About the Series
In a world where some people are born with superhuman abilities (Supers), and others are born with uncontrollable powers (Powereds), five Powereds receive an experimental procedure that gives them control. They enter the Hero Certification Program (HCP) — a four-year university program that trains the top candidates to become licensed Heroes. They hide their Powered origins while competing against naturally gifted Supers.
The academy structure maps perfectly to progression fantasy. Each year is a book. Students advance through rankings, combat trials, and specialized training. The five protagonists have complementary powers (super-strength, absorption, luck manipulation, advanced mind, and energy control), and each gets genuine development across the four years. The ensemble cast is one of the series’ greatest strengths.
This works for readers who want a complete, satisfying four-book academy progression with superhero flavor. The character development is stronger than most progression fantasy — Hayes writes people, not archetypes. The “hidden identity” tension (will their Powered origins be discovered?) adds stakes beyond combat rankings. The tradeoff: the books are very long (each 150,000+ words). The pacing is deliberate, especially in Year 1. There are no stat screens or explicit power measurements — this is progression fantasy by structure rather than mechanics. If you need crunchy numbers or fast pacing, this will feel slow. If you want character-driven academy progression with payoff, it’s one of the best.
Reading Order
- Super Powereds: Year 1 (2013)
- Super Powereds: Year 2 (2014)
- Super Powereds: Year 3 (2015)
- Super Powereds: Year 4 (2017)
Companion/Spinoff:
– Corpies — Standalone novel set in the same world, between Year 3 and Year 4. Optional but enhances Year 4.
If You Like This Series
- Iron Prince by O’Connor & Chmilenko — Academy combat ranking with similar “lowest becomes powerful” arc; crunchier system, sci-fi
- The Perfect Run by Maxime Durand — Superhero progression with strong voice; shorter, completed
- Mage Errant by John Bierce — Academy ensemble with creative power use; fantasy setting, completed
- Arcane Ascension by Andrew Rowe — Academy progression with analytical approach; fantasy setting
- Mother of Learning by nobody103 — Student progression with methodical skill development; completed