What We're Reading: The Failstate Series (Erin)

I've had the pleasure of delving into the world of teen hero wannabes and their increasingly chaotic and dangerous world lately. In case you haven't read John Otte's Failstate series, I highly recommend it!

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Failstate opens with a superhero reality show, in which contestants are competing in order to gain a superhero license from the city. Rob Laughlin, aka Failstate, is competing, but he isn't flashy, like most of the other superheros. Instead, he wears an old sweatshirt and always hides his face. However, he is motivated to win because he wants to keep his city safe.

Rob is easy to relate to. He goes to church and youth group, but still struggles with self-doubt, complicated family relationships, and typical high school crushes. However, life as a potential superhero makes him anything but ordinary. Otte writes with a blend of action and humor that will keep teens (like the ones in my house, anyhow) reading to all hours of the night. He weaves in Christian themes in such a natural way, you could give these books to any high schoolers, whether or not they attend church.

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In Failstate: Legends Rob's city is threatened by zombies, but no one seems to be taking the threat seriously. Can Rob convince people the threat is real in time to save those he cares about?

Since the only other zombie book I've read is Pride and Prejudice and Zombies,  I was interested to see how Otte's zombies functioned and were created.

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Failstate: Nemesis is easily my favorite of the three books. Rob is always likable, but by this point, I am attached to him and the people he cares about. The themes get more intense, and Otte's vocation as a pastor show through. However, Otte doesn't shy away from tough questions or real struggles. He offers hope, but in the context of real life and real people. Otte avoids the simplicity a lot of books written for the Christian market tend to fall into.

Check in tomorrow for my interview with John Otte, to learn more about his life and writing! I am looking forward to reading his Ministrix series soon! Have you read any of his books? Which series would you read first? Leave a comment and let us know!