Review by Zilelabelle -- Superhighway by Alex Fayman

[Zilelabelle]

[Following is a volunteer review of "Superhighway" by Alex Fayman.]

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4 out of 4 stars

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Superhighway is an intriguing superhero coming of age story by Alex Fayman. The book starts at the end of the story with Alex Fine racing through a data stream, attempting to kill himself by exhausting his powers, but changing his mind at the last minute, barely managing to arrive spent and half-dead at his lush and palatial island estate.

The story flashes back to Alex’s upbringing at an orphanage in L.A. and the reader follows him as he grows up a painfully smart kid bouncing around between foster homes and failed adoptions. When his orphanage finally gets a computer lab, Alex discovers he has the ability to travel through a data stream.

Rather than running wild and free at the first sign of powers, Alex actually starts to try to make a difference mere hours after learning he has extra abilities. Unfortunately for him, he attracts the attention of a Russian Oligarch and the CIA—enemies more powerful than a single teenage boy should ever have to handle on his own.

I’m including a trigger warning here for people sensitive to child abuse and neglect. In the beginning of the book, Alex’s adventures in the foster care system might be stressful for people who have experienced abuse or have a hard time reading about it.

The editing for this book was excellent, the only exception being a few awkward sentences here and there that can likely be attributed to English being the author’s second language. I was able to let it go, especially since I found no trouble getting sucked into this story due to editing issues.

The only problem I really had with the book was with Alex Fine himself. He was such a realistic self-sabotaging teenage boy without impulse control that I kept cringing every few pages. At one point I had to get up and walk away from reading because of the epic train wreck he made of his relationship with another character. And toward the end of the book, I may or may not have resorted to smacking my forehead not-so-gently against my desk in frustration at the sheer naiveté necessary to create the mess Alex managed to get himself into.

All that being said, I honestly loved this book because, what geek hasn’t spent hours daydreaming about what they would do if they developed powers? And rather than falling into the well-worn paths of many superhero writers before him, I felt the author had a fresh take on the idea of the Origin Story TM. Rather than living it up and going wild the second his powers emerged, The author has his hero start out right away trying to figure out how he can help other people with his gift.

I also loved the multitude of different characters in this book—there were at least two minor characters that I wanted to pluck out and bring into the real world because their sheer existence would make the world a better place.

Rating this one was tough for me. I vacillated for an entire day between three and four stars because I felt it wasn’t fair for me to knock a book down to 3 stars just because I personally couldn’t deal with the main character’s inexperience at having enormous responsibilities. But when I realized that I couldn’t wait to read the next book, I had to give it 4 out of 4 stars. Apparently, I can love a book even if the main character is such a schmuck I can’t stop wanting to smack him.

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Superhighway
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Like Zilelabelle's review? Post a comment saying so!

[Darthon70]

This sounds like a really fun book! I’ll have to read it!

[Ashiyya Tariq]

Traveling through data stream is a nice idea. Author expertly covers different phases of this coming of age story. Thanks for your nice review.

[kfwilson6]

Awesome review. I too thought Alex was quite realistic but aggravating!!! I completely understood taking money and spending it on some lavish things but I thought it was a little excessive and he really drew a lot of attention to himself with his personal expenses. He should have flown more under the radar as he did with his philanthropic pursuits. I wanted to fuss at him when things with Eva stopped going the way I wanted. He is a teenage boy though and they do dumb things when dating. Book two picks up right where book one leaves off. I haven't finished but I'm not as into it.

[moxiebird]

I can't even picture what traveling through a data stream might look and feel like so I'll have to try this one out. The reviewer has a good sense of humor.

[Zilelabelle]

This sounds like a really fun book! I’ll have to read it!

You should definitely check it out

[Zilelabelle]

Awesome review. I too thought Alex was quite realistic but aggravating!!! I completely understood taking money and spending it on some lavish things but I thought it was a little excessive and he really drew a lot of attention to himself with his personal expenses. He should have flown more under the radar as he did with his philanthropic pursuits. I wanted to fuss at him when things with Eva stopped going the way I wanted. He is a teenage boy though and they do dumb things when dating. Book two picks up right where book one leaves off. I haven't finished but I'm not as into it.

Thank you!

Lol, when things went down with Eva, I nearly chucked my Kindle across the living room!

[Zilelabelle]

Traveling through data stream is a nice idea. Author expertly covers different phases of this coming of age story. Thanks for your nice review.

Thank you for commenting!

And I agree completly. I look forward to seeing what else the author has in store for the next book.

[Chelsy Scherba]

This was not my favorite book, but I gave it three instead of two stars. Just because I didn’t like it, didn’t mean others wouldn’t! I enjoyed reading your review!

[Zilelabelle]

This was not my favorite book, but I gave it three instead of two stars. Just because I didn’t like it, didn’t mean others wouldn’t! I enjoyed reading your review!

Thank you very much

[Zilelabelle]

I can't even picture what traveling through a data stream might look and feel like so I'll have to try this one out. The reviewer has a good sense of humor.

The way the author describes it is pretty cool. Thank you for reading my review

[Helen_Combe]

Great review. I’m envious because this book isn’t available for review in the UK.

[Zilelabelle]

Great review. I’m envious because this book isn’t available for review in the UK.

Thank you

[Poppy Drear]

I can definitely relate about hating the character of Alex Fine - which is weird, since he was an obvious self-insert! The way he stole a watch that clearly had sentimental value to a gangster, then continued to wear it in public a short distance away from the gangster's hideout, was one of the most cringeworthy moments for me. And he was supposed to be an ivy league candidate!

[Zilelabelle]

The way he stole a watch that clearly had sentimental value to a gangster, then continued to wear it in public a short distance away from the gangster's hideout, was one of the most cringeworthy moments for me. And he was supposed to be an ivy league candidate!

I know right? Every time he put it on I yelled at my Kindle, “What are you doing?! Why are you even still in Amsterdam?!”