Phenomenal Girl 5 (SHOMI) [Mass Market Paperback]

Lainey Livingston aka Phenomenal Girl Five (4 predecessors have displayed similar super strength and flight powers) has wanted to be a member of the Elite Hands of Justice (EHJ) since her powers manifested at the age of eleven. In a world where super hero powers are acknowledged, various bands protect the world from evil masterminds; however the elite of the elite is the EHJ.

Yet even when preliminary accepted, it takes another 2 years of probation to become a full member of the EHJ, a time when the superhero applicant is partnered with the brilliant Reincarnist. At present living as Robert Elliot, when the Reincarnist dies he is reborn in a new 20 year old body but retains some knowledge of his past lives (think Dr. Who). Robert is also a level 10 magic user who not only gives Lainey some of his own soul when a part of hers is stolen, he resurrects her from death with a spell that eventually kills him. Reincarnated as 20 year old Wesley Charles, he retains no knowledge of the fact he and Lainey fell in love and spent one hot night together before he died.

Lainey is resentful of the new Reincarnist and denies they were in any way involved; however Wesley retains enough of Robert's mannerisms for her to fall in love with him all over again. Yet when super villains band together under the leadership of an unknown powerful magic user known as The Dragon; a baddie intent on completing an apocalypse spell to open a doorway into a demon dimension, it soon becomes clear that Lainey is the key to possibly dooming the world.

AJM has written a phenomenal action packed romance peopled by characters with amazing and diverse powers; from magic users to the allure of a Love Goddess and from the ability to create any technical equipment you can dream of to more standard powers of strength, flight, fire and super fast reflexes. Checking out her website I am thrilled to discover she intends a sequel to what I hope will become a lengthy series based around characters in the EHJ, and I'll certainly keep an eye out for future release dates.

A really enjoyable read - an interesting take on superheroes, with A teams of heroes and B teams, based on powers and performance! Good story, strong writing and a compelling romantic interest in the Reincarnist. Give it a try!

A very good book, if you've seen Sky High much of the backdrop will feel familiar but this book deals with a new recruit for the premier superhero team and how she copes since all new recruits have to undergo training with a legendary magician known as the Reincarnist, think Dr Strange meets Dr Who and unlike the erstwhile timelord this particular magician actually has relationships but every time he dies he reincarnates as 20 year old often losing memories of his past and regaining others.

No time travelling machines involved, but a megavillain surfaces to bring civilisation to its knees and his plans involve a pure soul and by the mid way of this book you discover who he's after and more importantly what the Reincarnist is willing to do when the women he loves is in peril!
There's a sequel to this book out but not yet listed in amazon.co.uk called Techgrrl which continues this storyline, I recommend reading this one if you manage to read that one first like I did.

Give yourself a pat on the back if you're figured out the reference listed above.