Axiom: Part 1 in the Axiom Trilogy
About
Axiom is about Dustin, an altruistic college student who hates what his species has become. Due to his past, he only wants to help people, but he sees the opposite every day. Then one day, he wakes up stuck to the ceiling of his college apartment and discovers the planet herself has bestowed upon him literal energy and ki-based superpowers.
He learns the Earth is alive like us, has her own physical body, and other planets have a similar situation. However, this newfound way to help people, and change the world for the better, comes with a warning of an evil older than the galaxy and a personal demon from Dustin's past.
Besides being a unique superhero story, Axiom (and its two sequels) features a solid female lead and a best friend who would make any scientist blush.
Rachel is our main hero's love interest, independent and headstrong, but hides a dark past of her own. She can unbelievably stand her ground against the enemies and superpowered antagonists who appear throughout the series.
Ryan is Dustin's best friend and, while awkwardly emotional and humorous at times, is one of the world’s most brilliant people. As the series goes on, we discover he can access the multiverse, create androids, weapons, and a whole host of other machinery.
As for inspirations, Axiom gets its influences from a wide range of cartoons and anime. If you've ever seen an all-out fight or some form of combat in anime/manga form, you can expect to enjoy your time with the Axiom trilogy. There are fantastic set pieces, both original and inspired, with stakes ranging from personal to planetary destruction. There are unique ki-based superpowers, martial arts, beam struggles, and many incredible techniques and moves from an assortment of characters and roles.
Praise for this book
A Thrilling and Thoughtful Anime-Inspired Adventure
Axiom fuses intense action with heartfelt depth, following Dustin as he grapples with new powers and a mission to change the world. Kyle brings authentic emotion, creating a unique hero's journey filled with resilience, hope, and thrilling battles. An inspiring, powerful read for anime and superhero fans alike.
Real Guy with Superpowers
What if a real guy woke up with super powers one day? The story is so relatable and feels very timely with what’s going on in the world. I absolutely love the hero and his relationships throughout and he is such a real guy who you’d love to get to know and you know you’d be great friends with. The ability to take such a real character and throw in superpowers and fantasy and believe that this is real life takes a special talent. This first book was a wonderful introduction to this world and I can’t wait to see what happens next.
Anime Action Meets Caring Themes: A Thoughtful Superhero Tale in Axiom
The book opens with an anime-style dreamscape full of cryptic characters and surreal situations, drawing me in instantly and leaving me eager to uncover more. Dustin’s journey is equal parts action-packed and deeply humanitarian, balancing the physical challenges of becoming a superhero with the emotional weight of his altruistic mission. Moments like his conversations with Rachel, a friend whose probing questions uncover Dustin’s inner struggles, make the story particularly thoughtful and relatable.
A Journey Through Power, Fear, and Destiny
In Axiom Kyle Durant offers a captivating blend of science fiction, fantasy, and philosophical reflections on power, fear, and destiny. The novel introduces readers to a world where extraordinary powers arise from crises, and mystical forces intertwine with human experience, creating a tense atmosphere that keeps readers on edge.
A tiny piece of my nerdy heart just healed
Dustin's journey (at least the mental one he finds himself in) reminds me of the one I had to take when I left my extremely religious town. Like dustin and his companions I found myself surrounded by all types of people, and faced the need to build and recreate a personal moral code, just as he and his companions have here. Through experience, meeting new people and travel, Dustin and Racheal are learning some life's greatest lessons and facing some of its hardest challenges. The book reads like an adventure, but captivates like an old fashion story-based anime. I absolutely loved the diversification of the characters, and the strait forward and precise wording. No matter who reads it there is no question where Dustin's moral compass lies. He is a character who is (refreshingly) willing to listen and learn to better himself. He isn't an all knowing being with a character complex, but someone who is just trying to make sense of a world that is much like our own.
The anime-style story telling was something to go used to, but after reminding myself to look at the work in the style of an anime, it made it much easier to visualize. Once I was able to wrap my head around it, I could not put it down. I finished it by the end of the day and am now anxiously waiting on part 2, and absolutely recommend this to anyone who is a story-battle anime fan.
Great book
Very good and it reminds me of classic anime shows and manga I read growing up. The author does a fantastic job with details and brings every character to life. Every reader can definitely relate to the main character throughout the book regardless of political or religious perspective.
The way the writing flows it's as if the reader is there living the life of the character with them, right from the first page to the last.
You will not be disappointed in this book, and I personally cannot wait to read the next book in the series. Very good book, and I highly recommend it.