Looking For a Good Book

Wow. WOW!  This is 100% a five star book!

I have been aware of author Seanan McGuire’s “Velveteen” series for a number of years now, but I hadn’t been motivated enough to crack open one of the books – for no particular reason other than that I’ve a lot of books in my TBR pile already. though I would also have to admit that the covers lead me to thinking these are treacly YA superhero books.  Of course, being the fan of McGuire’s work that I am, I should know better.

Velma Martinez has a super power.  She can manipulate objects – in her case, children’s toys – to do her bidding.  She is given the superhero name of “Velveteen” when her parents sold her to the Super Patriots, Inc corporation, which manages all super heroes.

But Velma walked away from the organization as soon as she was legally able to do so. Unfortunately for her, she was then branded a Super Villain – after all, why would anyone leave a hero group if they weren’t otherwise opposed to doing good?  Fortunately for Velma, the State of Oregon was willing to stand up to the powerful Super Patriots, Inc and offer Velveteen the job of being the state’s official super hero, giving Velma protection from the Super Patriots as long as she stayed within Oregon’s borders.

This book combines a number of short stories, combined to tell a novel-length story. We learn a lot about Velma’s early years, her troubles with the Super Patriots, her loves and betrayals and her various encounters with alternate reality versions of her friends and enemies – generally these versions are not the friends or enemies they are in her reality.

The stories lead to a major confrontation (I really don’t want to give too much away – you really should read this) but the stories themselves work as stand-alone fiction.

Despite the comic-book-look of the covers, this isn’t light, superhero fiction.  This is about people.  A person, Velma, in particular.  And the reason we’re reading about her is because of who she is and the special things she’s going to do.  And because she’s got super powers, as do her friends, there are going to be some battles, and people are probably going to die.

This is not to say there aren’t light moments.  I laughed aloud when I read: “As for what’s so important … we’ve got ourselves a leprechaun infestation.” Some of the characters and their powers, and the use of the powers… Humorous stuff! Even Velveteen, sending an army of teddy bears to battle is a great, comic image despite the seriousness of the situation.

I can’t believe that I didn’t trust that Seanan McGuire, one of my favorite writers, would deliver such a powerful work (or series of works).  I’m now seeking out all the Velveteen books. You should, too.

Looking for a good book? Velveteen Vs. The Early Adventures by Seanan McGuire is truly superb superhero fantasy. Read it.  Just, read it.

I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher, through Netgalley, in exchange for an honest review.

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Velveteen vs The Early Adventures

author: Seanan McGuire

series: Velveteen Vs #1-#2

publisher: Subterranean Press

ISBN: 9781645242208

hardcover, 544 pages