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Spitfire
You know it's desperate when you're seriously considering life as a supervillain.
Evren Macintosh is tired, stressed, and willing to do almost anything for a bit of a leg-up on her doctoral thesis. So when her supervisors offer her a way to gain some extra credit, she grabs it with little thought for the consequences.
Sadly, being a supervillain isn't at all close to community service. However, now that she's involved, Evren doesn't have much choice other than to keep working with her supervisors - a supervillain trio known as The Consulate. She must find a way to finish her doctorate without further compromising her integrity or getting herself arrested - something made especially difficult when The Consulate have been getting more and more violent.
And then there's Mikhail, and Lin, and the hero Smoke, all drawing her attention in ways she hadn't accounted for. As if she didn't have enough on her plate...
Evren has very few options open to her - should she just let go of her morals and fully embrace villainy? With love, learning, and life on the line, Evren has some difficult choices to make.
Evren Macintosh is tired, stressed, and willing to do almost anything for a bit of a leg-up on her doctoral thesis. So when her supervisors offer her a way to gain some extra credit, she grabs it with little thought for the consequences.
Sadly, being a supervillain isn't at all close to community service. However, now that she's involved, Evren doesn't have much choice other than to keep working with her supervisors - a supervillain trio known as The Consulate. She must find a way to finish her doctorate without further compromising her integrity or getting herself arrested - something made especially difficult when The Consulate have been getting more and more violent.
And then there's Mikhail, and Lin, and the hero Smoke, all drawing her attention in ways she hadn't accounted for. As if she didn't have enough on her plate...
Evren has very few options open to her - should she just let go of her morals and fully embrace villainy? With love, learning, and life on the line, Evren has some difficult choices to make.
- GenresFantasy
293 pages, Kindle Edition
Published March 6, 2019
About the author
Ash Spring
4 books1 followerAsh Spring writes adult LGBTQ+ science fiction, supernatural/paranormal, and fantasy novels full of wry humour, families of choice, and tough decisions. A proudly queer, polyamorous Western Australian woman(ish) with a love of myths, legends, ‘what if’ worlds, and magic in all its forms, Ash has focused their passion for the written word into vivid storytelling.
She currently spends her time raising a vivacious redheaded child and writing whenever the chance arises to put fingers to keyboard or pen to paper.
She currently spends her time raising a vivacious redheaded child and writing whenever the chance arises to put fingers to keyboard or pen to paper.
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
June 26, 2026
This is an entertaining story about superheroes. The main character is a Mask, a person with a talent that can only be described as a superhero power. She is recruited by her Ph.D supervisors into a series of antics that are never fully explained but which can only be described as “villainous.”
I’ll get my issues out of the way first: this book hints at taking place somewhere in “the future” but the setting never comes across as being something other than a more colourful version of our present. Since this is an issue that has plagued SF since its inception, it seems churlish to complain about it here. There’s also a depressingly small cast of characters, many of whom know each other in a series of coincidences that would stretch the imagination of Alexandre Dumas. The main plot - motivation of the villains, existence of the world in general, etc - also feels insufficiently explained, although since this is Part 1 of a trilogy, I’m more than prepared to give this the benefit of the doubt.
What saves it is the prose. Our character’s live and have problems in a world that - despite not being very futuristic - feels familiar filled with problems similar to that of our own. Even, our heroine, is a sympathetic and interesting character who faces problems we can all relate to despite possessing characteristics that would mark her out as being extraordinary. Her adventures stretch her to her limits and beyond, making her an appealing protagonist.
I’m not sure how I felt about the world of this adventure but I know I liked the main characters and their predicament. I’m looking forward to reading g the next volume.
I’ll get my issues out of the way first: this book hints at taking place somewhere in “the future” but the setting never comes across as being something other than a more colourful version of our present. Since this is an issue that has plagued SF since its inception, it seems churlish to complain about it here. There’s also a depressingly small cast of characters, many of whom know each other in a series of coincidences that would stretch the imagination of Alexandre Dumas. The main plot - motivation of the villains, existence of the world in general, etc - also feels insufficiently explained, although since this is Part 1 of a trilogy, I’m more than prepared to give this the benefit of the doubt.
What saves it is the prose. Our character’s live and have problems in a world that - despite not being very futuristic - feels familiar filled with problems similar to that of our own. Even, our heroine, is a sympathetic and interesting character who faces problems we can all relate to despite possessing characteristics that would mark her out as being extraordinary. Her adventures stretch her to her limits and beyond, making her an appealing protagonist.
I’m not sure how I felt about the world of this adventure but I know I liked the main characters and their predicament. I’m looking forward to reading g the next volume.
August 14, 2019
I have a confession. Being 38 (almost 39) the floating sexuality of the modern world sometimes confuses me. On the other hand, I am still an inner child who loves anything to do with superheroes. So when a friend recommended this book to me I thought, why not take a chance?
I am so happy that I did.
For the uninitiated, the author gently leads you into a world where gender is fluid and so is love. But this concept is almost mundane against the background of a world where almost half the population have superpowers. Some are frightening, some fun and some beautiful. Certain powers seem to lead towards becoming a hero and others a villain. But does the power make the choice or the person who wields it? This is the question this book asks the reader through snippets of a student's thesis and their choice to do something bad in exchange for something good. Its artfully done and I am already looking forward to the next book.
I am so happy that I did.
For the uninitiated, the author gently leads you into a world where gender is fluid and so is love. But this concept is almost mundane against the background of a world where almost half the population have superpowers. Some are frightening, some fun and some beautiful. Certain powers seem to lead towards becoming a hero and others a villain. But does the power make the choice or the person who wields it? This is the question this book asks the reader through snippets of a student's thesis and their choice to do something bad in exchange for something good. Its artfully done and I am already looking forward to the next book.
September 27, 2019
Great read
I absolutely loved this book, it was a great read. I thought the characters had a lot of depth and Evran is by far my favourite. The different relationship dynamics and hints of philosophy about morality just added to the story, but it wasn't swamped in the development of the romance. Loved it and eagerly looking forward to the next book if there is one. Would love a continuation and development of Evrans story.
I absolutely loved this book, it was a great read. I thought the characters had a lot of depth and Evran is by far my favourite. The different relationship dynamics and hints of philosophy about morality just added to the story, but it wasn't swamped in the development of the romance. Loved it and eagerly looking forward to the next book if there is one. Would love a continuation and development of Evrans story.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews