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Not Your Average Chronicles #1
Simon: Not Your Average Superhero
Simon Emerson is a regular, suburban, out of work 30-something guy. But then he is mortally injured in a terrorist bombing on the London Underground. Afterwards, he discovers he has superhuman abilities. Simon quickly transforms from a nobody to the most powerful person on the planet. Forced to navigate life with his newfound powers he discovers the police investigating the attack, suspicious of him, is the least of his worries. Simon’s most significant challenge lies ahead. He’s not the only one with incredible abilities. Simon has questions and his search for answers takes him across the globe to find the mysterious man who gave him his powers. The Underground terrorist is still on the loose and Simon must learn to control his powers fast before his greatest power becomes his greatest weakness. Simon has been chosen to be a hero, will he step up?
385 pages, Kindle Edition
Published December 10, 2020
11 people are currently reading
21 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 128 reviews
February 4, 2023
Simon: Not Your Average Superhero, by Lucas Mayberry.
Simon is just your average guy. Until, when returning home on the tube, following a job interview, something happens that changes Simon’s life forever.
A warning to younger readers: this book contains, bad language, violence, gore, and explicit sex scenes and scenes of torture.
A fast-paced, imaginative story. Simon discovers his amazing abilities and his ascent from a mere average person into superhero status, literally happens overnight. This is an entertaining read which is sure to keep you amused as you witness Simon speed from one dilemma to the next, while trying to get to grips with who he is. Told in a variety of POVs, though mainly from a second person’s perspective, which was unusual.
The author has penned an interesting concept in a superhero type character. It just needs a little copy-editing love to help it stand out from the crowd in this popular genre.
Simon is just your average guy. Until, when returning home on the tube, following a job interview, something happens that changes Simon’s life forever.
A warning to younger readers: this book contains, bad language, violence, gore, and explicit sex scenes and scenes of torture.
A fast-paced, imaginative story. Simon discovers his amazing abilities and his ascent from a mere average person into superhero status, literally happens overnight. This is an entertaining read which is sure to keep you amused as you witness Simon speed from one dilemma to the next, while trying to get to grips with who he is. Told in a variety of POVs, though mainly from a second person’s perspective, which was unusual.
The author has penned an interesting concept in a superhero type character. It just needs a little copy-editing love to help it stand out from the crowd in this popular genre.
January 27, 2023
“Simon: Not Your Average Superhero” is a fantastic tale for someone looking for something new in fiction. The book’s narration is in a rare second-person point of view. We start in a framing narrative, with an elderly man telling a character named Simon a tale of how the old one turned into a superhero. From there, the story opens up.
We watch what I love in a story, an average person growing into the hero they always were meant to be. The pace moves quickly, the characters evoke true emotions, and the ending left me closing the book with a smile. If you’re looking for something new and innovative, check out “Simon: Not Your Average Superhero” today.
We watch what I love in a story, an average person growing into the hero they always were meant to be. The pace moves quickly, the characters evoke true emotions, and the ending left me closing the book with a smile. If you’re looking for something new and innovative, check out “Simon: Not Your Average Superhero” today.
July 11, 2022
Simon is not your average superhero and this is not your average book.
First of all I loved that it is told in 2nd person and every now and then I had a moment when I thought the narrator, by his use of the word 'you', was talking to me. Is this the author making us channel our inner superhero? Okay, we don't all have the capacity to fly or come back to life and we never will but that doesn't stop us from doing everyday heroic things on a small scale. You hear about it day and daily on the news where someone jumps into a river to rescue someone or rushes into a burning building. That sort of thing.
Simon hasn't a clue about what he is and what has happened to him. But the beauty about Simon is that he doesn't think. He acts. It's like instinct with him to jump in and save someone and this is why he was given his powers.
And I loved this story from page one. It is well-written, the pacing is spot on and the humour sprinkled throughout had me snorting with laughter and the sexy bits are great.
Move over Deadpool, Simon is my hero now.
The sequel has just been released and I'm off to get my copy.
First of all I loved that it is told in 2nd person and every now and then I had a moment when I thought the narrator, by his use of the word 'you', was talking to me. Is this the author making us channel our inner superhero? Okay, we don't all have the capacity to fly or come back to life and we never will but that doesn't stop us from doing everyday heroic things on a small scale. You hear about it day and daily on the news where someone jumps into a river to rescue someone or rushes into a burning building. That sort of thing.
Simon hasn't a clue about what he is and what has happened to him. But the beauty about Simon is that he doesn't think. He acts. It's like instinct with him to jump in and save someone and this is why he was given his powers.
And I loved this story from page one. It is well-written, the pacing is spot on and the humour sprinkled throughout had me snorting with laughter and the sexy bits are great.
Move over Deadpool, Simon is my hero now.
The sequel has just been released and I'm off to get my copy.
April 11, 2022
Before I go into details about what I liked and didn't like about the book, let me first say. This is not a complete book and it ends on a cliffhanger. This information about it being a cliffhanger was not found in the blurb of the book. I feel this is something critical for a reader to choose whether they would be interested to read the book or not. I generally feel ending on a cliffhanger is a very poor style of writing. It can be a series of books and sometimes like in a Jeffrey archer(in the Clifton chronicles), you can complete the current story and just end with the start of a new story in a cliffhanger mode or split it into separate adventures that are part of a whole (like Harry Potter) but each should end.
Apart from the critical information on the cliffhanger, the story is pretty much in line with what the blurb states. The book cover is a sort of superman pose with a suitcase which does fit one of the powers Simon got. Seeing a title 'superhero', seeing a 'superman-ish' cover would generally intrigue someone like me who loves the marvel multiverse.
Now let me start with what I liked about it. The overall plot was intriguing. It was short. It was not excessively verbose. It was past-paced. I was able to read the entire book within two days.
What I didn't like
The prologue. It was too gruesome. Talks about multiple ways Simon is killed and then comes back to life. Each way was too gruesome.
The entire story is told from a third-person point of view. The bearded man.
Initially, there is too much sex. Almost excessively so. Also considering that it is told from a third-person point of view, it is weird that a third person would know so many private intimate details about encounters between a man and wife. In fact, it is so weird that Simon even asks the narrator, "How do you know that " and the narrator says, "It will become clear later". In actuality, it doesn't become clear.
As the book progresses, I feel it is a little too fast-paced. You don't really fall in love with any of the powers or don't really greatly admire or fall in love with any of the characters
Apart from the critical information on the cliffhanger, the story is pretty much in line with what the blurb states. The book cover is a sort of superman pose with a suitcase which does fit one of the powers Simon got. Seeing a title 'superhero', seeing a 'superman-ish' cover would generally intrigue someone like me who loves the marvel multiverse.
Now let me start with what I liked about it. The overall plot was intriguing. It was short. It was not excessively verbose. It was past-paced. I was able to read the entire book within two days.
What I didn't like
The prologue. It was too gruesome. Talks about multiple ways Simon is killed and then comes back to life. Each way was too gruesome.
The entire story is told from a third-person point of view. The bearded man.
Initially, there is too much sex. Almost excessively so. Also considering that it is told from a third-person point of view, it is weird that a third person would know so many private intimate details about encounters between a man and wife. In fact, it is so weird that Simon even asks the narrator, "How do you know that " and the narrator says, "It will become clear later". In actuality, it doesn't become clear.
As the book progresses, I feel it is a little too fast-paced. You don't really fall in love with any of the powers or don't really greatly admire or fall in love with any of the characters
December 12, 2022
I knew going in I’d have to suspend my disbelief to enjoy this novel, and I had no trouble believing that the story’s details were plausible and possible in the context of the book. Lucas W. Mayberry’s Simon: Not Your Average Super Hero is a fantastic, fun, sometimes frightening tale that's well worth the read.
Mayberry has chosen to tell the bulk of the story via a second-person point of view. A strange old man is telling Simon Edwards all the details of what Simon has experienced during his transition to superhero. This is a difficult technique, fraught with possible issues, but Mayberry pulls it off reasonably well. Accepting the premise of the story is one thing. Buying the premise that the gray-bearded stranger is telling Simon his own story--in sometimes excruciating detail--is quite another. The result of the novel's second-person point of view (some scenes are Simon’s first-person account) adds another layer of separation between the reader and the main character, which makes it more difficult to relate to Simon on a personal level. And that makes it tougher to identify with the main character.
Although the secondary characters are all mostly two-dimensional “types” (with a few significant exceptions—Vasia, Simon’s wife, Kosey, the bartender at the Cairo airport, and the Xuholos). Even though Simon isn’t telling us the story, his smart-aleck personality runs through the piece providing both humor and consistency.
Mayberry is generous with the physical details of his scenes, and sometimes it feels as if we've been given too much information. The lurid sex scenes and some of the battle sequences, for example, tend to go on too long, and readers may find themselves skimming. Also, there’s something just weird about another person describing to Simon--in great detail--what he and Vasia did to and with each other during intense lovemaking.
I’d rather hear from Simon how he felt. Listening to someone tell Simon how he felt in the moment can foster a disconnect with the readers. The overall effect of too much detail in a given scene is the undermining of the momentum in a story that moves along briskly otherwise. And given the dynamic created by the narrator telling Simon everything he’s been through, readers may wonder if any of this actually happened.
Mayberry writes well, and his prose moves the story proceeds almost seamlessly. A good editor would have helped avoid the grammar, formatting, and spelling issues that aren’t related to the difference between UK speech and that of the US. The language differences weren’t a problem for me at all.
Caveats aside, I raced through Simon: Not Your Average Superhero quickly, anxious to see how Simon would meet the next challenge and discover the next step in his superhero development. I recommend it to anyone who’s looking for a change of pace.
Mayberry has chosen to tell the bulk of the story via a second-person point of view. A strange old man is telling Simon Edwards all the details of what Simon has experienced during his transition to superhero. This is a difficult technique, fraught with possible issues, but Mayberry pulls it off reasonably well. Accepting the premise of the story is one thing. Buying the premise that the gray-bearded stranger is telling Simon his own story--in sometimes excruciating detail--is quite another. The result of the novel's second-person point of view (some scenes are Simon’s first-person account) adds another layer of separation between the reader and the main character, which makes it more difficult to relate to Simon on a personal level. And that makes it tougher to identify with the main character.
Although the secondary characters are all mostly two-dimensional “types” (with a few significant exceptions—Vasia, Simon’s wife, Kosey, the bartender at the Cairo airport, and the Xuholos). Even though Simon isn’t telling us the story, his smart-aleck personality runs through the piece providing both humor and consistency.
Mayberry is generous with the physical details of his scenes, and sometimes it feels as if we've been given too much information. The lurid sex scenes and some of the battle sequences, for example, tend to go on too long, and readers may find themselves skimming. Also, there’s something just weird about another person describing to Simon--in great detail--what he and Vasia did to and with each other during intense lovemaking.
I’d rather hear from Simon how he felt. Listening to someone tell Simon how he felt in the moment can foster a disconnect with the readers. The overall effect of too much detail in a given scene is the undermining of the momentum in a story that moves along briskly otherwise. And given the dynamic created by the narrator telling Simon everything he’s been through, readers may wonder if any of this actually happened.
Mayberry writes well, and his prose moves the story proceeds almost seamlessly. A good editor would have helped avoid the grammar, formatting, and spelling issues that aren’t related to the difference between UK speech and that of the US. The language differences weren’t a problem for me at all.
Caveats aside, I raced through Simon: Not Your Average Superhero quickly, anxious to see how Simon would meet the next challenge and discover the next step in his superhero development. I recommend it to anyone who’s looking for a change of pace.
August 26, 2025
I had a great time reading this book from start to finish. The first chapter throws you into the action straight away and hooked me into a story. It wasn't long before I could see the stage being set for what looks like it's going to be an exciting series.
One of the standout elements for me was the unique use of point of view. It begins in first person from Simon's, the main character, perspective, then chapter two is written from second person POV with occasional alternations between the two. I haven’t read second person POV in a long time, but it was a pleasant surprise and was used in a really clever and effective way.
As for the story itself, it's a solid superhero origin tale. The character development was strong, despite the second person narration, Simon's doubts and decisions felt very grounded and believable.
The supporting characters, in particular his wife, were also well written and added a nice depth to Simon and his journey. They also helped shape his reactions to the challenges he faced.
Overall, this was a great start to what feels like a promising superhero saga with an ending that leaves you needing and wanting more.
One of the standout elements for me was the unique use of point of view. It begins in first person from Simon's, the main character, perspective, then chapter two is written from second person POV with occasional alternations between the two. I haven’t read second person POV in a long time, but it was a pleasant surprise and was used in a really clever and effective way.
As for the story itself, it's a solid superhero origin tale. The character development was strong, despite the second person narration, Simon's doubts and decisions felt very grounded and believable.
The supporting characters, in particular his wife, were also well written and added a nice depth to Simon and his journey. They also helped shape his reactions to the challenges he faced.
Overall, this was a great start to what feels like a promising superhero saga with an ending that leaves you needing and wanting more.
September 21, 2022
Well, Simon is certainly not your average superhero!
He has a little trouble on his underground journey to Green Park - calling his future boss ‘a joke’ was the least of his day’s problems, as a 7/7 type incident unfolds. He may be a have-a-go-hero, in a slightly nerdy way (for some reason I hear the voice of Ardal o’Hanlon), but he grows to reluctantly confront a whole armoury of superpowers he wishes were not his. Things do not go smoothly as death looks away from our reluctant superhero.
Despite the fantastical and comedy backbone of this story, many difficult subjects are poked - not least the opium of the masses, terrorism, death, destruction and gore - but in a funny way, as you can imagine! Supporting characters are well rounded and, especially in the case of long suffering Vasia, equal to our hero Simon. There are twists, turns and more than one cliffhanger.
Well done and thank you Lucas W. Mayberry for Simon. A great book.
He has a little trouble on his underground journey to Green Park - calling his future boss ‘a joke’ was the least of his day’s problems, as a 7/7 type incident unfolds. He may be a have-a-go-hero, in a slightly nerdy way (for some reason I hear the voice of Ardal o’Hanlon), but he grows to reluctantly confront a whole armoury of superpowers he wishes were not his. Things do not go smoothly as death looks away from our reluctant superhero.
Despite the fantastical and comedy backbone of this story, many difficult subjects are poked - not least the opium of the masses, terrorism, death, destruction and gore - but in a funny way, as you can imagine! Supporting characters are well rounded and, especially in the case of long suffering Vasia, equal to our hero Simon. There are twists, turns and more than one cliffhanger.
Well done and thank you Lucas W. Mayberry for Simon. A great book.
October 29, 2023
Simon, the main character, is in a train accident in London, and after he has saved a multiple of people, he is injured and rushed to hospital for immediate surgery to save his life. Afterwards he starts having superpowers and does not know why. Narrator does a Great job with the various characters voices and the entire storyline.
March 23, 2022
I really enjoyed this book! Simon is a very engaging character, and his developing abilities were fascinating to read. Also, there are some very sexy scenes between him and his wife, Vasia. All-in-all, an exciting and intriguing read! Looking forward to the sequel. Highly recommended.
September 7, 2022
The cover was part of what attracted me to this book. It looks like an ordinary person in a superhero pose. It worked. A good but not fancy cover that attracts the eye.
Overall, it is a good story that keeps your attention as things happen while Simon gains understanding of his powers and how to use them. In comic terms, this is an origin story. There is already a sequel, which I have not yet read. The author is British, and it shows in his writing. Knowing British terms and slang helps in understanding the book. It is mostly set in England.
In some ways, it reminds me of the movie Hancock. The hero doesn’t look or act like a hero, super or not. He’s still coming to terms with his biggest power, which is immortality. He can’t permanently die. Also, dying hurts. A lot. Second to that is his super speed and strength.
The good part of the book is that it keeps moving, introducing new characters that interact with the hero and get fleshed out as they go. The plot makes sense, as do many of the problems Simon has along the way. The bad part is the problems that come with being a new author and, more so, with being your own publisher.
Most of the characters’ initial problems and misadventures come from being a human with a wife, Vasia, and looking for work. After that, they mostly come from doing his best to save people from death and destruction both before he gains his powers, and afterwards. Then there are the problems with cell phones. It is hard to hide what you are doing when anyone nearby has their phone out trying to catch what is happening and put it on social media. You don’t have to suspend much belief to follow and enjoy it.
The not so good parts are unevenness in writing. Most of the book is being described in third person, in detail, by some unknown person to Simon of things told to this other person in great detail. It continues to drop into first person at perhaps almost random times. Third person was too much of the story. It would have been better to be done in first person and going along with Simon as things happened instead of being told they happened.
Last, it needed at least one more editing pass before publishing. There were too many typesetting errors that one read through in the pre-publishing sample mode would have caught and fixed. I’m certain that those problems can be resolved and replaced.
I give the book three stars for a good story, main character and plot. The third person dropped what would have been a four star book and review. If you like quirky superhero books, and the writing style, it is worth reading.
Overall, it is a good story that keeps your attention as things happen while Simon gains understanding of his powers and how to use them. In comic terms, this is an origin story. There is already a sequel, which I have not yet read. The author is British, and it shows in his writing. Knowing British terms and slang helps in understanding the book. It is mostly set in England.
In some ways, it reminds me of the movie Hancock. The hero doesn’t look or act like a hero, super or not. He’s still coming to terms with his biggest power, which is immortality. He can’t permanently die. Also, dying hurts. A lot. Second to that is his super speed and strength.
The good part of the book is that it keeps moving, introducing new characters that interact with the hero and get fleshed out as they go. The plot makes sense, as do many of the problems Simon has along the way. The bad part is the problems that come with being a new author and, more so, with being your own publisher.
Most of the characters’ initial problems and misadventures come from being a human with a wife, Vasia, and looking for work. After that, they mostly come from doing his best to save people from death and destruction both before he gains his powers, and afterwards. Then there are the problems with cell phones. It is hard to hide what you are doing when anyone nearby has their phone out trying to catch what is happening and put it on social media. You don’t have to suspend much belief to follow and enjoy it.
The not so good parts are unevenness in writing. Most of the book is being described in third person, in detail, by some unknown person to Simon of things told to this other person in great detail. It continues to drop into first person at perhaps almost random times. Third person was too much of the story. It would have been better to be done in first person and going along with Simon as things happened instead of being told they happened.
Last, it needed at least one more editing pass before publishing. There were too many typesetting errors that one read through in the pre-publishing sample mode would have caught and fixed. I’m certain that those problems can be resolved and replaced.
I give the book three stars for a good story, main character and plot. The third person dropped what would have been a four star book and review. If you like quirky superhero books, and the writing style, it is worth reading.
March 13, 2023
A romp in the second-person.
Plot: Simon, a guy with a hot wife and little else going for him, is granted superpowers by altruistic African sorcerers who happen to be on the same train when a terrorist bomb goes off. The bulk of the book is given over to the ‘getting to grips with your powers’-montage and a gratuitous amount of smut. Simon finally gains some direction in the last tenth or so of the book: setting out to prevent a follow-up attack at The London Marathon. The book starts and ends in the same place – with an immortal but otherwise diminished Simon hearing about his own exploits second-hand from a mysterious figure.
Originality: It is entirely possible (required, in fact, in this media-saturated age) to take disparate elements from existing sources and weave them together into something that feels fresh. The author gives credit to his inspiration(s), mentioning Unbreakable, The Flash, The Avengers, Superman and alluding to many others. While Simon’s sheer collection of powers is overwhelming, he will need more than that to surpass your average superhero.
Prose: The author’s prose is utilitarian, taking pains to describe even simple actions in step-by-step detail. The volume of adjectives is impressive and the phrases ‘for some inexplicable reason’ and ‘suddenly’ add mystery and tension. Readers must stay on their toes to follow the tone, with words like ‘clit’ and ‘womanhood’ appearing in the same paragraph. Fair warning: as with most indie novels, this book has not been professionally edited and often ignores established literary conventions, especially as it relates to punctuation. However, the single most unique thing about this book is the choice of the second-person (‘you’ instead of ‘I’ or ‘s/he’) as its story-telling vehicle.
Character: All great characters have at least one quality that attracts readers to them, whether this is likeability, competence, proactivity or some other feature. In Simon’s case, it is his eye-roll inducing nerd-humour. Apart from exploring his newfound superpowers, however, Simon doesn’t seem to actually WANT anything. On top of that, he is prone to what many may view as self-sabotage. The reader will also find themselves second-guessing other characters’ choices: if you open your front door to find three men with ski-masks and drawn guns, the correct response is not, “Can I help you?”.
Overall: This book stitches together a lot of the exhilarating moments common to the superhero genre. If you are new to the genre, this might be a good stepping-off point.
Plot: Simon, a guy with a hot wife and little else going for him, is granted superpowers by altruistic African sorcerers who happen to be on the same train when a terrorist bomb goes off. The bulk of the book is given over to the ‘getting to grips with your powers’-montage and a gratuitous amount of smut. Simon finally gains some direction in the last tenth or so of the book: setting out to prevent a follow-up attack at The London Marathon. The book starts and ends in the same place – with an immortal but otherwise diminished Simon hearing about his own exploits second-hand from a mysterious figure.
Originality: It is entirely possible (required, in fact, in this media-saturated age) to take disparate elements from existing sources and weave them together into something that feels fresh. The author gives credit to his inspiration(s), mentioning Unbreakable, The Flash, The Avengers, Superman and alluding to many others. While Simon’s sheer collection of powers is overwhelming, he will need more than that to surpass your average superhero.
Prose: The author’s prose is utilitarian, taking pains to describe even simple actions in step-by-step detail. The volume of adjectives is impressive and the phrases ‘for some inexplicable reason’ and ‘suddenly’ add mystery and tension. Readers must stay on their toes to follow the tone, with words like ‘clit’ and ‘womanhood’ appearing in the same paragraph. Fair warning: as with most indie novels, this book has not been professionally edited and often ignores established literary conventions, especially as it relates to punctuation. However, the single most unique thing about this book is the choice of the second-person (‘you’ instead of ‘I’ or ‘s/he’) as its story-telling vehicle.
Character: All great characters have at least one quality that attracts readers to them, whether this is likeability, competence, proactivity or some other feature. In Simon’s case, it is his eye-roll inducing nerd-humour. Apart from exploring his newfound superpowers, however, Simon doesn’t seem to actually WANT anything. On top of that, he is prone to what many may view as self-sabotage. The reader will also find themselves second-guessing other characters’ choices: if you open your front door to find three men with ski-masks and drawn guns, the correct response is not, “Can I help you?”.
Overall: This book stitches together a lot of the exhilarating moments common to the superhero genre. If you are new to the genre, this might be a good stepping-off point.
April 25, 2022
The premise and the blurb of the book really drew me in and I was looking forward to a fresh take on a superhero story. Sadly, the premise did not deliver on what could have been a fantastic story.
The good points for me were the new fresh take on how Simon becomes a superhero with the secret African tribe being responsible which I really enjoyed, secondly I haven’t read a story in quite some time that has been written in the present tense in the second person by an unreliable narrator. I say unreliable as by the end of the book we have no clue how the narrator knew all he did about Simon which was a tad frustrating for me and I was left without a satisfying conclusion and I won’t be reading on to the next book.
Bad points and I don’t like having to point this out to an author, but there were so many mistakes in the work and is in dire need of proofread.
A lot of the situations seemed unlikely and unrealistic. Yes, I know it was fictional, but if you use real events, then make it realistic and use better descriptive words. The author used the same words for things over and over, making the text for repetitive. Also, a lot of telling rather than showing.
The love scenes: well, it was pretty obvious they were written by a man. I mean, what the heck is a love button? I know what he was getting at, but still. I laughed and cringed so much during these scenes and I don’t think this was the author’s intention.
The dialogue of the police officers and the tv broadcasters was unbelievable they don’t talk like that at all having several in the family. They were very similar and one dimensional, wooden really.
I couldn’t exactly route for Simon either, but I wasn’t really sure what his character arc was meant to be.
However saying all that I think this story has got so much potential and implore the author to get some beta readers who read in this genre to give pointers and a development editor to go through it with it as II truly believe it has the makings of something brilliant, fresh and different.
The good points for me were the new fresh take on how Simon becomes a superhero with the secret African tribe being responsible which I really enjoyed, secondly I haven’t read a story in quite some time that has been written in the present tense in the second person by an unreliable narrator. I say unreliable as by the end of the book we have no clue how the narrator knew all he did about Simon which was a tad frustrating for me and I was left without a satisfying conclusion and I won’t be reading on to the next book.
Bad points and I don’t like having to point this out to an author, but there were so many mistakes in the work and is in dire need of proofread.
A lot of the situations seemed unlikely and unrealistic. Yes, I know it was fictional, but if you use real events, then make it realistic and use better descriptive words. The author used the same words for things over and over, making the text for repetitive. Also, a lot of telling rather than showing.
The love scenes: well, it was pretty obvious they were written by a man. I mean, what the heck is a love button? I know what he was getting at, but still. I laughed and cringed so much during these scenes and I don’t think this was the author’s intention.
The dialogue of the police officers and the tv broadcasters was unbelievable they don’t talk like that at all having several in the family. They were very similar and one dimensional, wooden really.
I couldn’t exactly route for Simon either, but I wasn’t really sure what his character arc was meant to be.
However saying all that I think this story has got so much potential and implore the author to get some beta readers who read in this genre to give pointers and a development editor to go through it with it as II truly believe it has the makings of something brilliant, fresh and different.
February 4, 2023
Full of suspense, it reads like a movie
"Where the hell have you been? I haven't heard from you for days. Did you just fall from the sky?" An excerpt from page 220.
Lucas W. Mayberry's Simon is a book that had me enthralled, captivated, and surprised until I finish indulging my emotions in it. It is captivating beyond description, written in a style that I'm not too familiar with, yet, riveting. And judging from the plot twist, characterization, narration techniques, storyline, and transition, I am short of an adjective to describe how fanciful and captivating this is. It topped the list of admirable action thrillers that I've read in a long while.
This book detailed the story of Simon, an ordinary man turned superhero. Simon had just finished an interview that doesn't go well and was on his way, catching the train home after a long solemn conversation with his wife, Vasia who had asked him about the success of the job interview. A simple train home was what led to the start of it all. Simon had no idea that the happenings on the train were going to have a drastic impact on his life.
While on board, Simon caught someone strange, dressed in a dark green hoodie, who had left a black canvas backpack on the seat before disappearing from view. Simon felt something wasn't right and his curiosity led him to want to find out what was contained in the backpack. Uncovering it, Simon was shocked and instantly announced to everyone that there is a bomb, this caused a whole lot of commotion in the train that everyone began to run into one another, in search of safety. Simon struggled to save a lot of people, not minding his life. Even until the dying minute the bomb explode, and poor Simon was terribly injured.
This was followed by scenarios of Simon being rushed to the hospital, he was in a coma and wouldn't be getting any better until weeks. However, it was the other way round as Simon was visited by Eraaf, the grandfather of Ermee, one of the Xuholo tribe he had helped on the train. Eraaf performed a ritual on Simon, and Simon who was once in a state of coma regained power, and strength whose source was unrecognizable and mysterious to him. The sudden healing of the once-in-coma Simon was astonishing, even the Doctors were shocked and slightly embarrassed of their profession being played incompetent.
Simon, since the visitation of Eraaf, became a changed man, he was surprised and knew something wasn't right with him. His strength, power, everything about him was entirely different, his sexual life too that Vasia could testify to, took a drastic turn. This part is full of many admirable features, one that makes the novel reads quite scenically and erotically. I need to praise Lucas's style of writing here, it got me smiling in sensual ecstasy, and developing some instance love for erotic novels. Soonly, Simon began to get concerned about his newly acquired strength. He hadn't been sleeping, and neither does he feels dizzy. Every second of him is always vigorous. He finally agreed he would see a Doctor.
After an appointment with a Doctor, Simon discovered that his problems were not Medical but Spiritual. He traced it back to the man who had visited him in the hospital the night after the terrorist attack. He had received a vision of Eraaf telling him to find him and that he will explain everything to him. After rubbing minds with Vasia. Simon finally set on his way to Africa, to find answers to his powers that have now begun to gradually put him in trouble.
Then comes the characterization of nosey investigators in name of Haider and Stone. I hate the characterization of these two silly cops. They had nosily followed Simon to the Airport where he was catching a flight to Egypt. They had set up a prier who eventually shot Simon twice after landing. I wasn't clear about their intentions, perhaps, they see Simon as a threat to their job or their country as a reason for setting him up that hard. Poor Simon had only helped utilize his power for the good of humanity. However, his strength was a source of interest to the police. Their prier had made footage of Simon, had seen him die and resurrected. He was shocked beyond words.
I shall resist revealing further in an attempt to keep this review spoiler free, but I'd love to say that Simon's adventure to Africa was full of ups and downs. I will want you to find out if he eventually made his way there, how about his wife, Vasia whom he left behind? What happened between him, the police, and the prier? And after a deadly injury and miraculous healing that Simon had displayed why saving those involved in a ghastly explosion? It is obvious that he is not only helping people but also bringing some sort of notice and attention to himself, one that is not good for the sort of power he possesses.
There is much to say about this book for you to find out for yourself. I can go on and on, as I was impressed with this novel. In my own opinion, this book will make a great TV series. It is well written, from the start of the prologue section to the sudden change in the narrator's tone to the rhythmic blend of the prologue and the last chapter. I can't but give it a 5 stars rating. This is great, and I can't wait to read the second book series. I solely recommend this book to lovers of action thrillers and literature at large.
"Where the hell have you been? I haven't heard from you for days. Did you just fall from the sky?" An excerpt from page 220.
Lucas W. Mayberry's Simon is a book that had me enthralled, captivated, and surprised until I finish indulging my emotions in it. It is captivating beyond description, written in a style that I'm not too familiar with, yet, riveting. And judging from the plot twist, characterization, narration techniques, storyline, and transition, I am short of an adjective to describe how fanciful and captivating this is. It topped the list of admirable action thrillers that I've read in a long while.
This book detailed the story of Simon, an ordinary man turned superhero. Simon had just finished an interview that doesn't go well and was on his way, catching the train home after a long solemn conversation with his wife, Vasia who had asked him about the success of the job interview. A simple train home was what led to the start of it all. Simon had no idea that the happenings on the train were going to have a drastic impact on his life.
While on board, Simon caught someone strange, dressed in a dark green hoodie, who had left a black canvas backpack on the seat before disappearing from view. Simon felt something wasn't right and his curiosity led him to want to find out what was contained in the backpack. Uncovering it, Simon was shocked and instantly announced to everyone that there is a bomb, this caused a whole lot of commotion in the train that everyone began to run into one another, in search of safety. Simon struggled to save a lot of people, not minding his life. Even until the dying minute the bomb explode, and poor Simon was terribly injured.
This was followed by scenarios of Simon being rushed to the hospital, he was in a coma and wouldn't be getting any better until weeks. However, it was the other way round as Simon was visited by Eraaf, the grandfather of Ermee, one of the Xuholo tribe he had helped on the train. Eraaf performed a ritual on Simon, and Simon who was once in a state of coma regained power, and strength whose source was unrecognizable and mysterious to him. The sudden healing of the once-in-coma Simon was astonishing, even the Doctors were shocked and slightly embarrassed of their profession being played incompetent.
Simon, since the visitation of Eraaf, became a changed man, he was surprised and knew something wasn't right with him. His strength, power, everything about him was entirely different, his sexual life too that Vasia could testify to, took a drastic turn. This part is full of many admirable features, one that makes the novel reads quite scenically and erotically. I need to praise Lucas's style of writing here, it got me smiling in sensual ecstasy, and developing some instance love for erotic novels. Soonly, Simon began to get concerned about his newly acquired strength. He hadn't been sleeping, and neither does he feels dizzy. Every second of him is always vigorous. He finally agreed he would see a Doctor.
After an appointment with a Doctor, Simon discovered that his problems were not Medical but Spiritual. He traced it back to the man who had visited him in the hospital the night after the terrorist attack. He had received a vision of Eraaf telling him to find him and that he will explain everything to him. After rubbing minds with Vasia. Simon finally set on his way to Africa, to find answers to his powers that have now begun to gradually put him in trouble.
Then comes the characterization of nosey investigators in name of Haider and Stone. I hate the characterization of these two silly cops. They had nosily followed Simon to the Airport where he was catching a flight to Egypt. They had set up a prier who eventually shot Simon twice after landing. I wasn't clear about their intentions, perhaps, they see Simon as a threat to their job or their country as a reason for setting him up that hard. Poor Simon had only helped utilize his power for the good of humanity. However, his strength was a source of interest to the police. Their prier had made footage of Simon, had seen him die and resurrected. He was shocked beyond words.
I shall resist revealing further in an attempt to keep this review spoiler free, but I'd love to say that Simon's adventure to Africa was full of ups and downs. I will want you to find out if he eventually made his way there, how about his wife, Vasia whom he left behind? What happened between him, the police, and the prier? And after a deadly injury and miraculous healing that Simon had displayed why saving those involved in a ghastly explosion? It is obvious that he is not only helping people but also bringing some sort of notice and attention to himself, one that is not good for the sort of power he possesses.
There is much to say about this book for you to find out for yourself. I can go on and on, as I was impressed with this novel. In my own opinion, this book will make a great TV series. It is well written, from the start of the prologue section to the sudden change in the narrator's tone to the rhythmic blend of the prologue and the last chapter. I can't but give it a 5 stars rating. This is great, and I can't wait to read the second book series. I solely recommend this book to lovers of action thrillers and literature at large.
January 12, 2023
I loved the premise of this book, but on the whole struggled with the narration and the bad editing. It just wasn't my cup of tea.
April 3, 2023
I picked this because of the blurb about a man acquiring superhero powers after being in a London Underground bomb and I was curious about how the story would mix realistic terrorist action with the fantastical elements of a superhero tale. Turns out the author blended these well into a fun action story that stayed just on the side of believable.
Simon as the hero was sympathetic. I liked how the story opened with a few scenes of him being experimented on before jumping into the backstory of someone explaining what had happened to him. The second person narrative of this was a fun and different approach to storytelling which I enjoyed. The build up to Simon's new abilities was slow, with about seven or eight chapters devoted to the terrorist bomb, his escape, and hospitalisation. I appreciated the hint of how he might have gotten his abilities from the mysterious tribespeople on the Tube ride before the bomb went off.
The retelling of Simon's love life to him by the narrator actually made for an amusing seven pages describing a love scene between Simon and his wife Vasia with rather awkward descriptions of various bodily parts and one moment where a certain act that she did was compared to a slug, which gave more gross than romantic imagery, and words such as 'lady bud' which I think we're intentionally used by the author to add humour. I think the cheesy love scenes actually helped show that the story didn't take itself too seriously and added some fun into the serious backstory aspects of the terrorist bomb. But this also set up the fact that Simon began to notice his stamina had changed, in addition to the disappearance of his grey hairs; I thought the slow hints that he was becoming different were a nice change to the usual, sudden-overnight transformation in many current superhero tropes.
What I thought was interesting and unique was how Simon got his abilities, something he learned on a trip to Africa and also how he was mentored by another superhero to develop his abilities. Some parts later had a kind of Matrix vibe, which in fairness was mentioned in the story and there was a good deal of action, including threats to Vasia to keep tension high.
I'd say that, I did feel like there wasn't enough explanation about the narrator's relationship to Simon and how they knew so much about him. Also, while I thought the second person narrative was different and interesting, the limited viewpoint also kept me at a distance from Simon. That aside, I liked the story well enough.
Simon as the hero was sympathetic. I liked how the story opened with a few scenes of him being experimented on before jumping into the backstory of someone explaining what had happened to him. The second person narrative of this was a fun and different approach to storytelling which I enjoyed. The build up to Simon's new abilities was slow, with about seven or eight chapters devoted to the terrorist bomb, his escape, and hospitalisation. I appreciated the hint of how he might have gotten his abilities from the mysterious tribespeople on the Tube ride before the bomb went off.
The retelling of Simon's love life to him by the narrator actually made for an amusing seven pages describing a love scene between Simon and his wife Vasia with rather awkward descriptions of various bodily parts and one moment where a certain act that she did was compared to a slug, which gave more gross than romantic imagery, and words such as 'lady bud' which I think we're intentionally used by the author to add humour. I think the cheesy love scenes actually helped show that the story didn't take itself too seriously and added some fun into the serious backstory aspects of the terrorist bomb. But this also set up the fact that Simon began to notice his stamina had changed, in addition to the disappearance of his grey hairs; I thought the slow hints that he was becoming different were a nice change to the usual, sudden-overnight transformation in many current superhero tropes.
What I thought was interesting and unique was how Simon got his abilities, something he learned on a trip to Africa and also how he was mentored by another superhero to develop his abilities. Some parts later had a kind of Matrix vibe, which in fairness was mentioned in the story and there was a good deal of action, including threats to Vasia to keep tension high.
I'd say that, I did feel like there wasn't enough explanation about the narrator's relationship to Simon and how they knew so much about him. Also, while I thought the second person narrative was different and interesting, the limited viewpoint also kept me at a distance from Simon. That aside, I liked the story well enough.
August 26, 2023
This is a very interesting superhero story. one of the more refreshing ones since the paranoid mage.
that being said, I find the author's decision to use 2nd person POV rather puzzling and weird that it forces reader out of immersion of an otherwise interesting story.
How it was setup is that the mc is kidnap and brought into a safe house of some sort without knowing his name or where he came from. After being tortured for a while, a CIA type individual came in to interrogate him. After a short discussion, the person began to explain what happened to the mc in the last few days/weeks.
mind you, this is not some god or a superior alien being or an AI, this is just some bloke who is telling you what happened.
from that moment on, this is how you are going to read/listen to the book: From that dude's perspective.
"the mc opened his eyes and noticed that he is upside down. he just escaped a terrorist attack. he blinked twice and waited for ten seconds, feeling the ache all over his body. he groaned as he sat up and a mounting sense of fear emanated from his body.
where the hell am I? he thought in his mind. I need to get out of here. I have to escape."
....
I mean what the fuck? why would a random guy know exactly how you feel or know the pain you are feeling inside your body? these crap happens all the time and you just can't concentrate on the story because that keeps happening. The mysterious random bloke knows all the inner thoughts and feelings and future actions of EVERY character in the book that it is mind boggling. It is just in your face all the time and you keep asking yourself, “How the hell did he knows that?!” that it keeps yanking you out of your immersion.
I'm hoping that the author change his mind next book and use a different POV. otherwise, I'll consider this book the end of the series and move on to the next book I find. unfortunately, that will also mean that I'll reluctantly avoid the future works of this promising new author.
that being said, I find the author's decision to use 2nd person POV rather puzzling and weird that it forces reader out of immersion of an otherwise interesting story.
How it was setup is that the mc is kidnap and brought into a safe house of some sort without knowing his name or where he came from. After being tortured for a while, a CIA type individual came in to interrogate him. After a short discussion, the person began to explain what happened to the mc in the last few days/weeks.
mind you, this is not some god or a superior alien being or an AI, this is just some bloke who is telling you what happened.
from that moment on, this is how you are going to read/listen to the book: From that dude's perspective.
"the mc opened his eyes and noticed that he is upside down. he just escaped a terrorist attack. he blinked twice and waited for ten seconds, feeling the ache all over his body. he groaned as he sat up and a mounting sense of fear emanated from his body.
where the hell am I? he thought in his mind. I need to get out of here. I have to escape."
....
I mean what the fuck? why would a random guy know exactly how you feel or know the pain you are feeling inside your body? these crap happens all the time and you just can't concentrate on the story because that keeps happening. The mysterious random bloke knows all the inner thoughts and feelings and future actions of EVERY character in the book that it is mind boggling. It is just in your face all the time and you keep asking yourself, “How the hell did he knows that?!” that it keeps yanking you out of your immersion.
I'm hoping that the author change his mind next book and use a different POV. otherwise, I'll consider this book the end of the series and move on to the next book I find. unfortunately, that will also mean that I'll reluctantly avoid the future works of this promising new author.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 29, 2023
If you enjoyed the movies Hancock and Unbreakable, I’m sure you will enjoy this novel. I went in thinking it would be very light-hearted due to the cover, but the story is actually quite serious, violently brutal in parts. I think a different presentation – more Batman than Shazam, would fit this book better and garner more fans who would appreciate it.
I enjoyed the dynamic between Vasia and Simon. Vasia is a cool character, and for the protagonist to be married to a sassy woman of the Islamic faith was not the norm and very welcome.
This is the first time I’ve read a book where the perspective word often used is ‘you’ rather than ‘I’, since another character is essentially telling our protagonist what happened to him. So, for example: ‘you ran through the carriage’ rather than ‘I ran through the carriage/he ran through the carriage’. This is purely personal preference, but I struggled to get used to it, and didn’t feel it was necessary.
Around a third of the way through the novel, when Simon begins to realise his powers, I enjoyed the originality very much. The powers (I won’t spoil too much) initially seem quite peculiar, and nothing like your standard Superman tale (Simon’s bedroom performance for example). It was interesting to see how Simon tamed his powers and grew into the role of superhero, and I must also mention how, during a ridiculously long marathon run, I instantly thought of a film where the character keeps on running and running – and the amusing zinger came just a few lines later, confirming my own thoughts. Later on, the story reminded me of the Matrix’s training scenes when Simon met Eraaf.
To conclude, this is a much more adult tale than I expected, and I really do suggest a re-do of the presentation to capture the right fanbase. It zoomed along at a fast pace, was always engaging, and the ending certainly piqued my interest for the sequel.
I enjoyed the dynamic between Vasia and Simon. Vasia is a cool character, and for the protagonist to be married to a sassy woman of the Islamic faith was not the norm and very welcome.
This is the first time I’ve read a book where the perspective word often used is ‘you’ rather than ‘I’, since another character is essentially telling our protagonist what happened to him. So, for example: ‘you ran through the carriage’ rather than ‘I ran through the carriage/he ran through the carriage’. This is purely personal preference, but I struggled to get used to it, and didn’t feel it was necessary.
Around a third of the way through the novel, when Simon begins to realise his powers, I enjoyed the originality very much. The powers (I won’t spoil too much) initially seem quite peculiar, and nothing like your standard Superman tale (Simon’s bedroom performance for example). It was interesting to see how Simon tamed his powers and grew into the role of superhero, and I must also mention how, during a ridiculously long marathon run, I instantly thought of a film where the character keeps on running and running – and the amusing zinger came just a few lines later, confirming my own thoughts. Later on, the story reminded me of the Matrix’s training scenes when Simon met Eraaf.
To conclude, this is a much more adult tale than I expected, and I really do suggest a re-do of the presentation to capture the right fanbase. It zoomed along at a fast pace, was always engaging, and the ending certainly piqued my interest for the sequel.
February 3, 2025
This is not your average superhero book. I expected --and steeled myself for-- a fast-moving stereotypical book about a character, the titular Simon, imbued with ultra specialness. I didn’t get that. I expected a rush of super-deeds. I didn’t get that either. What I got was a flawlessly-written literary novel that slowly meanders until the thirteenth chapter when the super-hero powers begin to kick in.
The novel begins with startling torture. But don’t worry or fear being triggered. Although the writer tells us about how agonizing the torture is to Simon, I didn’t feel it. The pain is described and yet it doesn’t quite touch the reader. At least I didn’t—feel the pain. He did, but not me.
Actually, throughout the first chapters, the emotions of the character and the incidents that happen to him or to those he encounters always feel at a distance. Even the passionate sex scene. Worldbuilding is taking place, especially the relation between Simon and Vasia. We need to understand that his wife is Moslem and that there are terrorists lurking around. In fact, that is how Simon got hurt and ended up in that life-changing coma; he instinctively chose to be heroic.
After coming out his coma, he realizes he has changed. His mind is more passionate, his body is stronger, faster. Not only has his life changed within his own private life and family but external law enforcement are now in his life, suspicious as they are wont to be.
I liked this story. Those of us who are used to a quick origin story will have to accept the slow pacing in these first chapters. The author’s decision to use second-person narration might be a bit of a hurdle for some. It seems unnecessary but it does work. Elegantly.
The novel begins with startling torture. But don’t worry or fear being triggered. Although the writer tells us about how agonizing the torture is to Simon, I didn’t feel it. The pain is described and yet it doesn’t quite touch the reader. At least I didn’t—feel the pain. He did, but not me.
Actually, throughout the first chapters, the emotions of the character and the incidents that happen to him or to those he encounters always feel at a distance. Even the passionate sex scene. Worldbuilding is taking place, especially the relation between Simon and Vasia. We need to understand that his wife is Moslem and that there are terrorists lurking around. In fact, that is how Simon got hurt and ended up in that life-changing coma; he instinctively chose to be heroic.
After coming out his coma, he realizes he has changed. His mind is more passionate, his body is stronger, faster. Not only has his life changed within his own private life and family but external law enforcement are now in his life, suspicious as they are wont to be.
I liked this story. Those of us who are used to a quick origin story will have to accept the slow pacing in these first chapters. The author’s decision to use second-person narration might be a bit of a hurdle for some. It seems unnecessary but it does work. Elegantly.
October 29, 2025
I'm a big fan of superhero movies, but I'd never read a superhero novel before. "Simon: Not Your Average Superhero" was my first foray into the subgenre, and it’s definitely different from anything I've read before.
It starts off with a bang and draws you in right away with an opening scene that's pretty gruesome. The author does a good job of not veering into gore for gore's sake. This first section is written in first person perspective, with Simon – like the reader – very much in the dark about what's going on. Then a masked figure enters and starts talking to Simon, explaining how he got into his current predicament.
At that point the book shifts to a second person perspective. I've never read a book written in that perspective before, and the framing device of an amnesiac main character getting caught up on events would justify it. However, this narrator is often omniscient, having knowledge of things that happened when Simon was unconscious or not present at all. This had me constantly questioning how the narrator could possibly know everything that went on, and unfortunately it pulled me out of the story. The author seems to acknowledge this discrepancy by having Simon ask that very question, but the promised explanation never materializes.
It's a shame, because the underlying story is good. I like the explanation for Simon's powers, and the way they slowly emerged was quite well done. I think with a tweak to third person perspective for the flashbacks (and trimming some adjectives and adverbs) this could have easily been a four-star read for me. The bones are definitely there.
If you're looking for a novel take on superhero origin stories, this is one to check out.
It starts off with a bang and draws you in right away with an opening scene that's pretty gruesome. The author does a good job of not veering into gore for gore's sake. This first section is written in first person perspective, with Simon – like the reader – very much in the dark about what's going on. Then a masked figure enters and starts talking to Simon, explaining how he got into his current predicament.
At that point the book shifts to a second person perspective. I've never read a book written in that perspective before, and the framing device of an amnesiac main character getting caught up on events would justify it. However, this narrator is often omniscient, having knowledge of things that happened when Simon was unconscious or not present at all. This had me constantly questioning how the narrator could possibly know everything that went on, and unfortunately it pulled me out of the story. The author seems to acknowledge this discrepancy by having Simon ask that very question, but the promised explanation never materializes.
It's a shame, because the underlying story is good. I like the explanation for Simon's powers, and the way they slowly emerged was quite well done. I think with a tweak to third person perspective for the flashbacks (and trimming some adjectives and adverbs) this could have easily been a four-star read for me. The bones are definitely there.
If you're looking for a novel take on superhero origin stories, this is one to check out.
September 1, 2024
You remember when you watched, "Unbreakable"--pretty much the last decent M. Night Shyamalan movie with the trademarked insane plot twist, arriving in the year 2000, starring Bruce Willis, being a decent hit, and spawning a hit-or-miss trilogy? You remember thinking this is an interesting premise but something seems a bit ... off?
Well here you have the first installment of a literary series that is so much like "Unbreakable" that you will find yourself occasionally surprised when things do not transpire exactly the way they did in "Unbreakable," but they are close enough to be vaguely familiar to you, and to Bruce Willis.
You will find that the writing and plotting is pretty good in the same "Unbreakable" spirit as M. Night Shyamalan's sort-of-classic, but you will also find that you miss the gravitas of a Bruce Willis type to carry the thing through the plot gaps. But you will still enjoy it very much if you enjoy this sort of common man superhero trope, because you already are a fan of the familiar turns of the story.
Some of you may not like the narrative device where the future omniscience is reminding the lead character of the past and you are supposed to be in the position of the common superhero as you learn this information, but if you can get past this device, and you like superheroic stuff, you will have a good time. If you don't like such things, like me, this may not be the book for you. But to you stalwarts of the genre--you have a fun read here with enough novelties to enjoy the ride.
Well here you have the first installment of a literary series that is so much like "Unbreakable" that you will find yourself occasionally surprised when things do not transpire exactly the way they did in "Unbreakable," but they are close enough to be vaguely familiar to you, and to Bruce Willis.
You will find that the writing and plotting is pretty good in the same "Unbreakable" spirit as M. Night Shyamalan's sort-of-classic, but you will also find that you miss the gravitas of a Bruce Willis type to carry the thing through the plot gaps. But you will still enjoy it very much if you enjoy this sort of common man superhero trope, because you already are a fan of the familiar turns of the story.
Some of you may not like the narrative device where the future omniscience is reminding the lead character of the past and you are supposed to be in the position of the common superhero as you learn this information, but if you can get past this device, and you like superheroic stuff, you will have a good time. If you don't like such things, like me, this may not be the book for you. But to you stalwarts of the genre--you have a fun read here with enough novelties to enjoy the ride.
October 12, 2024
Be warned that the story contains very mature, detailed sex scenes, which might be a bit too much for some readers and unfortunately limits the audience for this story.
Lucas Mayberry’s Simon: Not Your Average Superhero dives into the life of Simon, an ordinary married guy who, after being rejected for a job, accidentally stumbles into heroism by saving lives during a terrorist attack on a subway. As a reward for his bravery, Simon is granted superpowers. The narrative is straightforward, with no plot twists, but it's this simplicity that makes it so engaging and original.
The story is well-written with some excellent action sequences. Its uniqueness lies in its second-person perspective, typically seen in non-fiction, which initially feels odd but soon becomes an integral part of the storytelling. Although the narrative style can come across as almost monotone, the compelling material overcomes this.
There’s a debate in my mind about whether the story might have been better told in first-person, third-person, or omniscient perspectives, but kudos to Mayberry for his originality. Simon emerges as a new superhero in this fantasy genre, evoking the charm of a Superman-like figure with a twist.
The pacing is great, the writing strong, and the creative point of view truly sets this book apart. It kept me quickly hitting that next page button, not wanting to stop. It’s a refreshing, unique tale that reminds me of a Deadpool-style story minus the costumes and comic book flair. Highly recommended!
Lucas Mayberry’s Simon: Not Your Average Superhero dives into the life of Simon, an ordinary married guy who, after being rejected for a job, accidentally stumbles into heroism by saving lives during a terrorist attack on a subway. As a reward for his bravery, Simon is granted superpowers. The narrative is straightforward, with no plot twists, but it's this simplicity that makes it so engaging and original.
The story is well-written with some excellent action sequences. Its uniqueness lies in its second-person perspective, typically seen in non-fiction, which initially feels odd but soon becomes an integral part of the storytelling. Although the narrative style can come across as almost monotone, the compelling material overcomes this.
There’s a debate in my mind about whether the story might have been better told in first-person, third-person, or omniscient perspectives, but kudos to Mayberry for his originality. Simon emerges as a new superhero in this fantasy genre, evoking the charm of a Superman-like figure with a twist.
The pacing is great, the writing strong, and the creative point of view truly sets this book apart. It kept me quickly hitting that next page button, not wanting to stop. It’s a refreshing, unique tale that reminds me of a Deadpool-style story minus the costumes and comic book flair. Highly recommended!
November 17, 2025
Lucas W. Mayberry delivers a refreshingly original take on the superhero genre with this compelling origin story. What sets this book apart is its bold use of second-person perspective, which creates an unexpectedly intimate connection to Simon's transformation from ordinary London commuter to extraordinary being. While this narrative choice might seem unconventional at first, it serves the story brilliantly, drawing you deeper into Simon's psychological journey.
The pacing strikes an excellent balance between character development and action. Rather than rushing through the origin story, Mayberry takes time to explore how someone would realistically grapple with sudden superpowers while managing a marriage, police scrutiny, and emerging threats. The relationship between Simon and his wife Vasia adds genuine emotional weight, grounding the fantastic elements in relatable human concerns.
The action sequences are well-crafted and visceral, while the mystery surrounding Simon's powers and the terrorist threat maintains steady tension throughout. Mayberry's prose is clean and confident, moving the story forward with clarity and purpose. The international scope, taking Simon from London to Cairo and beyond, provides diverse settings that enhance the global stakes.
This is intelligent superhero fiction that respects readers' intelligence. The ending sets up future installments perfectly without feeling incomplete. Highly recommended for anyone seeking superhero stories with substance and originality.
The pacing strikes an excellent balance between character development and action. Rather than rushing through the origin story, Mayberry takes time to explore how someone would realistically grapple with sudden superpowers while managing a marriage, police scrutiny, and emerging threats. The relationship between Simon and his wife Vasia adds genuine emotional weight, grounding the fantastic elements in relatable human concerns.
The action sequences are well-crafted and visceral, while the mystery surrounding Simon's powers and the terrorist threat maintains steady tension throughout. Mayberry's prose is clean and confident, moving the story forward with clarity and purpose. The international scope, taking Simon from London to Cairo and beyond, provides diverse settings that enhance the global stakes.
This is intelligent superhero fiction that respects readers' intelligence. The ending sets up future installments perfectly without feeling incomplete. Highly recommended for anyone seeking superhero stories with substance and originality.
January 16, 2022
A Unique Superhero Story
As the title suggests, Simon is definitely not the average superhero. The prologue sets the stage for the story wherein Simon is repeatedly killed by a masked man in a variety of ways. Simon is chained down in a room with an apparent one-way window for unknown persons to view what is happening. It all seems like this is some sort of scientific experiment. Simon can’t understand how he keeps coming back to life after each of the horrific attacks and has no clue as to who the masked man may be that is dishing out the death. Finally, another unknown masked man offers to provide all the answers to Simon by telling him who he is and how he got there. From there, this man begins re-telling Simon this information and thereby becomes the narrator of the story. This was an extremely different way to write and I applaud the author for this unconventional approach. For me personally, it proved to be distracting. The way Simon gradually discovers his superhero skills was written well and it was funny and highly entertaining. The book had many unexpected and outlandish twists that were completely unexpected. The graphic sex scenes with Vasia were completely unnecessary and added nothing to the storyline. Trying to include every single race/ethnicity in the story felt forced. Overall, the book was well written, easy to read, fast paced and had great character development.
As the title suggests, Simon is definitely not the average superhero. The prologue sets the stage for the story wherein Simon is repeatedly killed by a masked man in a variety of ways. Simon is chained down in a room with an apparent one-way window for unknown persons to view what is happening. It all seems like this is some sort of scientific experiment. Simon can’t understand how he keeps coming back to life after each of the horrific attacks and has no clue as to who the masked man may be that is dishing out the death. Finally, another unknown masked man offers to provide all the answers to Simon by telling him who he is and how he got there. From there, this man begins re-telling Simon this information and thereby becomes the narrator of the story. This was an extremely different way to write and I applaud the author for this unconventional approach. For me personally, it proved to be distracting. The way Simon gradually discovers his superhero skills was written well and it was funny and highly entertaining. The book had many unexpected and outlandish twists that were completely unexpected. The graphic sex scenes with Vasia were completely unnecessary and added nothing to the storyline. Trying to include every single race/ethnicity in the story felt forced. Overall, the book was well written, easy to read, fast paced and had great character development.
May 29, 2022
“Simon” by Lucas W. Mayberry is a fresh look at superheroes and the struggles the everyman would face if such powers were thrust upon them. The book is fast paced and keeps you guessing as the pages turn. It offers an interesting take on how a regular guy would react to suddenly being powerful. The gore was relatively believable and not overly present a la Quentin Tarantino.
I must admit that I struggled to truly connect to the story mostly due to the switching points of view. We go from 1st person to 2nd person to sometimes omniscient as we see into Simon’s wife’s thoughts/emotions. It was difficult for me to follow. I believe that to be a personal preference on my part, so I did not take away any stars for this difficulty.
It felt as though the story was attempting to follow a Princess Bride type format, but it fell short in my opinion. It would have been better served to be 1st person where warranted, then 3rd person omniscient within the story telling. I think that format would have better allowed the story to resonate for the reader.
Simon needs a good proofreader to scour through and clean up the errant capitalized words and punctuation. That is why I only gave it 4 stars.
Overall, this was an intriguing foray into the superhero genre. The story was fresh and new. The characters were interesting. If you’re American, the grammar/spelling is proper so please don’t disparage an English author for not being Americanized.
I must admit that I struggled to truly connect to the story mostly due to the switching points of view. We go from 1st person to 2nd person to sometimes omniscient as we see into Simon’s wife’s thoughts/emotions. It was difficult for me to follow. I believe that to be a personal preference on my part, so I did not take away any stars for this difficulty.
It felt as though the story was attempting to follow a Princess Bride type format, but it fell short in my opinion. It would have been better served to be 1st person where warranted, then 3rd person omniscient within the story telling. I think that format would have better allowed the story to resonate for the reader.
Simon needs a good proofreader to scour through and clean up the errant capitalized words and punctuation. That is why I only gave it 4 stars.
Overall, this was an intriguing foray into the superhero genre. The story was fresh and new. The characters were interesting. If you’re American, the grammar/spelling is proper so please don’t disparage an English author for not being Americanized.
March 22, 2023
I highly recommend the novel "Simon: The Not-So-Superhero" for anyone looking for a fun and engaging read. The story follows the adventures of Simon, a young man living in London, from struggling to find a job in the difficult economic climate to navigating his new status of the most powerful person on the planet. What could go wrong? Go and read for yourself to find out!
After a terrorist attack in the London Underground, Simon, who is not exactly a typical superhero, discovers he has some unusual abilities that can be used for good, but bring unexpected challenges. The author does an excellent job of keeping the pace of the story moving, with plenty of action and suspense to keep readers engaged throughout.
One of the most enjoyable aspects of the book is the witty and sarcastic sense of humour, which provides a refreshing contrast to the more serious themes of heroism and self-discovery. The author has a real talent for writing engaging dialogue and character interactions, which helps to bring the story and its characters to life.
I wasn’t a fan of the drawn out descriptions for each scene, however, and of the occasionally gory and violent narrative. Characters could have been a bit deeper too.
Overall, I found "Simon: The Not-So-Superhero" to be a well-written and entertaining read, with plenty of humour, action, and heart. Whether you're a fan of superhero stories or just looking for a fun book to read, I recommend giving this one a try.
After a terrorist attack in the London Underground, Simon, who is not exactly a typical superhero, discovers he has some unusual abilities that can be used for good, but bring unexpected challenges. The author does an excellent job of keeping the pace of the story moving, with plenty of action and suspense to keep readers engaged throughout.
One of the most enjoyable aspects of the book is the witty and sarcastic sense of humour, which provides a refreshing contrast to the more serious themes of heroism and self-discovery. The author has a real talent for writing engaging dialogue and character interactions, which helps to bring the story and its characters to life.
I wasn’t a fan of the drawn out descriptions for each scene, however, and of the occasionally gory and violent narrative. Characters could have been a bit deeper too.
Overall, I found "Simon: The Not-So-Superhero" to be a well-written and entertaining read, with plenty of humour, action, and heart. Whether you're a fan of superhero stories or just looking for a fun book to read, I recommend giving this one a try.
April 18, 2023
This book is about Simon, a man who survives a terrorist act and comes out with superpowers. Most of the book is told from a second person point of view with the narrator telling Simon Simon’s story. At times, the story slips into the first or a third person perspective. Sometimes these slips are clearly an editorial error and at other times the reader is left to wonder if the narrator is omnipresent. The book contains very graphic violence and x-rated sex scenes. I enjoy graphic violence and x-rated sex scenes, but I don’t feel they belong in this book which is written at basically a young adult level. These things I can tolerate, but I hated how unoriginal the storyline was. I found myself thinking this is like Unbreakable. Shortly after that, the narrator actually mentions that movie, making me think the author was at least thinking about that movie while writing certain scenes. I had a similar experience in thinking it was like the Matrix, which was then mentioned shortly thereafter. I think the story falls well short of plagiarism, but I don’t think it’s original at all. The writing has it’s good moments, but it has a lot of bad moments also. The author drones on at time, lulling into boredom. The training sessions and traveling scenes were especially bad. Overall, I simply can’t recommend this book.
April 29, 2022
If I could give a book a half star, I’d give this one four and half as it is (to almost but not quite quote Arthur Dent) almost but not quite exactly my cup of tea. Simon, as a character, is likeable, though his wife feels like she has a lot more to give in subsequent books (and there'd better be subsequent books, or I’ll be going all superhero on Lucas W Mayberry!). Simon gets his superpowers from a nice African gentleman (who is a cross between Morpheus and Yoda) because Simon is a nice bloke. He’s not the fastest thinker in the story, holding with my own personal theory of superheroes that the stronger their powers, the smaller their IQ. The book has good pacing and a well thought out universe. Now the reason it’s not a full five stars. I can live with the cliff-hanger ending, but the story is told largely in second person (‘you’ instead of ‘him’ or ‘I’), which detracts just enough so that I notice it in every use. I can sort of see the reasoning: to give a new twist on the God Point of View and allow for a seamless switching of characters to follow. However, I’m not a fan, though others may be fine with it. It’s well worth a read and despite that particular short coming, I’m hoping to see more of Simon.
November 4, 2022
Simon: Not Your Average Superhero is the story stuck in everyone's head that we all want to write. Deep down, everybody has daydreamed about this story, and credit to the author for being the one to write it down. This book is rooted in our imagination and that is what makes it so strong.
The narrative is unusual in that it is written in the second person. I did find this a little jarring at first but I soon got used to it and was able to appreciate the writing style on its own merits. I loved how Simon found out about his powers, the slow tease of what we all knew was coming, and how he struggled to comprehend what was happening with his new weight of responsibility.
I did struggle with the more 'intimate' parts of this book. They felt out of place and when they don't fit they felt a little awkward as a reader and didn't add to the overall narrative. I'm not against reading this sort of material in the slightest but it took me by surprise. Once they are over, however, reading Simon in action was a thrill and it was a joy to reveal his character and his superpowers.
Minor problems aside, this book is a lot of fun and what we all dream about. I liked how the author has unlocked that and told us the story we all dream about.
The narrative is unusual in that it is written in the second person. I did find this a little jarring at first but I soon got used to it and was able to appreciate the writing style on its own merits. I loved how Simon found out about his powers, the slow tease of what we all knew was coming, and how he struggled to comprehend what was happening with his new weight of responsibility.
I did struggle with the more 'intimate' parts of this book. They felt out of place and when they don't fit they felt a little awkward as a reader and didn't add to the overall narrative. I'm not against reading this sort of material in the slightest but it took me by surprise. Once they are over, however, reading Simon in action was a thrill and it was a joy to reveal his character and his superpowers.
Minor problems aside, this book is a lot of fun and what we all dream about. I liked how the author has unlocked that and told us the story we all dream about.
February 18, 2023
This is Fun – but is it anything else?
The title says it all. This book is fun – a quick read, entertaining and makes you want to read the next. The plot is inventive, incredible and fast-moving. The action is non-stop, visceral, occasionally sexy and sometimes comic. If that’s what you want, this book is for you. I’ve rated it 4 star on that basis.
On the other hand, if that’s not what you’re looking for, you’ll be disappointed. The writing is often pedestrian, the descriptions can be rather drawn out, above all the writer uses few of the traditional novelistic devices (point of view narrative, careful observation of the details of behaviour to convey feelings and reactions, descriptions of settings that avoid endless ‘white space’, metaphor and simile to engage the reader and so on). The characters are one-dimensional and it is often hard to see why they behave as they do. Most of the time, they just accept the fantastical world they are in.
To fill out this review I’d have to delve more into plot and action and that would spoil the reader’s experience since plot and action are what the book has to offer.
I look forward to the next one, and think I have a good idea of the strengths and limitations of what I am going to get.
The title says it all. This book is fun – a quick read, entertaining and makes you want to read the next. The plot is inventive, incredible and fast-moving. The action is non-stop, visceral, occasionally sexy and sometimes comic. If that’s what you want, this book is for you. I’ve rated it 4 star on that basis.
On the other hand, if that’s not what you’re looking for, you’ll be disappointed. The writing is often pedestrian, the descriptions can be rather drawn out, above all the writer uses few of the traditional novelistic devices (point of view narrative, careful observation of the details of behaviour to convey feelings and reactions, descriptions of settings that avoid endless ‘white space’, metaphor and simile to engage the reader and so on). The characters are one-dimensional and it is often hard to see why they behave as they do. Most of the time, they just accept the fantastical world they are in.
To fill out this review I’d have to delve more into plot and action and that would spoil the reader’s experience since plot and action are what the book has to offer.
I look forward to the next one, and think I have a good idea of the strengths and limitations of what I am going to get.
August 21, 2022
Simon: Not Your Average Superhero. Lucas W. Mayberry
I come to this one backwards because I read the second book in the series first. However, I was so pleased with it that I went on a Superhero search for where it all began. You can’t help but love Simon. He’s had a hard day. His latest interview couldn’t have gone any worse, and he’s feeling pretty low.
London in the rush hour doesn’t aid his plight and trying to help somebody who has left his backpack behind lands him in a heap of trouble. Didn’t he hear the warnings about not touching left behind luggage on public transport?
He wakes from a coma, a changed man. In pure Wow! Kaput! Take That! Superhero style, a new Marvelesque Average-Joe-that’s-anything-but emerges, and Simon hasn’t a clue what to do with his new abilities.
There’s a lot in this book as we travel with Simon to Africa, and I loved the travel description elements of the book. We have a good smattering of humour, a character—and his wife—that it’s impossible not to warm to, and a good action-packed story that has you running for the next one—only I did it backwards.
I hope we don’t have to wait too long for book three.
I come to this one backwards because I read the second book in the series first. However, I was so pleased with it that I went on a Superhero search for where it all began. You can’t help but love Simon. He’s had a hard day. His latest interview couldn’t have gone any worse, and he’s feeling pretty low.
London in the rush hour doesn’t aid his plight and trying to help somebody who has left his backpack behind lands him in a heap of trouble. Didn’t he hear the warnings about not touching left behind luggage on public transport?
He wakes from a coma, a changed man. In pure Wow! Kaput! Take That! Superhero style, a new Marvelesque Average-Joe-that’s-anything-but emerges, and Simon hasn’t a clue what to do with his new abilities.
There’s a lot in this book as we travel with Simon to Africa, and I loved the travel description elements of the book. We have a good smattering of humour, a character—and his wife—that it’s impossible not to warm to, and a good action-packed story that has you running for the next one—only I did it backwards.
I hope we don’t have to wait too long for book three.
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