As much as I wanted to read this book when I was first granted access via NetGalley I never managed to get round to reading it. I have now gone back through and read the Synopsis and found that now this book is just not for me and will not be reviewing. I want to thank the publisher for allowing me to have access to the book but due to my tastes changing in reading this book no longer appeals to me.

This had really interesting characters and I was really excited about the superhero storyline but it definitely leaned into the more childish elements and felt more juvenile than I anticipated. I wish it didn't effect my enjoyment because the book did have a very good perspective, but I couldn't really get over how young it felt.

Due to a sudden, unexpected passing in the family a few years ago and another more recently and my subsequent (mental) health issues stemming from that, I was unable to download this book in time to review it before it was archived as I did not visit this site for several years after the bereavements. This meant I didn't read or venture onto netgalley for years as not only did it remind me of that person as they shared my passion for reading, but I also struggled to maintain interest in anything due to overwhelming depression. I was therefore unable to download this title in time and so I couldn't give a review as it wasn't successfully acquired before it was archived. The second issue that has happened with some of my other books is that I had them downloaded to one particular device and said device is now defunct, so I have no access to those books anymore, sadly.

This means I can't leave an accurate reflection of my feelings towards the book as I am unable to read it now and so I am leaving a message of explanation instead. I am now back to reading and reviewing full time as once considerable time had passed I have found that books have been helping me significantly in terms of my mindset and mental health - this was after having no interest in anything for quite a number of years after the passings. Anything requested and approved will be read and a review written and posted to Amazon (where I am a Hall of Famer & Top Reviewer), Goodreads (where I have several thousand friends and the same amount who follow my reviews) and Waterstones (or Barnes & Noble if the publisher is American based). Thank you for the opportunity and apologies for the inconvenience.

As somebody who wrote their dissertation on superheroes in (non-graphic) novels, The Nobody People instantly appealed to me. It started quite slowly, and I thought I was in for something enjoyable but run-of-the-mill - however, by the last third I was utterly engrossed. I very literally could not put this book down, and was grabbing every spare few seconds to read more and find out what happened next. I am so glad I have a review copy of The Somebody People ready and waiting so that I can continue to see what happens in this world.
The cast of characters is diverse, and whilst these complex characters are often not loveable (I feel there are some exceptions, who I just adore) as a reader you feel drawn into their story anyway. You care what happens to them, and are almost implicated in their actions.
The Nobody People is at times very dark, but also offers insight and reflection onto current events in our real world. Proehl started writing this in 2016, and it feels very relevant. I can't wait to discover where this story goes next.

It took me a minute to wrap my head around this book and the rules that are imposed on the characters, but once I did, I really enjoyed this! Fast paced, and manages to stay so unique to itself while having a slight X-Men feel to it.
The world building was something that I enjoyed, I never felt lost while reading the book.
There was a lot happening in this story, which can be a little difficult to keep up with at times, so definitely one to pick up if you're great at keeping an eye on multiple storylines and characters at the same time.

This was X-men-esque fun in a fast paced SFF adventure that explored otherness and what being different really means. Fans of Seanan McGuire’s Velveteen series and other such superhero tales which wrangle with the human part of being superhuman will love this.

A very interesting addition to the superhero genre. I very much enjoyed the characters, setting and overal world building. The 'power' system too was interesting. It took a little time to get used to the rules of the school but once I wrapped my head around it all it made for a very interesting and enjoyable read. thank you!

I’d never heard of the author before but the publisher is among my favourites and the blurb intrigued me so I decided to give it a go. The book reminds me a lot of the X-Men. I have also read other books with a similar premise. So plot-wise, there’s nothing really new here. However, The Nobody People is really well written and I felt very connected to the characters. I’m an outsider myself so love reading books where characters considered odd or a bit different are a focus point for the story. The characters struggle with issues that are very relevant to today’s society but it never feels like the author is preaching or being judgemental. The book tackles bigger issues about the world the character live in and not just the fact they have super-powers which is often the least important thing about the characters. Some issues include racism, bigotry, equality and identity. It felt like I was reading a book that could be true. If people with these gifts did appear in the world today, the author paints a very real and a bleak but portrait of how society would treat them.

What do you do if you’re ‘an outsider’ in life?

Science fiction has always had an element of that in its nature. Often SF fans in the early 20th century were bonded by the fact that they were shunned, seen as odd, different and weird by those who ‘didn’t get it’. Not only did those (often teenage) fans have to deal with the maturity into adulthood, but at the same time they knew that what they loved was not universally liked and it made them unpopular. The solution was often to communicate with others in secret, create secret codes, and share their love of SF amongst similarly minded people. Slan by A E van Vogt (1940-46) is perhaps one of the best-known ‘old’ examples. A story of a persecuted people with psi-powers in a future dictatorship – it was so popular and recognisable to SF fans that badges were produced at conventions, saying “Fans Are Slans!” which were popular to those in the know.

From the X-Men to Heroes in SF and even Harry Potter and The Magicians in Fantasy, the idea of ‘being different’ and the need to stay hidden has been an SF staple. The Nobody People by Bob Proehl brings this bang up to date and covers important issues in a modern-day setting.

From the publisher:

Avi Hirsch has always known his daughter was different. But when others with incredible, otherworldly gifts reveal themselves to the world, Avi realizes that her oddness is something more–that she is something more. With this, he has a terrifying revelation: Emmeline is now entering a society where her unique abilities unfairly mark her as a potential threat. And even though he is her father, Avi cannot keep her safe forever.

Emmeline soon meets others just like her: Carrie Norris, a teenage girl who can turn invisible . . . but just wants to be seen. Fahima Deeb, a woman with an uncanny knack for machinery . . . but it’s her Muslim faith that makes the U.S. government suspicious of her.

They are the nobody people–ordinary individuals with extraordinary gifts who want one only thing: to live as equals in an America that is gripped by fear and hatred. But the government is passing discriminatory laws. Violent mobs are taking to the streets. And one of their own–an angry young man seething with self-loathing–has used his power in an act of mass violence that has put a new target on the community. The nobody people must now stand together and fight for their future, or risk falling apart.

The first book of a timely two-part series, The Nobody People is a powerful novel of love and hope in the face of bigotry that uses a world touched by the fantastic to explore our current reality. It is a story of family and community. It is a story of continuing to fight for one another, no matter the odds. It is the story of us.

OK: superficially there’s nothing particularly new here. But it is done very well. The characterisation is more than the basic and often pleasingly complex, the social and moral issues the characters wrestle with are relevant today, though unlike some books not always driven home repeatedly as a message. Whilst this could just be a story of child prodigies brought up to realise their potential, it seems that there is more to this.

As well as the characters of the novel, what was noticeable is that The Nobody People is also really about bigger issues, which are part of the world the characters inhabit. As well as dealing with the father and mother whose abilities are discovered in the novel, as well as dealing with terrorism and inequality, it’s also about ethical values, equality, race and religion and acceptance and tolerance, about family and community against a world of fear, bigotry and prejudice. It touches on issues such as identity prevalent in today’s world and examines them thoroughly whilst examining them with a science-fictional focus. The range of characterisation shows a widely diverse range of identifiable characters in situations that are of the now.

It’s also an unputdownable read. The Nobody People reads with a ring of truth – that if abilities did appear, this is how people today would react – some with wonder, but others with fear, with suspicion, with hatred. The scary, but probably realistic situation, is that such emotions are present on both sides of the situation, with the so-called ‘Resonants’ (with abilities) feeling oppressed and the ‘Damps’ (with no abilities) feeling that their way of life is threatened. It also doesn’t help that there are people doing good and bad on both sides.

It was quite impressive how Bob keeps all of the plates spinning whilst laying out his plot. There is a cliffhanger ending – due to be continued in the second half of this duology – which is great, but will want you to read the next book now. (It’s due 2021, I’m told!)

In short, The Nobody People is a terrific read for those who want a contemporary adult version of the X-Men*, which reflects the fears and optimism of our time. I found it difficult to put down.



* which is a notable influence, as the author points out in his acknowledgements. He should be pleased that it seems to have worked.

Modern life has highlighted the plight of The Other. People are marginalised for all sorts of reasons and from what I can tell it is more noticeable than ever. If you are different but can blend in with everybody else, would you keep it a secret or not? The Nobody People are hidden from view for now but each possess one of a multitude of abilities from flight, super intelligence and many more. Should they remain in the shadows or step out?

There are people around us with special powers, but no one talks about it. There are a few murmurings on conspiracy websites and trash talk radio but on the whole these Nobody People remain hidden. This time is coming to an end as more special abilities are appearing, and they cannot remain hidden forever. How will these Nobody People reveal themselves and how will the general public react?

Nobody People by Bob Proehl feels very much a science fiction book of our time. This has always been a genre that reflects the real world and explores themes through the prism of fiction. The idea of super powers is pure fantasy but the book is not about this. The book is more about persecution and discrimination – a feeling that many people today can share. The fact that someone can float or talk to animals does not make them super in the eyes of many of the people in this book, but a danger and different.

The book’s initial structure centres on Avi Hirsch and his family. Avi is an investigative journalist and his wife a Civil Rights Lawyer. They are already the perfect vessel for the Nobody People to announce their presence. Avi specialises in giving a face to things people fear. What makes them even better is that their daughter Emmeline also has powers and just may be the strongest of them all.

Being at the forefront of a new age could have brought the Hirsch family together but instead it does the opposite. This happens early on in the book and from this point on the book grows darker. The fractures in the Hirsch family are paralleled in the wider society. Rather than embrace the new, the governments and people (especially America) react with fear. There is some validity to this as those with the powers are not always good. In fact, a new breed of super terrorist has arisen and this is not helping the cause.

As a reader you sense that the way that the world reacts in Nobody People is how our current world would should it happen to us. Both sides not really open to compromise and inevitably it drifts towards conflict. The essence of the book is dark, but the people involved give it life. The students and teachers of a school for the talented play a major role as do some of the disenfranchised. Although they all have abilities, there issues are very relatable. It is the relationships that give the book it core and personalises the big issues. Not everyone will make the end of the book intact and it really raise the tension.

Another element that works well is how Hirsch treats the abilities. They are varied, but just because you have differences from the norm does not make you all the same. Some of the powers are also borderline useless. Being the person with the power to smell like egg means you are discriminated against and don’t even have the powers to defend yourself.

Nobody People is a hard hitting science fiction novel that may be fantastical in places but is based very much in our own world. Neither side covers themselves in glory and in this way the book feels very real. There are no heroes, just people trying to survive. Although there is action, this is not a book that you can consider fun. It is more of a serious examination of discrimination and modern attitudes. It is a good read for a fan of super hero fiction who would like to delve deeper into some of the themes that sit under the genre.

I was fascinated by the blurb and I liked the style of writing. Unfortunately I found it really slow paced and the story didn't keep my attention.
Not my cup of tea.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine

I was actually quite impressed with this story. It had an X-Men feel to it that I really liked. It was told from multiple POV’s which was a little confusing at first, but I ended up liking it very much.

We see a lot of kids with abilities that have always felt so isolated. All they want is to lead a normal life, but instead face a lot of prejudice. The characters were well developed and relatable (other than their abilities!).

This story is action-packed and I was hooked from the start. It was a compelling read and I cannot wait for the conclusion.

Thank you Netgalley and Titan Books for the review copy.

trigger warning
<spoiler> trauma, mutilation through accident, mental illness, lynching </spoiler>

dnf at 136 pages

A journalist takes a deep dive into a rabbit hole that finally gets him out of the slump he was in since he lost a leg in an explosion. The topic: People with special abilities. What he doesn't know: His daughter is one of them.

It starts off with the investigation he is nudged towards by a friend who thinks it might interest him. The first part is the solitary journey of a traumatised man - but he's also a family guy, and his daughter is one of the resonants and they call themselves. The community wants to out themselves, to be able to control the introduction to normal people, instead of information being leaked and possibly creating a desaster.

This book is very quickly readable, and there was nothing wrong with it I could see. I just didn't vibe with it at all from the beginning, and it got worse with the introduction of the pupils of the school for people with special abilities. Recreational drug use and sex, more than I can stomach right now. If this book were shorter, I would probably have read on, but further 500 pages when it took me so long to get this far doesn't seem appealing, especially if I can't tell you more than that this one is simply not for me.

I urge you to find an excerp if the blurp sounds appealing to you and just give it a try.

The arc was provided by the publisher.

The world is about to change. Avi Hirsch knows theres something a little different about his daughter Emmeline, she has very few friends except for the imagined and acts far older than her age. So when he is contacted by a man called Kevin Bishop and told that 'resonants' exist, people with superhuman abilities, and Bishop runs a school for them in New York, he takes the news better than expected. Bishop has decided that resonant's should come out of hiding, and he wants Avi to write the piece exposing them to the world. He also tells Avi that Emmeline is like them, she is a resonant, although they're unsure what it is yet. What follows is a tale we all know too well. A group defined as 'different' are exposed and humanity is put to the test. Only what Bishop and his fellow teachers don't realise is the bigger threat might be coming from within.


The book is told from four main perspectives; Avi the 'damp' someone with no Resonant. His main purpose for taking the story initially, and sticking with Bishop is to keep Emmeline as safe as he can, he feels that if he writes the pieces, tells the story how he wants it to be told then people might just react a little better. Unfortunately, his need to protect Emmeline is weighted by the fact that he is a regular human, there is nothing special about him and pretty soon he realises he will spend his whole life looking into a world where his daughter fits, but he will never belong. Avi's perspective is the closest we get to us the reader actually becoming part of the book. He asks the questions we want answers too, he follows the leads we know need seeing through, and his story is both heartwarming and utterly heartbreaking.

Fahima Deeb, is one of the teachers at Bishop's school. She is a whiz with technology, and the genetics behind certain 'resonants' powers. She isn't sure that 'coming out' to the world is the right thing to do. As a Muslim, she has lived with her fair share of hate and knows that people will choose to hate a group of people simply because they are different. She is headstrong and brilliant, and her perspective is SO important to the overall plot. She not only gives us as the reader a greater insight into 'resonants' the different kinds and what they can do, but through her the author weaves lots of little tid bits of information that allow us to follow the secondary, but equally as important storyline.

Carrie is another 'resonant' one with the ability to disappear not just from view, but also from peoples memories. She has spent her life being forgotten by the people she loves, having to see her parents surprise at her existence every time she comes home, so the school is her safe haven. She feels seen there, safe, until that fateful day when the world discovers who has been hiding beside them for years. Her story gives us a greater insight into the treatment of 'resonants' once they are made public. How the world is amazed at first and then inventively shuns them. Realises they have the potential to become dangerous. Her story does not pain a pretty picture of humanity, realistic unfortunately, but certainly not pretty.

Our final perspective is Owen Curry, a seemingly normal boy who all of a sudden has the ability to make things disappear into the void forever. Bishop didn't find Owen, in fact another person has, someone who seems to have an ulterior motive, one that Owen's ability will certainly come in handy for. This person seems to think that humanity will never treat them as equals, and has a plan for when the inevitable happens, one that Owen's power will be needed for. All of these perspectives together give us a 360 view of the story. The author leaves no stone, or perspective unturned and we as the reader have to decide whose side we are ultimately on.

This book is the perfect blend of the wonder of 'X-Men' with the no holds barred of 'The Boys', but with a whole new level of complexity weaved in. It hits hard from the get go, and the author does nothing to sugarcoat the depravity of humanity, how we can become the absolutely worst version of ourselves when greeted with something we can’t understand. Proehl does not pull any punches, and I was blown away by the depth and the questions this book asked of us not only as readers but as human beings. I always remember in a History class being asked whether I would have sat back in Nazi Germany and watched Jewish neighbours being taken away and my answer was always the same, we can't know how we would act until we were put into that situation. It's easy to say you would fight it, and I would love to assume that would be the case, but those people had families too, children and we can never truly know how we would act until we were put in that scenario. This book is no different. If you woke up one day to find out your neighbour could shoot lasers with their eyes, shoot cannonballs out of their hands, or even just simply read your mind, a part of you would be amazed yes? But maybe another part would be asking if they can do those things whats to stop them from harming innocent people... maybe even you. We don't like change, we don't like things that are different, that we see as a potential threats and this just shows how humanity treats those who fit into those categories.

With a hard hitting topic you will be un-surprised when I say this was by no means a fast read. I had to take my time, making sure I read every single word because there are so many hints and clues to the questions we want answered. Who is the person in Owen Curry's head? What is their end goal? What is Emmelines resonant? Whose side are were truly on? This last question is made even harder when we realise that is isn't simply 'norms' vs 'resonants' but we have warring factions within the resonants themselves, those that just want to be seen as normal, live their lives without hassle, just want to be accepted into humanity as a whole. And the we have the ones who feel that isn’t an option, the ones that feel that humanity isn’t ready for people like them, never will be. And unfortunately, in the way only humans can we prove the latter right. Internment camps start opening, white unregistered vans appear stealing people away from their lives and homes. We see a lot of parallels between how the government are treating the remnants &amp; how our government is treating immigrants &amp; the author doesn’t shy away from highlighting the governments failing on a humanitarian level.

I honestly didn't expect this book to be as hard hitting as it was, and while there are some lighter moments, it really does take us on a deep dive as to how humanity is failing. We get treated to one hell of a cliffhanger ending and I for one am eagerly anticipating getting my hands on book two.

I so badly wanted to enjoy this. It's exactly the kind of story I should enjoy. I struggled through to 20%, give or take, and then gave up. The writing style just didn't suit me at all; too overblown and melodramatic. It's a shame, because the author clearly loves the subject matter. I hope other readers do better with it.

Unfortunately this book wasn't for me, it had the premise of umbrella academy, which piqued my interest. But unfortunately I lost interest pretty quickly.

This is not really my thing. I am not sure how to put this but to me it doesn’t flow well, it’s a bit choppy and blunt. I also don’t really get what’s going on neither do I care about what is going on. As I have said I don’t think it’s aimed for me and I think it’s generally aimed at people who loved watching the show Heroes and Xmen films and stuff like that.

A powerful and engaging read, The Nobody People explores the very essence of what makes us human, love and the things that define us as unique and different.

This is a great start to a series. How would America react if people with abilities started to make themselves known? It’s not the most original plot however this is a realistic portrayal of how abilities would manifest, how a boarding school would run and the feelings people would have. I also enjoyed how their was a wide range of characters and sexualities shown not as tokens but different life experiences would have different reactions to law makers and law enforcers. Thank you to NetGalley for this EARC.

I really, really enjoyed reading this book! It sets out a world, not unlike our own, where 'Resonants', people born wuth varying abilities exist.
As usual, non-Resonants or 'Damps', plain old humans to you and me, kill and drive out what they don't undestand, so the world at large is unaware of both Resonants and that's the way they like it. They all have unique abilities, the one thing they have in common is being able to transport themselves to an almost alternate dimension known as 'The Hive', here. a man named Bishop, not unlike Professor X, has created a safe space, an Academy, where Resonants who tend to activate their abilities when reaching their teens, can firstly become aware that they are not alone, and secondly be offered access to the Academy, where they can learn to control their skills.
It sounds altruistic and sensible, but Bishop is no X, he maintains the population control of Resonants as the more of them there are in one place, the more their powes amplify. They are trying to be stable and known in a world which fears and dreads anything which resembles being more than human.
Into this world comes Avi, a reporter whose story chasing days have decreased to once a year following the loss of his leg in a bombing. His marriage already in knots, torn between his need to track down stories as well as look after his child, Emmeline.When he is apporoached to investigate the bombing of a black church, close to home, he jumps at the chance.
A relatively 'safe' story, he finds himself caught up in the world of the Resonants as well as the FBI , who have noticed on the security recordings that it was not necessarily a bomb that destroyed the church. At the same time , Bishop has decided that Avi is exactly who he wants to break the story of the Resonants before they are discovered to be a potential threat to the world. For someone close to home has pinged Bishop's radar and he is going to need all the help he can get...
A really great opening to a series, I was so excited to find that this is not just a one off novel! inevitable comparisons to the X Men aside, I felt this is a nuanced tale of what it means to be human, more than human and how society treats its outsiders. From the shocking prologue through every gripping page, Bob Proehl has created characters who are flawed, well intentioned, complex and incredibly relatable. It is a thoroughly enjoyable read and I loved it.