The Somebody People

June 5, 2020

Proehl's follow-up to The Nobody People takes place seven years after the Pulse that gave psychic powers to millions of people. Our heroes are all in very different places. Fahima has been busy shaping New York City to be the utopia she's always wanted it to be. Carrie goes on frequent delivery/retrieval missions, in which she beats up anyone in her way. Clay can think of nothing but how to protect his adopted son Rai. Emmeline's been hiding out in a bubble universe while everyone thinks she's dead. What none of them realize is that their enemies are slowly gaining power behind the scenes, and the window to work together to save the world is getting smaller every day. VERDICT Starting with the first book of this duology (The Nobody People) is strongly recommended. Proehl's use of alternating viewpoints and the occasional flashback help propel the story. However, for its length, it lacks meaningful character development. Should appeal to readers of Marissa Meyer's "Renegades" series or those who enjoy dystopian X-Men stories.--Laurel Bliss, San Diego State Univ. Lib.

Copyright 2020 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

July 13, 2020
Proehl’s whirlwind follow-up to The Nobody People starts at a run and only picks up steam as it goes on, which will delight some readers, but leave others in the dust. Seven years after series heroine Fahima Deeb triggered the Pulse, which left millions of people—referred to as resonants—with enhanced abilities, the general public still struggles to accept the superpowered among them, while safe havens like Bishop Academy allow resonants to hone their skills. But even isolated from the rest of the world, peace cannot last: Fahima discovers that someone is taking over the minds of other resonants to exploit their powers. Worse yet, the mysterious villain is primarily operating through the body of Fahima’s friend, Patrick Davenport. If Fahima and her unlikely team of friends can’t stop him, the precarious peace between resonants and nonresonants may give way to a new wave of hatred. Proehl does an admirable job navigating the nuances of otherness and bigotry while ably juggling his myriad distinctive characters. But the complex plot becomes difficult to untangle as it barrels forward, and Proehl rarely gives context to relationships and story lines carried over from the first installment. Readers will be delighted to return to this X-men-esque fantasy world, but are advised to refresh their memories of the first volume before diving in.