B+

Heroine’s Journey

Heroine’s Journey is the third book in the diverse, fun, feminist Heroine Complex trilogy. In theory it could work as a stand alone, but it will be easier to follow and a more emotional read if you read the other two books in the series first (Heroine Complex and Heroine Worship). More books in this world are planned, but the first three, which are intended as “the first trilogy,” make an emotionally satisfying arc about relationships between women, issues of gender, sexuality, and race, superpowers, demonically possessed cupcakes, and romance.

Heroine’s Journey is told from the point of view of Bea, Evie’s sister (Evie was the narrator of Heroine Complex, and Evie’s best friend Aveda narrated Heroine Worship). Because their mother died and their father left when Evie and Bea were young, Evie has always been protective of Bea. Now, Bea is desperate to break out as a superhero in her own right. She has a strict code about using her mind control powers only for good and only under certain circumstances. However, those codes, as well as Bea’s relationship with her sister and her friends, are challenged when Bea believes that her mom is trapped in a demon dimension and calling out to Bea for help.

If you’ve read the other books, you already know the tone to expect from this series. If not, here’s a sentence to get you started: “I scrambled to my feet and whipped around just in time to see a gigantic porcelain unicorn stomping its way through Historical Romance.” The series as a whole is glittery and fun, but also grounded in real issues and relationships.

Mileage will vary according to one’s baggage, but I thought this was the most emotional of the three books. Bea and Evie have to deal with some very painful memories and with painful family dynamics. This series does a great job showing conflict from different points of view and letting the sisters reconcile in a realistic way.

Each book has romance in it, but while the romances should stir the heart of any romance fan, the relationships between the women in the series are more central and more interesting. Heroine’s Journey has the most sidelined romance. It’s a nice friends-to-lovers, with great sex and a supportive hero who cooks. However, the main focus is on the relationship between Bea and Evie.

Bonus: A certain canine character is a tribute to Fitzwilliam Waffles, of The Ripped Bodice.

– Carrie S

The final book in the smart, snarky, and action-packed Heroine series completes the “Heroic Trio” as Bea Tanaka joins her sister, Evie, and diva Aveda Jupiter in their quest to free San Francisco from its demon portal problem

If there’s one thing Beatrice Tanaka never wanted to be, it’s normal. But somehow, her life has unfolded as a series of “should haves.” Her powers of emotional projection should have made her one of the most formidable superheroes of all time. And she should have been allowed to join her older sister Evie as a full-fledged protector of San Francisco, pulverizing the city’s plethora of demon threats.

But Evie and her superheroing partner, Aveda Jupiter, insist on seeing Bea as the impulsive, tempestuous teenager she used to be–even though she’s now a responsible adult. And that means Bea is currently living a thoroughly normal life. She works as a bookstore lackey, hangs out with best friends Sam Fujikawa and Leah Kim, and calms her workplace’s more difficult customers. Sure, she’s not technically supposed to be playing with people’s mental states. But given the mundanity of her existence, who can blame her?

When a mysterious being starts communicating with Bea, hinting at an evil that’s about to overtake the city, she seizes the opportunity, hoping to turn her “should haves” into the fabulous heroic life she’s always wanted. But gaining that life may mean sacrificing everything–and everyone–she holds dear…