Playing for Keeps

Playing for Keeps follows Keepsie Branson, a bar owner in the superhero-filled city of Seventh City who possesses a seemingly useless power: anything that belongs to her cannot be taken away. She lives a regular life among both powerful heroes and villains until a mysterious object comes into her possession. The arrival of this object pulls Keepsie into the complex politics between the city's official superhero organization, the Academy, and various other powered individuals. Her unremarkable ability suddenly becomes far more significant as different factions attempt to influence her allegiance. Together with a group of people who possess similarly overlooked powers, Keepsie must navigate increasingly dangerous situations while questioning the traditional definitions of heroes and villains in her world. The novel explores themes of power, privilege, and how society determines which abilities - and by extension, which people - are deemed valuable. It challenges conventional superhero narratives by focusing on those who exist in the margins of a superpowered world.

Readers found this superhero novel entertaining but flawed. The protagonist's unique power of immortality and the exploration of lesser-known heroes resonated with many readers. Likes: - Fresh take on superhero bureaucracy and politics - Humor and light tone throughout - Strong female lead character - Creative interpretation of common superpowers Dislikes: - Plot pacing issues, especially in middle sections - Some character motivations feel unclear - Writing style can be unpolished - Romance subplot feels forced One reader noted: "The concept is fantastic but the execution needed work." Another mentioned: "Perfect for fans of low-stakes superhero stories." Ratings: Goodreads: 3.7/5 (2,100+ ratings) Amazon: 4.1/5 (150+ ratings) LibraryThing: 3.5/5 (90+ ratings) Common comparison: "Like The Incredibles meets Office Space" The book performs better with superhero genre fans than general fiction readers.

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🦸‍♀️ "Playing for Keeps" was originally released as a podcast audiobook in 2008 before being published in print form. 🎙️ Author Mur Lafferty is a pioneer in podcast fiction and was inducted into the Podcast Hall of Fame in 2015. 💪 The book explores the concept of "third-tier" superheroes - those with seemingly useless powers - and how they can become valuable in unexpected ways. 🏆 Lafferty won the John W. Campbell Award for Best New Writer in 2013, solidifying her place in contemporary science fiction. 🌟 The novel subverts common superhero tropes by focusing on characters with minor abilities like being able to never lose their keys or always hitting their target when throwing something.