Dreadnought: Nemesis - Book One

This book was GREAT! I read it AND listened to the audiobook. At its most basic it's the usual troubled teen gets superpowers thrust upon them that are an answer to their prayers but also end up open doors to a whole new set of unforeseen issues. Except it doesn't feel like a rehash at all, it's all done in a very original way, with a very original MC, and while I personally can not relate to the MC's struggles as a trans woman, the author did an amazing job of bringing Danny to life that it was as if I got a glimpse into her world. Danielle/Dreadnought, the MC, was a very believable 15 year old kid who made very 15 year old kid decisions, creating some of her own problems, making many of her problems worse, and was also pretty naive about some things, but as with any good character, you could see as she learned and grew which was really cool. I felt so bad for how traumatized Danny was, how she lived in constant fear of her dad, even before her transitioning, and the little things she did to "make herself small" and "not be noticed" because it was "just safer" made me want to hug her so badly. I also thought the source of her powers was very cool and pretty original, although I don't read many comics so maybe I'm wrong?🤷‍♂️ The way Danny used them was also pretty neat and original. If I say too much more I might begin spoiling so I'm just going to end with how great this book was, how well written it was, both the human side of this young girls transition as well as the action and hero side, and if EITHER of those concepts interests you, you're really missing out if you don't give this story a try!

I am not the target audience for this book or the series. It was written by a woman and meant to speak to the soul of other women like her. I am a sarcastic, grumpy, hetero man in his forties. Honestly the only reason I picked it up was because I was looking for a new series and it had a positive review on Dominic Noble YouTube channel. However, I have to say I rather enjoyed reading this book. Ms Daniels writing style is descriptive and flows naturally. Making it easy to imagine the scenes that she tells in her story. The characters are interesting and and engaging. And oddly enough the parts that had me most on the edge of my seat were not the fight scenes, or the rescue scenes, but the personal and family drama. Danielle is such an engaging main character and a hero to the Bone. It's a little embarrassing to admit this, but I got so emotionally invested in the story that halfway through the book I wanted to reach into that world and punch her dad in the face. The plot is is a bog standard superhero origin story, the kind any comic reader will recognize instantly. However, is told in such an interesting fashion that I finished the book in one sitting. Like Jim Butcher's Dresden Files; it's not high art, it's not high concept, it's just really damn good. I just bought the next book and can't wait to see what happens.

Dreadnought is the story of Danielle Trozer, a girl who was unfortunately born Daniel. When the most powerful hero in the world - the titular Dreadnought - dies in front of her, his powers pass to her, transforming her body into her ideal self-image. For previous bearers of this power, the transformation was minor. They grew a bit taller, had a nicer jawline. But for Danielle, her entire body changed from a male to a female one, fulfilling the ultimate wish of many transgendered people: an instant, permanent, and complete transition. The book follows Danielle's life as she grapples with both her newfound superpowers and desire to avenge the previous Dreadnought, and her personal life as she deals with people both supportive of her transition and not. I dont normally find myself a fan of power fantasy stories. This book certainly is: Danielle goes from a kid in an abusive home who spent her formative years having her true self repressed and running from bullies to becoming the most powerful person in the world in an instant, but the nature of the story is one that makes it more than fitting. So often in media are transgendered characters relegated to being side characters at best and far more commonly the butt of a joke. Danielle is neither of those. She feels like a very real person whose new powers may keep her safe from most physical harm, but still carries wounds from years of mental trauma. This book, while overall being very positive with an incredibly strong trans protagonist, is filled with its fair share of transphobic characters. For those who have experienced or are otherwise bothered by transphobia, this will likely be a very difficult book to read. Multiple characters refuse to acknowledge Danielle's identity in various ways, and April Daniels pulled no punches in writing their characters. They say and do truly awful things to Danielle, and I found her dealings with these people more painful and difficult to get through than any physical danger she went through as a superhero. Danielle's transition happening at the same time she became a superhero is a stroke of genius from a writing perspective, because the whole book does a great job of creating parallells between her trying to fit into her new life as a girl and her trying to find her place in the world of superheroes, a world all of its own, complete with a Jistice League like organization that judges her as a hero similarly to how her family and friends judge her as a woman. While Danielle has known that she is a girl for half her life, she spends a long time debating whether or not she can actually become a superhero. It is very easy to view the process of becoming a hero as a metaphor for questioning one's own gender, as she struggles over her own feelings on top of people both persuading and dissuading her to become the next Dreadnought. This book isnt without flaws, however. The pacing felt a bit all over the place. The first few chapters whizzed by before suddenly slamming on the brakes, sitting for a hot minute, and then flooring it to the finish line. The prose, while good at capturing the voice of a fifteen year old transgirl with superpowers, felt a bit weak at times, and it often felt like exposition was delivered just a little bot late. These shortcomings do little to hold Dreadnought back though. This is an incredible book to read. With an incredibly strong and real trans protagonist, excellent themes and subtext, especially for those who may be questioning their own identity, and gripping and exciting action, this book is well worth the read.

Right from the beginning there are relatable aspects to Danny, and what she's going through. Her struggles with her family. Of wanting to be herself. Even when she inherits the powers of Dreadnought and gets to be herself, things don't necessarily get any easier. This is a superhero story, but this is also a trans story, of all of the struggles and pain that can come from both side. The feelings, the impact, are strong. Make no mistake, this story can get really dark in places. Like really dark. Some characters, and not just the villians, are downright evil, their views and actions toxic and destructive. And the events that transpire - ouch. It is, though, also a well told and engrossing story. It pulls you in, makes you want to turn the page, see what happens next. It is the tale of Danny growing into her power, of grasping her future, but with all of the costs that come along with it. It is filled with as much action as angst and struggle. It is a story that portrays much needed rep, a story that needs to be read. But just like what life can be at times, it isn't always easy. That doesn't make it any less good, and I'm looking forward to reading book 2.

Super hero books are getting really popular, but this is easily one of my favorites and possible very out of place in the genre. While this is a super hero book to be sure, the subject matter is not really about super hero stuff. Generally when I imagine a book about super heroes I think about power and the sense of being able to do anything. This book takes that power, that sense and uses it to build a better story than it has any business being. This is my review of my favorite super hero book. So if you have not read the synopsis then do so, but this is about transgender issues and abuse. The backdrop of power is used to demonstrate the powerlessness of individuals whom are trying to come to grips with who they are in a society that does not accept them. There is not even a moment where I had to question the way the lead was treated as she sought acceptance from her family, her friends, her peers and ultimately herself. The book does such a fantastic job of putting you in her shoes that I thought it might be a little triggering for anyone suffering the same sort of problems. For those who are not sure what to think about trans issues, you should really read this book to get a sense of how they might feel and why it is misguided to think trans people are anything but someone trying to fit in with whom they are. While the super hero stuff does come into play and makes for a decent story in itself, the real tale is certainly not going to be found there. The action sequences, for instance, I could take or leave, but they really drive home the duality of power and capability. You can have all the strength in the world, but it does not buy you love. Some of the scenes will no doubt have you cringe as you imagine the real world equivalent while the successes should also have you cheering. I know that a lot of people out there are not yet comfortable with LGBT issues, but I thought this book did a fantastic job of trying to make them something you could relate too.

It is not a closely held secret, but one that still comes as surprise to a lot of people. That secret is that I don’t like comic books. Don’t get me wrong, I appreciate the art form, and will happily concede that the mixture of sequential pictures and text to tell a story can do some amazing things. And there are some non-superhero comics that I do deeply love, such as Art Spiegelman’s MAUS, or Scott McCloud’s UNDERSTANDING COMICS. But at the end of the day, the art form isn’t one I’m all that fond of. But I read a lot of superhero comics because I LOVE superheroes, and comics give me my most regular fix for my addiction. This is why I am so very fond of superhero movies and television, because those are art forms I enjoy more than reading comics. But my favorite way to experience superheroes is one I get to engage in the least – namely, superhero novels. I’ve always loved superhero novels. From licensed novels featuring the Marvel and DC heroes, to original creations including the WILDCARDS series edited by George R.R. Martin; John Ridley’s THOSE WHO WALK IN DARKNESS; the late, great and good Perry Moore’s HERO; Austin Grossman’s SOON I WILL BE INVINCIBLE; and Jackie Kessler and Caitlin Kittredge’s BLACK AND WHITE. In fact, this is part of the reason I’ve written several superhero novels of my own. But I’ve just had thrust onto me (from the comments from a previous week’s edition of this very topic) a new favorite. April Daniels’ DREADNOUGHT. There are several significant difficulties that come with writing a superhero novel. Among these are handling of superhero tropes and determining how hard you’re going to lean into them. Do you bother with an origin, or do we just accept that we’re living in a world like the comics and superheroes are just a thing that people have learned to accept? Do you allow multiple types of superheroes, or do all superhuman powers come from a single source? How do you handle different terms that are needed to describe superheroes and supervillains and superpowers while not treading too close to the jointly held trademarks owned by Marvel and DC? And how do you fill your world with superheroes who are familiar enough to not need an introduction, but new enough to be your own creation and avoid a lawsuit? All of these are handled in different ways with different degrees of alacrity by different authors, and Daniels manages to handle most of them well enough that I found myself slipping into the world she created. But the most important challenge when writing a superhero novel is the question of whether or not you have something to say. Daniels does. Her creation, in the form of Danny Tolizer, the newly christened Dreadnought, isn’t just struggling with how to be a superhero. She’s also struggling with a new identity. The same incident that gave her superpowers also transformed her body from one that outwardly appeared to be male into her idealized form, and made her physically into the woman she always knew she was inside. It’s a great, fast-moving superhero yarn, but it’s also one that explores the issues that exist within the transgender community. Daniels is herself a transgender woman, so she writes from what she knows. I literally couldn’t put this book down, and I really look forward to starting the sequel, SOVERIEGN later tonight. As Stan Lee would have put it, ‘Nuff Said.

Imagine being a lonely 15 year old kid being verbally and emotionally abused. And then one day, you're granted the powers of a world famous superhero - which in turn, makes you into your hearts desire. That's the setting for this book, a very interesting and touching take on the superhero genre. Danielle finds herself having to both learn the adage of "with great power comes great responsibility", and that one of the biggest responsibilities is "to yourself be true". Don't let the "young adult" heading fool you, or make you think things are sugar coated. Danielle has to learn to deal with her father's abuse, her mothers silence, her new found powers, and a body that matches the one she's always yearned for. And fights against supervillians, parents unwilling to acknowledge who she really is, and flat out bigotry along the way. For anyone who grew up feeling different, or who longed to see their true self in the mirror, Danielle is very relatable, and very tough. Those in their eggs may find questions about themselves while reading - and those who have long left those eggs behind will understand the main character quite well.

Danny Tozer doesn't have a very easy life. Her father is abusive. Her mother is distant. And she's a closeted trans girl. And things get even rougher for her one day when the world's greatest hero falls out of the sky, dies at her feet, and grants her all of his amazing powers -- superstrength, invulnerability, flight. And it all comes wrapped up with a free transformation into the ideal body she's always imagined for herself. Okay, the powers are cool, but now that she can't hide the fact that she's a girl, her parents get even more emotionally abusive, and she loses her best friend. And actually, the cool powers come with a major drawback -- the supervillain who killed the most recent Dreadnought is now coming after Danny, too. And the local superheroes are -- well, a few of them are welcoming and helpful to Danny, and others are really, really, really unhelpful. And when a gang of high-tech villains working for the ultimate Big Bad come to town for some robbery, murder, and mayhem, Danny will have to hope the power of the Dreadnought will be enough to save the day -- and her own life. This is April Daniels' very first novel, and it reads like it's her fiftieth -- she has a feel for characterization and action that usually takes years to get right. Danny is, obviously, the key character in the book, and her reactions are excellent -- as an abused child, she can't bring herself to fight back against her frantically angry father, partly because she doesn't want to hurt him, and partly because she's gotten used to knuckling under and letting him scream at her, and she can't break free of that habit yet. Two other fantastic characters are Doc Impossible, a scientific super-genius who gives Danny emotional and material support, and Calamity, Danny's friend and vigilante super-soldier, who helps her learn how to be a good hero. Some other characters are less fully created -- Danny's parents are a bit one-note, and Greywytch, a spell-slinging TERF, is mostly there to give you someone to despise. While there's lots of teenage hijinx and investigations with Danny and Calamity, and plenty of teen angst from Danny, when the action hits, it hits very, very hard. Danny is very powerful, but she doesn't really understand how her abilities work, and her opponents are powerful enough to put her through a hell of a lot of pain. The fight scenes are frantic and terrifying, because Danny never knows if she's really powerful enough to survive what the bad guys are going to do to her. All in all, it's an incredibly fun superhero tale with a lot of fun, relatable characters. If you love superheroes, if you love great characters and action, and if you have a trans friend who could use a pick-me-up, you should grab this book.