The best superhero books to read if you want to learn how to save the day from the villain

Why am I passionate about this?

I really enjoy superhero fiction, especially superhero fiction that challenges the usual norms of the superhero genre. I’ve always liked reading comics and moving onto superhero novels has only deepened my love of the genre. The list I’ve created is just the tip of the iceberg for superhero fiction and I highly recommend you check out these books for interesting takes on superheroes and villains. 


I wrote...

Learning How to Fly

By Taylor Ellwood,

Book cover of Learning How to Fly

What is my book about?

Nelson wants to be a superhero, but he’s got a problem. He has to attend remedial flying and if he doesn’t pass the class he’ll just be a super zero. But remedial flying is the least of his problems. A vengeful ex-girlfriend with super powers, his super hero mom, and the Superhero Bureau has it out for him. Can Nelson become the superhero he knows himself to be?

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The books I picked & why

Book cover of Caped

Taylor Ellwood Why did I love this book?

Theo never wanted to be a superhero, so when he suddenly develops superpowers all he’d prefer to do is go back to life as normal.

But he’s already got a super nemesis that’s out to kill him.

If Theo doesn’t learn how to use his powers and become the superhero he needs to be, he could lose everything and everyone that’s important to him.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book and the rest of the series.

By Darius Brasher,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked Caped as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

The best time to kill a superhero is before he becomes one.

Scrawny seventeen-year-old Theodore Conley shocks himself and everyone else by tossing three big bullies around like they are wads of paper and Theo is aiming for the trash can.

Now that he has superpowers, suddenly everyone expects Theo to do great things. He doesn’t want to do anything great, however. It’s too much work and too dangerous. Unless it’s safe and involves Theo finally getting a girlfriend, he’s not interested.

Theo gets more danger than he can handle when a supervillain attacks. In self-defense, Theo is forced to…


Book cover of The Sidekicks Initiative

Taylor Ellwood Why did I love this book?

In The Sidekick Initiative a former sidekick, now middle-aged insurance worker is reluctantly pulled back into the superhero game after the world’s superheroes disappear.

The problem is he not only has a team of washed-up former sidekicks to lead, he’s also got the world’s most powerful supervillains gunning for him and his family.

This was a hilarious story that kept me on the seat of my pants.

By Barry J. Hutchison,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked The Sidekicks Initiative as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

Once, they stood next to justice. Now they're standing up for it... When sworn protectors of Earth, the Justice Platoon, are all horribly killed, their former arch-enemies come crawling out of the woodwork. Outnumbered, outgunned, and out of options, the US Government has no choice but to activate the Sidekicks Initiative, dragging the Platoon's middle-aged ex-sidekicks out of retirement. Now these three reluctant, out of shape former child-wonders must work together to stop the rising tide of supervillainy, avenge their former mentors' deaths, and bring the world back from the brink of destruction. Assuming they don't kill each other first.…


Book cover of Supervillainy and Other Poor Career Choices

Taylor Ellwood Why did I love this book?

This is a comedic take on being a supervillain.

The main character finds some power armor and wants to sell it but ends up becoming a supervillain for hire, while trying to fend off the affections of his boss’s daughter.

The author does an excellent job of balancing the action with the comedy. I couldn’t put this book down.

By J. R. Grey,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked Supervillainy and Other Poor Career Choices as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

Engineer.Survivor.Supervillain. When a down on his luck engineer ends up coming into possession of a rundown suit of power-armor, he sees an opportunity to make some quick cash by selling it off to the nearest supervillain. Unfortunately for him, what should have been a quick and easy sale to pay off his debts quickly grows into an ongoing series of events that serve only to drag him deeper and deeper into the criminal underbelly of the city he calls home. In no time at all, Erich finds himself fending off Neo-Nazi gang members, crazed capes, and the dangerous affections of…


Book cover of Super

Taylor Ellwood Why did I love this book?

The main character is an assassin who hunts down superheroes who’ve gone rogue.

He’s been given an impossible mission to assassinate one of the most powerful superheroes, who’s impervious to just about everything, and also stop a rival assassin from killing the president.

This was a nail-biting adventure that will keep you on your toes, wanting to know what happens next.

By Ernie Lindsey,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked Super as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

From the USA Today bestselling author of Sara's Game, this is SUPER, a unique blend of superhero fiction and crime thriller.

"Impossible to put down until you know the answers. Exciting, thrilling, and full of deception, this is one of my favorite books of the year."
- Jason Gurley, bestselling author of Greatfall

"Every hero's journey has a beginning, middle, and end...I am that end."

A world mourning a fallen superhero.

A president targeted for assassination.

A conspiracy that runs deeper than anyone suspects.

Leo Craft is the best at what he does; he assassinates superheroes, but only the ones…


Book cover of Renegades

Taylor Ellwood Why did I love this book?

The renegades are a superhero organization that policies all superpowered people, but one of their new members has a secret mission of her own and she’ll do whatever it takes to bring the Renegades down.

But the last thing she expected was to fall in love with one of the Renegades and now she has to choose her mission or her love.

This was a book that will keep you on the edge of your seat, wondering what will happen next. 

By Marissa Meyer,

Why should I read it?

5 authors picked Renegades as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it. This book is for kids age 12, 13, 14, and 15.

What is this book about?

Secret identities. Extraordinary powers.
She wants vengeance. He wants justice.

The Renegades are a syndicate of prodigies-humans with extraordinary abilities-who emerged from the ruins of a crumbled society and established peace and order where chaos reigned. As champions of justice, they remain a symbol of hope and courage to everyone . . . except the villains they once overthrew.

Nova has a reason to hate the Renegades, and she is on a mission for vengeance. As she gets closer to her target, she meets Adrian, a Renegade boy who believes in justice-and in Nova. But Nova's allegiance is to a…


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Subjugation: Zanchier

By SG Boudreaux,

Book cover of Subjugation: Zanchier

SG Boudreaux

New book alert!

What is my book about?

Harper Brinley is running for her life.

After escaping from a government holding facility where she, along with other scientists, was being forced to build a deadly weapon. She headed for the most remote place she could think of, the wild Xantifal Mountains.

The one place where no one would think to search for her. There, she found a massive hollowed tree in which to survive the harsh mountain winter. If she can survive the four-legged, fire-breathing firebirds and the equally large wildcats of the mountain ridge, then maybe she can find her way back to her children. She was…

Subjugation: Zanchier

By SG Boudreaux,

What is this book about?

Harper Brinley is running for her life. After escaping from a government holding facility, where she along with other scientists were being forced to build a deadly weapon, she headed for the most remote place she could think of, the wild Xantifal Mountains. The one place where no one would think to search for her. There she found a massive hollowed tree in which to survive the harsh mountain winter. If she can survive the four-legged, fire-breathing firebirds, and the equally large wildcats of the mountain ridge, then maybe she can find her way back to her children. She was…


5 book lists we think you will like!

Interested in superheros, supervillains, and anti heros?

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