Steelheart by Brandon SandersonSeries: The Reckoners #1
Published by: Delacorte Books for Young Readers on September 24, 2013
Genre: Dystopian, Fantasy, Science Fiction
Pages: 384
Source: Purchased
Buy on Amazon • Book Details
Rating: ★★★★★
Ten years ago, Calamity came. It was a burst in the sky that gave ordinary men and women extraordinary powers. The awed public started calling them Epics.
But Epics are no friend of man. With incredible gifts came the desire to rule. And to rule man you must crush his wills.
Nobody fights the Epics...nobody but the Reckoners. A shadowy group of ordinary humans, they spend their lives studying Epics, finding their weaknesses, and then assassinating them.
And David wants in. He wants Steelheart—the Epic who is said to be invincible. The Epic who killed David's father. For years, like the Reckoners, David's been studying, and planning—and he has something they need. Not an object, but an experience.
He's seen Steelheart bleed. And he wants revenge.
OH MY GOD! This book!! Why did I not read you for like, a million years???
I swear, Steelheart and I have been playing the book equivalent of phone tag. I originally got a copy of it at BEA. I only really stood in line to get one because Eileen wanted to get one for Inky. I wasn’t convinced it was really a book for me… but I got one anyway.
Then I never read it.
It sat on my shelf like a poor, lonely, abandoned book.
Then, a few months later, I suddenly wanted to read it. The problem? I was in the UK and my copy was sitting 5,000 miles away in California. Oops. Luckily there was a Kindle sale so I bought it then… but I still didn’t read it for WEEKS. Then I read it during one crazy insomniac night…
I HAD NO IDEA WHAT I WAS MISSING!
This book rocks super hard you guys! I don’t know why I ever doubted it. For some reason the synopsis never screamed “Ashley book” to me, which is weird because I love the word “Epic” and I love superheroes (even if they’re assholes).
Steelheart had a lot more personality than I anticipated. The main character, David, was a pretty funny guy! He was kind of like a sci-fi version of Dr. House in the sense that he kept coming up with elaborate metaphors, some of which were good, but others were slightly ridiculous. I don’t normally connect with male characters all that well, but David’s character was just so ALIVE! I loved seeing him drool over a girl a bit, and make himself look like an idiot, and then do something CRAZY EPIC COOL on a total whim. He was a bit of a badass! But also kind of a nerd.. but in a really cool way.
And oh damn, Steelheart will completely keep you guessing! This book has so many crazy mysteries and twists. And even though I guessed a few of them, there was still that burning desire to see if I was right! So I had to keep reading!
If you’re into superheroes, dystopian books, epic badass rebels, explosions, and crazy motorcycle car chases, you NEED to give this book a go!
The Verdict
This makes me so excited!! I just got Steelheart out from the library because it’s my book club’s read for this month and it’s great to hear that it’s worthy of the hype I’ve read and five stars!! Cannot wait to finish my current read and get into Steelheart 🙂
Thanks for the great review 😀
Wow…all the reviews I’ve read so far said they hated it! That’s reeeeally opposite opinions. Dang…this means I’m just going to have to read it and find out for myself. 😉 I really like funny characters. And I loooove superheroes.
Wow you’re gushing! Ok so I did buy it when it was a kindle deal, but I haven’t made it a priority. I need to make this a priority!
Ahh so glad you loved this one! Haha you’re totally welcome for dragging you along with me to get a copy 😉 I’ve only read raving reviews for this one and I found it at my library the other day so I really need to start it soon. So glad that this one surprised you with how epic David was as a character. Fantastic review, Ashley! <33
I have heard of this book but I think you are the first one to say it was amazing. 🙂 It sounds like something I would like cause I like superheros, so it will go on the TBR list. 🙂
Yes, yes, yes! *Fist pump* I LOVED this book and I’m normally not a huge superhero fan. Almost all of the characters felt so real to me and I want to be part of the gang in real life! I’m so glad you liked it too!
Oh yay!!! I’ve been wanting to read this, but I read the prologue while waiting in line for Brandon Sanderson’s signing, and I wasn’t all that impressed. I definitely have to try it again!
I think it definitely gets better as it progresses. I wouldn’t say I was immediately hooked, but after a few chapters I was like, “Wow, this is really interesting!”
That’s good! I’ll have to stop back by after I read it to compare notes 🙂
YES READ IT. READ ANY BRANDON SANDERSON AND I WILL LITERALLY LOVE YOU ALL FOREVER.
Hahhahaaa how did I know this comment was yours, even before I saw your name?! XD
I WILL. Someday…
😀 😀 😀 😀 So I’m a Sanderson fangirl and read this one the second I could get my friend to let me borrow her ARC >.>. I was hooked immediately because I cried like a baby in the prologue, haha. I love the Dr. House comparison, I was a huge House fan so that definitely explains why I loved the crazy metaphors so much ;-). So have you read any other Sanderson books????? *scoots a pile towards you* I would really love to see what you think of The Emperor’s Soul; it’s a novella so it won’t take you long, but it gives you a good idea of his fantasy writing and then you can jump into all his crazy awesome books 😀
I haven’t read any other Sanderson books, but now I may have to!! 😀
While the first part of this review really is a tragic story I’m so happy you’ve FINALLY given this book a chance. Literally, Brandon Sanderson can do no wrong. I love everything I’ve ever read by him, and Steelheart…STEELHEART. You have seen the light. Just EVERYTHING. EEP. I can’t even speak words. And I still haven’t written my own review. Hehe anyway, awesome review!! I’m so glad you’ve joined the Sanderson bandwagon!
Psst! Mistborn is also amazing. 😀
XOXO,
Inkykins
Brandon Sanderson is so awesome. I am happy that you found this awesome author. 🙂
I’m so glad you enjoyed this one! It’s one of my favorites that I’ve read in the last year, and I can’t wait for the sequel this fall. The plot twists were my favorite – I guessed a few, like you, but then at the very end my jaw literally dropped.
Wow, I never would have guessed with that blurb.
I started this one a couple months ago, but just couldn’t get into it. Maybe I need to give it another chance someday soon 🙂
I started reading it today 🙂 Thanks for recommending it…otherwise I would never have even considered it based on the blurb. xo
I hope you love it!! 😀