With occasional timeouts to lock lips, underdog villains heroically turn the tables on a villainous hero in this sequel and (likely) closer to Powerless (2015).Lest any hint of complexity intrude, areas of Colorado and one site in New Mexico stand in for the whole world, and, except for megalomaniac leader Rex Malone, the heroes are faceless thugs whose sole role is, la Imperial Storm Troopers, to shoot wildly and die. Both heroes and villains are conveniently endowed with single superpowers and nicely labeled with natural neck tattoos. The action begins as former "ordinary" Kenna rescues her villain boyfriend, Draven, with help from a mixed bag of villains and renegade heroes, and climaxes when the white teen takes on Malone in another "secret hero lab" (the first having been destroyed in the opener). It's filled in between with inconclusive ambushes and firefights, along with lip-swelling smooches and labored teen banter. Meanwhile, as further evidence that the whole scenario is phoned-in, Malone utilizes a form of mind control that only seems to work when it suits the plot, and Kenna develops a "serum" (more accurately a chemical compound) that magically confers immunity to superpowered but not regular attacks.Even the snogging doesn't generate much heat in this clich-ridden climax. (Romantic thriller. 12-15) Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.

Three weeks ago, Kenna Swift was a regular girl, lacking the superpowers many people in her world possess. Three weeks ago, she was normal, safe, and happy. Then Rex Malone, head of the superhero collective that runs the city, had her mom, a scientist, kidnapped by supervillains. Then Kenna's crush, broody and superpowered Draven, was taken while trying to mount a rescue and is sure to be sentenced to death in an unfair system. Kenna, lost and suddenly finding herself with powers she doesn't understand, prepares to go up against the most famous heroes of all time. Readers who don't start with the first book, Powerless (2015), may lose out on some background. Regardless, this is a compulsively readable blend of classic superhero story and fantasy adventure.--Comfort, Stacey Copyright 2016 Booklist