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The Lightning Project #1
Struck
Capes are stupid.Superheroes are just wishful thinking.True love doesn’t exist.I’m not a hero.Well…not yet.***A seventeen-year-old hacker, a group of teenage superheroes and one hell of a family secret come together to form the perfect storm. Are you ready to get Struck?
- GenresM M RomanceYoung Adult
256 pages, Paperback
Published December 5, 2018
37 people are currently reading
37 people want to read
About the author
Victoria Kinnaird
23 books100 followersVictoria Kinnaird is the pen name of Scottish writer Vicki Scott. She lives in Glasgow with her family and her three dogs. She graduated from the University of Strathclyde in 2009 with a Bachelor of the Arts degree in Journalism, Creative Writing and English Lit. Victoria has been writing since she was 15 years old. She loves rock music, and most of her tattoos are related to bands that she loves!
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Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
February 10, 2019
I have kindly received a copy in exchange for an honest review.
I’ll dive right in for the needs to know. First, this doesn’t end in a cliffhanger, but a Happy For Now, which really, really works in my opinion. Second, this is probably my favorite read of 2019 so far. Third, think: Marvels The Runaways meets Deadly Class.
Some might call Ethan cynical. Ethan calls himself cynical. I would call him: Self Aware. The setting starts off with him not being too cryptic. He’s highly aware of a morality of what is right and wrong. This piqued my interest. His humor and wit sealed the deal. Being in his head is fun! But then he gets struck. The life he once knew, boring and slightly annoying life that he once knew, was gone.
It was a lot to take in.
Imagine going to bed, then waking up and go through your morning routine with NO IDEA of what was to come. Then to have it all suddenly change just because you were in the wrong place, wrong time? Well… not trying to give anyway spoilers, but there is more to it than that. This book had quite a bit of table turning events, but they don’t come at you too fast. It’s just the kind of thing that keeps you guessing, and unsure of what direction it would go.
The emotional aspect of Ethan was very understandable, realistic and again: Self Aware. He had practically been given a life he never asked for. Can anyone relate? I sure can.
Ethan un-shockingly (pun intended) isn’t the only teenager who has been struck. One particular teen and love interest who catches Ethan's eye is Adam. Oh sweet loving Adam. How I adore thee.
I adore the love that blossoms between these two. It didn’t feel forced and it didn’t feel unnatural, because these two clearly feel made for each other. They balance each other wonderfully. Which of course means that not everything between them is going to be all sunshine and rainbows. There will be some angst, but not overly dramatic. Their growing relationship and the plot really kept me engaged.
If there is anything I could say, improvements, plot holes, ect, I can’t find any. I do know this isn’t the end, and again I am given a feeling that there are so many different directions this story can take next. Its exciting!
I’ll dive right in for the needs to know. First, this doesn’t end in a cliffhanger, but a Happy For Now, which really, really works in my opinion. Second, this is probably my favorite read of 2019 so far. Third, think: Marvels The Runaways meets Deadly Class.
Some might call Ethan cynical. Ethan calls himself cynical. I would call him: Self Aware. The setting starts off with him not being too cryptic. He’s highly aware of a morality of what is right and wrong. This piqued my interest. His humor and wit sealed the deal. Being in his head is fun! But then he gets struck. The life he once knew, boring and slightly annoying life that he once knew, was gone.
It was a lot to take in.
Imagine going to bed, then waking up and go through your morning routine with NO IDEA of what was to come. Then to have it all suddenly change just because you were in the wrong place, wrong time? Well… not trying to give anyway spoilers, but there is more to it than that. This book had quite a bit of table turning events, but they don’t come at you too fast. It’s just the kind of thing that keeps you guessing, and unsure of what direction it would go.
The emotional aspect of Ethan was very understandable, realistic and again: Self Aware. He had practically been given a life he never asked for. Can anyone relate? I sure can.
Ethan un-shockingly (pun intended) isn’t the only teenager who has been struck. One particular teen and love interest who catches Ethan's eye is Adam. Oh sweet loving Adam. How I adore thee.
I adore the love that blossoms between these two. It didn’t feel forced and it didn’t feel unnatural, because these two clearly feel made for each other. They balance each other wonderfully. Which of course means that not everything between them is going to be all sunshine and rainbows. There will be some angst, but not overly dramatic. Their growing relationship and the plot really kept me engaged.
If there is anything I could say, improvements, plot holes, ect, I can’t find any. I do know this isn’t the end, and again I am given a feeling that there are so many different directions this story can take next. Its exciting!
February 7, 2019
I have a weakness for Superheroes and YA books. So I couldn’t pass up the opportunity to read Struck.
Ethan is a small-town hacker who already knows how to his own version of justice done until he was struck. Now he’s trying to figure out what exactly his power it is and how the Lightning Project is going to be doing good for the world. I loved Ethan. He is so freaking sarcastic and witty he had me cackling at times. Everyone needs a friend like Ethan in their lives.
Ethan doesn’t also immediately buy into the Lightning Project. He challenges it like a teenager would. He wants to know as much as he can about the Project and to understand it before he accepts his new role. I enjoyed all the other characters as well. They helped push the story along and each proved vital to the story line in their own ways. I particularly enjoyed Esther and her teasing nature. She was fun for more than just her powers.
I enjoyed the romance between Ethan and Adam. It wasn’t all roses and there were moments that I wanted to shake both of them but they got their act together. But they were sweet to each other in that teenage way. I loved the little flirty moments mixed in with all the action. It made this extremely fun to read and I’m looking forward to the next installment.
Ethan is a small-town hacker who already knows how to his own version of justice done until he was struck. Now he’s trying to figure out what exactly his power it is and how the Lightning Project is going to be doing good for the world. I loved Ethan. He is so freaking sarcastic and witty he had me cackling at times. Everyone needs a friend like Ethan in their lives.
Ethan doesn’t also immediately buy into the Lightning Project. He challenges it like a teenager would. He wants to know as much as he can about the Project and to understand it before he accepts his new role. I enjoyed all the other characters as well. They helped push the story along and each proved vital to the story line in their own ways. I particularly enjoyed Esther and her teasing nature. She was fun for more than just her powers.
I enjoyed the romance between Ethan and Adam. It wasn’t all roses and there were moments that I wanted to shake both of them but they got their act together. But they were sweet to each other in that teenage way. I loved the little flirty moments mixed in with all the action. It made this extremely fun to read and I’m looking forward to the next installment.
May 30, 2021
haha this one made me smile and laugh.. it made me happy and it felt good. it was a feel good read and enjoyable
October 6, 2021
This book is the first in a YA adventure series. While there is a M/M romance, it’s NOT the center of this tale. Also since this is aimed at a YA audience, the sex is mostly off-screen.
Told in first person from the POV of wise-cracking Ethan, this book is a bit more of a bumpy ride than I’d like. Sometimes hyperbole is the enemy of clarity. I also found the one non-binary character’s continually being referred to as “they” a bit disorienting. “They” still generally implies plural in my mind. While I think that the author was deliberately trying to make a point in that regard, it felt a bit artificial. It pulled me “out” of the story more than was really necessary. For example “The sound of K slapping their hand over my mouth echoed around our abandoned subway car.” The sentence could have just as easily been written as “The sound of K slapping a hand over my mouth echoed around our abandoned subway car.” There’d have been no loss of clarity and certainly less potential for confusion.
It might also be my old fashioned sensibilities, or perhaps a touch of world weariness, but this tale felt a bit too bleak for my liking. A group of teen superheros that have been created without their consent by a government agency unconcerned that the mortality among new converts is disturbingly high? Of course, it’s not wise to expect sunshine and rainbows when your main character has been declared dead by the end of chapter one. Ethan’s a likable enough guy and Adam as his love interest seems incredibly sweet in a doomed puppydog way. But the way they kept layering on the grief for Adam seemed a bit too much like schadenfreude.
While some may really get into the birth of this new superhero series populated by snarky teens, it will most likely be enjoyed by those used to sterner stuff than I am.
***Note: I am voluntarily reviewing this after receiving a complimentary copy ***
Told in first person from the POV of wise-cracking Ethan, this book is a bit more of a bumpy ride than I’d like. Sometimes hyperbole is the enemy of clarity. I also found the one non-binary character’s continually being referred to as “they” a bit disorienting. “They” still generally implies plural in my mind. While I think that the author was deliberately trying to make a point in that regard, it felt a bit artificial. It pulled me “out” of the story more than was really necessary. For example “The sound of K slapping their hand over my mouth echoed around our abandoned subway car.” The sentence could have just as easily been written as “The sound of K slapping a hand over my mouth echoed around our abandoned subway car.” There’d have been no loss of clarity and certainly less potential for confusion.
It might also be my old fashioned sensibilities, or perhaps a touch of world weariness, but this tale felt a bit too bleak for my liking. A group of teen superheros that have been created without their consent by a government agency unconcerned that the mortality among new converts is disturbingly high? Of course, it’s not wise to expect sunshine and rainbows when your main character has been declared dead by the end of chapter one. Ethan’s a likable enough guy and Adam as his love interest seems incredibly sweet in a doomed puppydog way. But the way they kept layering on the grief for Adam seemed a bit too much like schadenfreude.
While some may really get into the birth of this new superhero series populated by snarky teens, it will most likely be enjoyed by those used to sterner stuff than I am.
***Note: I am voluntarily reviewing this after receiving a complimentary copy ***
October 7, 2021
A Joyfully Jay review.
3.75 stars
Struck: The Lightning Project is the first in a new YA series involving a team of reluctant superheroes. And by reluctant, I mean they’ve been kidnapped, forced to genetically evolve, and are essentially being held hostage by a shadowy government organization. So it isn’t your everyday superhero story. The characters are diverse and the story engaging, but Struck has its issues and struggles to find its purpose.
From the dour and defiant Ethan, to the quiet K, the cast of Struck is as varied as they are talented. They have a wide array of powers and unique personalities and while some stand out more than others, none felt like a one-note page filler. The relationship between Ethan and Adam takes center stage and while Ethan is all bark and no bite, he and Adam tend to serve as a decent balance for one another. There is a villain who is less defined and somewhat of a “gotcha” character, but this may resolve itself in future books.
Read Sue’s review in its entirety here.
3.75 stars
Struck: The Lightning Project is the first in a new YA series involving a team of reluctant superheroes. And by reluctant, I mean they’ve been kidnapped, forced to genetically evolve, and are essentially being held hostage by a shadowy government organization. So it isn’t your everyday superhero story. The characters are diverse and the story engaging, but Struck has its issues and struggles to find its purpose.
From the dour and defiant Ethan, to the quiet K, the cast of Struck is as varied as they are talented. They have a wide array of powers and unique personalities and while some stand out more than others, none felt like a one-note page filler. The relationship between Ethan and Adam takes center stage and while Ethan is all bark and no bite, he and Adam tend to serve as a decent balance for one another. There is a villain who is less defined and somewhat of a “gotcha” character, but this may resolve itself in future books.
Read Sue’s review in its entirety here.
April 27, 2022
Wow! That was fun! I don't get to read a lot of LGBT+ YA books, but this one was really good. Warning: this book is definitely going to be part of a series, and I have high hopes that it will continue to be this entertaining. The worst part about reading the first book in a series when it is first released, is that you have to wait for the next installment.
Victoria Kinnaird is a new author for me, but I am definitely impressed with her creativity. I have to be honest; I wasn't sure how I was going to feel about reading a book about teenage superheroes. But, Ethan, one of the MCs, was so snarky and just in your face; and Adam was too precious... I could describe the whole team, but you can find out for yourself when you read this book.
It's been a while since a plotline has surprised me, but this one has a twist I truly wasn't expecting. In hindsight, I probably should have seen it coming, but it caught me completely unaware. There was some angst, but it wasn't overwhelming. The love story was super sweet, but bittersweet for the moment. There is nothing explicit, but there is a fade to dark scene, and a lot of implied sexy times. There is some cursing, but again, I am not a good judge of what is appropriate for YA books. I'm confident that my ten year old daughter has heard everything said in the book on the playground, so there's that.
If you're looking for a fun Sci-fi type superhero group of a very diverse group of friends who do the right thing, even if they don't like it, this is an awesome read. (And I know that was a really long, probably run on sentence...)
Happy reading!
* I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest and unbiased review. *
Victoria Kinnaird is a new author for me, but I am definitely impressed with her creativity. I have to be honest; I wasn't sure how I was going to feel about reading a book about teenage superheroes. But, Ethan, one of the MCs, was so snarky and just in your face; and Adam was too precious... I could describe the whole team, but you can find out for yourself when you read this book.
It's been a while since a plotline has surprised me, but this one has a twist I truly wasn't expecting. In hindsight, I probably should have seen it coming, but it caught me completely unaware. There was some angst, but it wasn't overwhelming. The love story was super sweet, but bittersweet for the moment. There is nothing explicit, but there is a fade to dark scene, and a lot of implied sexy times. There is some cursing, but again, I am not a good judge of what is appropriate for YA books. I'm confident that my ten year old daughter has heard everything said in the book on the playground, so there's that.
If you're looking for a fun Sci-fi type superhero group of a very diverse group of friends who do the right thing, even if they don't like it, this is an awesome read. (And I know that was a really long, probably run on sentence...)
Happy reading!
* I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest and unbiased review. *
December 1, 2018
** I WAS GIVEN THIS BOOK FOR MY READING PLEASURE **
Reviewed for Divine Magazine
~
Struck
The Lightning Project, Book 1
Victoria Kinnaird
★★★★★
190 Pages
POV: 1st person, one character / 3rd person, multi-POV
Would I read it again?: Yes!
Genre: YA, MM, Superhero/Supervillain, Origin Story
Struck is the Marvel-worthy origin story where 'The Runaways' meets 'Riverdale'. All the snark, sarcasm, awkward flirtations, and the reality of being an angry teen, wrapped up into a YA story that is all plot and substance and no filler. Oh, and a special cameo by Forever Fading Echoes, a band of Kinnaird's creation that appear in her Keswick Chronicles novels. What's not to love?
.
PRESENTATION AND POV
Between the cover and the inside chapter headings, the book is beautifully presented. The presentation compliments Kinnaird's unique writing style, where she manages to blend 1st and 3rd in a way that is both readable and logical. I don't think I've ever read another author who can seamlessly combine 1st person POV with 3rd, nor have a legitimate reason, and purpose, for doing so.
The MC of the novel is Ethan – a disillusioned, closeted, small town, hacker – who tells his story through the predominant POV of 1st person. But, we also get a glimpse of the POV's of the two secondary characters, Adam and Esther. This is mostly because Ethan is about to enter a world that he's unfamiliar with, and Adam and Esther will be there to provide context, and another side to the world that Ethan doesn't yet understand. I loved that we got these glimpses, and that they were obviously different from Ethan's POV by switching to 3rd. It made it easier to know who you were focusing on, rather than having to check a header for the POV label.
Kinnaird also avoids the major pitfalls of 1st person POV, that I see all too often – where you begin reading and it either takes 10% or an unbelievable self-reflection moment for us readers to discover the age, gender, name and appearance of the 1st person narrator. It's easily done, because the options are to have someone else point them out, or to have the 1st person narrator drop them in unnaturally. Ethan's natural snark and Kinnaird's skill at storytelling make this process much more natural. Ethan's “voice” is distinctly angsty teen-male, while taking less than 2% to cover his personality, looks, age, gender, and giving us forewarning about who we're going to be following through the story with one of my favourite quotes:
“Having a mouth faster than my reflexes got me in all sorts of trouble.”
.
PLOT
This is a YA novel, but it doesn't hide behind a PG13 rating. The majority of the cast are 17-18 years old, and they act like it. The characters are realistic and logical, they behave like teenagers, talk like teenagers, and react like other teenagers world, even when their world is limited to a bubble of one building. They realistically navigate that uncertain place between teenagers and adults with surprising grace, considering all they've encountered and been put through.
The world building is brilliant. It begins with a normal small town, in a contemporary world setting, and then the superhero/world-building aspects are slowly leaked into the story through Ethan's observations, and then from Adam and Esther's experiences. Once Ethan is Struck – a term used to describe someone put through a scientific experiment, where they're struck by a controlled level of electricity that creates a genetic superpower – he enters a world that is familiar but new, both to him and to the reader. Blending the often co-existing genres of Science Fiction and Comic Books, the world of Struck begins to take shape. After being Struck, Ethan is taken to a secret government facility, everyone believes he's dead, his old life is gone, and he's warned that being Struck will lead to superpowers.
Thus, the origin story begins. And I loved every minute of it.
The plot follows a nice pace throughout, starting with Ethan's everyday life, drifting through his life as a small-town, closeted teen with issues, and then leads him into a place where he can be himself and start over. Where the members of his new team from The Lightning Project are just as unique as he is. Adam, the leader of the group, openly gay, smart and mature; K, non-binary and kick-ass; Tomas, a bit of a male slut and dreamer; Esther, the smart, sassy woman-of-colour that puts everyone in their place; Sierra, the cheeky, melodramatic one; and finally Laurel, the quiet and unassuming one who stays in the background but does her part.
Instead of avoiding the stereotypes or noting a person's struggle but not challenging it, Kinnaird faces them head on. Ethan is self-aware enough to be mouthy and get away with saying things that most others would think twice about, and Kinnaird uses that to her advantage. Ethan admits to being ignorant about non-binary pronouns and how to speak to K without being insulting; he has frank discussions with Esther about her struggles as a woman-of-colour and how she deals with having to fight twice as hard for her dreams.
Ethan is aware of expectations put on him by the world, admitting to them when discussing being in the closet, being a small town gay kid, even when Esther precedes him into a place of danger, offering another one of my favourite quotes to challenge the expected/ingrained misogyny that can be so prevalent in novels, even within the MM genre:
“I did have a moment of “hey, shouldn’t I be in the front instead of hiding behind a girl?” but then I remembered that I’m blessedly free of toxic masculinity and I have no problem letting Esther take the lead, especially because she could successfully defend us both in a fight while the sight of blood makes me feel dizzy.”
And yet, the story manages to do all of this without becoming lecturing or political. The novel is primarily an origin story – about how Ethan deals with becoming a teenager with superpowers, and how that changes his life. Woven throughout are the political, social and gender issues that most teens deal with as they progress into adulthood, especially if they fall anywhere outside of the white, straight, cis roadmap. These kids come together as angry misfits, but find a family with each other, and that becomes – at least, in my eyes – the secondary plot of the novel. Thirdly, we have the romance between Ethan and Adam. Two kids who have issues, baggage, and yet find something in each other that they can't find anywhere else.
.
CHARACTERS
When it comes to characters, there are a few that are noteworthy: Ethan, our MC; Adam, Esther, K, Tomas, Laurel and Sierra, who make up The Project team; and Jones, the Mary Poppins-esque babysitter and bodyguard. These are the mainstay characters of the novel. Then we also have the extras, who have a bearing on the novel, but who don't have as many on-page scenes; Alex, Dr and Mrs Harrison, and Ethan's parents. They all have a part to play, but I won't tell you what that is, because certain characters are spoiler-worthy.
I love Ethan as an MC. He starts off as the disillusioned hacker with a chip on his shoulder, using snark and sarcasm to get by, using the closeted school jock for some fooling around, and hiding from a world that has let him down and is full of hypocrisy. He's your typical teenager in mostly every other way, until he is Struck, then he begins to grow into someone with more maturity and awareness of not only himself but everyone around him, too.
For the most part, Ethan and Adam are the main characters, while Esther, and later K, providing the most on-page characterisation. The POV is split between Ethan, Adam and Esther; each offer their POV at one point or another, and each have a heavier bearing on the plot than some of the other characters. Yet, each character is a unique individual, who is allowed their own self-expression, their own moment to shine, and no one becomes a token member of the team. They're all equal, and Ethan learns an important lesson about himself, or life, or the project, from each member he meets.
Despite the unique plot and the life-changing situation, Ethan has a normal, rational, and realistic reaction, that any other person on the planet would, after being Struck and becoming a superhero, while also adapting to a life changing event with the adequate level of snark, anger, rebellion and bargaining. It's over time that he begins to see the bigger picture. Like any teenager who resists change but is forced to adapt and change to a world that won't let go, Ethan begins to mature and change his thinking.
He's an intellectual, the smart-mouth entertainment, and a planner; throughout the entire book, he remains consistent. Despite the superpowers that he ends up with, he never truly accepts them, or himself, as he struggles through this new world. He resists, and fights back, and rebels at every opportunity, as you would expect of his character. But, when the tough choices need to be made, he's the one to jump right in, despite his misgivings, and be the one brave enough to say “something needs to be done”. But, at no point does he become someone unrecognisable, either. I loved that Ethan stayed true to his personality the whole way through. He's no fighter, he can't stand the sight of blood, and his skills are limited to hacking and sarcasm. He uses what he's got, and learns a few neat tricks when he has to, but he doesn't become the crime-fighting hero, kicking ass and taking names. In fact, more than once, he becomes the one who needs to be saved, the one that would be the damsel-in-distress, if there was any hint of misogyny in the novel. Which there isn't.
Adam is the kickass, all-hero all-the-time, character. Yet, he's also gentle, caring, mature, and he puts others first. He's full of compassion, a little shy, and has all the makings of a smart but geeky teenager, yet is the ultimate superhero. Esther is the mother-hen of the group, strong and smart and sassy, while keeping everyone accountable for their actions. K is the deceptively quiet one, who is thinking and contemplative when quiet, but not afraid to challenge anyone if they need it. Tomas is a lover not a fighter, the one with the big personality and a big mouth, the teasing and flirty one of the group. While Sierra teases and snarks back at Tomas and Ethan equally, she and Laurel are the quietest of the group. Together, they form a whole gamut of realistic teenage traits that takes me straight back to high school, where I was the openly-gobby-one, who was secretly introverted. Ah, the good old days.
They're also realistically teenagers when it comes to the sexy stuff, too. Right from the start, Ethan implies a almost-or-actual sexual relationship with the jock at his school, then later suggested that he's got experience of some kind, though it's never explicit or in-your-face. Later, it's implied that Tomas is the reason that Jones had to give them the 'safe sex' talk, and that he's been known to have a few flings in the past. It's all out in the open, but not made into a big deal, just as it should be.
Yet, they all have their own unique way of dealing with things. Some act their age, some are your typical teenage-boy who thinks he's more mature than he really is, and some are just not interested. Like most teenagers. Tomas is a self-confessed 'love-em-and-leave-em' kind of guy. Sierra and Esther are the gag and giggle kind of girls, whenever sex comes up, while Laurel and K just roll their eyes. Ethan is his unabashedly unashamed self, making sex jokes, innuendos and teasing Adam and Esther mercilessly for their shyness towards talking about sex. Adam blushes and can't say the word 'sex' without stumbling.
They all have their unique quirks, and they all make each character more real for it. Just as the reality of Adam and Ethan eventually having sex with each other. It's not explicit. Body parts are limits to chest and sides. Kinnaird promotes safe sex with the mention of a condom, as well as Esther demanding to know they were safe about it, after. And, though it's sort-of fade-to-black, with mostly Ethan's thoughts covering the actual moment, it fitted perfectly with the characters, their personalities, and it felt important. It was a huge moment for them, and I would have felt like something was missing if it hadn't been included.
These kids are real and smart. Some are mature, some are immature *coughEthancough* and some of them are just your regular 17-18 year old's who want nothing more than to hang out, watch Netflix, and eat popcorn. They swear, they talk about sex, some of them actually have sex (off-page for the most part) just like some teenagers do. None of that detracts from or distracts from the main plot. The reality of teen lives and behaviour is woven into the characterisation of each of the team members, just as easily as their gender, identity, sexuality, and age are.
.
OVERALL
This is a story of growth, maturity, compassion, family and friendship. It starts off being about a jaded, lonely, closeted kid from a small town, and ends up being about a group of teenagers who have become a family, fighting for what they believe in, and trying to find their place in a world that doesn't always understand or accept them.
It's your Stan Lee, Marvel-comics origin story for LGBT, POC teenagers who have been discarded or ignored by society until now, but who have come together to begin an amazing new life, with incredible new powers. A Big Hero 6 of family, friendship and loyalty. While being totally unique, with clever plotting, just the right amount of snark, and with a host of characters who don't always disagree but will always be there for each other, no matter what.
The skill of Kinnaird's writing sucks you into the story from page one, and leaves you ending the book with an intriguing glimpse of what may lie ahead in future novels, while feeling wholly satisfied by the complete storyline that just came to an end.
~
Favourite Quotes
“All that knowledge, all that power, and we were still a couple of kids lying in an unmade bed, hundreds of miles from home, mourning the loss of a life we’d spent every day fighting to escape from. It’s funny, isn’t it, how fate makes a mockery of us all?”
Reviewed for Divine Magazine
~
Struck
The Lightning Project, Book 1
Victoria Kinnaird
★★★★★
190 Pages
POV: 1st person, one character / 3rd person, multi-POV
Would I read it again?: Yes!
Genre: YA, MM, Superhero/Supervillain, Origin Story
Struck is the Marvel-worthy origin story where 'The Runaways' meets 'Riverdale'. All the snark, sarcasm, awkward flirtations, and the reality of being an angry teen, wrapped up into a YA story that is all plot and substance and no filler. Oh, and a special cameo by Forever Fading Echoes, a band of Kinnaird's creation that appear in her Keswick Chronicles novels. What's not to love?
.
PRESENTATION AND POV
Between the cover and the inside chapter headings, the book is beautifully presented. The presentation compliments Kinnaird's unique writing style, where she manages to blend 1st and 3rd in a way that is both readable and logical. I don't think I've ever read another author who can seamlessly combine 1st person POV with 3rd, nor have a legitimate reason, and purpose, for doing so.
The MC of the novel is Ethan – a disillusioned, closeted, small town, hacker – who tells his story through the predominant POV of 1st person. But, we also get a glimpse of the POV's of the two secondary characters, Adam and Esther. This is mostly because Ethan is about to enter a world that he's unfamiliar with, and Adam and Esther will be there to provide context, and another side to the world that Ethan doesn't yet understand. I loved that we got these glimpses, and that they were obviously different from Ethan's POV by switching to 3rd. It made it easier to know who you were focusing on, rather than having to check a header for the POV label.
Kinnaird also avoids the major pitfalls of 1st person POV, that I see all too often – where you begin reading and it either takes 10% or an unbelievable self-reflection moment for us readers to discover the age, gender, name and appearance of the 1st person narrator. It's easily done, because the options are to have someone else point them out, or to have the 1st person narrator drop them in unnaturally. Ethan's natural snark and Kinnaird's skill at storytelling make this process much more natural. Ethan's “voice” is distinctly angsty teen-male, while taking less than 2% to cover his personality, looks, age, gender, and giving us forewarning about who we're going to be following through the story with one of my favourite quotes:
“Having a mouth faster than my reflexes got me in all sorts of trouble.”
.
PLOT
This is a YA novel, but it doesn't hide behind a PG13 rating. The majority of the cast are 17-18 years old, and they act like it. The characters are realistic and logical, they behave like teenagers, talk like teenagers, and react like other teenagers world, even when their world is limited to a bubble of one building. They realistically navigate that uncertain place between teenagers and adults with surprising grace, considering all they've encountered and been put through.
The world building is brilliant. It begins with a normal small town, in a contemporary world setting, and then the superhero/world-building aspects are slowly leaked into the story through Ethan's observations, and then from Adam and Esther's experiences. Once Ethan is Struck – a term used to describe someone put through a scientific experiment, where they're struck by a controlled level of electricity that creates a genetic superpower – he enters a world that is familiar but new, both to him and to the reader. Blending the often co-existing genres of Science Fiction and Comic Books, the world of Struck begins to take shape. After being Struck, Ethan is taken to a secret government facility, everyone believes he's dead, his old life is gone, and he's warned that being Struck will lead to superpowers.
Thus, the origin story begins. And I loved every minute of it.
The plot follows a nice pace throughout, starting with Ethan's everyday life, drifting through his life as a small-town, closeted teen with issues, and then leads him into a place where he can be himself and start over. Where the members of his new team from The Lightning Project are just as unique as he is. Adam, the leader of the group, openly gay, smart and mature; K, non-binary and kick-ass; Tomas, a bit of a male slut and dreamer; Esther, the smart, sassy woman-of-colour that puts everyone in their place; Sierra, the cheeky, melodramatic one; and finally Laurel, the quiet and unassuming one who stays in the background but does her part.
Instead of avoiding the stereotypes or noting a person's struggle but not challenging it, Kinnaird faces them head on. Ethan is self-aware enough to be mouthy and get away with saying things that most others would think twice about, and Kinnaird uses that to her advantage. Ethan admits to being ignorant about non-binary pronouns and how to speak to K without being insulting; he has frank discussions with Esther about her struggles as a woman-of-colour and how she deals with having to fight twice as hard for her dreams.
Ethan is aware of expectations put on him by the world, admitting to them when discussing being in the closet, being a small town gay kid, even when Esther precedes him into a place of danger, offering another one of my favourite quotes to challenge the expected/ingrained misogyny that can be so prevalent in novels, even within the MM genre:
“I did have a moment of “hey, shouldn’t I be in the front instead of hiding behind a girl?” but then I remembered that I’m blessedly free of toxic masculinity and I have no problem letting Esther take the lead, especially because she could successfully defend us both in a fight while the sight of blood makes me feel dizzy.”
And yet, the story manages to do all of this without becoming lecturing or political. The novel is primarily an origin story – about how Ethan deals with becoming a teenager with superpowers, and how that changes his life. Woven throughout are the political, social and gender issues that most teens deal with as they progress into adulthood, especially if they fall anywhere outside of the white, straight, cis roadmap. These kids come together as angry misfits, but find a family with each other, and that becomes – at least, in my eyes – the secondary plot of the novel. Thirdly, we have the romance between Ethan and Adam. Two kids who have issues, baggage, and yet find something in each other that they can't find anywhere else.
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CHARACTERS
When it comes to characters, there are a few that are noteworthy: Ethan, our MC; Adam, Esther, K, Tomas, Laurel and Sierra, who make up The Project team; and Jones, the Mary Poppins-esque babysitter and bodyguard. These are the mainstay characters of the novel. Then we also have the extras, who have a bearing on the novel, but who don't have as many on-page scenes; Alex, Dr and Mrs Harrison, and Ethan's parents. They all have a part to play, but I won't tell you what that is, because certain characters are spoiler-worthy.
I love Ethan as an MC. He starts off as the disillusioned hacker with a chip on his shoulder, using snark and sarcasm to get by, using the closeted school jock for some fooling around, and hiding from a world that has let him down and is full of hypocrisy. He's your typical teenager in mostly every other way, until he is Struck, then he begins to grow into someone with more maturity and awareness of not only himself but everyone around him, too.
For the most part, Ethan and Adam are the main characters, while Esther, and later K, providing the most on-page characterisation. The POV is split between Ethan, Adam and Esther; each offer their POV at one point or another, and each have a heavier bearing on the plot than some of the other characters. Yet, each character is a unique individual, who is allowed their own self-expression, their own moment to shine, and no one becomes a token member of the team. They're all equal, and Ethan learns an important lesson about himself, or life, or the project, from each member he meets.
Despite the unique plot and the life-changing situation, Ethan has a normal, rational, and realistic reaction, that any other person on the planet would, after being Struck and becoming a superhero, while also adapting to a life changing event with the adequate level of snark, anger, rebellion and bargaining. It's over time that he begins to see the bigger picture. Like any teenager who resists change but is forced to adapt and change to a world that won't let go, Ethan begins to mature and change his thinking.
He's an intellectual, the smart-mouth entertainment, and a planner; throughout the entire book, he remains consistent. Despite the superpowers that he ends up with, he never truly accepts them, or himself, as he struggles through this new world. He resists, and fights back, and rebels at every opportunity, as you would expect of his character. But, when the tough choices need to be made, he's the one to jump right in, despite his misgivings, and be the one brave enough to say “something needs to be done”. But, at no point does he become someone unrecognisable, either. I loved that Ethan stayed true to his personality the whole way through. He's no fighter, he can't stand the sight of blood, and his skills are limited to hacking and sarcasm. He uses what he's got, and learns a few neat tricks when he has to, but he doesn't become the crime-fighting hero, kicking ass and taking names. In fact, more than once, he becomes the one who needs to be saved, the one that would be the damsel-in-distress, if there was any hint of misogyny in the novel. Which there isn't.
Adam is the kickass, all-hero all-the-time, character. Yet, he's also gentle, caring, mature, and he puts others first. He's full of compassion, a little shy, and has all the makings of a smart but geeky teenager, yet is the ultimate superhero. Esther is the mother-hen of the group, strong and smart and sassy, while keeping everyone accountable for their actions. K is the deceptively quiet one, who is thinking and contemplative when quiet, but not afraid to challenge anyone if they need it. Tomas is a lover not a fighter, the one with the big personality and a big mouth, the teasing and flirty one of the group. While Sierra teases and snarks back at Tomas and Ethan equally, she and Laurel are the quietest of the group. Together, they form a whole gamut of realistic teenage traits that takes me straight back to high school, where I was the openly-gobby-one, who was secretly introverted. Ah, the good old days.
They're also realistically teenagers when it comes to the sexy stuff, too. Right from the start, Ethan implies a almost-or-actual sexual relationship with the jock at his school, then later suggested that he's got experience of some kind, though it's never explicit or in-your-face. Later, it's implied that Tomas is the reason that Jones had to give them the 'safe sex' talk, and that he's been known to have a few flings in the past. It's all out in the open, but not made into a big deal, just as it should be.
Yet, they all have their own unique way of dealing with things. Some act their age, some are your typical teenage-boy who thinks he's more mature than he really is, and some are just not interested. Like most teenagers. Tomas is a self-confessed 'love-em-and-leave-em' kind of guy. Sierra and Esther are the gag and giggle kind of girls, whenever sex comes up, while Laurel and K just roll their eyes. Ethan is his unabashedly unashamed self, making sex jokes, innuendos and teasing Adam and Esther mercilessly for their shyness towards talking about sex. Adam blushes and can't say the word 'sex' without stumbling.
They all have their unique quirks, and they all make each character more real for it. Just as the reality of Adam and Ethan eventually having sex with each other. It's not explicit. Body parts are limits to chest and sides. Kinnaird promotes safe sex with the mention of a condom, as well as Esther demanding to know they were safe about it, after. And, though it's sort-of fade-to-black, with mostly Ethan's thoughts covering the actual moment, it fitted perfectly with the characters, their personalities, and it felt important. It was a huge moment for them, and I would have felt like something was missing if it hadn't been included.
These kids are real and smart. Some are mature, some are immature *coughEthancough* and some of them are just your regular 17-18 year old's who want nothing more than to hang out, watch Netflix, and eat popcorn. They swear, they talk about sex, some of them actually have sex (off-page for the most part) just like some teenagers do. None of that detracts from or distracts from the main plot. The reality of teen lives and behaviour is woven into the characterisation of each of the team members, just as easily as their gender, identity, sexuality, and age are.
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OVERALL
This is a story of growth, maturity, compassion, family and friendship. It starts off being about a jaded, lonely, closeted kid from a small town, and ends up being about a group of teenagers who have become a family, fighting for what they believe in, and trying to find their place in a world that doesn't always understand or accept them.
It's your Stan Lee, Marvel-comics origin story for LGBT, POC teenagers who have been discarded or ignored by society until now, but who have come together to begin an amazing new life, with incredible new powers. A Big Hero 6 of family, friendship and loyalty. While being totally unique, with clever plotting, just the right amount of snark, and with a host of characters who don't always disagree but will always be there for each other, no matter what.
The skill of Kinnaird's writing sucks you into the story from page one, and leaves you ending the book with an intriguing glimpse of what may lie ahead in future novels, while feeling wholly satisfied by the complete storyline that just came to an end.
~
Favourite Quotes
“All that knowledge, all that power, and we were still a couple of kids lying in an unmade bed, hundreds of miles from home, mourning the loss of a life we’d spent every day fighting to escape from. It’s funny, isn’t it, how fate makes a mockery of us all?”
January 29, 2019
YA Superhero MM Romance
3 stars!
This is the first book in the new YA series "The Lightning Project" about teenage superheroes.
Here we have an MM romance between Ethan, the moody angsty teenage hacker, and Adam, the unofficial teenage leader of the superhero team. As a team they work to figure out their place in the world and adapt to their new life.
What I didn't like started at the very beginning. The blurb was not very telling which made me hesitant to read this book. I mean I don't want it to give any big details away, but I still need more. I also felt like the pacing was off. It had really slow moments and then a burst of action only to return to something really slow.
What I liked was this idea of a diverse (LGBTQ+)X-Men cast of teenagers who are superheroes. That idea rocks! I also liked that the author didn't shy away for using swear words or light sexual content which I feel made it seem like the dialogue was more authentically teenage.
The end teases us for a book 2.
Overall, it was an okay read. I'm on the fence about book 2.
3 stars!
This is the first book in the new YA series "The Lightning Project" about teenage superheroes.
Here we have an MM romance between Ethan, the moody angsty teenage hacker, and Adam, the unofficial teenage leader of the superhero team. As a team they work to figure out their place in the world and adapt to their new life.
What I didn't like started at the very beginning. The blurb was not very telling which made me hesitant to read this book. I mean I don't want it to give any big details away, but I still need more. I also felt like the pacing was off. It had really slow moments and then a burst of action only to return to something really slow.
What I liked was this idea of a diverse (LGBTQ+)X-Men cast of teenagers who are superheroes. That idea rocks! I also liked that the author didn't shy away for using swear words or light sexual content which I feel made it seem like the dialogue was more authentically teenage.
The end teases us for a book 2.
Overall, it was an okay read. I'm on the fence about book 2.
December 19, 2018
Struck is the first book in Victoria Kinnaird's The Lightning Project series. And tells the story of Ethan and a group of powerful teenagers.
Ethan is 17 years old small town hacker who wakes up and finds out he is part of a government experiment. Locked up with a group of teenage superheroes, Ethan finds a new life, new friends and a new love. But danger and secrets comes for superheroes, and this group is no exception.
Angst, drama, humor, sweet moments... and superpowers. Struck is a well written, interesting and entertaining read with amazing characters. I dod not want to put this book down once I started reading. I need more now... I am definitely a fan of this new series.
I received an advanced reader's copy of the book and I am voluntarily leaving my honest review and recommendation.
Ethan is 17 years old small town hacker who wakes up and finds out he is part of a government experiment. Locked up with a group of teenage superheroes, Ethan finds a new life, new friends and a new love. But danger and secrets comes for superheroes, and this group is no exception.
Angst, drama, humor, sweet moments... and superpowers. Struck is a well written, interesting and entertaining read with amazing characters. I dod not want to put this book down once I started reading. I need more now... I am definitely a fan of this new series.
I received an advanced reader's copy of the book and I am voluntarily leaving my honest review and recommendation.
February 9, 2019
Hero, villain, super powers
Yes, this is a YA book but it is enjoyable for adults as well. We have Ethan, angst and emo Ethan and I absolutely love him. Then we meet more with powers along and have Adam, nice American teen, that provides the perfect counterpart to Ethan. I am looking forward to more in this series and will recommend to anyone.
Yes, this is a YA book but it is enjoyable for adults as well. We have Ethan, angst and emo Ethan and I absolutely love him. Then we meet more with powers along and have Adam, nice American teen, that provides the perfect counterpart to Ethan. I am looking forward to more in this series and will recommend to anyone.
November 12, 2023
Mmm... Where to start? This book is just that bad.
Not gonna reviewing, proffesional or personal because I'm going to be slammed and cancelled anyways because is one of those books.
So I'll pass, gonna give it a 1 star because it's no matter if I'm civiliced or not, so 1 star it is.
Not gonna reviewing, proffesional or personal because I'm going to be slammed and cancelled anyways because is one of those books.
So I'll pass, gonna give it a 1 star because it's no matter if I'm civiliced or not, so 1 star it is.
April 15, 2019
A brilliant read
I gave this book four stars as it was very well written and the characters were very well written. The story was well thought out.
I gave this book four stars as it was very well written and the characters were very well written. The story was well thought out.
August 9, 2021
This isn’t my first or even second time reading Struck.
Re-covered, re-edited and re-issued for you delectation, but most importantly, the same great story…
And you think you’re having a bad day?! Pfft! Try being struck by lightning and finding out you’re the newest recruit in some secret government experiment to make teenage superheroes.
Welcome to the life of 17-year-old Ethan Thorn.
*nods*
I’ve got your attention now, haven’t I?
I adore Ethan. He has zero brain to mouth filter, wears his heart on his sleeve and has an uncanny ability to draw trouble due to a bad case of ‘headfirst-itis’ *snorts*.
In fact, my inner monologue seems to scarily resemble that of a 17-year-old sarky teen. I would have fit right in at the Tower *snorts*. Considering I’m going to be the big 4-3 this month (in other words; ancient!) IDK what that says about me. *coughs* Let’s just forget I said anything *blushes*.
Struck has it all for me – action-packed, diverse characters, laden with humour, a touch of romance (Adam & Ethan are too cute), perilous situations and the age-old battle between Good and Evil. Only who determines which is which? Coz let me tell you Ethan has questions.
Ugh, as if being a teen isn’t complicated enough. Am I right?!
I cannot wait for the return of The Lightning Project.
Just remember one thing.
Capes are so over!
Re-covered, re-edited and re-issued for you delectation, but most importantly, the same great story…
And you think you’re having a bad day?! Pfft! Try being struck by lightning and finding out you’re the newest recruit in some secret government experiment to make teenage superheroes.
Welcome to the life of 17-year-old Ethan Thorn.
*nods*
I’ve got your attention now, haven’t I?
I adore Ethan. He has zero brain to mouth filter, wears his heart on his sleeve and has an uncanny ability to draw trouble due to a bad case of ‘headfirst-itis’ *snorts*.
In fact, my inner monologue seems to scarily resemble that of a 17-year-old sarky teen. I would have fit right in at the Tower *snorts*. Considering I’m going to be the big 4-3 this month (in other words; ancient!) IDK what that says about me. *coughs* Let’s just forget I said anything *blushes*.
Struck has it all for me – action-packed, diverse characters, laden with humour, a touch of romance (Adam & Ethan are too cute), perilous situations and the age-old battle between Good and Evil. Only who determines which is which? Coz let me tell you Ethan has questions.
Ugh, as if being a teen isn’t complicated enough. Am I right?!
I cannot wait for the return of The Lightning Project.
Just remember one thing.
Capes are so over!
November 30, 2018
Wow! That was fun! I don't get to read a lot of LGBT+ YA books, but this one was really good. Warning: this book is definitely going to be part of a series, and I have high hopes that it will continue to be this entertaining. The worst part about reading the first book in a series when it is first released, is that you have to wait for the next installment.
Victoria Kinnaird is a new author for me, but I am definitely impressed with her creativity. I have to be honest; I wasn't sure how I was going to feel about reading a book about teenage superheroes. But, Ethan, one of the MCs, was so snarky and just in your face; and Adam was too precious... I could describe the whole team, but you can find out for yourself when you read this book.
It's been a while since a plotline has surprised me, but this one has a twist I truly wasn't expecting. In hindsight, I probably should have seen it coming, but it caught me completely unaware. There was some angst, but it wasn't overwhelming. The love story was super sweet, but bittersweet for the moment. There is nothing explicit, but there is a face to dark scene, and a lot of implied sexy times. There is some cursing, but again, I am not a good judge of what is appropriate for YA books. I'm confident that my ten year old daughter has heard everything said in the book on the playground, so there's that.
If you're looking for a fun Sci-fi type superhero group of a very diverse group of friends who do the right thing, even if they don't like it, this is an awesome read. (And I know that was a really long, probably run on sentence...)
Happy reading!
* I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest and unbiased review. *
Victoria Kinnaird is a new author for me, but I am definitely impressed with her creativity. I have to be honest; I wasn't sure how I was going to feel about reading a book about teenage superheroes. But, Ethan, one of the MCs, was so snarky and just in your face; and Adam was too precious... I could describe the whole team, but you can find out for yourself when you read this book.
It's been a while since a plotline has surprised me, but this one has a twist I truly wasn't expecting. In hindsight, I probably should have seen it coming, but it caught me completely unaware. There was some angst, but it wasn't overwhelming. The love story was super sweet, but bittersweet for the moment. There is nothing explicit, but there is a face to dark scene, and a lot of implied sexy times. There is some cursing, but again, I am not a good judge of what is appropriate for YA books. I'm confident that my ten year old daughter has heard everything said in the book on the playground, so there's that.
If you're looking for a fun Sci-fi type superhero group of a very diverse group of friends who do the right thing, even if they don't like it, this is an awesome read. (And I know that was a really long, probably run on sentence...)
Happy reading!
* I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest and unbiased review. *
December 19, 2018
Struck is the first book in Victoria Kinnaird's The Lightning Project series. And tells the story of Ethan and a group of powerful teenagers.
Ethan is 17 years old small town hacker who wakes up and finds out he is part of a government experiment. Locked up with a group of teenage superheroes, Ethan finds a new life, new friends and a new love. But danger and secrets comes for superheroes, and this group is no exception.
Angst, drama, humor, sweet moments... and superpowers. Struck is a well written, interesting and entertaining read with amazing characters. I dod not want to put this book down once I started reading. I need more now... I am definitely a fan of this new series.
I received an advanced reader's copy of the book and I am voluntarily leaving my honest review and recommendation.
Ethan is 17 years old small town hacker who wakes up and finds out he is part of a government experiment. Locked up with a group of teenage superheroes, Ethan finds a new life, new friends and a new love. But danger and secrets comes for superheroes, and this group is no exception.
Angst, drama, humor, sweet moments... and superpowers. Struck is a well written, interesting and entertaining read with amazing characters. I dod not want to put this book down once I started reading. I need more now... I am definitely a fan of this new series.
I received an advanced reader's copy of the book and I am voluntarily leaving my honest review and recommendation.
December 2, 2018
This is the first book in The Lightning Project Series. A wonderful book the writing was good. Although some of the transitions from events or chapters could have been better. In some cases, I wasn’t sure if an event had concluded and was a but confused until reading further than necessary. The plot was entertaining and it was steady throughout the book. I found the story and characters likeable. The characters were developed and thought out. Ethan and Adam are the MC’s of this book. With a few other characters as strong secondary characters. There was humor, lightning, teenagers, research, doctors, rock music, secrets and more in this book. I did enjoy reading this book and would like to read the next one. I voluntarily read an advance copy of this book for an honest review.
February 6, 2019
A brilliant story with engaging characters and well thought out plot. A new to me author and series in the YA genre.
I really enjoyed the character of Ethan. He's a seventeen year old teen full of angst and snark that is hilarious to read. His introduction to his powers is tough but the other young people on the team soon come to mean a lot to him. Reading the relationships blossom from suspicion to friendship gives you a heartwarming feeling and a family soon emerges that means so much to them all.
As we go through the story, history and developments emerge that are dangerous to themselves and others and it's a great read that I highly recommend!
I received an ARC and am happily giving a review
I really enjoyed the character of Ethan. He's a seventeen year old teen full of angst and snark that is hilarious to read. His introduction to his powers is tough but the other young people on the team soon come to mean a lot to him. Reading the relationships blossom from suspicion to friendship gives you a heartwarming feeling and a family soon emerges that means so much to them all.
As we go through the story, history and developments emerge that are dangerous to themselves and others and it's a great read that I highly recommend!
I received an ARC and am happily giving a review
February 12, 2019
I really enjoyed this take on superheroes, especially from the point of view of a seventeen-year-old boy who feels it's him against the world. When he is recruited in the Lightning Project, he is naturally skeptical about it and about the other kids in the program. And he can't help but be his sunny self. But as he gets to know the others and develops a crush on Adam, who is his opposite in every way, you see his true personality come out. The character arc in this book is brilliant. So is the depiction of how a kid that age would be if all he sees is hypocritical adults hiding their secrets while telling the world the opposite. The romance between Adam and Ethan has a lot of starts and stops, but in the end, it's satisfying. I can't wait for the next in the series!
December 5, 2018
4.5 stars! This book was very interesting & I throughly enjoyed it. The book keeps you on your toes while reading & it's hard to put book down because your so anxious to know what comes next. So suspenseful! Late teens getting superpowers & a newbie(Ethan) & having to hide out. Ethan angry at everything & gets struck & meets new people(still angry) & become friends & having a crush on one of them(Adam). Things heat up & secrets & actions come to play.... This was the first book of a new series & I can't wait to read what's next. Darn Cliffhangers...
February 7, 2019
This was a great beginning to a hopefully great series. Ethan the main character is such a snarky guy you can’t help love him. There were just a few things that I wasn’t sure about. There are times where the story switches from Ethan’s Point of view to third person. That was kinda confusing.
February 21, 2019
What a interesting story, you start out going hun.... end up going more more more. Action packed, the more you get into it. I think people will like this book a lot!
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