Official Review: Fid's Crusade by David H. Reiss

Erin Dydek · Post by **Erin Dydek** » 23 Apr 2020, 19:43

[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "Fid's Crusade" by David H. Reiss.]

4 out of 4 stars

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"Someone needed to remind the public that, beneath their colorful costumes and flashy powers, their idols were only human. Someone needed to remind the cape and cowl set that they could--no, should!--aspire to be something more." --from Fid's Crusade

Enter Doctor Fid: he's the notorious supervillain who has made it his mission to knock heroes undeserving of the title down a notch. While his methods involve a certain edge of madness, Fid still holds to a set of standards—he wasn't always a monster, after all. Before the tragedy, he was Terrance Markham, MIT professor, ordinary but genius. But unable to ignore the negligence of the world's so-called heroes, he takes it upon himself to hold the worshiped idols accountable for their less-than-noble deeds.

As he carries out his mission, he uncovers an even greater deception among those the world looks up to in times of peril. An alien refugee camp hides a secret that cannot be ignored. Driven to make the guilty party pay, Fid must "be loud" for the truth to be revealed; but will his madness be the key to saving the day, or merely the means by which it is destroyed?

Fid's Crusade, by David H. Reiss, is a science fiction novel set in near-future earth where villains and heroes play an active role in day-to-day life. Fid tells the story from his perspective with charisma and biting humor and reveals that there is more to a supervillain than a faceless suit of powered armor.

I loved the depth and details Reiss used to construct the backstory for Doctor Fid. The author went to great lengths to allow the reader to dive deep into the inner workings in Fid's mind. It was amazing to witness the thoughts and emotions hidden behind the mask, and I also enjoyed Terrance Markham's assessment of the motives and behaviors of Fid. It was fascinating to see the dynamics of maintaining a double life. From managing his finances, secret projects, and upgrading his armor, Reiss uses technical language and reveals the pure genius of Markham/Fid, while giving him a confident, theatrical side with a flair for showmanship and monologues.

Reiss also created a complex network of villains and heroes for Doctor Fid to exist within. Throughout the book, we see Fid come up against his familiar rivals, the Guardians and the Boston Knights, as well as the occasional interaction with rouge villains who enter Fid's territory unannounced. The author also included various minor heroes and villains to create a sort of long-standing history that added even more depth to the story.

Although I did find almost ten errors, the book is so well-developed and enjoyable to read that I find it hard to justify taking off a star. "Like the old adage says: if you want to make an omelet, you have to crack a few legs" (Reiss). The errors I found were minor and did not distract from the credibility of the book. This character-driven story was hard to put down, and I was eager to learn more about Fid as Reiss allows the reader to decide if Fid is a man or a monster. Therefore, I gladly give Fid's Crusade a 4 out of 4.

With very mild profanity, no sexual content, and mild battle violence, this book is fit for teens and adults. I never felt like the author added gruesome or disturbing information for shock value, and instead kept the book engaging, creative, and thought-provoking. Fans of superhero/villain stories will enjoy the technical genius of Doctor Fid, his origin story, and growth. As for me, I look forward to reading book two and three of the completed series. But if a trilogy is not your cup of tea, this book has a complete arc with a satisfying ending (no cliffhangers), so it can be read as a standalone novel.

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Fid's Crusade
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hasincla · Post by **hasincla** » 24 Apr 2020, 07:17

I like the premise, and well, for some reason I kind of like rooting for the "bad guy" too. This sounds like an interesting take on a superhero story from a new perspective. Thanks for your review!

JKO · Post by **JKO** » 24 Apr 2020, 08:52

I wonder what tragedy converted Terrance Markham into Fid. I really want to find out. This sounds like a good book all-round. Thanks for this concise review.

Zenia_Sanchez023 · Post by **Zenia_Sanchez023** » 24 Apr 2020, 09:41

I like how the author created a character-driven story of a supervillain. It's not always that you stumble upon a book that draws perspectives from them. Your review is also very well-written and assesses the book's strength well. Thanks for your review!

adamgreenrock · Post by **adamgreenrock** » 24 Apr 2020, 09:57

The cover was already interesting, but your review made me want to try this book out. Thanks for your thoughtful and honest review!

spencermack · Post by **spencermack** » 24 Apr 2020, 10:56

I appreciate how you comment about the ending satisfaction with zero spoilers! Thank you!

Nujudee · Post by **Nujudee** » 24 Apr 2020, 14:31

Haven't read the book yet but the honest review and replies makes me want to grab a copy and read immediately.
Nice review.

Adanna Inya · Post by **Adanna Inya** » 24 Apr 2020, 15:45

I love reading books about people leading double lives. How do they cope with both personas. This being science fiction fascinates me even more. Great review here.

Mbrooks2518 · Post by **Mbrooks2518** » 24 Apr 2020, 20:23

The character of Fid and his mission caught my interest right away. I'll definitely be getting this book. Thanks for the great review!

Laurina Michael Olowoniran · 25 Apr 2020, 09:50

Wow, it does sound very interesting. Did sounds like a super hero. Very interesting review. Thanks

Amberlily · Post by **Amberlily** » 25 Apr 2020, 10:11

Yes! This sounds amazing. You know you have a great book on your hands when even spelling/grammatical errors hardly take anything away. I might have to give this one a shot. Great reivew!

NetMassimo · Post by **NetMassimo** » 25 Apr 2020, 10:19

A story that's apparently light-hearted, but with elements that make it profound. An intriguing read about superheroes and antiheroes. Thank you for your great review!