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League of Independent Operatives #1
Alter Ego
HEIRESS
The world knows Mary O'Sullivan as a Page Six regular; she's an heiress, a playgirl, a philanthropist—and an orphan, after she survived the plane crash that killed her celebrity parents.
The world knows her vigilante alter ego, too—they just don't know it's Mary behind the mask.
OFFICER
Nathan Pearce just wants to be a hero. So when a world-famous vigilante blows through his local Boston bar, he's determined to chase her down. If superheroes do internships, he wants one.
But the woman might as well be a phantom. And Nathan's quest to prove himself will endanger more lives than just his own.
LEADER
Eloise Reyna wasn't meant to inherit a super-secret league of vigilantes, or the heirloom that grants her powers, for at least another decade. Between her motley band of cranky heroes and abilities she barely understands, she just might lose control.
With a mad scientist on the loose and powerful enemies lurking in the wings, that's simply not an option.
TEAM
Together with their questionable crew, these would-be heroes must untangle the past to secure the future—or allow a dangerous new world order to rise.
The League of Independent Operatives is a twisty superhero saga, perfect for fans of Watchmen, Umbrella Academy, and Renegades.
The world knows Mary O'Sullivan as a Page Six regular; she's an heiress, a playgirl, a philanthropist—and an orphan, after she survived the plane crash that killed her celebrity parents.
The world knows her vigilante alter ego, too—they just don't know it's Mary behind the mask.
OFFICER
Nathan Pearce just wants to be a hero. So when a world-famous vigilante blows through his local Boston bar, he's determined to chase her down. If superheroes do internships, he wants one.
But the woman might as well be a phantom. And Nathan's quest to prove himself will endanger more lives than just his own.
LEADER
Eloise Reyna wasn't meant to inherit a super-secret league of vigilantes, or the heirloom that grants her powers, for at least another decade. Between her motley band of cranky heroes and abilities she barely understands, she just might lose control.
With a mad scientist on the loose and powerful enemies lurking in the wings, that's simply not an option.
TEAM
Together with their questionable crew, these would-be heroes must untangle the past to secure the future—or allow a dangerous new world order to rise.
The League of Independent Operatives is a twisty superhero saga, perfect for fans of Watchmen, Umbrella Academy, and Renegades.
348 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 3, 2020
58 people are currently reading
159 people want to read
About the author
Kate Sheeran Swed
44 books72 followersKate Sheeran Swed loves hot chocolate, plastic dinosaurs, and airplane tickets. She has trekked along the Inca Trail to Macchu Picchu, hiked on the Mýrdalsjökull glacier in Iceland, and climbed the ruins of Masada to watch the sunrise over the Dead Sea. She holds degrees in music from the University of Maine and Ithaca College, as well as an MFA in Fiction from Pacific University. Her stories are forthcoming or have appeared in the Young Explorer's Adventure Guide Volume 5, Daily Science Fiction, Electric Spec, and Andromeda Spaceways. You can find her on Twitter @katesheeranswed.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 63 reviews
March 3, 2020
Actual rating 4,5 stars
I haven't read many books about vigilantes and after this one it feels like I've missed out on something.
Mary has two identities - one as a Hollywood celebrity and the other as a vigilante who is a member of The League of Independent Operatives. She sees the league as her family and their HQ as her home. Mary is smart and has a thing for inventions. She is also headstrong, reckless and a kickass woman. The problem is that her recklessness get's her into trouble one night when a girl with fire power is attacked. Mary breaks protocol and takes the girl back to HQ and because of that she is sent back to Hollywood and her other identity. That leaves the league to deal with the girls father who holds a dangerous grudge against them.
There are multiple characters in the book and I absolutely loved to read about Mary and Nathan. So Alter Ego is about vigilantes both with and without power, awesome gadgets and great characters especially Mary. I liked the way Mary had to switch between her identities throughout the book and her struggles with it.
The plot is awesome and fast-paced. The twist and turns in Alter Ego shocked me and I just love to be so surprised when reading a book. The sequel is released in May 2020 and I can´t wait😁
I haven't read many books about vigilantes and after this one it feels like I've missed out on something.
Mary has two identities - one as a Hollywood celebrity and the other as a vigilante who is a member of The League of Independent Operatives. She sees the league as her family and their HQ as her home. Mary is smart and has a thing for inventions. She is also headstrong, reckless and a kickass woman. The problem is that her recklessness get's her into trouble one night when a girl with fire power is attacked. Mary breaks protocol and takes the girl back to HQ and because of that she is sent back to Hollywood and her other identity. That leaves the league to deal with the girls father who holds a dangerous grudge against them.
There are multiple characters in the book and I absolutely loved to read about Mary and Nathan. So Alter Ego is about vigilantes both with and without power, awesome gadgets and great characters especially Mary. I liked the way Mary had to switch between her identities throughout the book and her struggles with it.
The plot is awesome and fast-paced. The twist and turns in Alter Ego shocked me and I just love to be so surprised when reading a book. The sequel is released in May 2020 and I can´t wait😁
March 9, 2020
First I want to say a big thank you to Kate Sheeran Swed for sending me a copy of Alter Ego for review! All views and opinions discussed here are my own.
I really enjoy Kate's books because they are always so unique and nothing like anything else i've read. This book was just the same; an intriguing sci-fi book with one foot in Hollywood Stardom and the other in alter-ego's and hidden identities. This book kept me on my toes throughout and I never quite knew who were the good guys and who were the bad guys. I actually messaged Kate at one point in shock when one twist was revealed! This is what I loved about this book; it constantly kept you guessing and even though something was revealed, it doesn't mean that there wren't going to be more twists along the way.
I really enjoyed Mary; she was a fascinating character and I loved her wit - she was such a badass and I was rooting for her throughout. I really enjoyed the range of characters throughout this book; I liked that it was quite ambiguous as to who was in the right and that at times, you could clearly see the point of view of each side and understand why they thought they were in the right.
If there's one thing I would have liked more of, it was a bit more of an explanation about the powers and how they worked? I couldn't quite get my head around that at times or keep track.
Highly recommend reading Alter Ego if you want a fun and captivating Sci-Fi read.
I really enjoy Kate's books because they are always so unique and nothing like anything else i've read. This book was just the same; an intriguing sci-fi book with one foot in Hollywood Stardom and the other in alter-ego's and hidden identities. This book kept me on my toes throughout and I never quite knew who were the good guys and who were the bad guys. I actually messaged Kate at one point in shock when one twist was revealed! This is what I loved about this book; it constantly kept you guessing and even though something was revealed, it doesn't mean that there wren't going to be more twists along the way.
I really enjoyed Mary; she was a fascinating character and I loved her wit - she was such a badass and I was rooting for her throughout. I really enjoyed the range of characters throughout this book; I liked that it was quite ambiguous as to who was in the right and that at times, you could clearly see the point of view of each side and understand why they thought they were in the right.
If there's one thing I would have liked more of, it was a bit more of an explanation about the powers and how they worked? I couldn't quite get my head around that at times or keep track.
Highly recommend reading Alter Ego if you want a fun and captivating Sci-Fi read.
March 21, 2021
I really loved this book! It was so easy to dive into it and then really hard to do anything but read😂 I especially love the dynamic between Nathan and Mary - it's so mature, beautiful and romantic without being cheesy at all. It's SO good and I can highly recommend reading it! Also, twists and turns around every corner, it really makes you think thoroughly about what's been happening. Can't wait to pick up Book 2 now!
May 29, 2020
Review to come.
March 31, 2020
My head is still reeling. I think I'm finally moving past the End Game hangover that's been tickling the edge of my subconscious since last summer.
Mary O'Sullivan is committed to the League of Independent Operatives. The organization rescued her from the tragic accident that killed her parents, gave her sanctuary and solace, and shaped her purpose. Confident in her place in the world, she steps into a bar to carry out a mission.
She meets three people in the bar who will throw her life and her confidence into a tailspin.
- Nathan, the gray eyed British cop who jumps into the fray with her, and then follows an obscure clue to track her to the glamour of her other life.
-Jenna, the young girl struggling to gain control of her ominous powers.
-Mange, who wants to upend the world order using subversive technology.
All three of them harbor secrets that will shatter the foundation of her life. All three of them are masters of subterfuge and disguise. And all three of them will force her to confront truths long buried.
I cannot wait to read Book 2, Anti-Hero, coming May 2020.
Mary O'Sullivan is committed to the League of Independent Operatives. The organization rescued her from the tragic accident that killed her parents, gave her sanctuary and solace, and shaped her purpose. Confident in her place in the world, she steps into a bar to carry out a mission.
She meets three people in the bar who will throw her life and her confidence into a tailspin.
- Nathan, the gray eyed British cop who jumps into the fray with her, and then follows an obscure clue to track her to the glamour of her other life.
-Jenna, the young girl struggling to gain control of her ominous powers.
-Mange, who wants to upend the world order using subversive technology.
All three of them harbor secrets that will shatter the foundation of her life. All three of them are masters of subterfuge and disguise. And all three of them will force her to confront truths long buried.
I cannot wait to read Book 2, Anti-Hero, coming May 2020.
April 14, 2020
I have to admit I was totally engrossed from the very first page. I loved Mary's character right from the very first page. She is so dynamic but also vulnerable too. I think her chapters were my favourite, as much as I found Nathan intriguing too. Nothing is black and white in Alter Ego, over the course of the book we watch Mary grow and become more than any of her alter egos - the famous party girl Mary and the famous hero Coral. The story is a real journey of discovery for both Mary and Nathan - I won't go into specifics as I would hate to give anything away about the plot.
The pacing is perfect and the character development was spot on, both the characters and the events of the book pull the reader along, and I really struggled to put Alter Ego down as I just had to know what happens next. Alter Ego is another incredible book from Kate - I adore her writing style so much, she manages to pack so much in with every word. In Alter Ego Kate has created a world so like ours and yet dealing with the existence of those with superpower. In her Toccata System Kate raised some very interesting questions about AI and what it is to be human, and in Alter Ego Kate raises more on the subject of what it is to be human and how, as a society we feel about, and deal with those who are different.
The twisty, turny plot and the way we discover that all characters - even the superheroes - are made from shades of grey, really was a highlight for me. I love morally grey characters and we get some excellent examples in Alter Ego. There were several twists throughout the course of Alter Ego that I definitely did not see coming! The plot and those twists were perfectly executed... the moment where everything shifts, the floor is ripped out from under both reader and character alike and you realise nothing is what it seemed.
The pacing is perfect and the character development was spot on, both the characters and the events of the book pull the reader along, and I really struggled to put Alter Ego down as I just had to know what happens next. Alter Ego is another incredible book from Kate - I adore her writing style so much, she manages to pack so much in with every word. In Alter Ego Kate has created a world so like ours and yet dealing with the existence of those with superpower. In her Toccata System Kate raised some very interesting questions about AI and what it is to be human, and in Alter Ego Kate raises more on the subject of what it is to be human and how, as a society we feel about, and deal with those who are different.
The twisty, turny plot and the way we discover that all characters - even the superheroes - are made from shades of grey, really was a highlight for me. I love morally grey characters and we get some excellent examples in Alter Ego. There were several twists throughout the course of Alter Ego that I definitely did not see coming! The plot and those twists were perfectly executed... the moment where everything shifts, the floor is ripped out from under both reader and character alike and you realise nothing is what it seemed.
June 9, 2020
When I was searching for fellow superhero writers and books I came across Kate and picked up Alter Ego immediately after reading the blurb. I'm so glad I did!!! It turned out to be one of the best books I've read in awhile 😊
Great story.
Wonderful characters.
So well written.
I loved this book.
Great story.
Wonderful characters.
So well written.
I loved this book.
May 22, 2020
I kind of love, and miss, the days when super heroes had to operate in the shadows. Before the big Marvel movies where everyone knows the super powered vigilante and they are this organized group that is basically just the world police. I like the idea of those super heroes like Spiderman, Batman, or hell, even the Incredibles, where the vigilantes aren’t allowed to operate openly, where they have to hide who they are, and their presence isn’t always welcomed by the police. Alter Ego has a lot of those themes, plus so, so much more! In this fast paced vigilante story, we have secret identities and organizations, generations of heroes, and a well-funded terrorist group opposite our heroes. Coupled with the powers and the gadgets, you have this struggle to balance the person along with the hero, of what it means to put on these different masks, and trying to figure out who the REAL person is, free of the secret identities, and what it means to be a hero; who exactly are the white hats when you operate outside of the law? For as awesome as the abilities were, it was those very real interpersonal struggles that this story presented that I gravitated toward the most.
I’ve read all of Swed’s books, and she is quickly becoming one of my favorite authors because no matter what genre she’s writing in, what character we have the perspective of, she has this great talent of weaving in these very real struggles alongside her super powered characters or her far future scenarios. I really gravitated toward Nathan and Mary in this book because of those existential questions they faced. I LOVED that even though Mary doesn’t have super strength or invisibility, or any power actually, she was one of the best IO’s there was. Her gadgets and smarts can go to-to-toe with the most powerful baddie there was. It was awesome to have a main character who was powerful even without having powers, and I really appreciated that. I also resonated so much with Nathan’s desire to atone for the mistakes of his past, his desperation to be a part of the group that had such an impact on his life, to make a positive difference in the world. I loved these characters together, too. Their struggles to find a balance, to trust one another… it was a treat to watch.
All of Swed’s characters are well done, heck, I even really liked the attitude of one of the main villains! I won’t go so far as to say I liked him as a person, but I really enjoyed his character. And even though Eloise rubbed me the wrong way a lot, that seems to be by design and I love it when an author can make a character purposely unlikeable and then weave that into a type of redemption arc. I won’t say more than that to avoid spoilers because trust me, there are some crazy twists and turns, betrayals and reveals that I didn’t see coming but made perfect sense once they came into play. This book is a wild ride full of emotion and action—my favorite kind of adventure!
I will say that I thought there should have been a little more time on the abilities themselves and what they were, or how certain characters got them. There’s enough to kind of get it, but it always felt a little too mysterious for my personal tastes. I also would have liked to know more about Wave and LIO and their conflict and what the two sides actually believe in and were fighting for. It felt a bit vague, even toward the end, but I’m hoping that with how this book ended, all of that will become clearer in the sequel, but that’s why I am giving this 4 stars. Good thing the sequel is out already! Yay! I really enjoyed this book in what looks to be an exciting series. I highly recommend this to fans of super hero stories like Batman or Umbrella Academy, especially Umbrella Academy actually. And thanks to the author for sending me a copy for an honest review!
I’ve read all of Swed’s books, and she is quickly becoming one of my favorite authors because no matter what genre she’s writing in, what character we have the perspective of, she has this great talent of weaving in these very real struggles alongside her super powered characters or her far future scenarios. I really gravitated toward Nathan and Mary in this book because of those existential questions they faced. I LOVED that even though Mary doesn’t have super strength or invisibility, or any power actually, she was one of the best IO’s there was. Her gadgets and smarts can go to-to-toe with the most powerful baddie there was. It was awesome to have a main character who was powerful even without having powers, and I really appreciated that. I also resonated so much with Nathan’s desire to atone for the mistakes of his past, his desperation to be a part of the group that had such an impact on his life, to make a positive difference in the world. I loved these characters together, too. Their struggles to find a balance, to trust one another… it was a treat to watch.
All of Swed’s characters are well done, heck, I even really liked the attitude of one of the main villains! I won’t go so far as to say I liked him as a person, but I really enjoyed his character. And even though Eloise rubbed me the wrong way a lot, that seems to be by design and I love it when an author can make a character purposely unlikeable and then weave that into a type of redemption arc. I won’t say more than that to avoid spoilers because trust me, there are some crazy twists and turns, betrayals and reveals that I didn’t see coming but made perfect sense once they came into play. This book is a wild ride full of emotion and action—my favorite kind of adventure!
I will say that I thought there should have been a little more time on the abilities themselves and what they were, or how certain characters got them. There’s enough to kind of get it, but it always felt a little too mysterious for my personal tastes. I also would have liked to know more about Wave and LIO and their conflict and what the two sides actually believe in and were fighting for. It felt a bit vague, even toward the end, but I’m hoping that with how this book ended, all of that will become clearer in the sequel, but that’s why I am giving this 4 stars. Good thing the sequel is out already! Yay! I really enjoyed this book in what looks to be an exciting series. I highly recommend this to fans of super hero stories like Batman or Umbrella Academy, especially Umbrella Academy actually. And thanks to the author for sending me a copy for an honest review!
March 5, 2020
This is book one of the League of Independent Operatives (LIO) series and follows the main character Mary, who is just an ordinary human, working with LIO and those with super human powers. Her last job against a super human criminal didn’t exactly go well and the criminal escaped. She is now on a bit of a probationary period with the new leader, the daughter of the famous Knife character. Mary has lived with the LIO family since her parents were killed and she was rescued from the plane crash that killed them. She uses her penchant for making gadgets to fight against others and also her fighting skills, honed over many years.
Her alter ego is that of a Hollywood star and rich kid and with a new fundraiser for her parents foundation happening soon, hoping to help bring fresh water treatments to those that need them anywhere in the world. She has to live a public life as a rich celebrity at times, but is currently undercover, having watched a possible recruit for the league, called Jenna, who has some fire raising powers. She has been watching her for about a month and on this evening, Jenna is suddenly surrounded by five men who try to take her out of the bar where she works. Mary decides to get stuck in to rescue her, along with an off duty cop who tried to chat her up. Jenna’s dad also turns up, but he is covered in bandages, with his skin peeling off, and has some wickedly powerful fire skills of his own, which he starts to use as pandemonium begins.
Mary manages to grab Jenna and takes her back to the League HQ, without authorisation and soon gets into trouble for this. She is banned from doing any work for the league for a month and told to go back to Hollywood and make her famous self more visible! She won’t go without a bit of a fight and vows to continue her investigation of her parent’s deaths, the upstart of a new WAVE group, the criminal element of super humans who nearly took over the world, some years ago. Jenna’s father also has a hatred of the league and doesn’t believe any super human group should get in control of the world ever again.
The LIO operatives ensure they are only seen one at a time in public, with hidden back-up, to ensure the rest of the world doesn’t get nervous about super humans taking over. The problems with a new leader at the head of the group and new criminals to be protected against, leaves the LIO falling apart from differences in opinion of how to proceed. Mary also gets more information about who her parents actually were and what part the LIO had in their deaths. It seems those she has believed are heroes, may be just as bad as the criminal element they take down.
A story of having to live multiple lives, with different identities, to keep their roles as part of the LIO secret, but also finding out a bit more about what those who formed the LIO did in the past and whether the next generation can continue in their footsteps or if they believe a different approach is required. Mary especially, has to face some hard facts and the total destruction of everything she was brought up to trust. An interesting look at those with super powers, those that work with them and also the criminals that are supposed to be the foe. Having an alter ego to be kept hidden from normal life makes matters hard, but the public finding out Mary’s true identity could be even more dangerous. An intriguing start to the series and with Mary and others having different views, there could be a lot more action and secrets to uncover in the next books. I can’t wait to see how Mary and the others progress in the rest of the series. I received an ARC copy of this book from BookSprout and I have freely given my own opinion of the book above.
Her alter ego is that of a Hollywood star and rich kid and with a new fundraiser for her parents foundation happening soon, hoping to help bring fresh water treatments to those that need them anywhere in the world. She has to live a public life as a rich celebrity at times, but is currently undercover, having watched a possible recruit for the league, called Jenna, who has some fire raising powers. She has been watching her for about a month and on this evening, Jenna is suddenly surrounded by five men who try to take her out of the bar where she works. Mary decides to get stuck in to rescue her, along with an off duty cop who tried to chat her up. Jenna’s dad also turns up, but he is covered in bandages, with his skin peeling off, and has some wickedly powerful fire skills of his own, which he starts to use as pandemonium begins.
Mary manages to grab Jenna and takes her back to the League HQ, without authorisation and soon gets into trouble for this. She is banned from doing any work for the league for a month and told to go back to Hollywood and make her famous self more visible! She won’t go without a bit of a fight and vows to continue her investigation of her parent’s deaths, the upstart of a new WAVE group, the criminal element of super humans who nearly took over the world, some years ago. Jenna’s father also has a hatred of the league and doesn’t believe any super human group should get in control of the world ever again.
The LIO operatives ensure they are only seen one at a time in public, with hidden back-up, to ensure the rest of the world doesn’t get nervous about super humans taking over. The problems with a new leader at the head of the group and new criminals to be protected against, leaves the LIO falling apart from differences in opinion of how to proceed. Mary also gets more information about who her parents actually were and what part the LIO had in their deaths. It seems those she has believed are heroes, may be just as bad as the criminal element they take down.
A story of having to live multiple lives, with different identities, to keep their roles as part of the LIO secret, but also finding out a bit more about what those who formed the LIO did in the past and whether the next generation can continue in their footsteps or if they believe a different approach is required. Mary especially, has to face some hard facts and the total destruction of everything she was brought up to trust. An interesting look at those with super powers, those that work with them and also the criminals that are supposed to be the foe. Having an alter ego to be kept hidden from normal life makes matters hard, but the public finding out Mary’s true identity could be even more dangerous. An intriguing start to the series and with Mary and others having different views, there could be a lot more action and secrets to uncover in the next books. I can’t wait to see how Mary and the others progress in the rest of the series. I received an ARC copy of this book from BookSprout and I have freely given my own opinion of the book above.
March 11, 2022
J’ai adoré ma lecture, et honnêtement, je n’ai pas grand chose à lui reprocher. L’intrigue a retenu mon attention dès le départ, et elle est restée passionnante et divertissante jusqu’à la fin. J’ai trouvé l’intrigue très bien construite et solide; l’auteure a réussi à me transporter dans un monde palpitant et énigmatique. La LIO (League of Independant Operatives) est remplie de mystères, qui s’épaississent tout au long du roman. Cet univers mêlant super-héros, super-vilains et êtres humains sans pouvoirs est vraiment très intéressant, et bien exploité. J’ai beaucoup aimé que l’approche de l’auteure ne soit pas manichéenne; ce choix apporte un peu plus de profondeur, de complexité, et instaure un climat de doute constant qui est très bien amené. Tous les personnages ont une part d’ombre et une part de lumière en eux, peu importe ce qu’ils sont censés représenter.
Les personnages sont bien élaborés. Je ne les ai pas trouvé clichés, et ils sont dans l’ensemble tous matures et réfléchis — des adultes qui se comportent comme des adultes. Mary est une jeune femme pleine de détermination et de ressources. Eloise est un personnage qui m’a laissé un peu sceptique, tout simplement parce que je ne la connais pas assez pour émettre un jugement — et elle est plutôt de nature réservée. Nathan est un jeune tout autant déterminé que Mary, mais parfois un peu entêté. Et j’ai trouvé son intérêt pour Mary un peu rapide et sans fondement. Les antagonistes sont mystérieux et attrayants; j’ai beaucoup aimé les découvrir, et suivre leurs interactions avec les autres personnages.
J’aurais aimé que les rapprochements entre Mary et Nathan soient moins faciles et prennent plus de temps. Mais la fin m’a particulièrement plu et je pense lire la suite très bientôt.
Les personnages sont bien élaborés. Je ne les ai pas trouvé clichés, et ils sont dans l’ensemble tous matures et réfléchis — des adultes qui se comportent comme des adultes. Mary est une jeune femme pleine de détermination et de ressources. Eloise est un personnage qui m’a laissé un peu sceptique, tout simplement parce que je ne la connais pas assez pour émettre un jugement — et elle est plutôt de nature réservée. Nathan est un jeune tout autant déterminé que Mary, mais parfois un peu entêté. Et j’ai trouvé son intérêt pour Mary un peu rapide et sans fondement. Les antagonistes sont mystérieux et attrayants; j’ai beaucoup aimé les découvrir, et suivre leurs interactions avec les autres personnages.
J’aurais aimé que les rapprochements entre Mary et Nathan soient moins faciles et prennent plus de temps. Mais la fin m’a particulièrement plu et je pense lire la suite très bientôt.
March 16, 2020
Remember Jem and the Holograms animated show from the eighties? This book felt like that. I couldn't shake the feeling away. Strong women in the center of the stage, trying to save the world with their badassery and technical skills. As a child, I was obsessed with Jem, could watch it from video repeatedly.
The main protagonist of the book is Mary, a wealthy Hollywood socialite, and a vigilante with a tragic past. She doesn't have superpowers like the others in the group she belongs to, but that doesn't stop her. I would say this book is about Mary finding out who she is through her past and present, having the face what has made her. Mary is relatable despite her status. She is tough, quirky, broken, strong, and intelligent.
Kate knows how to write. The book is easy to read, the story is fast and light, and every character has their cross to bear. Yet while the book is enjoyable, like those Hollywood X-Men and Batman (the lighter ones) movies, this is not a book I would typically read. The whole Hollywood and superhero scene feels disinteresting, not because it is poorly written, quite the opposite, but because of the rich high-life feels like a nightmare to me. Who would like that? Are we so superficial that we think that is something to look up to? Kate brings out the downside of being a celebrity well, and I love she does that. Maybe the ending promises a darker sequel away from all the clamor.
Thank you for reading!
The main protagonist of the book is Mary, a wealthy Hollywood socialite, and a vigilante with a tragic past. She doesn't have superpowers like the others in the group she belongs to, but that doesn't stop her. I would say this book is about Mary finding out who she is through her past and present, having the face what has made her. Mary is relatable despite her status. She is tough, quirky, broken, strong, and intelligent.
Kate knows how to write. The book is easy to read, the story is fast and light, and every character has their cross to bear. Yet while the book is enjoyable, like those Hollywood X-Men and Batman (the lighter ones) movies, this is not a book I would typically read. The whole Hollywood and superhero scene feels disinteresting, not because it is poorly written, quite the opposite, but because of the rich high-life feels like a nightmare to me. Who would like that? Are we so superficial that we think that is something to look up to? Kate brings out the downside of being a celebrity well, and I love she does that. Maybe the ending promises a darker sequel away from all the clamor.
Thank you for reading!
January 21, 2021
She has an alter ego and a clan which takes action when injustice appears. She risks everything when she saves a girl and takes her back there. She is sent to LA as punishment but she is still going to find what happened to her parents. What will she find out? Will it cause trouble? How willl she cope with the fall out? See what will be found out
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
December 31, 2022
PROPER REVIEW TO COME.
Why did I wait so long to read this? Absolutely superb storytelling for Sheeran Swed and some really interesting and nuanced characters/situations. So many shades of grey in this book, which I love in any book tbh.
There are quite a few characters, but you get to know them all well enough pretty quickly. So, the League of Independent Operatives are people with super powers. Kind of like Schwab's Vicious? But it's completely different - not as dark for one.
I'm really glad the other books are out so I can move straight onto them!
PROPER REVIEW TO COME.
Why did I wait so long to read this? Absolutely superb storytelling for Sheeran Swed and some really interesting and nuanced characters/situations. So many shades of grey in this book, which I love in any book tbh.
There are quite a few characters, but you get to know them all well enough pretty quickly. So, the League of Independent Operatives are people with super powers. Kind of like Schwab's Vicious? But it's completely different - not as dark for one.
I'm really glad the other books are out so I can move straight onto them!
PROPER REVIEW TO COME.
April 25, 2020
I received a free copy of this novel through Voracious Readers Only and in return this my honest review.
After finishing this book, I am questioning why I have never read a book about superheroes in my adult life. This book was phenomenal and I am craving the second book to see what happens next in the series. The characters are complex, real, and relatable. The plot is fast-paced and makes it feel like I am a fly on the wall watching the drama, the fight scenes and all the awesome gadgets.
There is a bonus epilogue, which I found super intriguing, but also thought it was cool to see the authors character design and playlist for the book.
This so far is one of the best books I have read that was published in 2020. Looking forward to read more books from this author.
After finishing this book, I am questioning why I have never read a book about superheroes in my adult life. This book was phenomenal and I am craving the second book to see what happens next in the series. The characters are complex, real, and relatable. The plot is fast-paced and makes it feel like I am a fly on the wall watching the drama, the fight scenes and all the awesome gadgets.
There is a bonus epilogue, which I found super intriguing, but also thought it was cool to see the authors character design and playlist for the book.
This so far is one of the best books I have read that was published in 2020. Looking forward to read more books from this author.
March 12, 2020
Alter Ego was a book I didn't know I needed. A superhero book for adults? Masked heroines with names like Coral and Pearl Knife? Badass gadgets and cars? A swoony British/Bostonian cop? YES, PLEASE. All of the above. Simply put, this magical book was FUN.
Not that it's missing real fissures and drama. No, there's plenty of broken relationships, hard choices, and, since it's a series (!!), we don't get a HEA or HFN. And that's okay. This author has never steered me wrong before. I know this contemporary fantasy series (with a hint of romance!) is going to take twists and turns and be SO worth the ride!
Not that it's missing real fissures and drama. No, there's plenty of broken relationships, hard choices, and, since it's a series (!!), we don't get a HEA or HFN. And that's okay. This author has never steered me wrong before. I know this contemporary fantasy series (with a hint of romance!) is going to take twists and turns and be SO worth the ride!
November 22, 2021
I received a free eBook in exchange for an honest review.
Alter Ego is a Adult Science Fiction/Superhero novel, book 1 in the series.
Book Cover: 4* - This cover is really well done, and although I prefer covers with characters on them, this mask computer gadget symbol vibe still works for what the cover is trying to tell you. I got a superhero espionage vibe from this cover, and this book did deliver on that.
Summary/Tagline: 3* - The summary was good, it just didn't draw me in as it sounds like something I've read/watched before, but what jostled me was that this book doesn't only follow Mary, but 3 other POVs. It threw me off when I started reading the book. I always prefer when there are summaries made for each POV, especially if they are equal amounts of each. That's it.
Characters: 4* - Hmmm, this one is a toughy. Like I said previously, we follow 4 POVs, one of which is an antagonist. We follow Mary, a powerless, and I mean that she has no powers not that she's weak, secret agent/spy character who's really good at making gadgets as she is being a celebrity, Nathan, a cop that . . . I like him, but there's something about his chapters that just read as rushed compared to the other characters. There's also a romance that happens between him and Mary, but even though some time has gone by and interactions are happening off page, it just reads as instant and pretty underdeveloped. Oh, the romance is a subplot and not in your face. So if you're looking for something heavy on the romance, this book is not it. 2 other characters we follow is Eloise who has inherited her mother's power to control a intriguing dagger that definitely feels not of this world and who runs the organization LIO(League of Independent Operatives), along with being Mary's foster sister. Eloise was alright, she read as a stick in the mud so I wasn't 100% behind her, but I get where her actions and choices are coming from, and a antagonist Mange who is trying to out LIO and reunite with his daughter. Although he had the least amount of chapters compared to the others, his chapters were definitely intriguing. There are other minor characters throughout the story, some I liked, other's I was meh about, other's I don't really have an opinion on as there wasn't enough of them.
World Building: 4* - You know what, the world was intriguing and it definitely felt lived in. It felt like an amalgamation of MCU(Marvel Cinematic Universe) and the Mission Impossible movies. Super powered beings mixed with espionage and governments inteference and insurrections. It was really exciting to learn about those that have power and those like Mary and Nathan that try to work without them, but there was one thing I was curious about that I don't think was answered in this book, and that is how some people got powers. I know one got it because of science experimentation, but others were never really explained how they got theirs. I don't even know how Eloise's mother got her connection with the dagger, but we know how Eloise inherited it. Hence the mystery on the power is why this section gets 4 stars instead of 5.
Story: 3* - It looks like an old enemy of LIO has returned and Mary is doing what she can to stop them, but a self made action to rescue a super powered woman and bring her to HQ while ignoring regulation and protocol makes Eloise decide to send Mary to a one way trip to suspension from further missions for awhile and keep up her celebrity appearance. In the meantime, Nathan finds a clue on Mary's hero identity and flies from the other side of the US to find her and beg to work with LIO all while trying to keep his past hidden. However, things begin to unravel and now Mary and Nathan have to decide whether or not to continue working with LIO or jump ship. Now, unfortunately I've hit quite the superhero fatigue when I got to this book. Although it was entertaining in some spots, the story was mostly predictable throughout. There's one section where I was actually taken by surprise, but then it quickly went predictable again. Nothing in the story grabbed me unfortunately and some chapters felt rushed compared to others.
Over All: 4* - Hmmm, based on my scoring so far, I think I'm happy to say 4 stars is good for me. It's either that or 3.5, but because halfsies are a no no, I might as well say 4. The story was entertaining and engaging sometimes, and I did like the characters, plus Alter Ego totally gave me a MCU meets Mission Impossible vibe. The story was fun, exciting, and thrilling when it came down to it. I say if you like things like the MCU and Mission Impossible movies, I say give this book a try. I'm sure you'll have fun, especially if you're in the mood for more superhero stories mixed with some thrilling espionage.
Alter Ego is a Adult Science Fiction/Superhero novel, book 1 in the series.
Book Cover: 4* - This cover is really well done, and although I prefer covers with characters on them, this mask computer gadget symbol vibe still works for what the cover is trying to tell you. I got a superhero espionage vibe from this cover, and this book did deliver on that.
Summary/Tagline: 3* - The summary was good, it just didn't draw me in as it sounds like something I've read/watched before, but what jostled me was that this book doesn't only follow Mary, but 3 other POVs. It threw me off when I started reading the book. I always prefer when there are summaries made for each POV, especially if they are equal amounts of each. That's it.
Characters: 4* - Hmmm, this one is a toughy. Like I said previously, we follow 4 POVs, one of which is an antagonist. We follow Mary, a powerless, and I mean that she has no powers not that she's weak, secret agent/spy character who's really good at making gadgets as she is being a celebrity, Nathan, a cop that . . . I like him, but there's something about his chapters that just read as rushed compared to the other characters. There's also a romance that happens between him and Mary, but even though some time has gone by and interactions are happening off page, it just reads as instant and pretty underdeveloped. Oh, the romance is a subplot and not in your face. So if you're looking for something heavy on the romance, this book is not it. 2 other characters we follow is Eloise who has inherited her mother's power to control a intriguing dagger that definitely feels not of this world and who runs the organization LIO(League of Independent Operatives), along with being Mary's foster sister. Eloise was alright, she read as a stick in the mud so I wasn't 100% behind her, but I get where her actions and choices are coming from, and a antagonist Mange who is trying to out LIO and reunite with his daughter. Although he had the least amount of chapters compared to the others, his chapters were definitely intriguing. There are other minor characters throughout the story, some I liked, other's I was meh about, other's I don't really have an opinion on as there wasn't enough of them.
World Building: 4* - You know what, the world was intriguing and it definitely felt lived in. It felt like an amalgamation of MCU(Marvel Cinematic Universe) and the Mission Impossible movies. Super powered beings mixed with espionage and governments inteference and insurrections. It was really exciting to learn about those that have power and those like Mary and Nathan that try to work without them, but there was one thing I was curious about that I don't think was answered in this book, and that is how some people got powers. I know one got it because of science experimentation, but others were never really explained how they got theirs. I don't even know how Eloise's mother got her connection with the dagger, but we know how Eloise inherited it. Hence the mystery on the power is why this section gets 4 stars instead of 5.
Story: 3* - It looks like an old enemy of LIO has returned and Mary is doing what she can to stop them, but a self made action to rescue a super powered woman and bring her to HQ while ignoring regulation and protocol makes Eloise decide to send Mary to a one way trip to suspension from further missions for awhile and keep up her celebrity appearance. In the meantime, Nathan finds a clue on Mary's hero identity and flies from the other side of the US to find her and beg to work with LIO all while trying to keep his past hidden. However, things begin to unravel and now Mary and Nathan have to decide whether or not to continue working with LIO or jump ship. Now, unfortunately I've hit quite the superhero fatigue when I got to this book. Although it was entertaining in some spots, the story was mostly predictable throughout. There's one section where I was actually taken by surprise, but then it quickly went predictable again. Nothing in the story grabbed me unfortunately and some chapters felt rushed compared to others.
Over All: 4* - Hmmm, based on my scoring so far, I think I'm happy to say 4 stars is good for me. It's either that or 3.5, but because halfsies are a no no, I might as well say 4. The story was entertaining and engaging sometimes, and I did like the characters, plus Alter Ego totally gave me a MCU meets Mission Impossible vibe. The story was fun, exciting, and thrilling when it came down to it. I say if you like things like the MCU and Mission Impossible movies, I say give this book a try. I'm sure you'll have fun, especially if you're in the mood for more superhero stories mixed with some thrilling espionage.
March 11, 2020
Mary hates that she can’t be more proactive in the community that she has been raised in because she doesn’t have what there others have. But this doesn’t stop her while in secret. Her escapades are full of intrigue and danger to her and her family. Good read
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
March 7, 2020
Awesome fun, twisty read about superheros and vigilantes and dual lives. Kate's prose is amazing, as usual, and if you don't think you'd like superheros too much, give it a try, especially if you enjoy UF!
May 31, 2020
I'd give this book an honest 3.5. Honestly, the best part of the book is the last 1/3 or so. tl;dr, maybe the story for you if you want a mildly entertaining read with some really good twists, solid writing, and what feels like a quick read. This wasn't for me because of character inconsistencies, poorly established relationships, and a main character would was driven by the plot instead of driving the plot. Also the water/ocean themes were too much. Waves. Mary (means sea of bitterness). Her foundation Sea something. Sea Shells. Water car. More I probably missed. Forgettable but not unreable.
What I liked were the 'two' major twists. Maybe a little expected, but I think they were overall successful. Granted, I feel like they were so successful, because the world is hardly established. The story begins, not necessarily in the middle of the action, but with so much personal history and world history prior to the beginning of the book that the reader is not privy to until much later. Mary had apparently failed some mission in Iceland and is at odds with the head of LIO, Eloise, and others in the organization left as well when Eloise took over? I guess? I'm not sure if the League is operating at bare bones because of this? Entirely unclear, tbh.
I didn't like Mary at all. Almost all of her relationships feel entirely superficial except with Eloise, and that one I wanted so much more from. By the time the plot begins, they've already had a falling out. There's a few lines alluding to a childhood together, but most of the connection seemed to be through Eloise's parents raising Mary. I wanted there to be sisterhood or rivalry or anger and jealousy or something that bound them together, but there wasn't. If we had snapshots of that childhood experience or something prior to or the early days of Eloise heading up LIO, I'd maybe think they were something more than classmates. Honestly, Eloise treated Mary as she probably deserved to be treated, like a nuisance. Eloise was a far more successful character. She was rooted in reality. Her personality and actions (such as paranoia) were consistent and understandable.
Eloise was one of the few characters I could tolerate, and boy, there were a TON of characters to begin with. The first fifteen pages introduces so many side generic characters. At one point, someone dies, and supposedly they were important to Mary, but I..? couldn't honestly remember who that character was. There was so little substance to that character and to the relationship with Mary that what could've been a heartbreaking emotional moment just wasn't. I'm not even convinced that she was even upset by his death, just the principle of someone dying.
The same could be said about the relationship and character of the *Love Interest*. HORRIBLE. He stalks Mary across the country. He's obsessive with IOs, with Mary, with being some hero. He wants to be an IO. That's it. That's all his story is. He is his childhood trauma and his desire to be an IO. Somehow, Mary is obsessed with him to after maybe.. 2 hours tops of interaction? She never really says what she even likes about him? Their romance is so forced, and this is one of those times were Mary is so incredibly inconsistent in character or I assume she is.
For someone supposedly so bad ass and cool, she makes so many poor decisions in a row that it doesn't seem like a string of recklessness and more like she's just inept. If you're a IO/hero without an abilities, in a world where you need abilities, you've got to be a hell of a lot more clever. At no point in the novel did I think Mary did something clever or act in a way someone trained to be a 'hero' would do. I would go into more details about where I think she was lacking, but I'm trying to keep this relatively spoiler free.
I would try the sequel, maybe.
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I was provided a copy through Voracious/Book Funnel.
What I liked were the 'two' major twists. Maybe a little expected, but I think they were overall successful. Granted, I feel like they were so successful, because the world is hardly established. The story begins, not necessarily in the middle of the action, but with so much personal history and world history prior to the beginning of the book that the reader is not privy to until much later. Mary had apparently failed some mission in Iceland and is at odds with the head of LIO, Eloise, and others in the organization left as well when Eloise took over? I guess? I'm not sure if the League is operating at bare bones because of this? Entirely unclear, tbh.
I didn't like Mary at all. Almost all of her relationships feel entirely superficial except with Eloise, and that one I wanted so much more from. By the time the plot begins, they've already had a falling out. There's a few lines alluding to a childhood together, but most of the connection seemed to be through Eloise's parents raising Mary. I wanted there to be sisterhood or rivalry or anger and jealousy or something that bound them together, but there wasn't. If we had snapshots of that childhood experience or something prior to or the early days of Eloise heading up LIO, I'd maybe think they were something more than classmates. Honestly, Eloise treated Mary as she probably deserved to be treated, like a nuisance. Eloise was a far more successful character. She was rooted in reality. Her personality and actions (such as paranoia) were consistent and understandable.
Eloise was one of the few characters I could tolerate, and boy, there were a TON of characters to begin with. The first fifteen pages introduces so many side generic characters. At one point, someone dies, and supposedly they were important to Mary, but I..? couldn't honestly remember who that character was. There was so little substance to that character and to the relationship with Mary that what could've been a heartbreaking emotional moment just wasn't. I'm not even convinced that she was even upset by his death, just the principle of someone dying.
The same could be said about the relationship and character of the *Love Interest*. HORRIBLE. He stalks Mary across the country. He's obsessive with IOs, with Mary, with being some hero. He wants to be an IO. That's it. That's all his story is. He is his childhood trauma and his desire to be an IO. Somehow, Mary is obsessed with him to after maybe.. 2 hours tops of interaction? She never really says what she even likes about him? Their romance is so forced, and this is one of those times were Mary is so incredibly inconsistent in character or I assume she is.
For someone supposedly so bad ass and cool, she makes so many poor decisions in a row that it doesn't seem like a string of recklessness and more like she's just inept. If you're a IO/hero without an abilities, in a world where you need abilities, you've got to be a hell of a lot more clever. At no point in the novel did I think Mary did something clever or act in a way someone trained to be a 'hero' would do. I would go into more details about where I think she was lacking, but I'm trying to keep this relatively spoiler free.
I would try the sequel, maybe.
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I was provided a copy through Voracious/Book Funnel.
October 15, 2020
This is a world where humans with heightened abilities known as IOs, Independent Operatives - or vigilantes - work to make the world a better place. "They tended to show up when lunatics threatened world leaders or high school chemistry teachers formed delusions of world domination."
Coral, a member of the League of Independent Operatives (LIO), meets Boston cop Nathan, in a bar fight where she has been watching Jenna, a woman they have had their eye on for a while.
Jenna's father Mange has been after her to retrieve the power stealing potion she took from him.
Coral takes her in to HQ , (aka the batcave.) to train her and help develop her fire powers.
Eloise the Leader of LIO sends Coral to LA, to her other life. In her other life, she is heiress play girl Mary O'sullivan, daughter to the beloved O'sullivans, who died when their plane came down. She is in charge of the See and Star foundation - her parents philanthropic endeavour.
Jenna's father - the new evil in town - Mange - has developed a potion that removes one's special abilities. He has teamed up with LIO's enemy 'The Wave" whom everyone thought had been destroyed- but in reality never really disappeared. Mange developed the potion to deal with the side effects of his powers. He experimented on his daughter and gave her the same fire control powers that he himself has. Mary, with Nathan in tow and the other LIOs are determined to stop him.
Our main characters are Mary, Eloise and Nathan.
Mary - Our main protagonist is a member of the League of Independent Operatives since she was rescued by it's founders (Will and Dolly - Eloise's parents) when she was eleven- from the plane crash that killed her parents
Nathan - a Boston cop originally from England who has been simultaneously; running from, and trying to make up for, his past, since he was 13.
Eloise - now head of LIO since her mother stood down - is having a hard time adjusting to being in charge and to her new power, as the wielder of the pearl knife - both with their own challenges.
The story is told from three four different perspectives, a writing device generally I'm not super fond of, in this is its done amazingly well. It gives the story amazing breadth and flows really well. When one chapter ends with one character, the narrative is picked up seamlessly with the next character in another part of the story.
The story just grabs you and pulls you along so easy to read and get absorbed into.
The romance, although predictable, was realistic and didn't distract from the main plot. This however was the only predictable part of this plot, the story didn't go in any direction I expected and oh the twist at the end yes! I loved this, what happens next?!
Oh my word I devoured this novel. It's a cross between x-men (humans with superpowers) and batman (Mary - no superpowers, dead parents, cool gadgets and general bad-assery).
I recommend it to everyone!
I received a copy of this via Voracious Readers Only in exchange for my review.
Coral, a member of the League of Independent Operatives (LIO), meets Boston cop Nathan, in a bar fight where she has been watching Jenna, a woman they have had their eye on for a while.
Jenna's father Mange has been after her to retrieve the power stealing potion she took from him.
Coral takes her in to HQ , (aka the batcave.) to train her and help develop her fire powers.
Eloise the Leader of LIO sends Coral to LA, to her other life. In her other life, she is heiress play girl Mary O'sullivan, daughter to the beloved O'sullivans, who died when their plane came down. She is in charge of the See and Star foundation - her parents philanthropic endeavour.
Jenna's father - the new evil in town - Mange - has developed a potion that removes one's special abilities. He has teamed up with LIO's enemy 'The Wave" whom everyone thought had been destroyed- but in reality never really disappeared. Mange developed the potion to deal with the side effects of his powers. He experimented on his daughter and gave her the same fire control powers that he himself has. Mary, with Nathan in tow and the other LIOs are determined to stop him.
Our main characters are Mary, Eloise and Nathan.
Mary - Our main protagonist is a member of the League of Independent Operatives since she was rescued by it's founders (Will and Dolly - Eloise's parents) when she was eleven- from the plane crash that killed her parents
Nathan - a Boston cop originally from England who has been simultaneously; running from, and trying to make up for, his past, since he was 13.
Eloise - now head of LIO since her mother stood down - is having a hard time adjusting to being in charge and to her new power, as the wielder of the pearl knife - both with their own challenges.
The story is told from three four different perspectives, a writing device generally I'm not super fond of, in this is its done amazingly well. It gives the story amazing breadth and flows really well. When one chapter ends with one character, the narrative is picked up seamlessly with the next character in another part of the story.
The story just grabs you and pulls you along so easy to read and get absorbed into.
The romance, although predictable, was realistic and didn't distract from the main plot. This however was the only predictable part of this plot, the story didn't go in any direction I expected and oh the twist at the end yes! I loved this, what happens next?!
Oh my word I devoured this novel. It's a cross between x-men (humans with superpowers) and batman (Mary - no superpowers, dead parents, cool gadgets and general bad-assery).
I recommend it to everyone!
I received a copy of this via Voracious Readers Only in exchange for my review.
August 14, 2022
Our protagonist in this superhero story is basically a gender-swapped Batman. A billionaire playgirl, complete with dead parents, lots of cool gadgets and tech, and no powers. When her parents are killed, a secret group of superheroes takes Mary O'Sullivan in and raises her. Now, she's struggling to fit in with the League of Independent Operatives and after breaking protocol one too many times (this time to bring in a young woman with powers, after saving her from her father), she's sent to cool off for a while in her other life.
We mostly alternative between the PoV of Mary, and Eloise, aka the Pearl Knife, and (newish) head of the League, after having both the Knife and the position passed down by her mother. Mary is frustrated by the way the Eloise is handling the League, thinking her to be too rule-bound to get things done. Eloise worries Mary is flighty and does things without thinking. Both are right, but they don't talk about it with each other, which leads to conflict, especially when a terrorist organisation, thought to be long defunct, returns.
I eyeroll a bit these days over the "flouncing off rather than talking to each other" trope which is prominent here, but it's a good way to drive the plot, even if I do want to yell at them to just phone each other. The third protagonist is Nathan Pearce, a police officer with no powers, who's obsessed with independent operators and who has serious chemistry with Mary. Hormones make people do stupid things, and there was more eyerolling involved in almost every scene these two had together.
But despite all the eyerolling, the book does hold up well. Mary, Eloise and Nathan are all likeable characters, and there's some exciting action sequences. I had thought it was going to be a pretty bog-standard superhero story, but there's actually a neat twist near the end which I hadn't seen coming and which I enjoyed.
One thing to note is that the book definitely isn't self-contained and ends without much in the way of resolution. But I'll be definitely reading the next book in the series.
We mostly alternative between the PoV of Mary, and Eloise, aka the Pearl Knife, and (newish) head of the League, after having both the Knife and the position passed down by her mother. Mary is frustrated by the way the Eloise is handling the League, thinking her to be too rule-bound to get things done. Eloise worries Mary is flighty and does things without thinking. Both are right, but they don't talk about it with each other, which leads to conflict, especially when a terrorist organisation, thought to be long defunct, returns.
I eyeroll a bit these days over the "flouncing off rather than talking to each other" trope which is prominent here, but it's a good way to drive the plot, even if I do want to yell at them to just phone each other. The third protagonist is Nathan Pearce, a police officer with no powers, who's obsessed with independent operators and who has serious chemistry with Mary. Hormones make people do stupid things, and there was more eyerolling involved in almost every scene these two had together.
But despite all the eyerolling, the book does hold up well. Mary, Eloise and Nathan are all likeable characters, and there's some exciting action sequences. I had thought it was going to be a pretty bog-standard superhero story, but there's actually a neat twist near the end which I hadn't seen coming and which I enjoyed.
One thing to note is that the book definitely isn't self-contained and ends without much in the way of resolution. But I'll be definitely reading the next book in the series.
March 27, 2020
First of all I wanted to thank Kate for trusting me and sending me a copy!
Bold is the word that comes to mind when I want to describe the book and all of the characters. The book itself will be great for all of the marvel and superheroes fans, but it is nonetheless great for anyone. Personally, I had to dive into the book with an open mind which really helped a lot. I’m not a big superhero fan, but this book just mesmerized me. First of all the characters.
Mary: Mary is a "bad-girl" who has many identities, including a Hollywood superstar, and a valued member of the League of Independent Operatives where she can unleash her true spirit of a hero. Mary was an inspiration throughout the whole story, and she just subdued me with her bravery and protectiveness for her friends and the ones she loves.
Nathan- Nathan is the dream guy that any girl would kill for. He is a cop, strong, patient and just a good guy. He also understood Mary like no one else, and he is just a sweetheart in a uniform. I think he is quite right for her.
Eloise- Eloise is your typical cold hearted boss, or is he? Strong minded and very clever woman who has her team’s best interests in mind. Eloise reminds me of myself. She doesn’t like to get to people too closely ,and won’t let anyone get close to her. Her coldness seemed to me like a protective layer that hid only good things underneath.
Agnes- Agnes is your typical nerd girl that is very much needed everywhere. She is a sweet person, and very intellectual. I did not see her strong spirit, but I saw her sincerity and honesty.
Now, to the plot. The book kept me on my toes the whole time, and I never figured out who were the good guys and the bad guys. This book was full of “Oh no!” and “Yes!” and it was overall a splendid read. The only drawback was that I did not know enough background of the superpowers and the organizations (Wave and LIO) but I am hoping to see more in the second book!
Bold is the word that comes to mind when I want to describe the book and all of the characters. The book itself will be great for all of the marvel and superheroes fans, but it is nonetheless great for anyone. Personally, I had to dive into the book with an open mind which really helped a lot. I’m not a big superhero fan, but this book just mesmerized me. First of all the characters.
Mary: Mary is a "bad-girl" who has many identities, including a Hollywood superstar, and a valued member of the League of Independent Operatives where she can unleash her true spirit of a hero. Mary was an inspiration throughout the whole story, and she just subdued me with her bravery and protectiveness for her friends and the ones she loves.
Nathan- Nathan is the dream guy that any girl would kill for. He is a cop, strong, patient and just a good guy. He also understood Mary like no one else, and he is just a sweetheart in a uniform. I think he is quite right for her.
Eloise- Eloise is your typical cold hearted boss, or is he? Strong minded and very clever woman who has her team’s best interests in mind. Eloise reminds me of myself. She doesn’t like to get to people too closely ,and won’t let anyone get close to her. Her coldness seemed to me like a protective layer that hid only good things underneath.
Agnes- Agnes is your typical nerd girl that is very much needed everywhere. She is a sweet person, and very intellectual. I did not see her strong spirit, but I saw her sincerity and honesty.
Now, to the plot. The book kept me on my toes the whole time, and I never figured out who were the good guys and the bad guys. This book was full of “Oh no!” and “Yes!” and it was overall a splendid read. The only drawback was that I did not know enough background of the superpowers and the organizations (Wave and LIO) but I am hoping to see more in the second book!
June 23, 2020
Alter Ego is about superheroes, but it's not a typical good versus evil story. Initially, I wasn't sure how I felt about Alter Ego. It started fast-paced; interesting enough to keep me turning the pages.
I'm not a huge fan of urban fantasy and the super hero names were a bit cheesy. There were times when I felt like the author gave away too much, too soon . It's not one that I would read with my kids because the relationships and situations are a little too adult for them, not to mention the occasional use of cuss words. However, this was an overall, enjoyable read.
Kate Sheeran Swed told her readers that she loves writing characters who are morally gray. Her approach to right and wrong is one of the best aspects of this story. This is no Hydra versus Shield situation; there were times when I wasn't sure which side I should be rooting for. I liked it and will keep an eye out for other books by this author.
I'm not a huge fan of urban fantasy and the super hero names were a bit cheesy. There were times when I felt like the author gave away too much, too soon . It's not one that I would read with my kids because the relationships and situations are a little too adult for them, not to mention the occasional use of cuss words. However, this was an overall, enjoyable read.
Kate Sheeran Swed told her readers that she loves writing characters who are morally gray. Her approach to right and wrong is one of the best aspects of this story. This is no Hydra versus Shield situation; there were times when I wasn't sure which side I should be rooting for. I liked it and will keep an eye out for other books by this author.
October 3, 2024
Rating: C
An e-arc I received years ago from Voracious Readers.
I was just very bad at keeping up with reading my ARCs.
Coral / Mary is an independent operative / Hollywood celebrity who runs a charity that her parents left behind upon their deaths. Set in a world where superhumans exist, Coral balances her identity as a celebrity and a hero through her daily life. Recently finding a new super-human, Jenna, Coral takes her to the League of Independent Operative (LIO) base to integrate her into their team and fight against the equivalent evil superhumans, Wave.
I did find the writing easy to comprehend and descriptive enough to form a picture of everyone and the world that the book was set in. It was not overly gory, not overly campy, but took itself seriously. I think Coral was a strong protagonist and I understood her motivations as both a celebrity and a superhero, trying to keep each identity separate and also progress towards her goals in the story. There are multiple side characters that form a pretty good team together and I enjoyed reading about their interactions, especially between Coral and the Pearl Knife. It was pretty eerie seeing how superpowers can change someone.
There was a small romantic arc in the story that I didn't really buy between Coral and another character introduced really early on in the book. I also saw this is part of a five book series, which I wholly did not expect. I likely won't be continuing. I wasn't really sold on the series and I found myself pretty disconnected from the characters despite finding them mostly realistic.
It's just one of those books you might find out there on Kindle Unlimited that you give a shot. It was fine.
An e-arc I received years ago from Voracious Readers.
I was just very bad at keeping up with reading my ARCs.
Coral / Mary is an independent operative / Hollywood celebrity who runs a charity that her parents left behind upon their deaths. Set in a world where superhumans exist, Coral balances her identity as a celebrity and a hero through her daily life. Recently finding a new super-human, Jenna, Coral takes her to the League of Independent Operative (LIO) base to integrate her into their team and fight against the equivalent evil superhumans, Wave.
I did find the writing easy to comprehend and descriptive enough to form a picture of everyone and the world that the book was set in. It was not overly gory, not overly campy, but took itself seriously. I think Coral was a strong protagonist and I understood her motivations as both a celebrity and a superhero, trying to keep each identity separate and also progress towards her goals in the story. There are multiple side characters that form a pretty good team together and I enjoyed reading about their interactions, especially between Coral and the Pearl Knife. It was pretty eerie seeing how superpowers can change someone.
There was a small romantic arc in the story that I didn't really buy between Coral and another character introduced really early on in the book. I also saw this is part of a five book series, which I wholly did not expect. I likely won't be continuing. I wasn't really sold on the series and I found myself pretty disconnected from the characters despite finding them mostly realistic.
It's just one of those books you might find out there on Kindle Unlimited that you give a shot. It was fine.
April 27, 2020
This is a really pacey and fun read with excellent characters. I'm an absolute sucker for anything superhero, and I love the way this novel challenged the archetypal good organisation vs. evil organisation plot. Mary is a strong leading character with a well-rounded personality and some A-grade sass. Despite the wild circumstances she's placed in, her character is always grounded and realistic.
Towards the end of the novel I struggled to keep track of who was on what side and their motivations. Grey morality is something I love in fiction, but there were certain characters whose choices and actions confused me. If anything, I would have liked to spend more time with characters like Jenna and Agnes, who played important roles in the story but didn't get turns narrating.
Overall, I was really impressed with this story and I'm hanging out to read the next in the series!
Towards the end of the novel I struggled to keep track of who was on what side and their motivations. Grey morality is something I love in fiction, but there were certain characters whose choices and actions confused me. If anything, I would have liked to spend more time with characters like Jenna and Agnes, who played important roles in the story but didn't get turns narrating.
Overall, I was really impressed with this story and I'm hanging out to read the next in the series!
July 19, 2020
Alter Ego is a superhero story that starts off pretty straightforward, but tangles into a glorious morally gray knot as it goes on! The stage set at the start is pretty simple: the main character, Mary, works for a league of vigilante superheroes set on fighting an evil terrorist organization. However, the status quo gets twisted around and called into question as the heroes uncover secrets about the past and start to question their allegiances. Throw in Mary’s celebrity secret identity and some cool gadgets, and you’ve got a rip-roaring superhero adventure!
I’m a huge sucker for moral grayness and huge twists, and this book totally delivered on both those things. I’m lucky enough to have an ebook copy of the sequel, which I shall be diving into STAT!
Disclaimer: I received a free copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.
I’m a huge sucker for moral grayness and huge twists, and this book totally delivered on both those things. I’m lucky enough to have an ebook copy of the sequel, which I shall be diving into STAT!
Disclaimer: I received a free copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.
August 29, 2020
Kate Swed wrote each chapter from the viewpoint of that hero or villain, which was an interesting technique as most authors write in the third person for all the characters, rather than giving them each a chapter to hear their side of the story.
I do think that Kate Swed managed to find a new type of hero… I mean, we all know about a water hero, fire hero, strong hero and mind control hero or few, but there is a new hero in this story which I found mysterious and unpredictable: The Pearl Knife. She finds herself trying to live up to her parents’ leadership of the LIO, but she feels she hasn’t even mastered her abilities and her fears kept me gripping my Kindle.
A new collection of heroes, who are highly relatable and enemies with potentially good sides? This is a great read, and I would recommend it to adults 18+, full of action, fast-paced with a hint of romance for good measure!
I do think that Kate Swed managed to find a new type of hero… I mean, we all know about a water hero, fire hero, strong hero and mind control hero or few, but there is a new hero in this story which I found mysterious and unpredictable: The Pearl Knife. She finds herself trying to live up to her parents’ leadership of the LIO, but she feels she hasn’t even mastered her abilities and her fears kept me gripping my Kindle.
A new collection of heroes, who are highly relatable and enemies with potentially good sides? This is a great read, and I would recommend it to adults 18+, full of action, fast-paced with a hint of romance for good measure!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 31, 2020
When the biggest Secret is your Identity, It’s gonna be a Wild Ride.
Mary leads a complicated life. Perhaps too complicated. And it gets worse when Nathan crashes his way in. The world may not survive. Secrets are a way of life for the League of Independent Operatives and so are the super-powers most of them possess. Unfortunately, Mary and Nathan are just normal, not-so-everyday people. With secrets of their own.
Kate Sheeran Swed loves to twist our minds around with a tale that is as complicated as her characters. When you think you understand what’s going on, she drops the bottom off the page.
This super-hero saga will keep you hoping for the good guys as things keep getting worse. But, nothing gets more complicated that telling right from wrong. Just when you think you’ve got it figured out, somebody adds more flames to the fire.
June 5, 2020
Thank you to the author for providing a free copy of this book through Voracious Readers Only.
As a lover of super hero movies I am slightly surprised I have never read a super hero book (or even comic) and this was a great place to start.
This book was well a written intruduction to the super heros of LIO and their super hero villans in Wave - or are they? As the book progresses and secrets are revealed you find yourself not sure who the good guys really are and this is the question our heros have to answer.
Fast moving and action packed this is thoroughly enjoyable book and I will definitely be searching out more of Kate Sheeran Swed's books
As a lover of super hero movies I am slightly surprised I have never read a super hero book (or even comic) and this was a great place to start.
This book was well a written intruduction to the super heros of LIO and their super hero villans in Wave - or are they? As the book progresses and secrets are revealed you find yourself not sure who the good guys really are and this is the question our heros have to answer.
Fast moving and action packed this is thoroughly enjoyable book and I will definitely be searching out more of Kate Sheeran Swed's books
July 20, 2020
I got a free copy of this book from Voracious Readers Only, and I'm really happy I did! This book is great! A little bit predictable and cliché in some places, but I was still surprised by some of the twists at the ends.
All the characters are wonderfully written. Mary, Nathan, Eloise, and everyone else stole my heart immediately.
The superpowers in this book could definitely be explained a little bit better, and I was a little bit overwhelmed by how fast things started moving at the end, but all in all this was a good read and I recommend it to anyone who likes superheroes, twists, and action.
All the characters are wonderfully written. Mary, Nathan, Eloise, and everyone else stole my heart immediately.
The superpowers in this book could definitely be explained a little bit better, and I was a little bit overwhelmed by how fast things started moving at the end, but all in all this was a good read and I recommend it to anyone who likes superheroes, twists, and action.
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