenes, able to influence and manipulate these newly empowered people into committing horrible acts against their will. Worse still, that shadowy figure is wearing the face of Fahima’s oldest friend, Patrick Davenport. Fahima is horror-struck when she realizes that Patrick has built an army entirely under his control to wipe out all who oppose him.
With nowhere to turn and few she can trust, Fahima must rely on uncertain Carrie Norris, whose illusion of a normal life vanishes at Fahima’s reappearance. Clay Weaver, a retired soldier fighting to keep his husband and son safe—and to keep Patrick from taking over his mind. And, finally, Emmeline Hirsch, adrift and untethered from her ability to travel through time. Together, they might be able to topple Patrick’s shadowy regime . . . though it may spell destruction for the entire world.
624 pages, Paperback
First published September 1, 2020
18 people are currently reading
316 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 44 reviews
September 2, 2020
The Somebody People is the sequel to the Nobody People, a two-volume exploration of what happens when people have special abilities. As in the X-Men or the short-lived tv series, Heroes, people begin sprouting abilities such as invisibility, time travel, stretching, mind control, etc., etc., etc. and book one, The Nobody People, traces how a secret school (like in Harry Potter) is created where people learn to harness and control their abilities. It also features a secret world called the Hive where all the Resonants can communicate with each other. Book One also traces the reactions of a world without super abilities to these newly formed mutants and the results are not pretty as they purged from society into camps in the desert.
Book Two, "The Somebody People," picks up years later after the end of the great war, and it looks like the Resonants, those with powers, have won, and those without powers are pushed back beyond the Mississippi. This is a new world where many have special powers and there are places across the continent where the two groups strike an uneasy peace. But, there are schisms and divisions and the scattered resonants have to come back together to fight those who would divide the world into haves and have-nots (haves and have-nots of special powers).
Reading "The Nobody People" is almost a prerequisite to the "Somebody People." Without it, so much is lost, particularly a long history of relationships and what happened and so forth. Even having read the first book, not having read it recently, one finds one's self a bit lost at times. Also, be prepared for alternating chapters between many different disparate characters rather than one main character focus. Would have really liked to have one character such as Carrie be the focus. The story really starts to focus about thirty percent in.
A fun rollicking adventure. Many thanks to the publisher for providing a copy for review.
Book Two, "The Somebody People," picks up years later after the end of the great war, and it looks like the Resonants, those with powers, have won, and those without powers are pushed back beyond the Mississippi. This is a new world where many have special powers and there are places across the continent where the two groups strike an uneasy peace. But, there are schisms and divisions and the scattered resonants have to come back together to fight those who would divide the world into haves and have-nots (haves and have-nots of special powers).
Reading "The Nobody People" is almost a prerequisite to the "Somebody People." Without it, so much is lost, particularly a long history of relationships and what happened and so forth. Even having read the first book, not having read it recently, one finds one's self a bit lost at times. Also, be prepared for alternating chapters between many different disparate characters rather than one main character focus. Would have really liked to have one character such as Carrie be the focus. The story really starts to focus about thirty percent in.
A fun rollicking adventure. Many thanks to the publisher for providing a copy for review.
August 29, 2020
I really enjoyed the first book and was excited to see where things went and how it all ends. It doesn’t have the same feel has the first book. It seems more jumbled and long and drawn out. Now that we know about Resonates, it’s all about what happened after the pulse (it isn’t pretty) and how/if it can be made better and then there is a new threat. This book was long and had a lot going on and was more difficult to follow. It seemed like there were even more characters to keep up with and more back stories. A lot of catching up with the main group of characters from the first book. Just a lot going on. Thanks NetGalley for an advanced copy.
November 20, 2020
QUICK TAKE: I was a huge fan of THE NOBODY PEOPLE, a grounded, entertaining, and allegorical look at what would happen if people with superpowers "came out" during our current political climate. The conclusion to the duology, THE SOMEBODY PEOPLE, is a worthy follow-up (though I did have to read a big chunk of TNP again to refresh my memory about what happened in the first book) and solid conclusion to the story. I just loved the world Bob Proehl built, and could live in it for multiple books.
September 9, 2020
I really enjoyed The Nobody People, and I think I enjoyed this one even more. These stories have a similar idea to the X-men - some people have abilities that manifest, and have different ideas of how they should be used. And others think all with unusual abilities should die. This book was a more epic scope than the first - it follows a lot of characters as they try to deal with all the consequences engendered by book one. Regular people have been marginalized, and the dynamics, both good and bad, were interesting. I thought this was a satisfying ending to the story, and I enjoyed the journey getting there.
I'd like to thank the publisher for an advanced copy of the book!
I'd like to thank the publisher for an advanced copy of the book!
dnf
September 19, 2020DNF at 7%. I enjoyed The Nobody People but needed more of a refresher at the start of this book. It jumped right back in and was a lot to keep track of/remember. Ultimately not what I’m looking to read right now but may return at another time. Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for the advance reading copy.
May 22, 2020
3.5 stars, and thanks to NetGalley for a review copy.
I really enjoyed The Nobody People (4.5 stars), which developed a strong premise in a satisfying way.
A year later, however, I barely remember any of the characters and have no attachment to them. And yet Somebody People makes no effort to remind the reader about where things stand or who these people are. I had to go back and skim the last couple chapters of Nobody People in order to get some things straight on the plot, but that didn't help that a bunch of characters are presented to me as though I just finished the first book immediately before opening the second.
One of the main characters is Carrie, who has a complicated web of relationships with a half dozen people, most of whom I still barely have any clear conception of after finishing the book. They all become important at some point, to, so it is frustrating trying to care about what is going on.
There were some cool individual scenes, especially the flashbacks to Bishop and his discovery of the resonance, but the overall plot was not very compelling. There was a lot of moving pieces around the board and bringing characters together, with an ending that felt too ambiguous and yet too similar to the first book.
There was also a particularly cringe-worthy passage where one of the bad guys stands next to an (apparently real) statue of Chelsea Manning, Edward Snowden, and Julian Assange, and Carrie laments what might have been.
I really enjoyed The Nobody People (4.5 stars), which developed a strong premise in a satisfying way.
A year later, however, I barely remember any of the characters and have no attachment to them. And yet Somebody People makes no effort to remind the reader about where things stand or who these people are. I had to go back and skim the last couple chapters of Nobody People in order to get some things straight on the plot, but that didn't help that a bunch of characters are presented to me as though I just finished the first book immediately before opening the second.
One of the main characters is Carrie, who has a complicated web of relationships with a half dozen people, most of whom I still barely have any clear conception of after finishing the book. They all become important at some point, to, so it is frustrating trying to care about what is going on.
There were some cool individual scenes, especially the flashbacks to Bishop and his discovery of the resonance, but the overall plot was not very compelling. There was a lot of moving pieces around the board and bringing characters together, with an ending that felt too ambiguous and yet too similar to the first book.
There was also a particularly cringe-worthy passage where one of the bad guys stands next to an (apparently real) statue of Chelsea Manning, Edward Snowden, and Julian Assange, and Carrie laments what might have been.
Read
June 26, 2020I absolutely loved The Nobody People. But I read it a year ago, and I don't remember a lot of the details although I do remember it being character-driven, which is where the challenge came for me this time around...
When I started this one, I expected at least some rehash of the first book - it has, after all, been a year since it came out and when you have a character-driven narrative, a little bit of a refresher on the intricacies of your relationships is a really helpful thing... Frankly I think Proehl did readers (and himself, in the shape of review comments) a disservice by not including some such referent. I found myself losing the thread on this one in a way that I don't recall happening with the first book, and I suspect it is because I was missing connections and references to earlier events. It made this one feel more dragee than I suspected actually was. The storytelling is still strong here, but I felt a little bit like I was coming into the room just after the action happened on a lot of the scenes, and it meant this one didn't resonate with me the way the first one did.
I enjoyed the book - it was still an interesting tale (albeit one that started a lot slower than I remember experiencing with the first book) but I have a feeling I missed a ton of things because I simply don't remember enough about the characters, situations, or world-building at this point to catch them. It was almost like reading this one cold, and it was tough as a result. I need to go back and reread TNP and then read this one again. I suspect it will make for a very different reading experience...
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my obligation - free review copy.
When I started this one, I expected at least some rehash of the first book - it has, after all, been a year since it came out and when you have a character-driven narrative, a little bit of a refresher on the intricacies of your relationships is a really helpful thing... Frankly I think Proehl did readers (and himself, in the shape of review comments) a disservice by not including some such referent. I found myself losing the thread on this one in a way that I don't recall happening with the first book, and I suspect it is because I was missing connections and references to earlier events. It made this one feel more dragee than I suspected actually was. The storytelling is still strong here, but I felt a little bit like I was coming into the room just after the action happened on a lot of the scenes, and it meant this one didn't resonate with me the way the first one did.
I enjoyed the book - it was still an interesting tale (albeit one that started a lot slower than I remember experiencing with the first book) but I have a feeling I missed a ton of things because I simply don't remember enough about the characters, situations, or world-building at this point to catch them. It was almost like reading this one cold, and it was tough as a result. I need to go back and reread TNP and then read this one again. I suspect it will make for a very different reading experience...
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my obligation - free review copy.
October 16, 2021
Last year I reviewed The Nobody People, a superhero origin story that took a savvy fresh look at the superhero genre. I liked it a lot more than I initially thought I would, (because superheroes – what is there more to say, right?) so much so in fact that it was one of my favourites of the year.
Since then, a lot has happened – Covid has made the last 18 months or so seem like an age and my reading of the first book seems even longer ago. (I know it's not.)
And yet I was pleased to find that I settled back into this surprisingly quickly, especially as there is no summary, no list of characters, no reminder of what has gone before.
In his afterword acknowledgements, Bob has said that this is not really a second novel but simply the second half of one (admittedly long) novel, and that is true. (So, Warning: spoilers for the first book here.)
At the end of the first book we had a showdown between the Resonants (the people with superpowers) and the Damp (those without.) Fahima Deeb activated The Pulse, which triggered the emergence of superpowers in those who had them, whether they knew or not. Here, seven years later, the story picks up again after that brief war. The world is fractured socially, with demarcation areas and no-go zones for all. Dr. Deeb now has the responsibility of trying to ease the process of integrating the disparate factions and running areas of the USA. The Bishop Academy school, where many of the mutants lived and studied and was one of the centres for all the activity at the end of the first book, has now become a safe haven. Sarah Davenport, headteacher at the school has now become near-catatonic because of her actions in saving the school in the previous book. The bad guy (now revealed) is Patrick Davenport, who is using his own powers for his own ends by influencing and manipulating these newly empowered people into committing horrible acts against their will. Patrick has built an army entirely under his control to wipe out all who oppose him – like his old friend Fahima.
To these older characters we now have added Carrie Norris, whose illusion of a normal life vanishes at Fahima's reappearance. Clay Weaver, a retired soldier fighting to keep his husband and son safe - and to keep Patrick from taking over his mind. And, finally, Emmeline Hirsch, adrift and untethered from her ability to travel through time.
Like before, the book centres on a core of key characters in a character-driven book, but this time around I found that it was the wider consequences, the bigger picture that was most intriguing.
Of course, it does help if you feel that you have got to know the characters, and we have through Bob’s careful plotting both in the first book and continued into this.
But I found that this new bigger scale – looking at a world divided, post-Pulse - was rather numbing. Whist bigger, it also felt more disparate. The characters I had generally grown to love in the first book were being replaced by others, although some are still important, but much of this book deals with people and places that are new.
Most worryingly, I found that the new characters and what happened to them was uninteresting, even boring. In the middle of this big book, I was struggling to keep going. The bigger scale meant that I felt no connection with what was happening, no feeling that my investment in these characters and situations was worthwhile. I was reading but was getting no joy from reading about these characters. I began to lose track of who was doing what and where, and more crucially I didn’t really care. It’s never a good thing when I find myself drifting away and being attracted to other books when in the middle of another, and yet this is what happened here.
There’s no denying that the writing is good, and Bob does well to describe huge events in this brave new world we find ourselves in. Bob is interested in unravelling a complicated issue – what do you do when you are given power and how do you deal with the world afterwards?
But for me there was none of the excitement, the enthusiasm, the interest that I found in the first book. Whatever the first book had that I liked – no, loved – it seemed to be in short supply here.
Of course, the book ties things together by the end, and yes, there could be more, though things seem pretty much tied up by the end of this one. But in the end, I struggled to finish it. An ambitious book that tackles big issues, but sadly lost me a little in the middle to the point where I struggled to finish. It’s not bad, but it did not have the impact of the first for me.
Since then, a lot has happened – Covid has made the last 18 months or so seem like an age and my reading of the first book seems even longer ago. (I know it's not.)
And yet I was pleased to find that I settled back into this surprisingly quickly, especially as there is no summary, no list of characters, no reminder of what has gone before.
In his afterword acknowledgements, Bob has said that this is not really a second novel but simply the second half of one (admittedly long) novel, and that is true. (So, Warning: spoilers for the first book here.)
At the end of the first book we had a showdown between the Resonants (the people with superpowers) and the Damp (those without.) Fahima Deeb activated The Pulse, which triggered the emergence of superpowers in those who had them, whether they knew or not. Here, seven years later, the story picks up again after that brief war. The world is fractured socially, with demarcation areas and no-go zones for all. Dr. Deeb now has the responsibility of trying to ease the process of integrating the disparate factions and running areas of the USA. The Bishop Academy school, where many of the mutants lived and studied and was one of the centres for all the activity at the end of the first book, has now become a safe haven. Sarah Davenport, headteacher at the school has now become near-catatonic because of her actions in saving the school in the previous book. The bad guy (now revealed) is Patrick Davenport, who is using his own powers for his own ends by influencing and manipulating these newly empowered people into committing horrible acts against their will. Patrick has built an army entirely under his control to wipe out all who oppose him – like his old friend Fahima.
To these older characters we now have added Carrie Norris, whose illusion of a normal life vanishes at Fahima's reappearance. Clay Weaver, a retired soldier fighting to keep his husband and son safe - and to keep Patrick from taking over his mind. And, finally, Emmeline Hirsch, adrift and untethered from her ability to travel through time.
Like before, the book centres on a core of key characters in a character-driven book, but this time around I found that it was the wider consequences, the bigger picture that was most intriguing.
Of course, it does help if you feel that you have got to know the characters, and we have through Bob’s careful plotting both in the first book and continued into this.
But I found that this new bigger scale – looking at a world divided, post-Pulse - was rather numbing. Whist bigger, it also felt more disparate. The characters I had generally grown to love in the first book were being replaced by others, although some are still important, but much of this book deals with people and places that are new.
Most worryingly, I found that the new characters and what happened to them was uninteresting, even boring. In the middle of this big book, I was struggling to keep going. The bigger scale meant that I felt no connection with what was happening, no feeling that my investment in these characters and situations was worthwhile. I was reading but was getting no joy from reading about these characters. I began to lose track of who was doing what and where, and more crucially I didn’t really care. It’s never a good thing when I find myself drifting away and being attracted to other books when in the middle of another, and yet this is what happened here.
There’s no denying that the writing is good, and Bob does well to describe huge events in this brave new world we find ourselves in. Bob is interested in unravelling a complicated issue – what do you do when you are given power and how do you deal with the world afterwards?
But for me there was none of the excitement, the enthusiasm, the interest that I found in the first book. Whatever the first book had that I liked – no, loved – it seemed to be in short supply here.
Of course, the book ties things together by the end, and yes, there could be more, though things seem pretty much tied up by the end of this one. But in the end, I struggled to finish it. An ambitious book that tackles big issues, but sadly lost me a little in the middle to the point where I struggled to finish. It’s not bad, but it did not have the impact of the first for me.
July 8, 2023
I think I liked this better than the first book, mostly because it has the actual resolution to the story and has already distanced itself more from some of its inspirational material. Plus most of the characters are considerably more likable than Avi Hirsch from the first book, which was a low bar for me.
The good parts of this were related to the character development. It’s a pretty large cast of characters with a lot of motivations, backstories, identities, and perspectives, yet all still working toward a common goal in one way or another. Once those stories started to converge (about 200 pages in, a third of the way into the book), the pace really picks up. Which isn’t to say there wasn’t stuff happening before that, but there’s a 7 year time jump from the last story to this one that results in a lot of specific world building being needed to help re-ground the readers.
There’s also a lot of good themes, I think, when you can sift through the heavy metaphors. In general, I think this story boils down to the inexhaustible potential for humans to do good, if we can just get over our fears of the bad that can happen.
There are a lot of complex relationships at play, too. People fall in love but also hurt each other. They decide to help strangers, but lash out at those closest to them. Others view strangers almost as NPCs in a video game, merely helping to populate the world around them. At times, it’s frustrating for characters to make clearly wrong decisions, but it’s a bit less egregious than the first book, which just seemed to sink farther and farther into a sense of “why bother?” This at least gives some answers to that question.
The downside is that it’s just a really long, dense, and somewhat pretentious read. It takes a third of the total book to get to the point of the story, and even longer to have any sense of what’s going on. Along the way, there are tons of heavy metaphors and purple prose about the nature of mankind and why people make bad decisions. Tons of music references that just feel like someone pointing out what great taste in music they have (I’m decidedly not a music person, so maybe I’m overly sensitive to that one). A bunch of assumptions about drug use and stereotypical adolescent and youth culture, which absolutely happens, but without showing any of the real downsides.
I think there’s a really interesting story in here, and it was worth reading, but there’s just a part of me that didn’t truly enjoy the experience. I had to keep pushing myself through it instead of getting pulled in any time I took a break. The conclusion, though, was appropriately epic and gave answers to all the questions I had while I was reading, which is probably the most important thing.
The good parts of this were related to the character development. It’s a pretty large cast of characters with a lot of motivations, backstories, identities, and perspectives, yet all still working toward a common goal in one way or another. Once those stories started to converge (about 200 pages in, a third of the way into the book), the pace really picks up. Which isn’t to say there wasn’t stuff happening before that, but there’s a 7 year time jump from the last story to this one that results in a lot of specific world building being needed to help re-ground the readers.
There’s also a lot of good themes, I think, when you can sift through the heavy metaphors. In general, I think this story boils down to the inexhaustible potential for humans to do good, if we can just get over our fears of the bad that can happen.
There are a lot of complex relationships at play, too. People fall in love but also hurt each other. They decide to help strangers, but lash out at those closest to them. Others view strangers almost as NPCs in a video game, merely helping to populate the world around them. At times, it’s frustrating for characters to make clearly wrong decisions, but it’s a bit less egregious than the first book, which just seemed to sink farther and farther into a sense of “why bother?” This at least gives some answers to that question.
The downside is that it’s just a really long, dense, and somewhat pretentious read. It takes a third of the total book to get to the point of the story, and even longer to have any sense of what’s going on. Along the way, there are tons of heavy metaphors and purple prose about the nature of mankind and why people make bad decisions. Tons of music references that just feel like someone pointing out what great taste in music they have (I’m decidedly not a music person, so maybe I’m overly sensitive to that one). A bunch of assumptions about drug use and stereotypical adolescent and youth culture, which absolutely happens, but without showing any of the real downsides.
I think there’s a really interesting story in here, and it was worth reading, but there’s just a part of me that didn’t truly enjoy the experience. I had to keep pushing myself through it instead of getting pulled in any time I took a break. The conclusion, though, was appropriately epic and gave answers to all the questions I had while I was reading, which is probably the most important thing.
March 17, 2024
(8/10) I think this sequel is objectively a better book than the first, but my experience reading it was more up and down, and I felt the length of this one a lot more.
Why a better book? The concepts it plays with are just much more interesting and original - the premise of this book moves on from the very straightforward 'superpowers as a civil rights issue' direct parallels, and instead explores what can be different and illuminating about the idea of superpowers being a factor of societal division rather than race or sexuality. The big-bad in this book is also much more interesting (albeit, this was really just one story told over two books by the author's own admission, and the big-bad has been built up the whole time). The big-bad is not super fleshed out as a philosophical alternative in the way that their X-men equivalent or something might have - I think this is fine and good, and in fact, the unabashed evil of the villain is one of the only things that keeps the reader feeling like there's a moral scale to this action. Things could get worse here, so there are stakes we should care about.
The first book did have a sense of build and mystery to it, wondering exactly how far the author would take the consequences of this story, that is not present in this book since we already know how globally fucked things have gotten - I think this contributes to the second book feeling longer, since it starts at a certain level of panic and trauma and tonally stays there for basically its entire run. My least favourite thing about the duology is still its tendency towards either trauma-porn or just wall-to-wall melancholy - I reached a point where I would roll my eyes every time the author narrated another past anecdote about a time/relationship that should've been good but wasn't, 'the husband was meant to like the christmas present but he didn't' etc. Not every single one of these can feel powerful and poetic.
In that regard, I spent half the book feeling like Clay's story, an obvious inverse parallel to Avi's parenthood story in the first book, was just being repetitive rather than taking its chance to create contrasts. The whole relationship-under-stress thing felt very played out. Fortunately, that turned around, because unlike Avi, Clay is eventually allowed to be a nice character and actually seem like he cares about being a parent. This happened for the story more generally - the characters have to go through too long a slog of being miserable with each other, but the ending at least sticks the landing for most of their arcs, and takes them somewhere meaningful. It's a good finish, just a long road to get there.
Why a better book? The concepts it plays with are just much more interesting and original - the premise of this book moves on from the very straightforward 'superpowers as a civil rights issue' direct parallels, and instead explores what can be different and illuminating about the idea of superpowers being a factor of societal division rather than race or sexuality. The big-bad in this book is also much more interesting (albeit, this was really just one story told over two books by the author's own admission, and the big-bad has been built up the whole time). The big-bad is not super fleshed out as a philosophical alternative in the way that their X-men equivalent or something might have - I think this is fine and good, and in fact, the unabashed evil of the villain is one of the only things that keeps the reader feeling like there's a moral scale to this action. Things could get worse here, so there are stakes we should care about.
The first book did have a sense of build and mystery to it, wondering exactly how far the author would take the consequences of this story, that is not present in this book since we already know how globally fucked things have gotten - I think this contributes to the second book feeling longer, since it starts at a certain level of panic and trauma and tonally stays there for basically its entire run. My least favourite thing about the duology is still its tendency towards either trauma-porn or just wall-to-wall melancholy - I reached a point where I would roll my eyes every time the author narrated another past anecdote about a time/relationship that should've been good but wasn't, 'the husband was meant to like the christmas present but he didn't' etc. Not every single one of these can feel powerful and poetic.
In that regard, I spent half the book feeling like Clay's story, an obvious inverse parallel to Avi's parenthood story in the first book, was just being repetitive rather than taking its chance to create contrasts. The whole relationship-under-stress thing felt very played out. Fortunately, that turned around, because unlike Avi, Clay is eventually allowed to be a nice character and actually seem like he cares about being a parent. This happened for the story more generally - the characters have to go through too long a slog of being miserable with each other, but the ending at least sticks the landing for most of their arcs, and takes them somewhere meaningful. It's a good finish, just a long road to get there.
Read
June 12, 2024DNF — Really conflicted about putting this book down after how much I loved the first one but it just wasn’t getting any more interesting or any easier to read.
I noticed in the afterword that Bob Proehl mentioned that the scene which originally ended the last book made it into page 180 of this book, which is probably the biggest indicator as to why I just didn’t like this nearly as much as the first book. All the characters I got attached to are suddenly in totally different situations post-timeskip, or are barely mentioned. I grew to really love Alyssa and Fahima’s relationship by the end of the first book, but they’ve broken up at the start of the second book and by page 500 have barely said anything to each other. (Neither could I give a shit about Fahima’s new love interest or her struggles with intimacy — we had such a good thing going in book 1 only to just have it thrown to the wayside so that readers felt “shaken up” after the timeskip.) Also, where the fuck are Sarah and Bryce? Why don’t we ever hear from them despite Proehl trying to shoehorn them into the narrative wherever he could in the previous book?
Even the loose threads that were so tantalising in the first book are resolved so incredibly slowly or obviously — it doesn’t take a rocket scientist to figure out that Emmeline is going to save the world or, once he’s introduced in a flashback, who “Patrick Davenport” really is. And speaking of Patrick, where the hell is he throughout this book? So much of it is filled with useless interpersonal drama — why do we care about Carrie and Jonathan, especially when the latter stops being relevant after 50 pages? Why do we care about Ruth, or Clay and Dominic and Rai, who weren’t relevant in book 1 and whose story just never really comes to a head even after 400ish pages? — that the “threat” of Patrick not being himself and the Hive no longer being safe just doesn’t feel relevant any more. It’s like Proehl got so bogged down in writing about the minutiae of his characters’ daily lives that he just forgot about the story he was weaving in the first book.
There’s so much to love about a gritty superhero story that’s unapologetically queer and unafraid to engage with the big questions about how the oppressed can become the oppressors given the right (or wrong) circumstances, so it’s a shame that this duology had to get such a bloated ending that is so utterly lost in itself it doesn’t even feel worthwhile to read.
I noticed in the afterword that Bob Proehl mentioned that the scene which originally ended the last book made it into page 180 of this book, which is probably the biggest indicator as to why I just didn’t like this nearly as much as the first book. All the characters I got attached to are suddenly in totally different situations post-timeskip, or are barely mentioned. I grew to really love Alyssa and Fahima’s relationship by the end of the first book, but they’ve broken up at the start of the second book and by page 500 have barely said anything to each other. (Neither could I give a shit about Fahima’s new love interest or her struggles with intimacy — we had such a good thing going in book 1 only to just have it thrown to the wayside so that readers felt “shaken up” after the timeskip.) Also, where the fuck are Sarah and Bryce? Why don’t we ever hear from them despite Proehl trying to shoehorn them into the narrative wherever he could in the previous book?
Even the loose threads that were so tantalising in the first book are resolved so incredibly slowly or obviously — it doesn’t take a rocket scientist to figure out that Emmeline is going to save the world or, once he’s introduced in a flashback, who “Patrick Davenport” really is. And speaking of Patrick, where the hell is he throughout this book? So much of it is filled with useless interpersonal drama — why do we care about Carrie and Jonathan, especially when the latter stops being relevant after 50 pages? Why do we care about Ruth, or Clay and Dominic and Rai, who weren’t relevant in book 1 and whose story just never really comes to a head even after 400ish pages? — that the “threat” of Patrick not being himself and the Hive no longer being safe just doesn’t feel relevant any more. It’s like Proehl got so bogged down in writing about the minutiae of his characters’ daily lives that he just forgot about the story he was weaving in the first book.
There’s so much to love about a gritty superhero story that’s unapologetically queer and unafraid to engage with the big questions about how the oppressed can become the oppressors given the right (or wrong) circumstances, so it’s a shame that this duology had to get such a bloated ending that is so utterly lost in itself it doesn’t even feel worthwhile to read.
August 19, 2020
Disclaimer: I received this e-arc from the publisher. Thanks! All opinions are my own.
Book: The Somebody People
Author: Bob Proehl
Book Series: The Nobody People Book 2
Rating: 3/5
Recommended For...: Heroes like story, sci-fi
Publication Date: September 1, 2020
Genre: Sci-Fi
Recommended Age: 16+ (violence, slight gore, some romance, dictatorships)
Publisher: Del Rey Books
Pages: 624
Synopsis: Fahima Deeb changed everything seven years ago when she triggered the Pulse, imbuing millions of people with otherworldly gifts like flight, telekinesis, or superhuman strength. She thought that would herald the end of the hostilities between those with abilities and those without, but it instead highlighted a new problem: There is someone behind the scenes, able to influence and manipulate these newly empowered people into committing horrible acts against their will. Worse still, that shadowy figure is wearing the face of Fahima's oldest friend, Patrick Davenport. Fahima is horror-struck when she realizes that Patrick has built an army entirely under his control to wipe out all who oppose him.
With nowhere to turn and few she can trust, Fahima must rely on uncertain allies: Carrie Norris, whose illusion of a normal life vanishes at Fahima's reappearance. Clay Weaver, a retired soldier fighting to keep his husband and son safe--and to keep Patrick from taking over his mind. And, finally, Emmeline Hirsch, adrift and untethered from her ability to travel through time. Together, they might be able to topple Patrick's shadowy regime . . . though it may spell destruction for the entire world.
Review: The book is pretty good. It's a straight continuation of the first one. The book has good world building and good pacing. The plot of this one also kept me intrigued in the book. This is another book that will be great for tome topper as well!
Overall though, I don't think this book is as good as the first. The characters were a bit weirdly wrote and I can't fully describe it. The book had weird structure also and it didn't really grasp my attention. You also have to remember the last book and it would be best to read these back to back unlike what I did.
Verdict: It was good, but make sure to read book 1 first or you’ll be confused like me!
Book: The Somebody People
Author: Bob Proehl
Book Series: The Nobody People Book 2
Rating: 3/5
Recommended For...: Heroes like story, sci-fi
Publication Date: September 1, 2020
Genre: Sci-Fi
Recommended Age: 16+ (violence, slight gore, some romance, dictatorships)
Publisher: Del Rey Books
Pages: 624
Synopsis: Fahima Deeb changed everything seven years ago when she triggered the Pulse, imbuing millions of people with otherworldly gifts like flight, telekinesis, or superhuman strength. She thought that would herald the end of the hostilities between those with abilities and those without, but it instead highlighted a new problem: There is someone behind the scenes, able to influence and manipulate these newly empowered people into committing horrible acts against their will. Worse still, that shadowy figure is wearing the face of Fahima's oldest friend, Patrick Davenport. Fahima is horror-struck when she realizes that Patrick has built an army entirely under his control to wipe out all who oppose him.
With nowhere to turn and few she can trust, Fahima must rely on uncertain allies: Carrie Norris, whose illusion of a normal life vanishes at Fahima's reappearance. Clay Weaver, a retired soldier fighting to keep his husband and son safe--and to keep Patrick from taking over his mind. And, finally, Emmeline Hirsch, adrift and untethered from her ability to travel through time. Together, they might be able to topple Patrick's shadowy regime . . . though it may spell destruction for the entire world.
Review: The book is pretty good. It's a straight continuation of the first one. The book has good world building and good pacing. The plot of this one also kept me intrigued in the book. This is another book that will be great for tome topper as well!
Overall though, I don't think this book is as good as the first. The characters were a bit weirdly wrote and I can't fully describe it. The book had weird structure also and it didn't really grasp my attention. You also have to remember the last book and it would be best to read these back to back unlike what I did.
Verdict: It was good, but make sure to read book 1 first or you’ll be confused like me!
October 6, 2020
I received a copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
This is the sequel to The Nobody People and if it has been awhile since you read that book, I would recommend that you stop now and go back and refresh yourself on the events from the first book. This two-book series reads like the author wrote the whole thing in one long 1200 page book and decided to split it up so there is really no reminders of what happened earlier or how the characters relate to one another.
It is now several years after the war between the Resonants (people with special powers/abilities) and "Baseliners" or just normal everyday people and the superpowers won. The losers are mostly sent to the western part of the United States in an area called "The Wastes" so you can get a feel for how normal humans are treated. It turns out that "The Pulse" (an event that gave a certain percentage of the population abilities) had some unintended consequences, such as allowing an evil actor to take control and use their powers against those who oppose them. Various characters from the first book take turns in alternating chapters with their points of view on events across the country along with flashbacks with details about how everything started.
I found that this book took awhile to get going. There was a lot of setup and not being able to recall exactly how characters related to one another and what they did in book 1 made things difficult to start with. It was probably about 40% before the action starts and you can start to see the pieces on the chess board moving. There were some good action sequences but it seemed inconsistent. Sometimes, there was a big build up and then resolution in a paragraph while other times in a similar situation, the resolution took several pages. It was fun reading about their powers but you only got to see a few up close.
Overall, I enjoyed the book but I think it suffered from having little to no summary of events from book 1 and somewhat inconsistent pacing. I would highly recommend reading the series back to back for peak enjoyment. It was a clever twist on the superpower/X-Men story.
This is the sequel to The Nobody People and if it has been awhile since you read that book, I would recommend that you stop now and go back and refresh yourself on the events from the first book. This two-book series reads like the author wrote the whole thing in one long 1200 page book and decided to split it up so there is really no reminders of what happened earlier or how the characters relate to one another.
It is now several years after the war between the Resonants (people with special powers/abilities) and "Baseliners" or just normal everyday people and the superpowers won. The losers are mostly sent to the western part of the United States in an area called "The Wastes" so you can get a feel for how normal humans are treated. It turns out that "The Pulse" (an event that gave a certain percentage of the population abilities) had some unintended consequences, such as allowing an evil actor to take control and use their powers against those who oppose them. Various characters from the first book take turns in alternating chapters with their points of view on events across the country along with flashbacks with details about how everything started.
I found that this book took awhile to get going. There was a lot of setup and not being able to recall exactly how characters related to one another and what they did in book 1 made things difficult to start with. It was probably about 40% before the action starts and you can start to see the pieces on the chess board moving. There were some good action sequences but it seemed inconsistent. Sometimes, there was a big build up and then resolution in a paragraph while other times in a similar situation, the resolution took several pages. It was fun reading about their powers but you only got to see a few up close.
Overall, I enjoyed the book but I think it suffered from having little to no summary of events from book 1 and somewhat inconsistent pacing. I would highly recommend reading the series back to back for peak enjoyment. It was a clever twist on the superpower/X-Men story.
June 4, 2020
Ultimately a satisfying conclusion to this two-part series. I think both books had some issues, but a strong plot, writing, and characters were enough to keep me hooked.
(Heads-up: there are no handy "Nobody" recaps or refreshers in "Somebody." If you haven't read the first book, you'll likely be lost on this one.)
I envy anyone who gets to read these two books back-to-back. There are loads of characters to keep track of. Taking a year off between books meant that I struggled to get back into the flow of things and remember what was going on. Tackling them together I imagine will result in a more rewarding experience.
I think this second book started out a wee bit shaky. For a good third of the book, there isn't really any clear villain or focus for the plot. Three central characters, Fahima, Carrie, and Clay are each working on different missions. These missions ultimately intersect. But, before they do, with the absence of a clear antagonist, things started to drag a bit for me personally. About halfway though the book however, the pace picked up and I started to really enjoy the ride.
As mentioned above, the characters in this book are outstanding. Loved Fahima, Emmaline, and (A new character? I can't remember if he was in the fist book) Clay. These are complex people with unique story lines, (I also loved the Bishop flashbacks). At first I was bummed that again this book was going to focus on Carrie, (a character I didn't really enjoy in the first book.) But I thought she was more fleshed out in this book, more interesting to get to know.
Overall, these are well-written books with some timely lessons on belonging, power, and politics and some lovely deep thoughts like this one: "preparedness and planning aren't the opposites of hope, but they run at strange angles to it."
Thanks to the author and NetGalley for granting me the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.
(Heads-up: there are no handy "Nobody" recaps or refreshers in "Somebody." If you haven't read the first book, you'll likely be lost on this one.)
I envy anyone who gets to read these two books back-to-back. There are loads of characters to keep track of. Taking a year off between books meant that I struggled to get back into the flow of things and remember what was going on. Tackling them together I imagine will result in a more rewarding experience.
I think this second book started out a wee bit shaky. For a good third of the book, there isn't really any clear villain or focus for the plot. Three central characters, Fahima, Carrie, and Clay are each working on different missions. These missions ultimately intersect. But, before they do, with the absence of a clear antagonist, things started to drag a bit for me personally. About halfway though the book however, the pace picked up and I started to really enjoy the ride.
As mentioned above, the characters in this book are outstanding. Loved Fahima, Emmaline, and (A new character? I can't remember if he was in the fist book) Clay. These are complex people with unique story lines, (I also loved the Bishop flashbacks). At first I was bummed that again this book was going to focus on Carrie, (a character I didn't really enjoy in the first book.) But I thought she was more fleshed out in this book, more interesting to get to know.
Overall, these are well-written books with some timely lessons on belonging, power, and politics and some lovely deep thoughts like this one: "preparedness and planning aren't the opposites of hope, but they run at strange angles to it."
Thanks to the author and NetGalley for granting me the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.
December 6, 2020
Fatima Deeb didn’t realize that triggering the pulse had some drawbacks for the people who got their abilities. People who didn’t have abilities were uncomfortable with them. Families didn’t want one child with abilities especially deemed useless. Fatima was surprised when she discovered that her friend Patrick had been taken over by another who was trying to take over everyone that had talents. This person has had Patrick create an army beside having others with talents do terrible acts against their will. Can Fatima figure out what to do to stop this? Meanwhile a young girl with talents is hiding out with other talents. She is Emmeline. Fatima thinks that with Emmeline’s help they can overcome the person who is controlling her friend. Emmeline is willing to help but doesn’t know if she will succeed. Will she? How will she do it?
This novel is book 2 and the last book to read of the two book series. I enjoyed reading Emmeline’s journey to learning what she could and couldn’t do. She was surprised at moments when she used her ability. The story in some ways remind me of X-men but it is also different enough that I’m glad it was written. It reminded me of how people are afraid of other people who are different and how they react to that. I read this book as a stand-alone because I had not read the first book. I would had liked to read the first book as it would had given me some background of the characters in the novel. I will be getting the first book even though I know the ending as I am curious to know more. It’s a complex adventure novel in the realm of science fiction.
Disclaimer: I received an arc of this book from the author/publisher from Netgalley. I wasn’t obligated to write a favorable review or any review at all. The opinions expressed are strictly my own.
This novel is book 2 and the last book to read of the two book series. I enjoyed reading Emmeline’s journey to learning what she could and couldn’t do. She was surprised at moments when she used her ability. The story in some ways remind me of X-men but it is also different enough that I’m glad it was written. It reminded me of how people are afraid of other people who are different and how they react to that. I read this book as a stand-alone because I had not read the first book. I would had liked to read the first book as it would had given me some background of the characters in the novel. I will be getting the first book even though I know the ending as I am curious to know more. It’s a complex adventure novel in the realm of science fiction.
Disclaimer: I received an arc of this book from the author/publisher from Netgalley. I wasn’t obligated to write a favorable review or any review at all. The opinions expressed are strictly my own.
September 21, 2020
THE SOMEBODY PEOPLE, by Bob Proehl, is the epic conclusion to his first book, THE NOBODY PEOPLE. In this altered reality, a certain number of people have been given supernatural abilities like flying, stopping time, teleportation, etc. Seven years prior to this book something called The Pulse happened, imbuing many more people with abilities, but there was still a large contingent of the population that had no special ability and seemingly never would. Because of a perpetual unrest between those with powers and those without, a plan is created to end the unrest and bring order back to the world, but it quickly becomes clear that nothing is as simple or as pure in intention as it seems.
The world Proehl creates is so imaginative and magical and the reader will spent a lot of time pleasantly exploring the world throughout the book. On the surface, one could compare the story to major storylines in a certain comic book series, but this book is so much more gritty and Proehl makes sure to make each of his characters very real and tangible in a way that other stories like this have not done. I did get a little lost at times with so many characters to follow and which ones have a history together and which ones don't, but it really didn't slow me down too much. The ending of the book is so mind-bending, so complicated, and so exciting I had to read the last few chapters twice.
THE SOMEBODY PEOPLE is such a unique and different novel that I can't wait to see what Bob Proehl comes up with next.
Thank you to Random House/Del Ray, Bob Proehl, and Netgalley for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest opinion.
The world Proehl creates is so imaginative and magical and the reader will spent a lot of time pleasantly exploring the world throughout the book. On the surface, one could compare the story to major storylines in a certain comic book series, but this book is so much more gritty and Proehl makes sure to make each of his characters very real and tangible in a way that other stories like this have not done. I did get a little lost at times with so many characters to follow and which ones have a history together and which ones don't, but it really didn't slow me down too much. The ending of the book is so mind-bending, so complicated, and so exciting I had to read the last few chapters twice.
THE SOMEBODY PEOPLE is such a unique and different novel that I can't wait to see what Bob Proehl comes up with next.
Thank you to Random House/Del Ray, Bob Proehl, and Netgalley for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest opinion.
May 20, 2020
Many thanks to the publishers for the Advanced Reading Copy!
The Somebody People and it's precursor, The Nobody People, have an easy and oft-made comparison to the X-Men. People living on earth with powers that others don't possess, their genes changed permanently by an outside source. While this comparison is an excellent jumping off point (it's true - if you like the X-Men, you SHOULD read these books), it sells The Somebody People short. The Somebody People addresses xenophobia, family, and love - as well as the nature of time itself, death, and how you would act if someone amplified the very worst pieces of yourself.
Reading the Somebody People in the middle of a pandemic added an extra layer to the quality of the book; how do we treat others during a crisis? How do our good intentions go awry, or fall into place? Proehl is an excellent writer, and he gets at these questions without seeming trite or condescending.
I had a couple of complaints with the Nobody People, despite overall enjoying the book - some of the characters decisions were baffling to me, and I felt that pieces of it trudged along. None of these issues were present in the Somebody People. If anything, the characters became significantly more complex, vulnerable and likeable, in a way that often explained decisions made the book before. It is absolutely necessary to read The Nobody People before reading this book, and I would highly recommend both.
The Somebody People and it's precursor, The Nobody People, have an easy and oft-made comparison to the X-Men. People living on earth with powers that others don't possess, their genes changed permanently by an outside source. While this comparison is an excellent jumping off point (it's true - if you like the X-Men, you SHOULD read these books), it sells The Somebody People short. The Somebody People addresses xenophobia, family, and love - as well as the nature of time itself, death, and how you would act if someone amplified the very worst pieces of yourself.
Reading the Somebody People in the middle of a pandemic added an extra layer to the quality of the book; how do we treat others during a crisis? How do our good intentions go awry, or fall into place? Proehl is an excellent writer, and he gets at these questions without seeming trite or condescending.
I had a couple of complaints with the Nobody People, despite overall enjoying the book - some of the characters decisions were baffling to me, and I felt that pieces of it trudged along. None of these issues were present in the Somebody People. If anything, the characters became significantly more complex, vulnerable and likeable, in a way that often explained decisions made the book before. It is absolutely necessary to read The Nobody People before reading this book, and I would highly recommend both.
July 19, 2023
I totally forgot what happened in the first book since it's been several years since I read it. But I just kind of took things for face value and had to be reintroduced to characters all over again. that probably made things less impactful. Only Faheema and Kimani seemed familiar.
It took quite some time to set up where the characters were and since I don't remember how the first book ended I can't tell how much time has passed and if we are supposed to know the state of the world or not.
Has some interesting political ideas about power and the disenfranchised. What happens when humanity has to accept that people with out powers are going to disappear in a generation. How does the world react and are folks forced to adopt the technologies to convert to people with abilities to keep up with the rest of the world.
It took a while to understand the big bad and how it connected and originated to some of the flashbacks to Kevin Bishop's youth. Maybe this bad guy appeared in the first book, maybe not. I don't remember. Even without remembering things, the pacing was interesting and I could definitely visualize this as a serialized tv show and then the excitement as all the different story lines start intersecting.
It took quite some time to set up where the characters were and since I don't remember how the first book ended I can't tell how much time has passed and if we are supposed to know the state of the world or not.
Has some interesting political ideas about power and the disenfranchised. What happens when humanity has to accept that people with out powers are going to disappear in a generation. How does the world react and are folks forced to adopt the technologies to convert to people with abilities to keep up with the rest of the world.
It took a while to understand the big bad and how it connected and originated to some of the flashbacks to Kevin Bishop's youth. Maybe this bad guy appeared in the first book, maybe not. I don't remember. Even without remembering things, the pacing was interesting and I could definitely visualize this as a serialized tv show and then the excitement as all the different story lines start intersecting.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 26, 2022
4+ stars - I had a gap of over a year between the first and second books, so it took me a little while to rediscover my place in the story, but one I did, it flew past. I can definitely recommend this pair of books though would recommend reading them much closer together. Bob Proehl clearly riffs off of the X-men characters and stories, but quickly builds a world of his own, populates it with a large set of complex characters running through some a major world-changing conflicts and the complexities of making connections and finding a meaningful path through life.
"Each war decides how it will be fought, but it comes down to ground. Bodies are fungible; ground is real. Trench warfare is the most brutal iteration of this truth, but it's evident in every form of war. There are two basic versions: one group holds ground and the other tries to take it, or a piece of ground stands open and contested and two groups rush in to build a bridge of bodies to its other side. The latter is prelude to the former, a subset. Weapons and methods change, but at its heart, war is about taking ground and holding it."
"Each war decides how it will be fought, but it comes down to ground. Bodies are fungible; ground is real. Trench warfare is the most brutal iteration of this truth, but it's evident in every form of war. There are two basic versions: one group holds ground and the other tries to take it, or a piece of ground stands open and contested and two groups rush in to build a bridge of bodies to its other side. The latter is prelude to the former, a subset. Weapons and methods change, but at its heart, war is about taking ground and holding it."
May 19, 2020
Thanks to Netgallery for the ARC and helping to keep another reader sane during the pandemic days.
Proehl's sequel I found to be a more enjoyable read, touching upon what a resonant/human world looks like after the war that was built up in 'The Nobody People.' Almost all the same characters are back, with a maturity to them that helps move the story along, to include an actual protagonist. In other words, less origin and more story. In a lot of ways the first half of the book is similar to Jonathan Hickman's current take on the X-Men, with what a 'nation' of powered would look like and what it would do. Unfortunately the second half of the book I felt lost its way with overburdened complexities regarding abilities and.. time travel (urg).
This could be a finale and it could be part of a trilogy, I'll admit the ending left it vague. If you're feeling nostalgic for a similar, modern twist on the mutant/X-Men genre, I'd recommend giving Proehl's novels a try.
Proehl's sequel I found to be a more enjoyable read, touching upon what a resonant/human world looks like after the war that was built up in 'The Nobody People.' Almost all the same characters are back, with a maturity to them that helps move the story along, to include an actual protagonist. In other words, less origin and more story. In a lot of ways the first half of the book is similar to Jonathan Hickman's current take on the X-Men, with what a 'nation' of powered would look like and what it would do. Unfortunately the second half of the book I felt lost its way with overburdened complexities regarding abilities and.. time travel (urg).
This could be a finale and it could be part of a trilogy, I'll admit the ending left it vague. If you're feeling nostalgic for a similar, modern twist on the mutant/X-Men genre, I'd recommend giving Proehl's novels a try.
January 25, 2021
I jumped into The Somebody People by Bob Proehl having not read the first in the series, but after a few chapters of "wait, who is this and what can they do", I found myself engrossed in a story that delves deep into questions of humanity, the idea of tribes and society, and family and friendship. Proehl's prose can be dense, with heady ideas tossed around in single paragraphs that span the page, but excavating these mini-essays is well worth the readers time, as his characters growth and development is evident in their actions and thoughts. He does a wonderful job at world building, reflecting the changes of this dystopian (to some) world through the eyes of his multiple protagonists with skill and an eye for detail. I feel the need to go back and read the initial entry in this series; this is the kind of deep SF that could easily be held up against literary novels and their high-minded adherents as proof of concept.
March 23, 2023
Reposted from my review of "The Nobody People" because they really are one story in two parts.
Do you like the X-men? Either the 90s Animated series, the movies, the tv series ("the gifted" comes to mind) or the comic books? Then you will probably enjoy this book on some level. It is an interesting exploration of using "the mutant" trope as social commentary on various civil rights movements and US politics--pointing out both where the analogy works and where it fails.
It is also interesting as a direct parody of the X-men franchise, as all the familiar characters (both powers and personalities) are here, although remixed in fun ways.
If you aren't an x-men fan but enjoy scifi tales with superpowers and dystopic futures, then you may also enjoy these two novels, but honestly I'm too big of an x-men comic book fan to comment on how this story will read if you having no experienced the material that inspired the novels.
Do you like the X-men? Either the 90s Animated series, the movies, the tv series ("the gifted" comes to mind) or the comic books? Then you will probably enjoy this book on some level. It is an interesting exploration of using "the mutant" trope as social commentary on various civil rights movements and US politics--pointing out both where the analogy works and where it fails.
It is also interesting as a direct parody of the X-men franchise, as all the familiar characters (both powers and personalities) are here, although remixed in fun ways.
If you aren't an x-men fan but enjoy scifi tales with superpowers and dystopic futures, then you may also enjoy these two novels, but honestly I'm too big of an x-men comic book fan to comment on how this story will read if you having no experienced the material that inspired the novels.
June 18, 2020
This is the follow up to The Nobody People and you should really read that before starting The Somebody People.
That said, this book is wonderful! Seven years have gone by since the Pulse went off. The Pulse was set off in order to make more people into Resonants (people with special powers). This was intended to stop the hate from normal people but things did not go exactly as planned.
Now, Resonants are in charge and normal people have been pushed to the west. The man in charge of the Bishop School has decided to set off another pulse even though it will kill half of the people it touches. He also intends to do this worldwide! The Somebody People is the story of those who oppose him and who are willing to fight to stop him.
I really enjoyed this book. It kept my attention all the way through, and made me laugh and cry. I highly recommend The Somebody People!
That said, this book is wonderful! Seven years have gone by since the Pulse went off. The Pulse was set off in order to make more people into Resonants (people with special powers). This was intended to stop the hate from normal people but things did not go exactly as planned.
Now, Resonants are in charge and normal people have been pushed to the west. The man in charge of the Bishop School has decided to set off another pulse even though it will kill half of the people it touches. He also intends to do this worldwide! The Somebody People is the story of those who oppose him and who are willing to fight to stop him.
I really enjoyed this book. It kept my attention all the way through, and made me laugh and cry. I highly recommend The Somebody People!
July 16, 2020
Sequel to the Nobody People, this begins sometime after the first book, after the Pulse and the Civil War that followed. It takes the first part of the book to determine this, following a few of the characters from the first book and some new ones, and it is slow and unclear and at first seemingly pointless. Then about 40 percent of the way in the story picks up as Patrick/the dark forces begin to clash in earnest with Fahima's people, and Emmeline once again comes out of the shadows. It makes for an exciting story to the end, but not much meaningful content beyond another villain using his powers to control absolutely. I found it dull and then disappointing. My copy was an ARC from NetGalley.
August 27, 2020
There are lot of interesting ideas in this tale of Resonants and humans- the haves and have nots- where the Resonants have special powers. Think X-Men. I was a fan of the first book but I was challenged more than a little by this one because it's a sprawling tale told by many narrators, some of whom were new and some of whom are carry overs from the first book. It seemed to me as if the two books were written at the same time and then split in half. That said, the issue of how individuals who are different (in this case, the humans are now the different) are treated, especially when the tables have been turned upside down. There's a puppeteer who has designs on domination and a group determined not to let him have that. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. It's entertaining.
September 2, 2020
This is the 2nd book in the Nobody People duology, expanding the back story and characters that were developed in the first book. Somebody People can be read as a stand alone but is a much richer experience for having read the first book.
The world is divided between people with "powers" and those without. There has been a war that left the divide with no clear advantages for either side and a whole middle with members from each side.
This book is very hard to review without giving away so much of the story. Bob Proehl writes an excellent tale of the consequences of divide and conquer tactics. Everyone loses something in the battle for equality but we all win when fate forces us to live together or die. A really excellent read.
The world is divided between people with "powers" and those without. There has been a war that left the divide with no clear advantages for either side and a whole middle with members from each side.
This book is very hard to review without giving away so much of the story. Bob Proehl writes an excellent tale of the consequences of divide and conquer tactics. Everyone loses something in the battle for equality but we all win when fate forces us to live together or die. A really excellent read.
June 26, 2020
The Somebody People is the sequel to The Nobody People, which needs to be read prior to reading this book. (The Somebody People really doesn't function well as a stand-alone.) This is a book that delves into the world of difference - what happens when some people have powers and others do not?
This book takes place seven years after the Great War, and those with powers have taken over, but things aren't quite the utopia the resonants had hoped for. This is a fast-paced fantasy book that explores concepts of prejudice.
Many thanks to NetGalley, the author, and the publisher for providing me with a copy of this book. All thoughts are my own.
This book takes place seven years after the Great War, and those with powers have taken over, but things aren't quite the utopia the resonants had hoped for. This is a fast-paced fantasy book that explores concepts of prejudice.
Many thanks to NetGalley, the author, and the publisher for providing me with a copy of this book. All thoughts are my own.
August 9, 2020
It's been seven years since the Pulse, an energy wave that unlocked superpowers in 2/3 of Americans and left the rest to be herded into the Wastes. Fahima struggles to engineer another Pulse without the incandescent Emmeline who powered the first one (and without the fatalities certain colleagues seem to relish) and then to get the rest of the world to sign on. Meanwhile, veterans like Carrie and Clay struggle just to live their lives and protect their families. And an enemy wearing the face of a friend keeps building an army of mind-controlled super soldiers. The sprawling cast and action take awhile to coalesce, but it's worth the wait. Thanks, Netgalley.
July 8, 2021
At times, this felt a lot less cohesive than the first book - the plot was necessarily more complex, and didn't always fit together in my mind (I'm very glad I read it immediately after The Nobody People, and so it was fresh in my mind). However, personally, The Somebody People packed a much bigger emotional punch than its predecessor. I found myself so much more invested in the characters this time around. This was a very satisfying conclusion to the duology, which I found difficult to put down. I can't wait to see what Bob Proehl writes next.
Thanks to Titan and Netgalley for the ARC.
4.5 stars rounded up to 5.
Thanks to Titan and Netgalley for the ARC.
4.5 stars rounded up to 5.
June 3, 2020
Thank you netgalley for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
This is a well written fantasy book with intricate characters and a fast paced plot. Told through multiple points of view the author takes us through the life of these very diverse characters and their abilities.
While the storyline was incredible, I did feel at times my mind start to drift as we are often bogged down with too many details and characters but overall a great novel.
This is a well written fantasy book with intricate characters and a fast paced plot. Told through multiple points of view the author takes us through the life of these very diverse characters and their abilities.
While the storyline was incredible, I did feel at times my mind start to drift as we are often bogged down with too many details and characters but overall a great novel.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 44 reviews