Book Summary
What if you had your favorite superhero’s power but you couldn’t control it? Super Powereds explores this idea in a four book series.
In a world where some are born with superpowers (Supers) and a fraction of those can’t control those powers (Powereds), five unlikely allies with a secret attend college to get their superhero certification. Each has undergone a trial procedure to change them from Powered to Super, but no one can know they were Powereds. The five must band together to make it through college, but their transformation to Supers also puts them in the middle of a battle of powers greater than themselves. In a world that dismissed and even hated them as Powereds, the group will have to step up and save it—just like any superhero should.
Character Analysis
The characters are my favorite part of this series because Drew perfectly captures the interactions of real people. He never makes someone do something out of character, and each person is well-developed. There are five protagonists in the series, but the side characters are so well done that the cast seems bigger. Each has a character arc, and they all show growth by the end of the series. Everyone can relate to a character in the series, and none of them feel like a repeat personality.
Plot Analysis
This plot has the best twists! I’m known to guess the twists before they happen, but this series got me. Drew lays several false trails and then snaps you over to the real one, and you don’t feel cheated. He leaves all the clues for you to find the answer before the reveal, but good luck on making the right guess!
As for the plot lines, there are a ton of characters with their own stories woven together perfectly. This is one of the few series I finished and didn’t have any unanswered questions. He actually answered questions I didn’t even know I had in the first place. Drew links everything together with expert skills, and he includes plot lines for everyone. Humor, adventure, suspense, romance, horror, and mystery. You feel every emotion possible in this series, and none feel forced or shallow. It is the ultimate journey.
Setting Analysis
The setting is very unique. Even with the Marvel movies franchise right now, Drew’s superhero world is special. I mean, superpowers you can’t control!? That would be scary for you and those around you. Plus, Drew dives into prejudice against the Powereds in very realistic ways. Also, the college is well developed. Just one example is they vet and test potential superheroes for possible liability issues. Of all the books I’ve read, this world is my favorite.
The setting does come with a warning though. Drew stayed true to reality when writing about college life. There are parties and cussing (though it mellows out by senior year like most college students do). I’m not a fan of swearing in my books, but I understand it had to be there to make the setting more believable. Though not every student behaves this way, it’s part of college life. Drew follows that trend by having some characters be partiers and others not. If you’re easily offended, this may not be the series for you. Though, I generally steer clear of it, but this is my favorite series. So, I still recommend it.
Theme Analysis
The theme is expertly woven into everything but not revealed until the end. For that reason, I’m not going to tell you the theme. It was such a powerful revelation to me that I don’t want to spoil that moment for you. Drew has the uncanny ability to make you see something a certain way, and then he’ll do one thing that changes how you see everything. Just know, the theme is powerful and done in such a way that makes you stop and think.
Prose Analysis
Prose is the lowest ranking category for Drew. He’s not poetic but focuses on telling the the story in a straightforward manner. That’s not a bad thing, and I actually liked it. The issue is he isn’t always precise in his word choice. This is something I didn’t even notice the first time I read it, but I realized it during a re-read after studying how to write books. Most authors prefer to keep their prose concise. Drew has a more conversational tone. I think it’s relatable and engaging this way, but some would say it’s too wordy. Granted, this is his first series, and he has improved. Personally, I don’t think the conversational tone is bad, but I wanted to mention it for those wanting tight prose.
Recommendation
If you like immersive, character-driven stories that dig deeper than the superhero movies out right now, Super Powereds is for you. Drew creates a world and school that rivals JK Rowling’s Harry Potter, characters that trump Suzanne Collins’ Hunger Games, and a plot complexity that matches Brandon Sanderson’s Mistborn. I know this seems like high praise, and I don’t give it lightly. If Drew hadn’t been ahead of the curve in putting out superhero stories, I believe this series would have been huge. I think it still should be, and so, my dear reader, give it a chance and see for yourself.
Mini Author Interview
I asked Drew Hayes three questions about the Super Powereds series, and he graciously answered them for my review. Read on to get insider info from the author on the series.
1. How did you brainstorm such unique super powers to give the characters? If you could have one of their powers, whose would it be?
The powers themselves came from a lot of brainstorming, as well as putting new spins on old classics where possible. It also helps that I’ve spent my life pretty well saturated in superhero content, giving me a lot of time to ponder powers. As for which I’d pick, my go-to answer is Mr. Volt, since it has useful daily applications while also letting me circumvent most travel and traffic.
2. What was the original idea that sparked this whole series and how did the idea come to you?
This sounds truly unbelievable to write in 2022, but bear in mind the series was started around 2007, so the media landscape was quite a bit different: Super Powereds came from a frustration at the lack of superhero content available.
Warned you it would sound ridiculous. Back then, there wasn’t nearly as much to be had, and it all tended to focus more on the powers than the people. I wanted something that spent time with both aspects, and so set out to try and make it myself.
3. You did an amazing job of creating a large cast of characters where each one feels fully developed and integral to the plot. What’s the secret to your success?
I think one of my biggest boons early on was an inability to write a character until I could get into their head a bit. To do that, I had to sort out who they were, what they wanted, and what lines they’d cross to get it. By the time I had enough to write a side-character, there were usually elements added I wanted to explore, which led to more spotlight being spared among the cast at large.