A Hero Returned

by Eura Abrams, Euphridia

When the President said to immerse ourselves in the project, this was NOT what I had in mind !

I really should’ve taken the publisher’s employment contract more seriously…

Rachel and her best friend Nora never imagined their first job at a publishing company would catapult them into the heart of their favorite fantasy web novel. Five years after the story's abrupt hiatus left fans in limbo, they seize the chance to help the enigmatic author complete the tale that had captivated their hearts during their high school days. But what begins as an exciting creative endeavor quickly spirals into a quirky, unimaginable adventure when they're whisked away without consent into the very story they longed to save. Now, the two will get firsthand experience dealing with the destructive demon lord who betrayed and banished the heroine during the story's original cliffhanger.

But what if he isn't the card-carrying villain everyone else seems to think he is?

574 pages, Kindle Edition

Published April 30, 2025

Reviews

[Charlotte · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received a copy from library thing in exchange for an honest review

2.5

I love isekais and the unique twist on this one really drew me in, however this book was a bit of a mixed bag for me. The early chapters where Nora and Rachel were first discovering and exploring their new world were some of my favorites, but I also felt like it started both too late and too early. Too late because the prologue seems like its a scene that won't pop up again until the end of the series and too early because while I found the chapters with Nora and Rachel still in high school interesting after finishing the novel I don't personally feel that they added all that much to my understanding or appreciation of the characters. They were interesting as main characters but I found both of them (and especially Rachel) to be at times frustrating and a bit cliche. With that and the somewhat slow pacing the middle was especially difficult to get through and the end was too sudden for my preferences. However there were a lot of questions left unanswered that I'm curious about and I'm interested to see where Rae goes from here.

[Kim Smuga-Otto · Rating 4 out of 5]

There's likely a dissertation (or two) in the dichotomy of isekai stories: those for men typically transport protagonists into video game worlds complete with stat screens, while those for women often involve entering books as characters. Both versions thrive on protagonists using insider knowledge to hack the system. For heroines in fictional worlds, they literally know the plot, which leads to fascinating meta-analysis of storytelling conventions and is one of the reasons why readers enjoy these narratives.

In my opinion, one of the greatest pleasures of Euphridia's A Hero Returns, the first book in the A Rae of Hope series, is this meta-commentary from Rachel and Nora, two young women who find themselves in their favorite web novel five years after it went on hiatus. Their arrival isn't random—they were hired as interns by the company hosting the novel and physically pushed into the story by the web novel's author, Eura "Euphridia" Abrams (a fictionalized version of the actual author, adding another meta layer).

Beyond their fangirl commentary and corporate HR communications, there's the intriguing observation by characters in the fantasy world that Rachel bears an uncanny resemblance to the missing Chosen One, Raelynn, who disappeared five years ago. Much of this first installment follows Rachel as she confronts mounting evidence that she may be more than an ordinary intern. This discovery, alongside the "reuniting the team" storyline, forms the core narrative of the book.

I particularly enjoyed the early chapters where the various elements of the story begin to come together. Afterward, the pace gradually slows as Rachel settles into the world and the story shifts to a journey format. While there's substantial character development and thoughtful exploration of friendship, the tension plateaus, with the book ending on the promise of major action to come. What elevates the story beyond a simple self-discovery travelogue is the worldbuilding. Euphridia skillfully introduces new cultural, political, and mythological aspects of Speranza throughout the narrative. One disappointment is that a major (and intriguing) character remains peripheral despite being introduced early in the book. I kept turning pages, hoping for a big reveal or confrontation between him and Rachel, but it looks like I'll need to wait for the sequel.

Overall, I feel that A Hero Returns offers an earnest blend of humor and friendship against a darker backdrop. Rachel and Nora's relationship feels authentic, and their new friendships with characters they knew from the web novel develop naturally. The book establishes a solid foundation for the series, clearly indicating that the author—or perhaps the goddess of Speranza—has ambitious plans for what follows.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. Thanks to Booksirens and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this book.

[Kayla · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received a copy of 'A Hero Returned: The Last Rae of Hope' From Librarything in exchange for my honest and unbiased review.

I give this book a 4* rating.

At first, I didn't know if I cared for this book. I was a little confused a few times in the beginning but realized as I went that the full story was slowly unfolding.
I also found that how the author approached an Isekai style story was a little different from what one usually expects. The worlds magic/lore system was also unique to other stories I've recently read.

The characters are really well written, and you get a sense of each individual fairly quickly. Its easy to imagine the reactions and body/face expressions for them all but especially Tetora.

I found the premise to be a fresh take on Isekais featuring female led adventures. I also enjoy that the story seems to have started as a webcomic, which is a medium I enjoy reading.
I look forward to reading the remainder of the books.

I would definitely recommend this book to anyone who really enjoys Isekais and D&D.

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

It took me a little while to get used to the style of this book. I love graphic novels, and have a familiarity with different genres of Japanese ones, but am not that familiar with isekai. Having one in written form as a novel was a twist in itself. Between sorting the treads, catching the action, time jumping/backstory learning, I sometimes forgot who was whom in which story. I understand that most of the people who have reviewed this listened to the audio version loved the reader and the story. The story, once I settled in, was fun, as was forming images in my brain of how it would look in illustrations on a page.

My thanks to LibraryThing and the Publishers for sending me my copy.
Rounded up in star ratings.

[thereadingmarshmallow · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is giving isekai manga vibes and doing it well. I enjoyed learning about the world through Rae’s eyes. While she does benefit from being the main character, she’s not completely over powered and she struggles with learning. I’ve enjoyed the flashbacks and links back to her original world while trying to cope with being in a new one. The author wove a beautiful world together for her to visit and learn. I look forward to seeing where this tale goes next. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Amanda · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received a copy of this book on Library Thing in exchange for a review.

I enjoyed this story very much. Imagine being part of these stories, and as the hero! I am looking forward to the next book as this one left me wanting more. I enjoyed the characters, their growth and mistakes. and the way they interacted with each other. Well written, thank you for an amazing journey!