Ordinary

A Young Adult Sci-Fi Dystopian Novel (The Powers Series Book 1)

By: Starr Z. Davies

Narrated by: Nathaniel Ascher

Length: 10 hrs and 32 mins

Publisher's summary

Having a superpower is ordinary. Your power determines your entire life. But 17-year-old Ugene is powerless. He can’t read minds or enhance his strength. He can’t manipulate natural matter or heal injuries.

Determined to find out why he is different, Ugene submits himself as a test subject at Paragon. But nothing is as it seems. All exits from the testing floor are sealed. Subjects endure brutal and sometimes deadly injuries. No amount of power can save them.

When his new friend Jade disappears, Ugene is shocked to discover why so many test subjects vanish without a trace.

Now, Ugene must choose between his own preservation...or the lives of countless other test subjects.

Ordinary is the first installment in a YA dystopian-sci-fi trilogy. If you like fast-paced action, dynamic characters, and ongoing mystery, then you’ll love this series starter.

©2020 Starr Z. Davies (P)2021 Starr Z. Davies

Not too bad

I thought the narrator did a great job. No complaints at all. Didn't blow me away like some narrators, but I thought he did a very solid job.

As far as the story, it should probably appeal to people who really like the YA dystopian genre, but while I like YA, I don't read a whole lot of dystopian, and I found the story a bit slow. I kept putting it down and not picking it up for long periods of time (but, to be fair, I haven't been listening to audiobooks much lately the past year or so, so that's at least partly me). Nearly the entire book takes place in a facility and is about them being tested on. It was hard to see much progress happening, since they were not really even in the real world doing real-world things. There were a lot of characters, but very few of them were distinct enough for me to even remember who they are. Sometimes people would die, and I just wouldn't even care because I couldn't remember anything distinct about the person.

I also had some trouble with this very smart MC doing something very stupid (making the agreement to go to the facility in the first place), given that multiple people he trusted tried to get him not to and he had no way to check that the one thing he was supposed to get out of the deal would actually happen.

So ... I don't know. I think people who are more into this genre than I am might like it, but it was all a bit too boring for me, I think.

Wow

Couldn’t put it down! My preteen son and I listened to this audiobook together and we both enjoyed it. I’m excited to see where book 2 takes us. Ugene is a super likeable and relatable character, especially for anyone struggling with their own identities. Loved this intense story so much.

Loved it

I received this audiobook for free in exchange for an unbiased review. The story by Starr Z. Davies is enthralling. It was different from most of the super powers/apocalyptic stories by not focusing on the barren outside the city but exploring what an uncontrolled pharmaceutical company can do to subjects hidden from their city’s view. Every person is born with a superpower except the main character. The company wants to know why. The narrator is a pleasure to listen to. This is the start of a series I will follow.

An amazing story!

In a place where everyone is born with some level of superpower, that is what is considered ordinary. But what if you are born without one? Can you still be a contributing member of society? Maybe you can be more than just a contributor, maybe a hero...

This is a fantastic story by Starr Z. Davies to kick off the Powers series. I loved how Ugene was not the typical main character in a superhero story. He was very relatable. I’m excited to see what’s to come in the next book!

I enjoyed Nathaniel Ascher’s narration. His performance was so well done that I actually forgot I was listening to an audiobook.

I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and I have voluntarily left this review.

Interesting and well constructed story

This is an interesting and well constructed story. Ugene is, as the title suggests, ordinary and has no powers while most of his colleagues and neighbors have a variety of powers including telepathy, extraordinary strength, abilities to manipulate organic matter or technology and so on. I really enjoyed this exciting story. It was fast paced and full of action. The world and the characters were constructed very well and I enjoyed it from beginning to end. The simulations, the test subjects, Paragon... Just masterful story-telling. The narration by Nathaniel Ascher was spot-on, he truly brought the story to life and life into each character

[Thank you Starr Z. Davies via Audiobook Boom for the free audiobook!]

Being ordinary can change everything

Received as review copy from Story Origin; also received an audio review copy from Story Origin, this is an honest review.

Narrated by Nathaniel Ascher, whom brilliantly brings to life the first book of this hauntingly deep, memorable dystopian series.

Eugene is suppose to have a superpower and fit into a world where being unique is everything. Eugene is unique... but by having no special ability, forcing himself to earning a living hoping someone will see he's worth something despite the lack of powers. When a powerful company called Paragon claims they help him understand why Eugene is Powerless, he becomes a test subject to several haunting experiences. Something dark is happening inside Paragon and Eugene may be the key to changing everything. Highly recommended.

A Fantastic and Engaging New Setting!

I was given a copy of this audiobook for free in exchange for an honest review.

This was not my first time reading through this book. I've actually gone through the entire series, and then came back to review the narration and experience the book in a new way than I had before. Honestly, that probably says a lot about the book right there. The setting is fascinating and unique, anything but Ordinary. The overall plotline is perhaps a bit familiar amongst YA Dystopian books, but more in a home-comfort than a redundant-slog sort of way.

I knocked a star off the book rating simply due to the fact that there are some concepts (dealing with how Powers work) that I don't think come across as well as would be useful in this book, particularly as an intro to the series (actually, there are now two series!). As such, I find myself having to just accept a couple of things and letting myself be swept away by the story.

Those minor flaws aside, the book as a whole is pretty great. Characters are diverse and feel unique, each working under their own motivations and from their own backgrounds. This book has lead to many interesting discussions amongst myself, my wife, and my father (we all read the series) which I think is a great sign for a book.

I did question the narration, however. While the author had different voices for the characters, and was anything but monotone (which, those two things alone, make the reader better than many out there), I found myself questioning a couple of the voice choices. There was also not as much emotion behind some of the reading as I've heard with other readers, that I think let the book down a bit. Having read the book previously, I found that the voice choices made me think a bit differently of a couple of the characters, and not favorably so.

That all said, I believe that criticism came out a bit harsher than I meant or felt. I suppose one of the problems with listening to a book after reading it is that a reader will never read a book just like you did in your own head the first time through. The reader was clear, had distinguishing voices, and had sensible intonations in their speech, and ultimately that puts him at 3 stars at worse. I'm giving 4 because of the fact that having already read the book, I think my expectations were skewed a bit.

I do think one thing is of special note about this book, having gone back to it now after having read the entire two series in this setting. There are little things here in this very first book that plant seeds for the second series. They're small, and I didn't remember them when I came to that second series, but now going back they are clearly there, and I find that amazing. It suggests that even when Starr Z. Davies was writing this very first book, she already had at least bits of the two storylines in mind, and began tying them together and setting up for them at the very start. That sort of foresight and dedication leads to a very immersive setting that readers are able to joyfully explore over and over, finding new treasures on the way with every new visit.

Highly recommend.

Coming Of Age Sci-Fi Dystopic Series

This was my first experience with Starr Z Davies' work and it won't be my last. I enjoyed the book a lot. The author has created a world that is on the verge of collapse. She has created fascinating and unique characters; some that are likeable and some that are not. She has crafted an interesting plot which is full of twists and turns. I am looking forward to obtaining the next book in the series. Nathaniel Ascher's narration is great as he creates different voices for each of the characters. I was given a free copy of the audiobook and I have voluntarily left this review.

Super good!

I received a free code for this audiobook in exchange for an honest review. Whew! Now that I got that statement out of the way I can get on with the review.
I actually found the Powers Legacy series first and totally fell under its spell. The natural progression is to go back to the beginning, to the original series to get a fuller understanding of a story I'm enamored of. The first book of this series didn't disappoint either. The narration was great where each character had a voice and the intonation kept the narrative fresh and engaging. The premise of everyone having an ability except the mc is the opposite of what we usually see in these types of books. I'll be grabbing book 2 immediately.

Anything but ordinary

Narrator: inconsistent in differing between characters, their accents change without switching characters.
Language: shit, hell
Violence: tasering, imprisonment, murder
Sexual content: same-sex relationship but no details
Parents: not for under 14
Story: this is a slower dystopian story but definitely in a similar league to the mainstream ones. Besides a few more than convenient twists and predictable turns, this was an enjoyable adventure that leaves you curious about the next book and what else can possibly go wrong (in an adventurous sort of way). The government gives you Hunger Game vibes without all the glamor and such but all of the twisting of stories to suit agendas. A unique book that if the description has you curious you should just pick it up and be prepared to not put it down!

—I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.