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Heroine Complex #3
Heroine's Journey
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...
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...
373 pages, Paperback
First published July 3, 2018
32 people are currently reading
999 people want to read
About the author
Sarah Kuhn
68 books669 followersSarah Kuhn is the author of Heroine Complex—the first in a series starring Asian American superheroines—for DAW Books. She also wrote The Ruby Equation for the comics anthology Fresh Romance and the romantic comedy novella One Con Glory, which earned praise from io9 and USA Today and is in development as a feature film. Her articles and essays on such topics as geek girl culture, comic book continuity, and Sailor Moon cosplay have appeared in Uncanny Magazine, Apex Magazine, AngryAsianMan.com, IGN.com, Back Stage, The Hollywood Reporter, StarTrek.com, Creative Screenwriting, and the Hugo-nominated anthology Chicks Dig Comics. In 2011, she was selected as a finalist for the CAPE (Coalition of Asian Pacifics in Entertainment) New Writers Award.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 107 reviews
July 18, 2018
Hi I love Bea with my entire heart
Read
July 1, 2018The final book in this arc of the San Francisco set Heroine series is narrated in first person by exuberantly foulmouthed Bea Tanaka, younger sister to Evie, who with Aveda Jupiter are local superheroes fighting to free The City from its demon portal problem.
Bea has been bouncing from one pursuit to another, her relationships lasting even less time. It doesn’t help that her deadbeat dad turns up after years away, just in time to upset everyone. Now Bea is convinced that her life will be perfect if she becomes a superheroine with Evie and Aveda, and is furious when they point out that she seems to follow every new shiny idea without ever settling to one.
On the other hand, she is smart, determined, and her ability to vaguely influence thoughts does come in handy, especially after some creepy gigantic demon things suddenly start stomping threateningly at a local beach park. Bea is admitted as a superheroine trainee at the same time as her powers begin to ramp up exponentially . . . and she gets a hint that Evie’s and her mother, dead since Bea was twelve, might actually be caught in some demon dimension, and is trying to reach her!
I loved Bea’s voice, but what I really enjoyed were her awesome friends, beginning with her bestie Sam, with whom she has been competing academically since they were kids. Sam is super good-looking, and also bounces from one relationship to another, which is one of the reasons their friendship is so strong.
But what happens when the old competition develops a spark of you-know-what? Bea’s other bestie, Leah, calls it like it is, highly entertained when Bea stops her ears and claims no way.
Interspersed between these high octane scenes of relationship discovery are intense scenes dealing with the fallout of abandonment. Meanwhile the stakes keep rising, weird stuff keeps happening until the usual hilarious and yet tense climax, bringing this first arc to a close.
I liked this book best of the three. The emotional tension line was as involving as the magical one, and I found Bea’s voice the most fun of the three books. At the end readers are promised more from these delightful characters in a series that is diversity friendly, featuring Asian superheroines.
Copy provided by NetGalley
Bea has been bouncing from one pursuit to another, her relationships lasting even less time. It doesn’t help that her deadbeat dad turns up after years away, just in time to upset everyone. Now Bea is convinced that her life will be perfect if she becomes a superheroine with Evie and Aveda, and is furious when they point out that she seems to follow every new shiny idea without ever settling to one.
On the other hand, she is smart, determined, and her ability to vaguely influence thoughts does come in handy, especially after some creepy gigantic demon things suddenly start stomping threateningly at a local beach park. Bea is admitted as a superheroine trainee at the same time as her powers begin to ramp up exponentially . . . and she gets a hint that Evie’s and her mother, dead since Bea was twelve, might actually be caught in some demon dimension, and is trying to reach her!
I loved Bea’s voice, but what I really enjoyed were her awesome friends, beginning with her bestie Sam, with whom she has been competing academically since they were kids. Sam is super good-looking, and also bounces from one relationship to another, which is one of the reasons their friendship is so strong.
But what happens when the old competition develops a spark of you-know-what? Bea’s other bestie, Leah, calls it like it is, highly entertained when Bea stops her ears and claims no way.
Interspersed between these high octane scenes of relationship discovery are intense scenes dealing with the fallout of abandonment. Meanwhile the stakes keep rising, weird stuff keeps happening until the usual hilarious and yet tense climax, bringing this first arc to a close.
I liked this book best of the three. The emotional tension line was as involving as the magical one, and I found Bea’s voice the most fun of the three books. At the end readers are promised more from these delightful characters in a series that is diversity friendly, featuring Asian superheroines.
Copy provided by NetGalley
November 16, 2025
Fun, fantastical world infused with humor, heart and action!
Nothing like jumping into a series at the very last book, but that is exactly what I did with Heroine’s Journey. For most series, that would be disastrous, BUT for Heroine Complex, jumping in at Heroine’s Journey just made me want to one click the first two book in this series immediately! To say I enjoyed it would be an understatement.
I found Heroine’s Journey to be bundle of snarky, quirky, action intense FUN! Don’t get me wrong, for all that fun to work Kuhn rocked character development, strong world building and plot and also heartfelt moments that instantly connected and engaged me, the reader. My only regret was not seizing this series from the start. I highly recommend this gem of a read and series.
I received this ARC copy of Heroine's Journey from Berkley Publishing Group - Daw. This is my honest and voluntary review. Heroine's Journey is set for publication July 3, 2018.
Nothing like jumping into a series at the very last book, but that is exactly what I did with Heroine’s Journey. For most series, that would be disastrous, BUT for Heroine Complex, jumping in at Heroine’s Journey just made me want to one click the first two book in this series immediately! To say I enjoyed it would be an understatement.
I found Heroine’s Journey to be bundle of snarky, quirky, action intense FUN! Don’t get me wrong, for all that fun to work Kuhn rocked character development, strong world building and plot and also heartfelt moments that instantly connected and engaged me, the reader. My only regret was not seizing this series from the start. I highly recommend this gem of a read and series.
I received this ARC copy of Heroine's Journey from Berkley Publishing Group - Daw. This is my honest and voluntary review. Heroine's Journey is set for publication July 3, 2018.
August 19, 2020
Review posted on Fafa's Book Corner!
Beware spoilers ahead!
Trigger Warning(s): Grief, racism, manipulation, and bullying.
Reading Challenge(s): Book 16 for #StartOnYourShelfathon.
Rep: Evie and Bea are Irish-Japanese-American. Bea is queer. Aveda is Chinese American. Lucy is Puerto Rican-Mexican-British and is a Lesbian. Rose is Black and queer. Kevin is Black-Latino-Asian. Shruti is Indian-American. Leah is Black-Korean-American and queer. Sam and Nicole are Japanese-American. Nicole is queer. Nate, Scott, Letta, and Maisy are white.
My Thoughts Before Reading: I’ve owned the Heroine Complex series for years. I had initially bought the books because I heard that they would be fun. Also in part because of the rep and the superhero aspect.
I am happy to say that I thoroughly enjoyed it!
What I Liked: For this review I’ll be listing everything that I enjoyed in points. Rather than full paragraphs.
1. Bea and Evie's relationship is the most tense that it's ever been. Despite fours years passing since the events of Heroine Worship, the two of them haven't changed their views about each other. Evie still views Bea as a brat, and Bea still views Evie as an annoyingly suffocating older sister. The two of them finally decide to work on their relationship after Bea gets promoted to superheroine in training. There were many bumpy rocks, but they finally work things out. They also decide to see a therapist, so that they can work on their grief.
2. It was great to read about her relationship with Aveda! The two of them didn't really interact in the previous books and I was happy to read about them. I also loved that one scene with Nate.
3. I loved Bea's relationship with Leah! They were so supportive of one-another. We stan positive female friendships.
4. Bea's ex best friend Nicole plays a fairly big role. It was annoying to read about their interactions in the beginning. After some time I started to like what the author was doing. It was nice to see these former best friends reconcile and own up to their faults. I would really like this to be in more novels. Rather than always relying on the mean girl trope.
5. Sam and Bea were fun to read about! I liked their easy going relationship and their academic rivalry. I liked seeing them being more with each other. Opening up to one-another in a way they didn't do earlier. And eventually becoming a couple.
6. I loved Bea's growth! I didn't enjoy reading about her abusing her powers, but I'm glad it happened so that she could grow as a character. I was sad to read about her going to Maui, but it made sense for her character arc.
My Criticism(s): Absolutely nothing!
What I’m Looking Forward To: At this point I've already read (and thoroughly enjoyed) Unsung Heroine. Though I am excited to read Haunted Heroine!
Conclusion: Overall I loved Heroine's Journey! I highly recommend this series.
Beware spoilers ahead!
Trigger Warning(s): Grief, racism, manipulation, and bullying.
Reading Challenge(s): Book 16 for #StartOnYourShelfathon.
Rep: Evie and Bea are Irish-Japanese-American. Bea is queer. Aveda is Chinese American. Lucy is Puerto Rican-Mexican-British and is a Lesbian. Rose is Black and queer. Kevin is Black-Latino-Asian. Shruti is Indian-American. Leah is Black-Korean-American and queer. Sam and Nicole are Japanese-American. Nicole is queer. Nate, Scott, Letta, and Maisy are white.
My Thoughts Before Reading: I’ve owned the Heroine Complex series for years. I had initially bought the books because I heard that they would be fun. Also in part because of the rep and the superhero aspect.
I am happy to say that I thoroughly enjoyed it!
What I Liked: For this review I’ll be listing everything that I enjoyed in points. Rather than full paragraphs.
1. Bea and Evie's relationship is the most tense that it's ever been. Despite fours years passing since the events of Heroine Worship, the two of them haven't changed their views about each other. Evie still views Bea as a brat, and Bea still views Evie as an annoyingly suffocating older sister. The two of them finally decide to work on their relationship after Bea gets promoted to superheroine in training. There were many bumpy rocks, but they finally work things out. They also decide to see a therapist, so that they can work on their grief.
2. It was great to read about her relationship with Aveda! The two of them didn't really interact in the previous books and I was happy to read about them. I also loved that one scene with Nate.
3. I loved Bea's relationship with Leah! They were so supportive of one-another. We stan positive female friendships.
4. Bea's ex best friend Nicole plays a fairly big role. It was annoying to read about their interactions in the beginning. After some time I started to like what the author was doing. It was nice to see these former best friends reconcile and own up to their faults. I would really like this to be in more novels. Rather than always relying on the mean girl trope.
5. Sam and Bea were fun to read about! I liked their easy going relationship and their academic rivalry. I liked seeing them being more with each other. Opening up to one-another in a way they didn't do earlier. And eventually becoming a couple.
6. I loved Bea's growth! I didn't enjoy reading about her abusing her powers, but I'm glad it happened so that she could grow as a character. I was sad to read about her going to Maui, but it made sense for her character arc.
My Criticism(s): Absolutely nothing!
What I’m Looking Forward To: At this point I've already read (and thoroughly enjoyed) Unsung Heroine. Though I am excited to read Haunted Heroine!
Conclusion: Overall I loved Heroine's Journey! I highly recommend this series.
July 10, 2019
(Disclaimer: I received this book from the publisher. This has not impacted my review which is unbiased and honest.)
In the final installment of the Heroic Trio, Kuhn shines the spotlight on Bea. Before we looked at characters who had worked for superhero status, who were defined by their powers, or who had never wanted powers to begin with. But Bea is an entirely different case - there's nothing she seems to want more than to be a part of the superhero squad. Constantly being put on the side burner, Bea struggles to manage what she wants with her relationships, her future, and her family.
By this point, you should know that Kuhn delivers whip smart dialogue, fast paced action, and character journeys. But there is consistently a few things that stand out to me from the entire series such as the emphasis on family, the forefront of these superheroines of color, and, which Heroine's Journey examines in detail, the responsibility of our powers. Not only does this book deal with Bea's relationship to her sister Evie, but her dad makes a sudden appearance and secrets, and mystery, surround their mom surfaces. Talk about complex relationships, and Kuhn isn't afraid to give the people their fair share of weaknesses.
full review: https://utopia-state-of-mind.com/revi...
In the final installment of the Heroic Trio, Kuhn shines the spotlight on Bea. Before we looked at characters who had worked for superhero status, who were defined by their powers, or who had never wanted powers to begin with. But Bea is an entirely different case - there's nothing she seems to want more than to be a part of the superhero squad. Constantly being put on the side burner, Bea struggles to manage what she wants with her relationships, her future, and her family.
By this point, you should know that Kuhn delivers whip smart dialogue, fast paced action, and character journeys. But there is consistently a few things that stand out to me from the entire series such as the emphasis on family, the forefront of these superheroines of color, and, which Heroine's Journey examines in detail, the responsibility of our powers. Not only does this book deal with Bea's relationship to her sister Evie, but her dad makes a sudden appearance and secrets, and mystery, surround their mom surfaces. Talk about complex relationships, and Kuhn isn't afraid to give the people their fair share of weaknesses.
full review: https://utopia-state-of-mind.com/revi...
September 3, 2018
So book 1 followed Evie, and book 2 followed her friend Annie Chung (aka Aveda Jupiter). Who is the lead in book 3? Bea Tanaka. Evie’s sister (who Evie also ‘raised’ since mother died and father became a dead-beat and fled to ‘find himself’).
It’s several years since book 2 (unless I’m confused), and Bea is now 22. She still lives at home (well the superhero headquarters), and works at a book-store. She’s also been using her power on the job (yes, she also has a superpower – it’s mind related, and increases over the course of the book, but let’s just start off by saying ‘she can influence people through projecting emotions’).
Bea has a best friend who works at the bookstore, and a nemesis named Nicole (and a nice young man who she likes to hang around with – since they competed in school – and they still compete against each other).
There’s tension between her and her sister (and, because of that, between her and the rest of the headquarters people). Several reasons but ‘Bea wants to be a superhero – to join as a superhero; Evie keeps saying no’ is the top tier reason.
Unrelated to that – Bea notices someone has continued the lines she’d written on the bathroom wall (there’s a backstory there, let’s not go to in-depth as to why they are writing on walls); she notices this ‘voice’ in her head; and she gets information that her mother had left her and her sister something with the mother’s best friend.
One thing leads to another and Bea is convinced that she’s communicating with her mother . . . who may or may not actually be dead. Did anyone actually see her dead body?
And so the plot-line unfolds. Bea doing her thing. The others from prior books doing their thing as well, sometimes with Bea, sometimes away from Bea (and therefore mostly unknown by reader since we’re following Bea here). Stuff happens. Oh, and that repetitive romance theme that I noticed in book one get repeated in book two, again got repeated in book three.
Rating: 3.75 stars
October 2 2018
It’s several years since book 2 (unless I’m confused), and Bea is now 22. She still lives at home (well the superhero headquarters), and works at a book-store. She’s also been using her power on the job (yes, she also has a superpower – it’s mind related, and increases over the course of the book, but let’s just start off by saying ‘she can influence people through projecting emotions’).
Bea has a best friend who works at the bookstore, and a nemesis named Nicole (and a nice young man who she likes to hang around with – since they competed in school – and they still compete against each other).
There’s tension between her and her sister (and, because of that, between her and the rest of the headquarters people). Several reasons but ‘Bea wants to be a superhero – to join as a superhero; Evie keeps saying no’ is the top tier reason.
Unrelated to that – Bea notices someone has continued the lines she’d written on the bathroom wall (there’s a backstory there, let’s not go to in-depth as to why they are writing on walls); she notices this ‘voice’ in her head; and she gets information that her mother had left her and her sister something with the mother’s best friend.
One thing leads to another and Bea is convinced that she’s communicating with her mother . . . who may or may not actually be dead. Did anyone actually see her dead body?
And so the plot-line unfolds. Bea doing her thing. The others from prior books doing their thing as well, sometimes with Bea, sometimes away from Bea (and therefore mostly unknown by reader since we’re following Bea here). Stuff happens. Oh, and that repetitive romance theme that I noticed in book one get repeated in book two, again got repeated in book three.
Rating: 3.75 stars
October 2 2018
July 6, 2018
*Source* Publisher
*Genre* Urban Fantasy / Humorous / Romantic
*Rating* 3.5-4
*Thoughts*
Heroine's Journey is the third installment in author Sarah Kuhn's smart, sexy, action packed Heroine Complex series. For those who read the first two books in the series, Heroine's Journey takes a leap (4 years) into the future from where Heroine Worship left off. In the Heroine Complex series, Asian-American superheroines Evie Tanaka and Aveda Jupiter must protect demon-infested San Francisco from perilous threats while dealing with their own tumultuous lives and relationships.
*Full Review @ Gizmos Reviews*
http://gizmosreviews.blogspot.com/201...
*Genre* Urban Fantasy / Humorous / Romantic
*Rating* 3.5-4
*Thoughts*
Heroine's Journey is the third installment in author Sarah Kuhn's smart, sexy, action packed Heroine Complex series. For those who read the first two books in the series, Heroine's Journey takes a leap (4 years) into the future from where Heroine Worship left off. In the Heroine Complex series, Asian-American superheroines Evie Tanaka and Aveda Jupiter must protect demon-infested San Francisco from perilous threats while dealing with their own tumultuous lives and relationships.
*Full Review @ Gizmos Reviews*
http://gizmosreviews.blogspot.com/201...
July 14, 2018
Review courtesy of All Things Urban Fantasy.
The Heroine Complex series is one I definitely don't recommend enough. I'm going to change that, because these books are amazing, and you should all be reading them. These are the superhero books that I would want to live in - with awesome women supporting each other, great representation, fun plots and even a touch of romance! HEROINE'S JOURNEY is no different - this time starring Bea, Evie's little sister, we get another strong, complex lead character who definitely isn't defined by any one characteristic (like the streaks of color in her hair).
One thing that really sucked me in was the super emotional nature of the mystery. Bea's powers are mental, so it makes sense that this book would tug at the heartstrings a little more than the previous books, rather than be a bunch of ass-kicking (though there's time for that too). All in all, it really grabbed me and made me want to keep reading, to find out what was happening. I also loved the romance Bea has - super sexy and also adorable at the same time.
My biggest complaint is similar to my complaint about HEROINE WORSHIP. I didn't love Bea's narration. She's smart, but she's a bit young and immature. She felt at times even younger than her supposed early twenties age. This led to the book having a somewhat young adult feel to it at times. But, also like with HEROINE WORSHIP, because HEROINE'S JOURNEY is narrated by a character who previously had not been the center of the action, it would be very easy to pick up this one independently of the other two. I don't recommend that you do that, because all three are spectacular, but you could!
Luckily, HEROINE'S JOURNEY isn't the last we've seen of these amazing super-powered women. While HEROINE'S JOURNEY does a good job of not leaving loose ends, I know I'd love to read more. So, I was happy to see there's going to be at least three more novels and a e-novella in the Heroine Complex series! I know I'm very excited and can't wait to see what Bea, Evie and Aveda get up to next.
Sexual content: Kissing, non-explicit sexual scenes
The Heroine Complex series is one I definitely don't recommend enough. I'm going to change that, because these books are amazing, and you should all be reading them. These are the superhero books that I would want to live in - with awesome women supporting each other, great representation, fun plots and even a touch of romance! HEROINE'S JOURNEY is no different - this time starring Bea, Evie's little sister, we get another strong, complex lead character who definitely isn't defined by any one characteristic (like the streaks of color in her hair).
One thing that really sucked me in was the super emotional nature of the mystery. Bea's powers are mental, so it makes sense that this book would tug at the heartstrings a little more than the previous books, rather than be a bunch of ass-kicking (though there's time for that too). All in all, it really grabbed me and made me want to keep reading, to find out what was happening. I also loved the romance Bea has - super sexy and also adorable at the same time.
My biggest complaint is similar to my complaint about HEROINE WORSHIP. I didn't love Bea's narration. She's smart, but she's a bit young and immature. She felt at times even younger than her supposed early twenties age. This led to the book having a somewhat young adult feel to it at times. But, also like with HEROINE WORSHIP, because HEROINE'S JOURNEY is narrated by a character who previously had not been the center of the action, it would be very easy to pick up this one independently of the other two. I don't recommend that you do that, because all three are spectacular, but you could!
Luckily, HEROINE'S JOURNEY isn't the last we've seen of these amazing super-powered women. While HEROINE'S JOURNEY does a good job of not leaving loose ends, I know I'd love to read more. So, I was happy to see there's going to be at least three more novels and a e-novella in the Heroine Complex series! I know I'm very excited and can't wait to see what Bea, Evie and Aveda get up to next.
Sexual content: Kissing, non-explicit sexual scenes
July 2, 2018
Reviewed for
Wit and Sin
Heroine’s Journey is a blast to read. It’s a fast-paced, action-packed adventure coupled with a journey of growth. Add in a vibrant cast of characters, a steamy romance, wonderful friendships, a scene-stealing dog, and a to-die-for bookstore and it’s easy to see why I didn’t want to put this book down.
It’s been four years since readers last visited Jupiter/Tanaka, Inc. and the superhero duo of Aveda Jupiter and Evie Tanaka is a well-oiled machine that works for everyone. Everyone except Beatrice Tanaka, that is. Bea is desperate to convince her sister to let her become a superhero, but she’s blocked at every turn. Until Bea finds herself at the center of a new wave of demonic activity, one far different and more personal than anything she and her loved ones have ever seen.
Bea is easy to adore. She’s brilliant, bold, and a butt-kicking heroine in her own right. I loved how fast her mind moved and could understand how her brain jumped from one thing to another. But beneath her lively exterior is a young woman still feeling the pain of her mother’s death. There’s a hole in Bea she cannot seem to fill and that just broke my heart. Heroine’s Journey is an apt title because a lot of the book is Bea struggling to come into her own and defining what exactly that means. Bea is a wonderfully flawed heroine and I loved that she made mistakes because her imperfections were relatable. I was rooting for her every step of the way which is part of the reason I was glued to the book. Another reason was Bea’s friendships with Leah and Sam. Leah is an amazing best friend, a smart, creative, kind person who supports Bea but doesn’t hesitate to warn her when she’s going down a potentially dangerous path. And Sam… How best to describe Sam? He’s a sexy-as-hell mechanic with charm to spare, but there’s so much more beneath the surface. He’s as quick-minded as Bea and I absolutely adored their ongoing competition. But few people besides Bea see beneath the surface of Sam and I really enjoyed watching the layers being peeled back and exposing his vulnerabilities. He and Bea have some deliciously hot sexual tension brewing, but whether or not anything comes of it I’ll leave readers to discover.
Heroine’s Journey is the third book in the Heroine Complex series and if you’re new to the series (and don’t mind spoilers) you can dive in here. Returning fans of the Tanaka/Jupiter crowd will be delighted to revisit favorite characters and see how their lives have grown over the past four years. I loved seeing more of my favorite characters from Heroine Complex and Heroine Worship and I really enjoyed seeing a different side of the dynamics between our three superhero leads. Bea’s relationship with Evie is central to the story and the love and frustration on both sisters’ sides gave emotional heft to the book. And for some fun, Aveda’s self-appointed role as Bea’s mentor made me grin (I have a huge soft spot for Aveda).
I focused a lot on the characters of Heroine’s Journey because Sarah Kuhn’s talent for creating such amazing characters is what sticks with me the most. But it’d be remiss of me not to mention the action, danger, and mystery in the story. As with the first two Heroine Complex books, the fight scenes and the mystery of the demonic attacks are quirky, interesting, and exciting. Ms. Kuhn is brilliant at balancing popcorn thrills with more weighty storylines and I loved every bit of it. Heroine’s Journey is an engrossing story that blends the real and the fantastical perfectly. I loved every bit of it and I hope to see lots more of Bea, Sam, Leah, Evie, Nate, Aveda, Scott, Lucy, Rose, and Shruti in the future!
FTC Disclosure: I received this book for free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
Heroine’s Journey is a blast to read. It’s a fast-paced, action-packed adventure coupled with a journey of growth. Add in a vibrant cast of characters, a steamy romance, wonderful friendships, a scene-stealing dog, and a to-die-for bookstore and it’s easy to see why I didn’t want to put this book down.
It’s been four years since readers last visited Jupiter/Tanaka, Inc. and the superhero duo of Aveda Jupiter and Evie Tanaka is a well-oiled machine that works for everyone. Everyone except Beatrice Tanaka, that is. Bea is desperate to convince her sister to let her become a superhero, but she’s blocked at every turn. Until Bea finds herself at the center of a new wave of demonic activity, one far different and more personal than anything she and her loved ones have ever seen.
Bea is easy to adore. She’s brilliant, bold, and a butt-kicking heroine in her own right. I loved how fast her mind moved and could understand how her brain jumped from one thing to another. But beneath her lively exterior is a young woman still feeling the pain of her mother’s death. There’s a hole in Bea she cannot seem to fill and that just broke my heart. Heroine’s Journey is an apt title because a lot of the book is Bea struggling to come into her own and defining what exactly that means. Bea is a wonderfully flawed heroine and I loved that she made mistakes because her imperfections were relatable. I was rooting for her every step of the way which is part of the reason I was glued to the book. Another reason was Bea’s friendships with Leah and Sam. Leah is an amazing best friend, a smart, creative, kind person who supports Bea but doesn’t hesitate to warn her when she’s going down a potentially dangerous path. And Sam… How best to describe Sam? He’s a sexy-as-hell mechanic with charm to spare, but there’s so much more beneath the surface. He’s as quick-minded as Bea and I absolutely adored their ongoing competition. But few people besides Bea see beneath the surface of Sam and I really enjoyed watching the layers being peeled back and exposing his vulnerabilities. He and Bea have some deliciously hot sexual tension brewing, but whether or not anything comes of it I’ll leave readers to discover.
Heroine’s Journey is the third book in the Heroine Complex series and if you’re new to the series (and don’t mind spoilers) you can dive in here. Returning fans of the Tanaka/Jupiter crowd will be delighted to revisit favorite characters and see how their lives have grown over the past four years. I loved seeing more of my favorite characters from Heroine Complex and Heroine Worship and I really enjoyed seeing a different side of the dynamics between our three superhero leads. Bea’s relationship with Evie is central to the story and the love and frustration on both sisters’ sides gave emotional heft to the book. And for some fun, Aveda’s self-appointed role as Bea’s mentor made me grin (I have a huge soft spot for Aveda).
I focused a lot on the characters of Heroine’s Journey because Sarah Kuhn’s talent for creating such amazing characters is what sticks with me the most. But it’d be remiss of me not to mention the action, danger, and mystery in the story. As with the first two Heroine Complex books, the fight scenes and the mystery of the demonic attacks are quirky, interesting, and exciting. Ms. Kuhn is brilliant at balancing popcorn thrills with more weighty storylines and I loved every bit of it. Heroine’s Journey is an engrossing story that blends the real and the fantastical perfectly. I loved every bit of it and I hope to see lots more of Bea, Sam, Leah, Evie, Nate, Aveda, Scott, Lucy, Rose, and Shruti in the future!
FTC Disclosure: I received this book for free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
July 16, 2018
I loved the other two books in this trilogy so got my trotters on this one as soon as it released.
And what a cool read.
I will confess I didn't expect to love Bea as much as I did. She was a complete brat in Heroine Complex, and although she shaped up a bit in Heroine Worship, I had my doubts. I shouldn't have feared. Just like Aveda won my heart in Heroine Worship after a rocky start in Heroine Complex, Bea won my heart as well. I even wanted to kick Evie for being a typical older sibling, and Evie has been my favorite so far.
I also loved Sam, Leah, and Leah's dog Pancake. Especially Sam was fun and a true friend. I loved that he called Bea out when she made mistakes and let her know when she went too far. Leah tried to do this as well, but seemed to be less confident.
The story was full of action, mystery and emotion. There were some things I could puzzle out, but other things took me by surprise. I loved seeing how things came together. If I hadn't been forced to stop reading for such things as dinner and social commitments I'd have easily finished this book in one sitting.
All in all a great read. I'll most definitely keep my eyes out for more books by Kuhn.
And what a cool read.
I will confess I didn't expect to love Bea as much as I did. She was a complete brat in Heroine Complex, and although she shaped up a bit in Heroine Worship, I had my doubts. I shouldn't have feared. Just like Aveda won my heart in Heroine Worship after a rocky start in Heroine Complex, Bea won my heart as well. I even wanted to kick Evie for being a typical older sibling, and Evie has been my favorite so far.
I also loved Sam, Leah, and Leah's dog Pancake. Especially Sam was fun and a true friend. I loved that he called Bea out when she made mistakes and let her know when she went too far. Leah tried to do this as well, but seemed to be less confident.
The story was full of action, mystery and emotion. There were some things I could puzzle out, but other things took me by surprise. I loved seeing how things came together. If I hadn't been forced to stop reading for such things as dinner and social commitments I'd have easily finished this book in one sitting.
All in all a great read. I'll most definitely keep my eyes out for more books by Kuhn.
August 10, 2018
Sarah Kuhn, please write faster. I need more of your books please.
This series is such a blast, I'm delighted that this isn't the last time we get to visit this world. I was a bit nervous to discover surly teenage empath Bea was going to be our protagonist, but turns out 22 year old Bea is just as much an engaging heroine as her predecessors. One of the many things I love about this series is the willingness of the author to give her characters depth, with real flaws and lets them mess up without it ever quite feeling overdone. Bea talks too fast, gets her feelings easily hurt and flirts more with the dark side than either Evie or Annie ever did, but she's also sparkier and funnier, and I dearly hope her poster boards exist in the real world and that someone took pictures.
This entry also has the most compelling mystery and the supernatural goings on held my attention and kept me guessing throughout. We got a great romance, awesome friendships, vivid food descriptions (I really want some katsu soon please) and a one-eyed dog based on a real life superstar bookselling dog. Seriously, what more could you want?
So please, Sarah Kuhn, I'm begging you, write faster, the world needs more of your books.
This series is such a blast, I'm delighted that this isn't the last time we get to visit this world. I was a bit nervous to discover surly teenage empath Bea was going to be our protagonist, but turns out 22 year old Bea is just as much an engaging heroine as her predecessors. One of the many things I love about this series is the willingness of the author to give her characters depth, with real flaws and lets them mess up without it ever quite feeling overdone. Bea talks too fast, gets her feelings easily hurt and flirts more with the dark side than either Evie or Annie ever did, but she's also sparkier and funnier, and I dearly hope her poster boards exist in the real world and that someone took pictures.
This entry also has the most compelling mystery and the supernatural goings on held my attention and kept me guessing throughout. We got a great romance, awesome friendships, vivid food descriptions (I really want some katsu soon please) and a one-eyed dog based on a real life superstar bookselling dog. Seriously, what more could you want?
So please, Sarah Kuhn, I'm begging you, write faster, the world needs more of your books.
August 4, 2018
I loved the first two, but was never very interested in Bea. I really didn't like her at all in this book, but that would have been okay if I'd had a lot more Evie and Aveda but there was only a little bit. there was more Nate and Maisie which was sad for me. Bea's selfish, shortsighted, clueless behavior could have been okay if I feel like she was learning from it, but she spends 2/3rds of the book making the same painful mistakes over and over and would even narrate how she knew better.
Drove. Me. Crazy. I hate that.
At least Aveda was trying not to make the same mistakes when she messed up in her book, but Bea is almost willfully oblivious. It also made the mystery hard to deal with because she was such an unreliable narrator. Her revelation at the end feels rushed and unearned, and I don't buy it. I thought I'd like Sam but he's given nothing to do but be a doormat to Bea's tantrums. I wanted him to push back at her more but he doesn't. Their lovestory doesn't feel as deep as Scott and Aveda's (which has a similar setup but much deeper complexity).
I did really like the Leah though, and the arc with Nicole was really good (if a little painfully obvious).
In the afterword Sarah Kuhn writes that this was a hard book to write and I can see it. I feel like there's a really cool story in this book, but it sort of went astray and I'm not sure exactly how or where. I'm sure she felt equally frustrated during the process.
Drove. Me. Crazy. I hate that.
At least Aveda was trying not to make the same mistakes when she messed up in her book, but Bea is almost willfully oblivious. It also made the mystery hard to deal with because she was such an unreliable narrator. Her revelation at the end feels rushed and unearned, and I don't buy it. I thought I'd like Sam but he's given nothing to do but be a doormat to Bea's tantrums. I wanted him to push back at her more but he doesn't. Their lovestory doesn't feel as deep as Scott and Aveda's (which has a similar setup but much deeper complexity).
I did really like the Leah though, and the arc with Nicole was really good (if a little painfully obvious).
In the afterword Sarah Kuhn writes that this was a hard book to write and I can see it. I feel like there's a really cool story in this book, but it sort of went astray and I'm not sure exactly how or where. I'm sure she felt equally frustrated during the process.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 28, 2018
A fun conclusion if a bit predictable in terms of character relationships. The plot twists, on the other hand, I didn’t see coming at all. Bea’s an interesting character but I didn’t find her as easy to relate with, most likely because of how...sparkly she is. Might’ve enjoyed it more had I read all three books in one sitting, but it definitely was entertaining to see recognizable spots in San Francisco.
August 20, 2018
Sarah Kuhn does an amazing job of writing joy and hope and banter.
September 21, 2023
4 stars
Part of binge reading Heroine Complex series.
I don't think that the series will get emotionally wrecked and yet Heroine's Journey proved me otherwise. Heroine's Journey is the third book of Heroine Complex series and now the story told from Beatrice Tanaka's first PoV. If you already read book 1 and 2 (and yes, books must be read in order. Can't be read as stand alone), then you already know about Bea. We know her first as Evie's younger sister, a kinda spoiled 17 y.o brat with tantrums rivaled Aveda's. Although we got explanation that behind all that tantrums was a girl with grief so big after Evie and Bea's mother died of cancer. Heroine Journey's timeline is fast forward 4-5 years later. Bea is no longer 17, she's now in her 22 y.o, a respectable adult (in her opinion anyway). The book start with Bea feeling frustrated because Evie and Aveda disagree with her decision to become a super heroine and suddenly an invisible entity called to Bea. Much to Bea's surprise, the entity is Bea's deceased Mom! Or is she really her mom or another demonic being with malicious intent?
Did Bea still throwing tantrum here and there? Yep. But, you said she's already in her 22? I think, in my 22, I too somehow act like Bea, lel. I just realized that all of the heroine of this series, from Evie, then Aveda and Bea, all of them are kind of unlikable. Evie with her pushover tendencies, Aveda with her magnanimous attitudes and then Bea with her spoiled brat personality. Yet, in the end Kuhn managed to love them all with all their insecurities and weakness. Because, she write them with so much personal development, make them feel like a real person. Yes, Bea is constantly anger and she do some unethically things with her mind mojo. She also easily bored and always distracted with shiny things, a fact that make Evie disagree with Bea's want to be superheroine beside Evie also still a worrywart of mom figure. Yet, with the story unfold, I guess Journey's big theme is about how Bea processed her grief. Bea lost her Mom in the tender age of 12 and the event was traumatic she withdraw from real life, from her best friend, then always angry to the world. We always know a saying that said time will heal the wounds. Yet, it's need 10 years for Bea to finally let go of her sadness and pain, then decide to moving forward with her choices.
This book is pretty much family drama with super heroine, mind mojo and demonic invasion as added flavors. The found family theme is pretty well executed especially if you already follow the heroic trio (Evie, Aveda, Bea) from the beginning. The stake is pretty much mild since the focus of the book is how Bea become a better person and make amend with Evie regarding their sisterhood relationship. I also liked while all books featured romance with trope friend to lover, Kuhn managed to make them all different! In Evie and Nate's case, it's more like colleague to lovers, complete with insta-lust if that your things. Aveda and Scott are childhood friend that drift apart because of misunderstanding to finally give each other second chance to start love. While Bea and Sam is more like your high school friend slash rival slash platonic friend then develop into love. All of them guaranteed HEA and I liked that the romance is pretty much natural in case of Bea and Sam. I mean, their romance is pretty much my catnip and while the sex scenes more like fade to black (aka vanilla) the sexual tension are plenty.
Heroine Complex series have its up and down, and yet I still enjoy Evie, Aveda and Bea's story. Since all of them told from first PoV, their story feel personals and some things are resonated deeply for me. The Asian American and PoC's problems in overall also well executed, provide some insight. Yep, all the books are pretty much diverse, in race and also sexuality, since Bea herself is a bi and her best friend, Leah is a lesbian (not forget, Lucy too). Heroine Journey's mark the end of the first arc of the heroic trio and will continue in the second arc, start again with our first ordinary people turn super heroine, Evie. I admit, I liked her PoV since we both first born and I kind of resonated with Evie's problems as a first born.
Part of binge reading Heroine Complex series.
I don't think that the series will get emotionally wrecked and yet Heroine's Journey proved me otherwise. Heroine's Journey is the third book of Heroine Complex series and now the story told from Beatrice Tanaka's first PoV. If you already read book 1 and 2 (and yes, books must be read in order. Can't be read as stand alone), then you already know about Bea. We know her first as Evie's younger sister, a kinda spoiled 17 y.o brat with tantrums rivaled Aveda's. Although we got explanation that behind all that tantrums was a girl with grief so big after Evie and Bea's mother died of cancer. Heroine Journey's timeline is fast forward 4-5 years later. Bea is no longer 17, she's now in her 22 y.o, a respectable adult (in her opinion anyway). The book start with Bea feeling frustrated because Evie and Aveda disagree with her decision to become a super heroine and suddenly an invisible entity called to Bea. Much to Bea's surprise, the entity is Bea's deceased Mom! Or is she really her mom or another demonic being with malicious intent?
Did Bea still throwing tantrum here and there? Yep. But, you said she's already in her 22? I think, in my 22, I too somehow act like Bea, lel. I just realized that all of the heroine of this series, from Evie, then Aveda and Bea, all of them are kind of unlikable. Evie with her pushover tendencies, Aveda with her magnanimous attitudes and then Bea with her spoiled brat personality. Yet, in the end Kuhn managed to love them all with all their insecurities and weakness. Because, she write them with so much personal development, make them feel like a real person. Yes, Bea is constantly anger and she do some unethically things with her mind mojo. She also easily bored and always distracted with shiny things, a fact that make Evie disagree with Bea's want to be superheroine beside Evie also still a worrywart of mom figure. Yet, with the story unfold, I guess Journey's big theme is about how Bea processed her grief. Bea lost her Mom in the tender age of 12 and the event was traumatic she withdraw from real life, from her best friend, then always angry to the world. We always know a saying that said time will heal the wounds. Yet, it's need 10 years for Bea to finally let go of her sadness and pain, then decide to moving forward with her choices.
This book is pretty much family drama with super heroine, mind mojo and demonic invasion as added flavors. The found family theme is pretty well executed especially if you already follow the heroic trio (Evie, Aveda, Bea) from the beginning. The stake is pretty much mild since the focus of the book is how Bea become a better person and make amend with Evie regarding their sisterhood relationship. I also liked while all books featured romance with trope friend to lover, Kuhn managed to make them all different! In Evie and Nate's case, it's more like colleague to lovers, complete with insta-lust if that your things. Aveda and Scott are childhood friend that drift apart because of misunderstanding to finally give each other second chance to start love. While Bea and Sam is more like your high school friend slash rival slash platonic friend then develop into love. All of them guaranteed HEA and I liked that the romance is pretty much natural in case of Bea and Sam. I mean, their romance is pretty much my catnip and while the sex scenes more like fade to black (aka vanilla) the sexual tension are plenty.
Heroine Complex series have its up and down, and yet I still enjoy Evie, Aveda and Bea's story. Since all of them told from first PoV, their story feel personals and some things are resonated deeply for me. The Asian American and PoC's problems in overall also well executed, provide some insight. Yep, all the books are pretty much diverse, in race and also sexuality, since Bea herself is a bi and her best friend, Leah is a lesbian (not forget, Lucy too). Heroine Journey's mark the end of the first arc of the heroic trio and will continue in the second arc, start again with our first ordinary people turn super heroine, Evie. I admit, I liked her PoV since we both first born and I kind of resonated with Evie's problems as a first born.
June 15, 2018
It's so hard to believe this is the end of the series. I'm sitting in a puddle of my own, happy tears: what a fantastic finale! If you don't yet know about this series, it follows three Asian-American superheroines as they protect San Fransisco from a plague of mysterious demons (who tend to inhabit things such as cupcakes or porcelain unicorns) and has the best character growth you will ever read. If you want strong women in your books, I don't think I've read anyone stronger or more complex than Evie, Adveda, and Bea.
One of the most remarkable things about Kuhn's books is that they each have such a unique voice. While we return to San Fransico, to the world of puppy demons and superpowered heroes, we're now following Bea's perspective, and it's completely different from that of her big sister Evie and super-heroine role model Aveda. Bea is spontaneous, stubborn, and rash: her excitement flits from one thing to another like a hummingbird. At only 22, she's still a child in her sister's eyes, though she's trying to build her own life.
It's been about 4 years since the last book, and Bea now works at It's Lit, an adorable bookstore I would elect to live in if I ever got the chance. She dropped out of college, worries about her future, struggles with adulting and being taken seriously by her sister. Her dream is to join the superhero team - but Evie will hear nothing of it. When her powers start to change, and she begins to hear a voice in her head, convincing her that her mother might still be alive, Bea must embark on a journey of self-discovery, danger, and demons, in order to save her from the Otherworld.
I've said it before, and I'll say it again: I don't think I've read stronger female characters than in the Heroine Complex series. The girls are front and center to the action: they're badass, know how to fight, but they also value their emotions. They have an incredible arc of growth through each novel and the series itself. Finally having the girls confront the loss of their mother tied the series together as well as giving them a strong emotional conflict. On top of all that, they're Asian-Americans, and that fact is not brushed aside or passed over. They openly discuss what it's like to be a heroine of color and the standard they're held to. Bea has vividly dyed hair, and there's a fantastic discussion surrounding that stereotype. She has more personality traits than just her hair: in fact, she's full of personality.
Heroine's Journey might be the best in the series. Granted, it's a little less chaotic than the first book (no cupcake demons here!) and less laugh out loud, but the focus was on Bea and I loved it. I loved seeing the other beloved characters through her eyes. I loved her relationship with Sam (SAM! Mr. Beaucoup Fromage! My new Book Boyfriend, swoon). I loved seeing her grow.
All in all, I don't want this series to end. I know the Heroic Trio trilogy is now closed, but I'm hoping to see my favorite girls again sometime soon. An outstanding end to a fantastic series.
One of the most remarkable things about Kuhn's books is that they each have such a unique voice. While we return to San Fransico, to the world of puppy demons and superpowered heroes, we're now following Bea's perspective, and it's completely different from that of her big sister Evie and super-heroine role model Aveda. Bea is spontaneous, stubborn, and rash: her excitement flits from one thing to another like a hummingbird. At only 22, she's still a child in her sister's eyes, though she's trying to build her own life.
It's been about 4 years since the last book, and Bea now works at It's Lit, an adorable bookstore I would elect to live in if I ever got the chance. She dropped out of college, worries about her future, struggles with adulting and being taken seriously by her sister. Her dream is to join the superhero team - but Evie will hear nothing of it. When her powers start to change, and she begins to hear a voice in her head, convincing her that her mother might still be alive, Bea must embark on a journey of self-discovery, danger, and demons, in order to save her from the Otherworld.
I've said it before, and I'll say it again: I don't think I've read stronger female characters than in the Heroine Complex series. The girls are front and center to the action: they're badass, know how to fight, but they also value their emotions. They have an incredible arc of growth through each novel and the series itself. Finally having the girls confront the loss of their mother tied the series together as well as giving them a strong emotional conflict. On top of all that, they're Asian-Americans, and that fact is not brushed aside or passed over. They openly discuss what it's like to be a heroine of color and the standard they're held to. Bea has vividly dyed hair, and there's a fantastic discussion surrounding that stereotype. She has more personality traits than just her hair: in fact, she's full of personality.
Heroine's Journey might be the best in the series. Granted, it's a little less chaotic than the first book (no cupcake demons here!) and less laugh out loud, but the focus was on Bea and I loved it. I loved seeing the other beloved characters through her eyes. I loved her relationship with Sam (SAM! Mr. Beaucoup Fromage! My new Book Boyfriend, swoon). I loved seeing her grow.
All in all, I don't want this series to end. I know the Heroic Trio trilogy is now closed, but I'm hoping to see my favorite girls again sometime soon. An outstanding end to a fantastic series.
December 1, 2022
That was a fun read. I actually wanted to get The Heroine's Journey and my book shop delivered this instead, but it was cheap and looked nice, so I dug in anyway.
Definitely raunchier than I expected, with quite explicit sex scenes, but otherwise a fun superhero romp with vaguely defined powers all around.
A coming of age story for Bea, our protagonist, who breezes through live with the vague goal of becoming a superhero while still working at a book shop. Lots of familiy drama to work through, huge cast of side characters, which would be less confusing if I had read the first two books in the series. Again, pet peeve of mine - WHY do some books/authors refuse to give ANY indication that they are part of a series? If it wasn't for Goodreads, I would not have found out that this is part of the Heroine Complex series.
It wasn't interesting enough for me to pick up the rest of the books, but still.
So, nice little diversion with a nice diverse cast and some sexy times ;)
Definitely raunchier than I expected, with quite explicit sex scenes, but otherwise a fun superhero romp with vaguely defined powers all around.
A coming of age story for Bea, our protagonist, who breezes through live with the vague goal of becoming a superhero while still working at a book shop. Lots of familiy drama to work through, huge cast of side characters, which would be less confusing if I had read the first two books in the series. Again, pet peeve of mine - WHY do some books/authors refuse to give ANY indication that they are part of a series? If it wasn't for Goodreads, I would not have found out that this is part of the Heroine Complex series.
It wasn't interesting enough for me to pick up the rest of the books, but still.
So, nice little diversion with a nice diverse cast and some sexy times ;)
October 31, 2021
In the third installment of Heroine Complex series, this time we follow Beatrice or Bea, the rambunctious little sister of the fire-wielding superheroine Evie. We find Bea working at a book store and developing her own "empath" superpowers which can cause others to be affected and accept her "mindset." However, when the appearance and voice of her dead mother leads her to discovering others with similar powers, Bea might need some help. The problem is that her sister, Evie, and fellow heroine, Ava, are hiding something from Bea and cutting her off from the superheroine game. Will Bea solve the mystery of her supposedly dead mother speaking to her and the new superpowered residence of San Francisco.
I look forward to the next installment.
I look forward to the next installment.
March 12, 2020
As always with this series, a lot of fun. Bea is so very young, and the first couple of chapters inside her whirligig brain were a little exhausting, but we learn more about why she feels how she feels as the book progresses. Although I really do think she has undiagnosed ADHD and might want to look into that? Loved seeing Evie and Nate and Scott and Aveda ("A social cue!") again, and I want to go hang out at It's Lit and talk paranormal romances with Leah.
Tagged "lgbtqa" because Bea is bi/pan. Her orientation is not a main plot thread, and nobody has any angst about it whatsoever. Which is in itself cause to make note.
Tagged "lgbtqa" because Bea is bi/pan. Her orientation is not a main plot thread, and nobody has any angst about it whatsoever. Which is in itself cause to make note.
July 5, 2023
this was just as fun as the previous two in the series! i liked the exploration of Bea's character, and how she views her relationships to her older sister Evie and to Aveda. that is one of the strengths of this series i think, the importance of familial and friend relationships in addition to romantic ones. i did find her character a bit grating with the choices she was making, but it was all part of her character growth
REP: queer mc (bi/pan?), BIPOC mc, mixed race mc (Irish/Japanese), BIPOC author, queer side (sapphic)
REP: queer mc (bi/pan?), BIPOC mc, mixed race mc (Irish/Japanese), BIPOC author, queer side (sapphic)
July 16, 2021
This is a sweet (and often funny) story about love, loss, and hope... told over the backdrop of a San Francisco where superheroes try to keep demons from taking over the city.
It's a smidge closer to YA than the previous installments in the series, but only because Bea is younger than Evie or Aveda were when they had their books. (Honestly, I think this fits New Adult really well, especially given how often Bea has to tell the others she's "not a baby" anymore.) However, there is still plenty of heat between the MC and her love interest, as fits the rest of the series. I actually really liked the romance in this book; it fit both characters really well, and neither partner has any obvious advantage over the other.
I also liked the blend of action and introspection in this book. It's a great combination of Bea dealing with internal and external conflicts, and I love the ways where they overlap. In that sense I feel this is the strongest book in the series yet.
It's a smidge closer to YA than the previous installments in the series, but only because Bea is younger than Evie or Aveda were when they had their books. (Honestly, I think this fits New Adult really well, especially given how often Bea has to tell the others she's "not a baby" anymore.) However, there is still plenty of heat between the MC and her love interest, as fits the rest of the series. I actually really liked the romance in this book; it fit both characters really well, and neither partner has any obvious advantage over the other.
I also liked the blend of action and introspection in this book. It's a great combination of Bea dealing with internal and external conflicts, and I love the ways where they overlap. In that sense I feel this is the strongest book in the series yet.
July 5, 2018
Solid ending to this fun series. And yay for Fitz’s cover debut!
March 21, 2020
Every bit as much trashy fun as the first two books in this series!
July 30, 2019
An enjoyable read, but the author has gone overboard with the quirky element.
September 19, 2018
Bea Tanaka is all grown-up now and wants to be a superheroine and protect San Francisco, even though her older sister Evie doesn’t want her to.
The third book in the Heroine Complex series is tempestuous and energetic Bea’s book. And it’s an emotional roller coaster, much of it has to do with Bea grieving the loss of her mother.
Anyway, Bea has the superpower of emotional projection and isn’t above using it to deal with annoying customers at her bookstore job at It’s Lit. (Based off real-life bookstore The Ripped Bodice in Los Angeles, including the one-eyed dog too.) Bea is opinionated and funny, if often ridiculous and a bit of a drama llama. She’s got awesome friends and even though she’s not going to college, she’s figuring it out.
And then a mysterious force begins communicating with her and Bea thinks this will FINALLY be her chance to prove herself as a superheroine to Evie and Aveda and then she can join the team. She’s got poster boards and glitter to illustrate her points, too.
Things get complicated and weird from there. Bea definitely crosses some lines more than once and she comes off as insensitive and rude. There were definitely moments where I related to her angst and frustration, but there were also plenty where I went, “Yep, can see why Evie thinks you’re too immature to be a superheroine.”
I’m still a little fuzzy on the magic system in this world, but it is getting more and more fleshed out with each book. And I’m here for it. I like this series I’m excited to see what happens next.
Also, I liked Bea’s relationship with Sam. Finally, we have a hunky Asian dude love interest and Sam’s probably the best of the heroes so far. (He’s awesome.) The weird thing about this series is that each of the love interests has known the heroine since childhood…I’d like a little more variety here.
The third book in the Heroine Complex series is tempestuous and energetic Bea’s book. And it’s an emotional roller coaster, much of it has to do with Bea grieving the loss of her mother.
Anyway, Bea has the superpower of emotional projection and isn’t above using it to deal with annoying customers at her bookstore job at It’s Lit. (Based off real-life bookstore The Ripped Bodice in Los Angeles, including the one-eyed dog too.) Bea is opinionated and funny, if often ridiculous and a bit of a drama llama. She’s got awesome friends and even though she’s not going to college, she’s figuring it out.
And then a mysterious force begins communicating with her and Bea thinks this will FINALLY be her chance to prove herself as a superheroine to Evie and Aveda and then she can join the team. She’s got poster boards and glitter to illustrate her points, too.
Things get complicated and weird from there. Bea definitely crosses some lines more than once and she comes off as insensitive and rude. There were definitely moments where I related to her angst and frustration, but there were also plenty where I went, “Yep, can see why Evie thinks you’re too immature to be a superheroine.”
I’m still a little fuzzy on the magic system in this world, but it is getting more and more fleshed out with each book. And I’m here for it. I like this series I’m excited to see what happens next.
Also, I liked Bea’s relationship with Sam. Finally, we have a hunky Asian dude love interest and Sam’s probably the best of the heroes so far. (He’s awesome.) The weird thing about this series is that each of the love interests has known the heroine since childhood…I’d like a little more variety here.
October 7, 2019
Beatrice is hands down one of my least favorite characters in this series. She's basically the reason why I didn't enjoy this book (which is a shame since it's told in her perspective) and why it took me so long to get through. And here's why I don't like Bea as a character: she's an adult who has an attention span of a toddler and a mood/mindset/maturity of a child/teen (I think she's still a teen..18/19? possibly early 20's? idk, and honestly I don't care). Her character just made me so frustrated that she sucked the joy out of the story for me, which I wanted to enjoy since I enjoyed the first two books in the series so much. I don't know why but it took almost the whole freaking entire book for her to actually realize how selfish she actually is. For example, she nearly sacrificed an innocent girl that her best friend just started dating just because she didn't like her....like just why?? Or how about how she gets into frequent fights with her older sister who is trying to do what's best for her? Her very sister who practically raised her and sacrificed so much for her.... like I just cannot with this character. I'm sure there are more things I'm frustrated with but I'll end my rant here. Also, I'm sure there are good qualities in this book, but honestly as I'm typing this "review" my dislike for Bea is preventing me from actually pin pointing them.
July 5, 2018
BEA I LOVE YOU. Seriously, this may be my favourite in the series. I absolutely adore Bea and was so excited for her book. It did not disappoint! Bea’s relationship with Evie was hard to watch but I loved seeing them become closer. The romantic subplot was everything I wanted from this, it was super cute while also being hot as hell. Initially it felt a bit rushed but I quickly got over that. Anyway, without leaving spoilers all I can say was this was really great and if you haven’t picked up this series yet then do it asap!
July 9, 2018
The weakest of the three novels imo. This one has the least romance of the three, often fading to black during romantic moments or skipping them entirely and mentioning that they happened later. The emotional plot points are repetitive—Bea and Evie have the same fight over and over, while Aveda's strange in the background and the boys are barely entities.
The plot isn't too bad, though I very much called the twist. Bonus points for the sideship for Leah and the resulting character growth for Bea.
The plot isn't too bad, though I very much called the twist. Bonus points for the sideship for Leah and the resulting character growth for Bea.
January 4, 2019
Like the other two books in the series, Heroine's Journey is full of flat, one-dimensional characters whose dialogue doesn't sound anything remotely like how real people talk. What makes this one the worst of the bunch is that a) it's narrated by the most obnoxious character in the series, and b) the writing is atrocious. If I hadn't come this far in the series already, there's no way I would've even finished this book, but as it stands, it ends the series on the lowest note possible.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 5, 2019
I really enjoyed reading the 3rd book in this series and enjoyed Bea's perspective. I hope there is going to be more in the series.
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