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Saving the Hero: A Variants Novel
“There was a stigma, of course. But we were people—therapists, teachers, business owners, Heroes.
And some of us became Villains.”
Nearly thirty percent of the world’s population has developed the Variant gene; an anomaly that causes supernatural abilities to manifest. With humanity at the pinnacle of evolution, governments rely on Variants with exceptional powers to keep the peace—Heroes.
Three years after her best friend dies in the line of duty, Alexis Graham still struggles to accept the loss. She uses her abilities to stay stuck in a daydream; one where Joon is still alive, and her world hasn’t collapsed. Alex swears she’ll never be a Hero again, but she doesn’t have a choice. An old rival has come to collect her, and their mission is to take down the Villain organization that caused her world to crumble.
Leo Theron is a fire hazard. Hotheaded, stubborn, and determined to make Alex miserable. But as their mission brings up fresh anguish over Joon’s death, the pair is forced to confront their pasts, and Alex discovers there is more to Leo than what the tabloids say.
Variants are going missing, Villains flood the streets, and Nightmyre is no place for romance. Therapy isn’t enough to fix this.
And some of us became Villains.”
Nearly thirty percent of the world’s population has developed the Variant gene; an anomaly that causes supernatural abilities to manifest. With humanity at the pinnacle of evolution, governments rely on Variants with exceptional powers to keep the peace—Heroes.
Three years after her best friend dies in the line of duty, Alexis Graham still struggles to accept the loss. She uses her abilities to stay stuck in a daydream; one where Joon is still alive, and her world hasn’t collapsed. Alex swears she’ll never be a Hero again, but she doesn’t have a choice. An old rival has come to collect her, and their mission is to take down the Villain organization that caused her world to crumble.
Leo Theron is a fire hazard. Hotheaded, stubborn, and determined to make Alex miserable. But as their mission brings up fresh anguish over Joon’s death, the pair is forced to confront their pasts, and Alex discovers there is more to Leo than what the tabloids say.
Variants are going missing, Villains flood the streets, and Nightmyre is no place for romance. Therapy isn’t enough to fix this.
300 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 6, 2026
2 people are currently reading
37 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews
December 12, 2025
“Don’t ask to be saved if you don’t appreciate the ones who are risking their lives to do it.”
— Alex Graham.
💚 Reluctant FMC (and she has horns!)
💚 Grumpy MMC with fire powers
💚 Rivals to lovers with lots of ✨ jealousy ✨
💚 Multi POV
💚 Found family
💚 Mental health rep (PTSD + addiction)
💚 Witty third wheel who will steal your heart (but no love triangle!)
Oooh la la, this was such a blast! I’ll admit the cover caught my eye first, like damn, Alex really has a nice ass??? I envy you, girl. Whoever Reyes hired for the artwork? Worth every penny. And the content? Definitely worth lending your eyeballs to!
Imagine an FMC with a unique power. No, she can’t electrocute you, fly, or turn into a bison. All Alex does is ... daydream. Yup, you read that right! It's literally her code name, because what's a hero without a codename huhh? Whenever she gets overwhelmed, she drags anyone nearby straight into her dream with her. To make it worse, she can’t wake herself up, bcs someone else always has to haul her out of her nap. She’s basically Yamanaka Ino trapped in a 5'2", exhausted body with a no nonsense attitude (I love Naruto! 😉).
Meanwhile, the MMC, Leo, literally overheats and bursts into flames whenever he’s jealous or angry ... which is often. Someone please got this man a fire extinguisher 😮💨
Now add Reed, the third wheel sidekick who watched these two try to kill each other with popcorn in hand, plus a mission full of mystery and action.
Boom. A recipe for chaos.
I really like Reed. Honestly, more than Leo. What can I say? I have a thing for golden retriever types with smart mouths. Reading about how his power affected his body had me biting my nails more than once. But heyy, he survived, y'all! 🥺 And I’d love to read about him in the second book, hopefully with a better pairing than ugghhh whatever he had going on here.
I have mixed feelings about the plot twist. It was shocking, sure, but also confusing?? 😬 When I said this book didn’t have a love triangle, I meant it but the author tried so hard to yeet the second guy away from the main couple that it became unintentionally hilarious 😭 Because the potentiql was THERE. The love was THERE. You cannot convince me that what I saw between Alex and the spare dude was platonic, because it wasn’t. You can’t tell me it was brotherly love, because it leaned heavily toward childhood friends to lovers. And then the author just flipped it halfway through? Tossing Red into the mix?
I’m sorry, but Reed deserved better.
I was also a bit annoyed when the author leaned into the stereotype that Russia and Middle Eastern countries = bad, supervillain factories. Like, awww come on. Don’t throw political nonsense into this, yeah? 🤨 A fictional country would’ve worked so much better. Imagine if someone wrote about Spain and slapped a stereotype on it, like idk, calling it a hotbed for drug cartels or bull abusers, maybe? That’d feel uncomfortable, wouldn’t it?
Other than that, I genuinely enjoyed this book. Saving the Hero definitely leans into romance, but it never took over the plot. It wraps around it and moves the story along nicely. I like both leads. I like their slow burn romance. I even like the side characters! (Dahlia reminds me of the headmaster from Monster Inc. hhehe 😩) And the fact that the author didn’t force smut into the story just because the market demands it become a bonus points. Sometimes, a fade to black scene is more than enough.
Kisses? Yes.
Smut? No.
Burning villains? Absolutely.
Even though the author said on her Instagram that this book was inspired by Marvel, it actually revived my love for DC. I couldn’t watch anything superhero related after Aquaman because I was still mourning the Justice League sequel we never got (*sobs* 🤧). But now? I’m ready to dive back into a world where heroes in capes or masks save the day.
Alex and Leo might have saved Nightmyre ....
But they also saved me from boredom.
Huge thanks to Cierra Reyes for the eARC!
— Alex Graham.
💚 Reluctant FMC (and she has horns!)
💚 Grumpy MMC with fire powers
💚 Rivals to lovers with lots of ✨ jealousy ✨
💚 Multi POV
💚 Found family
💚 Mental health rep (PTSD + addiction)
💚 Witty third wheel who will steal your heart (but no love triangle!)
Oooh la la, this was such a blast! I’ll admit the cover caught my eye first, like damn, Alex really has a nice ass??? I envy you, girl. Whoever Reyes hired for the artwork? Worth every penny. And the content? Definitely worth lending your eyeballs to!
Imagine an FMC with a unique power. No, she can’t electrocute you, fly, or turn into a bison. All Alex does is ... daydream. Yup, you read that right! It's literally her code name, because what's a hero without a codename huhh? Whenever she gets overwhelmed, she drags anyone nearby straight into her dream with her. To make it worse, she can’t wake herself up, bcs someone else always has to haul her out of her nap. She’s basically Yamanaka Ino trapped in a 5'2", exhausted body with a no nonsense attitude (I love Naruto! 😉).
Meanwhile, the MMC, Leo, literally overheats and bursts into flames whenever he’s jealous or angry ... which is often. Someone please got this man a fire extinguisher 😮💨
Now add Reed, the third wheel sidekick who watched these two try to kill each other with popcorn in hand, plus a mission full of mystery and action.
Boom. A recipe for chaos.
I really like Reed. Honestly, more than Leo. What can I say? I have a thing for golden retriever types with smart mouths. Reading about how his power affected his body had me biting my nails more than once. But heyy, he survived, y'all! 🥺 And I’d love to read about him in the second book, hopefully with a better pairing than ugghhh whatever he had going on here.
I have mixed feelings about the plot twist. It was shocking, sure, but also confusing?? 😬 When I said this book didn’t have a love triangle, I meant it but the author tried so hard to yeet the second guy away from the main couple that it became unintentionally hilarious 😭 Because the potentiql was THERE. The love was THERE. You cannot convince me that what I saw between Alex and the spare dude was platonic, because it wasn’t. You can’t tell me it was brotherly love, because it leaned heavily toward childhood friends to lovers. And then the author just flipped it halfway through? Tossing Red into the mix?
I’m sorry, but Reed deserved better.
I was also a bit annoyed when the author leaned into the stereotype that Russia and Middle Eastern countries = bad, supervillain factories. Like, awww come on. Don’t throw political nonsense into this, yeah? 🤨 A fictional country would’ve worked so much better. Imagine if someone wrote about Spain and slapped a stereotype on it, like idk, calling it a hotbed for drug cartels or bull abusers, maybe? That’d feel uncomfortable, wouldn’t it?
Other than that, I genuinely enjoyed this book. Saving the Hero definitely leans into romance, but it never took over the plot. It wraps around it and moves the story along nicely. I like both leads. I like their slow burn romance. I even like the side characters! (Dahlia reminds me of the headmaster from Monster Inc. hhehe 😩) And the fact that the author didn’t force smut into the story just because the market demands it become a bonus points. Sometimes, a fade to black scene is more than enough.
Kisses? Yes.
Smut? No.
Burning villains? Absolutely.
Even though the author said on her Instagram that this book was inspired by Marvel, it actually revived my love for DC. I couldn’t watch anything superhero related after Aquaman because I was still mourning the Justice League sequel we never got (*sobs* 🤧). But now? I’m ready to dive back into a world where heroes in capes or masks save the day.
Alex and Leo might have saved Nightmyre ....
But they also saved me from boredom.
Huge thanks to Cierra Reyes for the eARC!
January 2, 2026
Cierra Reyes graciously gave me an eARC copy of "Saving the Hero" in exchange for an honest review.
✨️
The world is a place of wonder, with nearly 30% of the population being varient; people with supernatural abilities. Alex and Leo try to put their differences and grudges aside to track down a villain organization that has evaded the VIA for 3 years and counting. Despite disliking one another, they bond over mutual heartache.
✨️
●Character Developement - Supurb, Cierra is a mastermind when it comes to building a character, and then giving said character depth. I am very partial to Reed, he is just a retriever with good banter!
●Plot - Amazing. The plot was well thought out, and the pacing was great. There was no point where I wanted to put the book down, it was THAT good.
●World Building - I feel like I can smell the air, feel the wind and occasional explosion, hear the sirens and heros dashing around, and when i close my eyes, I can clearly see the city of Nightmyre.
✨️
Overall, 100/10 would definitely recommend. Anyone who picks this book up will find enjoyment in reading it. There is comedy, grief, great banter, superheroes, and let's not forget romance!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
BTW, any sequels will be devoured by me!! Do yourself a favor and read this book 📖
✨️
The world is a place of wonder, with nearly 30% of the population being varient; people with supernatural abilities. Alex and Leo try to put their differences and grudges aside to track down a villain organization that has evaded the VIA for 3 years and counting. Despite disliking one another, they bond over mutual heartache.
✨️
●Character Developement - Supurb, Cierra is a mastermind when it comes to building a character, and then giving said character depth. I am very partial to Reed, he is just a retriever with good banter!
●Plot - Amazing. The plot was well thought out, and the pacing was great. There was no point where I wanted to put the book down, it was THAT good.
●World Building - I feel like I can smell the air, feel the wind and occasional explosion, hear the sirens and heros dashing around, and when i close my eyes, I can clearly see the city of Nightmyre.
✨️
Overall, 100/10 would definitely recommend. Anyone who picks this book up will find enjoyment in reading it. There is comedy, grief, great banter, superheroes, and let's not forget romance!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
BTW, any sequels will be devoured by me!! Do yourself a favor and read this book 📖
January 3, 2026
thank you for the opportunity to be an ARC reader! I've honesty really enjoyed this book, and am looking forward to reading more from you!
Saving the Hero by Cierra Reyes was a quick and exciting read, and I'm glad to have experienced the world of Nightmyre! I think the story/characters came together rather nicely. I could feel the character's emotions, the grief, the denial..my heart was breaking with/for them..The little twist was well placed, Joon/Glitch making an appearance was anticipated (appreciated/heartbreaking), but was well done! All in all, I've enjoyed this and I hope to read more of the quad's stories in the future!
Saving the Hero by Cierra Reyes was a quick and exciting read, and I'm glad to have experienced the world of Nightmyre! I think the story/characters came together rather nicely. I could feel the character's emotions, the grief, the denial..my heart was breaking with/for them..The little twist was well placed, Joon/Glitch making an appearance was anticipated (appreciated/heartbreaking), but was well done! All in all, I've enjoyed this and I hope to read more of the quad's stories in the future!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 1, 2026
Superhero romance.
The book is quick and fun but has depth. I expected the quick and fun but the depth caught me off guard in the best way.
The book starts in a hero academy. While there, they train, and at the end they’re given a certain class of hero. It’s not the primary portion of the book.
From there two characters are separately reeling from the loss of a mutual close friend. Their grief… how they manage it… it’s the underlying current through the book for a while. It feels realistic. Raw. Relatable.
Leo (aka Cinder) has the ability to burn exceptionally hot and cause a significant amount of damage which is a powerful weapon. He doesn’t have a lot of control and that also makes him a liability. Life can’t be easy for a man like that.
Alex (aka Daydream) has the unique ability to pull someone into a dream but it comes at the cost of her consciousness. She’s got a lot of sass and she’s such a strong FMC.
Joon (aka Hopper) has one of those magnetic personalities and he uses it to build others up. To protect those he cares for. He’s strong and fast and believes in a better system for those with powers.
I loved the use of therapy in an open manner and the way characters talk about it freely.
I loved it.
Highly recommend.
I need more Reed (WildGuard). His character was clever and supportive.
I received an eARC and my thoughts are my own 💛
The book is quick and fun but has depth. I expected the quick and fun but the depth caught me off guard in the best way.
The book starts in a hero academy. While there, they train, and at the end they’re given a certain class of hero. It’s not the primary portion of the book.
From there two characters are separately reeling from the loss of a mutual close friend. Their grief… how they manage it… it’s the underlying current through the book for a while. It feels realistic. Raw. Relatable.
Leo (aka Cinder) has the ability to burn exceptionally hot and cause a significant amount of damage which is a powerful weapon. He doesn’t have a lot of control and that also makes him a liability. Life can’t be easy for a man like that.
Alex (aka Daydream) has the unique ability to pull someone into a dream but it comes at the cost of her consciousness. She’s got a lot of sass and she’s such a strong FMC.
Joon (aka Hopper) has one of those magnetic personalities and he uses it to build others up. To protect those he cares for. He’s strong and fast and believes in a better system for those with powers.
I loved the use of therapy in an open manner and the way characters talk about it freely.
I loved it.
Highly recommend.
I need more Reed (WildGuard). His character was clever and supportive.
I received an eARC and my thoughts are my own 💛
January 8, 2026
As soon as i saw my friend reading this ARC i just had to buy it and read it!
This book was so much fun!! It really reminded me of My hero Academia, This is one of my favourite anime’s and there has been a hole in my heart since the series ended, Cinder & daydream filled that void!!
The world building is easy to understand and helps elevate the story. The narrative has a great way of showing how different people deal with grief and how they over come it together!
Leo- my grumpy powerful yet soft boy how i love you so much!! You remind of a certain fiery boy from my favourite series. You have my heart
Alex- underestimated and a powerful FMC you are the sweetest and know how to handle yourself! Also Her power was super interesting to learn about!
My only slight criticism is i feel the last chapters were rushed with the rest of the pacing of the book. I loved it regardless and if you want a flirty cute Superhero romance or you love MHA and are looking for a romance novel that has that feel to it, i highly recommend this book!
This book was so much fun!! It really reminded me of My hero Academia, This is one of my favourite anime’s and there has been a hole in my heart since the series ended, Cinder & daydream filled that void!!
The world building is easy to understand and helps elevate the story. The narrative has a great way of showing how different people deal with grief and how they over come it together!
Leo- my grumpy powerful yet soft boy how i love you so much!! You remind of a certain fiery boy from my favourite series. You have my heart
Alex- underestimated and a powerful FMC you are the sweetest and know how to handle yourself! Also Her power was super interesting to learn about!
My only slight criticism is i feel the last chapters were rushed with the rest of the pacing of the book. I loved it regardless and if you want a flirty cute Superhero romance or you love MHA and are looking for a romance novel that has that feel to it, i highly recommend this book!
January 3, 2026
I want to start off by saying I got this book as an ARC but that has no bearing on my review!
I loved saving the hero. This book got me out of a major reading slump where I was just reading slop after slop haha. It was so well written and the depictions of grief really hit home.
I liked our FMC Alex, as she was not a pushover at all. And I love that in the FMC. She’s smart and creative. Her quirk might not be built for combat in the traditional sense but trust she makes it work for combat. She’s scary when she needs to be.
At first I wasn’t a fan of our MMC Leo. But after reading further and really getting into his backstory I softened my hatred of him. He’s a product of his upbringing and considering the circumstances he could’ve been worse.
Overall this was such a good book and I’m happy I received an ARC to get me out of my slump!
I loved saving the hero. This book got me out of a major reading slump where I was just reading slop after slop haha. It was so well written and the depictions of grief really hit home.
I liked our FMC Alex, as she was not a pushover at all. And I love that in the FMC. She’s smart and creative. Her quirk might not be built for combat in the traditional sense but trust she makes it work for combat. She’s scary when she needs to be.
At first I wasn’t a fan of our MMC Leo. But after reading further and really getting into his backstory I softened my hatred of him. He’s a product of his upbringing and considering the circumstances he could’ve been worse.
Overall this was such a good book and I’m happy I received an ARC to get me out of my slump!
January 16, 2026
CW: violence, loss, grief, mental health, alcohol as a coping mechanism, some others
Thank you to the author for the ARC! “Saving the Hero” is available now!
And the award for the year’s first 5-star read goes to…
Heroes are supposed to save the world. But who saves them? Alex hasn’t gone back to Hero work in three years, too grief stricken to even consider returning. Leo refuses to slow down, risking burnout to avoid his own trauma. When the two are forced into a team, they begin to discover that, just maybe, they can piece each other back together.
I fear I’m going to be obsessed with this book for a very long time. How do I even begin to explain it? This story reads like a serialized web comic that’s been magicked into a book, and I mean that in the best way. It’s addictive, it’s adorable, it’s impossible to put down.
First of all, apparently I love a superhero story. This shouldn’t really surprise me, I suppose, considering how much overlap there is in ‘superpowers’ and ‘magic,’ but it’s just not a niche I’ve ever read as an adult. This book somehow embodies all the best elements of urban fantasy and science fiction while still maintaining its own distinct vibe. I don’t know what that vibe really is, but it’s fantastic.
The author has somehow managed to deal with all these heavy, real themes while retaining an overall upbeat, almost animated feel, and never once crossing that line into cheesy or overblown. I don’t know what insane sort of skill that is, but my god could I devour another dozen books with that same type of charm.
If you’re going for relationship realism, I’m afraid that’s where this hype train will stop for you. This is very much an “I can fix him” sort of story. The author even makes a point to note that. This setup is designed for fiction; in the real world, all parties involved should run away screaming. This, thankfully, is not the real world, which means we are free to enjoy our broken little characters as they repair each other in the most wholesome, unrealistic ways. They’re so sweet, and so cute together, and I adore them immensely. I demand character art. Politely.
I’m still internally screaming about this book. Probably externally, too, if I can force someone to sit still long enough to listen to me. I somehow have no notes and all the notes. A+ characters. Insanely addicting plot. All the best feels without leaning too consistently far into ‘heavy’ or ‘fluffy.’ Amazing background and world-building without becoming info-dumpish or convoluted; it stays understandable even though it’s clearly different. Delightful. I need more books in this world immediately.
Thank you to the author for the ARC! “Saving the Hero” is available now!
And the award for the year’s first 5-star read goes to…
Heroes are supposed to save the world. But who saves them? Alex hasn’t gone back to Hero work in three years, too grief stricken to even consider returning. Leo refuses to slow down, risking burnout to avoid his own trauma. When the two are forced into a team, they begin to discover that, just maybe, they can piece each other back together.
I fear I’m going to be obsessed with this book for a very long time. How do I even begin to explain it? This story reads like a serialized web comic that’s been magicked into a book, and I mean that in the best way. It’s addictive, it’s adorable, it’s impossible to put down.
First of all, apparently I love a superhero story. This shouldn’t really surprise me, I suppose, considering how much overlap there is in ‘superpowers’ and ‘magic,’ but it’s just not a niche I’ve ever read as an adult. This book somehow embodies all the best elements of urban fantasy and science fiction while still maintaining its own distinct vibe. I don’t know what that vibe really is, but it’s fantastic.
The author has somehow managed to deal with all these heavy, real themes while retaining an overall upbeat, almost animated feel, and never once crossing that line into cheesy or overblown. I don’t know what insane sort of skill that is, but my god could I devour another dozen books with that same type of charm.
If you’re going for relationship realism, I’m afraid that’s where this hype train will stop for you. This is very much an “I can fix him” sort of story. The author even makes a point to note that. This setup is designed for fiction; in the real world, all parties involved should run away screaming. This, thankfully, is not the real world, which means we are free to enjoy our broken little characters as they repair each other in the most wholesome, unrealistic ways. They’re so sweet, and so cute together, and I adore them immensely. I demand character art. Politely.
I’m still internally screaming about this book. Probably externally, too, if I can force someone to sit still long enough to listen to me. I somehow have no notes and all the notes. A+ characters. Insanely addicting plot. All the best feels without leaning too consistently far into ‘heavy’ or ‘fluffy.’ Amazing background and world-building without becoming info-dumpish or convoluted; it stays understandable even though it’s clearly different. Delightful. I need more books in this world immediately.
December 13, 2025
"You have no idea how much I've fucking ached over you."
Ah, this was so good. Funny, heartbreaking, and with an mmc who is so infatuated that it almost hurts.
Leo is a hothead (literally), but he learns how to be calm. Mostly, this consists of him learning to express any emotion other than anger. He's down bad for Alex and somehow, stoking that fire helps him contain the rest of the flames.
Alex is a badass with emotional damage that could take out an entire city. She begins to process it just as shit hits the fan all over again. And she rides a motorcycle, dangerously.
Reed is my favorite character, which surprises no one who knows what I like in my fictional characters. Dramatic and funny, sassy and caring... The best of it all wrapped into a dude who needs a vacation so badly.
The comedy balances out the violence well. I had a hard time putting this book down to work or sleep or do anything other than devour it.
Cierra balances an easy to read style with powerful one liners and emotional damage. The plot moves right along with the character development and you're never left thinking that something has dragged, or that you've missed something big. The reveal/twist was devastating, even though I guessed it (which is a compliment because it was written in such a way that you're going "oh no.... No way. It can't-- oh it is fuck". Cuerra put hints in without making it too obvious, which worked well.
I'm very curious to see if there will be more. The ending was wrapped up in such a way that it could stand on its own or Cierra could bring us back to this world to uncover more. It does say "a Variants Novel" which implies that she will be adding to it.
We will see! Anything she writes, I'm reading.
If you like Marissa Meyer's Renegades, you'll love this!
Ah, this was so good. Funny, heartbreaking, and with an mmc who is so infatuated that it almost hurts.
Leo is a hothead (literally), but he learns how to be calm. Mostly, this consists of him learning to express any emotion other than anger. He's down bad for Alex and somehow, stoking that fire helps him contain the rest of the flames.
Alex is a badass with emotional damage that could take out an entire city. She begins to process it just as shit hits the fan all over again. And she rides a motorcycle, dangerously.
Reed is my favorite character, which surprises no one who knows what I like in my fictional characters. Dramatic and funny, sassy and caring... The best of it all wrapped into a dude who needs a vacation so badly.
The comedy balances out the violence well. I had a hard time putting this book down to work or sleep or do anything other than devour it.
Cierra balances an easy to read style with powerful one liners and emotional damage. The plot moves right along with the character development and you're never left thinking that something has dragged, or that you've missed something big. The reveal/twist was devastating, even though I guessed it (which is a compliment because it was written in such a way that you're going "oh no.... No way. It can't-- oh it is fuck". Cuerra put hints in without making it too obvious, which worked well.
I'm very curious to see if there will be more. The ending was wrapped up in such a way that it could stand on its own or Cierra could bring us back to this world to uncover more. It does say "a Variants Novel" which implies that she will be adding to it.
We will see! Anything she writes, I'm reading.
If you like Marissa Meyer's Renegades, you'll love this!
January 12, 2026
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Wow. I wish this book came out shortly after I finished the Renegades series by Marissa Meyer to help with the reading slump that followed.
I loved this book! The author did a great job depicting grief in all its facets: physical, mental, and emotional. As someone who is familiar with the nuances of grief, the grieving process, and how it is 𝘯𝘰𝘵 linear, I love that the author depicted it as something fluid.
This book was such a healing experience. I can tell how special these characters are to the author. They felt so awkward and real as they navigated complex, deep emotions. There was so much acceptance: showing up for each other, respecting boundaries, and choosing and supporting one another as they are. It was a great depiction of healthy relationships, and the growth amongst the main cast was beautiful. They each had something to teach each other, which made each character feel impactful.
There were so many parts where my heart broke and then mended. It was an emotional roller-coaster, and I wish I could experience it all again.
My only gripe was that this book wasn't longer and broken up into more books! I feel like the ending was so rushed and I have so many speculations. I hope plans for another book continue to move forward because there are still so many unanswered questions 👀 Although superhero and/or dystopian novels are not everyone's cup of tea, and I will admit they are not my favorite genre, this was a great read. I would 100% read again and I can't wait for book 2 and 3!! 🫶🏼
This book touched on complex themes such as good vs. evil, heroes vs. villains, ethics and morals, and how these things are relevant but are 𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺 subjective. I look forward to seeing it explored more in future books.
Wow. I wish this book came out shortly after I finished the Renegades series by Marissa Meyer to help with the reading slump that followed.
I loved this book! The author did a great job depicting grief in all its facets: physical, mental, and emotional. As someone who is familiar with the nuances of grief, the grieving process, and how it is 𝘯𝘰𝘵 linear, I love that the author depicted it as something fluid.
This book was such a healing experience. I can tell how special these characters are to the author. They felt so awkward and real as they navigated complex, deep emotions. There was so much acceptance: showing up for each other, respecting boundaries, and choosing and supporting one another as they are. It was a great depiction of healthy relationships, and the growth amongst the main cast was beautiful. They each had something to teach each other, which made each character feel impactful.
There were so many parts where my heart broke and then mended. It was an emotional roller-coaster, and I wish I could experience it all again.
My only gripe was that this book wasn't longer and broken up into more books! I feel like the ending was so rushed and I have so many speculations. I hope plans for another book continue to move forward because there are still so many unanswered questions 👀 Although superhero and/or dystopian novels are not everyone's cup of tea, and I will admit they are not my favorite genre, this was a great read. I would 100% read again and I can't wait for book 2 and 3!! 🫶🏼
This book touched on complex themes such as good vs. evil, heroes vs. villains, ethics and morals, and how these things are relevant but are 𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺 subjective. I look forward to seeing it explored more in future books.
December 28, 2025
*ARC*
Ohmygod I loved this book so much!!! The characters are amazing, the storyline keeps you on your toes, and the healing is beautiful.
Leo and Alex??? The chemistry, the banter, the laughs! Alex is a bad*ss, her superpower is amazing. The fact she can drag people into dreams is insane and so cool. I love how she doesn't take crap from anyone. She's not afraid to call people out but she can be vulnerable enough to know when she needs help or needs comfort. And Leo...oh man his POVs were just golden! His superpower is fire and oh man does he heat up the room. And he has it down so bad for Alex (he can deny it all he wants) and I just love how he puts her first in everything.
Now where would we be in a superhero story without fun side characters? Reed is the friend everyone needs in their life. He's funny, he's sarcastic. I was giggling at so many of his lines! I need more of him and fingers crossed more books are in this universe and Reed needs his time to shine!!!
The twists that happen in this book are gut wrenching and so many sad moments. But I really love how the author addresses the pain of loss and the struggle to 'move on' with normal life. And you see that with both Leo and Alex. Their grief was handled in different ways which makes them relatable and you just love them even more. I think Leo and Alex are just perfect for each other and I just love how their relationship deepens as the story goes on.
Ohmygod I loved this book so much!!! The characters are amazing, the storyline keeps you on your toes, and the healing is beautiful.
Leo and Alex??? The chemistry, the banter, the laughs! Alex is a bad*ss, her superpower is amazing. The fact she can drag people into dreams is insane and so cool. I love how she doesn't take crap from anyone. She's not afraid to call people out but she can be vulnerable enough to know when she needs help or needs comfort. And Leo...oh man his POVs were just golden! His superpower is fire and oh man does he heat up the room. And he has it down so bad for Alex (he can deny it all he wants) and I just love how he puts her first in everything.
Now where would we be in a superhero story without fun side characters? Reed is the friend everyone needs in their life. He's funny, he's sarcastic. I was giggling at so many of his lines! I need more of him and fingers crossed more books are in this universe and Reed needs his time to shine!!!
The twists that happen in this book are gut wrenching and so many sad moments. But I really love how the author addresses the pain of loss and the struggle to 'move on' with normal life. And you see that with both Leo and Alex. Their grief was handled in different ways which makes them relatable and you just love them even more. I think Leo and Alex are just perfect for each other and I just love how their relationship deepens as the story goes on.
December 10, 2025
Saving the Hero by Cierra Reyes ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
This book. I needed this book. I was in such a huge reading slump and this book saved me from it(ba dum tsss. Get it? Saved me😭😂). This book was so amazingly written, I could not put it down. Saving the Hero gives Marvel and My Hero Academia in all the best ways. We follow Alex and Leo and their navigation through grief, loneliness, and so much more. I could not love a duo more than I love these two. Every single thing about them was just amazing. Cierra’s writing was soooo good. The way she set everything up had my jaw dropping. The revelations took me by surprise, the heaviness of everything had me crying like a baby, and the banter had me giggling and smiling the whole time. Every page was filled with action and the way Cierra wrote the fight scenes was so well done, I was able to picture everything so vividly. I literally found myself gasping in shock as things were happening. I’m so happy this book was written because we need more superhero romance books. I’m so thankful I got to read this book, I need more books like this in my life. You guys HAVE to read this book!
Saving the Hero comes out January 6th, 2026. READ THIS BOOK 😮💨 (and then tell me all your thoughts because I’m so obsessed with this book).
This book. I needed this book. I was in such a huge reading slump and this book saved me from it(ba dum tsss. Get it? Saved me😭😂). This book was so amazingly written, I could not put it down. Saving the Hero gives Marvel and My Hero Academia in all the best ways. We follow Alex and Leo and their navigation through grief, loneliness, and so much more. I could not love a duo more than I love these two. Every single thing about them was just amazing. Cierra’s writing was soooo good. The way she set everything up had my jaw dropping. The revelations took me by surprise, the heaviness of everything had me crying like a baby, and the banter had me giggling and smiling the whole time. Every page was filled with action and the way Cierra wrote the fight scenes was so well done, I was able to picture everything so vividly. I literally found myself gasping in shock as things were happening. I’m so happy this book was written because we need more superhero romance books. I’m so thankful I got to read this book, I need more books like this in my life. You guys HAVE to read this book!
Saving the Hero comes out January 6th, 2026. READ THIS BOOK 😮💨 (and then tell me all your thoughts because I’m so obsessed with this book).
January 2, 2026
Freakin’ amazing from beginning to end. I absolutely loved this! Alex was a really compelling character and I felt so much sympathy for her and her depression after losing her best friend Joon. Her daydream powers were so awesome and I loved seeing all the different ways she used them. Leo inadvertently putting Alex back on the VIA’s radar was funny and also kind of perfect. These two had a super intense super slow burn thing going on and I ate it up. Reed was such a funny side character and I loved how unserious he was most of the time. I really loved how the more Alex and Leo opened up to each other, it kind of helped them realize how much they had grown and how well they fit into each other’s lives. Leo’s upbringing by the VIA was honestly really tragic and he was kind of pigeonholed into the Hero he became. I loved watching him discover all the soft things he loved when he’d grown up in a life of sharp edges and fireproof materials. There’s a couple really good twists in this and you’ll be really surprised when you find out what’s going on. I loved the way everyone started working together to help take Splinter down and I don’t know if there’s more novels planned for this series but I’m hoping there are because I definitely want to read more about these characters.
January 5, 2026
I received an ARC copy of Saving the Hero from Cierra Reyes. I enjoyed so much of this, my only issue would be that it is a closed door romance. I love super heroes so I was quick to sign up but I'm not familiar with this authors work and did not know what to expect from a romance book.
The characters are flawed but loveable heroes both grieving their teammate/ friend. Alex, the FMC has the power of "dreamcasting" and after the lost of her best friend she uses her power to help people die peacefully. Leo, the MMC, is a hot head that reminds me a lot of Johnny Storm. He was also on the last mission that resulted in Joon dying. They trained to be heroes together but after an accident between Alex and Leo and Joon death, Alex does not return. A chance encounter results in a run in between Leo and Alex and Leo tries to track Alex down. This story is predictable but I loved the idea of heroes and romance.
I would really like a series with the reappearance of Alex and Leo, and the side characters finding there own partners. The world building and characters is fun. This can not be the end of this series. Also I'm not aware of Cierra Reyes, I missed the spice and felt cheated. Yet I'm still invested. I will be looking for the next book.
The characters are flawed but loveable heroes both grieving their teammate/ friend. Alex, the FMC has the power of "dreamcasting" and after the lost of her best friend she uses her power to help people die peacefully. Leo, the MMC, is a hot head that reminds me a lot of Johnny Storm. He was also on the last mission that resulted in Joon dying. They trained to be heroes together but after an accident between Alex and Leo and Joon death, Alex does not return. A chance encounter results in a run in between Leo and Alex and Leo tries to track Alex down. This story is predictable but I loved the idea of heroes and romance.
I would really like a series with the reappearance of Alex and Leo, and the side characters finding there own partners. The world building and characters is fun. This can not be the end of this series. Also I'm not aware of Cierra Reyes, I missed the spice and felt cheated. Yet I'm still invested. I will be looking for the next book.
January 5, 2026
This anime-tinged superhero read was the PERFECT break from run of romantasy books. You still get your badass fighters and fantastical elements in a modern setting. The power system is very fun - people are born with abilities or morphisms that set them apart from standard humans, and those with abilities are chipped and tracked by a government agency.
This is a rivals-to-lovers story - NOT enemies! Saving the Hero is chock full of top-tier yearning and banter. It also delves into grief, and what that looks like for different people in different circumstances. We also get a very positive depiction of a character in therapy, which I absolutely LOVE. Seeing our main characters overcome tragic backstories and shared heartbreak to grow and open up to each other was an absolute joy. If you love a hotheaded bad boy and an absolute queen on a motorcycle then GET AT IT.
I am so grateful to Cierra Reyes for this arc!!
This is a rivals-to-lovers story - NOT enemies! Saving the Hero is chock full of top-tier yearning and banter. It also delves into grief, and what that looks like for different people in different circumstances. We also get a very positive depiction of a character in therapy, which I absolutely LOVE. Seeing our main characters overcome tragic backstories and shared heartbreak to grow and open up to each other was an absolute joy. If you love a hotheaded bad boy and an absolute queen on a motorcycle then GET AT IT.
I am so grateful to Cierra Reyes for this arc!!
January 6, 2026
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Hooked from page one til the very end, and can’t wait to read more! I’ll admit that I was drawn to this book because the cover is absolutely gorgeous, but oh. My. Goodness. am I so glad that I picked up with book because it was such a fun read! Alex and Leo’s chemistry sparks off the page immediately, their banter, the way they looked out for one another, and of course their superpowers just made Saving the Hero an amazingly fun read! If you like superheroes, plot twists, enemies to lovers, slow burn romance, characters who are willing to do what’s right even if they’re being told something completely different, characters both main and side who are willing to stick up and to each other no matter how rough things get and honestly just characters that you’ll be rooting for all the way through then Saving the Hero is an absolutely must read!
Hooked from page one til the very end, and can’t wait to read more! I’ll admit that I was drawn to this book because the cover is absolutely gorgeous, but oh. My. Goodness. am I so glad that I picked up with book because it was such a fun read! Alex and Leo’s chemistry sparks off the page immediately, their banter, the way they looked out for one another, and of course their superpowers just made Saving the Hero an amazingly fun read! If you like superheroes, plot twists, enemies to lovers, slow burn romance, characters who are willing to do what’s right even if they’re being told something completely different, characters both main and side who are willing to stick up and to each other no matter how rough things get and honestly just characters that you’ll be rooting for all the way through then Saving the Hero is an absolutely must read!
January 4, 2026
Consider me obsessed. With this book, and all the characters. This was my first super hero romance and I ate it up!
Alex was a badass, the perfect underdog. It’s easy for people to underestimate someone they can’t understand. Her powers couldn’t be seen and showcased so she was seen as lesser than.
Leo was your classic hothead with a chip on his shoulder other people couldn’t see. He had been hurting for a long time and couldn’t get it out because he was alone.
Together they bought out the best in each other, even if it took some hating to get there.
This was such a quick and easy read becuase I was loving every line. If you’re a marvel/DC/ my hero academia fan, this is the one for you.
Alex was a badass, the perfect underdog. It’s easy for people to underestimate someone they can’t understand. Her powers couldn’t be seen and showcased so she was seen as lesser than.
Leo was your classic hothead with a chip on his shoulder other people couldn’t see. He had been hurting for a long time and couldn’t get it out because he was alone.
Together they bought out the best in each other, even if it took some hating to get there.
This was such a quick and easy read becuase I was loving every line. If you’re a marvel/DC/ my hero academia fan, this is the one for you.
January 6, 2026
I received this as an ARC. Many thanks to the author.
This book was lots of fun. The female main character has a really unique power that leads to her being underestimated. This same power allows her to hide and escape from her grief.
The male main character is a hot mess, both literally and figuratively, with flame powers he can’t control and a very severe case of ptsd.
The mental health rep is really strong with realistic discussions of therapy and the healing process.
The side characters are fun, particularly Reed and Dahlia.
The big twist makes sense and overall I found it to be a quick, engaging read. Anyone who is a fan of superheroes will enjoy.
This book was lots of fun. The female main character has a really unique power that leads to her being underestimated. This same power allows her to hide and escape from her grief.
The male main character is a hot mess, both literally and figuratively, with flame powers he can’t control and a very severe case of ptsd.
The mental health rep is really strong with realistic discussions of therapy and the healing process.
The side characters are fun, particularly Reed and Dahlia.
The big twist makes sense and overall I found it to be a quick, engaging read. Anyone who is a fan of superheroes will enjoy.
December 12, 2025
Such a good book! Got an ARC and read it in less than 24 hours. I was so tired of omegaverse and enemies to lovers. This is rivalries to lovers kind of. Leo is not perfect and it made him seem more real. Alex wasn’t just the perfect sassy FMC she has depth and cracks. I also loved the super powers. Leo’s is fire which is normal but in this universe there are consequences for using your powers. There must be balance. Overall I would definitely recommend picking this book up when it comes out. I’ve never read this author and now I’m going to look through what else she has written
January 15, 2026
*I received this eARC for free in exchange for my honest review.*
My hero academia meets enemies/rivals to lovers.
This book was so good! I couldn't put it down, I finished it in basically one sitting! The pacing was good and didn't feel rushed or slow at any point. Alex and Leo's relationship was developed well. I really enjoyed the start of the book being narrated by Joon and setting the groundwork for their dynamic. Reed kinda stole the show for me and I'm excited to see if he returns in the series. I can't wait to read more from the author!
My hero academia meets enemies/rivals to lovers.
This book was so good! I couldn't put it down, I finished it in basically one sitting! The pacing was good and didn't feel rushed or slow at any point. Alex and Leo's relationship was developed well. I really enjoyed the start of the book being narrated by Joon and setting the groundwork for their dynamic. Reed kinda stole the show for me and I'm excited to see if he returns in the series. I can't wait to read more from the author!
December 11, 2025
Heroes are supposed to be calm, collected and always smiling, reassuring to the people.... yeah, forget that. These heroes have faced trauma and are coping the best they know how to: by being hot messes even as they are trying to save the city and are catching feelings for each other.
This was a wonderful, enjoyable, and emotionally touching read and I will look for sequels! I really need to know what happens next for the side characters ... and the plot!
This was a wonderful, enjoyable, and emotionally touching read and I will look for sequels! I really need to know what happens next for the side characters ... and the plot!
December 12, 2025
One word - WOW. This book was everything I never knew I needed. I DEVOURED it. The premise is so unique but so intriguing - I was sucked in by the storyline and the characters. Starting with Joon’s POV for the first chapter was such a draw in - he was the link between the two of them and he ultimately drew them together. The detail and imagination for the Variants and their powers was just “chefs kiss” - I loved it. I couldn’t get enough of the rivalry between Leo and Alex - they made me keep reading. My heart broke for Alex and I loved how Leo just wanted to save her and pull her out of the darkness (as clueless and tactless as he was). I ADORED Reed - he was the perfect middle man (with his humour and teasing of Leo). Great twist at the end too!
January 11, 2026
Rating: 4 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Wow- what an amazing read!! Thank you so much for the ARC! Now on to the review: I’m a huge superhero and My Hero Academia lover and this books pays great tribute to both superheroes and My Hero! We follow our MMC Leo who is the grumpy hero with fire as his power (think Bakugo 😉) with a traumatized past and the FMC Alex who is a total badass, has daydreaming (super cool) as her power, and who is also grieving from a traumatizing event. We follow their story as enemies turned lovers (which was wonderfully executed by the author, Cierra!) whom are overcoming the loss of their best friend Joon (Hopper). Their banter is extremely cute and Alex’s quick witted responses had me laughing! The variant society was well-written and the characters were easy to love (especially Reed who reminded me of Shoto Todoroki)! The plot, the pacing of the story, and the twist at the end had me on the edge of my seat—literally!! It would be amazing to see this book expanded into a series and know more about the Villians (Splinter). I had an amazing time reading this book and strongly recommend it to any superhero/My Hero Academia fans!
Wow- what an amazing read!! Thank you so much for the ARC! Now on to the review: I’m a huge superhero and My Hero Academia lover and this books pays great tribute to both superheroes and My Hero! We follow our MMC Leo who is the grumpy hero with fire as his power (think Bakugo 😉) with a traumatized past and the FMC Alex who is a total badass, has daydreaming (super cool) as her power, and who is also grieving from a traumatizing event. We follow their story as enemies turned lovers (which was wonderfully executed by the author, Cierra!) whom are overcoming the loss of their best friend Joon (Hopper). Their banter is extremely cute and Alex’s quick witted responses had me laughing! The variant society was well-written and the characters were easy to love (especially Reed who reminded me of Shoto Todoroki)! The plot, the pacing of the story, and the twist at the end had me on the edge of my seat—literally!! It would be amazing to see this book expanded into a series and know more about the Villians (Splinter). I had an amazing time reading this book and strongly recommend it to any superhero/My Hero Academia fans!
January 9, 2026
I've loved all of Cierra's books that I've read so far, but this one is definitely my favorite! I loved both of the MCs with all of my heart and I also loved how they helped each other heal.
This book is one that I eventually need to have a physical copy of (when I'm not broke AF 🫣😂)
This book is one that I eventually need to have a physical copy of (when I'm not broke AF 🫣😂)
January 12, 2026
This was genuinely such a good read I’m obsessed with the whole story plot.
WE NEED MORE HERO & VILLAN ROMANCE STORIES 🗣️🗣️🗣️
I totally saw the plot twist coming I had a feeling 🤭
WE NEED MORE HERO & VILLAN ROMANCE STORIES 🗣️🗣️🗣️
I totally saw the plot twist coming I had a feeling 🤭
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