Book Review: ONE (One Universe #1) by Leigh Ann Kopans

When having two powers makes you a Super and having none makes you a Normal, having only one makes you a sad half-superpowered freak.

It makes you a One.

Sixteen-year-old Merrin Grey would love to be able to fly – too bad all she can do is hover.

If she could just land an internship at the Biotech Hub, she might finally figure out how to fix herself. She busts her butt in AP Chem and salivates over the Hub’s research on the manifestation of superpowers, all in hopes of boosting her chances.

Then she meets Elias VanDyne, another One, and all her carefully crafted plans fly out the window. Literally. When the two of them touch, their Ones combine to make them fly, and when they’re not soaring over the Nebraska cornfields, they’re busy falling for each other.

Merrin's mad chemistry skills land her a spot on the Hub's internship short list, but as she gets closer to the life she always wanted, she discovers that the Hub’s purpose is more sinister than it has always seemed. Now it’s up to her to decide if it's more important to fly solo, or to save everything - and everyone - she loves.

I'm one of those who's totally drawn to a book first by the cover, then by the premise, and jumped at the chance to win a paperback copy of Leigh Ann Kopan's debut novel, One, for those very reasons. After getting the beautiful book in the mail, I dug in right away, and it SOOO did not disappoint. Merrin's story hooked me from the very beginning—a teen with only part of a superpower? How awesome is that? And as I'm only mildly into super heroes (the movies, not the comics) this was venturing into new territory from my usual paranormal genre. I'm a total sucker for a good love story, however, and was hoping Merrin would hook up with Elias from the first time she laid eyes on his light brown eyes filled with other fascinating colors. The story takes us on a wild adventure as Merrin searches for a way to become a "Super" with full power, unexpectedly finding friendship and possibly even love along the way. I loved all the futuristic touches to the story, as well as the fact that our heroine is an extremely intelligent teen, and not the stereotypical helpless victim. I devoured the book in less than 48 hours.

I totally fell in love with Merrin and Elias, and recommend One to anyone who is looking for a rather unique, intriguing read. I was eager to dive into the sequel that came out a few weeks after I finished this book, and wasn't disappointed by that one, either (stay tuned for a review of Two). Everything about this story begs to be made into a major motion picture. Leigh Ann Kopans is a shining bright example of why indie authors are taking over the industry at full force, and why everyone should give them a chance.

I happily give One a five zombie rating for its brilliance, originality, and pure awesomeness!

Raised on comic books and classic novels, Leigh Ann developed an early love of science fiction and literature. As an adult, she rediscovered her love for not only reading, but also writing the types of fiction that enchanted her as a teen. Her debut novel, ONE, is about a girl with only half a superpower, the boy who makes her fly, and her struggle to make herself whole. Leigh Ann, her husband, and four children live in Columbus, Ohio. When she’s not immersed in the world of fiction, you can find her obsessing over the latest superhero movie or using her kids as an excuse to go out for ice cream (again).

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