Kavanand (Reading for Two)'s review of Black and White (The Icarus Project, #1) (original) (raw)

• Home
• My Books
• Browse ▾
  • Recommendations
  • Choice Awards
  • Genres
  • Giveaways
  • New Releases
  • Lists
  • Explore
  • News & Interviews
  • Art
  • Biography
  • Business
  • Children's
  • Christian
  • Classics
  • Comics
  • Cookbooks
  • Ebooks
  • Fantasy
  • Fiction
  • Graphic Novels
  • Historical Fiction
  • History
  • Horror
  • Memoir
  • Music
  • Mystery
  • Nonfiction
  • Poetry
  • Psychology
  • Romance
  • Science
  • Science Fiction
  • Self Help
  • Sports
  • Thriller
  • Travel
  • Young Adult
  • More Genres

Discover new books on Goodreads

Meet your next favorite book

Kavanand (Reading for Two)'s Reviews > Black and White

Black and White (The Icarus Project, #1)
by

Superheroes: check. Supervillains: check. Dystopian future: check. Moral ambiguity: check. Fiendish plot: check. Excellent read: check.

This book is chock full of awesome. Set in a dystopian early 22nd century Chicago (now known as New Chicago), it's the story of two former friends: by-the-books superhero Jet and budding supervillain Iridium. Once the closest of friends, they're now bitter enemies. Jet is the adored superhero, and Iridium, once a superhero in training, is now on the other side of the law. In this world, the so-called extrahumans have had superpowers for a few generations, apparently the result of fertility treatments gone wrong (the how and why are left somewhat unanswered, but I get the feeling it could be important in future books). Superheroes are sent to the Academy as children for intensive training. A mysterious corporation controls the Academy and the superheroes' lives. When the heroes graduate from the Academy, they vie for corporate sponsors. The superheroes are revered by some segments of society and loathed by others, especially the regular human police and the Everyman Society, a group dedicated to ridding the world of extrahumans.

Alternating chapters switch between Jet and Iridium's points of view. The book also switches back and forth between the past and present, so we see how the two protagonists first met and how it all went horribly wrong. Like so many superhero stories, the villain is a touch more interesting than the hero. But although I preferred Iridium, I still found Jet to be a multifaceted character. Her particular power, shadow, is a dangerous one, and she's constantly worried about staying sane.

The story moves at a quick pace, and I had a hard time putting this book down. Although it's written by two authors, the writing never felt disjointed or awkward. There are two different voices, but the voices belong to two very different characters, so it really works. The plot is intriguing, and it leaves a lot of potential for future books. There are lots of fun nods to the superhero genre. Kittredge and Kessler have built a compelling world.

My only complaint about the writing is a small one: there are a few scenes between Jet and her potential love interest that veer into romance novel clichés (weak knees, fluttering stomachs, etc.). It's only a few paragraphs, but these bits stick out in what is otherwise a gritty, dystopian superhero tale.

Overall, Black and White is an absorbing, entertaining read. I'm definitely looking forward to future volumes in the series.

Sign into Goodreads to see if any of your friends have read_Black and White_.

Sign In »

Reading Progress

Comments

No comments have been added yet.

Add a reference:

Search for a book to add a reference

add: link cover

Welcome back. Just a moment while we sign you in to your Goodreads account.