Heather: a kaiju novel

by Francisco Duarte

From underneath the waves, a terror from ages gone arises, ushering in a reign of devastation that will change the world forever.

The gods from ancient times are real, and engaged in a shadow war that will decide the fate of every human being in the face of the Earth. As their conflict reaches the boiling point, they summon their last, desperate weapons - gigantic entities from eons long forgotten.

The Shards.

Heather Muir is an Irish teenage girl tackling the stresses of high-school and the important life choices that will soon follow. Unbeknownst to her, she has within her the power to awaken a Shard. Chosen to summon the Shard of the Oceans, Heather is thrown headlong into a war she knows nothing about and would prefer not to partake into.

But she may not have a choice, as NATO launches a desperate campaign to pursue and contain her. With the battle escalating, a path of destruction is carved across Europe.

While Heather struggles to retain what remains of her humanity, her brother Keenan leads a desperate investigation to discover the forces behind this new threat. Moreover, Lieutenant Tara Winchester of the RAF is at the forefront of the battle against the colossal monster. With desperate fights coming one after the other, the question lingers - will humanity survive? And will Heather manage to control her powers or succumb to the lust for destruction now running through her very soul?

Francisco Duarte is a Portuguese author, who wrote dozens of short stories for video and tabletop games. Heather is his debut novel - an homage to the giant monster movies that marked his childhood. Across its pages, he instills the same sense of awe and excitement that permeated those classics, entwined with the thrills of urban fantasy and military fiction. A genre-bender that brings a fresh new spin to the kaiju genre and will keep you hooked up to the last page.

269 pages, Kindle Edition

Published July 16, 2020

About the author

Francisco Duarte is a Portuguese science-fiction and fantasy author. During his decade-long career, he wrote the novella Dreams of Realities Forgotten, the RPG modules Sword in the Jungle Deep and Soul for the Ocean Dark, as well as dozens of short stories.

Born in the ancient Coimbra, Francisco took his degree in Anthropology at that very city, before moving on to apply his knowledge in the creation of his tales. Involved in the game industry from the very start of his career, he has written for several videogame and tabletop game settings, always finding the right angle to explore the worlds therein.

Currently, Francisco lives in Aveiro, Portugal, using his late-afternoon jogs as the source of inspiration for late-night writing sessions. He likes to craft thrilling combat scenes and visceral emotional moments, where the lives and the very souls of his characters hang in the balance.

Reviews

[Davina Michelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a fan of giant monster stories, Heather was exactly the kind of book I was hoping for. It combines massive kaiju battles with a surprisingly emotional coming-of-age story. Heather is a relatable protagonist, and watching her struggle with powers she never asked for adds real depth to the spectacle. The action scenes are thrilling, but it's the characters that kept me invested.

[Rihana Palma · Rating 4 out of 5]

This novel feels like a love letter to classic monster movies while bringing plenty of fresh ideas to the genre. The concept of ancient gods using colossal creatures as weapons is fascinating, and the military response adds a sense of realism to the chaos. I especially enjoyed the multiple perspectives, which gave the story a larger scope and kept the tension high throughout.

[Mia Thompson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Heather exceeded my expectations. The blend of urban fantasy, military fiction, and kaiju action works remarkably well. Heather's internal battle between maintaining her humanity and embracing her destructive power was one of the most compelling aspects of the story. The pacing is fast, the stakes are enormous, and the world-building left me eager for more.

[Ivy Kingsley · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you enjoy stories like Godzilla but want something with stronger character development, this book is worth picking up. The destruction and monster battles are epic, but there is also a thoughtful exploration of responsibility, family, and identity. Keenan's investigation and Tara's military perspective added extra layers that made the story feel rich and immersive.

[Evelyn Hall · Rating 5 out of 5]

For a debut novel, Heather is incredibly ambitious and entertaining. Francisco Duarte creates a world where ancient myths, modern warfare, and giant monsters collide in spectacular fashion. The action is cinematic, the characters are memorable, and the emotional stakes feel just as important as the physical battles. A fantastic read for fans of kaiju fiction and epic fantasy alike.