What do you think?
Rate this book
Magnificent
The world wants me to be a "normal" hero, but I'm genderqueer, and I'm never going to fit into their molds. So how do you save the world when you're just trying to figure out who you are?
Having a superpowered family is hard. My dad's a famous superhero and my mom used to be a villain. Toss in my older sister who loves showing off her powers almost as much as she loves boys and you basically have my life: far from ordinary.
All I ever wanted to do was fly with my family and help save the world. But I didn't get my own powers until bullies cornered me for not acting like the girl they thought I was and I had to defend myself. Having a secret identity is hard, but there's more than one kind of mask, and I can't wear my masks much longer. I'll soon find out if the world's ready for a genderqueer hero.
Magnificent is a nonbinary transgender superhero novella with lots of heart, big issues, a bit of snark, and a happy, triumphant ending.
Content note: I always hesitate to put a content warning, because I think it sometimes pre-colors the reading of the story. So, I'm going to put a content note instead, with both the ups and the downs ahead. This story is raw and hits on a lot of raw issues, including homophobia, transphobia, bullying, gender dysphoria, depression, and suicidal ideation. It also includes learning self-worth, coming into your own, acceptance by those you love, acceptance of yourself, finding your power, and soaring above all you've been through. It does indeed have a happy, triumphant ending. Please read with discretion, love, and self-care.
Having a superpowered family is hard. My dad's a famous superhero and my mom used to be a villain. Toss in my older sister who loves showing off her powers almost as much as she loves boys and you basically have my life: far from ordinary.
All I ever wanted to do was fly with my family and help save the world. But I didn't get my own powers until bullies cornered me for not acting like the girl they thought I was and I had to defend myself. Having a secret identity is hard, but there's more than one kind of mask, and I can't wear my masks much longer. I'll soon find out if the world's ready for a genderqueer hero.
Magnificent is a nonbinary transgender superhero novella with lots of heart, big issues, a bit of snark, and a happy, triumphant ending.
Content note: I always hesitate to put a content warning, because I think it sometimes pre-colors the reading of the story. So, I'm going to put a content note instead, with both the ups and the downs ahead. This story is raw and hits on a lot of raw issues, including homophobia, transphobia, bullying, gender dysphoria, depression, and suicidal ideation. It also includes learning self-worth, coming into your own, acceptance by those you love, acceptance of yourself, finding your power, and soaring above all you've been through. It does indeed have a happy, triumphant ending. Please read with discretion, love, and self-care.
- GenresLGBT
70 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 28, 2020
2 people are currently reading
46 people want to read
About the author
Novae Caelum
42 books272 followersNovae Caelum (he/they/starself) loves royalty, cloak and dagger, and sparkly queer magic, and will unapologetically write things with all three.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
January 6, 2021
(This review originally appeared at History That Never Was.)
Magnificent by Novae Caelum is a wonderful novella of a young non-binary superhero discovering their powers, recognizing their identity, and figuring out how those two aspects of their life inform each other.
The main character, whose original name is not identified until late in the book, is part of a family of superheroes who all use “Magnificent” as part of their hero names. The main character has not discovered their powers when the book opens, but after they discover those powers, they begin fighting crime with their family under the name “Magnificent Lass.” But the name doesn’t suit them, and when they realize why that is, their family tries to be supportive. But they only truly grow into their own when they go to South America to help another superhero fight off a nanite incursion and truly realize the scope of their powers. Through their realizations there and on returning to their home city, they develop a superhero identity that makes them comfortable.
Magnificent is a young adult novella, but it’s also appropriate for tweens or younger, which makes it a great way to introduce non-binary identity to a younger audience. It’s a delightful and quick read, and I hope the author will write other stories featuring Magnificent and their world!
The author provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for review consideration.
Magnificent by Novae Caelum is a wonderful novella of a young non-binary superhero discovering their powers, recognizing their identity, and figuring out how those two aspects of their life inform each other.
The main character, whose original name is not identified until late in the book, is part of a family of superheroes who all use “Magnificent” as part of their hero names. The main character has not discovered their powers when the book opens, but after they discover those powers, they begin fighting crime with their family under the name “Magnificent Lass.” But the name doesn’t suit them, and when they realize why that is, their family tries to be supportive. But they only truly grow into their own when they go to South America to help another superhero fight off a nanite incursion and truly realize the scope of their powers. Through their realizations there and on returning to their home city, they develop a superhero identity that makes them comfortable.
Magnificent is a young adult novella, but it’s also appropriate for tweens or younger, which makes it a great way to introduce non-binary identity to a younger audience. It’s a delightful and quick read, and I hope the author will write other stories featuring Magnificent and their world!
The author provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for review consideration.
February 5, 2025
Trigger warning: limited but some terms of homophobia, transphobia, deals with issues of gender dysphoria, body dysmorphia. This is mentioned by the author at the start of the book.
This is a short book that feels like both the perfect outing for a non-binary superhero and a personal recording of the author’s journey to discover themself.
The story on the most basic level is about a person born into a family of superheroes. Initially without obvious powers, the person discovers their powers and shortly after realizes they are not in anyway the person they thought they were. From a powerless younger “daughter” to a powerful gender-queer teenager, they must discover who they are, what they can do, and what their body can do for them, before the world overwhelms them with expectations.
On a deeper level, the author is channeling their experiences, their challenges, their hopes and dreams and sharing it with us.
It’s not a bestseller book. It’s not an Avengers or Batman superhero story. It is a great way to explore what a non-binary person can feel and be and how the world and family could react and support (or not) them finding their true self.
This is a book of this era of finding self-identity and facing up to the realities of the world whilst embedding it in a fantasy superhero story. And life is hard - so it’s not the happiest of books but it’s very meaningful.
This is a short book that feels like both the perfect outing for a non-binary superhero and a personal recording of the author’s journey to discover themself.
The story on the most basic level is about a person born into a family of superheroes. Initially without obvious powers, the person discovers their powers and shortly after realizes they are not in anyway the person they thought they were. From a powerless younger “daughter” to a powerful gender-queer teenager, they must discover who they are, what they can do, and what their body can do for them, before the world overwhelms them with expectations.
On a deeper level, the author is channeling their experiences, their challenges, their hopes and dreams and sharing it with us.
It’s not a bestseller book. It’s not an Avengers or Batman superhero story. It is a great way to explore what a non-binary person can feel and be and how the world and family could react and support (or not) them finding their true self.
This is a book of this era of finding self-identity and facing up to the realities of the world whilst embedding it in a fantasy superhero story. And life is hard - so it’s not the happiest of books but it’s very meaningful.
July 20, 2021
Born into a superhero family, our central character (who doesn’t get a name until the end) doesn’t fit in. They don’t have powers — until one day they do.
Magnificent is more of an trans allegory than a novel. The story almost felt like it took a back seat at times. And the first third takes place almost exclusively inside the inside the character’s head, which made it hard to really feel immersed in the story.
Still, an enjoyable quick read with excellent representation and a powerful message.
Magnificent is more of an trans allegory than a novel. The story almost felt like it took a back seat at times. And the first third takes place almost exclusively inside the inside the character’s head, which made it hard to really feel immersed in the story.
Still, an enjoyable quick read with excellent representation and a powerful message.
December 21, 2021
This novel was a lot of fun to read! I'm so happy I finally found a non-binary representation in a book and what better than to have it in a superhero-themed one! Truly lovely! There was something so heartwarming about reading about Magnificent's struggles and how they push through with any issues or negative thoughts that came their way. It gave the book an earthly - down to earth - realistic feel. Now that I've discovered this author, I'll be sure to keep an eye out for more wonderful works!
July 13, 2025
I enjoyed this book. It was a quick read and the struggles of the characters were meaningful and had a happy ending (which I wanted!). I found the book had a little too much tell and not enough show, which made it come across as rather earnest and a little shallow.
February 23, 2022
I really enjoyed this book. It is about becoming yourself and having the courage to do so. The super hero aspect of the story is very muted compared to the story of not fitting in.
May 5, 2024
This novella of a young genderqueer superhero hits you in your emotions. You will laugh, cry, get angry, frustrated, and elated. Magnificent is indeed magnificent!!!
May 12, 2025
Authors use of GenAI to promote, write, voice act, and produce special edition art cards is despicable. Queer stories deserve so much more than this.
November 14, 2025
This is a coming of age/coming out story first. IDK if it's the authors own parent dynamic but it very much gives 'what I wish my parents had said' vibes.
It's then a super hero story second. Frankly it feels like the characters just happen to be super. You could take that away and turn them into volunteers or missionaries and it would be the same.
AI note. I am listening to the audio books from this author. They are AI voice and that kills the humanity of the stories.
It's then a super hero story second. Frankly it feels like the characters just happen to be super. You could take that away and turn them into volunteers or missionaries and it would be the same.
AI note. I am listening to the audio books from this author. They are AI voice and that kills the humanity of the stories.
July 23, 2024
I was happy to see non-binary representation in a novella, let alone as a superhero, but the plot/conflict was not explained well at all. The “big bad” seems to be an afterthought because all heroes need a nemesis. As the author indicates, there are ups and downs, and some heavy topics discussed, but without spoiling anything, I thought that the superhero theme was more a means to an end than the whole story being about superheroes. I know this story is also about finding yourself and your place in the world, but the the beginning and ending were painting a very specific picture, but the whole middle of the plot just existed. Maybe I’m missing something, but it felt like this was only part of a larger book, instead of a complete story in itself.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews