Today is release day for Scales by Nicole Conway. This is a young adult novel based around a superhero theme and it’s a great read. Below you’ll find the book cover and description along with my review. This is another Owl Hollow Press release and as many of you know, this publisher is one of my favourites and they have yet to release a book I haven’t enjoyed.
Scales by Nicole Conway
When New York City faces the threat of an ancient evil, a teenage boy must use a magical bracelet to transform into a monster-slaying dragon superhero.
Koji Owens is the new kid…again. As the only son of an Air Force F-16 pilot, he’s learned to adapt and survive every time they move. It’s not easy starting over with new friends and schools every two years, but when the Owens family makes their final move to New York, Koji finally has hope for a normal high school life–that is, until he finds a strange bracelet in his locker.
Transformed into a storm-summoning dragon warrior, Koji finds himself caught up in a world of ancient powers, secret identities, and colossal monsters threatening to destroy his new home. But these awesome powers come with strings attached, and revealing his true identity could mean losing everything he loves. With his family and friends now in mortal danger and New York City in flames, Koji must find the courage to become the hero they need and face down an enemy hiding in plain sight.
A comic-obsessed teenage misfit embraces his inner hero in this action-packed adventure that will leave you ready to get your scales on!
Scales (Spirit of Chaos Book 1) – My Review
This was a fun superhero themed book that younger teens are going to love. It’s light, fun, has great characters, and was overall, a joy to read.
The story begins with Koji moving to a new city with his Dad and starting a new school. He’s worried about not fitting in or making friends. The usual teen angst. He finds a purple gift box outside his room, but with no time to open it, he places it in a drawer to open when he returns from school. The box contains a bracelet and once on his arm, it can’t be removed. This is the start of the transformation for Koji.
The story is unique and I loved all the characters and felt they were well written and fully formed. I had a particular fondness for Drake and Madeline and loved how they played such a big part in the story as well.
There’s plenty of action and choices for Koji to make as the book unfolds and there were some great subplots interwoven too. The story includes friendship, family, and even love, and I felt the author did a great job of getting into the mind of a young teenage boy and exploring the depths of life in a new city and school. I loved that Koji was a caring and considerate character but still had his own doubts and flaws. He felt real.
I thoroughly enjoyed the plot, the action, the superpowers, and all the characters and look forward to seeing where this series goes.
Scales is available today from all major outlets including paperback and ebook on Amazon.
Until next time,
Keep reading and writing,
Amanda
Amanda J Evans is an award-winning Irish author and writing coach. Amanda writes adult romance that often crosses into paranormal and fantasy. Growing up with heroes like Luke Skywalker and Indiana Jones, her stories centre on good versus evil with a splice of love and magic thrown in too. Her books have all won awards and her novella, Hear Me Cry, won the Book of the Year Award at the Dublin Writers Conference 2018. Amanda is also the author of Surviving Suicide: A Memoir from Those Death Left Behind, published in 2012.
