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Masks #1
Rise of Heroes
Strange things are happening in Vintage City, and high school goth boy Eric seems to be right in the middle of them. There's a new villain in town, one with super powers, and he's wreaking havoc on the town, and on Eric's life. The new super hero who springs up to defend Vintage City is almost as bad, making Eric all hot and bothered, enough so that he almost misses the love that's right under his nose.
Peter is Eric's best friend, and even if he does seem to be hiding something most of the time, he finds a way to show Eric how he feels in between attacks on trains and banks and malls. The two boys decide to start dating, much to the chagrin of their other best buddy, Althea, who has a terrible crush on Peter, and a secret or two of her own to keep.
As the fight between the villain, known as the Devil's Trill, and superhero Magnifiman picks up, Eric's relationship with Peter almost ends before it begins when Eric finds out about Peter's special talents, which might just rank Peter as a superhero in his own right.
When the Trill takes an interest in Eric, too, Peter and Althea, along with Magnifiman and Eric's normal, middle-class family all have to work together to keep Eric, and their city, safe. Can they figure out the super villain's plan in time?
Peter is Eric's best friend, and even if he does seem to be hiding something most of the time, he finds a way to show Eric how he feels in between attacks on trains and banks and malls. The two boys decide to start dating, much to the chagrin of their other best buddy, Althea, who has a terrible crush on Peter, and a secret or two of her own to keep.
As the fight between the villain, known as the Devil's Trill, and superhero Magnifiman picks up, Eric's relationship with Peter almost ends before it begins when Eric finds out about Peter's special talents, which might just rank Peter as a superhero in his own right.
When the Trill takes an interest in Eric, too, Peter and Althea, along with Magnifiman and Eric's normal, middle-class family all have to work together to keep Eric, and their city, safe. Can they figure out the super villain's plan in time?
279 pages, Nook
First published May 1, 2008
9 people are currently reading
1450 people want to read
About the author
Hayden Thorne
100 books81 followersI write gothic fiction, fairy tales, and ghost stories with a touch of gay romance. For a complete and updated list of my published books,
please visit my Books2Read store
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 48 reviews
July 21, 2011
Thanks to HC's constant pimping, I started this book out with high hopes and expectations... This being because I am a self-admitted Superhero freak... I desperately needed my super power fix like Lindsay Lohan needs Crack... Like Brangelina need to adopt another baby to complete their very own UN Tea Party set... Like Charlie Sheen needs...... Well, shit loads of therapy to be quite honest... but that's beside the point... I started out expecting a main character that comes into his powers and saves the day... what I got was, well... something else entirely....
I got through about 50 pages or so before I developed a massive, skull splitting headache and decided to just give up... After a few days of procrastinating (and very little detective work), I realised that my headache was caused by my reading the ebook on my crappy little ipod screen. *facepalm... Not to self: get an ebook reader* so I resumed reading on my computer instead.
Turns out I loved it...
Eric was such a funny character... I loved all the little quirks he had... the blue food for example being a testament to the relationships between brother and sister - anything to freak 'em out ;) haha I loved Eric and Peter's relationship... kind of... Peter needs to pull his head out of his ass and think about how Eric feels in certain situations (speaking for all 4 books btw)...
Btw Hayden, if you read this can you PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE give Eric powers in the 5th book! I'm begging you for my sanity! haha (besides, all the secrecy and 'classified' meetings going on with the 'League' I suppose you could call it means that, well, i thought so at least, the group dynamics aren't really explored... I think it would be nice to see Peter and Eric together more as well... :D)
P.S Goodreads Reader: I loved it... you should read it... because it's good... :P
I got through about 50 pages or so before I developed a massive, skull splitting headache and decided to just give up... After a few days of procrastinating (and very little detective work), I realised that my headache was caused by my reading the ebook on my crappy little ipod screen. *facepalm... Not to self: get an ebook reader* so I resumed reading on my computer instead.
Turns out I loved it...
Eric was such a funny character... I loved all the little quirks he had... the blue food for example being a testament to the relationships between brother and sister - anything to freak 'em out ;) haha I loved Eric and Peter's relationship... kind of... Peter needs to pull his head out of his ass and think about how Eric feels in certain situations (speaking for all 4 books btw)...
Btw Hayden, if you read this can you PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE give Eric powers in the 5th book! I'm begging you for my sanity! haha (besides, all the secrecy and 'classified' meetings going on with the 'League' I suppose you could call it means that, well, i thought so at least, the group dynamics aren't really explored... I think it would be nice to see Peter and Eric together more as well... :D)
P.S Goodreads Reader: I loved it... you should read it... because it's good... :P
February 7, 2012
First review from reading May 2nd 2011:
The MC is so funny, look forward to reading the rest of the series
Second review from reading 02/06/12
OMG THIS BOOK IS FUCKING AWESOME!!!!
IF You havent read it you should! It's so funny and cute and just good. High quality Young Adult M/M fiction. just awesome.
So read it or I will lick you ;)
The MC is so funny, look forward to reading the rest of the series
Second review from reading 02/06/12
OMG THIS BOOK IS FUCKING AWESOME!!!!
IF You havent read it you should! It's so funny and cute and just good. High quality Young Adult M/M fiction. just awesome.
So read it or I will lick you ;)
May 31, 2011
In the beginning I was only really liking this book, but by 50% I was loving it and could not put it down! Eric was such a funny teenager. He kept his hair dyed blue and was always trying to gross out his sister Liz at the breakfast table by coloring his milk and eggs with blue food coloring. I also really like Eric's friends, Peter and Althea.
This was a fast paced story filled with a lot of action and a sweet little romance.
I'm really looking forward to reading the rest of this series.
This was a fast paced story filled with a lot of action and a sweet little romance.
I'm really looking forward to reading the rest of this series.
May 9, 2011
I'm definitely looking forward to finishing this series! The MC, Eric, is so funny in that sarcastic, teenage way and his obsession with blue dye was hilarious. I absolutely loved it. It was awesome learning about how these kids now have super powers and everything from Peter to The Devil's Trill had me captivated by it and how Eric was like a magnet to trouble kept me engrossed in the story. I can't wait to see what Eric gets himself into in the next book and how Peter and his relationship will grow. Definitely recommended ;-)
June 24, 2011
This is so sweet!!!!
This story really made me go back in time: to my teen years and to my teen reads. Eric is a wonderful guy, so cute and so normal, and I mean that in the best way. His problems and his reactions were those of young people with their everyday life: school, friends, little money, passions which seem to absorb everything, and then they're put aside when love knocks on the door.
Eric's life is complicated by the strange events happening in his hometown - Vintage City - where good and evil seem to want to settle their score. Good is represented by Magnifiman and his elusive colleague; evil is represented by the Devil's Trill. Eric crushes on the perfect Magnifiman, before realizing that the other superhero is his best friend and now boyfriend Peter.
I really felt for Eric's feeling of inadequacy when he compared himself to the richer, smarter Peter, but I really liked the fact that he always tried to make it on his own, assessing his current strength and working on it. He knows where he stands, sometimes he has his crises, but he is always lucid.
The story is very funny. I liked Eric's interaction with his family and I liked the world building, from the press lady stalking the superhero to the RPG on-line communities. It's a very entertaining book and I'd recommend it for a few hours of relaxed, sweet reading.
This story really made me go back in time: to my teen years and to my teen reads. Eric is a wonderful guy, so cute and so normal, and I mean that in the best way. His problems and his reactions were those of young people with their everyday life: school, friends, little money, passions which seem to absorb everything, and then they're put aside when love knocks on the door.
Eric's life is complicated by the strange events happening in his hometown - Vintage City - where good and evil seem to want to settle their score. Good is represented by Magnifiman and his elusive colleague; evil is represented by the Devil's Trill. Eric crushes on the perfect Magnifiman, before realizing that the other superhero is his best friend and now boyfriend Peter.
I really felt for Eric's feeling of inadequacy when he compared himself to the richer, smarter Peter, but I really liked the fact that he always tried to make it on his own, assessing his current strength and working on it. He knows where he stands, sometimes he has his crises, but he is always lucid.
The story is very funny. I liked Eric's interaction with his family and I liked the world building, from the press lady stalking the superhero to the RPG on-line communities. It's a very entertaining book and I'd recommend it for a few hours of relaxed, sweet reading.
August 25, 2009
This is easily a brilliant beginning to a great new series. The first in a planned trilogy, the non-stop action and fabulous characters immediately immerse the reader into a comic book world filled with wit, charm, and adventure. The theme of superheroes and super villains is not necessarily new, but Thorne delivers a fresh and thoroughly entertaining voice in Eric as an average, almost boring outsider to the action. Although technically a young adult book as Eric is only sixteen, the themes presented and wonderful writing will engage readers of all ages. The quintessential teenage voice of the narrator will have readers sympathizing and empathizing with his trials and tribulations. This is definitely an incredibly strong start to a wonderful series.
Eric is an everyday sixteen-year-old teenager. He has trouble in Chemistry and Geometry, forgets to take out the trash every night and has a deep fascination with the color blue. He is openly gay but has yet to have a boyfriend. His two best friends consist of a shy, insecure, be speckled Peter and the outspoken fag-hag Althea. What starts as being in the wrong place at the wrong time sends all three into a new world as superheroes and villains emerge in the tiny, sleepy town of Vintage City. Unfortunately Eric seems to be the sole outsider in the small trio without any interesting powers even as his friendship with Peter takes a decidedly romantic turn. With a new threat on the horizon and his determination to use Eric as a pawn, the average, boring life of a typical teenager is about to change.
The story is narrated in first person from Eric’s perspective and is a totally delightful voice. The humor and wit of an acerbic teenager comes through brilliantly. Eric is sometimes sarcastic, defiant, pouting, moping, upbeat, energized, bored, and sick. He has a common every day life with parents and a bratty older sister, who keep the young man grounded when his thoughts run off to angst ridden haikus and blue food dye. He is hormonal and often lusty, coming of age in a time where his imagination gets more action than anything. Although there is nothing graphic, Eric is still a teenage male with all the associated dreams, wants, and desires. The fun humor and lighthearted manner this is handled add another layer of texture and flavor to the highly enriched tale.
The various other characters from Magnifiman, Peter, Althea, to the Devil’s Trill and even Eric’s parents are all less developed but no less essential to the story. Each has an important part to play, even Bambi Bailey and the RPG community. Although the driving motivations for each of these characters are deeply seated in a comic book atmosphere, Eric’s fresh voice and reactions give a unique and delightful spin on the classic tale. Eric is often in the wrong time and place, but struggles with being the outsider with no purpose and no special attributes. His family’s reactions and Eric’s own internal musings are often hilarious as he views the world with a slightly sarcastic and irreverent eye.
The writing itself is tight and solid with fast paced action and truly stunning dialogue. There are numerous laugh out loud comments mixed with a lyrical quality to the descriptions that come alive in the prose. The plot itself has some holes but these are placed on purpose to no doubt meld in with future books (having read the entire series back to back I can say this works incredibly well if you also read it similarly). This book sets up the characters, their relationships, and the setting perfectly while entertaining and leaving you wanting more. The humanity of the narrator and the heroes and villains comes through poignantly at times, showing the allure and awe of those able to do the impossible. However, the story also hints at the possible downside of such power and responsibility, especially for those that are still growing and maturing themselves.
Some great examples of the humor woven throughout the story:
Okay, that’s it,” Mom blurted out, throwing her hands up. “No more trains for you and anyone else in this household. Take the bus. I don’t care if slugs on Valium outpace those things, just take them!”
“Mom, buses could be the next ones to be sabotaged.”
“Well, what do you want? We can’t be held hostage by terrorists!” She glowered at me from where she sat, digging her fork into the skinny and rather dry-looking sausages on her plate. “Take the bus, Eric, and don’t argue.”
[...:]
I slunk back into my room, my heart aching for my idol. I scribbled a couple of verses before I went to bed—sonnets, that time—yearning, outrage, and an empathic connection in iambic pentameter. Then I dreamed of him “arresting” me and taking me into custody. Not once did I demand to see my lawyer, and, yes, I came willingly. It was also during my Golden Age of Haiku when I grew to loathe the dawn hours and their murderous effects on dreams, and I think I messed with Mom’s mind when I insisted on washing my own clothes and sheets.
I couldn’t put down this page turning, exciting, and entertaining romp in a comic book. The tone is clearly meant to gently mock that very setting and through the eyes of a humorous and often sarcastic teenager - the book certainly delivers that well. The real test is that the next two are equally enjoyable and only deepen the creative and unique voice of Eric. Be sure to start the series with this first book, you won’t regret it.
Eric is an everyday sixteen-year-old teenager. He has trouble in Chemistry and Geometry, forgets to take out the trash every night and has a deep fascination with the color blue. He is openly gay but has yet to have a boyfriend. His two best friends consist of a shy, insecure, be speckled Peter and the outspoken fag-hag Althea. What starts as being in the wrong place at the wrong time sends all three into a new world as superheroes and villains emerge in the tiny, sleepy town of Vintage City. Unfortunately Eric seems to be the sole outsider in the small trio without any interesting powers even as his friendship with Peter takes a decidedly romantic turn. With a new threat on the horizon and his determination to use Eric as a pawn, the average, boring life of a typical teenager is about to change.
The story is narrated in first person from Eric’s perspective and is a totally delightful voice. The humor and wit of an acerbic teenager comes through brilliantly. Eric is sometimes sarcastic, defiant, pouting, moping, upbeat, energized, bored, and sick. He has a common every day life with parents and a bratty older sister, who keep the young man grounded when his thoughts run off to angst ridden haikus and blue food dye. He is hormonal and often lusty, coming of age in a time where his imagination gets more action than anything. Although there is nothing graphic, Eric is still a teenage male with all the associated dreams, wants, and desires. The fun humor and lighthearted manner this is handled add another layer of texture and flavor to the highly enriched tale.
The various other characters from Magnifiman, Peter, Althea, to the Devil’s Trill and even Eric’s parents are all less developed but no less essential to the story. Each has an important part to play, even Bambi Bailey and the RPG community. Although the driving motivations for each of these characters are deeply seated in a comic book atmosphere, Eric’s fresh voice and reactions give a unique and delightful spin on the classic tale. Eric is often in the wrong time and place, but struggles with being the outsider with no purpose and no special attributes. His family’s reactions and Eric’s own internal musings are often hilarious as he views the world with a slightly sarcastic and irreverent eye.
The writing itself is tight and solid with fast paced action and truly stunning dialogue. There are numerous laugh out loud comments mixed with a lyrical quality to the descriptions that come alive in the prose. The plot itself has some holes but these are placed on purpose to no doubt meld in with future books (having read the entire series back to back I can say this works incredibly well if you also read it similarly). This book sets up the characters, their relationships, and the setting perfectly while entertaining and leaving you wanting more. The humanity of the narrator and the heroes and villains comes through poignantly at times, showing the allure and awe of those able to do the impossible. However, the story also hints at the possible downside of such power and responsibility, especially for those that are still growing and maturing themselves.
Some great examples of the humor woven throughout the story:
Okay, that’s it,” Mom blurted out, throwing her hands up. “No more trains for you and anyone else in this household. Take the bus. I don’t care if slugs on Valium outpace those things, just take them!”
“Mom, buses could be the next ones to be sabotaged.”
“Well, what do you want? We can’t be held hostage by terrorists!” She glowered at me from where she sat, digging her fork into the skinny and rather dry-looking sausages on her plate. “Take the bus, Eric, and don’t argue.”
[...:]
I slunk back into my room, my heart aching for my idol. I scribbled a couple of verses before I went to bed—sonnets, that time—yearning, outrage, and an empathic connection in iambic pentameter. Then I dreamed of him “arresting” me and taking me into custody. Not once did I demand to see my lawyer, and, yes, I came willingly. It was also during my Golden Age of Haiku when I grew to loathe the dawn hours and their murderous effects on dreams, and I think I messed with Mom’s mind when I insisted on washing my own clothes and sheets.
I couldn’t put down this page turning, exciting, and entertaining romp in a comic book. The tone is clearly meant to gently mock that very setting and through the eyes of a humorous and often sarcastic teenager - the book certainly delivers that well. The real test is that the next two are equally enjoyable and only deepen the creative and unique voice of Eric. Be sure to start the series with this first book, you won’t regret it.
September 2, 2016
I was so excited when I found this and read so many glowing reviews. I was even more excited when I found myself thoroughly enjoying the first half and assured by so many of those reviews that the second half was even better.
Unfortunately, I ended up with the opposite opinion. I loved the first half with the introduction to the city and to the new superheroes and their adventures.
The second half just seemed to drag in comparison. I ended up being let down enough that I'm not sure I even care enough to continue the series.
Favorite Quotes:
Nothing stole one's thunder more than a sky-blue concoction, when one intended something along the lines of denim. Because, you know, art.
From a dreary, sooty, acid rain-drenched metropolis no one would care to visit, we suddenly turned into a dreary, sooty, acid rain-drenched battleground between the forces of good and evil.
I'd often question what I saw as the what-the-fuck-iness logic in the sentences I was smacked with.
Funny how one's self-absorption can really screw his awareness of the world around him.
"You know, after comparing yourself with a platypus, I really can't take you seriously anymore."
Unfortunately, I ended up with the opposite opinion. I loved the first half with the introduction to the city and to the new superheroes and their adventures.
The second half just seemed to drag in comparison. I ended up being let down enough that I'm not sure I even care enough to continue the series.
Favorite Quotes:
Nothing stole one's thunder more than a sky-blue concoction, when one intended something along the lines of denim. Because, you know, art.
From a dreary, sooty, acid rain-drenched metropolis no one would care to visit, we suddenly turned into a dreary, sooty, acid rain-drenched battleground between the forces of good and evil.
I'd often question what I saw as the what-the-fuck-iness logic in the sentences I was smacked with.
Funny how one's self-absorption can really screw his awareness of the world around him.
"You know, after comparing yourself with a platypus, I really can't take you seriously anymore."
May 1, 2012
Wonderful!!
I should have never put off reading this series so long. There are two things I love about Hayden Thorne's writing that is abundant here: her completely unique and wonderful characters and her her dry humor, usually given through said wonderful and unique character. Here, that is Eric, and he is a delight to see the completely fantastical and original town of Vintage City through.
This story is at the same time a passion-, lust-, and angst-filled gay teen's manic day to day life and a comic satire. I'm excited about the depth of the story and how much room for expansion there is. Not only can I not wait to keep reading about Eric and Peter, but with so many possibilities it is even more exciting.
Off to read Evolution!
I should have never put off reading this series so long. There are two things I love about Hayden Thorne's writing that is abundant here: her completely unique and wonderful characters and her her dry humor, usually given through said wonderful and unique character. Here, that is Eric, and he is a delight to see the completely fantastical and original town of Vintage City through.
This story is at the same time a passion-, lust-, and angst-filled gay teen's manic day to day life and a comic satire. I'm excited about the depth of the story and how much room for expansion there is. Not only can I not wait to keep reading about Eric and Peter, but with so many possibilities it is even more exciting.
Off to read Evolution!
September 4, 2011
I really liked the book. It is well written and witty in a good way. The MC is a believable 16 years old in his rebellious phase. There is also a sweet relationship.
The 4 stars are absolutely deserved. Still, I can't imagine to buy the other 3 books. I don't think that this is a contradiction, it's just that I prefer books with more conflict and adult MCs.
The 4 stars are absolutely deserved. Still, I can't imagine to buy the other 3 books. I don't think that this is a contradiction, it's just that I prefer books with more conflict and adult MCs.
August 9, 2009
The Review:
Honesty from the outset~
It's got SUPERHEROES! I'm the kid who spent their afternoons and weekends watching He-man and the Masters of the Universe, Transformers and Astro Boy cartoons. I'm not ashamed to admit that I've never looked back since. *GRIN*
*It's YA! YAY!*
First things first~
This is a well written, extremely sly and humorous story about an ordinary teenage boy, who finds himself caught in the middle of a fight between newly empowered superheroes and villains.
Why sly? Think of the stories of superheroes you know and love and then think of the commonalities between them. The secret identity, the home base, the discovery of superpowers, the fight for good and evil, the love interest who always seems to be at the wrong place at the wrong time, the laughable police folk and other powers that be, the mysterious villain (complete with violin music), the typically seedy, city setting, and the ending which leaves the audience hanging.
Now imagine an author who takes all these tropes and conventions puts them in bowl adds a dash of teenage drama and a dollop of wit before giving it a good mix with tongue in cheek. You end up with a very tasty treat that all can enjoy!
This excerpt, in which the main character Eric is rescued by superhero Magnifiman (*snort* love that name), is one of many illustrating the author's playful look at the superhero:
My jaw had long dropped to the ground. “Holy cow,” I breathed as I strained to watch what was happening above. “What’s that?”
“Are you all right?”
“What?” I blinked and turned to the person who addressed me. “Oh.”
“I asked if you were all right.”
He was a vision from head to foot. Strong, angular, dark features, his body sculpted by Olympian gods. If he wasn’t born this way, he probably was an obsessive-compulsive gym-bot. He had a cleft in his chin. God help me, he had a cleft in his chin. It was so pronounced that he could sideline as a letter-holder if he wished.
He wore a bodysuit in a green shade so dark that one could mistake it for black unless the light touched it at certain angles. He also wore a cape in the same color. That certainly cleared up a few mysteries. I stared, and I didn’t care. I wondered if, rather than have his costume already made for him, he simply stood naked before his personal tailor and had all that bottle-green spandex sewn on him, given his bulk and the mind-blowing physics required for it to get inside such a tight getup. His hair reminded me of Edwardian Cambridge undergraduates, but that might have been because I’d recently developed a fanboy obsession with E.M. Forster’s Maurice, and he had the coy-yet-windswept intellectual look down. I wondered what brand of mousse he used.
“I’m fine, yeah,” I finally stammered. It was certainly a good thing that I hadn’t been aware of how beautiful this man was when he caught me; otherwise, I’d have developed a boner while nearly plastered to his body, and it would have been embarrassing. Then again, he might not have felt it, anyway. It would likely take nothing short of an aroused stallion for him to feel signs of excitement pressing against his marble-like wall of muscles.
*giggle*
Eric is a wonderful, likeable main character through which the author explores the world of superheroes as well as teenagers, including what it's like to be different, family and friends, and first love:
As though waiting for the moment for me to introduce it, the local news segment would take over, and we’d be treated to new adventures in heroism. If it happened to be BFM [Bizarre Flying Man:] who saved the day, I’d be there, rooted to the spot, holding my breath as I ate up every word of the reports. If it happened to be Speedo, I’d force myself to listen, silently hating and envying the presumptuous tart, and then walk away like a puppy that had just been kicked.
I suppose the good thing that came out of this unrequited tragedy was the fact that my Golden Age of Haiku coincided with this period, and my journal nearly burst with gutwrenching exhortations on my bleak, windswept love life. I’d actually considered having my work published, but money and notoriety would be a slap in the face of art and the sensibilities of bleeding gay teen poets everywhere.
Although humorous with many laugh out loud moments, Eric's feelings and the situations he finds himself in also conjured up some bitter sweet memories for me of the extremes and angst I did - and we all do - feel as a teenager.
It is such a time of seesawing between naivety and innocence, and growing up and dealing with adult issues that it actually lends itself very well to the setting of a superhero story.
A couple of issues/warnings~
There are those who will find some aspects of the description and development of the story repetitive. I'm not sure if this was deliberately done or not. However, it did make me think of all the times when watching cartoons or movies where certain themes or issues are emphasised more than others. This tendency has actually been picked up in parodies like Austin Powers.
Also, this is the first book in a series so don't say I didn't warn you if you fall for Eric and the characters of Masks and run off, as I intend to do, to pick up the second book. *g*
My recommendation~
Masks: Rise of Heroes is a very entertaining read and especially one which those who have a fondness for superheroes will get a real kick out of.
Honesty from the outset~
It's got SUPERHEROES! I'm the kid who spent their afternoons and weekends watching He-man and the Masters of the Universe, Transformers and Astro Boy cartoons. I'm not ashamed to admit that I've never looked back since. *GRIN*
*It's YA! YAY!*
First things first~
This is a well written, extremely sly and humorous story about an ordinary teenage boy, who finds himself caught in the middle of a fight between newly empowered superheroes and villains.
Why sly? Think of the stories of superheroes you know and love and then think of the commonalities between them. The secret identity, the home base, the discovery of superpowers, the fight for good and evil, the love interest who always seems to be at the wrong place at the wrong time, the laughable police folk and other powers that be, the mysterious villain (complete with violin music), the typically seedy, city setting, and the ending which leaves the audience hanging.
Now imagine an author who takes all these tropes and conventions puts them in bowl adds a dash of teenage drama and a dollop of wit before giving it a good mix with tongue in cheek. You end up with a very tasty treat that all can enjoy!
This excerpt, in which the main character Eric is rescued by superhero Magnifiman (*snort* love that name), is one of many illustrating the author's playful look at the superhero:
My jaw had long dropped to the ground. “Holy cow,” I breathed as I strained to watch what was happening above. “What’s that?”
“Are you all right?”
“What?” I blinked and turned to the person who addressed me. “Oh.”
“I asked if you were all right.”
He was a vision from head to foot. Strong, angular, dark features, his body sculpted by Olympian gods. If he wasn’t born this way, he probably was an obsessive-compulsive gym-bot. He had a cleft in his chin. God help me, he had a cleft in his chin. It was so pronounced that he could sideline as a letter-holder if he wished.
He wore a bodysuit in a green shade so dark that one could mistake it for black unless the light touched it at certain angles. He also wore a cape in the same color. That certainly cleared up a few mysteries. I stared, and I didn’t care. I wondered if, rather than have his costume already made for him, he simply stood naked before his personal tailor and had all that bottle-green spandex sewn on him, given his bulk and the mind-blowing physics required for it to get inside such a tight getup. His hair reminded me of Edwardian Cambridge undergraduates, but that might have been because I’d recently developed a fanboy obsession with E.M. Forster’s Maurice, and he had the coy-yet-windswept intellectual look down. I wondered what brand of mousse he used.
“I’m fine, yeah,” I finally stammered. It was certainly a good thing that I hadn’t been aware of how beautiful this man was when he caught me; otherwise, I’d have developed a boner while nearly plastered to his body, and it would have been embarrassing. Then again, he might not have felt it, anyway. It would likely take nothing short of an aroused stallion for him to feel signs of excitement pressing against his marble-like wall of muscles.
*giggle*
Eric is a wonderful, likeable main character through which the author explores the world of superheroes as well as teenagers, including what it's like to be different, family and friends, and first love:
As though waiting for the moment for me to introduce it, the local news segment would take over, and we’d be treated to new adventures in heroism. If it happened to be BFM [Bizarre Flying Man:] who saved the day, I’d be there, rooted to the spot, holding my breath as I ate up every word of the reports. If it happened to be Speedo, I’d force myself to listen, silently hating and envying the presumptuous tart, and then walk away like a puppy that had just been kicked.
I suppose the good thing that came out of this unrequited tragedy was the fact that my Golden Age of Haiku coincided with this period, and my journal nearly burst with gutwrenching exhortations on my bleak, windswept love life. I’d actually considered having my work published, but money and notoriety would be a slap in the face of art and the sensibilities of bleeding gay teen poets everywhere.
Although humorous with many laugh out loud moments, Eric's feelings and the situations he finds himself in also conjured up some bitter sweet memories for me of the extremes and angst I did - and we all do - feel as a teenager.
It is such a time of seesawing between naivety and innocence, and growing up and dealing with adult issues that it actually lends itself very well to the setting of a superhero story.
A couple of issues/warnings~
There are those who will find some aspects of the description and development of the story repetitive. I'm not sure if this was deliberately done or not. However, it did make me think of all the times when watching cartoons or movies where certain themes or issues are emphasised more than others. This tendency has actually been picked up in parodies like Austin Powers.
Also, this is the first book in a series so don't say I didn't warn you if you fall for Eric and the characters of Masks and run off, as I intend to do, to pick up the second book. *g*
My recommendation~
Masks: Rise of Heroes is a very entertaining read and especially one which those who have a fondness for superheroes will get a real kick out of.
July 22, 2024
July 2024
Kindle edition
Alphabet challenge - M
Another one crossed from the kindle stuff I own. Took a while to get into because it was young adult but did feel more highschool. Think this was one picked up in my LGBT superheroes search. Once it got going it was alright. The powers were cool, the friend with the computer take over and the boyfriend playing pop up stalker. Mostly, I liked the feeling of more going on with the maybe a supervillain. I did get the next one, but the release trilogy, so having this one kinda sucked.
Kindle edition
Alphabet challenge - M
Another one crossed from the kindle stuff I own. Took a while to get into because it was young adult but did feel more highschool. Think this was one picked up in my LGBT superheroes search. Once it got going it was alright. The powers were cool, the friend with the computer take over and the boyfriend playing pop up stalker. Mostly, I liked the feeling of more going on with the maybe a supervillain. I did get the next one, but the release trilogy, so having this one kinda sucked.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 20, 2014
Reviewed for Prism Book Alliance
Reading this book is like reading an episode of “The Incredibles.” It’s a lot of cute sweet fun. There’s a very old school comic book-esq feel to the narrative and a 1970’s (Ok so I picked a random decade.) genre style that is more heart warming than the modern blood and destruction versions of our superheroes.
Eric is a pretty normal sixteen year old, well normal by the standards of all the crazy new things showing up around town. Sure he’s a goth boy and gay and has a yen for blue food coloring. He does ok in school preferring his art classes to his math and science and enjoys spending time with his two best friends Peter and Althea. All in all a pretty normal boy. That is until he suddenly seems to be the epicenter of ever crime incident around the city that the new superheroes around town seem to be showing up at.
Peter is Eric’s best friend, but he is also in love with him. He’s better at science and math but has an artist’s soul. And he has a secret. It’s a pretty big one and when evil super-villain the Devil’s Trill’s battle picks up with superhero Magnifiman the secret might just come spilling out. The new relationship between Peter and Eric might not survive.
So this book was really cute and sweet. The beginning ran a little slow, but as the action picked up things became a little more entertaining. Of course opening things up with a crashing train and a flying rescue certainly grabs the attention. I enjoyed the little quirks of this story a lot. Eric’s obsession with blue dye was hysterical. I loved it! I swear I wanted to see him dye his eggs blue! Such a fun little quirk that made me grin every time it came up. I enjoyed how the superheroes were just emerging and that these kids were just discovering what their powers meant and how to control them. Eric’s perspective was amusing and I particularly liked Althea and the craziness her life was becoming.
Frankly I felt like there was a really nice comic book quality to the feel of the town and the characters. I would have loved watching this as a Dreamworks animated film or something. I particularly enjoyed Althea’s developing powers since technology is the dominating force of the modern age. Being able to rag on your friends from blocks away by infiltrating their computer…priceless. :D I liked the goofiness of the standard superhero/reporter relationship and the way it was portrayed as both are secondary characters here. I mean Magnifiman…really…that’s the best you can come up with? It doesn’t even sound super. ;)
This story fits very well in the YA category, a good read for a teenage audience. It doesn’t necessarily match up well for an adult audience. A lot of the emotions are very surface and nothing gets too deep. This would be a fantastic book to try and get some teen who only deigns to read a graphic novel into reading something with a little more substance. It’s a light hearted story with interesting and humorous superhero characters and a normal boy trying to find his way through his teenage years and first love. As a book even attempting to play to an older audience the emotional developments left a lot to be desired. I never felt more than a best friend connection between Peter and Eric despite their developing relationship. It all came about really quickly and I didn’t follow the progression well in Eric’s head from “he’s my best friend” to “wow he’s amazing.” In fact I got more emotion from Eric when he figured out what they’d all been hiding than I did in how he felt about Peter.
While I very much enjoyed the book I didn’t love it. I am curious to see what happens in the adventures of Peter, Eric, and Althea in the future and what new dastardly plots our evil villain masterminds can come up with. For a light-hearted romp with daring do and unimpeachable moral characters this is a lot of fun. Right is right and wrong is wrong and that’s the way it should be. Of course the clichéd over preachy characteristics of Magnifiman fit right into this world. Even if his long winded proselytizing does make Eric shake his head. And Peter is a sweetheart and I’m cheering for him. All in all a fun story and I’m glad I read it.
July 23, 2009
I fell in love with superheroes in college, and no storyline is more endearing to me than the "coming out" or "coming of age" arc when the hero realizes the potential in his powers and struggles to come to terms with them. Most stories of that type center on the superhero himself, and all the angst associated with realizing he's some sort of freak shunned by the society he aims to protect.
One of the things that makes "Masks: Rise of Heroes" so different in this genre is that the main character is not the superhero ~ he's not even the sidekick. He's just your average teenage boy with raging hormones who constantly seems to be in the wrong place at the wrong time. Eric Plath is sixteen, precocious, and lusts over the new superhero in town, who seems to have an uncanny knack for saving his hide.
I really liked Eric ~ his voice, dialogue, and actions rang very true to life. As the story progresses, he learns more about his best friends, Peter and Althea, and his emotions also hit the mark. I also loved spunky Althea, who seems destined to play the role of fag hag for the rest of her life (get used to it, honey, is all I'm saying; take it from someone who knows). And Peter quickly grew from the nerdy "best friend" in the wings into a character of his own right, the perfect foil for Eric: level-headed, weighed down with responsibility, and so very much head over heels in love.
The story takes place in a very somber setting ~ Vintage City. The author's use of language to describe the atmosphere really helped set the mood, and contrasted nicely with Eric's internal landscape. Lines I particularly liked were:
"... rain that seemed to be made of liquid metal."
"Understated jewelry sprouted like sparkling lichen on her arms and neck."
"The wild, manic expressions on the horses' faces and the wide-eyed, watchful looks with which wooden cherubs regarded carnival visitors had that distinct glamour of madness to them. I couldn't help but stare back."
There is a lot of humor infused in the story, as well. The author's turn of phrase sometimes made me laugh out loud ~ Eric has a quick, sardonic wit that I thoroughly enjoyed, particularly in his internal dialogue:
"My glasses clung to my head by one temple with a death grip around my right ear."
"He had a cleft in his chin. God help me, he had a cleft in his chin."
There is also a very strong love element throughout the story. While Eric is already out with his family before the book starts, and is very comfortable with his sexuality, the relationship that grows between himself and Peter is his first true romance. And while the story is YA or "young adult," the boy is sixteen. There are quite a few places where the author subtly reminds the reader of that fact, in such wonderful phrases as:
"Then I dreamed of him 'arresting' me and taking me into custody. Not once did I demand to see my lawyer, and yes, I came willingly."
The reason behind Magnifiman's superpowers is nicely explained, though we don't learn much about the Devil's Trill. The plot involving his interest in Eric comes up in the final half of the book, bringing all elements of the story together to a satisfying ~ if rushed ~ conclusion, but there are still many questions left unanswered. "Masks" ends abruptly, until you realize this is the first in a trilogy, and I hope that the other two books will fill in the bits readers are left wondering about in Book 1.
For a story about caped superheroes and maniacal villains, the human element shines through, a realistic thread that makes the tale believable. What makes super powered heroes so irresistible to us isn't so much the desire to be rescued from our own devices or mundane lives, but rather to know that beneath those rippling muscles, somewhere within that super-smart brain, lies the very same heart, the same emotions and thoughts, hopes and dreams ~ the same soul ~ that lies within us all.
I found myself drawn into the story almost immediately, and couldn't stop turning the pages to get to the end. This book is a great start to what looks to be a fun series about superheroes among us. I can't wait for the next part.
One of the things that makes "Masks: Rise of Heroes" so different in this genre is that the main character is not the superhero ~ he's not even the sidekick. He's just your average teenage boy with raging hormones who constantly seems to be in the wrong place at the wrong time. Eric Plath is sixteen, precocious, and lusts over the new superhero in town, who seems to have an uncanny knack for saving his hide.
I really liked Eric ~ his voice, dialogue, and actions rang very true to life. As the story progresses, he learns more about his best friends, Peter and Althea, and his emotions also hit the mark. I also loved spunky Althea, who seems destined to play the role of fag hag for the rest of her life (get used to it, honey, is all I'm saying; take it from someone who knows). And Peter quickly grew from the nerdy "best friend" in the wings into a character of his own right, the perfect foil for Eric: level-headed, weighed down with responsibility, and so very much head over heels in love.
The story takes place in a very somber setting ~ Vintage City. The author's use of language to describe the atmosphere really helped set the mood, and contrasted nicely with Eric's internal landscape. Lines I particularly liked were:
"... rain that seemed to be made of liquid metal."
"Understated jewelry sprouted like sparkling lichen on her arms and neck."
"The wild, manic expressions on the horses' faces and the wide-eyed, watchful looks with which wooden cherubs regarded carnival visitors had that distinct glamour of madness to them. I couldn't help but stare back."
There is a lot of humor infused in the story, as well. The author's turn of phrase sometimes made me laugh out loud ~ Eric has a quick, sardonic wit that I thoroughly enjoyed, particularly in his internal dialogue:
"My glasses clung to my head by one temple with a death grip around my right ear."
"He had a cleft in his chin. God help me, he had a cleft in his chin."
There is also a very strong love element throughout the story. While Eric is already out with his family before the book starts, and is very comfortable with his sexuality, the relationship that grows between himself and Peter is his first true romance. And while the story is YA or "young adult," the boy is sixteen. There are quite a few places where the author subtly reminds the reader of that fact, in such wonderful phrases as:
"Then I dreamed of him 'arresting' me and taking me into custody. Not once did I demand to see my lawyer, and yes, I came willingly."
The reason behind Magnifiman's superpowers is nicely explained, though we don't learn much about the Devil's Trill. The plot involving his interest in Eric comes up in the final half of the book, bringing all elements of the story together to a satisfying ~ if rushed ~ conclusion, but there are still many questions left unanswered. "Masks" ends abruptly, until you realize this is the first in a trilogy, and I hope that the other two books will fill in the bits readers are left wondering about in Book 1.
For a story about caped superheroes and maniacal villains, the human element shines through, a realistic thread that makes the tale believable. What makes super powered heroes so irresistible to us isn't so much the desire to be rescued from our own devices or mundane lives, but rather to know that beneath those rippling muscles, somewhere within that super-smart brain, lies the very same heart, the same emotions and thoughts, hopes and dreams ~ the same soul ~ that lies within us all.
I found myself drawn into the story almost immediately, and couldn't stop turning the pages to get to the end. This book is a great start to what looks to be a fun series about superheroes among us. I can't wait for the next part.
January 29, 2014
Eric Plath lives in his own personal Gotham, a place in which gloom fairly oozes from every crack in the sidewalks, seeping from every pore of the bricks and mortar that fill its landscape. Vintage City is its environment—dingy, dank, with an air of chemical waste rising from its bowels. It’s a place simply begging for supervillians to overtake it and upset the status quo. It’s also a place, thank goodness, that has unwittingly bred its own superheroes to protect and to serve its innocent citizens.
See the entire review at The Novel Approach: http://thenovelapproachreviews.com/20...
See the entire review at The Novel Approach: http://thenovelapproachreviews.com/20...
June 26, 2011
This young adult book is filled with humor and sweetness. It takes you into this fantasy world filled with teen insecurities and makes you laugh and just enjoy the story. Yes, it's a far-fetched adventure, but isn't that the great thing about fantasy and reading? A truly enjoyable read.
July 5, 2017
The plot was okay but the characters and dialogue grated on my nerves. To me, their conversations seemed to flow oddly and their reactions to certain situations weren't believable. To be precise, it read dangerously close to fan-fiction. I've enjoyed some of Thorne's other work so this was a disappointment to me.
December 6, 2018
Spoiler aheas
No Romance, just teenies with hormone problems. Im not a fan of the MC who wants to sleep with every goodlooking guy, even when he gets a boyfriend. Huh? Weird. No like
No Romance, just teenies with hormone problems. Im not a fan of the MC who wants to sleep with every goodlooking guy, even when he gets a boyfriend. Huh? Weird. No like
June 21, 2020
It is indeed a cute and fun read, 3.5 stars.
March 5, 2021
What I liked about this book is that it does not take the superhero theme seriously.
August 21, 2012
I was given this book through the Making Connections ARR group for an honest review, thank you.
Read
May 14, 2009I had this book in my reading list since a bit but I was never in the right mood. I was expecting a superhero type of book, and it's not really my cup of tea. Then tonight I decided to give it a try and it surprised me: the story is more "normal" than expected. It's in a way a very classical coming of age novel, and I like it in that way.
Eric is an emo kid, a 16 years old like a lot of other boys of that age, with a quite supportive family. He is out with his parents and sister and they accepted him, blue bangs covering his eyes and strange eating habit. For once, being gay is not an issue for this teen and all in all he has not serious problem in his life. Then one day he is rescued by a train accident by a flying superhero, a Superman style of hero, complete of spandex uniform and bulging muscles... and for a teenager with ranging hormones, the sight is almost too much: Eric develops a desperate crush on this masked hero.
But having a crush on a superhero doesn't change too much Eric's ordinary life; on the contrary, he continues to hang out with his friends, the girl Anthea and the guy Peter. Suddenly something changes: maybe since Eric is paying attention to another potential even if impossible love interest, Peter is staking is claim; the usually shy and introverse guy is all over Eric, kissing him and asking him out on a date... and simple like that, Eric turns from bestfriend to boyfriend, and now he has to be more careful around Peter, since everything he does and says has a new all meaning for Peter.
It's rather interesting to see how the "superhero" problem is processed in almost an ordinary way in Eric's mind, no more important than his trouble with his new boyfriend Peter, or with his strange family. When Eric is involved in some trouble due to the superhero war between Magnifiman and the villain, he comes back home upset in the same way he is when he has lover quarrels with Peter. In his teen perspective, Eric considers at the same way a problem that involves his little personal world than something of bigger proportion and worst consequences.
Another interesting thing that explains how Eric's mind works, is that, since he is gay and out with his family and friends, he doesn't consider it a problem, and so for him is more problematic and freak being a superhero than being gay... gay is normal, superhero is freak...
There is also a little romance between Eric and Peter, with some kisses and a bit of making out in a car back seats, and all is sweet and tender, but not too much detailed. Eric talks a lot about his ranging hormones, and about his daydreams, but actually he didn't do much.
http://www.amazon.com/dp/160370356X/?...
Eric is an emo kid, a 16 years old like a lot of other boys of that age, with a quite supportive family. He is out with his parents and sister and they accepted him, blue bangs covering his eyes and strange eating habit. For once, being gay is not an issue for this teen and all in all he has not serious problem in his life. Then one day he is rescued by a train accident by a flying superhero, a Superman style of hero, complete of spandex uniform and bulging muscles... and for a teenager with ranging hormones, the sight is almost too much: Eric develops a desperate crush on this masked hero.
But having a crush on a superhero doesn't change too much Eric's ordinary life; on the contrary, he continues to hang out with his friends, the girl Anthea and the guy Peter. Suddenly something changes: maybe since Eric is paying attention to another potential even if impossible love interest, Peter is staking is claim; the usually shy and introverse guy is all over Eric, kissing him and asking him out on a date... and simple like that, Eric turns from bestfriend to boyfriend, and now he has to be more careful around Peter, since everything he does and says has a new all meaning for Peter.
It's rather interesting to see how the "superhero" problem is processed in almost an ordinary way in Eric's mind, no more important than his trouble with his new boyfriend Peter, or with his strange family. When Eric is involved in some trouble due to the superhero war between Magnifiman and the villain, he comes back home upset in the same way he is when he has lover quarrels with Peter. In his teen perspective, Eric considers at the same way a problem that involves his little personal world than something of bigger proportion and worst consequences.
Another interesting thing that explains how Eric's mind works, is that, since he is gay and out with his family and friends, he doesn't consider it a problem, and so for him is more problematic and freak being a superhero than being gay... gay is normal, superhero is freak...
There is also a little romance between Eric and Peter, with some kisses and a bit of making out in a car back seats, and all is sweet and tender, but not too much detailed. Eric talks a lot about his ranging hormones, and about his daydreams, but actually he didn't do much.
http://www.amazon.com/dp/160370356X/?...
March 28, 2014
I honestly never thought it would take me this long to finish this book. It's absolutely no fault of the book; I just could not find time.
Anyway, I really enjoyed this book. I'm a huge superhero fan. Make it YA with a gay protagonist and I am all for it. Rise of Heroes delivered all of those elements in a really great way. You get the origin story of superheroes, but they're also teenagers with relationships and romances.
Sometimes the story went to fast, with too many events happening to quickly (like the climax and denouement). Sometimes it seemed a little slow. Characterization at the very beginning wasn't that great, but it was all good by the end of the book.
I would love to read the rest of the books (which are out of print for the moment I think?), because I genuinely enjoyed Eric, Peter, Althea, and Vintage City.
Anyway, I really enjoyed this book. I'm a huge superhero fan. Make it YA with a gay protagonist and I am all for it. Rise of Heroes delivered all of those elements in a really great way. You get the origin story of superheroes, but they're also teenagers with relationships and romances.
Sometimes the story went to fast, with too many events happening to quickly (like the climax and denouement). Sometimes it seemed a little slow. Characterization at the very beginning wasn't that great, but it was all good by the end of the book.
I would love to read the rest of the books (which are out of print for the moment I think?), because I genuinely enjoyed Eric, Peter, Althea, and Vintage City.
March 16, 2016
Very funny and clever. I don't think there's anything else out there like this: a YA superhero novel told from the perspective of a gay teen who is not, himself, a superhero. The characters are quite good, largely because author Thorne gets Eric's voice just right. He's a realistic, moderately snarky teen who is still finding himself. There's no coming-out drama -- Eric's been out and proud since long before the start of this book -- but there's plenty of other coming-of-age stuff, as there should be.
The writing is a little rough around the edges, including the world-building, some aspects of the various relationships, and even the dialogue at times, but overall I liked this book and would like to try more from this author.
The writing is a little rough around the edges, including the world-building, some aspects of the various relationships, and even the dialogue at times, but overall I liked this book and would like to try more from this author.
September 7, 2015
Geh...It was a great book and I can't wait so read the sequels, I must say usually I get uneasy when I see so many follow-up books, but not into this case!
I'm still pondering, since the pace, the dialogue, the villan, the characters, the narrator, the quirks....Everything was amazing and I'm already known for such a sucker for hero-setting plots....So...
However.
Something felt too fast paced in the romance between MCs, Eric was moreless okay, but I didn't get much the 'in love' feeling from Peter as he so much seemed to claim...
Yet I've got high expectations from the next book, I've seem some spoilers and things might get interresting, can't wait to find out.
I'm still pondering, since the pace, the dialogue, the villan, the characters, the narrator, the quirks....Everything was amazing and I'm already known for such a sucker for hero-setting plots....So...
However.
Something felt too fast paced in the romance between MCs, Eric was moreless okay, but I didn't get much the 'in love' feeling from Peter as he so much seemed to claim...
Yet I've got high expectations from the next book, I've seem some spoilers and things might get interresting, can't wait to find out.
May 7, 2021
I read this series during a unsure time in my life, and these will always hold some nostalgia for me. Personally, these stories still hold true to what I loved about them in the beginning. Some actions can be jarring with the explicit use of a more satire style of writing, as it both increase and cripples the humor. The story did have a good sense of pace, and establishing dialog was never confusing. You know where the characters are, and what they are doing without over explaining it.
The characters are likable and it conveys their individual quirks and traits quite nicely, as they never feel like a cardboard cut out.
The characters are likable and it conveys their individual quirks and traits quite nicely, as they never feel like a cardboard cut out.
March 8, 2012
I really wanted to give this one 3.5 stars.
It was cute, and I will read the rest of the books.
One thing about the narrative that I didn't like was how the narrator would go off on tangents right in the middle of an action scene. I get that it is probably what might really happen in those situations, but it takes longer to read it than it does to think it, and I didn't want to be bothered. I generally skimmed those paragraphs.
It was cute, and I will read the rest of the books.
One thing about the narrative that I didn't like was how the narrator would go off on tangents right in the middle of an action scene. I get that it is probably what might really happen in those situations, but it takes longer to read it than it does to think it, and I didn't want to be bothered. I generally skimmed those paragraphs.
February 16, 2015
Eric lives a rather mundane existence with his struggling working-class family. He's gay, in love with his best friend, and has to be constantly rescued by superheroes who keep cropping up in his dingy city to protect everyone from a maniac who is hypnotizing people with music and causing wonton destruction... wait what? Clever, funny, satirical, and yet, very heartfelt and sincere this is a wonderful beginning to a fun and exciting series.
May 17, 2017
3.5 stars. Not a lot of action as I hoped like Hero by Perry Moore, but it's told by someone who isn't a superhero. I was surprised by Eric's reaction to Althea's and Peter's revelations to the point where I wanted to stop reading it because of how immature his reactions were but I see that it was necessary to make readers understand what it's like to come out of the closet. Reading the second book now.
August 12, 2016
A fun, cute, and reasonably enjoyable read. The world building of the first half come across stronger than the second, where the plot seems to struggle to find somewhere to go. And I could never quite buy into the relationship towards the end - Eric's rebellious nature didn't quite seem to fit with his readiness to accept Peter's secrets and lies. But the book certainly hold my interest enough that I will be reading the next in the series.
June 24, 2011
Alright, here's my opinion, it was written for junior high school kids....I am getting bored to death. Sorry if after 15 pages and I still have strong desire to put it down forever, then it probably isn't my cup of tea.
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