Book Review: Overdue by A.A. Reynolds

You might like this book if you:
-Are looking for a unique spin on the superhero genre
-Want more trans/queer representation in said superhero genre
-Enjoy slow burns with flashbacks and multiple characters
-Are a librarian who wants superpowers

Overdue is the fourth series being published in the Korps universe—a furry superhero/supervillain universe that leans heavily into transgender and progressive themes. The universe explores a world in which the titular organization of "villains" fights against a world run by "heroes". Of course, the villains in this case are usually the progressive, queer good guys, and the heroes are the corrupt, bigoted baddies.

This book focuses purely on villains this time around, rather than also on heroes being swayed to the side of villainy, which is a nice change of pace. Maxwell, who is essentially the Korp’s librarian (love that concept), is investigating why the Korp’s mysterious interdimensional archive keeps destabilizing, and why a mysterious name seems to be at the center of it. Meanwhile, a trans girl named Lexi is fleeing from the regressive anti-trans laws of the UK to the relative safety of Canada. She begins to discover that she not only has powers, but the same powers as Maxwell. The two bump into each other, seemingly by chance, and Maxwell begins giving Lexi an orientation on both her newfound and her possible induction into the Korps.

The highlight of the book for me is definitely the superpower shared between Maxwell and Lexi. It’s the most complex power I’ve seen in the series so far—one that still contains an air of mystery even after having read the book—and I can’t wait to see how it develops in future entries. It’s a power that character development and intrigue are practically drawn to, which makes for some engaging storytelling. The addition of a magic interdimensional archive and historical flashbacks make this one of the most creative entries in the Korps universe yet.

Fans of superhero stories who would love a bit more of a progressive twist on the genre will thoroughly enjoy the Korps Universe, and book lovers who enjoy a good slow burn with a lot of intrigue will find a lot to love in this specific entry.

Print: https://furplanet.com/shop/item.aspx?itemid=1304

Ebook: https://baddogbooks.com/product/overdue-the-archivist-book-1/