Smada's Book Smack : Audiobook Tour & Giveaway: Superhero Syndrome (Solstice Survivors #1) by Caryn Larrinaga

Author: Caryn Larrinaga

Narrator: Ruby Hankey

Length: 7 hours and 55 minutes

Series: Solstice Survivors, Book 1

Publisher: Twisted Tree Press

Released: Jun. 19, 2019

Genre: Urban Fantasy

Tess McBray was dying. The solstice syndrome had no cure, and she resigned herself to an early grave. But just when she gave up on survival, all her symptoms mysteriously disappeared.
All but one symptom, anyway. Something is wrong with Tess’ hands. They absorb any material they touch, and her skin turns to wood, steel, or concrete. It doesn’t take this comic book obsessed 21-year-old long to figure out what’s going on: Somehow, she’s developed super powers. And she’s not the only one; across the country, people are coming forward and sharing their gifts with the world. In her own city, where the police are battling a human trafficking operation, a masked vigilante called The Fox is saving lives and stopping criminals.
Tess doesn’t know where she fits into this new, super-powered world. But when people around her start disappearing, she can’t just sit on the sidelines. Teaming up with The Fox to create the world’s first superhero duo might be the only way to rid her city of evil and save the people she loves most.

My Review:

5 Out Of 5 Stars

Genre: Mystery, Romance, Supernatural, Suspense, Urban Fantasy--

Tess knows that she is going to die from the mysterious solstice illness just like so many other people, but she refuses to die in her hospital bed. Instead she goes to watch the meteor shower, expecting the last thing she sees to be the stars- but when she waked up from the meteor shower, she appears to be miraculously healed. Deciding to change her life, Tess goes back to her home town to make some big changes and life altering choices.

I am so down for this superhero origins story! When I read the synopsis I found the plot vaguely interesting but the book was so much more and better than what I anticipated. In the style of maybe of Batman (or maybe the darker world of the DC Universe in general) this was a dark side of the city, with a crime filled underbelly of stealing women and prostitution, and a couple of vigilantes with some new unique super powers on the loose- and a hint of romance that I can't wait to be explored further.

The narrator was prefect for bringing Tess to life. She emoted perfectly, pushing out sorrow, exasperation, sarcasm, fear, acceptance and stress to make me become fully immersed in the story. Keep in mind that I listen to my audiobooks sped up, so the 1.75x was the perfect speed for this story for me. This was my first book narrated by Ruby but I would easily check out more by her in the future.

I found myself completely enthralled by this dark, dangerous and surprising superhero story and I need to keep going in the series. Even though this book wrapped up really well with almost zero loose ends, I feel like things are just getting started for Tess and I plan to be there to see what she gets involved in next. And I hope the second book comes out on audio soon because I would love to listen to it as well!

I received this audiobook as part of my participation in a blog tour with Audiobookworm Promotions. The tour is being sponsored by Caryn Larrinaga. The gifting of this audiobook did not affect my opinion of it.

Caryn Larrinaga is an award-winning mystery, horror, and urban fantasy writer. Her debut novel, Donn’s Hill, was awarded the League of Utah Writers 2017 Silver Quill in the adult novel category and was a 2017 Dragon Award finalist. Watching scary movies through split fingers terrified Caryn as a child, and those nightmares inspire her to write now. Her 90-year-old house has a colorful history, and the creaking walls and narrow hallways send her running (never walking) up the stairs. Exploring her fears through writing makes Caryn feel a little less foolish for wanting a buddy to accompany her into the tool shed. Caryn lives near Salt Lake City, Utah, with her husband and their clowder of cats.

Caryn is an active member of the League of Utah Writers and the Utah Chapter of the Horror Writers Association.

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Based out of the NYC area, Ruby Hankey works as a theatre/film professional in myriad mediums of the arts. As a lover of world travels, tap dance, ukulele, French absurdism and the outdoors, she is always ready for a new adventure. Ruby has choreographed and performed for venues including The Duke Theater, Symphony Space, Edinburgh Fringe Festival, Joyce Theatre, Queens Theatre in the Park, Luna Stage and recently appeared in Current Harbor's '59RPM at HERE Arts Center! Her latest audiobook, Superhero Syndrome by Caryn Larrinaga is now available.