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Becoming Glitch: The Powers Were Just The Beginning
What if you could stop time? What if it terrified you?
Andy is an unambitious community college student who gets the grades his parents want and spends most of his free time playing games online. His life seems comfortably predictable until a strange sickness and an encounter with a mysterious giant leave him wondering if he really can freeze time. Before long he is practicing hero banter, meeting people with bizarre abilities, and trying to distract his new personal trainer with philosophy.
But when a petty thief turns into a living nightmare, can Andy find the courage to rise up and face his fear?
As an ominous presence pulls strings from the shadows, can Andy figure out what it means to become Glitch in time to save himself?
Andy is an unambitious community college student who gets the grades his parents want and spends most of his free time playing games online. His life seems comfortably predictable until a strange sickness and an encounter with a mysterious giant leave him wondering if he really can freeze time. Before long he is practicing hero banter, meeting people with bizarre abilities, and trying to distract his new personal trainer with philosophy.
But when a petty thief turns into a living nightmare, can Andy find the courage to rise up and face his fear?
As an ominous presence pulls strings from the shadows, can Andy figure out what it means to become Glitch in time to save himself?
460 pages, Kindle Edition
Published December 7, 2022
17 people are currently reading
56 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews
June 30, 2023
Did I write it?
Yes.
Can I still rate it?
Apparently so.
Am I biased?
You bet.
But I will say this about my first book, I tried to write it so that:
-You will be entertained by it if you come for the action, whether or not you're a die hard fan of superhero stories.
-You will enjoy it if you stay for the characters.
-And you will be encouraged by it if you keep an ear open to the themes behind the action.
I'd love to hear your thoughts if you read it. Feel free to post a comment, send me a message, or checkout my website: danielsayreauthor.com
Yes.
Can I still rate it?
Apparently so.
Am I biased?
You bet.
But I will say this about my first book, I tried to write it so that:
-You will be entertained by it if you come for the action, whether or not you're a die hard fan of superhero stories.
-You will enjoy it if you stay for the characters.
-And you will be encouraged by it if you keep an ear open to the themes behind the action.
I'd love to hear your thoughts if you read it. Feel free to post a comment, send me a message, or checkout my website: danielsayreauthor.com
April 28, 2023
A coming of age, superhero origin story is not my usual reading material but I enjoyed this book.
At first I thought what a great graphic novel this would be. Though, as things dragged a bit in the middle and the beef between CIG and Voice got tiresome, I started to feel bad for the artist who’d have to draw their annoyed faces 1000 times. I expected more action and less dialogue, introspection, and philosophizing.
I would’ve liked to learn more about the fever and the science behind the various abilities.
Still, I enjoyed the action scenes. I appreciated that it never got too gory.
This definitely read like the start of a series. Not a whole lot was resolved or explained.
At first I thought what a great graphic novel this would be. Though, as things dragged a bit in the middle and the beef between CIG and Voice got tiresome, I started to feel bad for the artist who’d have to draw their annoyed faces 1000 times. I expected more action and less dialogue, introspection, and philosophizing.
I would’ve liked to learn more about the fever and the science behind the various abilities.
Still, I enjoyed the action scenes. I appreciated that it never got too gory.
This definitely read like the start of a series. Not a whole lot was resolved or explained.
October 26, 2023
Really enjoyed this one. It's very much a street-level, individualistic approach centered around the idea of people randomly getting powers and trying to figure out how they work and what to do with them.
A lot of superhero books feel the need to go big and bombastic right from the start, but Daniel avoids that approach and I think the story is better for it; it lets him really delve into the protagonist's mentality and emotional responses to each story beat. It really touches on the ideas of what heroism means and how the people in your life can help shape who you are as person, and that's a perspective we don't get enough of.
The story starts small and quiet and builds naturally to a climax that feels earned and sets the stage for books to come.
Highly recommended! I'm looking forward to seeing where things go next!
A lot of superhero books feel the need to go big and bombastic right from the start, but Daniel avoids that approach and I think the story is better for it; it lets him really delve into the protagonist's mentality and emotional responses to each story beat. It really touches on the ideas of what heroism means and how the people in your life can help shape who you are as person, and that's a perspective we don't get enough of.
The story starts small and quiet and builds naturally to a climax that feels earned and sets the stage for books to come.
Highly recommended! I'm looking forward to seeing where things go next!
April 10, 2023
A strong debut for this author, a superhero novel with heart and some depth to it. While it does go dark in places, it's not relentlessly so, and it pulls off the difficult feat of taking a slacker character (cruising by on his intelligence at a college that's not challenging him, while spending much of his time playing computer games and eating microwave meals) and turning him into a hero. We see, from inside the young man known to his friends as Andy and for superhero purposes as Glitch, his growth in courage and effectiveness, and how his friendships with a gruff ex-Marine, a perky, optimistic highschooler, an idealistic and poised immigrant, and a self-doubting man looking for somewhere to belong change him and help him to become more than he was. The title is well chosen; this is a coming-of-age story, but one that's better executed and less cliched than most. It involves no romance, which I think was a good choice on the author's part. Instead, the relationships that matter are friendship, mentorship and team loyalty.
A slight weakness for me was that the city authorities were handled tropishly and also kept almost entirely offstage, as potential minor antagonists who never really materialized. Their incompetence and bad priorities have resulted in a crime-ridden city which also seems to have an unusual number of fires, and the vigilante hero team step in where the cops and firefighters are inadequate to rescue people. There's not much sociological or political insight into the situation on show, and depending on your perspective, that could be a missed opportunity or a well-calculated avoidance of a potential distraction from the central story, which is Andy's growth into his hero persona under pressure of the challenges posed by becoming involved in crime prevention, fire rescue, and eventually supervillains.
Although I got a review copy via Netgalley, the publication date indicates that it's already published, not a pre-publication version, so I will mention the editing. The author, in his acknowledgements, thanks his sister (also apparently an author) for help with copy editing and grammar lessons; apparently his sister does not know the very important and basic rule that you should always use a comma before or after a term of address, such as a name. It needs going over by a professional editor, mainly for that but also for a few other common problems, including words missing or inserted in sentences, apostrophes in the wrong places and the occasional homonym error. I will note at this point that, with few exceptions, superhero fiction tends to be poorly edited; I don't know why.
The state of the editing dragged it down one tier in my Best of the Year list, from Gold to Silver. But it's a promising start to what I hope will be a series, or at least a career.
A slight weakness for me was that the city authorities were handled tropishly and also kept almost entirely offstage, as potential minor antagonists who never really materialized. Their incompetence and bad priorities have resulted in a crime-ridden city which also seems to have an unusual number of fires, and the vigilante hero team step in where the cops and firefighters are inadequate to rescue people. There's not much sociological or political insight into the situation on show, and depending on your perspective, that could be a missed opportunity or a well-calculated avoidance of a potential distraction from the central story, which is Andy's growth into his hero persona under pressure of the challenges posed by becoming involved in crime prevention, fire rescue, and eventually supervillains.
Although I got a review copy via Netgalley, the publication date indicates that it's already published, not a pre-publication version, so I will mention the editing. The author, in his acknowledgements, thanks his sister (also apparently an author) for help with copy editing and grammar lessons; apparently his sister does not know the very important and basic rule that you should always use a comma before or after a term of address, such as a name. It needs going over by a professional editor, mainly for that but also for a few other common problems, including words missing or inserted in sentences, apostrophes in the wrong places and the occasional homonym error. I will note at this point that, with few exceptions, superhero fiction tends to be poorly edited; I don't know why.
The state of the editing dragged it down one tier in my Best of the Year list, from Gold to Silver. But it's a promising start to what I hope will be a series, or at least a career.
April 25, 2023
I think that some of the most interesting urban fantasy writer are self-published and you discover them by serendipity.
This is another one I thoroughly enjoy as it's well plotted, entertaining, and featuring fleshed out characters.
There's some dark moments, there's humour, and a solid plot.
It's strongly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this arc, all opinions are mine
This is another one I thoroughly enjoy as it's well plotted, entertaining, and featuring fleshed out characters.
There's some dark moments, there's humour, and a solid plot.
It's strongly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this arc, all opinions are mine
April 23, 2023
This story was amazing! Three dimensional characters, indepth plot, well thought out consequences to actions. We follow the perspective of Andy who has recently developed super human abilities and watch as he comes to realize that life is not a comic book. Every character grows and changes. Five stars.
This book was given to me by NetGalley in exchange for my fair and unbiased
This book was given to me by NetGalley in exchange for my fair and unbiased
March 9, 2023
Truly enjoyed this book! Daniel Sayre has created a compelling storyline, characters with realistic positive traits and relatable flaws (despite their "enhancements"), and thoughtful themes that take this novel a step beyond the typical superhero tale. The main character, in particular, is extremely relatable, which makes the people he meets--each with a suddenly acquired special "enhancement"--fascinating additions to the kaleidoscope of personalities, motivations, and goals that come together in the crime-fighting storyline. I appreciated the way each character responded individually and uniquely to their past struggles and difficulties, and how their acquired enhancements played out as a result. Characters were not monolithic or predictable; they were human while being slightly superhuman--but still vulnerable in their own ways.
Plenty of suspense and action without profanity or gratuitous undesirable elements; the story is well-told and clearly well-thought-through.
I'm an English teacher and will be recommending this book to several of my students who will greatly enjoy the story. I guarantee they will come to the end of it looking for more. Well done!
Plenty of suspense and action without profanity or gratuitous undesirable elements; the story is well-told and clearly well-thought-through.
I'm an English teacher and will be recommending this book to several of my students who will greatly enjoy the story. I guarantee they will come to the end of it looking for more. Well done!
September 10, 2023
In "Becoming Glitch," we delve into a world where the extraordinary is born from the ordinary.
As a first-time author's debut work, "Becoming Glitch" not only maintains the promise of the original narrative but also introduces a captivating layer of technological wonder. The author's unique voice and unmistakable humor breathe life into this superhero tale, making it a truly immersive experience.
What sets "Becoming Glitch" apart is its potential for expansion. The author has artfully crafted a superhero universe that resonates with readers, leaving them eager for more. With sequels on the horizon, we can anticipate the growth and development of both the heroes and the overarching plot.
The title "Becoming Glitch" aptly reflects the essence of this thrilling journey, where characters navigate the complexities of their newfound abilities while confronting the enigmatic digital anomaly that has altered their lives forever.
In conclusion, "Becoming Glitch" is a compelling debut that introduces a fresh perspective to the world of superheroes. If you're a fan of tech-infused adventures, charismatic characters, and the promise of a broader superhero universe, don't miss out on this exciting read. Keep an eye out for the sequels, as they hold the potential to propel this digital superhero saga to even greater heights!
As a first-time author's debut work, "Becoming Glitch" not only maintains the promise of the original narrative but also introduces a captivating layer of technological wonder. The author's unique voice and unmistakable humor breathe life into this superhero tale, making it a truly immersive experience.
What sets "Becoming Glitch" apart is its potential for expansion. The author has artfully crafted a superhero universe that resonates with readers, leaving them eager for more. With sequels on the horizon, we can anticipate the growth and development of both the heroes and the overarching plot.
The title "Becoming Glitch" aptly reflects the essence of this thrilling journey, where characters navigate the complexities of their newfound abilities while confronting the enigmatic digital anomaly that has altered their lives forever.
In conclusion, "Becoming Glitch" is a compelling debut that introduces a fresh perspective to the world of superheroes. If you're a fan of tech-infused adventures, charismatic characters, and the promise of a broader superhero universe, don't miss out on this exciting read. Keep an eye out for the sequels, as they hold the potential to propel this digital superhero saga to even greater heights!
March 25, 2023
I have multiple friends that have written books. With that experience I can say you never know exactly what you are going to get, but in this case I can say I thoroughly enjoyed Daniel's book.
The story is of a young college student who discovers he has superpowers after he has a cold. So I think the target audience this would most resonate with is teens and young adults, but I still found it to be an enjoyable read that I would recommend to anyone who likes superhero/sci-fi novels.
I think the description of the book gives a good introduction. I would add to it without revealing any major spoilers by saying the story it is an exploration of team work, friendship, loss, purpose/meaning of life, and stepping out to find your own place in the world. I enjoyed seeing the Andy/Glitch grow up throughout the process. There is more I want to comment on, but I do not want to add spoilers to my review.
Another comment is that I enjoyed the authors prose. I do not know why, but one of my favorite quotes of the book was something along the lines of "The walls reeked with silence."
I look forward to the sequel.
The story is of a young college student who discovers he has superpowers after he has a cold. So I think the target audience this would most resonate with is teens and young adults, but I still found it to be an enjoyable read that I would recommend to anyone who likes superhero/sci-fi novels.
I think the description of the book gives a good introduction. I would add to it without revealing any major spoilers by saying the story it is an exploration of team work, friendship, loss, purpose/meaning of life, and stepping out to find your own place in the world. I enjoyed seeing the Andy/Glitch grow up throughout the process. There is more I want to comment on, but I do not want to add spoilers to my review.
Another comment is that I enjoyed the authors prose. I do not know why, but one of my favorite quotes of the book was something along the lines of "The walls reeked with silence."
I look forward to the sequel.
September 16, 2023
When weird things start happening to college student Andy, he chalks it up to boredom, not paying attention, or just a brain glitch. Until he sees a giant of a man stopping a robbery and he glitches again.
Evenually he and CIG, the Cast Iron Giant, team up to stop crime in the worst neighborhood in the city. Gradually they meet others with unusual supernatural abilities. Some want to help others, some turn into unstopable muderous thugs.
No one knows why one day so many people just magically developed these abilities, but Glitch, CIG, and ohers know they need to keep their abilities secret.
I loved the ongoing theme of second chances, even when it sometimes goes wrong, because sometimes it goes very right.
I absolutely loved this book and I sincerely hope the author writes man more, and soon.
Evenually he and CIG, the Cast Iron Giant, team up to stop crime in the worst neighborhood in the city. Gradually they meet others with unusual supernatural abilities. Some want to help others, some turn into unstopable muderous thugs.
No one knows why one day so many people just magically developed these abilities, but Glitch, CIG, and ohers know they need to keep their abilities secret.
I loved the ongoing theme of second chances, even when it sometimes goes wrong, because sometimes it goes very right.
I absolutely loved this book and I sincerely hope the author writes man more, and soon.
May 4, 2023
A coming of age, superhero origin story is not my usual reading material but I enjoyed this book.
At first I thought what a great graphic novel this would be. Though, as things dragged a bit in the middle and the beef between CIG and Voice got tiresome, I started to feel bad for the artist who’d have to draw their annoyed faces 1000 times. I expected more action and less dialogue, introspection, and philosophizing.
I would’ve liked to learn more about the fever and the science behind the various abilities.
Still, I enjoyed the action scenes. I appreciated that it never got too gory.
This definitely read like the start of a series. Not a whole lot was resolved or explained.
At first I thought what a great graphic novel this would be. Though, as things dragged a bit in the middle and the beef between CIG and Voice got tiresome, I started to feel bad for the artist who’d have to draw their annoyed faces 1000 times. I expected more action and less dialogue, introspection, and philosophizing.
I would’ve liked to learn more about the fever and the science behind the various abilities.
Still, I enjoyed the action scenes. I appreciated that it never got too gory.
This definitely read like the start of a series. Not a whole lot was resolved or explained.
December 31, 2023
Very clear and clean writing but it was very boring for the first 55%, which is a lot. The second half was a lot better, a solid 3.5*-4.25* read but the first half was 0* stars. It was also missing something special, a real surprise or just those moments that make a reader love a book.
Better books about superheroes are for example "kill your heroes" by Grayson (better character development & plot) and "see these bones" by Tullbane (better characters and world building).
One the plus side 'becoming glitch' is appropriate for children, which i think is very nice for a book about superheroes. Most others aren't.
Better books about superheroes are for example "kill your heroes" by Grayson (better character development & plot) and "see these bones" by Tullbane (better characters and world building).
One the plus side 'becoming glitch' is appropriate for children, which i think is very nice for a book about superheroes. Most others aren't.
May 2, 2023
Good story, wrong audience. This needs to be geared toward a middle grade group. From page one, the vocabulary, scenes, etc work for a middle school level. For adults, not so much. Granted, I recommended making the characters younger, but that is easily done.
With a few changes, I think this could be a hit middle grade book. The cheesy dialogue and plot is reminiscent of a Patterson Middle School series book. He’s made bank off of that series, and this idea is more original!
3 as an adult book, 5 as a middle grade book, so I’m settling on 4 overall.
With a few changes, I think this could be a hit middle grade book. The cheesy dialogue and plot is reminiscent of a Patterson Middle School series book. He’s made bank off of that series, and this idea is more original!
3 as an adult book, 5 as a middle grade book, so I’m settling on 4 overall.
August 4, 2025
A thoughtful coming-of-age superhero story. Andy is quite happy just sliding through life, but when he gains superpowers, he decides to explore them. Together with Bruce, an ex-Marine, they form a team to fight crime in their city. But when supervillains arrive, Andy has to decide if he will continue fighting and more importantly why he fights. It was a very good plot. Unfortunately, I didn't feel any connection to the characters until nearly 70% through the book. They are just very emotionally flat. The last 30% was much better. I just wish the whole book had been that way.
September 21, 2023
Interesting!
This story started out a little slow for me and maybe that is because I read some really fast paced stories. It was intriguing enough for me to keep going. I liked the characters and the introspection as they learned to deal with the changes in their lives. The bad guys were scary and the good guys are doing their best to win. The ending was good and set things up for the next book in the series.
This story started out a little slow for me and maybe that is because I read some really fast paced stories. It was intriguing enough for me to keep going. I liked the characters and the introspection as they learned to deal with the changes in their lives. The bad guys were scary and the good guys are doing their best to win. The ending was good and set things up for the next book in the series.
May 14, 2025
2,5⭐️
Tak tohle bylo hodně rychlé čtení, jenže ne úplně záživné 🙈 I když se text četl skvěle, tak mi zde chyběla jakákoli charakteristika a worldbuilding. Celé to bylo založeno primárně na přímé řeči a mě od počátku chyběly popisy. Navíc to celé působilo až moc jednoduše, a to jak po dějové stránce, tak i po textové. Jako kniha pro čtenáře, kteří si v angličtině úplně nevěří to bylo fajn, ale pokud chcete zážitek z příběhu, tak bych asi doporučila mrknout po něčem jiném…
Tak tohle bylo hodně rychlé čtení, jenže ne úplně záživné 🙈 I když se text četl skvěle, tak mi zde chyběla jakákoli charakteristika a worldbuilding. Celé to bylo založeno primárně na přímé řeči a mě od počátku chyběly popisy. Navíc to celé působilo až moc jednoduše, a to jak po dějové stránce, tak i po textové. Jako kniha pro čtenáře, kteří si v angličtině úplně nevěří to bylo fajn, ale pokud chcete zážitek z příběhu, tak bych asi doporučila mrknout po něčem jiném…
September 28, 2023
First off, I thought it was very good and well done, especially for a first book. I'd probably rate it 4.5 stars simply because I've read similar ones that I liked more, but this was great. Finally, I'd like to thank you for the signed copy and just say keep up the good work, and I'll probably check out anything else you decide to publish. Good Job!
February 12, 2026
I liked the ending a lot, and also, I felt that claws was really scary and the interactions with him had me on the edge my seat! The only thing was that I wasn't really attached to any of the characters. Overall, great book!
February 26, 2023
A superhero novel with thought provoking concepts sprinkled throughout - as every hero’s journey should be.
July 15, 2023
Overall a great story for a debut. In my opinion this book is more YA than adult. I loved the concept, plot and diverse characters. I think the way Glitches ability or enhancement was explained throughout was really awesome. Its so different from the basic teleportation that you see in most superhero books!
what i found super intriguing was the “cut scenes” back and forth to the bad guys (Claws’ gang) and the hero’s (Glitches team). This feature kept me engaged and wanting to know more about how the story would unfold.
Another aspect i liked was Dreamstress and CIG’s grumpy x sunshine duo. It was a good contrast. The only thing i would have liked better is if maybe CIG was a bit younger. I seen him as a “father figure” to them (ex marines), if he would have been maybe closer in age with Glitch and this be a group of all teen hero’s i think id have enjoyed it a bit more. (This would apply to Voice, as well)
I can totally see this book as a comic or a TV series! Overall, fantastic debut… Hope to see more from Daniel in the future!
#becomingglitch
what i found super intriguing was the “cut scenes” back and forth to the bad guys (Claws’ gang) and the hero’s (Glitches team). This feature kept me engaged and wanting to know more about how the story would unfold.
Another aspect i liked was Dreamstress and CIG’s grumpy x sunshine duo. It was a good contrast. The only thing i would have liked better is if maybe CIG was a bit younger. I seen him as a “father figure” to them (ex marines), if he would have been maybe closer in age with Glitch and this be a group of all teen hero’s i think id have enjoyed it a bit more. (This would apply to Voice, as well)
I can totally see this book as a comic or a TV series! Overall, fantastic debut… Hope to see more from Daniel in the future!
#becomingglitch
August 19, 2024
Great new superhero series. Andy, and a few others, develop new powers unexpectedly, so in this world the superpowers are hidden. While he works on his getting to know his new powers, he meets with a few others and decide to become a group to solve crimes and help the helpless. Andy is a little slow to take up the charge and drags his feet, but when it friends need him, he pulls on the cape (not literally) and accepts he can do things for the greater good.
Great debut. Hoping to find out more about the world in the next book.
Great debut. Hoping to find out more about the world in the next book.
June 8, 2023
Riveting...but not only for the reasons one might expect in a superhero story. This is NOT your usual action/adventure story! Oh, there are plenty of intense, well-developed, hard-to-put-down, action and adventure scenes, but the author creatively maneuvers these as a vehicle for much meatier material. This book is as enthralling as much for its story-line as it is for its characters' stories. I can't wait for the sequel--or sequels!
March 25, 2024
Read Like a Movie
I could totally picture seeing this book as a Netflix series. Especially since there's more to come!
Really great action, everything you'd expect from a superhero story and intriguing character development.
I especially liked that the powers didn't seem overdone and had logical limitations.
Great first novel! Looking forward to reading more!
I could totally picture seeing this book as a Netflix series. Especially since there's more to come!
Really great action, everything you'd expect from a superhero story and intriguing character development.
I especially liked that the powers didn't seem overdone and had logical limitations.
Great first novel! Looking forward to reading more!
June 28, 2024
This book is an interesting read that talks about courage, personal identity, and trusting others. I love how the author meticulously weaves each scene, coupled with unique characters in the story. This book will surely tickle the funny bones of its readers through light-hearted humor and witty statements. Overall, this book stands out in its genre and would certainly be a favorite of many.
Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews