I must admit that when I was choosing review titles for September and saw one from the late, great Stan Lee, I assumed it was a nonfiction piece. Perhaps it was the last opportunity for him to share some more words of wisdom before leaving this mortal coil. So I was quite surprised to see that it was a work of fiction introducing new characters in what appeared to be intended as the first in a new series. Either way, it is an honor to read the final work by Stan Lee, who had an incredibly influential role in my childhood and formative years, specifically in the areas of sparking my imagination and turning me into a voracious reader in the process.

Regrettably, Lee's death in 2018 probably put a crimp in the plans for A TRICK OF LIGHT as a potential series. It also may explain why the novel is co-written by Edgar-nominated author Kat Rosenfield. I confess that I am not terribly familiar with Rosenfield's work, but as I read the book, I did not get much of a Stan Lee feel about it. This is most likely due to the fact that his health was slipping, and he was in his mid-90s at the time it was written. Therefore, it's a different twist on beings with superpowers, sort of like the X-Men. To that point, I definitely see where the idea sprung from in Lee’s imagination. Rosenfield, in filling in most of the blanks and doing the bulk of the heavy lifting, ended up writing a pretty good sci-fi/superhero story.

"[I]t is an honor to read the final work by Stan Lee, who had an incredibly influential role in my childhood and formative years, specifically in the areas of sparking my imagination and turning me into a voracious reader in the process."

A TRICK OF LIGHT feels like a YA novel that might have been better suited for graphic novel treatment. We have two teenage protagonists: Nia, who already has powers, and Cameron, an unwilling recipient of superpowers courtesy of a bolt of lightning. Their adversary, if you can put your finger on just one, is Xal, an alien who is seeking creatures with a certain set of powers. She finds them on a small planet in an out-of-the-way galaxy and does not expect to get any resistance.

Readers will make up their minds as to who the real antagonists are. One choice, which likely will be way up the list, is the man known as “The Inventor,” later revealed to be Nia's father. But even that relationship is not as it may seem. It is difficult to go much further without spoilers, but trust me, the truth is well worth it. Nia is a highly gifted hacker with an above-average knowledge of pop culture. She has maintained an online relationship with many strangers, one of whom has a huge crush on her.

Cameron is a legend in his own mind. I guess you can call any YouTube or internet “vlogger” that, but he is one of those millennials making the most of his expert use of social media --- meaning that he has millions of “friends” but doesn't really “know” anyone or have any experience with the opposite sex. Readers will be rooting for the two teens to hook up, but since this is a sci-fi novel, the odds are they will be placed in one or more life-threatening dilemmas well before they have the opportunity to truly connect with each other.

When Cameron is struck by lightning following one of his vlogging adventures, it literally sparks a new power in him. This will get him noticed not only by Nia, but also by several powers-that-be that he should try to avoid like the plague. The two decide to team up for the greater good and right any wrongs and social injustices they come across. Little do they know that they quickly will be on the frontline in a situation that puts our entire world at risk. As the great Stan Lee put it, "Just because we have the ability to recreate ourselves, should we?" It makes for a pretty wild ride, and the last for one of my heroes. Excelsior, Mr. Lee!