Personally, I adore superheroes. The whole lot of them: Marvel, DC, heck even Power Rangers (which I was obsessed with as a kid). If you can’t get enough superhero content keep on reading for some superhero book recs!
Do we know why we love a good superhero tale? Is it because they provide elaborate means of escapism? Or could it be because they help us deal with the trauma of our lives? Perhaps it has something to do with the way they help us discover our own strengths and ways to use them in our everyday lives. Yeah, it’s probably that last one (or all three).
Soon I Will Be Invincible, Austin Grossman
Soon I Will Be Invincible is a wildly entertaining first novel, brimming with attitude and humor– an emotionally resonant look at good and evil, love and loss, power and glory. Told from the perspective of its supervillain, Dr. Impossible, and newest superhero, Fatale, each chapter offers a new twist and turn to the narrative. If you’re looking for classic superhero tropes and homages, you’re definitely in the right place!
A Once Crowded Sky: A Novel, Tom King
A Once Crowded Sky marries classic comic-book-style storytelling with modern-day literary fiction. The juxtaposition of the comic images and the lines of dialogue entice the readers to find out how our heroes are going to save the day. King’s experience as a former CIA counterterrorism officer aids in his ability to write heroes who are relatable and accessible to the average reader.
The Library of the Unwritten, A. J. Hackwith
The Library of the Unwritten is the first of the Hell’s Library trilogy. The story follows Claire, the Head Librarian of the Unwritten Wing in Hell. It is the job of the librarian to keep all the stories in order, at least the unfinished ones that is. Sometimes, those pesky characters escape their pages and run rampant, making Claire chase after them with the help of two of her friends.
Villains Don’t Date Heroes!, Mia Archer
Villains Don’t Date Heroes! is told from supervillain, Night Terror’s, point of view. According to her and other sources (basically everyone in Starlight City), she runs the joint with an “iron fist.” That is until she encounters the newest superhero, Fialux, with who she falls madly in love with. This is a sapphic series that currently has five books!
Superheroes Anonymous, Lexie Dunne
Superheroes Anonymous features Gail Godwin, the perpetual damsel in distress, always being rescued by local superhero Blaze. Gail happens to need a hand so often, that the media starts to forgo her name in favor of Hostage Girl. But when superhero Blaze leaves town and Gail is kidnapped by (yet another) supervillain, what’s a girl to do? Oh, just gain her own superpowers and kick ass herself (obvi), only that’s not information she intends on sharing.
Super Adjacent, Crystal Cestari
Super Adjacent offers a new perspective on what it’s like to be romantically involved with superheroes. “Spoiler alert: it’s not easy being super-adjacent.” Claire and Bridgette are tied to the Warrior Nation organization out of Chicago, one desperately wants in and the other wants the exact opposite. This dual POV is all about the behind-the-scenes of superheroes!
Renegades, Marissa Meyer
Renegades is yet another dual POV story following Nova and Adrian. Adrian is a part of the Renegades, a syndicate of prodigies (i.e. humans with extraordinary abilities) who emerged from the ruins of a crumbled society and were able to create peace out of the chaos. Nova has been sent on a mission of vengeance after being aligned with a villain who has an exorbitant amount of power. What will happen when these two forces of nature meet?
I’ve got to be honest when I think of superheroes, many things come to mind. Characters with superhuman abilities, gods of thunder, and even rich boys with more knowledge than they know to what do with.
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