Synopsis
Perry Z has a Magical Destiny.
Born to a Magical Fantasy Princess and a nine-to-five Supervillain in the most superhero riddled city in the world, Perry’s never felt…adequate. He’s got no talent for magic, and not a scrap of superpowers to his name.
When The System boots and unlocks his powers, it forces him to follow in his father’s footsteps, but he’d rather take after his mother…
Maybe there’s a way he can do both…
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Review
Despite being a fan of Superhero fiction, I’ve been putting this off for some reason. Now, finally, a reading slump prompted me to give my TBR another try, and I’m so glad I picked this. Now that I’ve finished Book 1, I’m looking to read the rest of the series and get out of my slump.
The books is a good blend of fantasy and superhero fiction and one that acknowledges that some stuff is just best explained as….magic (albeit as a self-deprecating snark). I loved the science behind the powers to understand and exploit them better, and this aspect also reminded me a lot of Arcane Ascension, another favourite of mine.
The setting is an alternate universe dystopian Earth, where the coming of Magic has led to the mutation of creatures, which in turn has turned vast swathes of land inhospitable. People are clustered in cities that are still under threat during “High Tides”. Add in the rise of Super Villains and people from other planets who have sought refuge here, and the setting is a hot pot just waiting to boil over.
The plot follows Perry, who got his superpowers recently, and walks the line between following his superhero mom and his supervillain dad. His powers are tricky too and constantly test him into choosing one of the two paths. Soon, Perry and his merry band get caught up in adventures that make for the plot.
The character and world-building are superb. As we progress through the plot, we see more and more of the fascinating world unravel. The internal and external challenges make for a fine whetstone in the development of the characters. Not just Perry, but the side characters are well written and worthy of remembering on their own, and play key parts that further the plot well.
The pacing is good as events happen like falling dominoes with just the right amount of scene setting in between. Though the book felt a bit long, it certainly is worth it. The subtle humour in writing just adds to the fun. The overall feel is balanced between reality and fantasy, giving the book a realistic vibe.
Superpowers, magic, mechas, mad science, and lots of fights, guns, explosions, this book was so much fun to read.
Highly recommended!
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