Gathering Grace Book

This book proved to be irresistable, and I found myself tearing through it in just a couple of days. The principal characters are all engaging, their problems easy to relate to, their hurdles heartbreaking, their triumphs heartwarming. I felt like they could leap from the page and would love to spend some time in their company, especially if it involves sitting around in pajamas and eating dragon noodle soup.

The novel steps away from the superhero genre a bit, removing the assumption that anyone with powers will instantly don cape and cowl in order to fight crime or engage in epic power-fueled fights across a cityscape. Nor does it take the route of Harry Potter, concocting some secret world filled with wonder that you want to escape to.

Instead, it's about people, the wounds they give each other and how they heal from them. Yes, there are characters that were once friends but have been "arch rivals" for 50 years. But it proves to be less like Professor Xavier and Magneto and more like... one person using her talents unscrupulously and her friend feeling like she's in a position to stop her. And that really makes the tension and the relationship more approachable and engaging. While I love the X-Men, I personally can't quite identify with two men with radically opposed ideologies forming teams of superheroes to hash out their politics in mutant throw-downs.

Overall, the theme of people having superpowers in this novel is more backdrop, representing more the feared "Other" no matter what form it may take, be it sexual preference, religion, ethnicity or whatever. Though the powers these people have play a role in the narrative, the overarcing themes and challenges are universal.

This is not to say there are not rough spots. This is the first novel from this author and could have used stronger and tighter editing. There is also the mixed blessing of having the ending left open, with plenty of room for continuing stories with these characters and this world. In a way, it felt almost like a prologue. Which is great if you are looking for a new series to get into, not so great if you like closure in your stories.

Otherwise, I was utterly delighted reading this. There's just so much to offer: the struggles of parenthood, prejudice, self-discovery, grieving, healing, redemption, forgiveness, watching loved ones drift apart from you, coming to terms with mortality, taking a stand for what you believe in, young love... (No, this isn't a kissing book.) I encourage you to give this author a try and watch for more from her.