"They want me to cooperate in my own destruction. They want me to tell them it's not true. They want me to help them believe the lie.

NEVER AGAIN."

~Danny, DREADNOUGHT



DREADNOUGHT is a powerful debut novel, and readers will be sucked in from the very first page. Danny is instantly easy to root for, investing readers in her story from the very get-go.

When we meet Danny, she has gone out of town to buy nail polish someplace where nobody will see, then goes to paint her toes someplace quiet:
The nail polish is a nice deep red. I've been running mostly with blue recently, but I think it's time for a change. The cotton balls soak up remover and the blue polish rubs off my toes a bit at a time. It feels right. It feels necessary. Painting my toes is the one way I can take control. The one way I can fight back. The one way I can give voice to this idea inside me that gets heavier every year:


I'm not supposed to be a boy.

Unfortunately for Danny, the so-called quiet spot turns out to be a battleground for a dueling superhero/supervillain fight. Being around such fights can be very dangerous for normal, everyday civilians like Danny. When the powerful hero Dreadnought falls, Danny is horrified and hurries to help him. With his dying breath, Dreadnought passes his mantle to Danny, and something unexpectedly wonderful happens: By absorbing Dreadnought's powers, Danny becomes a girl in all the ways that count. Now she's female both inside and out, with a perfect body to match who she has always been inside.

While Danny loves who she has become, she's not certain she wants the power and responsibility that comes with stepping into the role of Dreadnought. But she doesn't want to give them up, either, because it might turn her back into a boy again, and she can't bear to go back to that life. Her parents are horrified to see that their son has been transformed and seek out the help of doctors. The Legion of Superheroes that protect the city aren't sure what to make of Danny. Some of them are fine with her, while others are perplexed or upset that Dreadnought's powers passed on to Danny. Danny has to worry not just about what she wants, but what everyone else expects of her, all while trying to come to terms with her new powers and decide what she wants in life.

Because this is a book from an OwnVoices author, Danny reads in such an authentic, heartfelt way. You feel for her when people treat her poorly and call her filthy names. Once Danny's body is female, she also gets objectified and slurred against for being female, so she gets the nasty comments in both corners. Her homelife is a wreck. You root for her when people show up in her corner and befriend her and give her the safety net she's desperately in need of. Danny gets help where she never expected to find it, and it's life-changing.

So many readers have asked for more books--especially in fantasy--where the main characters going on adventures are more diverse. Where that diversity isn't the entire story, but another layer of it. Where characters of all shapes and sizes and backgrounds can have adventures. DREADNOUGHT fulfills that wish by creating a captivating transgender superhero adventure that flows and feels authentic in every way that matters. This book will resonate with so many readers, and Danny and her story are easy to embrace and fall for.

We need more female superheroes in the world, and there are several powerful women worth rooting for in DREADNOUGHT. GIRL POWER, y'all! From the smart-as-a-whip Doctor Impossible who takes Danny under her wing (And seriously, isn't that an awesome name!?) to her friend Calamity, who is a graycape walking the line between good and evil to the female members of the Legion, there are a ton of fierce ladies that make this story come to life. I love that it's not a Bro Adventure like so many superhero adventures out there that have maybe one or two token females.

And the world building? Listen, it's HARD to bring superheroes to life through writing. That's why so many of them are graphic novels. It's a very visual form of storytelling. But DREADNOUGHT does it well, and it's easy to see the battles and get a sense of the world. This is world building done right, and it really helps bring the story to life and make it feel even more fleshed out and real.

I really loved DREADNOUGHT and I was so excited when I found out that Daniels was releasing a sequel this past summer entitled SOVEREIGN. I dove in as soon as I could and am hoping for yet more books in this world because I still can't get enough! This is such a great, underrated series, and if you're a fan of superheroes, you really need to check this one out!

First and foremost, this is a very important book that I think many people should read. It is an own-voices story about a transwoman in a superhero society. I struggled with the rating for this book. On one hand I understand how important this book and representation is, on the other I didn’t enjoy the reading experience due to the anxiety that this book triggered for me (which I’ll get into later). This is a case of it’s me not you, I feel that a lot of people would love this book!

I really liked Danny, our main heroine. She was such an inspiring character. It was amazing seeing her face the challenges that came her way. Danny is also a very flawed character, which made her feel more real. Her reactions to different situations, while sometimes difficult to read (because of the situations), felt genuine and raw. I enjoyed learning more about her as the story progressed. As I already mentioned in the beginning, Danny is a transwoman and she is also a lesbian. I can’t speak about how the representation was executed, as I’m neither a lesbian nor trans.

The reason my anxiety kicked in (which I mentioned in the beginning) is due to the transphobia in this book. It was very difficult for me to read about other characters being horrible towards Danny. Due to my anxiety I felt uncomfortable while reading this book, which is why I couldn’t rate it higher. There was also another reason for my anxiety kicking in, but it is very personal and I don’t want to go into it here.

The story was interesting and very fast paced. It took me a bit to get into it properly, but I found myself intrigued after the first fifty or so pages. I do wish we got some scenes from Danny’s normal life, like her getting used to her new body or just her hanging out. The story felt a bit too fast paced at times. I found the world-building to be lacking. As I mentioned in the beginning this is a world of superheroes. The technology is also very advanced in this world, which was interesting. I just feel that the world could have been developed more. (I can’t really explain what exactly I mean without getting into spoilers.)

Dreadnought is an important and very interesting book. While I didn’t enjoy it as much as I hoped I would, due to personal reasons, I still think that many people need to read this book. I definitely recommend checking it out!

This is a superhero book that is written for those who never get to see themselves in superhero narratives. Beautiful, well written and so so important.

This YA novel takes advantage of the superhero craze, but also digs into issues surrounding identity.

The superhero part reminded me a bit of Brandon Sanderson's Steelheart. Also a bit of the Wildcard series, which delves into what super powers might really mean for the world. Superhero identities, also referred to as "mantles", exist independently of the person who wears the mantle. That means that when a superhero dies, their mantle is passed on to someone else. In this case, teenage Danny Tozer is in the right place at the wrong (or right?) time.

Here's the interesting part: Danny is trans. Since the mantle helps those who wear it become their idealized version of themselves, Danny physically transitions into a girl. And this is where the book is the most heart-rending. Danny does NOT come from a healthy family, and she has been keeping her identity to herself. With this physical transformation, that becomes impossible, and Danny finds that sort of a relief. Also incredibly terrifying.

To the reader, it's clear that Danny has an outstanding moral compass and the urge to help others (seeded by being without help herself) that will make her a superhero for the ages. Danny, however, has little to no faith in her own strength. Made to doubt and despise herself up until now, she's conflicted and at sea. Going to Dreadnought's superhero partners doesn't help this, because several of those partners either see her as an abomination, don't think she can handle the mantle, or both. One thing that Danny is crystal clear on: she is not giving up her identity. She finally feels right, like she is who she is supposed to be, and she knows that she needs to hold on to that.

Well. You can probably see the obvious parallels here. Superheros have to have secret identities. They live double lives and can't let people know all of who they really are. It must be very lonely.

The superhero mythos that the author has created here is interesting enough. Danny ends up being friends with a "graycape", someone with powers who operates outside the law, a bit like Batman, and who isn't afraid to hurt people to protect others. I'm a bit worried that there's going to be a romance here, because I just didn't get any chemistry from these two, but what will be will be, I suppose. Danny has to set her own moral compass because she doesn't have anyone she trusts enough to look to for that. There's a background villain (who killed Dreadnought before Danny took the mantle?) and the person responsible was fairly obvious, I thought. But the mystery isn't the point. The heart of the book is Danny learning to trust and love herself and to realize that she can be a hero- in fact her instincts all are pushing her that way. The author absolutely nails the emotional tumult that Danny lives, and my heart ached for her.

A thoughtful and authentic exploration of transness in a sff context. I like the way the story balances the elation and validation that comes with living as your authentic self with the realities of being unceremoniously outed in unsafe/uncertain circumstances. At the same time, Danny's "coming out" is refreshingly not the center of this story, as she faces the much bigger problem of protecting humanity. A spectacular #ownvoices trans story!

I thought I had submitted my review for this before but guess I forgot to.

I enjoyed this book. I read it in one sitting over night. It was entertaining. I loved the superheroes aspect in the book. It was nice to see a character like Danny. The original superheros are like you would expect and can be rude but that's the point. I would love to read more in the series.

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for allowing me a copy of this eARC.

I loved this book! The full review will be posted soon at kaitgoodwin.com/books! Thank you very much for this wonderful opportunity to connect books to their readers!

Dreadnought is the first book in the Nemesis series by April Daniels. We follow the story of Danielle, a superhero who just happens to be transgender. This is a world where superheroes are a part of everyday life and when Danny is confronted by a dying Dreadnought, one of the world's best superheroes, it isn't long until her life is completely changed when with his dying breath, he gives her his powers and changes her from the boy she was born into the girl she has always been. Faced with her new appearance and blossoming superpowers, Danielle is drawn into the world of heroes and villains alongside her fellow class-member/masked vigilante, Sarah/Calamity as they work together to stop Utopia, a super-villain hell-bent on controlling the world.

Danny is a breath of fresh air. Danny takes every situation, bad or good, and makes the most out of it. It's such a powerful read. And April Daniels does a great job at developing Danny's motivations for becoming a superhero. This book is a great mix of light and dark, mixing the aspects of a typical quirky superhero novel with a novel that portrays thought-provoking commentary on society--like transphobia, homophobia, and many other issues. Danny is a great role model for kids. I'm so glad I read it.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the chance to read such a powerful and fun superhero book!

Sorry, it took me a long time to review this book but I had a major hangover I loved this book so much and if this author came out with more books I would read them, The characters were well thought of and I loved them. This book was an overall good rollercoaster rid but it was well spent.

Dreadnought is very intriguing fantasy story. It is about Danny who received the super powers from the famous Dreadnought. For Danny, it is a dream come true because the outer body matches her. I loved the story because of the quirkiness and funny characters, especially Danny, lovable and adorable. Dreadnought is refreshing and outstanding own voice. This book made me speechless, I like how diverse this book is.

So here I am back on this superhero trend. I liked one superhero book so let me see what else is out there. Bonus this story has a trans, lesbian as the main character. Did you hear me...the MAIN CHARACTER!!!!!

i thought the last book with superheroes was amazing and this just took it to the next level for me. We have a character that is having this constant inner battle with herself while also battling with the fact of her new super powers and her dad trying to cure her. I have to say that she has a lot going on in her life.

April Daniels does a marvelous job of combining the real struggles of a trans teen and mixing it with that of a super hero story. I am excited to get this book on my shel and I am excited to read what is coming next.

This is a must read and one of my new favorites!! I have recommended this book to so many students and they all love it. We have been needing a hero like Danny for a long time! Get this into the hands of your superhero fans, your LGBTQ students, and your fantasy readers...they will thank you for it!!

Omg, how have I not posted my review for this one already? I am so, so sorry! 

 

This book is amazing! There isn’t a thing I don’t love about it, honestly. It’s sweet, and daring, action and drama packed, with twists I didn’t see, perspectives that need to be seen and gives what everyone wants for a superhero origin story and a contemp drama. 

 

I cannot wait to read more of this series and Not Your Villain too! 

 

Important note: It’s #ownvoices and every trans* reviewer I’ve read raves about this book. 

 

TW: Transphobia and homophobia, including slurs. 

 

Favorite Quotes: 

 

Spring in the Pacific Northwest: come for the moist, stay for the damp. 

 

The trick with these guys is not to make eye contact. Like restless ghosts, they want to drag you down to Hell with them. 

 

Then it hits me. This ‘ideal’ new body -- the magazine cover perfection, the shampoo commercial hair, even the fashionable shape of my thighs-- it’s more than just a different look. It’s a window inside my head. “Oh. Gross.”

 

Fait accompli, it’s called, an accomplished fact. Do it fast without their permission, and then there’s nothing they can do to change it back. 

 

“Welcome to being a girl. Don’t mind the boys. You’ll get used to them.” What the hell does she mean by that?

 

There will only be times when he’s not hurting me.

Danny has been living her life trapped in the wrong body. Everything changes when superhero Dreadnought falls from the sky and gives her his powers allowing Danny to take on her true form. With these powers come great responsibility though, Dreadnought is the most beloved and powerful superhero.

Danny quickly realizes that life is not going to be any easier as Dreadnought. For one, just because her outside image has changed, everyone in her life is still the same. That means her close minded father still does not understand that Danny will never be the son he wants her to be. Also, being a superhero comes with a whole lot of responsibility; she won't even be considered a full-blown superhero until she is old enough in the eyes of the legion to make that decision.

Being able to live her true life though is more than she could have ever asked for. Meeting and learning from other superheros is more than could have ever imagined. Danny quickly learns though that she is unable to just sit around and watch bad people do bad things. Even though she has been warned to not go out and crime fight, she just cannot resist, especially when Dreadnought's killer, Utopia, is on the loose. Is this the destiny Danny has been waiting for, or is she way in over her head?

I loved every page of this novel. From the very start Danny's voice rang true to me. There were many times I wanted to scream in to the book, "Get away from your horrible family. Go live with the other superheroes and take on the destiny you were meant to have!" I found Danny's voice and story to be refreshing and interesting. I think that this book will appeal to all teens, whether they are trans or not. Action-packed from start to finish, Dreadnought is a must read.

I loved this book so much!! It was very well-written, and so engaging I could hardly manage to put it down until I'd finished it. Dreadnought by April Daniels is awesome. It's about a trans girl superhero and it's written by a trans woman.

This is inclusive, gripping young adult fiction at it's best. The start lulls you into a false sense of security and ease, after the first few chapters I thought the biggest struggle in this book would be some superhero lessons and dealing with the fallout at school and home of coming out as trans. However, you're pulled along this emotional ride as the novel progresses.

The transgender plot was my favorite aspect of this book. I really liked the premise but I ended up not liking the plot enough and even skimming through the action scenes. Overall this read like a contemporary which might be why I didn't love the book - it just wasn't up my alley. And I kept on wanting too much from Danny, I hoped she would take control of her life. I guess I forgot she was just a scared 15 year old in a very difficult situation. And yet, I wished for more growth from her.
The side characters were all quite bland and unmemorable, which also detracted from my enjoyment.
Danny's transformation though was the most interesting and my favorite scenes were where she spoke up for herself.

I don't usually read superhero books but when I read the description I knew I wanted to read it. I cannot speak for the LGBT+ community on how well this represented them. I can only say that the way people reacted to Danny when she came out about her gender identity felt real. Danny found her voice and didn't back down when people threatened to take her new life away from her. I liked that she was strong even when she didn't believe she was.

Good story - great to read a story with a trans superhero.

There is a common misconception among cis people that if they want to understand the trans experience they must try to imagine what it would be like if they had always felt like the gender they are not. A better way to grasp it would be to ask what if you knew your gender but everyone else insisted you were wrong?

I feel like Dreadnought illustrates that masterfully because the first thing that happens to Danny is she gets the body she always wanted in the first place, but that doesn't change everyone else's perception of her. Parents and friends continue to act under the assumption that Danny is a boy. So Danny has to deal with coming out after transitioning - magical though that transition may be - which is an interesting path to navigate and one I think Daniels handles very well.

Overall I really enjoyed Dreadnought. Some things were frustrating, but they were frustrating because that's what they are: Danny's parents, her best friend, one of the superheroes being trans exclusionary. It's a book full of super powers and impossible technology, but it is also so relatable and real.

And I also just really loved it because superheroes.