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An idealistic heroine. A reformed villain. A troubled teen.
Can the Supervillain Rehabilitation Project form a family out of this mess?
Still working out her team's dynamic as well as her own fledgling romance with former villain Fade, Prism is blindsided when her superiors order her to take on another rehabilitation subject or risk having her team broken apart. Then her best friend and fellow superhero, Tanvi, foils a robbery but injures a super-powered teen in the process. Guilt stricken, she begs Prism to let the young girl, Alma, AKA Soulbird, be their next project.
Alma fills a gap in the team and works her way into the group's hearts. However, her past stalks her, as the villain who forced her into a life of crime in the first place doesn't want to let her escape into hero life without a fight.
Can Prism and her team redeem Alma from her past, or will the villain life drag the girl out of the SVR and out of their reach forever?
Can the Supervillain Rehabilitation Project form a family out of this mess?
Still working out her team's dynamic as well as her own fledgling romance with former villain Fade, Prism is blindsided when her superiors order her to take on another rehabilitation subject or risk having her team broken apart. Then her best friend and fellow superhero, Tanvi, foils a robbery but injures a super-powered teen in the process. Guilt stricken, she begs Prism to let the young girl, Alma, AKA Soulbird, be their next project.
Alma fills a gap in the team and works her way into the group's hearts. However, her past stalks her, as the villain who forced her into a life of crime in the first place doesn't want to let her escape into hero life without a fight.
Can Prism and her team redeem Alma from her past, or will the villain life drag the girl out of the SVR and out of their reach forever?
272 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 1, 2020
11 people are currently reading
38 people want to read
About the author
H.L. Burke
94 books566 followersBorn in a small town in north central Oregon, H. L. Burke spent most of her childhood around trees and farm animals and was always accompanied by a book. Growing up with epic heroes from Middle Earth and Narnia keeping her company, she also became an incurable romantic.
An addictive personality, she jumped from one fandom to another, being at times completely obsessed with various books, movies, or television series (Lord of the Rings, Star Wars, and Star Trek all took their turns), but she has grown to be what she considers a well-rounded connoisseur of geek culture.
Married to her high school crush who is now a US Marine, she has moved multiple times in her adult life but believes that home is wherever her husband, two daughters, and pets are.
She is the author of a four part fantasy/romance series entitled "The Dragon and the Scholar," the Award Winning (2016 Realm Award for Young Adult Fiction) Nyssa Glass Steampunk series, and MG/Fantasy "Cora and the Nurse Dragon," among others .
Sign up for her monthly newsletter at www.hlburkeauthor.com
http://www.amazon.com/H.-L.-Burke/e/B...
An addictive personality, she jumped from one fandom to another, being at times completely obsessed with various books, movies, or television series (Lord of the Rings, Star Wars, and Star Trek all took their turns), but she has grown to be what she considers a well-rounded connoisseur of geek culture.
Married to her high school crush who is now a US Marine, she has moved multiple times in her adult life but believes that home is wherever her husband, two daughters, and pets are.
She is the author of a four part fantasy/romance series entitled "The Dragon and the Scholar," the Award Winning (2016 Realm Award for Young Adult Fiction) Nyssa Glass Steampunk series, and MG/Fantasy "Cora and the Nurse Dragon," among others .
Sign up for her monthly newsletter at www.hlburkeauthor.com
http://www.amazon.com/H.-L.-Burke/e/B...
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 39 reviews
October 2, 2020
This series is SO good. It's like a Marvel or a X-Men movie in book form, yet funnier and sweeter and packed with a lot of heart and soul. This book is a wild ride as a the team from the first book deals with lingering grief from one of the events in the last book and figures out how to rebuild their lives and their team. Prism and Fade are an item in this book, and they are working through their relationship building while also doing superhero work. Alma was a great addition, and throwing a teenager into a mix really pushed the team to grow both personally and professionally.
I ADORED this book and and can't wait for the next one!!!!!!!!!!!
I ADORED this book and and can't wait for the next one!!!!!!!!!!!
November 5, 2020
I freaking loved this book!!! So I declined beta reading this one because I just didn't have the time (even though I can't even tell you how much I loved the first book, Reformed), but the author casually mentioned she wanted more beta feedback. So yes, I absolutely threw all my work out the window and read this in one sitting when I didn't have the time, thank you very much. And it was so worth it!
This book was completely satisfactory, but I am now dying for book three. One of the best series I've read in a long time! I'm so happy to have discovered it.
Although the author gave me an eARC for honest feedback, I bought it too and plan on rereading the whole series as soon as book three is out. Such swoon-worthy characters, nonstop action, and hilarious snark! You must get yourself a copy!
This book was completely satisfactory, but I am now dying for book three. One of the best series I've read in a long time! I'm so happy to have discovered it.
Although the author gave me an eARC for honest feedback, I bought it too and plan on rereading the whole series as soon as book three is out. Such swoon-worthy characters, nonstop action, and hilarious snark! You must get yourself a copy!
May 12, 2024
Soooo, this is the lowest rated book of the DOSA universe and I really hope it’s the last because I love this world and these characters…at least most of the time, haha, but that’s to be expected in all stories to a certain degree.
ANYWAYS, this one was just okay and I’m still not clear as to why in some ways. The characters were good as always, even Alma who did frustrate me a bit due to being a sulky fourteen year old, and the plot for the most part was fine, but in some ways it wasn’t? It was a bit slow at times and some things felt rather convenient, but what really stood out and bugged me the most was the convenient and sudden (with no buildup or illusion to at all) “power up” a character got at the end to get them all out of a sticky situation which they basically would have all died in if this character hadn’t suddenly “leveled up” at the exact right time. Oh, and then the “power up” was never explained as to why or how it happened at the end which was utterly annoying, in my humble opinion. 😒
The other big issue I had was the increased sexual/sensual content between Prism and Fade that even led to a heavily eluded to wedding night that I could have done without (for those curious it’s the last chapter for the first couple of pages and is easily skipable). I know everyone is different on levels of content for stuff like that and while this book is “clean” in the sense that nothing was described or shown, it was still a bit much for me and danced on my personal narrow line for that kind of stuff a little too much.
Still love this universe and will be continuing this particular series but honestly this book was just there for me and is my least favorite of these books so far.
‼️Content‼️
Language: jackass; kickass; BS; hella; screw up; screwed; hell; frick; crap; what the crap; gosh; dang it; badass; what the; sucking; ass; what the frick; a-hole; cruddy; dang; damn; dammit; heck; what the hell; son of a—; bastard; gah
Violence: fighting with superpowers, weapons, and hand to hand (not detailed); injuries and blood (not detailed); characters are shocked by lightning; a guy gets trapped in pavement; a man slaps a girl; a woman punches a man
Sexual: mild to medium suggestive comments and hints; kissing (not to semi detailed); a man slides his hands up the back of his girlfriend’s shirt; a character is mentioned to have had sex before marriage; a guy is called hot; a girl is called sexy; brief one line mentions of how a couple of women are infertile; medium illusions to a married couple’s wedding night (nothing is shown or detailed); a couple of conversations on having or not having sex before marriage
Drug/Alcohol: characters drink alcohol; a character’s mom was a drug addict and died from overdose
Other: superheroes, supervillains, and superpowers; grief over a lost loved one; characters are tied up and held hostage; a character has the ability to “puppet” people for a brief time; a character has a bomb strapped to them
ANYWAYS, this one was just okay and I’m still not clear as to why in some ways. The characters were good as always, even Alma who did frustrate me a bit due to being a sulky fourteen year old, and the plot for the most part was fine, but in some ways it wasn’t? It was a bit slow at times and some things felt rather convenient, but what really stood out and bugged me the most was the convenient and sudden (with no buildup or illusion to at all) “power up” a character got at the end to get them all out of a sticky situation which they basically would have all died in if this character hadn’t suddenly “leveled up” at the exact right time. Oh, and then the “power up” was never explained as to why or how it happened at the end which was utterly annoying, in my humble opinion. 😒
The other big issue I had was the increased sexual/sensual content between Prism and Fade that even led to a heavily eluded to wedding night that I could have done without (for those curious it’s the last chapter for the first couple of pages and is easily skipable). I know everyone is different on levels of content for stuff like that and while this book is “clean” in the sense that nothing was described or shown, it was still a bit much for me and danced on my personal narrow line for that kind of stuff a little too much.
Still love this universe and will be continuing this particular series but honestly this book was just there for me and is my least favorite of these books so far.
‼️Content‼️
Language: jackass; kickass; BS; hella; screw up; screwed; hell; frick; crap; what the crap; gosh; dang it; badass; what the; sucking; ass; what the frick; a-hole; cruddy; dang; damn; dammit; heck; what the hell; son of a—; bastard; gah
Violence: fighting with superpowers, weapons, and hand to hand (not detailed); injuries and blood (not detailed); characters are shocked by lightning; a guy gets trapped in pavement; a man slaps a girl; a woman punches a man
Sexual: mild to medium suggestive comments and hints; kissing (not to semi detailed); a man slides his hands up the back of his girlfriend’s shirt; a character is mentioned to have had sex before marriage; a guy is called hot; a girl is called sexy; brief one line mentions of how a couple of women are infertile; medium illusions to a married couple’s wedding night (nothing is shown or detailed); a couple of conversations on having or not having sex before marriage
Drug/Alcohol: characters drink alcohol; a character’s mom was a drug addict and died from overdose
Other: superheroes, supervillains, and superpowers; grief over a lost loved one; characters are tied up and held hostage; a character has the ability to “puppet” people for a brief time; a character has a bomb strapped to them
August 26, 2024
I would just like to say, and I mean this with all due respect, AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH
Wow, this book was so good. I’m still in awe of just how well these stories are written, building off Book I and taking it to new heights. Again, all the characters are wonderful and achingly real. I really felt for the characters dealing with grief, and Alma’s story really tugged at my heartstrings. Also, the humor in these books is genuinely FUNNY and not obnoxious like other superhero franchises that shall go unnamed. (And THAT ENDING??? BRUH I CANT WAIT TO READ BOOK III)
One last note: I’ve seen other reviews commenting about being uncomfortable with the discussions of sex in this book, but given the fact that this is NOT a YA novel, and that the worldbuilding is very realistic (superpowers aside), the conversations felt completely natural, especially since the whole plot involves two characters planning to get married. I for one really appreciated the author’s maturity and tact when discussing it. Spice level is barely a 1 out of 10, with NOTHING gratuitous or explicit on the page, and only the bare minimum of pillow talk at the end of the book.
Wow, this book was so good. I’m still in awe of just how well these stories are written, building off Book I and taking it to new heights. Again, all the characters are wonderful and achingly real. I really felt for the characters dealing with grief, and Alma’s story really tugged at my heartstrings. Also, the humor in these books is genuinely FUNNY and not obnoxious like other superhero franchises that shall go unnamed. (And THAT ENDING??? BRUH I CANT WAIT TO READ BOOK III)
One last note: I’ve seen other reviews commenting about being uncomfortable with the discussions of sex in this book, but given the fact that this is NOT a YA novel, and that the worldbuilding is very realistic (superpowers aside), the conversations felt completely natural, especially since the whole plot involves two characters planning to get married. I for one really appreciated the author’s maturity and tact when discussing it. Spice level is barely a 1 out of 10, with NOTHING gratuitous or explicit on the page, and only the bare minimum of pillow talk at the end of the book.
October 4, 2021
3.75 stars // read October 2021 (the entire series is 99c each until Oct. 8th!)
so… I may or may not have read books 2 and 3 together in one sitting… and gotten about 4 hours of sleep last night… but it was worth it :D However, the two books may have blurred together in my brain slightly so I apologize if I don’t get all of the details right.
I actually debated skipping this book so I could get straight to Book 3, which I already knew due to #spoilers has one of my all-time favorite tropes. :D However, I went ahead and read Redeemed, which, despite some major issues with the content, I’m glad I read.
First off, I loved how much of a role a certain shapeshifter played! She definitely proved how valuable she is to the team (even if said team wasn’t aware of her existence.) Despite Alma being a Very Angsty Teen, I grew to like her too. There’s grief and emotional repercussions from a certain traumatic event in Book 1, which is handled very well.
The plot is strong, balancing relationships (both romantic and platonic) with action. The superpowers themselves are really fascinating and original- I like discovering what all abilities exist in this world of sables.
Content:
Sensuality: strong Medium/High. I would’ve rated the book 4.5 stars, but this area is what caused me to rate it lower. The main issue here is that there’s a non-Christian guy in a relationship with a Christian girl. That in itself is an major red flag for real-life relationships, but this is a fictional ship so I’m not going to get into that. Basically the guy has had physical relationships with other girls in his past and expects the same thing from this girl, while she believes in saving herself for marriage. That conflict is mainly at the beginning of the story, and isn’t mentioned as often once Alma is introduced.
There’s also a scene in one of the later chapters with a married couple that I would recommend skipping. 🤷♀️
Language: Medium.
Violence: Standard superhero violence.
so… I may or may not have read books 2 and 3 together in one sitting… and gotten about 4 hours of sleep last night… but it was worth it :D However, the two books may have blurred together in my brain slightly so I apologize if I don’t get all of the details right.
I actually debated skipping this book so I could get straight to Book 3, which I already knew due to #spoilers has one of my all-time favorite tropes. :D However, I went ahead and read Redeemed, which, despite some major issues with the content, I’m glad I read.
First off, I loved how much of a role a certain shapeshifter played! She definitely proved how valuable she is to the team (even if said team wasn’t aware of her existence.) Despite Alma being a Very Angsty Teen, I grew to like her too. There’s grief and emotional repercussions from a certain traumatic event in Book 1, which is handled very well.
The plot is strong, balancing relationships (both romantic and platonic) with action. The superpowers themselves are really fascinating and original- I like discovering what all abilities exist in this world of sables.
Content:
Sensuality: strong Medium/High. I would’ve rated the book 4.5 stars, but this area is what caused me to rate it lower. The main issue here is that there’s a non-Christian guy in a relationship with a Christian girl. That in itself is an major red flag for real-life relationships, but this is a fictional ship so I’m not going to get into that. Basically the guy has had physical relationships with other girls in his past and expects the same thing from this girl, while she believes in saving herself for marriage. That conflict is mainly at the beginning of the story, and isn’t mentioned as often once Alma is introduced.
There’s also a scene in one of the later chapters with a married couple that I would recommend skipping. 🤷♀️
Language: Medium.
Violence: Standard superhero violence.
September 7, 2020
A fun story. I enjoy how this is a superhero series is overall more focused on the lives of the superheroes as ordinary people that happen to have super powers than on big action sequences and larger than life bad guys. The team's relationships and domestic moments are great. Fade and Prism forever and ever! Alma was an interesting character with good internal (and external) conflict. All the secondary characters are great. This book also dealt with grief well, and it was nice to see events from book one having believable emotional consequences. It's also good the focus is on the heroes' lives, because the fight scenes are just okay.
There's a plot twist cliffhanger at the end...that I'm not a big fan of. I saw it coming, based on things Heidi has said in Facebook groups and some foreshadowing in this book, but was hoping I was wrong, because it's not a trope I particularly like. So while I'm interested to see how it plays out, I'm also a little less excited for the next book, because it's going to be all about this not-a-favorite-of-mine trope. But definitely still going to read the next one.
There's a plot twist cliffhanger at the end...that I'm not a big fan of. I saw it coming, based on things Heidi has said in Facebook groups and some foreshadowing in this book, but was hoping I was wrong, because it's not a trope I particularly like. So while I'm interested to see how it plays out, I'm also a little less excited for the next book, because it's going to be all about this not-a-favorite-of-mine trope. But definitely still going to read the next one.
August 17, 2024
Another great installment in Burke's SVR world. In this book, we meet Alma, a new teen character who acts like a teen. Sigh. It's realistic but frustrating when characters could save everyone so much hassle by just talking to each other. Alma gets a pass though, because she is a teen, and she does have legitimate reasons. All those adult characters in other books need to grow up. Speaking of which, Alma does grow up some in this book, which is another excellent point for this book. The characters grow and change.
In addition, all the things you expect from Burke: Superheroes, action, great plots, good writing
In addition, all the things you expect from Burke: Superheroes, action, great plots, good writing
April 8, 2025
Apparently my other reading is on hold until I finish this series. I've been sucked in and literally started book three about a minute after finishing this one.
Redeemed quickly stole my heart by continuing the story of the characters I enjoyed in book one and adding an at risk teen.
After Tanvi interrupts a burglary and accidentally injures the teenage culprit, Prism agrees to take the teen on as their next rehabilitation subject. The problem is, none of the team members are parents and Alma is too young to be an active member of the team. Plus the sulking teen has secrets and skeletons-in-the-closet that could bring the entire team down with her.
I felt like the writing and narration improved from book one to book two.
All in all, this book kept the fun and emotionally engaging trajectory of the first book and improved upon in. It's the perfect lighthearted read for lovers of superhero stories, cinnamon roll love interests, and action sequences.
CONTENT
Religion: Prism is a Christian, and she is refraining from physical intimacy with her boyfriend as a result. She continues her relationship with Fade despite his uncertainty about God and faith.
Romance: The book starts with Fade trying to progress a kiss to being more-than-a-kiss and Prism stopping him. Kisses are described at a moderate level. There are conversations about chastity and sex. Characters are aware of each other's attractiveness.
Language: Characters use PG-13 level swear words
Violence: Lots of fight scenes, as one would expect in a superhero story. Nothing overly graphic.
Substances: The superhero team engages in responsible drinking.
Redeemed quickly stole my heart by continuing the story of the characters I enjoyed in book one and adding an at risk teen.
After Tanvi interrupts a burglary and accidentally injures the teenage culprit, Prism agrees to take the teen on as their next rehabilitation subject. The problem is, none of the team members are parents and Alma is too young to be an active member of the team. Plus the sulking teen has secrets and skeletons-in-the-closet that could bring the entire team down with her.
I felt like the writing and narration improved from book one to book two.
All in all, this book kept the fun and emotionally engaging trajectory of the first book and improved upon in. It's the perfect lighthearted read for lovers of superhero stories, cinnamon roll love interests, and action sequences.
CONTENT
Religion: Prism is a Christian, and she is refraining from physical intimacy with her boyfriend as a result. She continues her relationship with Fade despite his uncertainty about God and faith.
Romance: The book starts with Fade trying to progress a kiss to being more-than-a-kiss and Prism stopping him. Kisses are described at a moderate level. There are conversations about chastity and sex. Characters are aware of each other's attractiveness.
Language: Characters use PG-13 level swear words
Violence: Lots of fight scenes, as one would expect in a superhero story. Nothing overly graphic.
Substances: The superhero team engages in responsible drinking.
July 24, 2022
Redeemed is the second book in the Supervillain Rehabilitation Project by H.L. Burke. This superhero series has a good blend of tension, heart, and humor. The characters jump off the page and you feel like you're hanging out with them. The pacing is good with a plot that will keep you turning the pages. Each book has a story with a conclusion, but there are loose ends waiting to be explored. For this reason, it's best to read them in order. Otherwise, there will be spoilers.
Here are two favorite quotes from Redeemed:
"Maybe I don't even have a name to offer you in return, but love and fidelity, to always have your back, to give you the best of myself, that I can offer." ~ Fade
"Oh gosh, does he have a brother? Can we clone him?" ~ Tanvi
I received an ARC and an audio code. Rena Gail does a great job narrating the story. Each character is distinct. The only accent she did poorly was Keeper's Scottish accent. This is my honest and voluntary review.
Here are two favorite quotes from Redeemed:
"Maybe I don't even have a name to offer you in return, but love and fidelity, to always have your back, to give you the best of myself, that I can offer." ~ Fade
"Oh gosh, does he have a brother? Can we clone him?" ~ Tanvi
I received an ARC and an audio code. Rena Gail does a great job narrating the story. Each character is distinct. The only accent she did poorly was Keeper's Scottish accent. This is my honest and voluntary review.
July 26, 2020
This superhero adventure was tons of fun. I adore Tanvi and was happy to have her as one of the multitude of narrators in this second book of the series.
It was also great to have a teenage narrator. Burke does a fantastic job voicing teenagers so those scenes were some of my favorite. Except when they took the standard turn into “eavesdroppers never hear anything good” but man, they sure do like to make big decisions based off their misinformation (or more likely partial information).
I also had a different resolution in mind for Soulbird, but I don’t know what the author has in store for the rest of the series. Perhaps getting the powerful sable far away is the only way to make those stories work.
Fans of young adult and superhero stories won’t want to miss this installment of another fan-pleasing series from talented author, Burke.
It was also great to have a teenage narrator. Burke does a fantastic job voicing teenagers so those scenes were some of my favorite. Except when they took the standard turn into “eavesdroppers never hear anything good” but man, they sure do like to make big decisions based off their misinformation (or more likely partial information).
I also had a different resolution in mind for Soulbird, but I don’t know what the author has in store for the rest of the series. Perhaps getting the powerful sable far away is the only way to make those stories work.
Fans of young adult and superhero stories won’t want to miss this installment of another fan-pleasing series from talented author, Burke.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 21, 2020
Redeemed the second book in the Supervillain Rehabilitation Project series.
This book has major spoilers for book one, Reformed, so if you haven't read that yet please make sure to do that first. The fallout from the events of book one are super important to this book and you need to appreciate them on an emotional level.
Redeemed is about the SVR team recovering from the aforementioned events and how they are dealing with the realization that their team could use a new member.
Enter Alma, she is spunky, snarky and secretive. (She's also a teenager so that explains a lot about her right there.) I love Alma's character, she feels like she brings in a missing component to the team. Even though her Arch is serious her youth brings a levity to the story. Someone for the other characters to care for rather than wallow in their own grief.
Prisim's character has changed too, she feels a little less idealistic than in the first book. Her trust in the system has been shaken and it shows in the little rebellions that takes against her superiors.
The rest of the Team is awesome as ever but nobody shines more in this story, than Yui as we finally get to know her better.
If you love Marvel Movies or just superheroes in general then you need to check out the Supervillain Rehabilitation Project. It has Feels, Funnies, and Family.
But O M G that epilogue was epic and now I need book three stat!
* I was a beta reader for this novel but I read it in three sittings that were too far apart for my liking. I inhaled it and gave the author very little feedback, because it's basically perfection. So I'm counting it like an arc. My opinion is my own and if you don't agree then you didn't read the same book I did.*
This book has major spoilers for book one, Reformed, so if you haven't read that yet please make sure to do that first. The fallout from the events of book one are super important to this book and you need to appreciate them on an emotional level.
Redeemed is about the SVR team recovering from the aforementioned events and how they are dealing with the realization that their team could use a new member.
Enter Alma, she is spunky, snarky and secretive. (She's also a teenager so that explains a lot about her right there.) I love Alma's character, she feels like she brings in a missing component to the team. Even though her Arch is serious her youth brings a levity to the story. Someone for the other characters to care for rather than wallow in their own grief.
Prisim's character has changed too, she feels a little less idealistic than in the first book. Her trust in the system has been shaken and it shows in the little rebellions that takes against her superiors.
The rest of the Team is awesome as ever but nobody shines more in this story, than Yui as we finally get to know her better.
If you love Marvel Movies or just superheroes in general then you need to check out the Supervillain Rehabilitation Project. It has Feels, Funnies, and Family.
But O M G that epilogue was epic and now I need book three stat!
* I was a beta reader for this novel but I read it in three sittings that were too far apart for my liking. I inhaled it and gave the author very little feedback, because it's basically perfection. So I'm counting it like an arc. My opinion is my own and if you don't agree then you didn't read the same book I did.*
March 16, 2021
A fast paced edition
I enjoyed book two in this series. The characters are still very interesting and H. L. Burke's plot are always well thought out and engaging. The book ends well but the epilogue is a big surprise!
I enjoyed book two in this series. The characters are still very interesting and H. L. Burke's plot are always well thought out and engaging. The book ends well but the epilogue is a big surprise!
Read
June 20, 2020Sequel to Reformed!
September 29, 2020
This book picks up a few months after the events of Reformed, with the whole team still reeling over the shock of Aiden's death in the previous book, but with Prism and Fade a strong couple. Tanvi injures a sable who she sees breaking into a house and is shocked to find that it's a just a teenage girl. She persuades Prism to recruit the girl, Alma, as the next recruit for the Supervillian Rehabilitation Project. But Alma has secrets of her own and is running from her past.
I enjoyed this short book a lot. Prism and Fade being an established couple works much better for me than bringing them together, and the interpersonal problems of a devoted Christian and a hand-waving theist make for surprisingly real drama.
I liked that we got to see much of both Tanvi and Bob this time round, although they're still not PoV characters, and Yui also played a much more active role in the plot. Sidenote: I really liked the idea of Bob's wife always being around, but nobody has any idea about it. It's a neat little idea that tickled my fancy.
The true villain of the piece, Handler, was one that made me want to shower every time he was on the page. I really hate the idea of mind control, so his powers (not to mention his ruthlessness) made him an effective villain in my eyes.
Unlike the previous book, this one definitely ends on a cliffhanger, and I look forward to reading the next two books in the series, as they come out.
I enjoyed this short book a lot. Prism and Fade being an established couple works much better for me than bringing them together, and the interpersonal problems of a devoted Christian and a hand-waving theist make for surprisingly real drama.
I liked that we got to see much of both Tanvi and Bob this time round, although they're still not PoV characters, and Yui also played a much more active role in the plot. Sidenote: I really liked the idea of Bob's wife always being around, but nobody has any idea about it. It's a neat little idea that tickled my fancy.
The true villain of the piece, Handler, was one that made me want to shower every time he was on the page. I really hate the idea of mind control, so his powers (not to mention his ruthlessness) made him an effective villain in my eyes.
Unlike the previous book, this one definitely ends on a cliffhanger, and I look forward to reading the next two books in the series, as they come out.
January 3, 2025
Ugh dam*it, I love this series so much I just want to live in this world.
February 27, 2022
a great continuation of the first book with more character development
A great sequel to the first book as the characters deal with events from the first book, but there is enough of a recap of who the characters are and what happened that you can jump in here.
The new problems add to the world as we see a bigger plot revealed.
A great sequel to the first book as the characters deal with events from the first book, but there is enough of a recap of who the characters are and what happened that you can jump in here.
The new problems add to the world as we see a bigger plot revealed.
July 17, 2023
Much like Reformed, Redeemed is a quick and easy read. Our group of heroes - now including Fade as a rehabilitated hero, discover an unregistered 'flyer' robbing houses. This is unusual because all heroes - and villains - should be registered and it's rare to avoid it; if it's hereditary the parents will report it and all genetic tweaking is closely monitored. Also, flying types are really rare and often powerful. Either way, despite only being fourteen, Alma is brought into the SVR. Her other choice involves a prison cell after that. But Alma has her own secrets and doesn't know if she can trust the team.
I admit to being far less enamoured with this than I was with Reformed. Why? There are several reasons. Firstly, there is way too much fluff. Despite being less than 300 pages long, this could easily have been cut down by another 30 pages or more. Second, the romance angle takes a far more centre stage role and that was frankly the bit I liked least in the last novel. It still felt forced, it still felt unnecessary, only now I had to read about it for pages on end. Third, the plot is weak as hell. It shouldn't be; the bare bones are there to make a really interesting story, but because the focus is on the romance it's barely fleshed out at all. And finally, the twist at the end. I'd seen it coming due to a few comments made earlier in the novel, but again, not a favourite trope of mine and one that is usually done badly.
I'll unpack a bit. The narrative is perhaps my biggest irritation with this novel. I hate it when a novel has real potential and let's itself down. That's what happens here. The author begins to explore the psychology of a very hurt teenager, one who struggles to trust adults because adults have never been on her side. And yet, it just fizzes out because Prism and Fade's burgeoning relationship is far more important. The supposed main narrative therefore gets reduced down to a few action scenes by the end, which was really disappointing. If I wanted to read a romance book, I'd find a romance book. This is not billed as a romance book.
There were some things I liked; I liked how the events of the last book aren't forgotten; the characters are still dealing with very real grief and trauma and that isn't white-washed to make it easier to read. I liked how every member of the team has a part in the novel, including Bob - yay for Bob! - who was very much side-lined in the last novel but has some very real moments to shine here along with his very normal cat. I liked the early depictions of Alma; having grown up in the system, my heart hurt for her and the author did capture the mindset of a hurt and confused teenager lashing out at everyone around her. It's a pity this wasn't at the heart and centre of the novel.
So. Will I continue? If you'd have asked me at the end of Reformed, it was an obvious yes. Now? I'm not so sure. This was disappointing and I'm really not looking forward to the trope used to propel us into the next novel. Occasionally, just occasionally, it's done well - I'd give a book but that would be risking spoilers for those who've read one but not the other and that's not fair. Maybe, just maybe, this will surprise me and it'll be one to add to my list where it's actually worked. Maybe. We'll see.
I admit to being far less enamoured with this than I was with Reformed. Why? There are several reasons. Firstly, there is way too much fluff. Despite being less than 300 pages long, this could easily have been cut down by another 30 pages or more. Second, the romance angle takes a far more centre stage role and that was frankly the bit I liked least in the last novel. It still felt forced, it still felt unnecessary, only now I had to read about it for pages on end. Third, the plot is weak as hell. It shouldn't be; the bare bones are there to make a really interesting story, but because the focus is on the romance it's barely fleshed out at all. And finally, the twist at the end. I'd seen it coming due to a few comments made earlier in the novel, but again, not a favourite trope of mine and one that is usually done badly.
I'll unpack a bit. The narrative is perhaps my biggest irritation with this novel. I hate it when a novel has real potential and let's itself down. That's what happens here. The author begins to explore the psychology of a very hurt teenager, one who struggles to trust adults because adults have never been on her side. And yet, it just fizzes out because Prism and Fade's burgeoning relationship is far more important. The supposed main narrative therefore gets reduced down to a few action scenes by the end, which was really disappointing. If I wanted to read a romance book, I'd find a romance book. This is not billed as a romance book.
There were some things I liked; I liked how the events of the last book aren't forgotten; the characters are still dealing with very real grief and trauma and that isn't white-washed to make it easier to read. I liked how every member of the team has a part in the novel, including Bob - yay for Bob! - who was very much side-lined in the last novel but has some very real moments to shine here along with his very normal cat. I liked the early depictions of Alma; having grown up in the system, my heart hurt for her and the author did capture the mindset of a hurt and confused teenager lashing out at everyone around her. It's a pity this wasn't at the heart and centre of the novel.
So. Will I continue? If you'd have asked me at the end of Reformed, it was an obvious yes. Now? I'm not so sure. This was disappointing and I'm really not looking forward to the trope used to propel us into the next novel. Occasionally, just occasionally, it's done well - I'd give a book but that would be risking spoilers for those who've read one but not the other and that's not fair. Maybe, just maybe, this will surprise me and it'll be one to add to my list where it's actually worked. Maybe. We'll see.
July 24, 2020
I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
I'm no fan of the superhero genre, in fact this would be (I think) the third superhero book I've ever read. I was keen to read this book, and it's predecessor Reformed, because I've enjoyed some of the author's other works and I found the premise of superheros trying to help super-villains instead of defeating them to be intriguing. After all, at the end of the day the superheros always win, but what becomes of the villains after their defeats?
This is the second book in the series and to get the maximum enjoyment out of the series I would definitely recommend reading the first book before tackling this one as it builds on those events. Six months have passed and it's time for the SVR to take on another 'villain' to rehabilitate. Alma is quite different from the SVR's original villain creating a totally different dynamic than in the first book although there is still plenty of all the good things from the first book like heart, snark, action and a little romance. This time there is no mystery as to who the 'bad guy' of the story is or what his motive are; it's fairly obvious from quite early on but there are hints a another conspiracy throughout the book that come to a head in the epilogue and leave you desperately wanting to read on to the next book to find out what happens.
Overall this is an engagingly written, fun and exiting read which you don't need to be familiar with superheros to enjoy.
I'm no fan of the superhero genre, in fact this would be (I think) the third superhero book I've ever read. I was keen to read this book, and it's predecessor Reformed, because I've enjoyed some of the author's other works and I found the premise of superheros trying to help super-villains instead of defeating them to be intriguing. After all, at the end of the day the superheros always win, but what becomes of the villains after their defeats?
This is the second book in the series and to get the maximum enjoyment out of the series I would definitely recommend reading the first book before tackling this one as it builds on those events. Six months have passed and it's time for the SVR to take on another 'villain' to rehabilitate. Alma is quite different from the SVR's original villain creating a totally different dynamic than in the first book although there is still plenty of all the good things from the first book like heart, snark, action and a little romance. This time there is no mystery as to who the 'bad guy' of the story is or what his motive are; it's fairly obvious from quite early on but there are hints a another conspiracy throughout the book that come to a head in the epilogue and leave you desperately wanting to read on to the next book to find out what happens.
Overall this is an engagingly written, fun and exiting read which you don't need to be familiar with superheros to enjoy.
February 22, 2021
AAAAAAAAH
Don’t mind me, I’m just screaming over THIS ENTIRE BOOK!
Look, usually I like writing coherent reviews that actually address things about the book but I think I’m just going to use this one to go aaaaaah. Seriously, I love this series so much. Alma is such a great new character and totally reads like a teenager—she’s jaded and sarcastic but at her core she’s a good kid who just needs help and a hug. The whole situation surrounding her feels so real, despite the fact that it’s a superhero story—her desperation to stay with her sister and the whole thing with the foster system, it just really brings the struggles of poor kids into the spotlight and I loved it. Fade and Prism are adorable and I loved the way their relationship was worked through the whole plot, and just…the plot in general was a perfect balance of dealing with the struggles of the last book, the emotional core, and the superhero-y action.
Speaking of that last point, there was one particular sequence in general near the end with Fade that I loved because it was just so dang creative—H.L. Burke is so good at pitting superheroes with totally different power sets against each other and making it fun and creative.
The characterization is stellar as usual, every character has their own voice and I love all of them.
I just love this series, okay.
Don’t mind me, I’m just screaming over THIS ENTIRE BOOK!
Look, usually I like writing coherent reviews that actually address things about the book but I think I’m just going to use this one to go aaaaaah. Seriously, I love this series so much. Alma is such a great new character and totally reads like a teenager—she’s jaded and sarcastic but at her core she’s a good kid who just needs help and a hug. The whole situation surrounding her feels so real, despite the fact that it’s a superhero story—her desperation to stay with her sister and the whole thing with the foster system, it just really brings the struggles of poor kids into the spotlight and I loved it. Fade and Prism are adorable and I loved the way their relationship was worked through the whole plot, and just…the plot in general was a perfect balance of dealing with the struggles of the last book, the emotional core, and the superhero-y action.
Speaking of that last point, there was one particular sequence in general near the end with Fade that I loved because it was just so dang creative—H.L. Burke is so good at pitting superheroes with totally different power sets against each other and making it fun and creative.
The characterization is stellar as usual, every character has their own voice and I love all of them.
I just love this series, okay.
September 12, 2024
Quick take: I listened to Redeemed as an audiobook. The number of times I laughed out loud, groaned or cheered for the characters was astonishing. This book will move you.
The SVR series is rapidly becoming a favorite of mine. I feel early X-men vibes of team building superheroes who are more than just stick people with powers. I’m Redeemed Fade’s story continues as he integrates with Prism’s team. Reeling from the shocking conclusion of Reformed (book one), the team stumbles into their next villian to rehabilitate. And it’s drama gold.
I gotta say, I LOVE the question Burke asks readers to consider: in a world is super-abled (sables) people, what happens to kids without a parental unit capable of helping them adjust? What’s a foster system to do with sable kids? How many would fall through the cracks, and worse, get manipulated into a life of crime?
You WANT to read the answers to these questions. I’m fascinated, and can’t wait to read book three.
Bonus: the narrator for the audiobook continues to rock!
The SVR series is rapidly becoming a favorite of mine. I feel early X-men vibes of team building superheroes who are more than just stick people with powers. I’m Redeemed Fade’s story continues as he integrates with Prism’s team. Reeling from the shocking conclusion of Reformed (book one), the team stumbles into their next villian to rehabilitate. And it’s drama gold.
I gotta say, I LOVE the question Burke asks readers to consider: in a world is super-abled (sables) people, what happens to kids without a parental unit capable of helping them adjust? What’s a foster system to do with sable kids? How many would fall through the cracks, and worse, get manipulated into a life of crime?
You WANT to read the answers to these questions. I’m fascinated, and can’t wait to read book three.
Bonus: the narrator for the audiobook continues to rock!
November 24, 2020
Love this Sequel!
Already familiar with the key characters from the first book, it was fantastic to see them in action again! Burke gives a quick reintroduction and recap as Prism, Fade, Keeper, and Tanvi take down some criminals in the opening pages. I loved seeing them work together and getting to know the team even better as the book progressed. This sequel was pretty emotional as we get to see the characters work through their loss from book one while taking on a teen villain who has no desire to be part of the group.
This series is excellent for those who love found family stories and second chances. Prism’s team is often looked at as a group of misfits, but I love every one of them. Each character contributes in their own unique ways, and Burke did an excellent job keeping me interested in the story and the character developments in this book. I was pleased with the ending, and the epilogue has me very curious about what will happen in book three!
Already familiar with the key characters from the first book, it was fantastic to see them in action again! Burke gives a quick reintroduction and recap as Prism, Fade, Keeper, and Tanvi take down some criminals in the opening pages. I loved seeing them work together and getting to know the team even better as the book progressed. This sequel was pretty emotional as we get to see the characters work through their loss from book one while taking on a teen villain who has no desire to be part of the group.
This series is excellent for those who love found family stories and second chances. Prism’s team is often looked at as a group of misfits, but I love every one of them. Each character contributes in their own unique ways, and Burke did an excellent job keeping me interested in the story and the character developments in this book. I was pleased with the ending, and the epilogue has me very curious about what will happen in book three!
December 9, 2020
I'm really loving this series. In addition to creative superheroes and exciting action, I appreciate how Burke *doesn't* play into all the frustrating tropes with regards to romance or teenagers. No spoilers, but--accepting the willing suspension of disbelief about superheroes, etc--the thought patterns are a lot more realistic than so many books show. I get tired of characters that seem almost willfully obtuse or rash, and that doesn't happen here. Oh, there are still obtuse and rash moments, but they are ones that feel much more relatable. I never found myself wanting to smack a character's head and say, "Stop being such an idiot!" That speaks to Burke's gift for making the characters believable within the context of the series premise.
Great twist at end. I still think this should be a movie franchise or TV series.
Great twist at end. I still think this should be a movie franchise or TV series.
August 8, 2021
Continuing the world started in Reformed, Redeemed depicts a world of superheroes (called sables) as law enforcers. Some of these sables have a rehabilitation goal. What if you could take supervillains and turn them into heroes? Superhero Prism and her team connect with a fourteen-year-old sable, named Alma, and sponsor her into the program.
But don’t write “happy ending” yet as Alma hides secrets from the group. At the same time, two of the team members are falling in love. And hanging over our cast of characters is a death of someone close.
Redeemed continues a superhero saga with heroes with foibles, fears, and faith like the normal people. An intriguing entry in a compassionate series, this book delights and advances the super characters who turn out to be a lot like us.
But don’t write “happy ending” yet as Alma hides secrets from the group. At the same time, two of the team members are falling in love. And hanging over our cast of characters is a death of someone close.
Redeemed continues a superhero saga with heroes with foibles, fears, and faith like the normal people. An intriguing entry in a compassionate series, this book delights and advances the super characters who turn out to be a lot like us.
October 22, 2022
I love series that revisit the same characters but have complete story arcs while still leaving loose threads, making you want to keep reading, but allowing you to take a break. It's like visiting good friends. The second installment in the Supervillain Rehabilitation Project sees Prism and Fade grow in their relationship, lets us get to know Tanvi better, and introduces us to new characters. Burke's creativity with super hero powers seems limitless. Though they have incredible abilities, the characters are relatable and have struggles everyone can identify with. I listened to this story on audiobook, and the voices were great, though it took me a while to get used to the narrator. Driving is enjoyable when I can listen to stories like this one!
January 19, 2023
Alma is a 14 year old Sable - super abled human - who, after a tumultuous childhood, has found herself entering the Villain lifestyle. But this is where SVR comes in - can Prism and her team help Alma figure out how to get what she wants, without becoming a true Villain.
For a 14-year old, Alma was a good character. There were moments when I was like “NO STOP YOU’RE BEING AN ADOLESCENT IDIOT,” moments where I was proud of her, and moments where she was terribly independent, all which felt very true the character and age.
Prism and Fade continue to face challenges in their relationship, everyone mourns a loss, and the ending was mindblowing.
October 10, 2020
I was so excited to continue the Supervillian Rehabilitation Project with #2 “Redeemed”! 😍 There’s a few unanswered questions that tie into #3 which I’ll be starting soon. Take me word for it. You want to read these in order! 😉 I really enjoyed the further development of each character. H.L. Burke does a fantastic job of portraying the variety of personalities. Even though I’m pretty good at calling plot lines, plot twists, etc, one scene did surprise me, and I’m ready to follow that trail in the following book! Now you go grab a coffee (or tea), and I’ll see you in the SVR Project. 😃
October 10, 2023
This is such an enjoyable series! The books are light, quick reads, but with deeper emotional honesty than you might expect from a superhero story. While the team is dealing with a tremendous loss, and Prism and Fade are figuring out their romantic relationship, a teen villain crosses their path and becomes their latest rehabilitation project. But she has someone of her own to protect and no reason to trust these strange grownups. Yeah, there’s plenty of action and peril, but it’s the quirky characters and their relationships that keep me coming back.
May 9, 2022
The adventures continue
Solid second entry in this series that I read through much faster than the first. This time we see how the team deals with a teenage supervillain in the making. It took me a while to warm to Alma but in the end she won me over.
There were also some very intriguing revelations about certain team members which really made the book fun and me eager to read on to the next book.
Solid second entry in this series that I read through much faster than the first. This time we see how the team deals with a teenage supervillain in the making. It took me a while to warm to Alma but in the end she won me over.
There were also some very intriguing revelations about certain team members which really made the book fun and me eager to read on to the next book.
July 28, 2022
An excellent follow-up to Reformed! It's a little less action-y than its predecessor but still good. Alma was an interesting addition to the crew, and I enjoyed the different dynamics that her presence created. Also loved the progression of Prism and Fade's relationship. (Actual! healthy! couples! yes!) And then the ending is both very good and is giving me an idea of why I have been warned about a particular chapter in book 3, which I plan to start reading tonight.
August 2, 2022
This book surprised me.
I was ready for a "villain of the week" series, where the Rehabilitation project would take on a new villain and the story would focus on him, but it's not happened.
We have a clear overarching plot that I guess will span the whole series and I couldn't be happier. Though... that ending? Is it hinting at what I think it's hinting? How is that possible? I need to find out!
I was ready for a "villain of the week" series, where the Rehabilitation project would take on a new villain and the story would focus on him, but it's not happened.
We have a clear overarching plot that I guess will span the whole series and I couldn't be happier. Though... that ending? Is it hinting at what I think it's hinting? How is that possible? I need to find out!
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