The Hero We Need

CW: Transphobia, Queerphobia, Abusive Family, Friends, Coworkers, Slurs and Threats (Portrayed as appropriately awful of course)

I feel incredibly emotional after finishing this book.

I'm a transfemme in my mid-30s who doesn't often get on with YA stories, but the quality and content of this were more than enough to keep me rapt. With the world as hateful and scary as it is right now books like this are so incredibly important and the fact that it is written and performed with such heart, honesty, and raw human emotion is utterly breathtaking.

The highs are heady and powerful and the lows are gut wrenching and heartbreaking in Danielle's story. The pure trans joy I felt reading this was incredible, as was just how brutal and close to home the vehement transphobia espoused by a number of characters. Honestly, so much so that, while I was absolutely devouring this book, I did have to take a few breaks simply as my mental health isn't as robust as I would like it to be and I did find some of the scenes rather triggering. This isn't a complaint or an issue. We shouldn't shy away from how virulent and abhorrent people can be about and to us simply for being who we are.

There are many books I read that I'm thankful for existing and nearly all stories make the world a more beautiful and incredible place, but this is one of the ones that genuinely, tangibly adds something of such great importance and wonder.

I do have a few criticisms of the book. Unfortunately, it does use the superhero trope of superheroes essentially being cops, cops being portrayed in a positive light (ACAB), and prison being an easy and thoughtless decision, as well as the Jack Bauer/ Reacher aspect of normalising torture and intimidation as an acceptable and effective method of operation 'if the needs must'. This last point is not as egregious as in The Iron Widow, a book I otherwise thoroughly enjoyed, but Dreadnought falls into the trap of questioning when things go 'too far', while allowing a lot that shouldn't actually be acceptable. This all comes down to the politics of the book being a little too centrist for my liking. Yes, the government are criticised, but it is watered down with similar logic to not all cops (Yes, all cops and the entire police and prison complex).

The other issues surround the somewhat appropriate, but unexplored dive into horrific incel behaviour of Danielle's best friend, and the unaddressed transphobia, passive transphobia, and enabling of the Justice League equivalents. This is an ongoing series, so these may be explored further, but some events towards the end of the novel mean that certain characters will not be held accountable. There are some threads that seem to just drop, but we will see if they are explored more in further books.

While I have my criticisms, I heartily recommend this book and genuinely loved it and the phenomenal performance.

Thank you.

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A wonderful story of empowerment of trans girl

I love this story of a young trans woman become her ideal self and one of the strongest beings in the world. Yet she still has to deal with the misogyny and transphobia from friend, family and superhero but along side this there is heart warming support from some characters and moments of gender euphoria that filled me up with some much joy I wept.

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The best depiction of a transgender character

April Daniels Dreadnought is simply the best and most realistic depiction of a transgender character I have ever seen Dreadnought tells not only a great compelling superheroes story but also shows the struggles that young trans people face and incorporated into a story in a tasteful way.

I would and have recommended this book many times.

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Brilliant

Loved this book. I eagerly await volume two. Great story and brilliant trans heroine written well

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1 person found this helpful

My new favourite book

I love love love this book.
Best fiction I’ve ever heard/read. As a trans woman i could relate so much to Danny and it was so refreshing to feel such a connection to a character. I hunger for more trans characters in fiction like this. The transphobic characters felt so real and heart crunching and the way it all merged into this fantastical world was enthralling. What i loved the most was how sometimes how she uses her superpowers becomes an expression of the emotions she’s feeling. and how accurate and relateable those emotions were.

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Great transgender story and just a great superhero

I love superheroes and have also been looking for a Jk Rowling terf pallet cleanser. This was great a really interesting concept, great descriptions, and very emotional at points

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2 people found this helpful

I needed this so so much

this was absolutely beautiful and wonderful and amazing. I needed this story so damn much and I hope it helps others

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A story of a trans superheroine and it's great.

If you're interested in a new twist on a superhero origin story or in a trans main character I will highly recommend this book.

The struggle of transitioning and becoming a superhero at the same time is a wonderful combination for drama and character development.

It's included with audibles+ membership so you can listen to it for free if you have the membership. The book is good enough to stand on it's own though

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A brilliant insight

The magical gender transformation in this book is an absolute fantasy for most trans people but that's about where the fantasy ends. So many of the transition related social situations Danni experiences here are ones that I myself have experienced as a trans woman.

Essential reading for anyone looking to get an insight into the trans experience without being absolutely bored to tears.

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So good!

Others have probably said it better, but this is a fantastic book, there are places where it is hard to read - because of how pieces of the story resonate and are painful - this is not a bad thing - there’s also fun and humour and some great fights. I hope many many people read this.

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