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The Sidekick Squad is a young adult science fiction series set in a world after a catastrophic solar flare sparked the beginning of a series of worldwide natural disasters and political upheaval, but also catalyzed a latent gene present in humans that would present itself in the form of extraordinary abilities.
A hundred years later, in the North American Collective, the Heroes’ League of Heroes captivates the hearts and hopes of citizens everywhere, but all is not as it seems…
BOOK ONE: NOT YOUR SIDEKICK
BOOK TWO: NOT YOUR VILLAIN
BOOK THREE: NOT YOUR BACKUP
BOOK FOUR: NOT YOUR HERO
Release Date To Be Announced
Not Your Villain shows just how meaningful superheroes (and supervillains) can still be. C.B. Lee has invented a world where the greatest power comes from friendship, love and becoming your truest self, and it’s the heroic story we need right now.
Not Your Backup by C.B. Lee is the third book in the Sidekick Squad series and is just as good as its predecessors. Readers should buckle up because in this installment, Emma’s at the wheel and it’s her turn to shine as leader of the newly created resistance movement (THE LEAGUE IS A LIE!). It’s a challenge she’s absolutely up for but mishaps and setbacks cause her to doubt herself. Meanwhile, she’s also in the midst of figuring out her romantic and sexual identity after agreeing to date her best friend, Bells. With realistic (and supportive!) relationships anchoring the narrative, Lee crafts a well-paced story of self discovery, brimming with effortless inclusivity and thrilling dose of heroic adventure.
C. B. Lee’s Not Your Backup perfectly weaves together superhero fun and queer self-discovery in a compelling story that made my aroace heart sing. I loved it from the first to the last page.
Lee delivers YET AGAIN with another SIDEKICK full of heart, guts, and all the queerness you could wish for.
The Sidekick Squad are back and better than ever in Not Your Villain… There’s nothing quite like the found-family narrative, nor the team up against a corrupt government, and the unrelenting optimism and power of a group of largely queer-identifying teens.
The universe that Lee created in Not Your Sidekick is as sharp and effortlessly detailed as ever…. They do what they can to save the world, without ever aspiring to be a savior, learning that true heroism comes through working together.
Lee offers up a fast-paced, engaging tale set in a quasi-dystopian 22nd-century America where the line between hero and villain is often blurred. With a diverse cast of characters, both in terms of sexuality and ethnic background, and a wholly adorable romance for Jess, it’s a lively exploration of morality in a superpowered age.
Not Your Sidekick is a smooth read with characters who hit the
likeable zone between being overly self-involved and unrealistically altruistic….A large part of the story deals with her expectations about what it means to be ordinary and what it means to be extraordinary. This is a theme that will speak strongly to the current
generation.
Lee crams a lot of themes into a small package here, including LGBTQ relationships, a dystopian society, realizing your heroes have flaws, the importance of family and more… Jess and Abby are delightful characters and superhero fans like this reviewer will especially enjoy Lee’s take on how superpowers work. I’m ready for the sequel!
CB Lee 