Ordinary

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

De: Starr Z. Davies

Narrado por: Nathaniel Ascher

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

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.

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.

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.