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THE BATTLE FOR HUMAN EVOLUTION BEGINS NOW.
Centuries ago, humans colonised Jørn, a lonely planet on the far side of the galaxy, only to discover that the planet was killing them. The culprit, a native spore, carried on every wind to every corner of the globe.
Genetic engineering, blending Earth and Jørn DNA, saved their crops and livestock, but for humans there was no cure. Instead they took to the skies, turning their colony ships into cities that floated out of the spore’s reach.
Hero Regan is special, and not in a way she likes. She hears voices, voices in her head that other people can’t. Surrounded by butlers, bodyguards and tutors, insulated from the outside world, her only solace is Fink, a six-hundred-kilogram, genetically engineered ruc-pard. They share lives, thoughts, triple-chocolate marshmallow ice-cream and the burning desire for freedom.
Their chance comes when Hero is allowed to attend school in Cumulus City. Here Hero discovers she is an unwitting part of a master plan set into motion 300 years before, a plan she must either help or hinder if she’s ever to attain the freedom she craves.
Centuries ago, humans colonised Jørn, a lonely planet on the far side of the galaxy, only to discover that the planet was killing them. The culprit, a native spore, carried on every wind to every corner of the globe.
Genetic engineering, blending Earth and Jørn DNA, saved their crops and livestock, but for humans there was no cure. Instead they took to the skies, turning their colony ships into cities that floated out of the spore’s reach.
Hero Regan is special, and not in a way she likes. She hears voices, voices in her head that other people can’t. Surrounded by butlers, bodyguards and tutors, insulated from the outside world, her only solace is Fink, a six-hundred-kilogram, genetically engineered ruc-pard. They share lives, thoughts, triple-chocolate marshmallow ice-cream and the burning desire for freedom.
Their chance comes when Hero is allowed to attend school in Cumulus City. Here Hero discovers she is an unwitting part of a master plan set into motion 300 years before, a plan she must either help or hinder if she’s ever to attain the freedom she craves.
258 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 21, 2015
7 people are currently reading
591 people want to read
About the author
Belinda Crawford
31 books73 followersPhysics makes Belinda’s brain hurt, while quadratics cause her eyes to cross and any mention of probability equations will have her running for the door. Nonetheless, she loves watching documentaries about the natural world, biology, space, history and technology.
She’s also a sucker for a fast horse, a faster computer and superhero movies. When she’s not doing the horse, computer or superhero thing, Belinda writes science fiction (emphasis on the fiction), where she loves to write about butt-kicking girls (and guys) who blow stuff up.
She’s also a sucker for a fast horse, a faster computer and superhero movies. When she’s not doing the horse, computer or superhero thing, Belinda writes science fiction (emphasis on the fiction), where she loves to write about butt-kicking girls (and guys) who blow stuff up.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 56 reviews
September 28, 2019
Hero is a the debut novel of Australian author Belinda Crawford. Crawford has created a fast paced science fiction story, set in a unique world that many adults and teens are going to love.
The novel is set on the planet Jorn. Humans have colonised this planet only to discover that a pollen on the planet is toxic to them. The human population survives in cloud cities.
Hero Regan is a young girl who is “special” – a title that she loathes. She hears voices and has been treated all her life as if she were mentally ill and in need of medicating. Her mother keeps her away from the public and locked up on their estate with a bevy of minders.
As a young teen, Hero objects strenuously to this and does everything in her power to make the lives of her minders miserable and escape. It helps that she is a bit of technological genius and can hack into their equivalent of computers with ease.
When Hero finally convinces her mother to send her to school in Cumulus City, the real fun begins. She’s not been taking her meds, the voices she hears return with a vengeance and soon her odd behaviour makes her the brunt of bullies and brings her to the attention of some very dangerous people. Running for her life, Hero learns that she is part of an age old conspiracy begun by the founding colonists…
But I’m not going to give you spoilers! You’ll have to read it...
In creating Hero, Crawford has tapped into a genuine teen voice. Hero’s character, her attitudes, comments and actions make her seem real and this is one of the things that immediately stuck me about the book. You’re not always going to like her and she has a lot to learn as the book progresses, but that’s part of making an interesting character.
Another of my favourite elements in Crawford’s novel is that of the companion / guardian animals. The settlers have genetically modified a lot of the flora and fauna to aid their survival and the children each have their own animal companion. Hero’s is a 600kg ruc-pard named Fink. Fink is perfect - alternating between consoling friend and ice cream eating buddy to deadly protector. (I want a ruc-pard!)
Animals with such roles are something that appear repeatedly in fantasy novels and I think that dedicated fantasy fans will actually enjoy Hero even though it’s science fiction. On that note, I wouldn’t rate this as “hard” science fiction. Crawford has made up a series of names and terminology, that I think most readers will find understandable rather than a barrier to reading. (Although having said that I do watch a lot of science fiction, rather than read it, so maybe my judgement is affected by this.)
Crawford’s writing is a perfect balance of description and action and the story set up is relatively quick and rollicks along once it gets going. You are not going to fall asleep during long, lush, descriptive paragraphs waxing lyrical about the world she has made. There is enough scene setting, description and atmospherics in her writing for the reader to clearly visualise the place as if it were a movie playing before them. The action sequences - from illegal races with their companion animals, running from one group of people who want to kill her to another who want to capture her, to shoot outs, police chases, a AI bent on either helping them or destroying them and explosions throughout - place you right in the moment and race along holding you in the grip of this story right to the end.
The plot is not overly complicated. Thematically it deals with several deeper issues, beginning a teen’s need to experience the world, grow and make mistakes and learn on their own, the way we treat those who are designated mentally ill, the morality of a few individuals deciding the future of an entire race – individual freedoms vs the greater good.
The plot does twist and turn a little as the story progresses and leaves the reader with a final twist at the end leading on to the next book.
I’m pretty sure the wait for the next book will be worth it!
Five Stars.
The novel is set on the planet Jorn. Humans have colonised this planet only to discover that a pollen on the planet is toxic to them. The human population survives in cloud cities.
Hero Regan is a young girl who is “special” – a title that she loathes. She hears voices and has been treated all her life as if she were mentally ill and in need of medicating. Her mother keeps her away from the public and locked up on their estate with a bevy of minders.
As a young teen, Hero objects strenuously to this and does everything in her power to make the lives of her minders miserable and escape. It helps that she is a bit of technological genius and can hack into their equivalent of computers with ease.
When Hero finally convinces her mother to send her to school in Cumulus City, the real fun begins. She’s not been taking her meds, the voices she hears return with a vengeance and soon her odd behaviour makes her the brunt of bullies and brings her to the attention of some very dangerous people. Running for her life, Hero learns that she is part of an age old conspiracy begun by the founding colonists…
But I’m not going to give you spoilers! You’ll have to read it...
In creating Hero, Crawford has tapped into a genuine teen voice. Hero’s character, her attitudes, comments and actions make her seem real and this is one of the things that immediately stuck me about the book. You’re not always going to like her and she has a lot to learn as the book progresses, but that’s part of making an interesting character.
Another of my favourite elements in Crawford’s novel is that of the companion / guardian animals. The settlers have genetically modified a lot of the flora and fauna to aid their survival and the children each have their own animal companion. Hero’s is a 600kg ruc-pard named Fink. Fink is perfect - alternating between consoling friend and ice cream eating buddy to deadly protector. (I want a ruc-pard!)
Animals with such roles are something that appear repeatedly in fantasy novels and I think that dedicated fantasy fans will actually enjoy Hero even though it’s science fiction. On that note, I wouldn’t rate this as “hard” science fiction. Crawford has made up a series of names and terminology, that I think most readers will find understandable rather than a barrier to reading. (Although having said that I do watch a lot of science fiction, rather than read it, so maybe my judgement is affected by this.)
Crawford’s writing is a perfect balance of description and action and the story set up is relatively quick and rollicks along once it gets going. You are not going to fall asleep during long, lush, descriptive paragraphs waxing lyrical about the world she has made. There is enough scene setting, description and atmospherics in her writing for the reader to clearly visualise the place as if it were a movie playing before them. The action sequences - from illegal races with their companion animals, running from one group of people who want to kill her to another who want to capture her, to shoot outs, police chases, a AI bent on either helping them or destroying them and explosions throughout - place you right in the moment and race along holding you in the grip of this story right to the end.
The plot is not overly complicated. Thematically it deals with several deeper issues, beginning a teen’s need to experience the world, grow and make mistakes and learn on their own, the way we treat those who are designated mentally ill, the morality of a few individuals deciding the future of an entire race – individual freedoms vs the greater good.
The plot does twist and turn a little as the story progresses and leaves the reader with a final twist at the end leading on to the next book.
I’m pretty sure the wait for the next book will be worth it!
Five Stars.
March 21, 2016
I really enjoyed this book. There aren't a lot of really good, recent, YA sci-fi books out there. Hero gave me just what I wanted in a story - conflict, hints of conspiracy, great characters, and companions. There's clearly more to come in the story, and I'm really looking forward to finding out what happens next. I was driven to keep on reading because I was fascinated by the world building and the excellent pacing.
I loved the companion animals, particularly Fink, the ruc-pard - I'm a sucker for a ginormous feline, and idea of the races. (If you want to know more about this, you'll have to read the book.) This was a tightly written story, and a great debut from Belinda Crawford.
I loved the companion animals, particularly Fink, the ruc-pard - I'm a sucker for a ginormous feline, and idea of the races. (If you want to know more about this, you'll have to read the book.) This was a tightly written story, and a great debut from Belinda Crawford.
May 30, 2016
Finished reading: May 22nd 2016
"All my life, everyone has used my 'ilness' as an excuse to take my choices away. I've been locked up, told what to eat, who I can be friends with, where I can go to school. They even forced those damn meds down my throat." She paused, breathing hard. "It's my life. Even if I'm sick, I'm the only one who should get to choose what I do and how I do it."
*** A copy of this book was kindly provided to me in exchange for an honest review. Thank you! ***
P.S. Find more of my reviews here.
February 17, 2018
At the time that I started this story, I had just finished a Norwegian crime thriller and my mind was not prepared for the transition to a YA, female named Hero, strange made up names, nor life in the future in a cloud city on another planet, colonized by humans.
I got over it, and the run was on. I never had any idea what was going to happen next and by the end of the story, knowing it was ending, I was already missing Hero, her friend, Norah, and their companions, Fink and Harish. It was a great story!
I will be waiting for the next book, Ms. Crawford.
I got over it, and the run was on. I never had any idea what was going to happen next and by the end of the story, knowing it was ending, I was already missing Hero, her friend, Norah, and their companions, Fink and Harish. It was a great story!
I will be waiting for the next book, Ms. Crawford.
October 6, 2016
What a great story by Belinda - it was well written, exciting and left me wanting more! Looking forward to getting my hands on a copy of the sequel...
July 10, 2016
This is such a good read. The first part of the book reminded me of a mix of Harry Potter and The Golden Compass, if either of those books had included illegal street racing and police chases.
The story moves fast and just dumps you into the world with little to no explanation. If you like to be gently eased into a story, this book is not for you. The author assumes that the reader will keep up with the world building, new words and the action.
There were a lot of plot points developed in this book that weren’t fully explored – as this is the first in a series I anticipate that the author has laid a lot of ground work in this book to set up her story arcs going forward.
There are some great characters in this book, and I was particularly jazzed that there were so many notable women. Hero’s mum is the ruler of the roost – her father is mentioned in passing in the book but is otherwise absent. Her minder, Imogen, is great value despite first appearances. The two notable scientists, whose work has shaped the society, were also both women. Fink, Hero’s companion animal, was one of my favourites though. Who wouldn’t want a massive cat-like creature that you can talk to in your head and ride on?
This is a great debut novel by Aussie author Belinda Crawford – I’m looking forward to finding out what happens next!
The story moves fast and just dumps you into the world with little to no explanation. If you like to be gently eased into a story, this book is not for you. The author assumes that the reader will keep up with the world building, new words and the action.
There were a lot of plot points developed in this book that weren’t fully explored – as this is the first in a series I anticipate that the author has laid a lot of ground work in this book to set up her story arcs going forward.
There are some great characters in this book, and I was particularly jazzed that there were so many notable women. Hero’s mum is the ruler of the roost – her father is mentioned in passing in the book but is otherwise absent. Her minder, Imogen, is great value despite first appearances. The two notable scientists, whose work has shaped the society, were also both women. Fink, Hero’s companion animal, was one of my favourites though. Who wouldn’t want a massive cat-like creature that you can talk to in your head and ride on?
This is a great debut novel by Aussie author Belinda Crawford – I’m looking forward to finding out what happens next!
October 23, 2024
Summary:
- Hero is a special girl. She's rich, brilliant, and sheltered from the world. When she's sent to the academy to continue her education a whole new world is opened to her and soon she discovers that she's at the center of a plot hundreds of years in the making. A far off planet. Wild hybrid animals. Exotic races on the backs of alien beasts. Agents and revolutionaries. And a world altering plot all come crashing together in a YA thrill ride.
The Good: - This is a very clean execution. The story is well told and cleverly constructed to dole out information and events in a captivating way. Even though it's a note for note hero's journey, it's a fun story that kept me engaged. I can always tell when I give a story time meant for other activities. Just when I thought I had the tale, Crawford reveals a little more meat on the bone. By the end, she'd opened a satisfying world of possibilities. She gives you plenty of threads to keep you busy. There are plots and subplots and character motivations galore.
The Bad: - It's a hard grader who complains about infodumps in the first few pages of a science fiction or fantasy novel when almost every story requires a ton of educating. We're on another planet. We have organic computing and biotech, including labgrown companion animals with fantastic powers. And we live in the clouds instead of on the planet because the surface is uber dangerous. I get it. Tough sell. But I also noticed how much I was learning and I don't want to. If I hadn't been reading this for SPSFC, I might have set it down. That might have been a mistake, but it could have happened. Which brings me to the second point which could land in either good or bad. The story is a checklist of YA tropes. Chosen one, check. Animal companion, check. Geeky best friend, check. Overbearing mother, check. Wise mentor, check. School bully, check. Evil baddy, check. And the list goes on. The saving grace is that Crawford played all of them well.
Overall: - If you can get past the mountain of learning you need to do in the first 50 pages, this is a really entertaining book. It is well done. Now, if you look for me to give you guidance on what to choose, please understand this isn't my normal fair.
If you are looking for a YA adventure in a school setting, this is a good one. The farter I got into it, the more I enjoyed it. Belinda Crawford demonstrates what a skillful writer can do with a bag of tropes and I'm there for it. Is it the best thing I've ever read? No. Would I try another? Sure, that was fun - like eating candy. It's not filling at all, but it tasted nice. I'd give this to any teenager. I've got some friends who really like YA. They'll enjoy this one. And if you're stuck in the airport and this is what you've got, you won't be disappointed.
For me, this was a 4.3 out of 5.
The Good: - This is a very clean execution. The story is well told and cleverly constructed to dole out information and events in a captivating way. Even though it's a note for note hero's journey, it's a fun story that kept me engaged. I can always tell when I give a story time meant for other activities. Just when I thought I had the tale, Crawford reveals a little more meat on the bone. By the end, she'd opened a satisfying world of possibilities. She gives you plenty of threads to keep you busy. There are plots and subplots and character motivations galore.
The Bad: - It's a hard grader who complains about infodumps in the first few pages of a science fiction or fantasy novel when almost every story requires a ton of educating. We're on another planet. We have organic computing and biotech, including labgrown companion animals with fantastic powers. And we live in the clouds instead of on the planet because the surface is uber dangerous. I get it. Tough sell. But I also noticed how much I was learning and I don't want to. If I hadn't been reading this for SPSFC, I might have set it down. That might have been a mistake, but it could have happened. Which brings me to the second point which could land in either good or bad. The story is a checklist of YA tropes. Chosen one, check. Animal companion, check. Geeky best friend, check. Overbearing mother, check. Wise mentor, check. School bully, check. Evil baddy, check. And the list goes on. The saving grace is that Crawford played all of them well.
Overall: - If you can get past the mountain of learning you need to do in the first 50 pages, this is a really entertaining book. It is well done. Now, if you look for me to give you guidance on what to choose, please understand this isn't my normal fair.
If you are looking for a YA adventure in a school setting, this is a good one. The farter I got into it, the more I enjoyed it. Belinda Crawford demonstrates what a skillful writer can do with a bag of tropes and I'm there for it. Is it the best thing I've ever read? No. Would I try another? Sure, that was fun - like eating candy. It's not filling at all, but it tasted nice. I'd give this to any teenager. I've got some friends who really like YA. They'll enjoy this one. And if you're stuck in the airport and this is what you've got, you won't be disappointed.
For me, this was a 4.3 out of 5.
May 14, 2017
"Hero wished she could be like that: big and strong and scary instead of just strange and small and special ."
Hero is the first instalment in the science fiction trilogy The Hero Rebellion by Belinda Crawford.
Set several hundred years in the future when the earth is no longer inhabitable, humans have moved to the planet Jorn, whose pollen has prompted them to build their cities in the skies to avoid deadly pollen.
The main character Hero has lived most of her life in a prison called home or "the mansion" because she's told she's "special". She has a pet hybrid called Fink, with whom she shares thoughts, a kind of telepathy. Part leopard, part rat, Fink, a rucpard, speaks in third person and is absolutely adorable despite being 600 kilos in weight and very defensive of his charge, Hero.
While I'm often picky about the sci-fi books I read, Hero was definitely up my alley. Hero is an intelligent character, dying to break free from the prison she calls home and is very tech-savvy. She's young but fairly wise for her age; plus, she's got Fink as her back up wherever she goes. The two make an enviable team.
Crawford has done a tremendous job crafting her world-building and setting. She's even created words like "plasteel" and "plasglas", giving the novel a futuristic and realistic feel.
Hero's mother gives her the opportunity to live with her and go to school in Cumulus City. Soon, Hero, who has never had friends, is thrust in a school where she quickly has to decide who are her friends and who aren't. There, she discovers a long lost uncle who appeared in pictures but whom her mother had never spoken of.
'You're asking for trouble with Dorian, you know.'
She turned to Norah. 'I'm good at trouble.'
'Yeah, I noticed.'
There are many mysteries surrounding Hero and her family, as well as her new nanny, or as Crawford calls her 'minder'.
Exciting, Hero by Belinda Crawford is quick-paced and to the point. The narration is in third person but easily reveals the emotions of all the characters involved.
The characters are well-developed, especially Hero, who soon realises there is so much more to her being "special". I also liked how Crawford was able to feed the reader bits and pieces of the background without sounding too matter-of-fact.
Overall, Hero by Belinda Crawford is a five-star quick-paced science fiction must read. Can't wait to get my hands on the next instalments in the trilogy.
You can also get some more information about the books and writing in my exclusive interview with author Belinda Crawford at: https://goo.gl/evQgoL
Hero is the first instalment in the science fiction trilogy The Hero Rebellion by Belinda Crawford.
Set several hundred years in the future when the earth is no longer inhabitable, humans have moved to the planet Jorn, whose pollen has prompted them to build their cities in the skies to avoid deadly pollen.
The main character Hero has lived most of her life in a prison called home or "the mansion" because she's told she's "special". She has a pet hybrid called Fink, with whom she shares thoughts, a kind of telepathy. Part leopard, part rat, Fink, a rucpard, speaks in third person and is absolutely adorable despite being 600 kilos in weight and very defensive of his charge, Hero.
While I'm often picky about the sci-fi books I read, Hero was definitely up my alley. Hero is an intelligent character, dying to break free from the prison she calls home and is very tech-savvy. She's young but fairly wise for her age; plus, she's got Fink as her back up wherever she goes. The two make an enviable team.
Crawford has done a tremendous job crafting her world-building and setting. She's even created words like "plasteel" and "plasglas", giving the novel a futuristic and realistic feel.
Hero's mother gives her the opportunity to live with her and go to school in Cumulus City. Soon, Hero, who has never had friends, is thrust in a school where she quickly has to decide who are her friends and who aren't. There, she discovers a long lost uncle who appeared in pictures but whom her mother had never spoken of.
'You're asking for trouble with Dorian, you know.'
She turned to Norah. 'I'm good at trouble.'
'Yeah, I noticed.'
There are many mysteries surrounding Hero and her family, as well as her new nanny, or as Crawford calls her 'minder'.
Exciting, Hero by Belinda Crawford is quick-paced and to the point. The narration is in third person but easily reveals the emotions of all the characters involved.
The characters are well-developed, especially Hero, who soon realises there is so much more to her being "special". I also liked how Crawford was able to feed the reader bits and pieces of the background without sounding too matter-of-fact.
Overall, Hero by Belinda Crawford is a five-star quick-paced science fiction must read. Can't wait to get my hands on the next instalments in the trilogy.
You can also get some more information about the books and writing in my exclusive interview with author Belinda Crawford at: https://goo.gl/evQgoL
August 21, 2019
Hero Regan has been treated as 'special' all her life, most infuriatingly of all by her mother. She's tired of it. It's not as if she's dangerous just because of a few voices in her head, is it? And with Fink, her telepathic 600 kilo wooly companion to protect her, she feels hardly likely to be harmed by others.
She dreams of one day working groundside on the planet Jorn and living on her own terms. To prove her mettle to do that job she'd first have to win the dangerous barrier races. But if her mother found out about her being in such races she'd send away Fink to the dreaded Farm from where he might not return. Anyway, you can't race without a team. Then Hero meets Norah, also on the outer due to her own 'specialness', and her flying adder companion, Horace. They're experienced racers. Hero grabs the chance.
Soon keeping the racing a secret from their parents - and the police- becomes just one of Norah and Hero's difficulties.
Why is the City computer Librarian intervening in Hero's life? What is her mother's bio-tech company actually up to? And what is happening to her mind when pent up emotions come off her in waves? Hero's behaviour exasperates her minders, and often the reader too; and it causes a rift with Norah. She pushes on seeking answers but each one has a cost and seems to make things worse. (Note to parents: if you're going to ground your child, don't let her roam in your genetics-splicing lab doing experiments.)
This exciting science fiction tale throws you into an imaginatively well-constructed and plausible world without miring you in technical descriptions. After a line or two to give you each new idea, you're off again, racing among the sky-towers and dodging the minders (just who are they working for?), getting frustrated with the canny Librarian, and hoping against hope Fink can fight off the giant roaches in the tunnels. Along the way we also look at the possibilities that genetic engineering could give rise to: what choices will humanity one day, or even now, accept as 'good', and how much of it could turn out to be disastrous.
That said, I really want a ruc-pard of my own.
She dreams of one day working groundside on the planet Jorn and living on her own terms. To prove her mettle to do that job she'd first have to win the dangerous barrier races. But if her mother found out about her being in such races she'd send away Fink to the dreaded Farm from where he might not return. Anyway, you can't race without a team. Then Hero meets Norah, also on the outer due to her own 'specialness', and her flying adder companion, Horace. They're experienced racers. Hero grabs the chance.
Soon keeping the racing a secret from their parents - and the police- becomes just one of Norah and Hero's difficulties.
Why is the City computer Librarian intervening in Hero's life? What is her mother's bio-tech company actually up to? And what is happening to her mind when pent up emotions come off her in waves? Hero's behaviour exasperates her minders, and often the reader too; and it causes a rift with Norah. She pushes on seeking answers but each one has a cost and seems to make things worse. (Note to parents: if you're going to ground your child, don't let her roam in your genetics-splicing lab doing experiments.)
This exciting science fiction tale throws you into an imaginatively well-constructed and plausible world without miring you in technical descriptions. After a line or two to give you each new idea, you're off again, racing among the sky-towers and dodging the minders (just who are they working for?), getting frustrated with the canny Librarian, and hoping against hope Fink can fight off the giant roaches in the tunnels. Along the way we also look at the possibilities that genetic engineering could give rise to: what choices will humanity one day, or even now, accept as 'good', and how much of it could turn out to be disastrous.
That said, I really want a ruc-pard of my own.
June 30, 2017
I had a great time reading Hero and am looking forward to reading the next book in the series. It was full of action, intrigue, with a fantastic cast of characters and creatures. LOOOOOVVVVE Fink, and the amazing world the author created. I never knew what to expect and did not want to put the book down.
July 4, 2016
I really enjoyed this book, a young adult science fiction novel which is the first book in the Hero Rebellion series by Australian author Belinda Crawford. Hero is a teenager who has to take medication because she hears voices. She’s treated as “special”, which she hates; her mother hires minders who watch everything she does, and she’s been kept away from the public all her life. Her only friend is Fink, the animal companion she communicates with telepathically, until she’s allowed to go to school in Cumulus City.
The first third of this book felt young to me, which is okay since it’s aimed at young adults, not me. That said, as an adult reader, I would have liked more world-building. The book is set in an interesting place and time, but the early book focuses more on Hero’s anger at her family, her new school, her difficulty making friends, and her insecurity about her illness. At first, Hero seemed spoiled and self-centered, but she became more sympathetic because of how overprotected she is by her family. She’s told nothing, experiences nothing in the real world, and is forced to take medication that makes her head fuzzy, without understanding why.
While the first part of the book feels young, the story soon picks up and becomes much more exciting. Hero begins receiving mysterious messages from someone named The Robin, and she suspects her mother and her minders are mixed up in something complicated. The characters are interesting, the story moves quickly, and the issues raised are complex, from evolution and genetic engineering to bullying to treatment of the mentally ill.
There are some YA tropes in this book (tortured relationship with parent, heroine with special powers), but for the most part the story transcends them. There’s a conflict but it’s not entirely clear which side is right and which is wrong. I liked Hero’s developing friendship and I really appreciated that there was no cheesy love story. The companions are particularly interesting. Hero’s companion is a genetically engineered ruc-pard (part leopard, part "rucnart") who’s a giant teddy bear most of the time, but also a fierce protector. Hero’s been so sheltered all her life that she’s never seen Fink turn ferocious, and when he does she's genuinely scared. At the same time, Fink has the social skills and empathy Hero often lacks.
Whether it’s because Hero’s knowledge is so limited, or because Crawford wanted to focus more on character development, I really wanted more detail about Hero’s world. It’s clear there are social and class structures but we don’t know much about them. For example, we don’t know much about how the companions work; we don’t know about the pollen except that it’s toxic; we don’t know much about the history of Jorn or whether there are humans on other planets. It’s a series, so I imagine that as Hero learns more, we will too. It will tell you how much I liked the book that I wanted to know more. All in all, it’s a book I really enjoyed and would recommend.
Note: I received a complimentary copy of this novel from publisher Odyssey Books in exchange for an honest review. My full review can be found at http://thebookstop.wordpress.com.
The first third of this book felt young to me, which is okay since it’s aimed at young adults, not me. That said, as an adult reader, I would have liked more world-building. The book is set in an interesting place and time, but the early book focuses more on Hero’s anger at her family, her new school, her difficulty making friends, and her insecurity about her illness. At first, Hero seemed spoiled and self-centered, but she became more sympathetic because of how overprotected she is by her family. She’s told nothing, experiences nothing in the real world, and is forced to take medication that makes her head fuzzy, without understanding why.
While the first part of the book feels young, the story soon picks up and becomes much more exciting. Hero begins receiving mysterious messages from someone named The Robin, and she suspects her mother and her minders are mixed up in something complicated. The characters are interesting, the story moves quickly, and the issues raised are complex, from evolution and genetic engineering to bullying to treatment of the mentally ill.
There are some YA tropes in this book (tortured relationship with parent, heroine with special powers), but for the most part the story transcends them. There’s a conflict but it’s not entirely clear which side is right and which is wrong. I liked Hero’s developing friendship and I really appreciated that there was no cheesy love story. The companions are particularly interesting. Hero’s companion is a genetically engineered ruc-pard (part leopard, part "rucnart") who’s a giant teddy bear most of the time, but also a fierce protector. Hero’s been so sheltered all her life that she’s never seen Fink turn ferocious, and when he does she's genuinely scared. At the same time, Fink has the social skills and empathy Hero often lacks.
Whether it’s because Hero’s knowledge is so limited, or because Crawford wanted to focus more on character development, I really wanted more detail about Hero’s world. It’s clear there are social and class structures but we don’t know much about them. For example, we don’t know much about how the companions work; we don’t know about the pollen except that it’s toxic; we don’t know much about the history of Jorn or whether there are humans on other planets. It’s a series, so I imagine that as Hero learns more, we will too. It will tell you how much I liked the book that I wanted to know more. All in all, it’s a book I really enjoyed and would recommend.
Note: I received a complimentary copy of this novel from publisher Odyssey Books in exchange for an honest review. My full review can be found at http://thebookstop.wordpress.com.
November 6, 2016
On a private luxury shuttle heading toward the main city of a terra-formed planet a sulky teenager is sullenly contemplating their approach to the space port, and in the way of teenagers from forever, hating her mother and her minders. For Hero Regen is special, which as far as she is concerned is a colossal pain in the you know where. This means she has to wear a silver bio-comp bracelet that allows her mother’s doctors to monitor her every movement and she isn’t allowed to do any of the interesting things that other young people on Jørn do – like illegal street racing through the streets of Cumulus City. Hero’s specialness takes a number of forms; the ones she knows about include an uncanny ability to manipulate any and all manner of the devices that control and support everyone’s life on planet Jørn’s as well as others that her mother only hints at. It also means she must take medications to control her abilities which is the worst insult of all as the noxious green goop deadens her extraordinary senses.
As she sees it her only friend is her ruc-pard, Fink, a genetically engineered creation “… mixing a little bit of rat with a little bit of leopard and a whole lot of alien to create something big and strong and scary enough to walk the surface with impunity.”
Fortunately for her she and Fink are able to communicate telepathically, which, during the course of this first adventure in what is a promised series about Hero and the friends she makes, first at school and later in the tunnels, towers, streets and back alleys of Cumulus City, proves not only useful but frequently life-saving.
There are dangers afoot on this very odd little planet and despite the best efforts of Hero’s mother and her minders, Imogene, the Lamb, and Tybalt, bodyguard and butler, the task of saving the city and Jørn are falling squarely on Hero’s scrawny little shoulders.
Technically this is YA level fantasy that resonates with many of the same themes and wonders of Anne McCaffrey’s Dragon Riders of Pern. Which is totally fine with me, as, despite my …er…advanced …age, I still reread these - regularly. My love of fantasy was created early when I encountered the friendships between Lessa, F'lar, Ruth, Lord Jaxon and all the others. How often I wished for a sentient dragon to tell my troubles to and to take me flying high above the everyday problems of growing up in a boring little Massachusetts town.
Equally the Morague Academy with ordinary students, mean girls, haughty star athletes and outsiders who become Hero’s friends openly calls up the Harry Potter books – to very good effect. These are all people and situations that younger and older readers can identify with and enjoy.
This first book introduces us to some wonderful creatures and characters and sets the stage for Hero’s quest to save and make sense of her world. And while I loved much about it I was concerned that all the identified characters seem to have bright blond hair and pale skin. I would have thought that in a world where bio-engineering is so prominent a more diversified population would have been created. This also impacts on my willingness to recommend this to YA readers of colour.
As she sees it her only friend is her ruc-pard, Fink, a genetically engineered creation “… mixing a little bit of rat with a little bit of leopard and a whole lot of alien to create something big and strong and scary enough to walk the surface with impunity.”
Fortunately for her she and Fink are able to communicate telepathically, which, during the course of this first adventure in what is a promised series about Hero and the friends she makes, first at school and later in the tunnels, towers, streets and back alleys of Cumulus City, proves not only useful but frequently life-saving.
There are dangers afoot on this very odd little planet and despite the best efforts of Hero’s mother and her minders, Imogene, the Lamb, and Tybalt, bodyguard and butler, the task of saving the city and Jørn are falling squarely on Hero’s scrawny little shoulders.
Technically this is YA level fantasy that resonates with many of the same themes and wonders of Anne McCaffrey’s Dragon Riders of Pern. Which is totally fine with me, as, despite my …er…advanced …age, I still reread these - regularly. My love of fantasy was created early when I encountered the friendships between Lessa, F'lar, Ruth, Lord Jaxon and all the others. How often I wished for a sentient dragon to tell my troubles to and to take me flying high above the everyday problems of growing up in a boring little Massachusetts town.
Equally the Morague Academy with ordinary students, mean girls, haughty star athletes and outsiders who become Hero’s friends openly calls up the Harry Potter books – to very good effect. These are all people and situations that younger and older readers can identify with and enjoy.
This first book introduces us to some wonderful creatures and characters and sets the stage for Hero’s quest to save and make sense of her world. And while I loved much about it I was concerned that all the identified characters seem to have bright blond hair and pale skin. I would have thought that in a world where bio-engineering is so prominent a more diversified population would have been created. This also impacts on my willingness to recommend this to YA readers of colour.
April 16, 2016
The first few chapters are a bit confusing because of so much new terminology and what not... world building indeed. But it keeps getting more and more interesting. This book is appropriate for young adults as the protagonist is a teen going through normal teen stuff (new school, having trouble making friends, a bit of an out cast, helicopter parent, etc) but in a totally different world, for sure.
This world has a lot of hybrid creatures and I did have trouble keeping up with what was what because the names of some of them were not really descriptive to me. But they were interesting and the way they interact with the human is also fascinating.
The whole plot is pretty inventive and the writing is good. It's probably a 3.5 but not quite a 4 for me, but might be even better for older teenagers than for old folks like me.
I read this book because it was one of the monthly book-of-the-month reads in the Space Opera Fans group on GoodReads. Check it out, you might find some new and interesting books!
This world has a lot of hybrid creatures and I did have trouble keeping up with what was what because the names of some of them were not really descriptive to me. But they were interesting and the way they interact with the human is also fascinating.
The whole plot is pretty inventive and the writing is good. It's probably a 3.5 but not quite a 4 for me, but might be even better for older teenagers than for old folks like me.
I read this book because it was one of the monthly book-of-the-month reads in the Space Opera Fans group on GoodReads. Check it out, you might find some new and interesting books!
July 27, 2019
3.5 stars
An adventure of a young teen looking to make her life her own. Looking to find out what its like to be free. To live. To enjoy more than what was handed to her on a silver platter. The new planet. The changes made by the new world. The changed humans. The environment. There was a lot here to consume and enjoy. The science fiction side of things held me in place as the audio played. There was so much to connect with. The world, the science, the tech, the humans.
Narration from Jean Mahoney was different but flowed well with the storyline.
******
I received this audiobook as part of my participation in a blog tour with Audiobookworm Promotions. The tour is being sponsored by Belinda Crawford. The gifting of this audiobook did not affect my opinion of it.
An adventure of a young teen looking to make her life her own. Looking to find out what its like to be free. To live. To enjoy more than what was handed to her on a silver platter. The new planet. The changes made by the new world. The changed humans. The environment. There was a lot here to consume and enjoy. The science fiction side of things held me in place as the audio played. There was so much to connect with. The world, the science, the tech, the humans.
Narration from Jean Mahoney was different but flowed well with the storyline.
******
I received this audiobook as part of my participation in a blog tour with Audiobookworm Promotions. The tour is being sponsored by Belinda Crawford. The gifting of this audiobook did not affect my opinion of it.
October 19, 2016
Ok, so now I really want my own ruc-pard, and I already have far too many fur-babies to take care of. Thanks Belinda. Also, I want a turn at one of those Twilight street races. Seriously, this book has some really in-depth world building behind it that I loved sinking my teeth into. I've missed reading such pure sci-fi lately, and I wish a little (holographic) birdy would lead me into a mystery this exciting!
October 12, 2019
Title: Hero
Author: Belinda Crawford
Publisher: Odyssey Books
ISBN: 1922200301
Buy Link: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/192...
Reviewer: Teresa Fallen Angel
Blurb:
The Hero Rebellion 1
Hero Regan is special, and not in a way she likes. She hears voices, voices in her head that other people can't. Surrounded by butlers, bodyguards and tutors, insulated from the outside world, her only solace is Fink, a six-hundred-kilogram, genetically engineered ruc-pard. They share lives, thoughts, triple-chocolate marshmallow ice-cream and the burning desire for freedom.
Their chance comes when Hero is allowed to attend school in Cumulus City. Here Hero discovers she is an unwitting part of a master plan set into motion 300 years before, a plan she must either help or hinder if she's ever to attain the freedom she craves.
Hero is the first book in an action-packed YA sci-fi series featuring genetically engineered companions, illegal street races and a kick-arse heroine who won't take no for an answer.
Total Score: 5/5
Summary:
Hero has spent her life secluded from society on the grounds that she is “special.” Her only companions are Fink, a genetically engineered companion, who she can mentally talk to. Forced to take medication to suppress the voices she hears, all Hero wants to do is be free to roam the surface and join in the dangerous races that she avidly hears about. Her chance comes when she enters school at Cumulus city, but what she finds and learns about herself could change the world.
At first I couldn’t quite understand what was happening as the story seemed to be underway as it began. IT wasn’t until I learned about their civilization being a colony form a different world that everything fell into place. A short introduction would help clarify things for the reader. This was an incredible story that takes place on a distant world where humanity have built a new civilization, but things are not always what they seem leaving Hero to make decisions that could effect all life on their world.
The audio book version of this story allowed the reader to enter into Hero’s world seeing it through her eyes. I enjoyed the futuristic tech and situations as they unfolded.
Author: Belinda Crawford
Publisher: Odyssey Books
ISBN: 1922200301
Buy Link: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/192...
Reviewer: Teresa Fallen Angel
Blurb:
The Hero Rebellion 1
Hero Regan is special, and not in a way she likes. She hears voices, voices in her head that other people can't. Surrounded by butlers, bodyguards and tutors, insulated from the outside world, her only solace is Fink, a six-hundred-kilogram, genetically engineered ruc-pard. They share lives, thoughts, triple-chocolate marshmallow ice-cream and the burning desire for freedom.
Their chance comes when Hero is allowed to attend school in Cumulus City. Here Hero discovers she is an unwitting part of a master plan set into motion 300 years before, a plan she must either help or hinder if she's ever to attain the freedom she craves.
Hero is the first book in an action-packed YA sci-fi series featuring genetically engineered companions, illegal street races and a kick-arse heroine who won't take no for an answer.
Total Score: 5/5
Summary:
Hero has spent her life secluded from society on the grounds that she is “special.” Her only companions are Fink, a genetically engineered companion, who she can mentally talk to. Forced to take medication to suppress the voices she hears, all Hero wants to do is be free to roam the surface and join in the dangerous races that she avidly hears about. Her chance comes when she enters school at Cumulus city, but what she finds and learns about herself could change the world.
At first I couldn’t quite understand what was happening as the story seemed to be underway as it began. IT wasn’t until I learned about their civilization being a colony form a different world that everything fell into place. A short introduction would help clarify things for the reader. This was an incredible story that takes place on a distant world where humanity have built a new civilization, but things are not always what they seem leaving Hero to make decisions that could effect all life on their world.
The audio book version of this story allowed the reader to enter into Hero’s world seeing it through her eyes. I enjoyed the futuristic tech and situations as they unfolded.
June 26, 2018
Firstly, I just want to say that unless I've read a book from the author before I start reading with no expectations in mind! This book however, was my first taste at si-fi fantasy and I wasn't really sure what to expect. In the end though I absolutely LOVED it and now officially want a ruc-pard (even if they are always hungry). The storyline itself is very well paced and once you get a few chapters in you want to know what Hero will get herself into next, especially after she stops taking her meds. The plot takes a turn and leaves many questions unanswered when Hero finds out who or what she really is, if you love conspiracy theories than this book gives you just that! With that said the only thing I wasn't too keen on was some of the terminology and world building at the beginning of the book, it was a bit overwhelming and for the first three-four chapters I had to stop reading for a bit to get my head around the new world, which became a lot more clearer as the story progressed.
I will definitely continue to read this series and find out the rest of Hero's story.
I will definitely continue to read this series and find out the rest of Hero's story.
August 30, 2023
Not usually attracted to YA. However I was provided a copy through Voracious Readers Only and since I am happy to give new authors a chance I read it.
This unbiased review is by Timothy.
I am happy I did give it a read. The story is interesting and draws you in from the start.
Hero is a cool character and I look forward to seeing how she develops in the rest of the trilogy.
This unbiased review is by Timothy.
I am happy I did give it a read. The story is interesting and draws you in from the start.
Hero is a cool character and I look forward to seeing how she develops in the rest of the trilogy.
September 16, 2019
That was... wow.
Hero is the story of a special girl who spends all her days being kept inside and monitored all day long when all she wants is to be normal and spend her life as a normal teenaged girl, with her pet hybrid-rat creature who can read her mind.
Sadly, she will never get to be normal, because she's had a destiny assigned to her by a geneticist about 300 years before.
I really enjoyed this audiobook. The narrator is superb and the world is unique and futuristic. Chalk it up to the fact that I don't read sci-fi much, but I cannot recall ever reading about a world quite like Jørn. Belinda has an inventive imagination and the world she created blooms in the narration.
Word to the wise, if you're the type of person who puts on audiobooks in the background while doing chores, you may have a bit of an issue with this one. There is so much information packed into the book you have to pay close attention to not miss anything.
Hero is the story of a special girl who spends all her days being kept inside and monitored all day long when all she wants is to be normal and spend her life as a normal teenaged girl, with her pet hybrid-rat creature who can read her mind.
Sadly, she will never get to be normal, because she's had a destiny assigned to her by a geneticist about 300 years before.
I really enjoyed this audiobook. The narrator is superb and the world is unique and futuristic. Chalk it up to the fact that I don't read sci-fi much, but I cannot recall ever reading about a world quite like Jørn. Belinda has an inventive imagination and the world she created blooms in the narration.
Word to the wise, if you're the type of person who puts on audiobooks in the background while doing chores, you may have a bit of an issue with this one. There is so much information packed into the book you have to pay close attention to not miss anything.
June 25, 2018
For an established reader this will be a welcome addition to your collection
September 16, 2019
In this debut novel the author has managed to create a totally unique world. While it took me a while to wrap head around the new concepts it didn’t take long for the story to take off.
The lead character hero is totally believable and I feel relatable. This book is full of action and it kept me reading, well actually listening to find out that happened. The narrator did an amazing job in capturing the feel of the book.
This book is a possible glimpse into what the future of the world could be if we are not happen.
The lead character hero is totally believable and I feel relatable. This book is full of action and it kept me reading, well actually listening to find out that happened. The narrator did an amazing job in capturing the feel of the book.
This book is a possible glimpse into what the future of the world could be if we are not happen.
October 2, 2015
Summary: this book is about a sheltered, privileged teen who is allowed to attend school for the first time in her life. Handling her limited freedom and bullies, she discovered something more about herself, something that sets her apart from others and is potentially dangerous for... Everyone.
Thoughts: this is the author's first book, so to be honest I wasn't expecting much. Truly, I started out disliking the book actually, but wanted to plough on to make my money's worth and to give it a chance. Thankfully, things took a change for better 1/3 of the way through and I found myself immersed happily into the book, feeling the usual cravings of needing to know what happened next. Disclaimer: I don't usually read sci-fi, especially technologically related ones.
What I didn't like about the book (since I started off disliking it):
Names of things: the author has created this complex world full of made up names, some from "advance technology", others from genetic hybridisation. A few here and there would have suffice, but the initial chapters were peppered with them, causing a very jarring reading experience for me as I had to stop and try and imagine/understand how something would look like or work.
The characters: I know this is a YA book, still, in the initial chapters, I really dislike all the characters. The angsty teen, the over protective parent, bullies at school. Most of the characters are quite 2d, you only get a lot more depth of character with the main character, of course. This leaves you with many burning questions at the each of the other characters in the book.
My personal irritation is the supporting character. It seems like she has no other facial expressions but wide eyes and is conveniently placed to support the main character right when she needs it.
Bits of the plot: this then leads me to my next irritation, everything is so neat and convenient most of the time. Even the one time it seems finally things weren't going predictably, it got tied up quite well. I would like some twists or surprises that hasn't been foreshadowed.
What I enjoyed about the book:
The ruc'pard: I will just say this, who doesn't want a genetically modified leopard to be your ever faithful companion...?
The races: I thoroughly enjoyed the section on the races, which pulled me in. The idea of a companion that races with you, the thrill of the races, I could genuinely felt the adrenalin.
In fact, when that got started, it started a chain of events which changed the pace of the story for me, truly drawing me in and finally forgetting the pain of trying to imagine stuff.
The main character: I started out disliking her as she's way too annoyingly angsty. It was a point of distraction really. But the character grew a little throughout the book, which I enjoyed watching her grow.
Overarching plot: as mentioned, I don't normally read sci-fi. But I am truly intrigued by genetics and the philosophical controversy it drums up. This book highlights the fight behind the many arguments of genetic modifications.
There's a couple more things I like about the plot and characterisation of the main character too, but I don't want to spoil it too much :)
Gender issues: a book that embraced same sex relationships! Yes! Thank you! It was subtle, it wasn't even a sub plot of any sort - but it was there. Every time I read "my dads", my heart warms up and does a happy dance.
Would I read the sequel: yes! Clearly, she has a good plot in mind, and I am sure as the author gets into her groove, she will improve in time too.
Thoughts: this is the author's first book, so to be honest I wasn't expecting much. Truly, I started out disliking the book actually, but wanted to plough on to make my money's worth and to give it a chance. Thankfully, things took a change for better 1/3 of the way through and I found myself immersed happily into the book, feeling the usual cravings of needing to know what happened next. Disclaimer: I don't usually read sci-fi, especially technologically related ones.
What I didn't like about the book (since I started off disliking it):
Names of things: the author has created this complex world full of made up names, some from "advance technology", others from genetic hybridisation. A few here and there would have suffice, but the initial chapters were peppered with them, causing a very jarring reading experience for me as I had to stop and try and imagine/understand how something would look like or work.
The characters: I know this is a YA book, still, in the initial chapters, I really dislike all the characters. The angsty teen, the over protective parent, bullies at school. Most of the characters are quite 2d, you only get a lot more depth of character with the main character, of course. This leaves you with many burning questions at the each of the other characters in the book.
My personal irritation is the supporting character. It seems like she has no other facial expressions but wide eyes and is conveniently placed to support the main character right when she needs it.
Bits of the plot: this then leads me to my next irritation, everything is so neat and convenient most of the time. Even the one time it seems finally things weren't going predictably, it got tied up quite well. I would like some twists or surprises that hasn't been foreshadowed.
What I enjoyed about the book:
The ruc'pard: I will just say this, who doesn't want a genetically modified leopard to be your ever faithful companion...?
The races: I thoroughly enjoyed the section on the races, which pulled me in. The idea of a companion that races with you, the thrill of the races, I could genuinely felt the adrenalin.
In fact, when that got started, it started a chain of events which changed the pace of the story for me, truly drawing me in and finally forgetting the pain of trying to imagine stuff.
The main character: I started out disliking her as she's way too annoyingly angsty. It was a point of distraction really. But the character grew a little throughout the book, which I enjoyed watching her grow.
Overarching plot: as mentioned, I don't normally read sci-fi. But I am truly intrigued by genetics and the philosophical controversy it drums up. This book highlights the fight behind the many arguments of genetic modifications.
There's a couple more things I like about the plot and characterisation of the main character too, but I don't want to spoil it too much :)
Gender issues: a book that embraced same sex relationships! Yes! Thank you! It was subtle, it wasn't even a sub plot of any sort - but it was there. Every time I read "my dads", my heart warms up and does a happy dance.
Would I read the sequel: yes! Clearly, she has a good plot in mind, and I am sure as the author gets into her groove, she will improve in time too.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 4, 2020
What does it mean to be special? For Hero Reagan it means being surrounded by minders, i.e. butlers, tutors, bodyguards. Forced to take pills to silence the voices she hears, Hero is remanded to her family’s secluded estate, by her mother. Her only friend is Fink, a six-hundred kg. genetically engineered catlike creature called a ruc-pard. They reside on a terraformed planet where the inhabitants live in skyward cities, because living on the ground is fatal. Finally, her mother agrees to send her to school in Cumulus City, with a catch: a new minder, Imogen Lambert, will accompany her and Fink.
Imogen Lambert is different, a puzzle to be solve; a person with an odd agenda. Is she minder or ally? Imogen isn’t the only mystery Hero is compelled to solve. Why won’t her mother let her and Fink participate in the races? What are the secrets her mother keeps? Why is her new friend so interested in helping her? Will her friend stick it out or will she abandon Hero when events get dicey? Every new clue just leads to more questions and intrigue.
Hero isn’t the type of person to accept the idioms: Just obey the rules, Stay out of trouble, or We know what’s best for you. Maybe she’s a bit too smart and clever for her own good. There are forces pursuing knowledge that might be best left buried, but she is Hero and its in her nature to ferret out what others hide.
While I received Hero (The Hero Rebellion Book I) from the author, the choice to post an honest review was mine. At first I was skeptical of making my first Audio review, but was pleased that the narrators voice was perfectly suited for a teenage girl on a mission. The characters came alive, and I found Hero’s attributes and vices invigorating. I found myself hoping Hero would take the safer route, suspecting she wouldn’t, knowing that I’d have to keep listening because I couldn’t bear to put down my iPod.
Imogen Lambert is different, a puzzle to be solve; a person with an odd agenda. Is she minder or ally? Imogen isn’t the only mystery Hero is compelled to solve. Why won’t her mother let her and Fink participate in the races? What are the secrets her mother keeps? Why is her new friend so interested in helping her? Will her friend stick it out or will she abandon Hero when events get dicey? Every new clue just leads to more questions and intrigue.
Hero isn’t the type of person to accept the idioms: Just obey the rules, Stay out of trouble, or We know what’s best for you. Maybe she’s a bit too smart and clever for her own good. There are forces pursuing knowledge that might be best left buried, but she is Hero and its in her nature to ferret out what others hide.
While I received Hero (The Hero Rebellion Book I) from the author, the choice to post an honest review was mine. At first I was skeptical of making my first Audio review, but was pleased that the narrators voice was perfectly suited for a teenage girl on a mission. The characters came alive, and I found Hero’s attributes and vices invigorating. I found myself hoping Hero would take the safer route, suspecting she wouldn’t, knowing that I’d have to keep listening because I couldn’t bear to put down my iPod.
March 13, 2020
A human colony on a lonely planet. A girl who hears voices, her only friend a massive genetically-engineered leopard, and her quest for freedom, her quest for the truth.
I was really impressed by Crawford's characters. Hero Regan is a great protagonist, engaging, and clever. Her struggles to fit in at the Cumulus City school, wanting nothing more than to be normal and have friends, is conveyed very well. Hero's minders, Tybalt and the Lamb (Imogen Lambert) are also really great characters, you question their motives as Hero learns more and more about them, piecing the puzzle together of her own existence, and unravelling the webs of intrigue and deceit which go right back to the colonisation of the planet.
The world-building is excellent. The city floats above the surface of the planet, above the lethal pollen spores. Hero's companion Fink is a ruc-pard, an animal containing genes of both an Earth leopard and a native animal. These genetically altered companions are very common, all the students at Cumulus City have them, and they come in all shapes and sizes. There are even illegal races through the city where people ride their companions, dodging traps and attacks from other contestants. Hero and Fink even compete in an exhilarating race, and it was one of the highlights of the book.
There are a lot of questions that are asked in this book. At school, Hero learns about an uncle she never knew she had, one of the famous street racers. What happened to him? Can Hero's minders Imogen and Tybalt be trusted? Can her mum? Why do none of the adult seem to have companions? What dark webs are Hero and her family caught up in - and most importantly - can she break free?
HERO is a really intriguing book, and I can't wait to find out what happens next in The Hero Rebellion!
I was really impressed by Crawford's characters. Hero Regan is a great protagonist, engaging, and clever. Her struggles to fit in at the Cumulus City school, wanting nothing more than to be normal and have friends, is conveyed very well. Hero's minders, Tybalt and the Lamb (Imogen Lambert) are also really great characters, you question their motives as Hero learns more and more about them, piecing the puzzle together of her own existence, and unravelling the webs of intrigue and deceit which go right back to the colonisation of the planet.
The world-building is excellent. The city floats above the surface of the planet, above the lethal pollen spores. Hero's companion Fink is a ruc-pard, an animal containing genes of both an Earth leopard and a native animal. These genetically altered companions are very common, all the students at Cumulus City have them, and they come in all shapes and sizes. There are even illegal races through the city where people ride their companions, dodging traps and attacks from other contestants. Hero and Fink even compete in an exhilarating race, and it was one of the highlights of the book.
There are a lot of questions that are asked in this book. At school, Hero learns about an uncle she never knew she had, one of the famous street racers. What happened to him? Can Hero's minders Imogen and Tybalt be trusted? Can her mum? Why do none of the adult seem to have companions? What dark webs are Hero and her family caught up in - and most importantly - can she break free?
HERO is a really intriguing book, and I can't wait to find out what happens next in The Hero Rebellion!
July 15, 2019
I want a Wolsey! Yep, this story made me want a genetically modified companion beasty for my bestie! Fink was the star of the show. Hero was pretty good too, but her big six-legged cat Fink was my favorite character.
This story has a lot going for it – the hidden past, the current mystery, a polluted surface, and the elite ruling class trying to keep everything going their direction. While Hero is all for discovering about her past, her new best friends Norah is pretty hesitant (and I liked that she wasn’t sure she wanted to dive into the past).
Hero was a bit annoying. She was often contrary just to be difficult, not because she really cared one way or the other. On one hand, it made her feel like a teen. On the other hand, it made me roll my eyes too many times. I think this story would have been fun with Fink as the main character and Hero as the sidekick.
The tale gives us enough answers to leave us in a good place but leaves the door open for some bigger picture stuff. So those that want to go on to Book 2 can do so without feeling like there’s a big cliffhanger. Over all, it was fun and I like the genetic mods to both humans and animals. 4/5 stars.
The Narration: Jean Mahoney gave a great performance for this book. She had the perfect voice for young Hero and I liked her purchuckle for Fink. She made a very believable angry Tybalt as well. All her voices were distinct. The pacing was spot on and there were no tech issues with the recording. 5/5 stars.
I received this audiobook as part of my participation in a blog tour with Audiobookworm Promotions. The tour is being sponsored by Belinda Crawford. The gifting of this audiobook did not affect my opinion of it.
This story has a lot going for it – the hidden past, the current mystery, a polluted surface, and the elite ruling class trying to keep everything going their direction. While Hero is all for discovering about her past, her new best friends Norah is pretty hesitant (and I liked that she wasn’t sure she wanted to dive into the past).
Hero was a bit annoying. She was often contrary just to be difficult, not because she really cared one way or the other. On one hand, it made her feel like a teen. On the other hand, it made me roll my eyes too many times. I think this story would have been fun with Fink as the main character and Hero as the sidekick.
The tale gives us enough answers to leave us in a good place but leaves the door open for some bigger picture stuff. So those that want to go on to Book 2 can do so without feeling like there’s a big cliffhanger. Over all, it was fun and I like the genetic mods to both humans and animals. 4/5 stars.
The Narration: Jean Mahoney gave a great performance for this book. She had the perfect voice for young Hero and I liked her purchuckle for Fink. She made a very believable angry Tybalt as well. All her voices were distinct. The pacing was spot on and there were no tech issues with the recording. 5/5 stars.
I received this audiobook as part of my participation in a blog tour with Audiobookworm Promotions. The tour is being sponsored by Belinda Crawford. The gifting of this audiobook did not affect my opinion of it.
October 1, 2016
Original review posted at http://wp.me/p4Wvzn-1Sw
Two Nerds Talking received a free review copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review...And that's how we do things!
Hero is a Science Fiction novel set in a undetermined point in the future where humanity has colonised the planet Jorn...only to find that the planet itself was toxic to human life. The solution was to turn the colony ships into massive floating cities that reminded me a lot of Bioshock: Infinite
Crops and livestock were saved through the miracle of genetic engineering, a side effect being the creation of companion animals that were somewhat sentient and a little telepathic...it kind of put me in mind of the companions in The Golden Compass.
The book centers around Hero Regan, a girl living in isolation because she's perceived to be sick...but Hero isn't sick at all, she's special. You see, Hero hears voices, voices that other people don' hear and her only solace is her companion Fink, a genetically engineered Ruc-Pard.
The story follows Hero in her attempt to have a normal life when she is finally allowed to attend a normal school...until she is swept up into a series of events that have consequences not just for herself...but for all of the population of Jorn.
There are a LOT of YA series on the market right now, but Hero is a real stand-out from your usual YA fare. The characters in this book are very believable and relatable and the author does a fantastic job at quite literally creating a new complex and vibrant world.
If you're in the mood for a great sci-fi story with a dash of fantasy, pick this up. You won't regret it
TNT score 4/5
Two Nerds Talking received a free review copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review...And that's how we do things!
Hero is a Science Fiction novel set in a undetermined point in the future where humanity has colonised the planet Jorn...only to find that the planet itself was toxic to human life. The solution was to turn the colony ships into massive floating cities that reminded me a lot of Bioshock: Infinite
Crops and livestock were saved through the miracle of genetic engineering, a side effect being the creation of companion animals that were somewhat sentient and a little telepathic...it kind of put me in mind of the companions in The Golden Compass.
The book centers around Hero Regan, a girl living in isolation because she's perceived to be sick...but Hero isn't sick at all, she's special. You see, Hero hears voices, voices that other people don' hear and her only solace is her companion Fink, a genetically engineered Ruc-Pard.
The story follows Hero in her attempt to have a normal life when she is finally allowed to attend a normal school...until she is swept up into a series of events that have consequences not just for herself...but for all of the population of Jorn.
There are a LOT of YA series on the market right now, but Hero is a real stand-out from your usual YA fare. The characters in this book are very believable and relatable and the author does a fantastic job at quite literally creating a new complex and vibrant world.
If you're in the mood for a great sci-fi story with a dash of fantasy, pick this up. You won't regret it
TNT score 4/5
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March 20, 2016Hero - not really my hero
When I first started reading this book it caught my attention. As I got deeper into the story I began to feel more and more dissatisfied but wasn't sure why. Then it hit me. Usually when I am reading a really good well written story, the world and the characters become vivid in my mind. If the book is fantastic, I can see it so vividly that I am totally immersed and feel as if I am really there, part of the world, and I know the characters intimately.
Not only did I not feel as if I got to know the characters intimately, the world and the characters were like a transparent ghost in my mind. I couldn't quite see them fully and only had a vague impression of what they may look like. Also the premise of the story girl has engineered powers, evil others want to kidnap girl for their own uses seemed tired. The introduction of the companions was an interesting twist but not developed to its full potential.
Spoilers: One of the things that really bothered me were story developments that didn't go anywhere.
1) Racing with companions and a scout. There is a school team and also street racing. I don't see how it added to the story other than a reason to have a companion.
2) Discovery that Hero has a Uncle who used to race
3) Bullying by Dorian and Tis for no reason that I could see other than to emphasize that Hero was different from her peers. It seemed like it was a weak cliche.
I think the book had the potential to be so much better and was disappointed when I finished.
When I first started reading this book it caught my attention. As I got deeper into the story I began to feel more and more dissatisfied but wasn't sure why. Then it hit me. Usually when I am reading a really good well written story, the world and the characters become vivid in my mind. If the book is fantastic, I can see it so vividly that I am totally immersed and feel as if I am really there, part of the world, and I know the characters intimately.
Not only did I not feel as if I got to know the characters intimately, the world and the characters were like a transparent ghost in my mind. I couldn't quite see them fully and only had a vague impression of what they may look like. Also the premise of the story girl has engineered powers, evil others want to kidnap girl for their own uses seemed tired. The introduction of the companions was an interesting twist but not developed to its full potential.
Spoilers: One of the things that really bothered me were story developments that didn't go anywhere.
1) Racing with companions and a scout. There is a school team and also street racing. I don't see how it added to the story other than a reason to have a companion.
2) Discovery that Hero has a Uncle who used to race
3) Bullying by Dorian and Tis for no reason that I could see other than to emphasize that Hero was different from her peers. It seemed like it was a weak cliche.
I think the book had the potential to be so much better and was disappointed when I finished.
August 22, 2017
How would you feel if you had been told lies your whole life and forced to take medication when you knew you weren’t sick?
How would you feel if you found out you were a human hybrid and that your whole life had been some sort of long running science experiment?
Would you strive to live up to some higher purpose or turn on those around you?
Hero is the first book in The Hero Rebellion and it introduces us to Hero Regan. We see Hero battle normal teenager issues; school bullies and finding out who her true friends are, as well as dealing with the consequences of who and what she truly is. Hero is an extremely intelligent young woman and it feels as if she has an epic life in-front of her, one I’m looking forward to continuing to follow.
It took me little while to get used to all the new names of things, the animals and construction materials etc, but I can see that the purpose of this was to set the scene of a new futuristic world and it was all good once I got the rhythm of it.
Hero was published on the 21st of September 2015. I came across it on NetGalley just days before it was archived on the 31st of May 2016 *throws hands up to the sky* Thank you Odyssey Books for still authorising me a review copy at such late notice! #LoveOzYA
Did I get your attention with those opening lines? And while yes, I’ve just given away a few of the major reveals in the book, I haven’t given away them all! Hero was a Five Star YA Sci-Fi for me and I’m looking forward to reading the sequel.
How would you feel if you found out you were a human hybrid and that your whole life had been some sort of long running science experiment?
Would you strive to live up to some higher purpose or turn on those around you?
Hero is the first book in The Hero Rebellion and it introduces us to Hero Regan. We see Hero battle normal teenager issues; school bullies and finding out who her true friends are, as well as dealing with the consequences of who and what she truly is. Hero is an extremely intelligent young woman and it feels as if she has an epic life in-front of her, one I’m looking forward to continuing to follow.
It took me little while to get used to all the new names of things, the animals and construction materials etc, but I can see that the purpose of this was to set the scene of a new futuristic world and it was all good once I got the rhythm of it.
Hero was published on the 21st of September 2015. I came across it on NetGalley just days before it was archived on the 31st of May 2016 *throws hands up to the sky* Thank you Odyssey Books for still authorising me a review copy at such late notice! #LoveOzYA
Did I get your attention with those opening lines? And while yes, I’ve just given away a few of the major reveals in the book, I haven’t given away them all! Hero was a Five Star YA Sci-Fi for me and I’m looking forward to reading the sequel.
June 4, 2016
I thought this was a great book from the storyline perspective!!!!!!
I almost gave it 4 stars but couldn't because of some problems with the way it was written. Loved the idea and Tybalt's character and the whole race aspect of the story. I do hope that the next one has more of the racing in it :D
It was fun and the ideas were very exciting and large, except I have a few problems with the actual writing.
I found Hero, the main character, to be too selfish and spoiled at the start.
I found it difficult to understand certain aspects of the story like the holoscreens and work spaces are still confusing, and it took me several chapters to understand the whole animal companion thing. Except it annoyed me that I could never properly understand what most of the animals looked like. More description and explanation would have been appreciated.
Dorian and Tis were really annoying characters who should never have gotten away with (SPOILER) the spreading of Hero's 'episode'. Such an act would be incredibly bad and they would have been fined or given a restraining order at least!!
Not to mention as a reader we were never properly given time to understand or think about what was happening. There were no slow spots which was jarring and unbelievable.
But overall I really loved the storyline.
I breezed through the book fast and was captivated by it. Will definitely read the next one but I had several problems with the way it was written. Still recommend it!!!!!
I almost gave it 4 stars but couldn't because of some problems with the way it was written. Loved the idea and Tybalt's character and the whole race aspect of the story. I do hope that the next one has more of the racing in it :D
It was fun and the ideas were very exciting and large, except I have a few problems with the actual writing.
I found Hero, the main character, to be too selfish and spoiled at the start.
I found it difficult to understand certain aspects of the story like the holoscreens and work spaces are still confusing, and it took me several chapters to understand the whole animal companion thing. Except it annoyed me that I could never properly understand what most of the animals looked like. More description and explanation would have been appreciated.
Dorian and Tis were really annoying characters who should never have gotten away with (SPOILER) the spreading of Hero's 'episode'. Such an act would be incredibly bad and they would have been fined or given a restraining order at least!!
Not to mention as a reader we were never properly given time to understand or think about what was happening. There were no slow spots which was jarring and unbelievable.
But overall I really loved the storyline.
I breezed through the book fast and was captivated by it. Will definitely read the next one but I had several problems with the way it was written. Still recommend it!!!!!
July 10, 2019
3.5 stars
Hero is one of those books that I can’t quite make up my mind about. Granted, it has a lot of the elements I want in science fiction—intriguing setting, interesting characters, imaginative extras, a bit of mystery, et al—but, as much as I enjoyed the idea, I never quite connected with Hero or the other human players. On the other hand, I’m madly in love with Fink, a sort of kitty (officially a ruc-pard) who’s a genetic modification and the best friend a girl could have.
One thing I thought was interesting was the treatment of Hero’s particular power as a mental illness, especially when she resists taking her meds. We all know someone or have heard of someone who has to cope with such a condition in real life and Hero’s label prompted me to think of those true sufferers but also those eccentrics/geniuses/savants that people often think are mentally flawed.
As for the narration, Ms. Mahoney is good and she performs in distinctive voices. I did have to rewind more than a time or two because her tone would drop off but that could just as easily have been my own hearing being faulty. Regardless of that and any other story-related quibbles I may have, this is an entertaining read.
Hero is one of those books that I can’t quite make up my mind about. Granted, it has a lot of the elements I want in science fiction—intriguing setting, interesting characters, imaginative extras, a bit of mystery, et al—but, as much as I enjoyed the idea, I never quite connected with Hero or the other human players. On the other hand, I’m madly in love with Fink, a sort of kitty (officially a ruc-pard) who’s a genetic modification and the best friend a girl could have.
One thing I thought was interesting was the treatment of Hero’s particular power as a mental illness, especially when she resists taking her meds. We all know someone or have heard of someone who has to cope with such a condition in real life and Hero’s label prompted me to think of those true sufferers but also those eccentrics/geniuses/savants that people often think are mentally flawed.
As for the narration, Ms. Mahoney is good and she performs in distinctive voices. I did have to rewind more than a time or two because her tone would drop off but that could just as easily have been my own hearing being faulty. Regardless of that and any other story-related quibbles I may have, this is an entertaining read.
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