Heroine Complex Series, Book 1

May 16, 2016
Kuhn’s witty novel follows the trials and tribulations of Evie Tanaka, whose life is ruled by her boss, the diva superhero Aveda Jupiter. In a San Francisco overrun by superheroes and demons, Evie manages a strict PR campaign to keep her boss and the public happy. This endeavor goes up in flames when Evie attends an event in Aveda’s place, is beset by demons, and reveals that she too has powers. Now tasked with the dual responsibility of keeping up Aveda’s image and holding off any more attacks, Evie’s workload appears insurmountable. Kuhn starts of the novel with vivacity and a tongue-in-cheek narration; the initial setup is imaginative. However, the novel soon becomes bogged down by all-too-familiar patterns and clichés. Evie’s quirkiness becomes commonplace after a few hundred pages. The romantic elements are similarly predictable. Kuhn has envisioned a potentially complex world, but there is too little payoff for the novel to be satisfying. Agent: Diana Fox, Fox Literary.

July 1, 2016

Being the personal assistant for a superhero isn't easy, even if she is your best friend. Evie Tanaka spends her days managing Aveda Jupiter's schedule and public appearances, but when Aveda is injured in a demonic attack, Evie is bullied into taking her place. Another attack forces Evie to reveal that she, too, has superpowers, but her lack of confidence to control them could be a problem. The diva superhero and her wallflower best friend is an entertaining setup, but while there is plenty of quipping and banter, no real new ground is covered. The details of the world of powered heroes and demonic invaders is not fully fleshed out, but as this is the first book in a new series, there is room for that development to take place. It's nice to see two Asian American women at the forefront of a fresh urban fantasy series, and Kuhn (The Ruby Equation) has laid a solid foundation with her characters. VERDICT For fans of superhero novels such as Carrie Vaughn's After the Golden Age.--MM

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