Superordinary Society: Book One Jazz Vanessen is weird—and not just because he’s a werewolf. For most of his life, he’s felt different from his alpha male brothers and friends. Since he’s adopted, he can’t even blame it on family.Now eighteen, Jazz meets his idol, the social activist Lysandra Mason, and her breathtaking nephew, Dash Mercury. When Dash is around, even stranger things start to … things start to happen, including Jazz falling hopelessly in lust. Not only is Jazz having visions, making people disappear, and somehow turning invisible, but somebody’s following him and threatening to reveal his pack’s secrets to the world.
Together with Dash and Jazz’s equally amazing friends—Carla, BeBop, Khadija, and Fatima—they discover the danger is even more lethal than they thought, and Jazz’s weirdness may save all their lives.
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Hidden Powers wasn’t exactly was I was expecting since I didn’t realize it was YA/NA, but TLain exceeded any other expectations I had by taking on another facet of PNR – younger characters. The result was exciting, entertaining, and suspenseful!
TLain excels at creating a secondary cast that gives the MC’s and the story texture and dimension. Hidden Powers proved that once again. Not only did we meet and get acquainted with the Superordinary Society – the compassion, support, dynamics between them all – but we also got to meet (or once again spend time with) the incredible family Jazz was adopted into. They’re unique for sure, but he couldn’t have asked for a better family.
I really admire all the members of the Superordinary Society. They’re all misfits in some way. And yet they fit together perfectly. Carla with her tenacity and strong will, Dij with her loyalty and secrets, BeBop with his snazzy way of dressing and speaking, and super intelligence and humor, Dash with his good will, good deeds, and secrets, and finally, Jazz in all his lanky, knobby, “weird” glory. Oh he had hidden powers and secrets galore. He’s a gay werewolf, for goodness sake! I think in some way, each of them felt “alone”, a common trait among teens. I admired how Dash put things in perspective when they were choosing a name for their group:
“Yes, it means exactly what the name implies. Outside or beyond ordinary.” He held up a finger. “That’s even better than beyond the natural, don’t you think?”
And I appreciated how TLain brought these five together so they could use their strengths for a common goal.
The supernatural and suspense elements were well done. It was interesting how the supes came together and why. I enjoyed how TLain conveyed the powers of these supes, how they were revealed, and the number of different supernatural elements there were in this world. I also liked how TLain built suspense around the main plot in Hidden Powers, used a fair amount of action to do it, and answered some questions in this first book. But she also built more suspense via an overarching plot. I mean, I know I’m going to read the next installment because I *need* answers to my questions.
TLain seems to be adept at weaving in messages of sorts in her stories. Whether or not that’s intentional, I don’t know. But I always find hidden meaning. In Hidden Powers, she touched on teen emotions of loneliness. She also touched on prejudices against sexual orientation. And she hinted at feelings and emotions surrounding adoption – that feeling of “not belonging”. I admired that she also incorporated “finding oneself” as well.
Overall, I felt Hidden Powers had a strong and well developed cast of characters and storyline. I’m eager for more from Jazz and his gang of misfits.
Hidden Powers is a fun sweet YA paranormal fantasy spin off from the author’s Harker Pack series. I love that there is a m/m love interest reminiscent of Vanyel from Mercedes Lackey’s Last Herald Mage series (which I absolutely adore). The heroes and heroines of the newly formed Superordinary Society are in their late teens early 20’s except BeBop he is 15 going on 40. These extraordinary young folks are going to change the world. I enjoyed watching them come together and can’t wait to see where they take us going forward. If you like paranormal YA this book is for you.
Super fun adventure story!
Shifters, magic, and an evil overlord with plans for world domination are all jam packed in this masterful story of family, friendship and love.
Jazz swears he sees apparitions and he faints at inopportune times and of course he has to meet the hottest guy ever while his life is in a blender. It was hard to stop myself from chewing my nails off. What IS going on in this world? There are so many threads to pull and unravel and stuff we learn that just made me sink deeper and argh! Tara structured this novel so well, when you think you know what the end game is, the next scene is like a “Wait! There is more! moment and you get pulled down a different path with even more magic and crazy. Such a cool thing.
This story is a bit of a departure from Tara’s norm and that is great for us. We still get magic, beautiful boys and her trademark HEA’S (HFN for Hidden) and funny tshirt sayings. Pop-pop’s fave sweatshirt says “Some people are gay. Get over it.” Lol. We also see the seamless blend of different cultures in unexpected ways, Bebop’s uncle is a revelation. So awesome!
While you do not have to read the other books to enjoy this one – it is a standalone – I recommend picking up the other series, too. Werewolves, power, money and hot alphas? So much soap opera history is buried in Hidden Powers you will have so much fun unraveling it.
* Advanced copy provided for an honest review.
New Adult, Urban Fantasy, LGBT, Paranormal Romance. A really great read with twists and turns, lots of mystery and suspense. An easy to read page-turner with fantastic likeable characters, I couldn’t put it down 100% page-turner. First book in a two book series and it’s a perfect blend of everything I love about paranormal/shifter stories.
An entertainingly weird shifter, Jazz and an equally compelling Dash, were full of fun and magic.
Well done young adult, characters. Their complex world building and story lines worked just as good together as they did apart. No part of this book detracted from the main characters.
Inherent differences among the characters only made them increasingly relatable.
A little slow building, but once I got into the story, it was thoroughly enjoyable.
**I received this ARC via Gay Romance Reviews for my honest feedback.**
I enjoyed this book and the characters overall, but I felt a little lost. There is apparently a preceding series that gives more information on some of the characters. I think I would have enjoyed this book more with that background. There is also a bit too much info-dump, especially early on. Maybe the author was setting the stage for the whole series? It seemed a lot of issues/plot points were touched on, but not a lot concluded. Again, maybe that has been saved for future books, but it made this one drag a little. Still, I am intrigued, and I will continue on to see where the next book leads.
I received an ARC and am voluntarily leaving this honest review.
Loved this story of Jazz, Dash and all their friends. These are the supernatural kids who don’t fit in with the regular kids but they’ve found each other and formed their own group that loves and supports each other. Turns out, the very things that make them different may be just what’s needed to save the world. Read this in one fell swoop and am about to start book two. Cannot wait to see how Tara Lain develops this world and its characters!
This is such a fun YA page turner that you will not regret reading! It was such a great read but I do recommend reading Tales of Harker Pack first for maximum enjoyment because there is so much crossover. Again this is YA so don’t expect tons of steam. It is pretty slow burn.
Jazz Vanessen has always felt he was different, just a little weird. Having been adopted, there may be a reason for feeling so weird. At a family picnic, he meets his idol Lysandra Mason and her nephew Dash Mercury. When Dash is around, even crazier things happen. People disappear; he sees a man no one else does; and he finds he can turn invisible. Jazz knows he is being followed and it seems that someone is after his family. Maybe his weirdness will just what is needed.
This is the first book in the Superordinary Society. There are five members in the beginning and another joins them towards the end. This story was intriguing. I was delighted to realize it is set in the same world as the Harker Pack series. It was nice to visit with friends and I enjoyed meeting the new characters. The action was slow to come but when it did, it was very exciting and engrossing. The ending leaves plenty of room for future stories. I look forward for many more stories.
This was a little different than what I’m used to reading by this author. Jazz is a teenage werewolf. Things keep happening to him and he has no clue why? He meets his idol and her nephew and is instantly smitten with Dash, a mage. Add in a great group friends, who have their own secrets, a mystery, adventure and super light romance and you get a pretty good story! Overall it was really well written, highly recommend!! I am voluntarily leaving a review form an advanced copy that I received. My reviews are solely based on my thoughts and opinions.
Tara Lain has written a wonderful YA story. Dash and Jazz’s story is so complex, adventurous and so good! All of the secondary characters are amazing and complex as well. Tara Lain has done an unbelievable job with this YA novel! I am looking forward to reading book two! I read an advanced copy of this book and this is my unbiased review! I loved it!
Hidden Powers is the first book in the Superordinary Society series. Though the book can be read on its own, having read Tales of the Harker Pack series would definitely make the experience of reading this book much better.
When I started reading this, I was actually surprised by the age of the main protagonist and I had to check under which category this was written for. I saw that it was a NA book and things suddenly made more sense after knowing that.
Jazz Vanessen has always been a little different even in a family known for their strangeness. He is a Super Alpha but there is something more in him that sets him apart. When weird events he can’t explain start happening, he begins questioning himself and doubts set in. Dash Mercury is a protégé and one of the best young mages of his age. He had been tasked to observe and report his findings about Jazz who had been become an interest to the magical authorities. Keeping it secret from Jazz is getting harder as Dash slowly falls for the young werewolf. As trouble erupts around them, Dash and Jazz with the rest of their friends need to trust and help each other in order to save their love ones and the world.
Hidden Powers is an interesting story with a mix of the supernatural and a bit of mystery. From what has been shown of the lore, the world is an intriguing one. The world building is good and the characters are interesting, unique and complex. Though each character fits a certain stereotype, they still stand out. The plot of the story is quite interesting with just enough clues thrown around to keep the reader hooked. It has some fast-paced action with enough breathing room in between. The romance isn’t the main focus of the story so if that would be the one thing you’d be looking for, then this might disappoint you in that department. The story did do a good job of exploring what it means to doubt one’s self and question who one really is despite being surrounded by loving people who do not judge one for their peculiarity.
The romantic relationship between Dash and Jazz could’ve used a bit more development especially on Dash’s side. It did feel a bit rushed somehow but hopefully the second book could fix this. Also, there was too much information dump in the beginning about Jazz’s family, the pack, the werewolves, and other stuff that it can get a bit overwhelming for the reader. Spacing them out in between chapters could’ve helped. Some of the pop culture references and some of the slang used though familiar to me as a reader, might confuse other people who are not exposed or aware of those terms.
Still, Hidden Powers is a nice start for the Superordinary Society Series. It is has a strong, well-developed and likeable cast and a gripping storyline. This would be a 4.25 stars out of 5 stars.
I received an ARC of this book via GRR and I have chosen to publish my fair and honest review.
This book was absolutely magical. The story of a super Alpha werewolf and the super Mage he at first distrusts and then comes to love; superb. Yes, they are young. But this was no YA book (or none like the ones I read as a youngster). Their solutions to the problem of a wolf mage hybrid that wants to take over the world and maybe destroy the Vanessen pack in the process, are mature, unique and well thought out.
Jazz Vanessen falls into instant lust with Dash Mercury. Even though he knows something is off with the other. Mage Dash is astonished to find out werewolves are real.
This was a very enjoyable romp of a book. A quick, engaging read. The second book awaits.
This is the start of a new spin-off series of the Tales of the Harker Pack, and it is amazing! The story caught me since the beginning to the very last page with its agile plot, magical situations and a very interesting storyline. Again Ms Lain showed us how good is in creating paranormal worlds with wonderful characters. Jazz and Dash are my new favorites and I can’t wait to read more about them
and their friends. A captivating tale of magic and love!
Superordinary Society Book One.
Jazz Vanessen is an outcast in both the human and the supernatural worlds. He is a gay werewolf, but he thinks something else is going on with him. The effects of this condition are greater after his best friend, Carla, is attacked by several boys in the woods. When they disappear and Carla’s memory of the event is fuzzy, Jazz thinks he might have caused the incident. Now, Jazz is the center of attention for possibly three separate entities. One is Lysandra Mason, Jazz’s idol. After meeting Lysandra and her nephew, Dash Mercury, at the picnic, Jazz falls for Dash. Can the two get past each other’s secrets to find the threat to Jazz, or will their personal mysteries block progress?
If you’re looking for a YA Paranormal story with a host of supernatural creatures and a huge extended family, this is the book for you!
Delightfully fun YA romp in the world of magic and supernaturals. Action packed adventure of self awareness and fighting the bad guys creates a really fun read. The story-line was engaging and kept me reading the entire book in one sitting. The characters were well crafted and i really loved both Jazz and Dash. It was awesome to read about the previous MC’s from the original series.
This is the long awaited spin off to the Tales of the Harker Pack, which i loved. The readers of that series met a young boy named Jazz, and this story centers around him and the key MC’s in that series. Jazz is older now and doing an internship during the summer, before he starts college in the fall.
I so enjoyed the friendship that develops between the interns and the group that they create together. Their skills and gifts are inspiring and i have hope of more problem solving adventures. There are a lot of people that a new reader would need to get to know and the relationships are complex.
Jazz and Dash have the beginnings of an amazing connection and the ending of the book was a at most a HFN. I do hope the author brings these guys together in a meaningful way as they more out of their teen years.
I do recommend that you read the Tales of the Harker Pack series because you will be among friends when you read this story. If you just read this book, you may find that you are overwhelmed with characters and a rich backstory that you don’t understand.