Brokenhearted #2 The Invisble

Presenting Brokenhearted #2 The Invisble by Amelia Kahaney.

Here is the summary of the book:

In the riveting sequel to the reimagined superhero story The Brokenhearted, Anthem Fleet takes on a powerful new villain and makes some startling discoveries about her family and her past that will forever change her.

Taking up where The Brokenhearted ended, the sequel finds Anthem Fleet attempting to return to a normal life after an experimental surgery that left her with a bionic hummingbird heart and a terrifying new strength. But she can’t shake her suspicions about her father’s connection to the Syndicate and she can’t ignore the cries of help in the crime-ridden city of Bedlam. She finds new promise in her relationship with Ford, but after his lifesaving surgery, the Ford Anthem knew slips away.

When a mysterious new group called “The Invisible” starts attacking the privileged North Siders, Anthem has to step up and be the New Hope that Bedlam needs, or Bedlam will fall…once and for all.

Publishers Weekly called The Brokenhearted an “atmospheric, adventure-laced debut” with “graceful world-building, strong characterizations, and an enveloping plot.”

Following the events of the first book. Anthem Fleet is finally growing into her abilities. In the first book she had lost her human heart in an accident and got an experimental "chimera" heart transplanted by by Jax, the black market scientist. Her supposed boyfriend of last season, Gavin is very much dead. The syndicate is lying low after loosing their highest player (in the form of Gavin) and bidding their time. But Bedlam City is still a great cesspool of activity and another enemy rears their ugly head.

A group called "The Invisible" (coincidentally the title of the book) are the enemy number 1 and they seem to hold an iron-clad grudge against the Northsiders, and are engaging in 'deadly pranks' to met out their judgement. Flash-backs provide a look into Bedlam during the time of the "Hope", connecting the dots between that person and the "New Hope". How Bedlam City became so divided and the syndicate came into power.

Reading the first book had made me think of this series as nothing but a Gotham/Starling City spoof, and Anthem Fleet taking up the mantle of the heroine as nothing but the rip-off off Batman/Arrow. But since then the characters have grown on me. Anthem Fleet felt rather stupid first time round with her reasons of becoming the "New Hope" but not anymore. While she still relies on her speed to keep her identity a secret, she still trusts too readily. Well Rome wasn't built in a day so changes will be gradual.

The plot for the sequel is also well structured. The first time round it felt more like an experiment. A trial run. But "The Invisible" boosts a great plot, much better layered background development, evil villains, great action and better character development. And I must point out that the romance between Anthem and Ford was well done. Much better than how it was with Gavin. Come on can't even remember what happened then, details are still sketchy to me. Thus, out with the old, in with the new. But yes i'd say it again, I was hesitant about it at first but the sequel was a much better read than the first.

"A much better action packed sequel and even meaner villains to tackle"

Genre :      Young Adult, Urban Fantasy, Sci-fi, Superhero, Romance

Publisher: Harper Teen

Release Date: 7th October, 2014

My Copy: publisher and edelweiss

Rate:              4/5 (Really Liked It)

Other Books in the series (review links):
                #1 The Brokenhearted 

Buy:           Amazon | Book Depository 

The Brokenhearted

Well written prose but a slightly unbalanced plot. Presenting The Brokenhearted by Amelia Kahaney.

Here is the summary of the book:

A teenage girl is transformed into a reluctant superhero and must balance her old life with the dark secret of who she has become.

Prima ballerina Anthem Fleet is closely guarded by her parents in their penthouse apartment. But when she meets the handsome Gavin at a party on the wrong side of town, she is immediately drawn into his dangerous world. Then, in a tragic accident, Anthem falls to her death. She awakes in an underground lab, with a bionic heart ticking in her chest. As she navigates her new life, she uncovers the sinister truth behind those she trusted the most, and the chilling secret of her family lineage…and her duty to uphold it.

The Dark Knight meets Cinder in this gripping and cinematic story of heartbreak and revenge. From Alloy Entertainment, this inventive new superhero story is sure to captivate any reader.

A broken heart. Vigilante justice. A city of mass criminal activities. The superhuman protagonist fighting to bring the criminals to justice..... All fodder for an amazing story.... In a way Kahaney's tale, is a fun read but sadly an unbalanced plot hammers it down a bit.

This is Anthem Fleet's tale. An overpriviledged girl from from upper Bedlam city. She has everything that money can buy. She goes to a private school and works hard at being a ballerina. She had always done everything to gain the approval of her parents, always feeling a disappointment and only a replacement to her sister who died before she was born.

But then she meets the mysterious Gavin, one day shirking from her routine to go party in the wrong side of town. Before long she starts to sneak off to see him during her ballet sessions. And the unforeseen happens one day, Gavin is kidnapped and Anthem is asked for a hefty ransom. If all that wasn't enough, she gets into an accident before she could get home. Lucky enough she is saved but now she carries a bionic heart......And fights back.

As you can already see, Anthem is our protagonist. Not a very strong one I tell you. For a better part of the book, she remains rather naive and I don't wanna compare but she reminded me a lot of Bella (Twilight). She tends to take everything at face value. Not a good thing I tell you.....

 Her short romp with Gavin lacked luster. While I have no problem with insta-love(occasionally) but here it just felt like the author forcibly added it for a plot twist when she could have done it differently. But Goodness, she (Anthem) gains back that momentum after she gets the heart and decides to get even with the bad guys...... that there is the make up for a great superhero. Overtly, the plot held a lot of parallels to Dark Knight movies and Arrow (I seriously don't see much of Cinder in here) and the plot was very much predictable.

It was a fun read, the half of it anyway. The world building also isn't very well done. By the looks of it Bedlam may hold similarities to Gotham and Starling Cities but the author left a lot of details up in the air. A little more description may have cleared a lot of plot holes and the majority of its focus on this person called 'The Hope'. Who is he/she exactly, what was this person to the people of the city and why be constantly mentioned.

The action was definitely very well done and one of the best parts besides Anthem discovering her abilities..... On the whole I'd say a lot of things could have been much better but it was an okayish but a fun read...... Though not a solid standalone.

"There is a new superwoman on the block" 

Genre :      Young Adult, Urban Fantasy, Sci-fi, Superhero

Publisher: HarperTeen

Release Date: 8th October, 2013

My Copy: publisher and edelweiss

Rate:              3/5 (Liked It)

Buy:           Amazon | Book Depository