Book cover of Steelheart

Book description

Ten years ago, Calamity came. It was a burst in the sky that gave ordinary men and women extraordinary powers. The awed public started calling them Epics. But Epics are no friend of man. With incredible gifts came the desire to rule. And to rule man you must crush his…

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Why read it?

3 authors picked Steelheart as one of their favorite books. Why do they recommend it?

David Charleston’s character resonated with me. He’s eccentric, passionate, and meticulous, while also being a great friend.

He’s also out for revenge against his father’s killer—A supervillain named Steelheart who has taken over Chicago. David unites with a secret group of people called the Reckoners who are trying to learn each villain's weakness to assassinate them.

David’s obsession with details is relatable, and against the terrifying powers of these supervillains, you're left on the edge of your seat hoping the Reckoner's schemes will be enough.

From Ben's list on YA with boys who defy stereotypes.

Brandon Sanderson has written some amazing female characters, but my favorites are in his Reckoners series. He litters the books with all varieties and female badasses. They are good, they are evil, and sometimes, they are both. In this world where a strange red star suddenly appears, arbitrarily granting superpowers (and evilness), Megan is a frontline fighter against the “Epics.” The knives she hides up her skirts aren’t the only secrets she keeps, but you’ll have to read the books to find out what she’s really up to. On the Epic side, Regalia can manipulate water and uses it to…

What’s that you say, Steelheart isn’t urban fantasy? Even when it’s written by the emperor of fantasy himself, Mr. Brandon “I’ve written over fifty bestselling novels in twenty years” Sanderson. Well to that I say: Sparks! You’re like a rabbit doing maths equations instead of looking for foxes. And if you love ridiculous metaphors like that, then Steelheart is like a banana farm for guns. What’s not to love about this book? It’s a world filled with superpowered humans and every single one of them becomes an Epic villain. If that’s not dark enough humour for you, then David’s attempts…

If you love Steelheart...

Book cover of Mother of Trees

Mother of Trees by Steven J. Morris,

Mother of Trees is the first book in an epic fantasy series about a dying goddess, a broken world, and a young elf born without magic in a society ruled by it.

When the ancient being that anchors the world’s power begins to fail, the consequences ripple outward—through prophecy, politics,…

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