#Friday Review - Unbreakable: Heroes of Arcania by Liz Long (Young Adult, Science Fiction)

Series: Heroes of Arcania
Format: Mobi, 262 pages
Release Date: August 18, 2016
Publisher: CreateSpace
Source: Author
Genre: YA, Science Fiction

True heroes refuse to be broken.

Nova started the fight against Fortune for simple revenge, but now it’s turned into something much bigger. Arcania’s criminals are at each other’s throats, putting the city right in the middle of a war-zone. She’ll have to work with a few unlikely allies to end Fortune’s games once and for all. Nova thought she understood what it meant to be a superhero, but will she have to lose herself to truly defeat Fortune? 

Fortune has given Cole a choice, one with unbearable consequences. When Cole takes matters into his own hands to save his sister Penelope, he realizes too late he’s another pawn in Fortune’s games. Fortune will use Cole’s gift against his enemies…including Nova. Cole will have to become the hero he always wanted to be if he’s going to protect the love of his life. 

Nova and Cole could finally save Arcania from Fortune’s deadly games, but are they willing to sacrifice each other?

Unbreakable is the third and final installment in author Liz Long's Heroes of Arcania trilogy. When last we left Nova Benson, aka Supernova, she was being tossed out a window by her arch-nemesis Fortune while holding a bomb. At the same time, Cole Warner was taken by a teleporter to Fortune, where he is given an ultimatum. He can either save his sister Penelope, or bring him Nova in hopes she will join with him and stop fighting him ever inch of the way. Cole's choice will have immediate implications for everyone involved. 

Once again, Long alternatives narratives between Nova and Cole. I have absolutely no complaints at this since you get both characters perspectives while they are away from each other, and together trying to find a way to defeat Fortune. Nova Benson, who has impenetrable skin, increased strength, speed, and agility, became a superhero after her younger sister Sterling was murdered in cold blood by Fortune. In a town that is over run with criminals and like minded folks with powers, Nova has become a beacon of hope for the innocents who end up caught in the middle.

Sterling knew all about her abilities as an Unbreakable and encouraged her to not follow in her father's footsteps and become a lawyer. Since then, Nova has joined with Cole to form a group that has been called vigilantes by the citizens of Arcania, as well as the police, including Detective Barnes who is like an itch you can't reach when it comes to digging into who Nova and Cole really are, and what they are really up to. In the last book, Nova's best friend Henry Wheeler discovered a secret that has set him on a new path. Can Henry survive in a world where powerful beings can crush him like a bug?

While Nova is struggling with Cole's choice, and the fact that Penelope has become her new partner in his absence, Cole has to work to find a way to get Fortune to trust him until Nova can find a key figure that will bring Fortune down. Trust doesn't come easy to a man who can control electricity and has people who can quickly teleport his posse away from trouble quickly. Cole's journey isn't at all easy. He's tested time and time again. He knows that Fortune isn't messing around with him, nor does he truly trust Cole. Yet, Fortune can offer something Cole wants; more training in how to use his timekeeper abilities.

One of the things I have been most impressed with in this series, besides the action, suspense, romance, and powerful villains, is the fact that Nova's parents are engaged. They may not like the fact that she is running around saving the day, but they haven't sat her down and demanded that she cease and desist. They haven't demanded that she move out of town in order to stay away from Fortune and the powerful gangs that run Arcania. On the other side of the coin, Cole and Penelope's relationship really comes full circle, while their father Benjamin has to make choices of his own. 

If you have read the previous two installments, then you know that there is a prophecy when it comes to Penelope. A prophecy that she learned about in Supernova which sent her off with Fortune and his hodge podge group of supervillains who all have super abilities. I will say that I am more than happy with Penelope being back in the fold, and for the choice she is forced to make. I am happy that Henry, and Nova are still friends no matter what happened in the previous installments. I loved the ending to this series. I dare say that I am totally OK with how Long wraps up her story line. I am also grateful that she reached out to me and offered access to all three titles in lieu of an honest review.  

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#Thursday Review - SuperNova by Liz Long (Young Adult, Science Fiction, Fantasy) @LizCLong

Series: Heroes of Arcania # 1
Format: E-Galley, 279 pages
Release Date: June 16, 2016
Publisher: Amazon
Source: Author
Genre: Young Adult, Science Fiction

The streets of Arcania are overrun with crime, deteriorating as a madman named Fortune makes himself at home. He shows no mercy, striking down anyone in his path – including Nova Benson’s little sister. Devastated, Nova vows to seek justice for her family, but aside from her freak strength and impenetrable skin, how is she supposed to stop a monster like Fortune?

Cole Warner wants to help people. Entrusted to keep his family’s secret, he’s also frustrated at having to hide his gift. He knows he could do more to help in the fight against Fortune. If he could convince his sister Penelope to join him, they might even have a chance at beating him. When Cole meets Nova, he realizes his whole world is about to change. And he’s going to welcome it with open arms.

Falling for each other wasn’t part of the plan. Then again, neither was becoming a superhero.

SuperNova is the first installment in Liz Long's Heroes of Arcania trilogy. Meet 17-year old Nova Benson. She of the impenetrable skin, increased strength, speed, and agility. The one her little sister Sterling called SuperNova before she was killed by a villain named Fortune. The one who lives in a town called Arcania which was once a thriving place to live, but now is overrun with criminals and like minded individuals. The one that has hid her abilities from everyone fearing reprisals. 

Nova, after losing her sister to Fortune, has to make a decision. After Six months of anger, resentment, and self-loathing that she didn't do anything to save Sterling, she now must make the choice to finally do something. She must become the person who fights back against evil doers. Her first foray into the "heroes" arena, doesn't exactly go as plan. In fact, I dare say the author has a sense of humor and definitely proves it with the banter between Nova and the bad guy. Then comes the day that everything changes. The day that Nova saves a boy from school from being killed in front of everyone. The day her best friend, Henry, decides to go all in and make her a hero. 

Meet 17-year old Cole Warner, the new kid in Arcania along with his sister Penelope and father Benjamin. Cole and Penelope have had to remain in the shadows instead of going out into the light. They've moved around a lot. They're both gifted individuals. Cole with the ability to stop time, Penelope with Telekinesis. After watching Nova save a fellow student and survive without a scratch on her, Cole makes the decision to enlighten her about what she really is. But, not before Penelope warns that Nova is obsessed with her sisters murder and putting down Fortune.

Let's put this puppy to bed, shall we? This is really a story about personal struggle. How do you move on after a brutal loss of someone you love? How do you find revenge against the man who killed your sister, when that man is probably the most dangerous man alive? How do you not reveal your identity to the entire world when your own parents have warned you against it? Can you trust the boy you just met to keep your secrets? Can you trust the boys sister who seems a bit on the edge and angry all the time? Here's the best part: where does Nova's powers come from? Her Parents? Her Grandparents? Que the puzzled look.

Now the not so much. If you are into twisted high school relationships, triangles of doom, and angst that just won't stop no matter how hard you pray for it to go away, then you will love this book. If you love broken characters who want to rid the world of villains because they believe they are Unbreakable, then you will love this story. If you like a twisted cliffhanger ending that changes everything, then you will love this story. If you like shocking betrayals, then you will love this story.

Need I say, more? 

Oh, right, since I have already started this trilogy and didn't entirely dislike it, I will be moving forward to see what happens to Nova, and Cole. 

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