Just read: Dreadnought (Nemesis)

April Daniels has written a wonderful book with a particularly compelling, teenage protagonist. Fifteen-year old Danny Tozer finds himself in the right place at the wrong time when the long-time hero Dreadnought meets his end. Gifted the abilities of the legendary “white” cape, Tozer is, in turn, gifted with his deepest desire: to be a girl. We follow Tozer as she meets Calamity, a “grey” cape and also a teen, new to the superhero scene, with a sad and novel-worthy back story. Egged on by Calamity’s comparative skill and experience, Tozer explores her new abilities. Along the way, she’s entangled with the Legion Pacifica, a super-team reminiscent of The Avengers or Justice League, a powerful villain, and—most interesting and integral to her character arc—her troubled mother and toxic father. Daniels hits all the right beats in creating a heartbreaking and heartwarming story about a transgender teen rife with super-heroics. If you’ve ever enjoyed a novel with super-powered characters, this is one well worth the read. The world-building is tight, for a community of heroes and villains. If I had a rating system, I’d give the book ‘5-stars’ or ‘2 thumbs up,’ or call it a solid ‘10.’ I thought it was that good!