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The Meister of Decimen City
No one cares that you cured cancer if you also cloned a horde of dinosaurs and let them rampage down the street. Supergenius and quasi-villain Rex normally can’t go a week without accidentally endangering Decimen City with her science shenanigans. It’s been two weeks since her genetically engineered dinosaurs rampaged through town―a good streak for her―but the peace is broken when actual villain Last Dance sets his sights on Decimen. And he wants Rex’s help. Before Rex can say “I didn’t do it,” superheroes who’ve dragged her to jail on her worst days are crowding her lab to conscript her into quasi-herodom. Rex would rather stay out of it and deal with the dinosaurs that keep calling her Mom, but she can’t ignore that she was somewhat responsible for Last Dance’s villainy. She’d kept a very disorganized lab. And he was such a nosy brother. She failed to help him back then, but maybe if she stops him now―and keeps the heroes fooled―she can finally set things right.
416 pages, Hardcover
Published March 7, 2023
28 people are currently reading
5724 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 122 reviews
March 17, 2023
It's quirky, well-written, and mostly fun. The issue I had with it? It tends to get lost in its quirkiness, banter, and unnecessary filler. As a result, I found it tiring overall. But before you reach any conclusions take into account I'm more into bleak horror novellas recently, than longer-form books with lower stakes and "fun" as the main feature. Objectively speaking, it's a good book with cool ideas, a likable protagonist, and a zany feel. I'm sure many readers will love it!
February 2, 2024
4.5
The Meister of Decimen City is a quirky read, populated with colorful characters (literally and figuratively), with an endearing message. I dont usually read superhero fiction, but I thoroughly enjoyed my time in Decimen City with all the heros and villions. I know many other readers found the "quirkiness" a little over the top, but I liked that aspect of the novel (it's not taking itself too seriously). I particularly loved that the main character, Rex, is asexual. I thought the author handled the self discovery of her identity very well. Raney also had good messaging pertaining to the aftermath and ongoing consequences of trauma. Lastly, it was fun to read about dinosaurs in a portrayal very different than "run-for-your-lives" Jurassic Park, particularly since I love dinosaurs.
The Meister of Decimen City is a quirky read, populated with colorful characters (literally and figuratively), with an endearing message. I dont usually read superhero fiction, but I thoroughly enjoyed my time in Decimen City with all the heros and villions. I know many other readers found the "quirkiness" a little over the top, but I liked that aspect of the novel (it's not taking itself too seriously). I particularly loved that the main character, Rex, is asexual. I thought the author handled the self discovery of her identity very well. Raney also had good messaging pertaining to the aftermath and ongoing consequences of trauma. Lastly, it was fun to read about dinosaurs in a portrayal very different than "run-for-your-lives" Jurassic Park, particularly since I love dinosaurs.
July 2, 2023
Followers of my reviews know that books about superheroes and villains are a staple of my reading. It has always been that way since I heavily got into comic books in the mid-1970's. My own writing has even dabbled quite a bit in that area. So, I am always open for new takes on things.
The author takes a different spin at the superhero genre story in several ways. First, we're focusing mostly on a villain (an evil genius). Next, there is the ongoing dinosaur theme (each chapter has the word in its title). And, the chapters are actually labelled as "issues" which harkens back to medium of comic books themselves. These all give the story a different feel.
Despite all these, the story just didn't keep my attention. I found myself struggling to stay interested a quarter of the way in. Rex is a reluctant "villain" at best. She is more like a mad scientist whose experiments go off the rails, leading her to be branded a menace. Her minions are sympathetic and supportive to her. Those left in charge of overseeing her are more caught up in their own relationship drama. Even Rex is involved in her own feelings and relationships. This book is really more a rom-drama with a splash of superhero paint thrown on it for some color.
I did, however, find the Protectors entertaining. I liked their personalities and dynamics the instant they were introduced.
The author takes a different spin at the superhero genre story in several ways. First, we're focusing mostly on a villain (an evil genius). Next, there is the ongoing dinosaur theme (each chapter has the word in its title). And, the chapters are actually labelled as "issues" which harkens back to medium of comic books themselves. These all give the story a different feel.
Despite all these, the story just didn't keep my attention. I found myself struggling to stay interested a quarter of the way in. Rex is a reluctant "villain" at best. She is more like a mad scientist whose experiments go off the rails, leading her to be branded a menace. Her minions are sympathetic and supportive to her. Those left in charge of overseeing her are more caught up in their own relationship drama. Even Rex is involved in her own feelings and relationships. This book is really more a rom-drama with a splash of superhero paint thrown on it for some color.
I did, however, find the Protectors entertaining. I liked their personalities and dynamics the instant they were introduced.
March 14, 2023
3.5
This is a fun and heartwarming story about a scientist, Rex, whose scientific experiments have made her somewhat of a menace to the world. However, after the arrival of a certain villain, Rex must confront her past, all while being swarmed by superheroes, wrangling dinosaurs, and embarking on her own journey of self-discovery. Easy peasy, right?
The Meister of Decimen City reminded me of the movie Mystery Men. Both are quirky, funny, a little chaotic, and feature characters who don't quite fit in with what is considered "normal." I loved that about this book.
This is a fun and heartwarming story about a scientist, Rex, whose scientific experiments have made her somewhat of a menace to the world. However, after the arrival of a certain villain, Rex must confront her past, all while being swarmed by superheroes, wrangling dinosaurs, and embarking on her own journey of self-discovery. Easy peasy, right?
The Meister of Decimen City reminded me of the movie Mystery Men. Both are quirky, funny, a little chaotic, and feature characters who don't quite fit in with what is considered "normal." I loved that about this book.
December 10, 2023
This book was so unexpected and weird and funny and absurd and heartfelt and charming.
I don't remember the last time I had so much fun with a superheroes story. This is a book that's self-aware, knows the tropes and leans into them, enough so that it feels like parody at times, but Rex and her friends are so real and emotional and messy that I cared so much, even when things were objectively ridiculous. It's a crazy ride with a lot of heart, and I honestly don't know if I can say when I've ever read anything like it. I'm gonna be thinking about this for ages.
I don't remember the last time I had so much fun with a superheroes story. This is a book that's self-aware, knows the tropes and leans into them, enough so that it feels like parody at times, but Rex and her friends are so real and emotional and messy that I cared so much, even when things were objectively ridiculous. It's a crazy ride with a lot of heart, and I honestly don't know if I can say when I've ever read anything like it. I'm gonna be thinking about this for ages.
Read
May 27, 2023DNF 34%
Love the queer and especially the a-spec rep in this. But it feels like a giant debate on what is good Vs evil, and why it isn’t clear cut. The mc is always ready to debate this every chance they can to a point it feels to much like a show don’t tell problem.
Love the queer and especially the a-spec rep in this. But it feels like a giant debate on what is good Vs evil, and why it isn’t clear cut. The mc is always ready to debate this every chance they can to a point it feels to much like a show don’t tell problem.
December 31, 2023
Rex Anderson, the Meister of Decimal City, is a super-genius who, years ago, accidentally gave her sister super-human abilities, and by extension, somewhat paved the path for her brother to receive abilities. Oh, she also cured cancer, developed a zombie virus (don’t worry, the infected are sequestered on an island), and her most recent shenanigan: cloned dinosaurs into the modern world a la Jurassic Park. Her brother, Last Dance, has super-strength and an unfortunate, harrowing version of telepathy which has driven him to villain hood. Their sister, Vivid Blue, is a powerful superhero who works with a group of heroes called the Protectors. Rex is simultaneously caught between her two siblings—including their web of entangled trauma of their past—dinosaurs who are advancing intellectually at a spectacular rate, and a government division (Oversight) who have been assigned to closely monitor Rex after her Dinos got loose and wrecked havoc on Main.
When Last Dance reaches out to Rex asking for help, Rex feels conflicted with the guilt of her role in her brother’s terrible powers, and her desire to do the right thing, as murky as that consistently proves to be. This book is so much fun, is tightly written, and is damn hilarious. The dinosaurs are a constant delight. The sibling tension is heartbreaking, as is Rex’s struggle with her own demons and inability to see herself clearly. This is everything a superhero book should be: action-packed with just enough tender moments, cleverly tongue-in-cheek, funny and self-aware, tense and unputdownable. This book masterfully walks the fine line between camp and serious. Rex is seen by the world as a villain, but she is broken and misunderstood with a tragic backstory, just like a good superhero should.
Highly recommend this book.
When Last Dance reaches out to Rex asking for help, Rex feels conflicted with the guilt of her role in her brother’s terrible powers, and her desire to do the right thing, as murky as that consistently proves to be. This book is so much fun, is tightly written, and is damn hilarious. The dinosaurs are a constant delight. The sibling tension is heartbreaking, as is Rex’s struggle with her own demons and inability to see herself clearly. This is everything a superhero book should be: action-packed with just enough tender moments, cleverly tongue-in-cheek, funny and self-aware, tense and unputdownable. This book masterfully walks the fine line between camp and serious. Rex is seen by the world as a villain, but she is broken and misunderstood with a tragic backstory, just like a good superhero should.
Highly recommend this book.
April 10, 2023
A fun read with lots of cool concepts, vivid characters, and a crazy plot.
Cons: The virology (especially the lab technique) wasn't really accurate. Of course, you can make the argument that it's Sci-Fi and it could exist in that world... but if you are going to borrow concepts from real-life techniques, then at least make sure they make sense. The other thing that irked me was the plot. It seemed overly convoluted at times, and sometimes I was wishing for more background & more context, rather than just being thrown in (to figure it out myself). Some more help would have been nice (What does T stand for? What happened in the past? Who was who in the metaphor?).
Pros: Dinosaurs! I loved the dinosaurs. I wish we had gotten to know some of the individual ones a bit more, but regardless, they were awesome. This was the first book that I read that had ace representation! The characters were written really well (although I think the character number could have been reduced a bit), and so was the dialogue between the characters (and the inner monologues). You could really feel the book playing out in front of you in these scenes. The whole superhero stuff was also done really well, with some unique powers (X dimension).
Overall: Would read the sequel (if there is one?).
Cons: The virology (especially the lab technique) wasn't really accurate. Of course, you can make the argument that it's Sci-Fi and it could exist in that world... but if you are going to borrow concepts from real-life techniques, then at least make sure they make sense. The other thing that irked me was the plot. It seemed overly convoluted at times, and sometimes I was wishing for more background & more context, rather than just being thrown in (to figure it out myself). Some more help would have been nice (What does T stand for? What happened in the past? Who was who in the metaphor?).
Pros: Dinosaurs! I loved the dinosaurs. I wish we had gotten to know some of the individual ones a bit more, but regardless, they were awesome. This was the first book that I read that had ace representation! The characters were written really well (although I think the character number could have been reduced a bit), and so was the dialogue between the characters (and the inner monologues). You could really feel the book playing out in front of you in these scenes. The whole superhero stuff was also done really well, with some unique powers (X dimension).
Overall: Would read the sequel (if there is one?).
April 10, 2023
A fun super hero story. Involving dinosaurs, dealing with trauma, what makes a villain just know that there's #moretothestory
May 28, 2023
This was probably the most unique book I've ever read. Dinosaurs! Superheroes! A love story! I enjoyed the context but it got long winded and as a reader I got lost in the details. I would have enjoyed it more if it had been a bit shorter, but, overall a good book.
March 11, 2023
I sincerely enjoyed this book - and cannot telling my friends to read it.
Dinosaurs are the comic relief - do you really need more than that?
Quick, fast paced, lgbtqia+ representation, and anti-cheese. Superheroes, villains and the Meister falls in the gray area.
Rex is placed under government surveillance - her twin brother happens to be the villain, Last Dance; her sister, Viv - his superhero nemesis. Rex must create an antidote to her own virus as her Last Dance tries to poison the city's water.
Frankly the humor is everything. I loved the main characters - their complexity, their interaction and relationships.
Dinosaurs are the comic relief - do you really need more than that?
Quick, fast paced, lgbtqia+ representation, and anti-cheese. Superheroes, villains and the Meister falls in the gray area.
Rex is placed under government surveillance - her twin brother happens to be the villain, Last Dance; her sister, Viv - his superhero nemesis. Rex must create an antidote to her own virus as her Last Dance tries to poison the city's water.
Frankly the humor is everything. I loved the main characters - their complexity, their interaction and relationships.
April 12, 2023
TFW you could easily take over the world, but you honestly have better uses for your time
The Meister of Decimen City is the quirky, fun, superhero satire I was looking for after DC's umpteenth reboot and Marvel entering phase 49 (or something). Yes, I admit it, as a lifelong comic book reader, I'm feeling a bit of the superhero fatigue. If you feel the same, maybe the Meister is just what you're looking for.
This is not literary fiction; it is a satirical romp. If that's not what you read, move along. Bonus points for handling an ACE protagonist well.
The Meister of Decimen City is the quirky, fun, superhero satire I was looking for after DC's umpteenth reboot and Marvel entering phase 49 (or something). Yes, I admit it, as a lifelong comic book reader, I'm feeling a bit of the superhero fatigue. If you feel the same, maybe the Meister is just what you're looking for.
This is not literary fiction; it is a satirical romp. If that's not what you read, move along. Bonus points for handling an ACE protagonist well.
January 14, 2024
[I received a free audiobook copy from CamCat Publishing and Netgalley. This review is done freely, honestly and without payment. Thank you again for fulfilling my wish <3]
[Ich habe ein kostenloses Hörbuchexemplar von CamCat Publishing und Netgalley erhalten. Die Rezension erfolgt freiwillig, ehrlich und ohne Vergütung. Danke nochmal dafür, dass ihr mir meinen Wunsch erfüllt habt <3]
Thank you! <3
(DEUTSCH WEITER UNTEN)
To be honest, I have to admit that I only wanted to read the (audio) book because there are dinosaurs. I know, it’s a really tough selection criterion, but I’m just really simple-minded in some things :‘D
And the dinosaurs didn’t disappoint! I LOVE them!
The characters in the book were great. I loved all the different characterisations and quirks of the superheroes and villains. I also found the relationships (and the development of relationships) between the characters totally appealing - especially as the people all stayed in-character and didn’t suddenly turn 180° just so you could make something extra plausible/romantic/utopian. Everyone here had their weaknesses and strengths - they were all somehow very unique and therefore extremely likeable. (Even if the fast pacing sometimes meant that I couldn’t keep up with the emotional developments - it just didn’t feel that way to me).
I also thought Rex and her intellect were particularly cool and what she made of it → e.g. the dinosaurs.
I enjoyed the (audio) book on the whole, but somehow I had the feeling right from the start that I was reading a book series and was in the second (or third) volume without having read the first.
Things were just said or popped up and it felt unfinished. Like I was missing information. Information that could have added depth to the plot and the world. This made me sad every now and then and is probably also the reason why I think the (audio) book is only okay and not fantastic.
The pacing was fast, but I was fine with that - but the level of „I just throw someone into the story and mention things and events“ felt more like that of a short story. There you can and should expect something like that - but here I found it difficult.
If you want a sci-fi/fantasy story with fast pacing and talking dino sidekicks, you should pick up this book!
(If you’re looking for more sophisticated fantasy/sci-fi, not so much)
To the English audiobook:
I really enjoyed Suzanne Elise Freeman’s voice. She had a pleasant reading speed and you didn’t hear any distracting background noises (loud breathing, slurring etc).
She voiced the characters well and I liked the variety in her voice when it came to emotional situations within the story.
(DEUTSCH)
Ehrlichweise muss ich zugeben, dass ich das (Hör-)Buch nur lesen wollte, weil es Dinosaurier gibt. Ich weiß, echt krasses Auswahlkriterium, aber ich bin in manchen Dingen halt voll einfach gestrickt :’D
Und die Dinos haben mich nicht enttäuscht! Ich LIEBE sie!
Die Charaktere im Buch waren grandios. Ich mochte all die verschiedenen Charakterisierungen und die Eigenheiten der Superhelden und Bösewichte. Auch die Beziehungen (und die Entwicklung von Beziehungen) zwischen den Charakteren fand ich total ansprechend – vor allem, da die Leute alle in-Charakter geblieben sind und sich nicht plötzlich um 180° gedreht haben, nur damit man etwas besonders plausibel/romantisch/utopisch machen konnte. Alle hier hatten so ihre Schwächen und Stärken – alle waren irgendwie sehr eigen und damit extrem liebenswert. (Auch wenn das schnelle Pacing manchmal dafür gesorgt hat, das ich mit den emotionalen Entwicklungen nicht mithalten konnte – es hat sich für mich einfach nicht so angefühlt.)
Besonders cool fand ich auch Rex und ihren Intellekt und was sie daraus gemach hat → z.B. die Dinos.
Mir hat das (Hör-)Buch im Großen und Ganzen schon gefallen, aber irgendwie hatte ich von Anfang an das Gefühl, als würde ich eine Buchreihe lesen und befände mich im zweiten (oder dritten) Band, ohne den Ersten gelesen zu haben.
Dinge wurden einfach gesagt oder sind aufgetaucht und es fühlte sich unfertig an. So, als würden mir Informationen fehlen. Informationen, die der Handlung und der Welt Tiefe verleihen hätten können. Das hat mich zwischendrin immer wieder traurig gemacht und ist wohl auch der Grund, weshalb ich das (Hör-)Buch nur okay und nicht großartig finde.
Das Pacing war schnell, aber damit bin ich klargekommen – aber das Level von „ich werfe jemanden einfach so in die Geschichte und erwähne Dinge und Ereignisse“, hat sich eher wie das einer Kurzgeschichte angefühlt. Dort darf und sollte man sowas erwarten – hier aber fand ich das schwierig.
Wer eine SciFi/Fantasy-Geschichte mit schnellem Pacing und sprechenden Dino-Sidekicks möchte, der sollte zu diesem Buch greifen!
(Wer sich anspruchsvollere Fantasy/SciFi wünscht, der eher nicht so)
Zum englischen Hörbuch:
Ich habe die Stimme von Suzanne Elise Freeman sehr genossen. Sie hatte eine angenehme Lesegeschwindigkeit und man hat keine störenden Nebengeräusche (lautes Atmen, Schnalzen etc) gehört.
Die Charaktere hat sie stimmlich gut dargestellt und ich mochte die Varietät in ihrer Stimme, wenn es zu emotionalen Situationen innerhalb der Geschichte kam.
[Ich habe ein kostenloses Hörbuchexemplar von CamCat Publishing und Netgalley erhalten. Die Rezension erfolgt freiwillig, ehrlich und ohne Vergütung. Danke nochmal dafür, dass ihr mir meinen Wunsch erfüllt habt <3]
Thank you! <3
(DEUTSCH WEITER UNTEN)
To be honest, I have to admit that I only wanted to read the (audio) book because there are dinosaurs. I know, it’s a really tough selection criterion, but I’m just really simple-minded in some things :‘D
And the dinosaurs didn’t disappoint! I LOVE them!
The characters in the book were great. I loved all the different characterisations and quirks of the superheroes and villains. I also found the relationships (and the development of relationships) between the characters totally appealing - especially as the people all stayed in-character and didn’t suddenly turn 180° just so you could make something extra plausible/romantic/utopian. Everyone here had their weaknesses and strengths - they were all somehow very unique and therefore extremely likeable. (Even if the fast pacing sometimes meant that I couldn’t keep up with the emotional developments - it just didn’t feel that way to me).
I also thought Rex and her intellect were particularly cool and what she made of it → e.g. the dinosaurs.
I enjoyed the (audio) book on the whole, but somehow I had the feeling right from the start that I was reading a book series and was in the second (or third) volume without having read the first.
Things were just said or popped up and it felt unfinished. Like I was missing information. Information that could have added depth to the plot and the world. This made me sad every now and then and is probably also the reason why I think the (audio) book is only okay and not fantastic.
The pacing was fast, but I was fine with that - but the level of „I just throw someone into the story and mention things and events“ felt more like that of a short story. There you can and should expect something like that - but here I found it difficult.
If you want a sci-fi/fantasy story with fast pacing and talking dino sidekicks, you should pick up this book!
(If you’re looking for more sophisticated fantasy/sci-fi, not so much)
To the English audiobook:
I really enjoyed Suzanne Elise Freeman’s voice. She had a pleasant reading speed and you didn’t hear any distracting background noises (loud breathing, slurring etc).
She voiced the characters well and I liked the variety in her voice when it came to emotional situations within the story.
(DEUTSCH)
Ehrlichweise muss ich zugeben, dass ich das (Hör-)Buch nur lesen wollte, weil es Dinosaurier gibt. Ich weiß, echt krasses Auswahlkriterium, aber ich bin in manchen Dingen halt voll einfach gestrickt :’D
Und die Dinos haben mich nicht enttäuscht! Ich LIEBE sie!
Die Charaktere im Buch waren grandios. Ich mochte all die verschiedenen Charakterisierungen und die Eigenheiten der Superhelden und Bösewichte. Auch die Beziehungen (und die Entwicklung von Beziehungen) zwischen den Charakteren fand ich total ansprechend – vor allem, da die Leute alle in-Charakter geblieben sind und sich nicht plötzlich um 180° gedreht haben, nur damit man etwas besonders plausibel/romantisch/utopisch machen konnte. Alle hier hatten so ihre Schwächen und Stärken – alle waren irgendwie sehr eigen und damit extrem liebenswert. (Auch wenn das schnelle Pacing manchmal dafür gesorgt hat, das ich mit den emotionalen Entwicklungen nicht mithalten konnte – es hat sich für mich einfach nicht so angefühlt.)
Besonders cool fand ich auch Rex und ihren Intellekt und was sie daraus gemach hat → z.B. die Dinos.
Mir hat das (Hör-)Buch im Großen und Ganzen schon gefallen, aber irgendwie hatte ich von Anfang an das Gefühl, als würde ich eine Buchreihe lesen und befände mich im zweiten (oder dritten) Band, ohne den Ersten gelesen zu haben.
Dinge wurden einfach gesagt oder sind aufgetaucht und es fühlte sich unfertig an. So, als würden mir Informationen fehlen. Informationen, die der Handlung und der Welt Tiefe verleihen hätten können. Das hat mich zwischendrin immer wieder traurig gemacht und ist wohl auch der Grund, weshalb ich das (Hör-)Buch nur okay und nicht großartig finde.
Das Pacing war schnell, aber damit bin ich klargekommen – aber das Level von „ich werfe jemanden einfach so in die Geschichte und erwähne Dinge und Ereignisse“, hat sich eher wie das einer Kurzgeschichte angefühlt. Dort darf und sollte man sowas erwarten – hier aber fand ich das schwierig.
Wer eine SciFi/Fantasy-Geschichte mit schnellem Pacing und sprechenden Dino-Sidekicks möchte, der sollte zu diesem Buch greifen!
(Wer sich anspruchsvollere Fantasy/SciFi wünscht, der eher nicht so)
Zum englischen Hörbuch:
Ich habe die Stimme von Suzanne Elise Freeman sehr genossen. Sie hatte eine angenehme Lesegeschwindigkeit und man hat keine störenden Nebengeräusche (lautes Atmen, Schnalzen etc) gehört.
Die Charaktere hat sie stimmlich gut dargestellt und ich mochte die Varietät in ihrer Stimme, wenn es zu emotionalen Situationen innerhalb der Geschichte kam.
May 26, 2023
This book was so deeply stupid. But also moving.
5 stars.
My brain only knows be dumb, read smut, and Dinos are life.
5 stars.
My brain only knows be dumb, read smut, and Dinos are life.
December 15, 2023
I loved the characters, the plot was unique and engaging, and I laughed out loud a few times. Queer representation abounded.The Dinosaurs were a delight. If I could give this 6 stars, I would!
November 9, 2023
I’m not sure they’re talking about cheese.
July 5, 2024
4.5 rounded up.
This was the quirky, fun read I needed right now. I'm also glad the romance didn't take over the plot. Rex's ponderings on the "right" way to have a relationship...we've all had that confusion at some point. Flora is a gem and we all need someone like her. The Protectors and other villains had the odd powers and costumes that seem to be standard - jingle hat and codpiece? Sure, why not. Under all of this is a deeper dive into what happens to every one who isnt a MC after the heroes have saved the day. Through the entire novel are the found(created) family that turn into the best sidekicks with their own agenda ever. #Dinolife
This was the quirky, fun read I needed right now. I'm also glad the romance didn't take over the plot. Rex's ponderings on the "right" way to have a relationship...we've all had that confusion at some point. Flora is a gem and we all need someone like her. The Protectors and other villains had the odd powers and costumes that seem to be standard - jingle hat and codpiece? Sure, why not. Under all of this is a deeper dive into what happens to every one who isnt a MC after the heroes have saved the day. Through the entire novel are the found(created) family that turn into the best sidekicks with their own agenda ever. #Dinolife
March 10, 2023
I'm reading this with a group of #bookstabuddies. Our chat is just around the corner (on the 13th). I'm 3/4 the way through this book and am so happy I picked it up. The book is well written with intriguing characters that are diverse and multi-layered.
While not my normal genre, this book has it all, action blended with comics, dinosaurs, super heros, and villains, The descriptions were spot on and had me immersed in the story from start to finish. I look forward to reading more from this author!
While not my normal genre, this book has it all, action blended with comics, dinosaurs, super heros, and villains, The descriptions were spot on and had me immersed in the story from start to finish. I look forward to reading more from this author!
February 5, 2024
This is not my typical read but this was so much fun! I loved the accidental villain that Rex seems to be, not meaning to wreak havoc and then feeling guilty about it after. I am not great with superhero books (or movies) as I have a difficult time picturing everything (my mind doesn’t work that way) so this was a little confusing at times but I enjoyed the time I spent with Rex and the dinosaurs. A quick-ish, fun read.
I received a copy from #NetGalley and #CamCatPublishing for an honest review.
I received a copy from #NetGalley and #CamCatPublishing for an honest review.
February 4, 2024
What would you do to protect your sibling?
Rex is a super genius, meaning some days she has to go chase dinosaurs 🦕 🦖 When her supervillain brothers schemes riptide her into trouble, she has to decide which side she belongs on.
This is such an amazing book! The first half is a little slow in pacing, but when they reached the cat dimension, I was in tears. Rex's journey is relatable and yet totally sci-fi fantastical. I absolutely loved this book! (I also love cheese, don't tell Rex) 😊
Rex is a super genius, meaning some days she has to go chase dinosaurs 🦕 🦖 When her supervillain brothers schemes riptide her into trouble, she has to decide which side she belongs on.
This is such an amazing book! The first half is a little slow in pacing, but when they reached the cat dimension, I was in tears. Rex's journey is relatable and yet totally sci-fi fantastical. I absolutely loved this book! (I also love cheese, don't tell Rex) 😊
February 9, 2025
Recommended to me by Rowen, who said "zany almost parody of of superhero tropes full of dumb banter and hyperintelligent dinosaur clones", to which I replied SAY LESS.
If any of the above interests you, or if you are intrigued by mad scientists with tragic backstories who don't like cheese, or perhaps you would follow the hashtag #DinoMom unironically, do not sleep on this book. It was a delight from start to finish.
If any of the above interests you, or if you are intrigued by mad scientists with tragic backstories who don't like cheese, or perhaps you would follow the hashtag #DinoMom unironically, do not sleep on this book. It was a delight from start to finish.
November 2, 2023
This was a fun and quirky superhero/villain read and I did enjoy it! I especially loved the dinosaurs. However, I stopped midway through the audiobook to read/listen to other books and didn't feel a rush to jump back in. It's not that I didn't enjoy it or that I thought it was bad, it just didn't hook me the way some of my other reads have lately.
May 4, 2023
The meister of Decimen city by brenna raney is simply GORGEOUS because of how smart, creative, funny and lovely it is, it’s now one of my fav books of the year ❤️ super intelligent dinosaurs?? Calling their genius quasi villain mommy?? + Exploring what makes a villain/superhero
February 8, 2024
This was good. A definitely different take on heroes and villains and all the shades of grey in between.
Oh, and dinosaurs. Cuz who doesn't love dinos?
Good book, interesting, kept me entertained. A few too many characters to keep straight tho. .
Otherwise great!
Oh, and dinosaurs. Cuz who doesn't love dinos?
Good book, interesting, kept me entertained. A few too many characters to keep straight tho. .
Otherwise great!
April 23, 2024
Fun and random read. Really enjoyed it.
Love the dinosaurs! They steal the show every time they are on page. love them so much. also love Cat Man! A hero with the power of a cat and he acts like a cat. I wish he was in the book more
I hope there will be more books.
Love the dinosaurs! They steal the show every time they are on page. love them so much. also love Cat Man! A hero with the power of a cat and he acts like a cat. I wish he was in the book more
I hope there will be more books.
January 1, 2025
A lot of fun elements that I enjoyed, but maybe could have been trimmed down a bit. There was a lot going on. The audiobook was also fun, especially for the voices of the super heroes, villains, and dinosaurs.
December 21, 2023
goofiest book i read all year. could’ve been tighter/shorter but overall very fun
March 2, 2023
I love my superhero comic books and was very excited to read this book about a supervillain trying to not be a villain but keeps messing up. Mainly, because I think we can all relate, or at least I can, to the supervillain more than the hero. How many times did we have good intentions that were perceived as bad or mistakes we tried to correct but they blew up in our faces? That's how our misunderstood hero Rex, The Meister, is perceived in Decimen City.
The action is well-written and I could imagine each kick, zap, and fight scene as I read. I also appreciate how the superhero, 'Zing, and Rex do have a relationship, even though it's somewhat complicated.
My only complaint is some scenes didn't feel real, such as Rex having a meeting with the Mayor that she breached their contract on cloning. While I enjoyed the comical outcome, it didn't feel like something a mayor would do. I think the mayor would just through her in prison as well as wouldn't have made a contract with a person who he felt was a supervillain.
Overall, this is a fun read and if you like MEGAMIND then you'll most definitely enjoy this book.
There is also a giveaway until March 31, 2023 Midnight EST enter by clicking or copying and pasting link: https://www.kimsbookreviewsandwriting...
The action is well-written and I could imagine each kick, zap, and fight scene as I read. I also appreciate how the superhero, 'Zing, and Rex do have a relationship, even though it's somewhat complicated.
My only complaint is some scenes didn't feel real, such as Rex having a meeting with the Mayor that she breached their contract on cloning. While I enjoyed the comical outcome, it didn't feel like something a mayor would do. I think the mayor would just through her in prison as well as wouldn't have made a contract with a person who he felt was a supervillain.
Overall, this is a fun read and if you like MEGAMIND then you'll most definitely enjoy this book.
There is also a giveaway until March 31, 2023 Midnight EST enter by clicking or copying and pasting link: https://www.kimsbookreviewsandwriting...
May 1, 2024
What it’s about: Theodora Rex Anderson (everyone calls her Rex) is a supergenius. She is also rather easily distracted. And she doesn't worry overly about following rules. So it's no surprise that there are quite a few people in the world who think she's one step away from being a supervillain - or that maybe she already is.
Yes, she created a virus that turned people into zombies (she named it "Mutey"), but that was an unexpected outcome. And she did create that cure for cancer...
But after her genetically engineered dinosaurs rampage through Decimen City, Rex finds herself on the government's Oversight list. She'll be monitored 24/7 for the foreseeable future to ensure that she's not tipping over into supervillainous ways.
Unfortunately, just as Oversight is setting up in her house (and her lab), Rex is contacted by her brother - the infamous supervillain Last Dance, who asks for her help in finishing some kind of helmet. Rex feels responsible for what happened to Sam (her brother's actual name), so she wants to help out, but she can't figure out if the design Sam wants help with will cure him or give him control of the world.
As Rex finds herself being pulled into the ongoing war between good and evil, she also finds herself at the center of a publicity nightmare. An off-the-cuff line from an interview is going viral online; some people are convinced it shows Rex is going full villain, while others agree with her sentiment: that whenever a story is told, particularly when it's a story of heroes and villains, there's more to the story than what the headlines state.
To make matters even worse, Rex is dealing with several heavy relationship issues. Her best friend Flora is ignoring her girlfriend because Rex constantly needs her help. Rex's boyfriend is a drag, and she doesn't really like him. And one of the guards in her Oversight team is REALLY cute. Plus, Rex always feels like she's different enough from everyone else that she wonders if she's even human.
With all of this going on, it's no wonder her AI and the rapidly-evolving dinosaurs are trying to help Rex manage her life. Which is not a recipe for avoiding supervillain-dom.
What I thought: This book threw me when I first picked it up. I thought it was going to be a goofy middle grades superhero book. While it is funny, it is not goofy. And while the basic plot sounds middle grade-ish, the execution is anything but.
And this book takes no prisoners - it makes you actually think and pay attention to keep track of what's going on. I found myself frequently expecting exposition dumps to set up background or explain parts of the world or to introduce relationships, but Raney doesn't provide them. She gives readers all the clues they need to figure that stuff out on their own, and assumes they're smart enough to make it come together. Once I realized that there wasn't going to be any spoon-feeding of story elements, I found this refreshing and rewarding.
The book does a very nice job of straddling the line between "hero" and "villain" and asks readers to think beyond headlines and consider the farther-reaching impacts of the events that we hear about every day.
It also is wonderfully, realistically murky in its familial relationships. Raney reminds us that it's possible to love and fear someone, to want to be around them and to want to literally kill them. She also asks us to be kind to ourselves and to others when we are victims of bad situations. I think that's a message a lot of readers could use.
Why I chose those shelves:
Audience
The language is a bit salty, and there's some fairly vague discussions of sex.
Content Warnings
anxiety: Rex is a giant bundle of anxiety throughout the book; mental health: Rex is trying to work on her own mental health, and there are discussions of what mental health might mean to different people; family issues: and Rex and her sister have a very problematic relationship
Characters
diverse: One of the main characters is coded as Black, and one of the main characters is coded as Latina; LGBT: Several main characters are gay, one is bi; asexual:
Genres
science fiction, fantasy, superhero, action-adventure: This is very much a mad scientist & superhero story - Rex is all about science, while some characters use magic; humor: The story is written with a wry, sardonic voice, and has some truly laugh out loud moments as the dinosaurs quickly evolve and continue to pop up in unexpected ways, much to Rex's chagrin
Style
Topics
animals: Rex is very concerned with the well-being of all creatures, especially those she has helped create, in particular her dinosaurs, who call her "Mom"; friendship, found family: Rex has a very problematic relationship with her family, but has a very deep found-family relationship with her best friend, and she is working on developing other friendships throughout the story; political: Rex has to deal with the political fall-out of some of her less-thought-out decisions, and has to consider how PR affects her daily life; science: Rex is all about the science, all the time! sex:
Why I rated it like I did: This book is not forgiving - there is not the usual exposition dump at any point, and it's up to the reader to put the puzzle pieces together. I appreciated that. It also features some wonderful, human, flawed characters who are working on being better. And the dinosaurs are freaking hilarious. Add in an asexual main character, some great messages about there always being more to the story, and an enjoyably complex plot, and this one is aces in my book!
Yes, she created a virus that turned people into zombies (she named it "Mutey"), but that was an unexpected outcome. And she did create that cure for cancer...
But after her genetically engineered dinosaurs rampage through Decimen City, Rex finds herself on the government's Oversight list. She'll be monitored 24/7 for the foreseeable future to ensure that she's not tipping over into supervillainous ways.
Unfortunately, just as Oversight is setting up in her house (and her lab), Rex is contacted by her brother - the infamous supervillain Last Dance, who asks for her help in finishing some kind of helmet. Rex feels responsible for what happened to Sam (her brother's actual name), so she wants to help out, but she can't figure out if the design Sam wants help with will cure him or give him control of the world.
As Rex finds herself being pulled into the ongoing war between good and evil, she also finds herself at the center of a publicity nightmare. An off-the-cuff line from an interview is going viral online; some people are convinced it shows Rex is going full villain, while others agree with her sentiment: that whenever a story is told, particularly when it's a story of heroes and villains, there's more to the story than what the headlines state.
To make matters even worse, Rex is dealing with several heavy relationship issues. Her best friend Flora is ignoring her girlfriend because Rex constantly needs her help. Rex's boyfriend is a drag, and she doesn't really like him. And one of the guards in her Oversight team is REALLY cute. Plus, Rex always feels like she's different enough from everyone else that she wonders if she's even human.
With all of this going on, it's no wonder her AI and the rapidly-evolving dinosaurs are trying to help Rex manage her life. Which is not a recipe for avoiding supervillain-dom.
What I thought: This book threw me when I first picked it up. I thought it was going to be a goofy middle grades superhero book. While it is funny, it is not goofy. And while the basic plot sounds middle grade-ish, the execution is anything but.
And this book takes no prisoners - it makes you actually think and pay attention to keep track of what's going on. I found myself frequently expecting exposition dumps to set up background or explain parts of the world or to introduce relationships, but Raney doesn't provide them. She gives readers all the clues they need to figure that stuff out on their own, and assumes they're smart enough to make it come together. Once I realized that there wasn't going to be any spoon-feeding of story elements, I found this refreshing and rewarding.
The book does a very nice job of straddling the line between "hero" and "villain" and asks readers to think beyond headlines and consider the farther-reaching impacts of the events that we hear about every day.
It also is wonderfully, realistically murky in its familial relationships. Raney reminds us that it's possible to love and fear someone, to want to be around them and to want to literally kill them. She also asks us to be kind to ourselves and to others when we are victims of bad situations. I think that's a message a lot of readers could use.
Why I chose those shelves:
Audience
The language is a bit salty, and there's some fairly vague discussions of sex.
Content Warnings
anxiety: Rex is a giant bundle of anxiety throughout the book; mental health: Rex is trying to work on her own mental health, and there are discussions of what mental health might mean to different people; family issues: and Rex and her sister have a very problematic relationship
Characters
diverse: One of the main characters is coded as Black, and one of the main characters is coded as Latina; LGBT: Several main characters are gay, one is bi; asexual:
Genres
science fiction, fantasy, superhero, action-adventure: This is very much a mad scientist & superhero story - Rex is all about science, while some characters use magic; humor: The story is written with a wry, sardonic voice, and has some truly laugh out loud moments as the dinosaurs quickly evolve and continue to pop up in unexpected ways, much to Rex's chagrin
Style
Topics
animals: Rex is very concerned with the well-being of all creatures, especially those she has helped create, in particular her dinosaurs, who call her "Mom"; friendship, found family: Rex has a very problematic relationship with her family, but has a very deep found-family relationship with her best friend, and she is working on developing other friendships throughout the story; political: Rex has to deal with the political fall-out of some of her less-thought-out decisions, and has to consider how PR affects her daily life; science: Rex is all about the science, all the time! sex:
Why I rated it like I did: This book is not forgiving - there is not the usual exposition dump at any point, and it's up to the reader to put the puzzle pieces together. I appreciated that. It also features some wonderful, human, flawed characters who are working on being better. And the dinosaurs are freaking hilarious. Add in an asexual main character, some great messages about there always being more to the story, and an enjoyably complex plot, and this one is aces in my book!
April 6, 2023
Could've been five stars as it is so charming with the dinosaurs and all, but really I'm closer to three. Two problems nagged me the entire time. Both had to do with believability/credibility. It's not the talking dinosaurs but the fact that the world's foremost genius has to have asexuality explained to her. I can see not seeing it in herself, but not knowing about it is just jarringly false. Second, the idea that everyone in the world magically doesn't know or care about the supergenius who cured cancer's relationship to the big bad and the big superhero despite the fact that she is their sister along with being the one who gave them powers is patently laughable. It's not that she hid it, it's just no one cared? Way too unbelievable in a book with a cat dimension. Blech.
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