Heroes, Inc.

Heroes, Inc. #1

by Kyle Crocco

Grover Soovo has everything a man in the Vardan Republic could want: wealth, status, a sterling reputation with the rapier—and absolutely no desire to save the world.

Unfortunately, fate and his brother, Ragnar, have other plans.

With his inheritance on the line and a ticking biological deadline looming, Grover embarks on a desperate journey to find a “sure-thing” cure. What he finds instead is the world of professional heroes and villains. Joining forces with a wannabe hero, Cilla, he navigates a corrupt port city, a perverted apothecary, a kitten-killing villain, rampant gambling, dubious therapy, and a growing realization that being decent in an indecent world might make him something far more dangerous than a duelist.

A hero.

Heroes, Inc. is a fast-paced, irreverent fantasy packed with razor-sharp dialogue, dark humor, political scheming, and gleeful genre subversion. In a world where heroes are hired, villains are franchised, and morality is negotiable, a reluctant swordsman and his enthusiastic “sidekick” discover that heroism may be the most inconvenient job of all.

Read if you enjoy:
Reluctant heroes
Satirical fantasy
Swordplay and sharp dialogue
Schemes, wagers, and morally questionable choices

Perfect for fans of:
Monty Python
The Princess Bride
Terry Pratchett–style wit, Douglas Adams–level absurdity

Genres: Fantasy, Fiction

271 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 1991

About the author

Kyle Crocco is the author of the farcical fantasy series Heroes, Inc., featuring the adventures of Grover and Cilla in the absurd and ridiculous world of professional heroes. He lives in Santa Barbara, California.

Reviews

[Marc *Dark Reader with a Thousand Young! Iä!*]

Dragon balls!



No, not those ones. These ones:



My fear was that this would be the start and end of the book's humor. Fortunately, this proved to not be the case. The humor also included endless penis references, including impotence-based jokes, and also boobs.

Okay, fine, there’s more to it than that, also that still makes up a huge chunk of it. The jokes are wall-to-wall, as dense as Airplane!. A couple of them even made me chuckle. Most of them were more like, “yeah, okay.” The whole book is entirely silly, just very silly the whole time.

Some other comparisons I can make: think Robin Hood: Men in Tights crossed with The Benny Hill Show and we’re pretty close.

This was first published in 1991, followed by a sequel. That was ripe time for this kind of comical fantasy book, following the reasonable success in the prior decade of the Xanth series and Robert Asprin’s Myth-Conceptions, that kind of thing. Don’t compare it to Discworld though, there’s simply no comparison. The author has since regained the book rights and has republished them himself, with minor revisions, with plans for a third in the series.

One item of note: The main character, Grover, beset by chronic impotence and thus unable to produce an heir, which is a requirement for him to inherit his family’s wealth, is married. The book opens with a scene in which his wife is attempting to bring his “little poopy bear” back to life, tickling his erogenous zones with a feather while he is suspended from the ceiling. She, like several other minor female characters (you’ll see what I did there in a moment), is a sexpot. What’s the problem? SHE’S SIXTEEN. Grover is in his twenties. While updating the book, mightn’t the author have revised this particular icky detail?

[Deborah Italiano]

weirdest book I’ve ever read


Stranger than I’ve ever imagined a book could be. Funny, weird, and entertaining at times. Wow Imaginative and boggling.
Thanks.

[John E]

A humorous rewrite/re-release

I vaguely remember the original book and still enjoyed reading this new edition. Plenty of adult humor and groan worthy comedy. comedy is hard and in this case, hard is what the hero is striving to accomplish.

[Karen J]

I really enjoyed this book. I read it over a couple of days. This book had me laughing out loud many times. It is the story of Grover who needs to father an heir in order to gain his inheritance but has been having some impotence problems. He learns of a supposed guaranteed cure in a town about 5 days away. Grover sets off and when he gets there gets totally lost. He ends up asking for directions to a place he is right across the street from but the owner isn't there. He gets conned out of some money by a street urchin who helps him find the owner. When they get to the tavern where the owner supposedly is, he is mistaken for a Hero who was hired by the tavern owner to get rid of the villian Brutus. Grover tries to tell them he isn't a Hero. When the Villian decides to eat a kitten with hot sauce, Grover intervenes and in the act of defending himself, kills the villian. All the while, a girl keeps observing him. She is Cilla, who comes from a long line of Heros but is pretty clumsy so she has failed at the hero business. She wants to team up with Grover who happens to look like a Hero. Grover keeps saying he isn't a hero but is just trying to find a cure to his problem. Between Cilla's clumsiness and Grover whipping out his blade to show it off, they keep killing villians by accident and having to flee.
We follow Grover's search for a cure and Cillas's quest to become a Hero. The unlikely pair always seeming to come out on top by accident.

[Becks]

Offbeat heroes

Off beat take of the making of 2 unlikely professional heroes. Initially Grover and Cilla are not particularly likeable. As the villains as revealed and they team up against them on their "quest", some redeeming qualities are revealed. Definitely not a traditional hero story for grown ups only

[Janine]

I received this book through Goodreads Giveaways for an honest review.

I really wanted to like this book and I did enjoy parts of it a lot. The blurb sounded really funny and like something I would enjoy. It was just too silly and crass for me in some areas.

[Shane P]

nice parody

This is a pretty good read for small laughs. It is a great parody of hero books. The story itself seemed somewhat weak, but I believe that it’s actually part of the parody. I’m actually about to download the second book now so I can finish the series.

[Pamela]

Goodreads giveaway

[Katelyn]

Very odd and unique. It’s so reminiscent of Monty python and the holy grail. I didn’t expect to enjoy this as much as I did. Definitely a fun read!

[Linda]

Quirky, but fun to read. Would recommend it.

[Coffee_Booze_and_Books]

Received as a Goodreads Giveaway.
Totally outside of my typical genres, but an enjoyable enough read. I enjoyed the humor and the parody of the hero genre.
Not my favorite, but a solid enjoyable book.

[Susan Barker]

Now this is a fun read. Lots of humor and misadventures.
A hapless lad walks into a bar... From there it just gets better.
A Parady of hero fantasies, you will enjoy and want to share with your crazy friends that still play dungeons and dragons even though you are all in your 30's.

[Rachel Danielle]

An adventure akin to "The Princess Bride", "Robin Hood: Men in Tights", "Spaceballs"!!!

[Peter Garcia]

Wow, Heroes, Inc. by Kyle Crocco is an absolute blast from start to finish! This book is the perfect mix of humor, action, and fantasy, with a quirky and unpredictable storyline that had me laughing out loud multiple times. If you’re looking for something lighthearted but full of clever twists and unexpected moments, this is the book for you.

The story follows Grover, a man on a desperate quest—not for riches or revenge, but for a cure to his rather personal problem so he can claim his inheritance. What should be a simple journey quickly turns into a chaotic whirlwind of mistaken identity, accidental heroism, and nonstop absurdity. Grover has no desire to be a hero, but thanks to a series of ridiculous misunderstandings (and an unfortunate incident involving a villain and a kitten), he keeps finding himself fighting battles he never signed up for.

The writing is fast-paced, witty, and engaging, making this an easy read that you won’t want to put down. Plus, the maps and graphics add an extra layer of fun, making the world feel even more immersive. If you’re a fan of satirical fantasy, adventure with a comedic twist, or just need a book that will keep you entertained and grinning, Heroes, Inc. is a must-read. I’m really hoping for a sequel because I need more of these characters in my life!

[Sariyah Galloway]

This book was an absolute blast from start to finish! The story follows Grover, a guy who just wants to solve his very specific problem so he can claim his inheritance. The solution is supposedly in a town five days away, but, of course, nothing goes as planned. Instead of a smooth journey, he gets lost, mistaken for a hero, and accidentally defeats a major villain without even trying. And that’s just the beginning.

Then there’s Cilla a wannabe hero who’s all heart but, unfortunately, not much coordination. Together, these two form one of the most entertaining, chaotic duos I’ve read in a long time. Their interactions are pure comedy, and the way they keep saving the day without actually meaning to is brilliant. One moment, they’re just trying to get from point A to B; the next, they’ve taken down a villain and become legendary heroes. It’s fast-paced, full of surprises, and had me laughing out loud so many times I lost count.

What I really loved about Heroes, Inc. is that it’s just pure fun. The humor, the storytelling, and even the little extras like the maps and smooth chapter transitions make it such an enjoyable read. If you’re looking for something light, entertaining, and just downright funny, this book is a fantastic choice. Now, I just need to know when’s the sequel coming out?

[Robert Matte]

If you love hilarious adventures with clueless heroes and ridiculous situations, Heroes, Inc. is a must-read! Right from the first page, I was hooked by the absurdity and charm of the story. Grover, our main character, is just trying to solve a very personal problem to claim his inheritance, but instead, he stumbles into an adventure that turns him into an accidental hero. Along the way, he meets Cilla, an aspiring hero with more enthusiasm than skill, and together they cause absolute chaos completely by accident.

The humor is nonstop, and the way the characters interact is pure gold. One of my favorite moments? When Grover unknowingly takes down a villain who was about to eat a kitten with hot sauce like, how do you even come up with that? The book is filled with these kinds of over the top, laugh-out loud moments that make it impossible to put down. Plus, the maps and the smooth chapter flow make the experience even better.

I tore through this book in no time and honestly wished it were longer. If there’s ever a sequel, I’m buying it immediately! Highly recommend to anyone, no matter your usual genre!

[SAM COPPER]

If you’re looking for a book that’s hilarious, fast-paced, and just plain fun, Heroes, Inc. is the perfect choice! From the very first page, I was hooked on Grover’s ridiculous misadventures as he stumbles his way through a series of absurd, accidental victories.

Grover is not your typical hero—in fact, he’s not a hero at all. All he wants is to complete a personal quest (one that’s as awkward as it is urgent), but fate has other plans. Thanks to misunderstandings, coincidences, and pure dumb luck, he keeps finding himself in heroic situations he wants no part of. Enter Cilla, a wannabe hero with more enthusiasm than skill, and you have a duo that’s as chaotic as it is lovable.

I found myself laughing out loud multiple times, especially at the way Grover and Cilla somehow manage to "defeat" villains without really trying. Their dynamic is so entertaining, and the book never takes itself too seriously. The writing flows effortlessly, and it’s the kind of book you can binge-read in a day because it’s just that enjoyable.

[Thaddeus Sterling]

Heroes, Inc. by Kyle Crocco is one of the most entertaining books I’ve read in a long time! This book is fast-paced, funny, and filled with quirky characters and chaotic misadventures that kept me hooked from start to finish. I couldn’t put it down and honestly wished the story would go on forever.

The writing is sharp and witty, making this book an easy, enjoyable read. The maps and illustrations add to the charm, making the world feel even more immersive. If you love stories that poke fun at classic hero tropes, have offbeat humor, and feature lovable, flawed characters, Heroes, Inc. is a must-read.

[Jenna ❤️]

I don't love Princess Bride, so it's no surprise that I didn't love this book. It's just not my type of book. I won it as a giveaway to expand the type of books I read, and I can't get past this type, I guess. It's quirky and silly. So, if you want a not serious read at all and love the movie princess bride. Try it out.

[Lorraine]

A Goodreads Giveaway!
I read the first few pages and thought REALLY and nearly gave up!
So glad I didn’t, this book was light hearted, funny, well written and completely off the wall story!
Brilliant!!

[Walter]

Not for me

The beginning of this book was entertaining, but soon got old. I could not get into the premise of the story.

[Nikita Yurovski]

Could not get through it. 8 short chapters in and i was bored. I enjoy parody, but this was too “meh”

[Ashleigh Carter]

This was a pretty funny fantasy. It doesn’t take itself seriously, which I appreciate. I'm not sure exactly what the point was, but for a comedy, it succeeds.

[David]

I wish I had more positive things to say about this book, but it's simplistic, trashy fantasy. There is no serious content at all. It's an attempt at complete comedy, but falls flat at every turn. There were some references to another, famous fantasy story (I won't spoil it here) that you could tell were there for laughs, but the corniness made me cringe. All that being said, I don't think that the author is untalented. I think this was probably churned out fast just to make a buck.

[Docxen]

(spoilers) I had high hopes for this book. To be fair it's a good read and it goes pretty fast. The characters are decent though how the lead character could be so dense and not want revenge against his brother when he's happy to let his sidekick kill anyone else in the plot is a bit confusing. Will be reading the second book since i've already bought it hopefully it's a little better.

[Rae Stabosz]

I've gotten myself in a bind here because I read Heroes Inc. so long ago that I no longer remember particulars. I'll have to read it again. What I do remember is that it is a funny, fast-moving fantasy adventure that I liked very much. Go read it. You'll see. I'll come back and edit this review after I've read it again. Meanwhile you give it a try.