Reviewed by Taylin
TITLE: After Vertigo
AUTHOR: Amanda Meuwissen
PUBLISHER: Dreamspinner Press
RELEASE DATE: December 10, 2019
LENGTH: 202 pages
BLURB:
In a flash, the world changed. A solar flare—later dubbed Vertigo—activated the DNA of more than half the world’s people, granting them special abilities. Brilliant scientist Benjamin Krane might be Powerless, but his inventions are the only thing giving the police a fighting chance against super-powered evil. Ben doesn’t have much of a life beyond work, and when he gets wind of a robbery one evening, he decides to test his newest invention personally….
A thief, rogue, and shameless flirt, Grey Miller—aka the Streak—likes shiny things, but he doesn’t hurt people. When Ben catches him—and proposes they team up against the real bad guys—Grey doesn’t know whether it’s the offer or the man he can’t resist. But one thing’s for sure—they’re an ideal match in more ways than one.
With a psychotic supervillain’s catastrophic plan moving forward and everyone he cares about in danger, now might not be the best time for Ben to give in to Grey’s seduction, no matter how tempting. Grey is a man of secrets, and if Ben wants a future with him, he’ll have to learn to trust Grey—and himself.
REVIEW:
An event labeled Vertigo turned the world upside down. Previously dormant DNA markers triggered manifesting superpowers, in some people. Encased in his lab with his cat, Gideon, few people see Ben. And that’s the way he likes it because, despite being forty, he’d never found a way to be comfortable around people – unless they’re family. So, he spends his time developing weapons against those superpowered people who have a penchant for doing bad things. A cause for which the police are most grateful – that is until Ben tries out a new weapon and finds there are circumstances in which it won’t work.
Grey likes shiny things and is known as Streak. The thrill of stealing combined with his lightning speed helps him successfully obtain said items. That is until Ben confronts him intent on spoiling his fun. The two strike a deal. Grey soon discovers that he has just as much, if not more fun, thwarting the bad guys while flirting with Ben.
I found After Vertigo to be similar in feel and universe to the author’s Lovesick Series, which I enjoyed. It is another tale where the upstanding members of society come together with white-hat criminals to thwart evil. Add in a little romance and all the elements are present for a good story.
The manuscript is written in the third person, present tense from Ben’s viewpoint, and is technically sound. My only gripe, and it’s a personal thing, is the appearance of the bitten lip. Thankfully, it is only used once, but I hate the action with a vengeance, probably to the point of obsession. So that is my bad.
Ben and Grey are lovely characters – beautifully different. Though I had a bit of a crush on Tony, and the all-knowing cat acts delightfully pompous. Given that Grey is also known as Streak and Ben, Cold, I was surprised that the line ‘The superpowers are hitting a Cold Streak’ wasn’t used, but hey ho.
At heart, Ben is a romantic, and throughout, the reader gets snippets from a novel that Ben is reading. He imagines that he’s in the role of Sofia whose leading man is the burly Ryder. It gave the arc an interesting element that worked well and emphasized Ben’s yearning for a man of his own.
I’ve said a fair amount about Ben, mainly because everything is from his viewpoint. What I will say about Grey is that he’s a man who can, he’s persistent, talented and given other novels, the author seems to have an affinity with lightning.
The big bad is a super called Pulse who has issues and an agenda. Other super’s are in the mix, for good and evil, but I’ll leave their names and abilities as a surprise.
This novel is one that shows that no matter how mighty some people are – when the downtrodden work as a team, they can achieve wonders. If you enjoyed Lovesick Gods and Lovesick Titans – you would probably want this in your library.
RATING: 
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Thank you for another wonderfully thoughtful review. I bite and chew my own lips so much, I’m surprised it didn’t sneak in more, haha, but I totally agree it can be overused. And ha! I can’t believe I didn’t think of Cold Streak either. Both this and Lovesick were in my mind at similar times, just with wildly different ideas on how to focus on powers, who has them, and what the characters can do, but lightning is definitely a common theme for me. I’m glad you enjoyed the read!