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MetaWars #1
Trance
Kelly Meding’s war-ravaged Los Angeles is ground zero for the ultimate Meta human showdown in this sexy, action-packed new series.
Fifteen years ago, Teresa “Trance” West was a skilled telepath and a proud member of the Ranger Corps. But ever since the Rangers were inexplicably rendered powerless at the climax of the devastating Meta War, she’s bounced from one dead-end job to another. Now her powers have reappeared just as mysteriously as they vanished— only they’re completely transformed and more potent than ever. And they’re threatening to destroy her.
Trance heads to Los Angeles to track down the surviving Rangers and discover who restored her powers—and why—but a phantom enemy is determined to kill them before they can reassemble. As they dodge his deadly attacks and come to terms with their new role as heroes, Trance and the rest of the team set out to annihilate the sinister madman... only to discover their own powers are his greatest weapons.
Fifteen years ago, Teresa “Trance” West was a skilled telepath and a proud member of the Ranger Corps. But ever since the Rangers were inexplicably rendered powerless at the climax of the devastating Meta War, she’s bounced from one dead-end job to another. Now her powers have reappeared just as mysteriously as they vanished— only they’re completely transformed and more potent than ever. And they’re threatening to destroy her.
Trance heads to Los Angeles to track down the surviving Rangers and discover who restored her powers—and why—but a phantom enemy is determined to kill them before they can reassemble. As they dodge his deadly attacks and come to terms with their new role as heroes, Trance and the rest of the team set out to annihilate the sinister madman... only to discover their own powers are his greatest weapons.
418 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published October 25, 2011
22 people are currently reading
2362 people want to read
About the author
Kelly Meding
26 books691 followersAlso writes as Kelly Meade: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show...
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 165 reviews
January 6, 2016
Debut of another great series from Meding. There are some similarities but not so much that I felt like I was reading the same books with different names. I liked the main character. She was fallible but her self doubt and fears struggled against her increasing belief in herself as she grew stronger throughout the story. She cracked a lot of jokes but was aware that this was a defense mechanism. She also insult people all the time like broken heroines so often do in UF.
I loved her relationship with the love interest. They respected each other, treated each other well, and recognized one another's strengths. They were complete equals as people and he respected her lead when she was in charge. He was sensitive without being wimpy. (A couple of men cry in this book and it's appropriate and not unmanly at all.) They're relationship isn't as intense and possessive as in the Dreg City series and it's good. It's intimate enough and beautiful.
In general the book wasn't sexist or racist. Although there were not enough people of color, the ones that were there were powerful, brave and emotionally strong. The only annoyingly typical thing was that the people who had been in power previously, both good and bad, were both white men.
Themes of love, trust and redemption were prevalent and nothing was black and white. No one was 100% good and at one point the protagonist had appropriate sympathy for the only person who was 100% bad. I really like that way of thinking and it's a little unusual for traditional superhero stories. (I know that that is changing.)
That was fun, too, reading about ordinary people with extraordinary abilities. I am not big on superhero stories so I'm not the best judge but this felt fresh and original. I really felt these were regular people which I never quite felt with, say, X-men. I just don't get the costumes though. Why do most of them have to be so garish? I did like Trance's though. That I could get behind.
The only real problem I had was with where/how they originally imprisoned the bad guys. It just doesn't make sense to me. I also didn't like the explanation of why big cities were deserted.
I also hate that there weren't any good foster parents, only bad. A child has a hellish time in foster care even with the best foster parents; you can provide angst for a character from their foster care experiences without vilifying us. There are a lot of bad ones but there are a lot more good foster parents out there, people who open their homes to traumatized kids who act out in inappropriate ways. It's hard being a foster parent and most of us do it out of a desire to help, out of compassion.
Okay off my soap box.
Over all the world building worked for me. Again I liked how nothing was black and white throughout the course of the story. This was a good story and an excellent start to the series.
I loved her relationship with the love interest. They respected each other, treated each other well, and recognized one another's strengths. They were complete equals as people and he respected her lead when she was in charge. He was sensitive without being wimpy. (A couple of men cry in this book and it's appropriate and not unmanly at all.) They're relationship isn't as intense and possessive as in the Dreg City series and it's good. It's intimate enough and beautiful.
In general the book wasn't sexist or racist. Although there were not enough people of color, the ones that were there were powerful, brave and emotionally strong. The only annoyingly typical thing was that the people who had been in power previously, both good and bad, were both white men.
Themes of love, trust and redemption were prevalent and nothing was black and white. No one was 100% good and at one point the protagonist had appropriate sympathy for the only person who was 100% bad. I really like that way of thinking and it's a little unusual for traditional superhero stories. (I know that that is changing.)
That was fun, too, reading about ordinary people with extraordinary abilities. I am not big on superhero stories so I'm not the best judge but this felt fresh and original. I really felt these were regular people which I never quite felt with, say, X-men. I just don't get the costumes though. Why do most of them have to be so garish? I did like Trance's though. That I could get behind.
The only real problem I had was with where/how they originally imprisoned the bad guys. It just doesn't make sense to me. I also didn't like the explanation of why big cities were deserted.
I also hate that there weren't any good foster parents, only bad. A child has a hellish time in foster care even with the best foster parents; you can provide angst for a character from their foster care experiences without vilifying us. There are a lot of bad ones but there are a lot more good foster parents out there, people who open their homes to traumatized kids who act out in inappropriate ways. It's hard being a foster parent and most of us do it out of a desire to help, out of compassion.
Okay off my soap box.
Over all the world building worked for me. Again I liked how nothing was black and white throughout the course of the story. This was a good story and an excellent start to the series.
July 24, 2015
This was seriously cool urban fantasy.
It was essentially X-men, but I love superheroes so I really enjoyed it.
It was essentially X-men, but I love superheroes so I really enjoyed it.
October 21, 2011
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“Is Trance anything like her Dreg books?” That is the question I seem to be getting asked the most once people find out that I have read both works from both of Kelly Meding’s series. I thought I would start my review off with a little clarification.
If you have read Kelly’s Dreg City books you are probably going to go into reading this book with a certain level of expectation. I totally understand if you do since her Dreg books are made of awesome. But let me tell you this: In Trance, you witness Kelly’s extraordinary imagination, you catch a glimpse at her skills at developing characters that draw you in, you recognize her world building skills, you get sucked in by the story…but that’s pretty much where the similarities between her two series end. Do not expect this to be a Dreg-like world or a Dreg-like book. It’s not. Not even close. But honestly, you won’t miss it. Trance will take you on a brand new journey and you will not once think Dreg once you start. You will simply focus on the fact that Trance is a well written book by a talented author. It has super-heroes in it after all. How can you go wrong with that?
Okay, yes, you could go very wrong with that. But Kelly does it beautifully. While reading, I knew I was reading characters and events that were even more unlikely than vampire and wizards but I didn’t feel like I was taken to a place that was so out there, it was un-relatable.
You see, fifteen years ago, super heroes were the norm. People didn’t love it, but it was what it was. There were two distinct types of heroes. You had the Bains – those who would use their powers for naughty things, and you had the Ranger Corps – those who would use their powers to stop the Bains. Eventually, a massive and deadly war broke out between the two groups and the Rangers were on the verge of becoming extinct. Then suddenly, out of the blue, the world went black for all super heroes and their powers simply disappeared. Trance was only 10 when all of this happened. Now, fifteen years later, the heroes’ powers have unexpectedly returned. But Trance didn’t get her original powers like everyone else did. No, she got some messed up version of her grand-mothers powers. And the biggest baddest Bain is out to see all the Rangers killed. *da da duuuummmm*
I can’t say there is a character I didn’t enjoy. Truly. Teresa “Trance” West is fabulous. Thrust into the leader’s role, I found she handled herself wonderfully. She’s not used to being in charge. She has many doubts and second-guesses, but that just makes her a stronger character. She handles herself and the others very well. Overall I found her to be a well-written and well-rounded character. Then there’s Gage (yum) and Renee (she’s a hoot) and Ethan (cute) and William (your strong and silent one). I even enjoyed reading Seward, the medical guy at the Ranger’s facility. And the villain was just crazy! I loved how the villain was written in this book. How you think one thing then another and another until finally, you don’t know what to think. Then the truth comes out and you are left thinking ZOMG! Kelly always writes creepy and thorough villains. I never saw it coming but boy oh boy the suspense made me hate him/her more in the end.
Another thing I found to be well done was the world’s description. Thanks to the Meta war fifteen years prior, most of the American metropolises have been abandoned and destroyed. In the first chapter (and whoa…what a way to suck you into the book!) the war is at its peak and the final face-off is taking place in New York City. Trance is describing her surroundings and says that Gage once told her that the Empire State Building used to stand twice its current size. That is what I enjoy about Kelly’s descriptive process. Very visual and easy to understand and ‘see’. The pace was very good except I found the odd scene here and there near the beginning of the book felt a little long, but not enough to get in the way of my enjoying this read. Once you get past those scenes, it’s pretty much non-stop.
This book is so…cool. I can’t think of a better word to describe it. The world, even though you’ve seen similar in movies and comics, is riveting in print. Trance reads like a stand-alone book – you feel satisfied when you reach the end – but you want to read more because you want to stay with the characters a little longer. Trance is truly endearing and I can’t wait to read more about where her adventures take her.
4.5 stars
“Is Trance anything like her Dreg books?” That is the question I seem to be getting asked the most once people find out that I have read both works from both of Kelly Meding’s series. I thought I would start my review off with a little clarification.
If you have read Kelly’s Dreg City books you are probably going to go into reading this book with a certain level of expectation. I totally understand if you do since her Dreg books are made of awesome. But let me tell you this: In Trance, you witness Kelly’s extraordinary imagination, you catch a glimpse at her skills at developing characters that draw you in, you recognize her world building skills, you get sucked in by the story…but that’s pretty much where the similarities between her two series end. Do not expect this to be a Dreg-like world or a Dreg-like book. It’s not. Not even close. But honestly, you won’t miss it. Trance will take you on a brand new journey and you will not once think Dreg once you start. You will simply focus on the fact that Trance is a well written book by a talented author. It has super-heroes in it after all. How can you go wrong with that?
Okay, yes, you could go very wrong with that. But Kelly does it beautifully. While reading, I knew I was reading characters and events that were even more unlikely than vampire and wizards but I didn’t feel like I was taken to a place that was so out there, it was un-relatable.
You see, fifteen years ago, super heroes were the norm. People didn’t love it, but it was what it was. There were two distinct types of heroes. You had the Bains – those who would use their powers for naughty things, and you had the Ranger Corps – those who would use their powers to stop the Bains. Eventually, a massive and deadly war broke out between the two groups and the Rangers were on the verge of becoming extinct. Then suddenly, out of the blue, the world went black for all super heroes and their powers simply disappeared. Trance was only 10 when all of this happened. Now, fifteen years later, the heroes’ powers have unexpectedly returned. But Trance didn’t get her original powers like everyone else did. No, she got some messed up version of her grand-mothers powers. And the biggest baddest Bain is out to see all the Rangers killed. *da da duuuummmm*
I can’t say there is a character I didn’t enjoy. Truly. Teresa “Trance” West is fabulous. Thrust into the leader’s role, I found she handled herself wonderfully. She’s not used to being in charge. She has many doubts and second-guesses, but that just makes her a stronger character. She handles herself and the others very well. Overall I found her to be a well-written and well-rounded character. Then there’s Gage (yum) and Renee (she’s a hoot) and Ethan (cute) and William (your strong and silent one). I even enjoyed reading Seward, the medical guy at the Ranger’s facility. And the villain was just crazy! I loved how the villain was written in this book. How you think one thing then another and another until finally, you don’t know what to think. Then the truth comes out and you are left thinking ZOMG! Kelly always writes creepy and thorough villains. I never saw it coming but boy oh boy the suspense made me hate him/her more in the end.
Another thing I found to be well done was the world’s description. Thanks to the Meta war fifteen years prior, most of the American metropolises have been abandoned and destroyed. In the first chapter (and whoa…what a way to suck you into the book!) the war is at its peak and the final face-off is taking place in New York City. Trance is describing her surroundings and says that Gage once told her that the Empire State Building used to stand twice its current size. That is what I enjoy about Kelly’s descriptive process. Very visual and easy to understand and ‘see’. The pace was very good except I found the odd scene here and there near the beginning of the book felt a little long, but not enough to get in the way of my enjoying this read. Once you get past those scenes, it’s pretty much non-stop.
This book is so…cool. I can’t think of a better word to describe it. The world, even though you’ve seen similar in movies and comics, is riveting in print. Trance reads like a stand-alone book – you feel satisfied when you reach the end – but you want to read more because you want to stay with the characters a little longer. Trance is truly endearing and I can’t wait to read more about where her adventures take her.
4.5 stars
October 28, 2011
Reviewed by: Rabid Reads
I debated for a long time whether I should pass on this one or not. The post-war, sci-fi blurb had me leaning more towards not reading it. However, when I was presented with the opportunity to read it for free and after discussing its merits with a fellow blogger, I opted to give it a go. I'm happy to report that my time spent reading Trance was not wasted! This is the first book in Kelly Meding's promising new MetaWars series. Trance is like grown-up version of The Incredibles or a girlier version of X-Men. Small side note, if your favorite color happens to be purple you'll get an extra bonus from reading this book!
This novel kept me guessing until the very end. Every time I thought I knew who the phantom enemy was my theory was disproved. It wasn't until the final chapters that the culprit is revealed and it caught me completely off guard. Never once did I suspect this character as being the mastermind! Well played Kelly! Well played. Look at me starting my review off by talking about the ending. It could be worse I guess; at least I didn't give away any spoilers! Time to rewind a bit. The background story about the MetaWars is quite interesting. I liked the way that Meding develops her new universe. There's enough info provided so that readers have a good understanding of why things are the way they are without weighing down the story with too many details. The first novel of a series is always a balancing act between world building and intrigue. Kelly walks this thin line with ease and skill.
Teresa was a great choice as the lead character in Trance. It really felt like becoming a ranger was her true calling in life. She was lost without her powers and even then; the ones that she had as a child were mediocre and seemed to have caused her a lot of grief for not being able to hold her own among her peers. Teresa accepts her new powers and de facto leadership role with ease. Of course there were a few transitional bumps but overall it appears as though she's finally found her place in life.
Cipher is the man candy of this book. There always has to be at least one! I had a hard time understanding his distant nature at first but we learn more about his past as the story progresses and pieces start to click into place. He's just as messed-up as Trance but in different ways. I enjoyed watching their relationship progress. Both are walking on eggshells when it comes to love. Which is understandable given their histories but I liked seeing them knock down each others walls and learn to trust again. I don't have much to report in the nookie department but it's not non-existent. I always get asked about whether there are romp scenes in a book so I just wanted to get that one out of the way! There are! Not many but some. Quality over quantity, right?
The tone of this book is definitely not a happy one. After 15 years of peace the world is once again going to hell in a handbasket. However, Kelly lightens things up with sarcasm and humoristic dialogues. There's a whole slew of preternatural heroes and villains in this novel that I'm not going to cover in my review so make a note to discover them for yourself! Whether you're a fan of superheroes, Kelly Meding, Urban Fantasy or even just the color purple; Trance has something for everyone. Don't be fooled by the back blurb as I almost was. There's more to this book than meets the eye! My curiosity is peaked and I can't wait to explore more of the MetaWars world in Changeling due out sometime next summer.
I debated for a long time whether I should pass on this one or not. The post-war, sci-fi blurb had me leaning more towards not reading it. However, when I was presented with the opportunity to read it for free and after discussing its merits with a fellow blogger, I opted to give it a go. I'm happy to report that my time spent reading Trance was not wasted! This is the first book in Kelly Meding's promising new MetaWars series. Trance is like grown-up version of The Incredibles or a girlier version of X-Men. Small side note, if your favorite color happens to be purple you'll get an extra bonus from reading this book!
This novel kept me guessing until the very end. Every time I thought I knew who the phantom enemy was my theory was disproved. It wasn't until the final chapters that the culprit is revealed and it caught me completely off guard. Never once did I suspect this character as being the mastermind! Well played Kelly! Well played. Look at me starting my review off by talking about the ending. It could be worse I guess; at least I didn't give away any spoilers! Time to rewind a bit. The background story about the MetaWars is quite interesting. I liked the way that Meding develops her new universe. There's enough info provided so that readers have a good understanding of why things are the way they are without weighing down the story with too many details. The first novel of a series is always a balancing act between world building and intrigue. Kelly walks this thin line with ease and skill.
Teresa was a great choice as the lead character in Trance. It really felt like becoming a ranger was her true calling in life. She was lost without her powers and even then; the ones that she had as a child were mediocre and seemed to have caused her a lot of grief for not being able to hold her own among her peers. Teresa accepts her new powers and de facto leadership role with ease. Of course there were a few transitional bumps but overall it appears as though she's finally found her place in life.
Cipher is the man candy of this book. There always has to be at least one! I had a hard time understanding his distant nature at first but we learn more about his past as the story progresses and pieces start to click into place. He's just as messed-up as Trance but in different ways. I enjoyed watching their relationship progress. Both are walking on eggshells when it comes to love. Which is understandable given their histories but I liked seeing them knock down each others walls and learn to trust again. I don't have much to report in the nookie department but it's not non-existent. I always get asked about whether there are romp scenes in a book so I just wanted to get that one out of the way! There are! Not many but some. Quality over quantity, right?
The tone of this book is definitely not a happy one. After 15 years of peace the world is once again going to hell in a handbasket. However, Kelly lightens things up with sarcasm and humoristic dialogues. There's a whole slew of preternatural heroes and villains in this novel that I'm not going to cover in my review so make a note to discover them for yourself! Whether you're a fan of superheroes, Kelly Meding, Urban Fantasy or even just the color purple; Trance has something for everyone. Don't be fooled by the back blurb as I almost was. There's more to this book than meets the eye! My curiosity is peaked and I can't wait to explore more of the MetaWars world in Changeling due out sometime next summer.
November 10, 2011
Kelly Meding, known for her Dreg City urban fantasies, kicks off her new superhero-based series with Trance. The setting is the future of an alternate past and present. Metas (people with superpowers) were out in the open and known to all. The good guys were “Rangers” and the bad guys “Banes.” Then, during a violent showdown in a devastated Manhattan, all of the Metas lost their powers for reasons unknown. Public opinion had been souring on Metas anyway, and much of the country breathed a sigh of relief when they were depowered.
Trance begins during that battle. It’s a scary, nail-biting, heartbreaking opening. Teresa, a.k.a. Trance, is a teenager at the time. She and her friends, the children of the adult Rangers, are making a final stand against the Banes. Teresa sees several friends killed and, at the same time, begins to realize that the adults have lost and are dead. Then, something very strange happens…
The story picks up again with Trance a grown woman. She’s working two unpleasant jobs and feeling aimless — that is, until her powers inexplicably return. Except they’re the wrong powers. The other Metas, all of whom have led troubled lives, have also been repowered and begin to reassemble — but the bad guys have their powers back too.
Trance is a compelling read. It features a great character arc for Trance, who finds herself thrust into the position of “leader” and growing into the role. It’s poignant, with sympathetic characters killed off and leaving grief-stricken friends and lovers behind. And it’s twisty. Trance and the reader are never sure whom to trust: the villain is able to possess the Rangers and use their powers against each other; there may be a traitor at HQ; and Trance learns that the official history of the Rangers might not be precisely truthful. Oh, and there’s plenty of adrenaline-laced action and a sexy romantic subplot. The baddie’s dastardly scheme is a little too convoluted and ends in a monologue, but that almost seems archetypal for a supervillain.
Trance offers a good mix of emotional impact, mystery, and derring-do, and the superhero theme is still pretty fresh in urban fantasy. Metawars promises to be an exciting, original series.
Trance begins during that battle. It’s a scary, nail-biting, heartbreaking opening. Teresa, a.k.a. Trance, is a teenager at the time. She and her friends, the children of the adult Rangers, are making a final stand against the Banes. Teresa sees several friends killed and, at the same time, begins to realize that the adults have lost and are dead. Then, something very strange happens…
The story picks up again with Trance a grown woman. She’s working two unpleasant jobs and feeling aimless — that is, until her powers inexplicably return. Except they’re the wrong powers. The other Metas, all of whom have led troubled lives, have also been repowered and begin to reassemble — but the bad guys have their powers back too.
Trance is a compelling read. It features a great character arc for Trance, who finds herself thrust into the position of “leader” and growing into the role. It’s poignant, with sympathetic characters killed off and leaving grief-stricken friends and lovers behind. And it’s twisty. Trance and the reader are never sure whom to trust: the villain is able to possess the Rangers and use their powers against each other; there may be a traitor at HQ; and Trance learns that the official history of the Rangers might not be precisely truthful. Oh, and there’s plenty of adrenaline-laced action and a sexy romantic subplot. The baddie’s dastardly scheme is a little too convoluted and ends in a monologue, but that almost seems archetypal for a supervillain.
Trance offers a good mix of emotional impact, mystery, and derring-do, and the superhero theme is still pretty fresh in urban fantasy. Metawars promises to be an exciting, original series.
November 21, 2011
So, when I checked out this book, I thought "Oh, great...a X-Men type book." and then I started reading it and yep, it's a X-Men type book but a good X-Men type book.
Fifteen years ago, Metas (people with special powers) lost all their powers for unknown reasons and that ended the war between the Rangers (good guys) and Banes (bad guys). Trance was only a child when the war ended and like most of her peers was placed in several different foster homes. She's been struggling most of her life when her powers come back. The only problem is she gets her powers back and then some. Off to find answers, she heads to the old Ranger headquarters.
I really enjoyed this story but then I love Kelly Meding's writing. Trance is a wonderful character and it was great seeing her growth but I'm not sure how I feel about her being "all powerful". I did like seeing her vulnerability though. I really liked her and Gage together and it was nice that he was there for her no matter what. Think strong silent type. I can only imagine that it has to be hard for the prior leader of the group to sit back and take orders but Gage doesn't let it bother him.
There are several other characters that are really interesting and I liked all the inter relationships BUT what I did not like was getting to like certain characters and then having them killed off. Yes, there are a lot of deaths and injuries in this book, which is nonstop action. It makes you tired just reading it...and wanting to take a shower or two.
So let's get to the bad guy(s). My little mind was in a world of glee trying to figure it out. You will question everyone and then requestion them. I hate to admit that when it was revealed, I almost didn't believe it.
The ending wraps things up nicely and also sets things up for the next book. I can't wait.
Fifteen years ago, Metas (people with special powers) lost all their powers for unknown reasons and that ended the war between the Rangers (good guys) and Banes (bad guys). Trance was only a child when the war ended and like most of her peers was placed in several different foster homes. She's been struggling most of her life when her powers come back. The only problem is she gets her powers back and then some. Off to find answers, she heads to the old Ranger headquarters.
I really enjoyed this story but then I love Kelly Meding's writing. Trance is a wonderful character and it was great seeing her growth but I'm not sure how I feel about her being "all powerful". I did like seeing her vulnerability though. I really liked her and Gage together and it was nice that he was there for her no matter what. Think strong silent type. I can only imagine that it has to be hard for the prior leader of the group to sit back and take orders but Gage doesn't let it bother him.
There are several other characters that are really interesting and I liked all the inter relationships BUT what I did not like was getting to like certain characters and then having them killed off. Yes, there are a lot of deaths and injuries in this book, which is nonstop action. It makes you tired just reading it...and wanting to take a shower or two.
So let's get to the bad guy(s). My little mind was in a world of glee trying to figure it out. You will question everyone and then requestion them. I hate to admit that when it was revealed, I almost didn't believe it.
The ending wraps things up nicely and also sets things up for the next book. I can't wait.
December 31, 2011
First Impressions:
Ana: I approached Trance without any real expectations, having heard nothing about the book before and I picked it up on a whim based purely on the blurb and my desire to read a new UF series. I started reading it almost as soon as I bought the book and its opening chapter was super cool and gripping. Although the remainder of the book has its flaws and never exactly lives up the powerful promise of its opening act, Trance was a quick, fast-paced read and I enjoyed it greatly for what it is: popcorn reading of the highest order.
Thea: I’ve read one of Kelly Meding’s other UF novels Three Days to Dead and enjoyed it (though I’ve been shamefully lax on picking up the following books in that series). When I caught word of Trance, though, I instantly zeroed in on the fun cover and the ‘new mutants’ feel to the synopsis and instantly added it to my radar and wishlist. I went into Trance expecting a fun, diverting, action-packed superhero style Urban Fantasy read, and I’m happy to say that Kelly Meding delivers that experience in spades.
On The Plot:
Ana: Fifteen years ago, Teresa “Trance” West was a Meta human, a budding telepath, and a member of the Ranger Corps, the elite Superhero group. At least, until that terrible final day in the Meta War when she lost everything: her family, her friends and along with every Meta human in the world, her powers. Cue fifteen years later, Teresa is struggling to survive in a decaying world when all of a sudden, her powers reappear – only they are a completely different set of powers and much stronger than before. She decides to make her way to Los Angeles to try and meet other members of the Rangers – those who survived, that is – and eventually becomes their leader when a potent, dangerous enemy sets out to kill all the surviving Rangers.
Trance’s opening act is one of the most gripping openings I have read in a while. It shows us a world that has clearly gone to shit, with MetaHumans (heroes and villains) killing each other and caring nothing for the humans that get on their way and a bunch of untrained, very young kids as the sole remaining hope of the world as their parents and mentors die around them. That opening shows us Teresa as a kid and her friends trying hard to fight their enemies until eventually everybody loses their power. That is a very powerful scene and an extremely intriguing one at that, setting up the premise for the novel: WHY has everybody lost their powers? And more to the point, WHY have them all regained their powers 15 years later?
This means that Trance is at is best when it comes to its plot. Not only with regards to the aforementioned premise but also in terms of how these kids – now adults – have to find each other, regroup and relearn their powers in no time at all in order to save themselves from complete obliteration. Meanwhile, they also have to cope with the media, the fallout of their failures and their own internal politics. The ideas are all there and they are competently dealt with.
Having said that, the story might have been good and well executed but the book does have its flaws. Although I wouldn’t say that the overall plot was exactly predictable, the characters’ actions were. But more on that below.
Thea: I wholeheartedly agree – Trance is an action movie of a book, packed with explosions, superpowers, and nonstop forward momentum. I agree with Ana in that the book begins with a literal bang, as a renegade group of superheroes-in-training (kids ranging from 10 to 16) make a desperate flight across the ruins of Central Park, trying to survive the “Banes” (the bad Metas) that have destroyed the adult Rangers (the good Metas). And then, all of a sudden, everything goes gray and powers for child and adult, good and bad, alike are suddenly gone.
Fast-forward fifteen years later, and we see that life hasn’t been super kind to Teresa (codename Trance). And this is where the story starts playing with the ever-so-familiar UF tropes. Teresa is down on her luck, recently jobless, and utterly broke (I feel bad for UF heroines – they are always stuck in dead-end jobs, with troubled pasts, no future prospects, and inevitably are incredibly broke). When her powers come back with a twist – she has somehow received her grandmother’s superpowers as opposed to her former hypnosis powers – Teresa not only becomes incredibly powerful (the most powerful Meta…ever), but she also becomes leader of the defunct Ranger Corps as the remaining team – that is, the handful of children that survived Central Park and the Meta War – reassembles. I loved this vision of a future devastated by the actions of Metas and humans alike. The exploration of the political/PR aspect of being a superhero and the scifi dystopian type feel of a world so ravaged by physical and socio-economic destruction are detailed brilliantly, making the setting believable.
In terms of actual plotting, the main conflict of the story focuses on an old Big Bad Bane named Specter. Just as the Ranger Metas received their powers back, so too did the Banes, and Specter is the worst of the worst. With the ability to possess anyone in a weakened enough mind state, fighting Specter is very much like fighting a ghost – as he takes over the bodies of Teresa’s friends, she and her fellow Corps members are forced to kill the ones they love. No one is safe from Specter’s reach, and the beleaguered team must do what they can to stop him before they are all dead.
I loved this central conflict and the creation of a bad guy that is truly, deeply bad and horrifically powerful. There’s really nothing that Teresa and her team can do to stop Specter as he toys with them, killing off the team one by one. And yet… this is my biggest annoyance with the story. For all that I loved the tension and the action and the drama, it seems so silly that a villain the caliber of Specter wouldn’t simply possess and kill everyone in one fell swoop. Even when we are given explanation and motive for Specter in the book’s climactic scene, it doesn’t quite fit.1
Beyond this nitpick (and a heavy reliance on genre tropes)2 Trance is a fantastic novel that accomplishes everything it sets out to do in a plausible and entertaining way.
On The Characters:
Ana: There was something about the writing of the characters that never really clicked for me. Their actions followed very predictable patterns of heroism, for example, and most of them read like very superficial stand-ins for the usual superhero group. This is not an egregious flaw per se but coupled with the way that the emotional developments of the story never seemed to have taken root and we have a problem. For example: people died and were killed left and right but there was never a real sense of grief; people were falling in love without any real spark (in fact, I count Gage, the hero and main romantic interest, as one of the most boring characters ever). And so on and so forth. It also didn’t really ring true the way that everybody seemed super comfortable with regaining their powers and using them after years – even though in all fairness some of then struggled and it’s not like they had any choice in the matter – but it seems so easy the way they all fell into the same roles as 15 years before.
It is not like the characters weren’t likable, or heroic or cool – they were and I quite enjoyed them – especially Trance. But there was some serious lack of oomph which is the only thing that prevents the read from being a truly awesome one.
Thea: I have to agree with Ana here, too. If the plot aspects of the novel and the writing were steeped with genre tropes, even more so are the characters. As I’ve said before, Teresa is your basic everyday UF heroine. She’s had a troubled past, she works dead end jobs and has trouble making ends meet, she has mega Trust Issues because of the aforementioned troubled past, and thus she’s brash, hot-tempered, but really is protecting a heart of gold that someone is bound to notice despite her prickly exterior. (She’s also naturally gorgeous, though she doesn’t really think about appearances.) Sound familiar?
Right. That said, Teresa isn’t a bad heroine – I actually found myself caring for her and rooting for her, and who doesn’t love the pigheaded badass heroine from time to time? Even though she’s familiar, Teresa is sympathetic and I think the only character in this book with whom readers can form a solid connection. As Ana says, the rest are kind of…well, bland. Everyone follows the motions and acts heroically, Teresa included, but there is little true evaluation of actions and their consequences. Our Metas automatically do the right thing, and even the most morally ambiguous characters (like one of the federal Agents, for example) are chagrined when they should be and ridiculously forthcoming about their past wrongs once discovered.
The thing that really detracted from connection with the main cast, however, lies with the artifice that characterizes all reactions. From how cavalier everyone reacted to getting their powers back (and how masterful they were with their powers, automatically), to the lack of spark between the new lovers, everything felt like it was following the right sequences and patters, but without emotional resonance or…well, as Ana says, oomf. When we learn Gage’s story and his reason for being alive, I couldn’t muster up enough effort to truly care because it all seems a bit like a dress pattern – this emotional plea comes at the right point in the story so that our heroine’s relationship with him is not suffering, and everything is kept nice and tidy and uncomplicated. When characters would die, they’d barely register on the emotional scale because these deaths felt throwaway or like plot devices to move the story along to the next checkpoint. I want more messiness! More tension! I want to believe that my heroes are grappling with soul searching questions and identity and trust crises. Unfortunately, I felt like the main characters here in Trance were merely going through the motions.3
Final Thoughts, Observations & Rating:
Ana: The positive aspects of the plot makes Trance the kind of superhero story that I really enjoy to read, plus it is all very fast-paced and really fun. Despite ts flaws and lack of character oomphage, I really enjoyed this and can recommend it for fans of UF with superheroes. I will certainly be back for the sequel.
Thea: Word. I loved the worldbuilding and Kelly Meding’s visualization of this dystopic future society, just as I loved the thematic struggles that underly Trance‘s action-packed plot. While the characters definitely need some “oomphage” (Ana, I love this word!) and could use some differentiation from the many other UF hero casts out in the universe of fiction, I truly enjoyed this book and will absolutely be back for the sequel.
Ana: I approached Trance without any real expectations, having heard nothing about the book before and I picked it up on a whim based purely on the blurb and my desire to read a new UF series. I started reading it almost as soon as I bought the book and its opening chapter was super cool and gripping. Although the remainder of the book has its flaws and never exactly lives up the powerful promise of its opening act, Trance was a quick, fast-paced read and I enjoyed it greatly for what it is: popcorn reading of the highest order.
Thea: I’ve read one of Kelly Meding’s other UF novels Three Days to Dead and enjoyed it (though I’ve been shamefully lax on picking up the following books in that series). When I caught word of Trance, though, I instantly zeroed in on the fun cover and the ‘new mutants’ feel to the synopsis and instantly added it to my radar and wishlist. I went into Trance expecting a fun, diverting, action-packed superhero style Urban Fantasy read, and I’m happy to say that Kelly Meding delivers that experience in spades.
On The Plot:
Ana: Fifteen years ago, Teresa “Trance” West was a Meta human, a budding telepath, and a member of the Ranger Corps, the elite Superhero group. At least, until that terrible final day in the Meta War when she lost everything: her family, her friends and along with every Meta human in the world, her powers. Cue fifteen years later, Teresa is struggling to survive in a decaying world when all of a sudden, her powers reappear – only they are a completely different set of powers and much stronger than before. She decides to make her way to Los Angeles to try and meet other members of the Rangers – those who survived, that is – and eventually becomes their leader when a potent, dangerous enemy sets out to kill all the surviving Rangers.
Trance’s opening act is one of the most gripping openings I have read in a while. It shows us a world that has clearly gone to shit, with MetaHumans (heroes and villains) killing each other and caring nothing for the humans that get on their way and a bunch of untrained, very young kids as the sole remaining hope of the world as their parents and mentors die around them. That opening shows us Teresa as a kid and her friends trying hard to fight their enemies until eventually everybody loses their power. That is a very powerful scene and an extremely intriguing one at that, setting up the premise for the novel: WHY has everybody lost their powers? And more to the point, WHY have them all regained their powers 15 years later?
This means that Trance is at is best when it comes to its plot. Not only with regards to the aforementioned premise but also in terms of how these kids – now adults – have to find each other, regroup and relearn their powers in no time at all in order to save themselves from complete obliteration. Meanwhile, they also have to cope with the media, the fallout of their failures and their own internal politics. The ideas are all there and they are competently dealt with.
Having said that, the story might have been good and well executed but the book does have its flaws. Although I wouldn’t say that the overall plot was exactly predictable, the characters’ actions were. But more on that below.
Thea: I wholeheartedly agree – Trance is an action movie of a book, packed with explosions, superpowers, and nonstop forward momentum. I agree with Ana in that the book begins with a literal bang, as a renegade group of superheroes-in-training (kids ranging from 10 to 16) make a desperate flight across the ruins of Central Park, trying to survive the “Banes” (the bad Metas) that have destroyed the adult Rangers (the good Metas). And then, all of a sudden, everything goes gray and powers for child and adult, good and bad, alike are suddenly gone.
Fast-forward fifteen years later, and we see that life hasn’t been super kind to Teresa (codename Trance). And this is where the story starts playing with the ever-so-familiar UF tropes. Teresa is down on her luck, recently jobless, and utterly broke (I feel bad for UF heroines – they are always stuck in dead-end jobs, with troubled pasts, no future prospects, and inevitably are incredibly broke). When her powers come back with a twist – she has somehow received her grandmother’s superpowers as opposed to her former hypnosis powers – Teresa not only becomes incredibly powerful (the most powerful Meta…ever), but she also becomes leader of the defunct Ranger Corps as the remaining team – that is, the handful of children that survived Central Park and the Meta War – reassembles. I loved this vision of a future devastated by the actions of Metas and humans alike. The exploration of the political/PR aspect of being a superhero and the scifi dystopian type feel of a world so ravaged by physical and socio-economic destruction are detailed brilliantly, making the setting believable.
In terms of actual plotting, the main conflict of the story focuses on an old Big Bad Bane named Specter. Just as the Ranger Metas received their powers back, so too did the Banes, and Specter is the worst of the worst. With the ability to possess anyone in a weakened enough mind state, fighting Specter is very much like fighting a ghost – as he takes over the bodies of Teresa’s friends, she and her fellow Corps members are forced to kill the ones they love. No one is safe from Specter’s reach, and the beleaguered team must do what they can to stop him before they are all dead.
I loved this central conflict and the creation of a bad guy that is truly, deeply bad and horrifically powerful. There’s really nothing that Teresa and her team can do to stop Specter as he toys with them, killing off the team one by one. And yet… this is my biggest annoyance with the story. For all that I loved the tension and the action and the drama, it seems so silly that a villain the caliber of Specter wouldn’t simply possess and kill everyone in one fell swoop. Even when we are given explanation and motive for Specter in the book’s climactic scene, it doesn’t quite fit.1
Beyond this nitpick (and a heavy reliance on genre tropes)2 Trance is a fantastic novel that accomplishes everything it sets out to do in a plausible and entertaining way.
On The Characters:
Ana: There was something about the writing of the characters that never really clicked for me. Their actions followed very predictable patterns of heroism, for example, and most of them read like very superficial stand-ins for the usual superhero group. This is not an egregious flaw per se but coupled with the way that the emotional developments of the story never seemed to have taken root and we have a problem. For example: people died and were killed left and right but there was never a real sense of grief; people were falling in love without any real spark (in fact, I count Gage, the hero and main romantic interest, as one of the most boring characters ever). And so on and so forth. It also didn’t really ring true the way that everybody seemed super comfortable with regaining their powers and using them after years – even though in all fairness some of then struggled and it’s not like they had any choice in the matter – but it seems so easy the way they all fell into the same roles as 15 years before.
It is not like the characters weren’t likable, or heroic or cool – they were and I quite enjoyed them – especially Trance. But there was some serious lack of oomph which is the only thing that prevents the read from being a truly awesome one.
Thea: I have to agree with Ana here, too. If the plot aspects of the novel and the writing were steeped with genre tropes, even more so are the characters. As I’ve said before, Teresa is your basic everyday UF heroine. She’s had a troubled past, she works dead end jobs and has trouble making ends meet, she has mega Trust Issues because of the aforementioned troubled past, and thus she’s brash, hot-tempered, but really is protecting a heart of gold that someone is bound to notice despite her prickly exterior. (She’s also naturally gorgeous, though she doesn’t really think about appearances.) Sound familiar?
Right. That said, Teresa isn’t a bad heroine – I actually found myself caring for her and rooting for her, and who doesn’t love the pigheaded badass heroine from time to time? Even though she’s familiar, Teresa is sympathetic and I think the only character in this book with whom readers can form a solid connection. As Ana says, the rest are kind of…well, bland. Everyone follows the motions and acts heroically, Teresa included, but there is little true evaluation of actions and their consequences. Our Metas automatically do the right thing, and even the most morally ambiguous characters (like one of the federal Agents, for example) are chagrined when they should be and ridiculously forthcoming about their past wrongs once discovered.
The thing that really detracted from connection with the main cast, however, lies with the artifice that characterizes all reactions. From how cavalier everyone reacted to getting their powers back (and how masterful they were with their powers, automatically), to the lack of spark between the new lovers, everything felt like it was following the right sequences and patters, but without emotional resonance or…well, as Ana says, oomf. When we learn Gage’s story and his reason for being alive, I couldn’t muster up enough effort to truly care because it all seems a bit like a dress pattern – this emotional plea comes at the right point in the story so that our heroine’s relationship with him is not suffering, and everything is kept nice and tidy and uncomplicated. When characters would die, they’d barely register on the emotional scale because these deaths felt throwaway or like plot devices to move the story along to the next checkpoint. I want more messiness! More tension! I want to believe that my heroes are grappling with soul searching questions and identity and trust crises. Unfortunately, I felt like the main characters here in Trance were merely going through the motions.3
Final Thoughts, Observations & Rating:
Ana: The positive aspects of the plot makes Trance the kind of superhero story that I really enjoy to read, plus it is all very fast-paced and really fun. Despite ts flaws and lack of character oomphage, I really enjoyed this and can recommend it for fans of UF with superheroes. I will certainly be back for the sequel.
Thea: Word. I loved the worldbuilding and Kelly Meding’s visualization of this dystopic future society, just as I loved the thematic struggles that underly Trance‘s action-packed plot. While the characters definitely need some “oomphage” (Ana, I love this word!) and could use some differentiation from the many other UF hero casts out in the universe of fiction, I truly enjoyed this book and will absolutely be back for the sequel.
March 29, 2016
Well. I read the sample of this one and immediately picked it up. Unfortunately, to me, the book went downhill from the sample. Until the end. The end was good.
My biggest problem with this book was the main character. I never really connected with her - I didn't really care that much. And, I never really bought into her leading the group she became involved with - she just didn't seem like much of a leader - and several of the others didn't really seem like followers . . . so without that "buy-in", it was a hard book for me to read.
The book ended well. I enjoyed the way it tied everything up and the ending battle was interesting. It was just the middle where it bogged down for me. It ended well enough that I actually looked into reading the second in the series, but from reviews I read, the problems in this book do not seem to be resolved in the next. First books are sometimes hard to tell.
My biggest problem with this book was the main character. I never really connected with her - I didn't really care that much. And, I never really bought into her leading the group she became involved with - she just didn't seem like much of a leader - and several of the others didn't really seem like followers . . . so without that "buy-in", it was a hard book for me to read.
The book ended well. I enjoyed the way it tied everything up and the ending battle was interesting. It was just the middle where it bogged down for me. It ended well enough that I actually looked into reading the second in the series, but from reviews I read, the problems in this book do not seem to be resolved in the next. First books are sometimes hard to tell.
March 6, 2012
Review Courtesy of Dark Faerie Tales
Quick & Dirty: This superhero Urban Fantasy is complete with enough action and suspense to keep your attention.
Opening Sentence: The bronze man’s head was melting.
The Review:
Trance begins in the middle of a superhero battle between the Ranger Corps and the Banes. The Ranger Corps are basically the Avengers/Justice League, all the good Metas, while the Banes are all the evil Meta humans who have banded together to destroy the Rangers. Metas are humans with extraordinary powers. Teresa “Trance” West is only 10 years old and she is running for her life with a group of young Rangers in training. Teresa feels useless in this battle, in order for her powers of telepathy to work she has to get close to her target and look them in the eyes, but they are battling adults, ones with very strong powers and others who are not above using guns on the young group. Just when it seems like it is going to be a massacre, all Meta humans are stripped of their powers.
Fifteen years later, Teresa is living in Portland. She is hiding from her past and she is working three jobs that barely pay for her rent. Teresa has a quick temper and when she is fired from one of her jobs she is not sure what she will do next. Lucky for her the decision has been made for her, that night her Meta powers are returned to her, but not the same powers that were originally hers. Her hair, eyes and skin change color so she cannot hide who she is anymore. She decides to travel to Los Angeles, the original base for the Rangers to see if others have had their powers returned to them.
On her trip down the coast, Teresa unexpectedly runs into Gage “Cipher” McAllister, a hypersensitive Meta, whom she used to have a crush on as a kid. Teresa and Gage decide to team up and travel to L.A. together after being attacked by Spector, the leader of the Banes during the Meta War. Spector is one truly messed up guy, he wants to kill all Metas. He has a habit of body hopping. He can control other peoples’ minds and bodies. The only way to stop him is by killing the person he inhabits.
Once in L.A., Trance and Cipher meet up with other members of the Rangers that survived the war, which unfortunately is not very many. The survivors team up to track down more Metas and throw in a little superhero work on the side. Trance, once useless in battle now has more effective powers, is in charge of the only team of Rangers in the world. Spector is killing Trance’s teammates off one by one. Trance and her team try to learn the reason why their gifts returned while trying to survive Spector’s wrath.
Kelly Meding has created a sad and dangerous world in which the Metas live. The Meta War has devastated the United States. Major cities like St. Louis, Chicago, New York City and even L.A. have all been destroyed; rebuilding the cities has been a slow process in the fifteen years the Metas have lost their powers. Humans are wary of the Metas and have a love/hate relationship with them. Manhattan Island is a prison for the Banes that survived the war.
Trance is stronger than she thinks, in a tough world where her “friends” are dying all around her, she is their rock. She is a good character and I felt sorry for the situation she has been put through, but I had a hard time caring for her. I wasn’t really feeling her emotions, she had a few “woe is me” moments, but it was when she would get mad, it just kind of seemed to come out of nowhere. Her relationship with Gage was another reason I had a hard time with her character. I understood her problems with trust but there were a few moments she just came off as mean towards him. I loved the scene where Teresa and Gage step up their relationship, it was different and refreshing from what I’m used to, but with Teresa’s trust issues I’m surprised that scene even happened.
The battle at the beginning of the book is a little overwhelming at first. Kelly Meding introduces a bunch of characters in the heat of battle and it’s a little difficult to remember who is who. Then later as the survivors team back up, members are quickly killed off before you even get to know them. The deaths are essential to the storyline but the impact of the deaths doesn’t translate very well. As a bad guy, Spector, is about as bad as they get. He is able to kill people off without revealing himself or being nearby. I did enjoy the suspense around finding Spector.
As a whole, I enjoyed Trance. I love the X-Men and any chance I get to read about superheroes I try to take it. Trance has a few slow scenes that revolve around the world-building but as a first book in a new series the explanations help. I am eagerly anticipating the next book in the series, Changeling. I can’t wait to see how the characters move on from the events of Trance.
Notable Scene:
I nudged the dead woman’s hand with my bare toes. The third finger had two rings on it, one a very large (a probably fake) diamond. My first thought was to wonder how much a pawnbroker would give me for that ring. My second – and much more pressing – concern was about the man who had probably given the rings to her.
“Where’s the other guy?” I asked.
A looming shadow filled the door, still dressed in the same jeans and flannel. I looked up, right into a pair of yellow eyes and a sawed-off shotgun.
No time to duck, nowhere to go.
“Say hi to your father for me,” he sneered, his voice a queer blend of the man’s and someone else’s. Monstrous and terrifying.
Enraged, I clapped my hands together with no real idea what would happen, and he fired immediately after. The buckshot struck a haze of violet energy and ricocheted, like a thousand Ping-Pong balls. Blood and gore splattered the open doorway and walls.
The Metawars Series:
1. Trance
2. Changeling
FTC Advisory: Pocket Books provided me with a copy of Trance. No goody bags, sponsorships, “material connections,” or bribes were exchanged for my review.
Quick & Dirty: This superhero Urban Fantasy is complete with enough action and suspense to keep your attention.
Opening Sentence: The bronze man’s head was melting.
The Review:
Trance begins in the middle of a superhero battle between the Ranger Corps and the Banes. The Ranger Corps are basically the Avengers/Justice League, all the good Metas, while the Banes are all the evil Meta humans who have banded together to destroy the Rangers. Metas are humans with extraordinary powers. Teresa “Trance” West is only 10 years old and she is running for her life with a group of young Rangers in training. Teresa feels useless in this battle, in order for her powers of telepathy to work she has to get close to her target and look them in the eyes, but they are battling adults, ones with very strong powers and others who are not above using guns on the young group. Just when it seems like it is going to be a massacre, all Meta humans are stripped of their powers.
Fifteen years later, Teresa is living in Portland. She is hiding from her past and she is working three jobs that barely pay for her rent. Teresa has a quick temper and when she is fired from one of her jobs she is not sure what she will do next. Lucky for her the decision has been made for her, that night her Meta powers are returned to her, but not the same powers that were originally hers. Her hair, eyes and skin change color so she cannot hide who she is anymore. She decides to travel to Los Angeles, the original base for the Rangers to see if others have had their powers returned to them.
On her trip down the coast, Teresa unexpectedly runs into Gage “Cipher” McAllister, a hypersensitive Meta, whom she used to have a crush on as a kid. Teresa and Gage decide to team up and travel to L.A. together after being attacked by Spector, the leader of the Banes during the Meta War. Spector is one truly messed up guy, he wants to kill all Metas. He has a habit of body hopping. He can control other peoples’ minds and bodies. The only way to stop him is by killing the person he inhabits.
Once in L.A., Trance and Cipher meet up with other members of the Rangers that survived the war, which unfortunately is not very many. The survivors team up to track down more Metas and throw in a little superhero work on the side. Trance, once useless in battle now has more effective powers, is in charge of the only team of Rangers in the world. Spector is killing Trance’s teammates off one by one. Trance and her team try to learn the reason why their gifts returned while trying to survive Spector’s wrath.
Kelly Meding has created a sad and dangerous world in which the Metas live. The Meta War has devastated the United States. Major cities like St. Louis, Chicago, New York City and even L.A. have all been destroyed; rebuilding the cities has been a slow process in the fifteen years the Metas have lost their powers. Humans are wary of the Metas and have a love/hate relationship with them. Manhattan Island is a prison for the Banes that survived the war.
Trance is stronger than she thinks, in a tough world where her “friends” are dying all around her, she is their rock. She is a good character and I felt sorry for the situation she has been put through, but I had a hard time caring for her. I wasn’t really feeling her emotions, she had a few “woe is me” moments, but it was when she would get mad, it just kind of seemed to come out of nowhere. Her relationship with Gage was another reason I had a hard time with her character. I understood her problems with trust but there were a few moments she just came off as mean towards him. I loved the scene where Teresa and Gage step up their relationship, it was different and refreshing from what I’m used to, but with Teresa’s trust issues I’m surprised that scene even happened.
The battle at the beginning of the book is a little overwhelming at first. Kelly Meding introduces a bunch of characters in the heat of battle and it’s a little difficult to remember who is who. Then later as the survivors team back up, members are quickly killed off before you even get to know them. The deaths are essential to the storyline but the impact of the deaths doesn’t translate very well. As a bad guy, Spector, is about as bad as they get. He is able to kill people off without revealing himself or being nearby. I did enjoy the suspense around finding Spector.
As a whole, I enjoyed Trance. I love the X-Men and any chance I get to read about superheroes I try to take it. Trance has a few slow scenes that revolve around the world-building but as a first book in a new series the explanations help. I am eagerly anticipating the next book in the series, Changeling. I can’t wait to see how the characters move on from the events of Trance.
Notable Scene:
I nudged the dead woman’s hand with my bare toes. The third finger had two rings on it, one a very large (a probably fake) diamond. My first thought was to wonder how much a pawnbroker would give me for that ring. My second – and much more pressing – concern was about the man who had probably given the rings to her.
“Where’s the other guy?” I asked.
A looming shadow filled the door, still dressed in the same jeans and flannel. I looked up, right into a pair of yellow eyes and a sawed-off shotgun.
No time to duck, nowhere to go.
“Say hi to your father for me,” he sneered, his voice a queer blend of the man’s and someone else’s. Monstrous and terrifying.
Enraged, I clapped my hands together with no real idea what would happen, and he fired immediately after. The buckshot struck a haze of violet energy and ricocheted, like a thousand Ping-Pong balls. Blood and gore splattered the open doorway and walls.
The Metawars Series:
1. Trance
2. Changeling
FTC Advisory: Pocket Books provided me with a copy of Trance. No goody bags, sponsorships, “material connections,” or bribes were exchanged for my review.
August 20, 2012
Boy, Kelly Meding sure does love to kill her characters. Seriously, no one was safe in this action packed Urban Fantasy that kept me guessing all the way to the very end.
The story centers on the title character, Trance. She was born a Meta, a human with super-powers. She trained as a child to become a Ranger --one of the "good guys" who protected the world from the Banes (Metas who would use their powers for evil.) When she was only 10, nearly all of the Rangers were wiped out in a brutal war with the enemy. She and a handful of other children were the only Rangers who survived. But somehow, they lost their powers that day. The kids who were once a team, were separated and placed into the foster system to grow up as "regular" kids.
15 years later, Trance is barely scraping by. She's an ex-con. She's working three dead-end jobs and she can barely keep a roof over her head. Then, out of nowhere, her powers return. Scratch that. She gets all new, super-charged, bad-ass powers that made her old abilities look like child's play. Trance realizes that if her powers are back, it stands to reason that the other Metas are probably charging up too... that includes the Banes imprisoned in New York all these years. She sets out to find her old team --and doesn't get far before the old Bane leader attacks.
Trance survives, but not everyone is as lucky. The villain is picking off the team, one by one. By the time they all get together, only half are left alive. Then, it's a race to see if they can track down the Big Bad before he manages to kill them all. I did say that a lot of people die in this book, right?
I liked the story a lot. The characters were interesting and well-fleshed out. The story was unpredictable and frankly, I had no idea who the villain was until Meding's big reveal. And then, it made total sense. The world-building was fantastic and had kind-of a Watchmen-esque feel to it. But it was no copycat.
There is a romance too. (*sigh*) Gage, one of Trance's fellow Rangers, has a connection with her from the very beginning. Despite their emotional baggage, the spark turns into an all out flame. And honestly, I spent the whole second half of the book in fear that Meding would kill him off. (I won't tell you if she did.) I will tell you that we get a bit of sexy time which provided some much-needed distraction from the barrage of action.
The relationship moves a bit fast. In fact, if I have one complaint, it's that the whole story moves a bit fast. I think the events all manage to take place inside of a week or so and it's a lot crammed into a very small window of time. I guess the frenetic pace adds something to already overwhelming nature of what's happening to Trance, but drawing it out a little would have made her personal growth, as a woman and a leader, more believable. Ditto for the relationship between her and Gage, and the one between William and Renee.
Overall, though, I enjoyed the story. I can't wait to jump into book 2, though, people have already told me that the shocks keep on coming. I'm scared.
The story centers on the title character, Trance. She was born a Meta, a human with super-powers. She trained as a child to become a Ranger --one of the "good guys" who protected the world from the Banes (Metas who would use their powers for evil.) When she was only 10, nearly all of the Rangers were wiped out in a brutal war with the enemy. She and a handful of other children were the only Rangers who survived. But somehow, they lost their powers that day. The kids who were once a team, were separated and placed into the foster system to grow up as "regular" kids.
15 years later, Trance is barely scraping by. She's an ex-con. She's working three dead-end jobs and she can barely keep a roof over her head. Then, out of nowhere, her powers return. Scratch that. She gets all new, super-charged, bad-ass powers that made her old abilities look like child's play. Trance realizes that if her powers are back, it stands to reason that the other Metas are probably charging up too... that includes the Banes imprisoned in New York all these years. She sets out to find her old team --and doesn't get far before the old Bane leader attacks.
Trance survives, but not everyone is as lucky. The villain is picking off the team, one by one. By the time they all get together, only half are left alive. Then, it's a race to see if they can track down the Big Bad before he manages to kill them all. I did say that a lot of people die in this book, right?
I liked the story a lot. The characters were interesting and well-fleshed out. The story was unpredictable and frankly, I had no idea who the villain was until Meding's big reveal. And then, it made total sense. The world-building was fantastic and had kind-of a Watchmen-esque feel to it. But it was no copycat.
There is a romance too. (*sigh*) Gage, one of Trance's fellow Rangers, has a connection with her from the very beginning. Despite their emotional baggage, the spark turns into an all out flame. And honestly, I spent the whole second half of the book in fear that Meding would kill him off. (I won't tell you if she did.) I will tell you that we get a bit of sexy time which provided some much-needed distraction from the barrage of action.
The relationship moves a bit fast. In fact, if I have one complaint, it's that the whole story moves a bit fast. I think the events all manage to take place inside of a week or so and it's a lot crammed into a very small window of time. I guess the frenetic pace adds something to already overwhelming nature of what's happening to Trance, but drawing it out a little would have made her personal growth, as a woman and a leader, more believable. Ditto for the relationship between her and Gage, and the one between William and Renee.
Overall, though, I enjoyed the story. I can't wait to jump into book 2, though, people have already told me that the shocks keep on coming. I'm scared.
December 11, 2011
Fifteen years ago, a war between the Metas and the Banes, two supernaturally talented factions, was rapidly destroying the States and the world in its crossfire. When the Banes (the bad guys) were about to win, killing the last Meta children alive, they all suddenly -and painfully- lost their abilities. The Banes were locked up in a mega prison located on Manhattan island and the Meta kids were spread across the States into foster families. The last fifteen years have been really hard on Trance, juggling three job to be able to pay rent and eat, her love life’s a real joke and the future seems no better. Everything changes though when her powers, well the wrong ones actually!, comes back to her. Not knowing what to do, she heads back to the old control base, to meet with her new destiny.
The MetaWars series really remind me of a mix between Xmen & Heroes (the TV show) and as I enjoyed both, I was right in my element with this novel. Kelly Meding created a post-war world where people grew to fear the supernaturally talented beings, even though the Meta helped with rescue mission and such in the past. When they all regain their powers and one of the Banes sets on a quest to kill all the remaining Metas, consequences affecting humans won’t go unnoticed and the big bad needs to be stopped before he kills all the good guys one by one.
It was interesting to see the Metas struggle with their long lost powers and try their best to do the right thing in a battle they barely have any experience of. Trance found herself in leadership position and it’s no an easy task. Worries and insecurities are eating her up, failure after failure doesn’t help her case but this dreadful situation puts her in a position to grow. Gage, Trance’s sidekick and love interest, was extremely interesting. He supports Trance everyway he can, yet he won’t let her get close. The shuts her out, hiding his past and his feelings, and their tug-of-war relationship added to the tension in the novel.
True to every superhero story, the plot moved forward in a goal to eliminate the big bad but the long chain of defeat, surprising twist and turns and unlikely allies, made-up for an interesting chase. The end was like a domino chain effect, everything going down in rapid succession with our heroes lagging to catch up, culminating with an extremely surprising reveal of the mysterious bad guy (who’s identity/location was unknown the whole novel).
This Superhero story is a nice stray from the traditional Urban Fantasy path and even though it won’t make my top 10 favorite series ever, it is a great debut to a new series and I’m looking forward to the second installment, Changeling. Action-packed with just the right amount of romance, Trance will please the superheroes lovers out there!
The MetaWars series really remind me of a mix between Xmen & Heroes (the TV show) and as I enjoyed both, I was right in my element with this novel. Kelly Meding created a post-war world where people grew to fear the supernaturally talented beings, even though the Meta helped with rescue mission and such in the past. When they all regain their powers and one of the Banes sets on a quest to kill all the remaining Metas, consequences affecting humans won’t go unnoticed and the big bad needs to be stopped before he kills all the good guys one by one.
It was interesting to see the Metas struggle with their long lost powers and try their best to do the right thing in a battle they barely have any experience of. Trance found herself in leadership position and it’s no an easy task. Worries and insecurities are eating her up, failure after failure doesn’t help her case but this dreadful situation puts her in a position to grow. Gage, Trance’s sidekick and love interest, was extremely interesting. He supports Trance everyway he can, yet he won’t let her get close. The shuts her out, hiding his past and his feelings, and their tug-of-war relationship added to the tension in the novel.
True to every superhero story, the plot moved forward in a goal to eliminate the big bad but the long chain of defeat, surprising twist and turns and unlikely allies, made-up for an interesting chase. The end was like a domino chain effect, everything going down in rapid succession with our heroes lagging to catch up, culminating with an extremely surprising reveal of the mysterious bad guy (who’s identity/location was unknown the whole novel).
This Superhero story is a nice stray from the traditional Urban Fantasy path and even though it won’t make my top 10 favorite series ever, it is a great debut to a new series and I’m looking forward to the second installment, Changeling. Action-packed with just the right amount of romance, Trance will please the superheroes lovers out there!
November 29, 2011
Trance by Kelly Meding has an awesome opener:
The bronze man’s head was melting. It oozed fat splats of liquid metal and swirled down the front of his old-fashioned suit jacket to puddle at his feet. Some of it hit the bronze duck below him, adding layers of new metal that mutated it into a nightmarish goose.
A man’s head is melting? A nightmarish goose? Consider me intrigued. The beginning of Trance definitely reeled me in very quickly – it was easy to start caring about Teresa West, code name Trace. Yes – I said code name y’all. In the coolest, X-Men, superhero way possible. Teresa and the friends she grew up with (but was eventually separated from) reunite when their powers return to them after having disappeared for over a decade. Enter danger and chaos.
So, obviously I think several things about Trance are pretty awesome. Unfortunately…I had a lot of problems with it too. While I enjoyed all the characters’ personalities, once they start communicating with each other things go downhill fast. I thought the dialogue was awkward and I never felt any actual connections or emotions (platonic or romantic). Teresa quickly develops a relationship with Gage, and I did want them to be together – but I never got the vibes. I just could not find a way to get into the writing style.
This is Kelly Meding’s second series, so I was definitely expecting a lot more skill from her on those counts. Seriously disappointing, definitely held the book back. Of course, it is possible that my failure to connect with her writing is some personal preference versus an actual lack of writing ability on her part.
Plus…they are all supposed to be mid-20s to early-30s. I’m not buying it. I know several years of limbo between childhood and the time of the story was necessary for the plot line, but I still think they should have come back together as teenagers. Mainly because that is exactly what they acted like. Besides the sexytimes, I never felt like any of the characters acted like adults. Plenty of YA books bring the sexytimes though, so I really think this book would have been executed more successfully as a young adult novel.
The easiest way to explain my feelings for Trance is to just say that the plot and synopsis are majorly cool but the writing execution and lack of characterization work like an anchor, keeping it from being a really notable read. Definitely makes me wary of picking up anything Kelly Meding writes in the future.
I am curious to know if my thoughts about the writing are shared by anyone else – so if you’ve read this, let me know what you think!
The bronze man’s head was melting. It oozed fat splats of liquid metal and swirled down the front of his old-fashioned suit jacket to puddle at his feet. Some of it hit the bronze duck below him, adding layers of new metal that mutated it into a nightmarish goose.
A man’s head is melting? A nightmarish goose? Consider me intrigued. The beginning of Trance definitely reeled me in very quickly – it was easy to start caring about Teresa West, code name Trace. Yes – I said code name y’all. In the coolest, X-Men, superhero way possible. Teresa and the friends she grew up with (but was eventually separated from) reunite when their powers return to them after having disappeared for over a decade. Enter danger and chaos.
So, obviously I think several things about Trance are pretty awesome. Unfortunately…I had a lot of problems with it too. While I enjoyed all the characters’ personalities, once they start communicating with each other things go downhill fast. I thought the dialogue was awkward and I never felt any actual connections or emotions (platonic or romantic). Teresa quickly develops a relationship with Gage, and I did want them to be together – but I never got the vibes. I just could not find a way to get into the writing style.
This is Kelly Meding’s second series, so I was definitely expecting a lot more skill from her on those counts. Seriously disappointing, definitely held the book back. Of course, it is possible that my failure to connect with her writing is some personal preference versus an actual lack of writing ability on her part.
Plus…they are all supposed to be mid-20s to early-30s. I’m not buying it. I know several years of limbo between childhood and the time of the story was necessary for the plot line, but I still think they should have come back together as teenagers. Mainly because that is exactly what they acted like. Besides the sexytimes, I never felt like any of the characters acted like adults. Plenty of YA books bring the sexytimes though, so I really think this book would have been executed more successfully as a young adult novel.
The easiest way to explain my feelings for Trance is to just say that the plot and synopsis are majorly cool but the writing execution and lack of characterization work like an anchor, keeping it from being a really notable read. Definitely makes me wary of picking up anything Kelly Meding writes in the future.
I am curious to know if my thoughts about the writing are shared by anyone else – so if you’ve read this, let me know what you think!
November 2, 2011
This is a Quickie Review. For the full review, please visit The Romanceaholic.com.
Expected Release Date: October 25, 2011 (Available Now!)
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Imprint: Pocket Books
Author’s Website: http://www.kellymeding.com/
My Source for This Book: GalleyGrab
Part of a Series: Yes, Book 1, MetaWars
Series Best Read In Order: N/A
Steam Level: Steamy
Channeling the same spirit behind the popular X-Men universe with subtle nods to Disney's The Incredibles, this first installment into the MetaWars series nevertheless sucked me in from the opening salvo and spit me out much later, emotionally battered but ultimately incredibly satisfied with the ride I'd just taken.
Trance was a great leading character for the story, with her stubbornness and vulnerabilities blending to create an imperfect heroine who made plenty of mistakes but ultimately rallied to come through when it was really needed. Her relationship with Cipher, while not really taking a front seat in the story, was a great balance to all of the adrenaline inducing action, and the rest of the characters did a beautiful job of balancing out the team as a whole.
The mystery of the villain was well done, despite the fact I figured it out fairly early, and even without that, each individual confrontation was incredibly exciting, with no indication of whether or not all of the characters would make it out alive.
While I did find the confrontations to be overwhelming at times, I am still greatly looking forward to the sequel, Changeling, expected out summer of 2o12.
4/5 Stars.
Expected Release Date: October 25, 2011 (Available Now!)
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Imprint: Pocket Books
Author’s Website: http://www.kellymeding.com/
My Source for This Book: GalleyGrab
Part of a Series: Yes, Book 1, MetaWars
Series Best Read In Order: N/A
Steam Level: Steamy
Channeling the same spirit behind the popular X-Men universe with subtle nods to Disney's The Incredibles, this first installment into the MetaWars series nevertheless sucked me in from the opening salvo and spit me out much later, emotionally battered but ultimately incredibly satisfied with the ride I'd just taken.
Trance was a great leading character for the story, with her stubbornness and vulnerabilities blending to create an imperfect heroine who made plenty of mistakes but ultimately rallied to come through when it was really needed. Her relationship with Cipher, while not really taking a front seat in the story, was a great balance to all of the adrenaline inducing action, and the rest of the characters did a beautiful job of balancing out the team as a whole.
The mystery of the villain was well done, despite the fact I figured it out fairly early, and even without that, each individual confrontation was incredibly exciting, with no indication of whether or not all of the characters would make it out alive.
While I did find the confrontations to be overwhelming at times, I am still greatly looking forward to the sequel, Changeling, expected out summer of 2o12.
4/5 Stars.
November 12, 2011
The story opens with our main heroine, Teresa (or Trance), along with her friends, who were still bunch of kids, trying to escape the bad guys when suddenly their power disappears. Then fast forward to 15-years-later, when they all get their power back. Unfortunately, the bad guy is also return and still plans to kill all of them.
Think of X-Men, people :). Yes, a bunch of man/woman with supernatural talents, including hypnotize and alter thougts, enhanced five senses, shapeshifting, manipulating wind, superstrength, and flexible muscle, fighting against one bad man with mission to kill, while possessing other people to do so. Oh, they have cool names too (which describe their power).
I totally think this one is FUN and rather light compared to her Dreg City series. Of course, there is casualty -- and I feel so sad when one of the characters meet demise, especially when this character is introduced from the beginning ... but there is no torture found (though yes, there is mind control) and there are some humor added with romance and that sense of "comrade", you know? It's fast-paced and full of action too. Again, like X-Men :p
I definitely want to know what will the next book be. Especially since
Think of X-Men, people :). Yes, a bunch of man/woman with supernatural talents, including hypnotize and alter thougts, enhanced five senses, shapeshifting, manipulating wind, superstrength, and flexible muscle, fighting against one bad man with mission to kill, while possessing other people to do so. Oh, they have cool names too (which describe their power).
I totally think this one is FUN and rather light compared to her Dreg City series. Of course, there is casualty -- and I feel so sad when one of the characters meet demise, especially when this character is introduced from the beginning ... but there is no torture found (though yes, there is mind control) and there are some humor added with romance and that sense of "comrade", you know? It's fast-paced and full of action too. Again, like X-Men :p
I definitely want to know what will the next book be. Especially since
June 13, 2013
Kelly Meding, known for her DREG CITY urban fantasies, kicks off her new superhero-based series with Trance. The setting is the future of an alternate past and present. Metas (people with superpowers) were out in the open and known to all. The good guys were “Rangers” and the bad guys “Banes.” Then, during a violent showdown in a devastated Manhattan, all of the Metas lost their powers for reasons unknown. Public opinion had been souring on Metas anyway, and much of the country breathed a sigh of relief when they were depowered.
Trance begins during that battle. It’s a scary, nail-biting, heartbreaking opening. Teresa, a.k.a. Trance, is a teenager at the time. She and her friends, the children of the adult Rangers, are making a final stand against the Banes. Teresa sees several friends killed and, at the same time... Read More:
http://www.fantasyliterature.com/revi...
Trance begins during that battle. It’s a scary, nail-biting, heartbreaking opening. Teresa, a.k.a. Trance, is a teenager at the time. She and her friends, the children of the adult Rangers, are making a final stand against the Banes. Teresa sees several friends killed and, at the same time... Read More:
http://www.fantasyliterature.com/revi...
November 3, 2011
Want to read a light action novel about "superheroes" who stand around discussing their emotional hang-ups? Then Trance is the book for you.
Full review to come .... maybe.
Full review to come .... maybe.
November 10, 2011
Plot: 5 Stars
I love a good urban fantasy that mixes in superheroes and superpowers instead of the paranormal. They only comes around every once and a while, and I've been waiting for a great one like this since I read Black and White by Jackie Kessler & Caitlin Kittredge. The powers that the characters had were very interesting, and I really enjoyed how they often had physical characteristics to match. I also really loved the codenames that the author came up with. Codenames are something that could easily become corny or cliche, but the author really made them fit each character and his or her powers. I also loved how the author wove the history of the MetaWars into the novel. It never felt like a history lesson. Instead, little pieces were brought out just when the reader needed them. And the twists and turns in this novel were epic. I was completely flaberghasted to find out who the bad guy was at the end. I totally didn't see it coming, and I totally can't believe the author went there.
Pace: 4.5 Stars
This novel started out really strong and reeled me right in. The first chapter acted kinda like a prologue, giving the reader a glimpse into the past when the MetaWars originally ended. It was great to see Trance as a child, using her powers to help the other kids as they fought for their lives. There were a few moments that seemed a bit repetitive throughout the novel. There were only so many times the remaining Meta humans could be attacked before you started to see the next attack coming. But even if I had a feeling something bad was going to happen, I was still completely shocked by what actually happened. Once the group started making a bit more progress in finding Spectre, the pace picked up and it was non-stop action until the very end.
Characters: 5 Stars
After the MetaWars, the kids were left without powers and shipped across the country to start over with new families. Many didn't have the greatest times, although some could blend in better than others. When their powers unexpected return, these kids that have now grown up are thrown for a loop but now have a sense of purpose. Trance kinda falls into a leadership position as the Meta humans make their way back to headquarters in LA. She wasn't always comfortable with the position, but she did what needed to be done. Gage was there to back her up every step of the way. I really liked how the two of them interacted throughout the novel. They had a past together as kids and just returned powers to bond over, but it was almost like they were meeting for the first time. The author did a great job of reintroducing the Meta humans to each other and allowing them to bond throughout the chaos.
Cover: 5 Stars
My favorite part of this cover is the orange title, and how it stands out against the purple. The two colors stood out against each other without clashing. The purple was a great choice for the cover considering Trance has natural purple streaks in her hair, and the color starts to take over more of her body after she regains her powers. Normally, I'd want the cover model to keep her natural colors, instead of blending in with such a monochromatic color scheme, but this time it fits the plot perfectly. I also really loved the glowing ball of energy in the cover model's hand. Not only does it give you a superhero/superpower vibe, it's also a power that Trance has. The skyscrapers in the background were a great touch, considering the majority of the novel takes place in Los Angeles.
Overall: 5 Stars
Disclosure: I received an ARC of this novel for review from Pocket Books.
I love a good urban fantasy that mixes in superheroes and superpowers instead of the paranormal. They only comes around every once and a while, and I've been waiting for a great one like this since I read Black and White by Jackie Kessler & Caitlin Kittredge. The powers that the characters had were very interesting, and I really enjoyed how they often had physical characteristics to match. I also really loved the codenames that the author came up with. Codenames are something that could easily become corny or cliche, but the author really made them fit each character and his or her powers. I also loved how the author wove the history of the MetaWars into the novel. It never felt like a history lesson. Instead, little pieces were brought out just when the reader needed them. And the twists and turns in this novel were epic. I was completely flaberghasted to find out who the bad guy was at the end. I totally didn't see it coming, and I totally can't believe the author went there.
Pace: 4.5 Stars
This novel started out really strong and reeled me right in. The first chapter acted kinda like a prologue, giving the reader a glimpse into the past when the MetaWars originally ended. It was great to see Trance as a child, using her powers to help the other kids as they fought for their lives. There were a few moments that seemed a bit repetitive throughout the novel. There were only so many times the remaining Meta humans could be attacked before you started to see the next attack coming. But even if I had a feeling something bad was going to happen, I was still completely shocked by what actually happened. Once the group started making a bit more progress in finding Spectre, the pace picked up and it was non-stop action until the very end.
Characters: 5 Stars
After the MetaWars, the kids were left without powers and shipped across the country to start over with new families. Many didn't have the greatest times, although some could blend in better than others. When their powers unexpected return, these kids that have now grown up are thrown for a loop but now have a sense of purpose. Trance kinda falls into a leadership position as the Meta humans make their way back to headquarters in LA. She wasn't always comfortable with the position, but she did what needed to be done. Gage was there to back her up every step of the way. I really liked how the two of them interacted throughout the novel. They had a past together as kids and just returned powers to bond over, but it was almost like they were meeting for the first time. The author did a great job of reintroducing the Meta humans to each other and allowing them to bond throughout the chaos.
Cover: 5 Stars
My favorite part of this cover is the orange title, and how it stands out against the purple. The two colors stood out against each other without clashing. The purple was a great choice for the cover considering Trance has natural purple streaks in her hair, and the color starts to take over more of her body after she regains her powers. Normally, I'd want the cover model to keep her natural colors, instead of blending in with such a monochromatic color scheme, but this time it fits the plot perfectly. I also really loved the glowing ball of energy in the cover model's hand. Not only does it give you a superhero/superpower vibe, it's also a power that Trance has. The skyscrapers in the background were a great touch, considering the majority of the novel takes place in Los Angeles.
Overall: 5 Stars
Disclosure: I received an ARC of this novel for review from Pocket Books.
October 22, 2011
Review courtesy of All Things Urban Fantasy
Supernatural superheroes dominate Kelly Medding’s new MetaWars urban fantasy series. In TRANCE, we meet the next (and possibly last) generation of telekinetics, telepaths, elemental wielders, shape shifters and all other manor of superheroes. The world has turned its back on Metas after a war between the heroes (Rangers) and the villains (Banes) destroyed major cities all over the world in their fight for power.
I loved the complete break from traditional urban fantasy mythology that TRANCE introduced. There is a real X-Men/The Incredibles vibe to this story that really worked. Trance was only a child when the war left her orphaned and alone and no longer in possession of her trivial ability. She grew up in foster care and has made a series of poor choices as an adult. I admired her practicality and doggedness when it came to her life and doing what she needed to survive. She never got caught up in pity parties or wasted time wishing her life had been different. These are the traits that attracted another one of Meding’s trademark beta males to Trance. Gage is the first Meta Trance comes across when the war starts up again and the Rangers are recalled, and is quick to let Trance lead when it is discovered that she has a newly inherited and extremely formidable power. I’m coming around to beta males in general, but I still found myself shaking my head at the way Gage meekly responded to Trance when they fought. I wanted him to have a bit more bite.
I also thought the middle dragged a bit with action scene after action scene separated by Trance talking to a friend about the responsibilities of being a leader and her guilt over the losses she felt responsible for. It just felt like the same scene repeated over and over. Fortunately, the end of the book picked up significantly both with the romance and plot. Trance and the other Metas got answers about their pasts and were able to face the villain they’d been hunting in a very fun comic book style showdown.
Overall, TRANCE delivers a nice break from the urban fantasy norm. Will superheroes end up being the next big thing to hit the genre? Could be. There is certainty a lot of fun to be had in a world like this, much more than in other similar attempts. A bit uneven in parts and I wasn’t ever completely sold on the hero, I still enjoyed TRANCE for its mythology, its resilient heroine, and its mostly successful bridge between comics and urban fantasy.
Sexual Content:
Attempted sexual assault. References to rape. A lengthy sex scene.
Supernatural superheroes dominate Kelly Medding’s new MetaWars urban fantasy series. In TRANCE, we meet the next (and possibly last) generation of telekinetics, telepaths, elemental wielders, shape shifters and all other manor of superheroes. The world has turned its back on Metas after a war between the heroes (Rangers) and the villains (Banes) destroyed major cities all over the world in their fight for power.
I loved the complete break from traditional urban fantasy mythology that TRANCE introduced. There is a real X-Men/The Incredibles vibe to this story that really worked. Trance was only a child when the war left her orphaned and alone and no longer in possession of her trivial ability. She grew up in foster care and has made a series of poor choices as an adult. I admired her practicality and doggedness when it came to her life and doing what she needed to survive. She never got caught up in pity parties or wasted time wishing her life had been different. These are the traits that attracted another one of Meding’s trademark beta males to Trance. Gage is the first Meta Trance comes across when the war starts up again and the Rangers are recalled, and is quick to let Trance lead when it is discovered that she has a newly inherited and extremely formidable power. I’m coming around to beta males in general, but I still found myself shaking my head at the way Gage meekly responded to Trance when they fought. I wanted him to have a bit more bite.
I also thought the middle dragged a bit with action scene after action scene separated by Trance talking to a friend about the responsibilities of being a leader and her guilt over the losses she felt responsible for. It just felt like the same scene repeated over and over. Fortunately, the end of the book picked up significantly both with the romance and plot. Trance and the other Metas got answers about their pasts and were able to face the villain they’d been hunting in a very fun comic book style showdown.
Overall, TRANCE delivers a nice break from the urban fantasy norm. Will superheroes end up being the next big thing to hit the genre? Could be. There is certainty a lot of fun to be had in a world like this, much more than in other similar attempts. A bit uneven in parts and I wasn’t ever completely sold on the hero, I still enjoyed TRANCE for its mythology, its resilient heroine, and its mostly successful bridge between comics and urban fantasy.
Sexual Content:
Attempted sexual assault. References to rape. A lengthy sex scene.
October 22, 2011
I have had Kelly Medding's Dreg City series on my TBR list for a while but haven't had the time to squeeze much recreational reading into my schedule for a while now. When the opportunity to start her new series MetaWars came up I was excited to take it.
Trance introduces the Ranger Corps and the Banes, humans with amazing superpowers collectively known as Meta's whose battles devastated the world until just as the Banes threatened to win the war, their abilities were ripped from them. Trance was just ten when it happened, one of only a dozen or so Meta's to survive. Now, fifteen years later the abilities of the Meta's are inexplicably restored though Trance seems to have gained her grandmother's skills rather than her own power. A reunion with the her childhood meta friends is marred by murderous attacks and it becomes obvious that Specter, the leader of the Banes, has also regained his ability and is targeting them. Trance and the reformed Ranger Corps needs to find and stop him before he unleashes Armageddon.
I like that Medding has pushed Urban Fantasy into a new realm with her band of superheroes. A cross between Xmen, The Incredibles and The Justice League of America, Trance is an action packed adventure with a touch of romance in a post apocalyptic urban setting. I'm not sure there is anything particularly new about the world the author has created but it is well described and detailed.
The characters in Trance are well drawn and developed. Trance is a likeable mixture of vulnerability and strength. For fifteen years she has struggled with the loss of her family, her powers and made some bad choices along the way. She wants to do the right thing but she is insecure and frightened of making things worse. The attrition rate in this novel is unusual, several supporting characters we meet that you might expect will become part of the series cast are killed. Those that survive the skirmish in this book are interesting though and include the effervescent Renee AKA Flex, the troubled Ethan and Trance's childhood crush, now lover, Gage. Medding does a good job of obscuring the villains identity adding to the tension and excitement of the storyline and the ending, while a great lead in to the next book, also completes the story so you aren't left with a frustrating cliffhanger.
A quick and easy read, Trance is a fun and exciting story which will especially appeal to fans of superheroes and Marvel comics.
Trance introduces the Ranger Corps and the Banes, humans with amazing superpowers collectively known as Meta's whose battles devastated the world until just as the Banes threatened to win the war, their abilities were ripped from them. Trance was just ten when it happened, one of only a dozen or so Meta's to survive. Now, fifteen years later the abilities of the Meta's are inexplicably restored though Trance seems to have gained her grandmother's skills rather than her own power. A reunion with the her childhood meta friends is marred by murderous attacks and it becomes obvious that Specter, the leader of the Banes, has also regained his ability and is targeting them. Trance and the reformed Ranger Corps needs to find and stop him before he unleashes Armageddon.
I like that Medding has pushed Urban Fantasy into a new realm with her band of superheroes. A cross between Xmen, The Incredibles and The Justice League of America, Trance is an action packed adventure with a touch of romance in a post apocalyptic urban setting. I'm not sure there is anything particularly new about the world the author has created but it is well described and detailed.
The characters in Trance are well drawn and developed. Trance is a likeable mixture of vulnerability and strength. For fifteen years she has struggled with the loss of her family, her powers and made some bad choices along the way. She wants to do the right thing but she is insecure and frightened of making things worse. The attrition rate in this novel is unusual, several supporting characters we meet that you might expect will become part of the series cast are killed. Those that survive the skirmish in this book are interesting though and include the effervescent Renee AKA Flex, the troubled Ethan and Trance's childhood crush, now lover, Gage. Medding does a good job of obscuring the villains identity adding to the tension and excitement of the storyline and the ending, while a great lead in to the next book, also completes the story so you aren't left with a frustrating cliffhanger.
A quick and easy read, Trance is a fun and exciting story which will especially appeal to fans of superheroes and Marvel comics.
November 6, 2011
Teresa West is a 25 year old nobody, struggling to survive while working 3 dead-end jobs. Out of the blue, powers that she thought were gone forever are back, and then some!
In Kelly Meding's alternate reality, Xmen are real, and are called Meta-Humans. There are good guys, (the Metas) and bad guys (Banes). Teresa, codename Trance, grew up as a Meta. Her family fought against the seemingly evil Banes, until a final showdown which ended with the mysterious loss of superpowers on both sides. After that, she and the other orphaned Meta-kids were divvied out to foster families to be raised as "normal" kids. So Trance trudges through life, until the day her powers return. Well, quite more powerful than she was as a kid.
I wasn't really all that impressed. I like the characterization of Teresa/Trance, in the beginning. By the end of the book I was tired of hearing about how responsible she felt for everyone. I understand that any leader, especially in a military-like unit, has responsibility for their soldiers/followers. But geez, did she really have to labor on about it every time she had to make a decision?
And so many people died! We're introduced to people, and before they even get the chance to develop as characters, they die! Or they disappear (Agent Grayson?).
The love interest is just... tepid? lukewarm? There was no explanation for his behavior, and no rationalization for the twuuu luuuv. It was not convincing.
The villain, and the twist ending was just... I don't know what to call it, cheap? The bad guy did go out of his way to try to explain why he did all that, but I still don't get it. There just wasn't enough motivation in that to explain his actions.
I liked the world; it almost reminded me of the Watchmen in that the public was quite ambivalent of having renegade vigilantes saving the day/tearing up cities in the process. I like the idea of revisionist histories, of the "facts" told to the public not being what really happened. I'd like to read more about this universe, but with better detailed people and more complexity in the relationships.
Just judging by the cover, it looks like another fluff chicklit fantasy along the lines of Tales of an Extraordinary Girl. Inside offers a glimpse of something more, and I can't help but judge the parts that are lacking.
In Kelly Meding's alternate reality, Xmen are real, and are called Meta-Humans. There are good guys, (the Metas) and bad guys (Banes). Teresa, codename Trance, grew up as a Meta. Her family fought against the seemingly evil Banes, until a final showdown which ended with the mysterious loss of superpowers on both sides. After that, she and the other orphaned Meta-kids were divvied out to foster families to be raised as "normal" kids. So Trance trudges through life, until the day her powers return. Well, quite more powerful than she was as a kid.
I wasn't really all that impressed. I like the characterization of Teresa/Trance, in the beginning. By the end of the book I was tired of hearing about how responsible she felt for everyone. I understand that any leader, especially in a military-like unit, has responsibility for their soldiers/followers. But geez, did she really have to labor on about it every time she had to make a decision?
And so many people died! We're introduced to people, and before they even get the chance to develop as characters, they die! Or they disappear (Agent Grayson?).
The love interest is just... tepid? lukewarm? There was no explanation for his behavior, and no rationalization for the twuuu luuuv. It was not convincing.
The villain, and the twist ending was just... I don't know what to call it, cheap? The bad guy did go out of his way to try to explain why he did all that, but I still don't get it. There just wasn't enough motivation in that to explain his actions.
I liked the world; it almost reminded me of the Watchmen in that the public was quite ambivalent of having renegade vigilantes saving the day/tearing up cities in the process. I like the idea of revisionist histories, of the "facts" told to the public not being what really happened. I'd like to read more about this universe, but with better detailed people and more complexity in the relationships.
Just judging by the cover, it looks like another fluff chicklit fantasy along the lines of Tales of an Extraordinary Girl. Inside offers a glimpse of something more, and I can't help but judge the parts that are lacking.
August 23, 2012
Kelly Meding knows how to write an action packed story. I love her Dreg City Series and thought I should give her Meta War series a try. And I’m glad I did. Fans of her Dreg City series will most likely enjoy Trance but even though it’s an urban fantasy book it’s not nearly as dark as Evie’s world.
Meding is an author that’s not afraid to kill a few of her characters. And I like that about her. No one is safe in her worlds. That’s life, no of us get out of it alive and Meding uses that in her writing. You will not get a world with pretty rainbows and flowers. So if that’s the kind of read you’re looking for then don’t read her books. BUT if you love action and gritty story lines you will LOVE her books.
Trance has an X-Men feel to it. You have good and evil superhuman beings. The Metas are the white hats (good guys) and the Banes are the bad guys. They all have their own special powers.
They were in the middle of a war about 15 years ago and things were not looking good for the Metas. The Banes were posed to win the war when all the sudden the Banes and Metas loose their powers.
There was a small group of tweens and teens that lived on the Meta side. They were all shipped off to foster homes in the hope they would grow up in “normal” families. But after 15 years they have grown up and then just as sudden as they lost their powers, they come back. But our heroine, Trance gets a different set of powers. They are more powerful than her old ones.
Now that the Metas are re-grouping and trying to figure out what the hell is going on, Trance finds herself as their leader. This is a far cry from her looser of a life she was living working 3 lousy jobs to try to keep a roof over her head and food in her fridge.
As the 12 living Metas try to make their way to HQ, half are taken out by the bad ass leader of the Banes. The Metas at are left over are working on how to be a team and how to deal with some of the romantic relationships that is building between some of them.
Trance is a very fast paced story with action and a little romance on the side. Fans of Meding’s Dreg City will enjoy this “lighter” urban fantasy read.
Meding is an author that’s not afraid to kill a few of her characters. And I like that about her. No one is safe in her worlds. That’s life, no of us get out of it alive and Meding uses that in her writing. You will not get a world with pretty rainbows and flowers. So if that’s the kind of read you’re looking for then don’t read her books. BUT if you love action and gritty story lines you will LOVE her books.
Trance has an X-Men feel to it. You have good and evil superhuman beings. The Metas are the white hats (good guys) and the Banes are the bad guys. They all have their own special powers.
They were in the middle of a war about 15 years ago and things were not looking good for the Metas. The Banes were posed to win the war when all the sudden the Banes and Metas loose their powers.
There was a small group of tweens and teens that lived on the Meta side. They were all shipped off to foster homes in the hope they would grow up in “normal” families. But after 15 years they have grown up and then just as sudden as they lost their powers, they come back. But our heroine, Trance gets a different set of powers. They are more powerful than her old ones.
Now that the Metas are re-grouping and trying to figure out what the hell is going on, Trance finds herself as their leader. This is a far cry from her looser of a life she was living working 3 lousy jobs to try to keep a roof over her head and food in her fridge.
As the 12 living Metas try to make their way to HQ, half are taken out by the bad ass leader of the Banes. The Metas at are left over are working on how to be a team and how to deal with some of the romantic relationships that is building between some of them.
Trance is a very fast paced story with action and a little romance on the side. Fans of Meding’s Dreg City will enjoy this “lighter” urban fantasy read.
February 8, 2012
So, I picked this up a while ago, and the only reason I did is because I am a HUGE-FREAKISHLY-HUGE fan of Kelly Meding. I absolutely adore/love/want to hug/possibly spoon with, her Dreg City series.
I think she is brilliant and her books are in the top '5' of my "Hurry up and Get Here RIGHT NOW" list. I've heard word on the street and it's saying I may be a tad impatient. It's a puzzler, I know..
Once I remembered to pick up and read something I bought in October, I was alllll kinds of excited to start a new series with her.
However. I *cough* did not care for this at all.
I thought the whole book seemed a little...forced. I did like the idea of superhero's, but the character development was too much of a leap for me. At the beginning of the book, our girl (Trance) was kind of a loner (it seemed to me), with spurts of mouthiness (which, super cool). Then the tribe comes together again and she's voted the leader when the leader from before is sitting RIGHT next to her, yet she's the one they want leading them into battle with the evil banes? Her and all of her experience? She's doing a 180 and it's just not believable.
Then there is the 'romance' with Gage. Wow. They barely know each other, they both are thinking along the lines of...I wonder where this will lead (?), then they juuuust broach the subject - then BAM! Shower scene! It didn't feel real, it was not natural, it was very forced. Then there was the romance between their friends, which...same thing, and from that moment on, I skimmed the pages til I got to the last paragraph.
I won't continue with this series, but I will keep biting my nails to the 3rd knuckle waiting for the next book of Dreg City.
I think she is brilliant and her books are in the top '5' of my "Hurry up and Get Here RIGHT NOW" list. I've heard word on the street and it's saying I may be a tad impatient. It's a puzzler, I know..
Once I remembered to pick up and read something I bought in October, I was alllll kinds of excited to start a new series with her.
However. I *cough* did not care for this at all.
I thought the whole book seemed a little...forced. I did like the idea of superhero's, but the character development was too much of a leap for me. At the beginning of the book, our girl (Trance) was kind of a loner (it seemed to me), with spurts of mouthiness (which, super cool). Then the tribe comes together again and she's voted the leader when the leader from before is sitting RIGHT next to her, yet she's the one they want leading them into battle with the evil banes? Her and all of her experience? She's doing a 180 and it's just not believable.
Then there is the 'romance' with Gage. Wow. They barely know each other, they both are thinking along the lines of...I wonder where this will lead (?), then they juuuust broach the subject - then BAM! Shower scene! It didn't feel real, it was not natural, it was very forced. Then there was the romance between their friends, which...same thing, and from that moment on, I skimmed the pages til I got to the last paragraph.
I won't continue with this series, but I will keep biting my nails to the 3rd knuckle waiting for the next book of Dreg City.
October 22, 2011
Reviewed by http://urbanfantasyinvestigations.blo...
Superheros in a modern society. What a great world Kelly has built with her new MetaWars series. Teresa is the daughter of two superheros. When she was little something ripped away her and every other superheros powers and she grew up in foster system until they kicked her out at 18. She spent her younger adult years as pretty much a failure. One day after a horrible day of work her powers suddenly reappear and sends her life onto a new path.
I found Teresa easy to empathize with. She was a great blend of real life and fantasy. She ended up finding her niche in a group she always thought she was to weak for. Gage spent a lot of his time in the system while growing up and losing people. He felt like he was always letting people down and was also in a pretty bad spot in his life when his powers came rushing back. He saw it as a new beginning and I felt that him and Teresa fit together really well. I liked the different powers everyone seemed to have and they way they were used. The storyline was fresh and engaging. I had NO clue who the villain really was. It was a total shock to me and I was glad I was able to get the the reveal without a clue as it made it so much better. The ending was pretty much left wide open for book 2. Their will be a whole new storyline thrown in and I'm excited to see what happens for the remaining Ranger Corp members now that they have a bit of a fresh start. TRANCE was definitely a great opening to a new UF series.
Superheros in a modern society. What a great world Kelly has built with her new MetaWars series. Teresa is the daughter of two superheros. When she was little something ripped away her and every other superheros powers and she grew up in foster system until they kicked her out at 18. She spent her younger adult years as pretty much a failure. One day after a horrible day of work her powers suddenly reappear and sends her life onto a new path.
I found Teresa easy to empathize with. She was a great blend of real life and fantasy. She ended up finding her niche in a group she always thought she was to weak for. Gage spent a lot of his time in the system while growing up and losing people. He felt like he was always letting people down and was also in a pretty bad spot in his life when his powers came rushing back. He saw it as a new beginning and I felt that him and Teresa fit together really well. I liked the different powers everyone seemed to have and they way they were used. The storyline was fresh and engaging. I had NO clue who the villain really was. It was a total shock to me and I was glad I was able to get the the reveal without a clue as it made it so much better. The ending was pretty much left wide open for book 2. Their will be a whole new storyline thrown in and I'm excited to see what happens for the remaining Ranger Corp members now that they have a bit of a fresh start. TRANCE was definitely a great opening to a new UF series.
October 25, 2011
From the word go, I loved this book. It has everything I love, a great world, dynamic and strong characters and superheroes. I was a little worried that Trance might suffer from firstbookitis like Meding’s other series did, but there wasn’t a moment when I wasn’t either engrossed in the book or wishing I was (damn the whole having to work thing). I am so thankful that I won an ARC of the book from Meding at her blog. This is definitely going to be one of those books/series that I read over and over and recommend to all my friends (although they’ll have to get their own copy!).
One thing that I really love about Meding’s work is that her heroines are less than perfect. They have some serious issues like lack of confidence, inability to trust others and a lack of self-worth. Despite all this they are strong in the face of danger and do what’s needed to save those they care about. Also, I love that Meding makes the heroes more emotionally vulnerable then the heroines. They admit their feelings far more easily than their female counterparts which I find extremely intriguing and genius. Of course I will always love my alpha males, but beta males, if done right, make me happy too.
I cannot wait to see where Meding takes Trance next. I’m hooked and impatient, so hopefully whatever it is happens soon!
One thing that I really love about Meding’s work is that her heroines are less than perfect. They have some serious issues like lack of confidence, inability to trust others and a lack of self-worth. Despite all this they are strong in the face of danger and do what’s needed to save those they care about. Also, I love that Meding makes the heroes more emotionally vulnerable then the heroines. They admit their feelings far more easily than their female counterparts which I find extremely intriguing and genius. Of course I will always love my alpha males, but beta males, if done right, make me happy too.
I cannot wait to see where Meding takes Trance next. I’m hooked and impatient, so hopefully whatever it is happens soon!
November 25, 2011
Very fun. Maybe she took to being a leader a bit quickly, but that was my only real quibble. And she was raised as a superhero for her first eleven years, so it wasn't like this really was all new to her. What I liked best was that the scary stuff really did scare her, I always thought that being a hero would be terrifying. And that people get badly hurt and even die, this isn't some fluffy hero tale. I also like that it has a really satisfying ending. There is enough to leave me very much hoping for a sequel without feeling that horrible anxious cliffhanger feeling.
But what the heck was marketing thinking with that cover? Not that it isn't lovely, because it is. And the fire orb is cool and the purple is appropriate. But Trance spends most of the book filthy in jeans, then switches to a uniform with attitude. It's a superhero book, what the heck does an evening gown have to do with it? It isn't sexy paranormal fiction, it's fun action with a healthy dose of romance that doesn't overwhelm the action. They should have had the woman in regular clothes or a uniform, or even had more of the team members on the cover in uniform as well. They could have gotten male readers too if they'd marketed this better while still appealing to the same female market. Bizarre.
But what the heck was marketing thinking with that cover? Not that it isn't lovely, because it is. And the fire orb is cool and the purple is appropriate. But Trance spends most of the book filthy in jeans, then switches to a uniform with attitude. It's a superhero book, what the heck does an evening gown have to do with it? It isn't sexy paranormal fiction, it's fun action with a healthy dose of romance that doesn't overwhelm the action. They should have had the woman in regular clothes or a uniform, or even had more of the team members on the cover in uniform as well. They could have gotten male readers too if they'd marketed this better while still appealing to the same female market. Bizarre.
June 18, 2012
OMG!!
Superhero stories and romance rarely mix well. This mixed with awesome and came out excellent. It is more on the urban fantasy side of things as it's in first person POV and the romance isn't the main point - but they main character will change in each book (to the best of my knowledge).
Realistic, in that the Ranger and Banes fighting has destroyed cities, ruined LA and did cause Act of Meta insurance to be in favor. Also devastating () as there's great personal cost in being a Ranger.
I hope to see more of the people who were too young to have their powers the first time around and stories for: Simon, Renee, Marco, Simon and Ethan.
Book two in the MetaWars series, Changeling comes out on the 26th and is about Dahlia, the new kid on the block. And Meding has signed a contract for two more books next year in ebook.
Superhero stories and romance rarely mix well. This mixed with awesome and came out excellent. It is more on the urban fantasy side of things as it's in first person POV and the romance isn't the main point - but they main character will change in each book (to the best of my knowledge).
Realistic, in that the Ranger and Banes fighting has destroyed cities, ruined LA and did cause Act of Meta insurance to be in favor. Also devastating () as there's great personal cost in being a Ranger.
I hope to see more of the people who were too young to have their powers the first time around and stories for: Simon, Renee, Marco, Simon and Ethan.
Book two in the MetaWars series, Changeling comes out on the 26th and is about Dahlia, the new kid on the block. And Meding has signed a contract for two more books next year in ebook.
January 5, 2012
After reading the synopsis, I thought Trance would be right up my alley. I really wanted to like this book. However, I did not. Maybe I am not being fair because I didn't actually finish reading it. In my opinion, if you've struggled to read a book and barely make it half way, it is doubtful that the second part will be so wonderful that it will make up for the first half. I have attempted to read Trance so many times, that I have lost count. I don't like to leave books unfinished. This time, I am making an exception. I officially give up!! I am not spending any more time on this book. I felt that Trance,(the parts that I managed to read)was confusing and boring especially for a book with such a cool synopsis. I just couldn't adapt to Miss Meding's writing style. That being said, I am in the minority. Don't be afraid to try it for yourself. I'd advise borrowing it from the library or a friend before deciding to purchase it.
November 26, 2011
Maybe 2.5 stars
I almost didn't finish this book because it just wasn't keeping my interest up although parts of it were good. I just had a hard time believing that Trance went from the crappy life to leader of a superhero team in the space of a little over a week. And the token love interest seemed rushed and not believable either. Definitely feels like the beginning of a series and while I think it will probably get better from here, I'm not sure that I will be reading the next one. Maybe if the library has it.
I almost didn't finish this book because it just wasn't keeping my interest up although parts of it were good. I just had a hard time believing that Trance went from the crappy life to leader of a superhero team in the space of a little over a week. And the token love interest seemed rushed and not believable either. Definitely feels like the beginning of a series and while I think it will probably get better from here, I'm not sure that I will be reading the next one. Maybe if the library has it.
August 5, 2016
This book is very disappointing, it's just too childish. I'm amazed that I was able to finish it.
It's for kids of ages 8 to 12 that still believes in superheroes with code names and custumes. The book is just bland, with no savvy twist and the plot is nothing to write home about. It has a good cover but a very horrible content
It's for kids of ages 8 to 12 that still believes in superheroes with code names and custumes. The book is just bland, with no savvy twist and the plot is nothing to write home about. It has a good cover but a very horrible content
July 12, 2014
Cool concept executed perfectly for my taste, better than reading a good old fashioned Marvel Comic!
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