Zeroes by Scott Westerfeld
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This book is about realistic superheroes. I have never liked Superman, because he’s too unrealistic. His superpower makes him able to do anything and not have any drawbacks except green rocks. That makes him boring as hell.

After flawed superheroes started appearing in stories and comics (and nowadays movies), I was hooked. I used to search for more of such stories. In Zeroes, I have found an exceptionally creative one.

The superpowers listed in this book are original. I haven’t seen them anywhere else, and their effects and drawbacks are just as creative. The superpowers are not so clear cut as the main characters are still figuring them out. With many instances of their powers backfiring and getting them into trouble.

The main characters are a bunch of teens, affectionately known as the ‘Zeroes’ because they aren’t heroes per se. They found each other and banded together to test and push their powers to the limit. The story of them figuring out their powers and at the same time figuring out the problems in their lives makes for a very engaging story. This implies much character growth, which is common in Westerfeld’s books.

My only grip, character wise, is the leader of the Zeroes. I can’t seem to make out his character, whether is he supposed to be good, bad, or ugly (on the inside). I am not sure if this was done on purpose, but since this is the 1st book of the series, we shall see how his character progresses.

If you love flawed superheroes stories, like those in the Marvel Universe, then this book is definitely a must-read.

Score Breakdown:
Story/Plot (50%): 4.5/5
Character Development (25%): 4/5
Writing style (25%): 5/5

Total : 4.5/5

Disclaimers:
– I read this as an audiobook

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