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New Identity
— Does it matter who you used to be if you know who you are now? —
Every day she wakes up in a new body, in a new life, with no memory of who she is.
Just as she begins to believe she might be in hell, a charming stranger with autumn-colored eyes assures her the truth is even weirder.
There are others like her who can do the impossible, and a dangerous organization is hunting them all.
Relying on people for safety goes against her instincts, but if she wants to regain control of her life—or at least wake up in the same body she went to sleep in—she has no choice.
This action-packed start to the Identity Saga is what you'd get if The Umbrella Academy recruited Crescent City's Bryce Quinlan. Or if the Reckoners in Steelheart were equipped with superpowers.
Every day she wakes up in a new body, in a new life, with no memory of who she is.
Just as she begins to believe she might be in hell, a charming stranger with autumn-colored eyes assures her the truth is even weirder.
There are others like her who can do the impossible, and a dangerous organization is hunting them all.
Relying on people for safety goes against her instincts, but if she wants to regain control of her life—or at least wake up in the same body she went to sleep in—she has no choice.
This action-packed start to the Identity Saga is what you'd get if The Umbrella Academy recruited Crescent City's Bryce Quinlan. Or if the Reckoners in Steelheart were equipped with superpowers.
- GenresScience FictionFantasy
328 pages, Paperback
First published March 9, 2021
10 people are currently reading
61 people want to read
About the author
Tenaya MKD
3 books52 followersI'm a lifelong lover of magic and superpowers, and an author of sci-fi fantasy. <3
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 42 reviews
March 2, 2021
Solid 4.25⭐ for me!!!!!
Mark my words: indie authors are going to turn superhero fiction into my favourite literary subgenre! First was Kaitlyn B. Legaspi’s “Red Blood”; then, Dani Novotny’s “Remade” also had some vague superhero fiction vibes; and now, “New Identity” by Tenaya MKD has blown my mind away. This is the epitome of what I mean when I talk about “Superhero fiction”!
The only thing our MC knows when she wakes up is that she doesn’t know a thing. Where is she? Why can’t she recognize herself in the mirror? How old is she? Answers are nowhere to be found. But then she goes to sleep, and wakes up unable to recognize herself again…, because she’s now trapped inside the body of a little girl. Inside that of a businesswoman, the next day. Inside that of a guy. Inside that of a young woman again…
Soon it turns out that she’s got the power to pass her conscience from body to body, and that powerful, shady people want to use her for their own evil doings. But she’s not alone, for there are other people like her. Such as the attractive young man known as Cayde, sweet young Zane, shy Lilly..., or loud, funny Eric. Now that she knows she’s not alone, our MC will do everything she can to recover her memories…, and herself.
"It was like I was an old grenade with the pin pulled. Laying there, dormant, but capable of going off at any time. I might not go off at all, but how much of a comfort is that when you're talking about explosives?"
This was so addictive! There’s something in Tenaya’s writing that sucks you in, and doesn’t let go at all. Not even once you’ve finished the book. After I finished this action-packed ride, I honestly didn’t know what to pick up next! I only wanted to keep reading about her characters and their struggles. Won’t give anything away, not even the MC’s name, but that ending!!! Can’t wrap my head around it. Just can’t. What happens to them!
Of course, and as per usual, the characters were one of the things that drew me in the most. Although at times the MC got on my nerves, and I did get very frustrated at some of her choices and attitudes (I understood them, don’t take me wrong, but I didn’t think she was being even half mature with some of her actions, or that the conflict she put others through was reasonable. Hence the -0.75, though it still didn't make me want to stop reading in any moment!), she also provided very relatable moments and quotes. She’s different even from the different, and when this fact gets too much, the way she felt and acted was so, so very real to me. Then there were the other characters, which were honestly uh-mazing. Just saying that, next Christmas, I’ll be asking for a Cayde! And maybe an Eric, too. His friendship with the MC is so beautiful and well done.
All in all, an EXCELLENT read. Thank you so much, Tenaya, for the chance to read this gem early! Everyone: add this to your lists, and stay tuned for the release on March the 9th. Go pre-order it to enter Tenaya’s fun giveaways, too! Promise you won’t regret a thing!
*I received an eARC of ‘New Identity’ from the author, in exchange for an honest review!
Mark my words: indie authors are going to turn superhero fiction into my favourite literary subgenre! First was Kaitlyn B. Legaspi’s “Red Blood”; then, Dani Novotny’s “Remade” also had some vague superhero fiction vibes; and now, “New Identity” by Tenaya MKD has blown my mind away. This is the epitome of what I mean when I talk about “Superhero fiction”!
The only thing our MC knows when she wakes up is that she doesn’t know a thing. Where is she? Why can’t she recognize herself in the mirror? How old is she? Answers are nowhere to be found. But then she goes to sleep, and wakes up unable to recognize herself again…, because she’s now trapped inside the body of a little girl. Inside that of a businesswoman, the next day. Inside that of a guy. Inside that of a young woman again…
Soon it turns out that she’s got the power to pass her conscience from body to body, and that powerful, shady people want to use her for their own evil doings. But she’s not alone, for there are other people like her. Such as the attractive young man known as Cayde, sweet young Zane, shy Lilly..., or loud, funny Eric. Now that she knows she’s not alone, our MC will do everything she can to recover her memories…, and herself.
"It was like I was an old grenade with the pin pulled. Laying there, dormant, but capable of going off at any time. I might not go off at all, but how much of a comfort is that when you're talking about explosives?"
This was so addictive! There’s something in Tenaya’s writing that sucks you in, and doesn’t let go at all. Not even once you’ve finished the book. After I finished this action-packed ride, I honestly didn’t know what to pick up next! I only wanted to keep reading about her characters and their struggles. Won’t give anything away, not even the MC’s name, but that ending!!! Can’t wrap my head around it. Just can’t. What happens to them!
Of course, and as per usual, the characters were one of the things that drew me in the most. Although at times the MC got on my nerves, and I did get very frustrated at some of her choices and attitudes (I understood them, don’t take me wrong, but I didn’t think she was being even half mature with some of her actions, or that the conflict she put others through was reasonable. Hence the -0.75, though it still didn't make me want to stop reading in any moment!), she also provided very relatable moments and quotes. She’s different even from the different, and when this fact gets too much, the way she felt and acted was so, so very real to me. Then there were the other characters, which were honestly uh-mazing. Just saying that, next Christmas, I’ll be asking for a Cayde! And maybe an Eric, too. His friendship with the MC is so beautiful and well done.
All in all, an EXCELLENT read. Thank you so much, Tenaya, for the chance to read this gem early! Everyone: add this to your lists, and stay tuned for the release on March the 9th. Go pre-order it to enter Tenaya’s fun giveaways, too! Promise you won’t regret a thing!
*I received an eARC of ‘New Identity’ from the author, in exchange for an honest review!
December 31, 2021
'New Identity' was such a gripping and fun read. I was hooked immediately by the opening chapters. The author explores the immediate reactions and emotions of a woman who has lost her identity and finds herself jumping into different bodies with no control over it with such clarity that I felt her fear, confusion and helplessness from the very start, and was at once carried along for the ride. But this woman is not to be messed with, and I found myself grinning and punching the air seeing her natural capabilities and tough personality. I loved getting to know the new family she is introduced to, and I thought these characters were all so well-developed and really shone on the page. I'm definitely invested in the whole team, but Zane in particular stood out as a character that I just wanted to protect and shelter. My heart was in my mouth towards the end! I also have many questions concerning Thaeo, which I'm intrigued to discover the answers to in the next book ... I'm so glad that there's sequel, and I'm so excited to find out what's coming next for Nova and the team!
I received an ARC of 'New Identity' in return for an honest review.
I received an ARC of 'New Identity' in return for an honest review.
February 25, 2021
What a whirlwind! First off, what I loved most about this story is the premise. The idea of waking up in different bodies every day is such a unique concept for a superhero. It made the main character (not sure if I should share the name because of spoilers?) super relatable and human. She was incredibly likeable and spunky, and I enjoyed watching her realistically adapt to her new powers and situation. The story was easy to track, filled with many enjoyable scenes amid the intense chaos the characters are sorting through, and complete with a unique ensemble of people. If you like X-Men, or just superheroes in general, and a strong female lead, this is the story for you! While the story ending is satisfying, it leaves us on a bit of a cliffhanger (which I personally love). I can't wait to see what happens next!
March 9, 2021
New Identity starts with a young woman who wakes up with no memory of who or where she is. All she knows is that she wakes up in new body each morning. This first Act was spectacular, with each switch – and the way the protagonist deals with them – described incredibly well and never became confusing or jarring. Her inner strength and fiery personally immediately resonated with me and showed that even the best superheroes can still be realistic people.
The main side characters had distinct personalities, and I loved watching the friendships and rivalries develop. While I did feel the pacing stutter a little during the middle of the novel, overall this is an incredibly fast-paced read. The action sequences are choreographed very well and the third-person “world” chapters that are spread throughout the novel really add an extra layer of depth and tension to the story.
This is an enjoyable and original debut and I highly anticipate the next book in the series.
I was given an ARC copy of New Identity in exchange for an honest review.
The main side characters had distinct personalities, and I loved watching the friendships and rivalries develop. While I did feel the pacing stutter a little during the middle of the novel, overall this is an incredibly fast-paced read. The action sequences are choreographed very well and the third-person “world” chapters that are spread throughout the novel really add an extra layer of depth and tension to the story.
This is an enjoyable and original debut and I highly anticipate the next book in the series.
I was given an ARC copy of New Identity in exchange for an honest review.
August 17, 2022
“New Identity” is an incredible debut novel from author Tenaya MKD! The first few chapters immediately draw you into the story of a woman trapped in a cycle of body jumping with absolutely no clue who she actually is.
This fast-paced story is the origin story of a reluctant hero. The MC (who I will leave unnamed to avoid spoilers) is a bad-ass with attitude. She thinks she can take on the world by herself, only to find out that she’s in desperate need of support, which means trusting other people. I especially love the friendship she builds with some of the other characters, but I don’t want to spoil anything. I will say that this book takes a fresh look at how men and women can be friends; it doesn’t always have to be a love interest just because you had things in common. Sometimes friendships are even more important and I really REALLY loved that this author highlighted that.
This story has a villain whose motives are just beginning to surface by the end of the book, but it’s a refreshing style since it means we are going to learn more in book 2, rather than having all of our questions about this world of powered people answered in book 1. I can’t wait!
This book is perfect for fans of stories like the X-men, and I am really looking forward to what comes next from this author.
*** I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review ***
This fast-paced story is the origin story of a reluctant hero. The MC (who I will leave unnamed to avoid spoilers) is a bad-ass with attitude. She thinks she can take on the world by herself, only to find out that she’s in desperate need of support, which means trusting other people. I especially love the friendship she builds with some of the other characters, but I don’t want to spoil anything. I will say that this book takes a fresh look at how men and women can be friends; it doesn’t always have to be a love interest just because you had things in common. Sometimes friendships are even more important and I really REALLY loved that this author highlighted that.
This story has a villain whose motives are just beginning to surface by the end of the book, but it’s a refreshing style since it means we are going to learn more in book 2, rather than having all of our questions about this world of powered people answered in book 1. I can’t wait!
This book is perfect for fans of stories like the X-men, and I am really looking forward to what comes next from this author.
*** I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review ***
May 2, 2021
Loved loved loved. Tenaya does an amazing job with her characters, they were all interesting with enough mystery that kept you wanting to know more not just about the main story but their backstories. Really enjoyed her writing style, the story is so unique and fun to read. I finished it in two days and I have an 8 month old so I don’t have a lot of time. Highly recommend!
March 8, 2021
This was such a cleverly written, funny, interesting read and i urge people to pick it up!
I really enjoyed the main character’s journey and the initial moments waking up as different people was really entertaining. I loved the connect the villain has to certain themes and current social and global predicaments. It was believable.
All in all a really fun read that i got some good chuckles out of and got really invested in the characters!
I really enjoyed the main character’s journey and the initial moments waking up as different people was really entertaining. I loved the connect the villain has to certain themes and current social and global predicaments. It was believable.
All in all a really fun read that i got some good chuckles out of and got really invested in the characters!
March 8, 2021
I’ve always been a very particular reader. Books have to catch me quickly to keep me. This book checked every box!!! I was immediately transported to their reality and I couldn’t stop reading. It is so well written and knowing there’s already a sequel in the works made the read even better! Don’t hesitate. Just buy! Tenaya MKD is now in my top 5 new authors list.
March 2, 2021
I was excited to read this debut novel by Tenaya. The synopsis was very intriguing and I love to check out indie authors. This book shows a lot of promise as does Tenaya's writing career. The standout of the book is the main character. She is fleshed out especially in light of the story which covers her in mystery, and I thought Tenaya did a great job of giving her a fully developed personality while building the mystery around her. Another standout is the beginning third of the book, I won't go into it as it is a slight spoil, but I loved how the first third of the book played out. The biggest con is the pacing of the book slows down greatly after the first third and some of the dialogue is clunky. But overall this is a good book from an author you should keep an eye out for. If you like superheroes and YA, you will enjoy this book.
February 28, 2021
This is the first book by Tenaya MKD and my mind is still blown by that fact. I'm not the biggest fan of superhero stories but but she made me fall in love with the world and the characters so quickly! The dialogues are so warm and alive, they feel brand-new and make this book the special book that it is. I love how all of these characters are flawed but you love them for these flaws, not despite them. Because they acknowledge them and because they try their best. I love how the beginning is focused on the MC and then she enters this group of people. I love that she discovers herself first. In my opinion, it's so beneficial to the story. You never really see what's going to happen. There is a love story in it that is so exciting and yet so healthy and adult - not common in fiction books nowadays, especially not superhero stories😂 I love how lines get blurry between her and her best friend. It gets you curious about the next books and while I'd normally get scared of the author messing it up by turning it into a weird and childish love triangle, I trust Tenaya MKD fully to make this whatever it is meant to be. And it sure as hell won't be what you expect and it will be everything you wanted it to be. I can highly recommend this book because it's so incredibly fun and so well-written. Not every chapter pushes the story significantly further, there are moments to take a deep breath and be there in this world. Tenaya finds a perfect mixture of tension and peace. You will want to read further either way though! 😊 Can't wait to share this book with my friends and can't wait for book 2!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 19, 2025
What would you do if you woke up in a new body each day with no memory of who you were originally?
That concept had me hooked! I could not stop reading the first third of the book, wanting to know what body she was going to be in next and what day she was going to have. Unfortunately… that concept fell flat and got completely ignored as an ability except for an inconvenience. “There can be power in forgetting” but this power itself is forgotten.
Then honestly I was bored in the middle of the book, and the last third lost me completely. There were too many characters and I could not keep track of their names or powers, especially when they had very little screen time. I think I was supposed to feel something for a person at the end, but I forgot why they were so important to the main character… I did like how there were third-person chapters where you got to see another character’s perspective; that was a good touch. Maybe if some of those side characters had more chapters like those, I’d remember them better.
New Identity is a good debut, easy-read superhero story with a tough-as-nails MC who loves coffee. 3.5 stars
That concept had me hooked! I could not stop reading the first third of the book, wanting to know what body she was going to be in next and what day she was going to have. Unfortunately… that concept fell flat and got completely ignored as an ability except for an inconvenience. “There can be power in forgetting” but this power itself is forgotten.
Then honestly I was bored in the middle of the book, and the last third lost me completely. There were too many characters and I could not keep track of their names or powers, especially when they had very little screen time. I think I was supposed to feel something for a person at the end, but I forgot why they were so important to the main character… I did like how there were third-person chapters where you got to see another character’s perspective; that was a good touch. Maybe if some of those side characters had more chapters like those, I’d remember them better.
New Identity is a good debut, easy-read superhero story with a tough-as-nails MC who loves coffee. 3.5 stars
October 20, 2021
New identity is a fun, funny and exciting read. Tenaya’s detailed imagery helps the reader feel included in the story. This gripping debut novel leaves you excited for the rest of the saga.
February 23, 2021
New Identity is a superhero novel with an intriguing premise: a woman that’s hopping between bodies each day, and finding her place in each new situation. While I was interested in her journey and the conflict, it fell short in inconsistent pacing and the plot in some aspects felt a bit too cliche, leaving me a tad disappointed.
I enjoyed the main protagonist, who I won’t name as it’s a minor spoiler. We meet her as she’s taking over a new body each morning and is trying to figure out what is happening to her, and it was interesting to see how she handles the new situation. I love her resolve throughout and adjustment, and the fact that she’s not sure of everything.
While her character is solid, as well as Cayde’s, the love interest, as well as Crowley, the antagonist, the rest of the cast felt a bit flat, as there was too many characters to keep a running count of, and not a lot of time to get to know them well, and most didn’t impact the plot. Maybe it’s the fact it’s the first book in a series and they will get expanded later, but I thought if the cast was condensed, it would have gotten more fleshed out and time to get to know them.
The main problem is the inconsistent pacing. The mystery of body hopping lasted a bit too long for my taste and it took too long to get to the actual plot. Then the pacing drags as we get to know the place our protagonist spends a good chunk of the book and I struggled to connect with her relationships with the others and there was a bit too much infodumping in terms of building the superhero world, where there could have been more organic ways of revealing it. The villain motivation also felt a bit overdone and didn’t make full sense in terms of the logic, but maybe there’s more in future books, but the monologuing could have been cut down. I enjoyed the climax with interesting action and emotional scenes, but sadly, due to the issues mentioned already, it felt a bit lesser than it should have been. I also fear an instance of power seep with one of the characters.
Also, the prose, while not too hard to read, felt a bit choppy in a lot of points, making the experience a bit muddy.
Overall, if you’re a fan of superheroes and exploring the idea of body hopping, this is a book you want to check out and I look forward to Tenaya’s future books!
5/10
I enjoyed the main protagonist, who I won’t name as it’s a minor spoiler. We meet her as she’s taking over a new body each morning and is trying to figure out what is happening to her, and it was interesting to see how she handles the new situation. I love her resolve throughout and adjustment, and the fact that she’s not sure of everything.
While her character is solid, as well as Cayde’s, the love interest, as well as Crowley, the antagonist, the rest of the cast felt a bit flat, as there was too many characters to keep a running count of, and not a lot of time to get to know them well, and most didn’t impact the plot. Maybe it’s the fact it’s the first book in a series and they will get expanded later, but I thought if the cast was condensed, it would have gotten more fleshed out and time to get to know them.
The main problem is the inconsistent pacing. The mystery of body hopping lasted a bit too long for my taste and it took too long to get to the actual plot. Then the pacing drags as we get to know the place our protagonist spends a good chunk of the book and I struggled to connect with her relationships with the others and there was a bit too much infodumping in terms of building the superhero world, where there could have been more organic ways of revealing it. The villain motivation also felt a bit overdone and didn’t make full sense in terms of the logic, but maybe there’s more in future books, but the monologuing could have been cut down. I enjoyed the climax with interesting action and emotional scenes, but sadly, due to the issues mentioned already, it felt a bit lesser than it should have been. I also fear an instance of power seep with one of the characters.
Also, the prose, while not too hard to read, felt a bit choppy in a lot of points, making the experience a bit muddy.
Overall, if you’re a fan of superheroes and exploring the idea of body hopping, this is a book you want to check out and I look forward to Tenaya’s future books!
5/10
March 28, 2021
New Identity is the new craze!
Tenaya MKD's first published novel is a home run. She managed to take a genre that could easily be overdone and put a creative twist on it, keeping it far from cliché.
New Identity is the story of a woman who wakes up every morning in someone else's body. She has no idea who she will be when she wakes up, and finally finds herself inside a body that she doesn't abandon nightly. That's because she also finds herself in the company of strangers... strangers who have superpowers.
Her new friends name her Nova, and she forms bonds with several of the others in the underground compound where they're being kept, out of danger. Then Nova begins experiencing vivid dreams; dreams she then realizes are actually visions. When one of her visions brings her to her ACTUAL body, Nova and her gang make a plan and head to New York, not only to find her body, but to fight the biggest threats to mankind when they get there.
I absolutely loved this book. It gives major X-Men vibes, but still so different and unique. I give New Identity 5* and highly recommend it to anyone who wants a fun, sci-fi read.
**I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review**
Tenaya MKD's first published novel is a home run. She managed to take a genre that could easily be overdone and put a creative twist on it, keeping it far from cliché.
New Identity is the story of a woman who wakes up every morning in someone else's body. She has no idea who she will be when she wakes up, and finally finds herself inside a body that she doesn't abandon nightly. That's because she also finds herself in the company of strangers... strangers who have superpowers.
Her new friends name her Nova, and she forms bonds with several of the others in the underground compound where they're being kept, out of danger. Then Nova begins experiencing vivid dreams; dreams she then realizes are actually visions. When one of her visions brings her to her ACTUAL body, Nova and her gang make a plan and head to New York, not only to find her body, but to fight the biggest threats to mankind when they get there.
I absolutely loved this book. It gives major X-Men vibes, but still so different and unique. I give New Identity 5* and highly recommend it to anyone who wants a fun, sci-fi read.
**I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review**
March 27, 2021
What a fun origin story for Nova. I loved the opening chapters and I’m reluctant to say much about them except that it’s a really cool illustration of her powers and such an intriguing introduction to her as a character. (Also, I have to say that I firmly relate to her love of coffee, lol.)
The structure of the book worked really well for me, with zoomed-out viewpoints sprinkled throughout.
I also rant enjoyed the combination of humor and superhero team dynamics! I love me some superhero drama, as we know :D
The structure of the book worked really well for me, with zoomed-out viewpoints sprinkled throughout.
I also rant enjoyed the combination of humor and superhero team dynamics! I love me some superhero drama, as we know :D
March 7, 2021
Alrighty, full disclaimer I received a free ARC copy in exchange for an honest review.
New Identity is Tenaya MKD’s debut superhero novel that introduces a really unique scenario for the genre, that of uncontrollable body swapping. This makes for a chaotic, intriguing, and pretty funny opening with the MC struggling to get a hold of things. This in addition to some world building tidbits hooks the reader into the intrigue, leaving us wanting more answers.
Tenaya does a solid job developing the quirks and arc of the main protagonist, Nova. She’s smart, capable, and warm-hearted toward those she opens up to, but she’s also incredibly flawed. She’s brash, disconnected, and has a short temper which makes her feel all the more human. She’s joined by Cayde and Eric, two powered young men who represent very different sides of the coin. Cayde represents emotional strength whereas Eric stands for physical strength. Both of these characters help Nova develop her power based on their own abilities, which was a nice touch.
I also really enjoyed some of the world building, it’s not too complicated and Tenaya reveals just enough so that you don’t get bogged down by it. I got serious X-Men vibes from the training facility, matching uniforms, and power interactions.
Sadly, after the middle of the book Nova’s unique mind-swap power gets completely brushed under the rug. It becomes more about her suppressing it than finding ways to adequately use it. It may have been unintended, but the message seemed to be ‘suppress what makes you special’, and it would’ve been more satisfying to see Nova use it. The climax is rather underwhelming for a superhero story. There’s good suspense and a thrilling resolution, but it feels rushed and could’ve used a longer set piece. Lastly, most of the many side characters get very little screen time. One character in particular at the end we are told to care about but Nova only had a handful of scenes with him, so we aren’t shown to care about him.
Overall, New Identity is a fun superhero story that is easy to read, has good momentum, and a solid main character to follow. A few things could have been expanded upon and the climax feels rushed, but the story leaves you with enough questions to stay intrigued for the next installment.
4/5 Stars!
New Identity is Tenaya MKD’s debut superhero novel that introduces a really unique scenario for the genre, that of uncontrollable body swapping. This makes for a chaotic, intriguing, and pretty funny opening with the MC struggling to get a hold of things. This in addition to some world building tidbits hooks the reader into the intrigue, leaving us wanting more answers.
Tenaya does a solid job developing the quirks and arc of the main protagonist, Nova. She’s smart, capable, and warm-hearted toward those she opens up to, but she’s also incredibly flawed. She’s brash, disconnected, and has a short temper which makes her feel all the more human. She’s joined by Cayde and Eric, two powered young men who represent very different sides of the coin. Cayde represents emotional strength whereas Eric stands for physical strength. Both of these characters help Nova develop her power based on their own abilities, which was a nice touch.
I also really enjoyed some of the world building, it’s not too complicated and Tenaya reveals just enough so that you don’t get bogged down by it. I got serious X-Men vibes from the training facility, matching uniforms, and power interactions.
Sadly, after the middle of the book Nova’s unique mind-swap power gets completely brushed under the rug. It becomes more about her suppressing it than finding ways to adequately use it. It may have been unintended, but the message seemed to be ‘suppress what makes you special’, and it would’ve been more satisfying to see Nova use it. The climax is rather underwhelming for a superhero story. There’s good suspense and a thrilling resolution, but it feels rushed and could’ve used a longer set piece. Lastly, most of the many side characters get very little screen time. One character in particular at the end we are told to care about but Nova only had a handful of scenes with him, so we aren’t shown to care about him.
Overall, New Identity is a fun superhero story that is easy to read, has good momentum, and a solid main character to follow. A few things could have been expanded upon and the climax feels rushed, but the story leaves you with enough questions to stay intrigued for the next installment.
4/5 Stars!
March 9, 2021
The synopsis of New Identity pulled me in from the start. Superpowers? Check. A main character that can jump between bodies, but doesn't remember who she is or where her original body is? Count me in!
I'm a huge fan of world building, and a lot of the premise of the story pulled me into the world from the start. We join our main character (I'm not going to reveal her name, as that could be a spoiler) as she's switching from one body to the next, unsure of what's happening and how she got to be in this situation. The story progresses from there, and I'm not going to go into any more plot details because I don't want to spoil the surprise.
I loved how simple but effective the world building was in the story. It was easy to follow and understand, and it didn't feel like it was bogging down the plot or the character development. Cayde and some of the other supporting cast members were characters that I connected with early and loved throughout the story. I loved seeing the relationships develop and evolve between the protagonist and the rest of the characters.
While I liked the story overall, I thought there were some inconsistencies in the pacing throughout the story. It wasn't enough to completely pull me out of the narrative, but it was noticeable. Some of the dialogue was a little awkward in parts, which distracted me more than the pacing issues itself. While we started out the book discovering that she could jump from body to body with her consciousness, I felt like that power was pushed to the side or somewhat forgotten as the plot progressed. I would have liked to see that utilized more, since that's where the book started.
All in all, this was a fun debut novel from Tenaya MKD, and I am excited to see what's next for these characters, where the story goes, and if some of the questions I have will be answered in the future books!
Many thanks to the author for the digital copy in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
I'm a huge fan of world building, and a lot of the premise of the story pulled me into the world from the start. We join our main character (I'm not going to reveal her name, as that could be a spoiler) as she's switching from one body to the next, unsure of what's happening and how she got to be in this situation. The story progresses from there, and I'm not going to go into any more plot details because I don't want to spoil the surprise.
I loved how simple but effective the world building was in the story. It was easy to follow and understand, and it didn't feel like it was bogging down the plot or the character development. Cayde and some of the other supporting cast members were characters that I connected with early and loved throughout the story. I loved seeing the relationships develop and evolve between the protagonist and the rest of the characters.
While I liked the story overall, I thought there were some inconsistencies in the pacing throughout the story. It wasn't enough to completely pull me out of the narrative, but it was noticeable. Some of the dialogue was a little awkward in parts, which distracted me more than the pacing issues itself. While we started out the book discovering that she could jump from body to body with her consciousness, I felt like that power was pushed to the side or somewhat forgotten as the plot progressed. I would have liked to see that utilized more, since that's where the book started.
All in all, this was a fun debut novel from Tenaya MKD, and I am excited to see what's next for these characters, where the story goes, and if some of the questions I have will be answered in the future books!
Many thanks to the author for the digital copy in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
March 23, 2021
The character development was spot on! I love the main character’s charm and wit, but my favorite character is Eric, with is strength and confidence *swoon*. And the villain is full of surprises! The reason for my rating is because I felt I was spoon-fed a lot of the character’s emotions by physical examples followed by verbal interpretation, when usually only one was needed.
I look forward to learning more about Shadow’s backstory especially Thaeo’s. Also I’m interested in gaining more insight on how GWNN came to be.
Great job Tenaya 😊
I look forward to learning more about Shadow’s backstory especially Thaeo’s. Also I’m interested in gaining more insight on how GWNN came to be.
Great job Tenaya 😊
March 10, 2021
This debut superhero novel beautifully meshes imaginary and real. Some people have incredible superpowers, and others are hunting them down. But amidst the supernatural are some very real characters with fears, ambitions, and dreams that we can all relate to.
I can honestly say that this was unlike any other superhero book I’ve read before. Right from the start I was pulled in, drawn in by an intriguing protagonist who is as confused and curious as I was. Suffering from memory loss and living with her consciousness constantly being pulled into a new body, our protagonist tries to find out who she is -- and if she has her own body, where is it now?
New Identity invites us to really think about the gains and challenges of a superpower, the difficulties of memory loss, the very idea of identity, and the toll all of this can have on the human inside of us.
Worth a read for sure!!
I can honestly say that this was unlike any other superhero book I’ve read before. Right from the start I was pulled in, drawn in by an intriguing protagonist who is as confused and curious as I was. Suffering from memory loss and living with her consciousness constantly being pulled into a new body, our protagonist tries to find out who she is -- and if she has her own body, where is it now?
New Identity invites us to really think about the gains and challenges of a superpower, the difficulties of memory loss, the very idea of identity, and the toll all of this can have on the human inside of us.
Worth a read for sure!!
August 1, 2024
I remember coming across Tenaya's Instagram page - and therefore this book - quite randomly. The cover pulled me in, the blurb even more so. Nova is one of my favourite book heroines ever. The plot is engaging and really pulled at my heartstrings at times! I finished it within a week. Recommend to anyone who loves a badass, Jessica Jones/Selene from Underworld-esque heroine and a superhero story with found family aspects.
March 7, 2021
I received a free ARC copy of this books for an honest review. New Identity is a fast-paced super hero novel, with an intriguing premise. I really enjoyed the friendships the MC makes - it's always nice to see a platonic m/f relationship! I would have loved to have seen more depth in the MC's amnesia and sometimes felt that things came to her a touch too easily, but overall a great debut and I can't wait to see what comes next!
March 4, 2021
New Identity takes you on a wild ride of a woman who finds herself body hoping without any explanation. Soon, she finds herself in a new world full of other powerful people - some good and some bad. She has to learn to trust, when her initial reaction is to stay behind the wall she’s built around herself. I loved the exploration of self acceptance when she has to make a difficult choice, and really enjoyed the action scenes! I did find myself struggling at first with the MC because there wasn’t much of an emotional connection as to why I should care about her. There were also a few shifts in POV that took me out of the story because I wasn’t sure what was going on. The MC has a certain ability that I think would’ve made these experiences feel more natural, and enjoyable for the reader. Overall though, New Identity is a fun read for those who love superheroes and I look forward to the next one in the series!
*I was given an ARC in exchange for an honest review.*
*I was given an ARC in exchange for an honest review.*
July 4, 2023
I really enjoyed this book!
The first thing I noticed was how nicely the story was written. The descriptions and feelings of the characters were displayed well, and the story had a great pace. It kept my attention from the start.
The main character awakens each day to find herself in a new body. I loved seeing her feelings in each person and what was happening in that person's life, their living situation, etc.
One of my favorite quotes: "I was sure the terrible scenarios-that he'd likely imagined many times over- were playing behind his eyes like a horror film he couldn't turn off."
I'm looking forward to continuing the series!
The first thing I noticed was how nicely the story was written. The descriptions and feelings of the characters were displayed well, and the story had a great pace. It kept my attention from the start.
The main character awakens each day to find herself in a new body. I loved seeing her feelings in each person and what was happening in that person's life, their living situation, etc.
One of my favorite quotes: "I was sure the terrible scenarios-that he'd likely imagined many times over- were playing behind his eyes like a horror film he couldn't turn off."
I'm looking forward to continuing the series!
January 21, 2025
this felt like the longest coffee ad (the word 'coffee' was mentioned 78 times)
February 26, 2021
I was really excited to pick up this book. The premise seemed incredibly interesting. The first chapter sucked me in, and I was intrigued to get to know the characters, and learn more about their situation.
Unfortunately, there was a very jarring switch in chapter 2, from third person narrative, to first person. I feel like chapter 1 would have been better off as a prologue to avoid this shock to the reader, which pulled me out of the story. Stylistically, this may have been a choice to make the reader experience the same disorientation as the MC, because, along with her, we have no idea what on earth is going on. If so, I appreciate the bravery of the choice, even though I didn't really like it.
There were several other chapters randomly scattered throughout the book, which also contained viewpoint shifts to characters. I didn't feel like these chapters added to the narrative, certainly not enough to justify the reader disorientation.
I loved the premise of the body swap, combined with amnesia although I felt like the MC figured out what was going on too quickly - unless superheroes were a known quantity in the world - my goto first thought would have been, "Oh no, I'm mad."
After the complication of her body swapping was resolved, that storyline was left. I would have liked to see her using her powers to spy on the enemy, but it never really came up again, except as a minor barrier to her participating in later conflicts.
This story definitely had potential, but much of the story was told, rather than actually shown. We are told that the MC is close with Zane (another powered teen). We are told that she is protective of him, but she only actually has 2-3 interactions with him on page.
I liked the love interest and appreciate that this was not a toxic relationship, but I felt that his character was not really developed either. The MC had more chemistry with another guy, because they actually had more on-page interactions (where they talked about deep things), than she did with her love interest (who brought her coffee each day). This was the same with most of the other cast. There were hints of things to come, but no depth. It would have been nice to have chosen a few characters to focus in on, and shown them spending time together.
The ending was faster paced than the middle of the story, and I was much more drawn into the scene. I liked the way the interactions between the characters played out, the cost of the mission, and the lead in to the next book.
I did feel like the enemy's motivation was illogical and cartoonishly "evil for the sake of being evil," but since this is a superhero book, maybe that's a genre-specific trope and it's unfair to find fault with it.
Technically speaking, I don't remember any grammatical, or spelling issues that stood out to me while reading this book. The writing is not something that is going to pull you out of the story.
If you like superhero books, this would be worth checking out.
5/10
* I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Unfortunately, there was a very jarring switch in chapter 2, from third person narrative, to first person. I feel like chapter 1 would have been better off as a prologue to avoid this shock to the reader, which pulled me out of the story. Stylistically, this may have been a choice to make the reader experience the same disorientation as the MC, because, along with her, we have no idea what on earth is going on. If so, I appreciate the bravery of the choice, even though I didn't really like it.
There were several other chapters randomly scattered throughout the book, which also contained viewpoint shifts to characters. I didn't feel like these chapters added to the narrative, certainly not enough to justify the reader disorientation.
I loved the premise of the body swap, combined with amnesia although I felt like the MC figured out what was going on too quickly - unless superheroes were a known quantity in the world - my goto first thought would have been, "Oh no, I'm mad."
After the complication of her body swapping was resolved, that storyline was left. I would have liked to see her using her powers to spy on the enemy, but it never really came up again, except as a minor barrier to her participating in later conflicts.
This story definitely had potential, but much of the story was told, rather than actually shown. We are told that the MC is close with Zane (another powered teen). We are told that she is protective of him, but she only actually has 2-3 interactions with him on page.
I liked the love interest and appreciate that this was not a toxic relationship, but I felt that his character was not really developed either. The MC had more chemistry with another guy, because they actually had more on-page interactions (where they talked about deep things), than she did with her love interest (who brought her coffee each day). This was the same with most of the other cast. There were hints of things to come, but no depth. It would have been nice to have chosen a few characters to focus in on, and shown them spending time together.
The ending was faster paced than the middle of the story, and I was much more drawn into the scene. I liked the way the interactions between the characters played out, the cost of the mission, and the lead in to the next book.
I did feel like the enemy's motivation was illogical and cartoonishly "evil for the sake of being evil," but since this is a superhero book, maybe that's a genre-specific trope and it's unfair to find fault with it.
Technically speaking, I don't remember any grammatical, or spelling issues that stood out to me while reading this book. The writing is not something that is going to pull you out of the story.
If you like superhero books, this would be worth checking out.
5/10
* I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
March 22, 2021
This fast-paced, superhero fantasy novel is one of the first in its genre that I’ve read, and I have to say that author Tenaya MKD just may be turning me into a superhero-fan! I really enjoyed the jarring experience of waking up with the main character, completely unaware of who she is and what’s going on. Overall, the premise of this book is original and follows a storyline I’ve personally never seen before, which made it a page-turner.
I enjoyed the cast of characters, their unique superpowers, and how much they looked out for each other. They quickly incorporated our main character (whose name I’m leaving out as isn’t known at the beginning of the story) into the family. Perhaps my favorite was the sweet grandma-figure, Bunny. I will say that it was sometimes hard to connect with the MC, but this an unavoidable issue of having a character whose memory has been completely wipe—the author can’t give us backstory or deepen the character’s personality beyond what the character herself knows.
Of course, the idea of the MC being able to body swap but having lost her own memories somewhere in the process brings to light deeper questions of identity and what really makes us who we are. I enjoyed how the story explored this existential question and I certainly noticed MC’s authenticity shining bit by bit as the story developed. Perhaps it’s a weird thing to point out, but I also appreciated how the author wrote a likable female lead who swears and drinks! It’s something I don’t see often in the books I read, but it made MC feel much more like a real person to me.
At the same time, there were some minor inconsistencies which threw me off, mainly the opening chapter. I practically forgot about it until the end, but I was waiting to get some confirmation on who was in that scene and what actually happened. However, we didn’t get any sort of a “return” to this scene and so I’m left only guessing what was happening there (I mean, I think I know, but I guess I wanted the closure of the dots being fully connected). Also, only the chapters that show the antagonists’ storyline have titles and this did confuse me when I started the first one (literally stopping to look back and check if I have been missing titles all along).
Overall, a promising debut! I look forward to further books in the series to get some of my lingering questions answered.
*I received an ARC copy in exchange for an honest review.*
I enjoyed the cast of characters, their unique superpowers, and how much they looked out for each other. They quickly incorporated our main character (whose name I’m leaving out as isn’t known at the beginning of the story) into the family. Perhaps my favorite was the sweet grandma-figure, Bunny. I will say that it was sometimes hard to connect with the MC, but this an unavoidable issue of having a character whose memory has been completely wipe—the author can’t give us backstory or deepen the character’s personality beyond what the character herself knows.
Of course, the idea of the MC being able to body swap but having lost her own memories somewhere in the process brings to light deeper questions of identity and what really makes us who we are. I enjoyed how the story explored this existential question and I certainly noticed MC’s authenticity shining bit by bit as the story developed. Perhaps it’s a weird thing to point out, but I also appreciated how the author wrote a likable female lead who swears and drinks! It’s something I don’t see often in the books I read, but it made MC feel much more like a real person to me.
At the same time, there were some minor inconsistencies which threw me off, mainly the opening chapter. I practically forgot about it until the end, but I was waiting to get some confirmation on who was in that scene and what actually happened. However, we didn’t get any sort of a “return” to this scene and so I’m left only guessing what was happening there (I mean, I think I know, but I guess I wanted the closure of the dots being fully connected). Also, only the chapters that show the antagonists’ storyline have titles and this did confuse me when I started the first one (literally stopping to look back and check if I have been missing titles all along).
Overall, a promising debut! I look forward to further books in the series to get some of my lingering questions answered.
*I received an ARC copy in exchange for an honest review.*
March 9, 2021
'New Identity' by Tenaya MKD sucked me in! I read it in two days because I just didn't want to stop reading it. The storytelling was incredible. I would never have guessed that this was her first book!
The main character wakes up one day and finds that she has no memory of who or where she is. At first she feels like this must be amnesia until she wakes up the next day in a different body. And the next. She has no clue what's happening to her or where she might find her own body, but she knows that she must try.
I love that she has a kick-ass personality! She could spend the whole book feeling sorry for herself, stuck in a never ending loop, but she doesn't. She finds a group of people that can help her, and have some interesting powers themselves.
The book left me in suspense. I can't wait to find out what happens next!
I received an arc from the author, in exchange for an honest review*
The main character wakes up one day and finds that she has no memory of who or where she is. At first she feels like this must be amnesia until she wakes up the next day in a different body. And the next. She has no clue what's happening to her or where she might find her own body, but she knows that she must try.
I love that she has a kick-ass personality! She could spend the whole book feeling sorry for herself, stuck in a never ending loop, but she doesn't. She finds a group of people that can help her, and have some interesting powers themselves.
The book left me in suspense. I can't wait to find out what happens next!
I received an arc from the author, in exchange for an honest review*
March 11, 2021
This book welcomes you in with arms open. You feel like part of the inner circle (even as an outsider). Such a delightful read, it has you questioning your own path and the struggles it takes to start new. It also sheds light on the possibilities that await when you are open to the new.
March 8, 2021
Wow! I wound up getting goosebumps! “New Identity” is a dynamic debut sci fi superheroes novel that’s not only unique, enjoyable, and exciting, it’s wonderfully well written. It succeeds on all of its diverse levels: from fear to friendship; from uproarious lol humor to heartfelt love; from secrets to unusual sci fi/sciency stuff; to name but a few.
Thanks to author Tenaya MKD’s descriptions, my senses were piqued. I could “feel” the thankfully humanly flawed heroine’s emotions (and those of the other characters) as her life becomes weird and full of mystery, adventure, danger, and even romance. I could “see” everything happening, from the amazing mind stuff (no spoilers!) to the excellent fight scenes. (It would also make a great movie!) I could “hear” the conversations between the characters, which felt so real and natural. (I especially loved the ones that made me laugh, or melted my heart.) I could “smell” the blood, eek (there’s not a ton, but villains will be villainy.) I could “taste” the cookies.
The whole book kept my interest throughout. I loved MKD’s choices in how she presented everything. I enjoyed how we saw most of the story through Nova’s eyes, and then we also got to see other stuff she couldn’t know about but that added to the story greatly (expertly highlighted with chapter headings indicating the point of view was changing, and different characters’ different “voices” were obvious.)
"New Identity" is oh so wonderful. Definitely my favorite new series and author. I can’t wait to see what happens in the next book!
I received an ARC, but now I've already preordered it. I want to keep it forever!
Thanks to author Tenaya MKD’s descriptions, my senses were piqued. I could “feel” the thankfully humanly flawed heroine’s emotions (and those of the other characters) as her life becomes weird and full of mystery, adventure, danger, and even romance. I could “see” everything happening, from the amazing mind stuff (no spoilers!) to the excellent fight scenes. (It would also make a great movie!) I could “hear” the conversations between the characters, which felt so real and natural. (I especially loved the ones that made me laugh, or melted my heart.) I could “smell” the blood, eek (there’s not a ton, but villains will be villainy.) I could “taste” the cookies.
The whole book kept my interest throughout. I loved MKD’s choices in how she presented everything. I enjoyed how we saw most of the story through Nova’s eyes, and then we also got to see other stuff she couldn’t know about but that added to the story greatly (expertly highlighted with chapter headings indicating the point of view was changing, and different characters’ different “voices” were obvious.)
"New Identity" is oh so wonderful. Definitely my favorite new series and author. I can’t wait to see what happens in the next book!
I received an ARC, but now I've already preordered it. I want to keep it forever!
April 14, 2021
This story is about a girl (whose name I won’t spoil so let’s call her X) finds herself one morning in someone else’s apartment and body. She obviously has no idea what’s going on and tries to make sense of it all. Then the next day she wakes up in yet another person’s body. As the reader I felt myself drawn into X’s situation and it kept me turning the pages until well into the night. Tenaya has done an excellent job at hooking the reader from the start.
As the story progresses X learns what’s happening and more importantly, why it is happening. She meets a great cast of people, some friendly and some not so friendly. The close relationships X has with several of the cast members is so real and believable. I’m usually not a sucker for book boyfriends, but oh Cayde!❤️ Another thing I love is that X has a purely platonic relationship with another guy and this is so refreshing to read about for once rather than every similar aged male being a potential love interest. Their chemistry is a blast!
Around the midpoint the pacing of the story is somewhat slower but the action packed ending more than makes up for it. I wished we would’ve seen a bit more of some of the characters, especially Harper who I hate/love.
I can’t wait to see what book 2 has in store for us!
As the story progresses X learns what’s happening and more importantly, why it is happening. She meets a great cast of people, some friendly and some not so friendly. The close relationships X has with several of the cast members is so real and believable. I’m usually not a sucker for book boyfriends, but oh Cayde!❤️ Another thing I love is that X has a purely platonic relationship with another guy and this is so refreshing to read about for once rather than every similar aged male being a potential love interest. Their chemistry is a blast!
Around the midpoint the pacing of the story is somewhat slower but the action packed ending more than makes up for it. I wished we would’ve seen a bit more of some of the characters, especially Harper who I hate/love.
I can’t wait to see what book 2 has in store for us!
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