Ben Langdon

This really is a coming-of-age story (kid becoming man), though more in the Peter Parker/Kitty Pryde kind of way. Previous superhero reading experience not needed.

I found myself pulled through a new story about a brand new world, but I also experienced flashbacks to comics I'd read, as a kid. Magneto, the X-Men, The Brotherhood of Evil Mutants and others. Though the characters are unique and the comparison is mostly genre-related.

We start off meeting Dan Galkin and the eponymous Miranda, spending only just enough time to have an idea who they are, then we are off to The Mad Russian (think Magneto, but really crazy) and things pick up.

The author deals evenly, with the characters. All major characters (and some minor) are given their internal moments, a chance for us to see the depths to them. Even The Mad Russian, insane and loose-nuke that he is, is not just “the bad guy”. In fact, there's more then a bit to pity, for him. But no one is short shrifted or just stereotyped. They all have stories, though most are only hinted at (stay tuned, for further issues!.. I mean, novels).

Dan and Miranda get alternating chapters as the main viewpoint characters. The Mad Russian also has a number, along with a couple others. Each of these helps deepen the character, as well as give us different takes on events that have occurred.

While I did find that the suspense faltered, near the end, the climax was everything you want, in a superhero story. One detail that I definitely appreciated was the world-building. The world of the novel is richly suggested, but treated as matter-of-fact. It just is. It comes alive, more believably, because of that.

I enjoyed the world, the characters, and the story, and I intend to read the sequel, when it comes out.… (més)