Reviewed by Taylin
TITLE: Super For You, Bad For Me 
AUTHOR: Asta Idonea
PUBLISHER: Dreamspinner Press
LENGTH: 200 pages
RELEASE DATE: August 14, 2018
BLURB:
Life—and love—doesn’t follow a script.
Struggling actor Oswell Outterridge thinks he’s hit the jackpot when he’s chosen to play a scene opposite his idol, Kane Teague, in a superhero movie. However, things take an unexpected turn when the slime he accidentally ingests gives him telekinetic powers. Then Kane asks him out, against all expectation, and it seems that life couldn’t get any better—aside from the little matter of keeping his identity secret from his celebrity boyfriend.
Oswell goes from a nobody with little social life and few prospects for the future to dating the man of his dreams and using his superhuman abilities to defend innocents. Everything is perfect, and it seems he’s finally achieved a happily ever after worthy of the silver screen. But when a supervillain arrives, determined to defeat Oswell and win Kane’s affections, everything falls apart. In the ensuing conflict, Kane gets caught in the crossfire, and Oswell faces his toughest fight yet. Can he remain the hero he’s always imagined himself, or will a dark desire for vengeance change him forever?
REVIEW:
On the set of a superhero movie, struggling actor and film extra, Oswell Outteridge unexpectedly comes face to face with his screen idol Kane Teague. In an accident of distasteful slime, two things happen; firstly, he comes to the attention of his idol. Secondly, Oswell ingests some of the goo, the effects of which make him feel different and develop telekinetic powers that he has no idea what to do with.
Told in the present tense, first person, from Oswell’s POV, this story is a biography of a period in his life. As such there is more telling of the story rather than showing. It details much of his thought process, feelings, questions, confusion, highs and lows.
Oswell’s approach to his powers is…practical. If anyone was expecting a story where the hero suddenly don’s a suit, goes to save the world, and is loved by all, you’re going to be disappointed. Oswell has several problems. He must juggle a new relationship with a movie superstar, find a job that allows him to follow his acting career, discover what his powers are and what to do with them. Therefore, the pre-action section is lengthy; one could class it as, slow burn, albeit entertaining. Oswell is a likeable down to earth character and his behind the scenes commentary is amusing in a self-deprecating way.
Set in London, it was good to read such typically British phrases like silly sod, bog-standard, grope, copper (police), and local bobby. It was also lovely to read a story where the movie star wasn’t closeted. Kane is an openly gay actor who prizes honesty above all else. But, how does one tell their boyfriend they can levitate physical objects? Yeeeaahhh.
Although Kane is a constant feature throughout the story, the lions share concentrates on Oswell coming to terms with his powers. This leads to my favourite line of the story – fighting crime on a nudist beach might also pose a problem or two.
Given the practicality and modest demeanour of Oswell – the heat rating is low, with the focus on lip service and the fact that sex happened rather than the act itself. Got to admit that, given the length of the non-action section, I’d have liked a bit of sex to jazz things up a bit as I occasionally wondered when the action was going to take off.
It was about the halfway mark that I questioned the story direction. Becoming a superhero? Becoming the boyfriend of a superstar? Having the connections to become a movie star? Or having options and not knowing which path to take? For a period, it seemed like all of them. Then in the style of Asta Idonea, the twist came which had me sitting up and abandoning my every ten-minute e-mail check.
The second half of the book was more my cup of tea with adrenaline-fueled moments and action that had me salivating. Being in the latter part of the story, though, I’m not going to give away secrets.
Overall, this is a different superhero story. It’s not a frequent occurrence that a reader see’s the emergence of a man with powers. Therefore, some may have a marmite moment. However, if you are familiar with this author’s writing, it is worth sticking with for that inevitable twist that will cast the hook and make your heart beat faster.
RATING: 
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