kirkusreviews.com
A man spends his evenings dressing up as a superhero and his
days stuck in the past.
Sam Holloway is, by outward appearances, a normal man. He flies
under the radar in his job at a warehouse, he has a couple of friends, and he
spends his free time drinking at a local pub. But what no one else knows is
that, by night, Sam becomes The Phantasm. He dons a costume and hits the city
streets, ready to help people as a renegade crime fighter. It’s the only thing
that helps Sam make sense of the crushing grief and loneliness he feels after the
years-ago plane crash that killed his entire family. He may not have been able
to save them, but at least he can help others. Sam prefers to be by himself, at
home with his comics, sticking to his routines…that is, until he meets Sarah.
Right away, Sam knows that Sarah is different—she seems to understand him, and
he’d rather be with her than home alone. But actually being in a relationship
with her will require Sam to open up in a way that he hasn’t been able to since
his family died. He may even have to give up his secret crime-fighting alter
ego…but is a new relationship worth it? Or should he just stay in the
comfortable, but lonely, cocoon he’s created? When Sam makes a mistake at work
that spirals into a catastrophe, he realizes he can’t be anonymous forever.
Thomas’ (On the Third Day, 2010, etc.) characters are all well-drawn,
especially Sam, whose sympathetic backstory makes him immensely likable. Sam’s
life seems almost unbearably sad at points, but that makes it all the more
meaningful when he’s finally able to take off his mask—both figuratively and
literally—and be brave. By opening himself up to Sarah, his friends, and even
his boss, Sam might finally be able to live a life he never thought possible.
A lovely and touching exploration of grief and courage, perfect
for self-proclaimed geeks and those who love them.
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