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Hybrid Helix #2
Return of The Griffin
Turn Two of the Hybrid Helix.
Humanity faces extinction. Ten-kiloton monsters are rising from the depths of the Pacific, levelling entire cities in frenzies of destruction. Earth’s heroes have been decimated. The survivors put their hope in one last, desperate plan: find Hyperion, Earth’s most powerful hero, and ask him to return from exile to save them.
What they don’t know is that Hyperion is dead.
The Griffin spent ten years fighting wars across the sector as a weapon of mass destruction for the il’Drach Empire. His victories made his name a curse on a dozen worlds and a nightmare on scores more. He retired to the peaceful station Wistful and discovered that leaving his name behind didn’t clear his sins, his debts, or his conscience.
Earth’s peril may give him a chance for redemption, if he can only find a way to stop the monsters without turning into one. Without becoming The Griffin again.
Humanity faces extinction. Ten-kiloton monsters are rising from the depths of the Pacific, levelling entire cities in frenzies of destruction. Earth’s heroes have been decimated. The survivors put their hope in one last, desperate plan: find Hyperion, Earth’s most powerful hero, and ask him to return from exile to save them.
What they don’t know is that Hyperion is dead.
The Griffin spent ten years fighting wars across the sector as a weapon of mass destruction for the il’Drach Empire. His victories made his name a curse on a dozen worlds and a nightmare on scores more. He retired to the peaceful station Wistful and discovered that leaving his name behind didn’t clear his sins, his debts, or his conscience.
Earth’s peril may give him a chance for redemption, if he can only find a way to stop the monsters without turning into one. Without becoming The Griffin again.
465 pages, Kindle Edition
Published February 25, 2022
58 people are currently reading
149 people want to read
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April 8, 2023
My complete review of Return of the Griffin is published at Grimdark Magazine.
JCM Berne brings his superhero space opera down to Earth in Return of the Griffin, the second installment in his Hybrid Helix trilogy.
As the hybrid son of a human mother and alien il’Drach father, Rohan is born with a range of extraordinary abilities including super strength, toughness, and the power to fly, making him one of the most formidable forces in the known universe. However, Rohan would rather live a peaceful life as a Tow Chief Second Class on the sentient space station, Wistful.
Rohan reconsiders his retirement from superhero duties as a crisis on Earth threatens the extinction of humankind. Rohan returns to his home planet after a ten-year hiatus, reassuming his superhero persona as the Griffin. He joins forces with a ragtag group of heroes devoted to saving Earth from an unlikely lineup of villains including ten-kiloton land sharks and anthropomorphized cephalopods.
Beyond these over-the-top animal antagonists, Return of the Griffin also features a cutting parody of ultra-right wing political extremists, a group of “pale men with long beards [who] wore shirts printed with Humans First and red hats that read Make Earth Great Again.” These self-described Proud Guys believe that the land sharks are not an existential threat to humanity, but rather a conspiracy invented by liberal corporations. The spot-on satire of Trumpian politics is the most hilarious part of this genuinely funny book, making me laugh out loud several times.
Unfortunately, most of the supporting cast from the first book, Wistful Ascending, are jettisoned in Return of the Griffin, which introduces a new set of side characters who are not as well developed. I found myself missing many of the friends I had made in the first book.
On the positive side, JCM Berne improves the pacing and flow of his story in Return of the Griffin, delivering more consistently fast-paced action throughout the novel. Berne wisely chooses to forgo the coffee breaks which interrupted the flow of his previous book.
Return of the Griffin is a lot of fun, and it also does a commendable job depicting Rohan’s internal struggles as he faces family and friends from his past life. After running away for ten years, he continues to make questionable decisions upon his return to Earth and must deal with the inevitable consequences. Nevertheless, the downside of the book’s overtly humorous tone is that it doesn’t plumb the same level of dark emotional depth as in the latter part of Wistful Ascending.
As a whole, Return of the Griffin works most effectively as a satire, delivering on its promise of a witty, action-packed story with plenty of laugh-out-loud moments.
JCM Berne brings his superhero space opera down to Earth in Return of the Griffin, the second installment in his Hybrid Helix trilogy.
As the hybrid son of a human mother and alien il’Drach father, Rohan is born with a range of extraordinary abilities including super strength, toughness, and the power to fly, making him one of the most formidable forces in the known universe. However, Rohan would rather live a peaceful life as a Tow Chief Second Class on the sentient space station, Wistful.
Rohan reconsiders his retirement from superhero duties as a crisis on Earth threatens the extinction of humankind. Rohan returns to his home planet after a ten-year hiatus, reassuming his superhero persona as the Griffin. He joins forces with a ragtag group of heroes devoted to saving Earth from an unlikely lineup of villains including ten-kiloton land sharks and anthropomorphized cephalopods.
Beyond these over-the-top animal antagonists, Return of the Griffin also features a cutting parody of ultra-right wing political extremists, a group of “pale men with long beards [who] wore shirts printed with Humans First and red hats that read Make Earth Great Again.” These self-described Proud Guys believe that the land sharks are not an existential threat to humanity, but rather a conspiracy invented by liberal corporations. The spot-on satire of Trumpian politics is the most hilarious part of this genuinely funny book, making me laugh out loud several times.
Unfortunately, most of the supporting cast from the first book, Wistful Ascending, are jettisoned in Return of the Griffin, which introduces a new set of side characters who are not as well developed. I found myself missing many of the friends I had made in the first book.
On the positive side, JCM Berne improves the pacing and flow of his story in Return of the Griffin, delivering more consistently fast-paced action throughout the novel. Berne wisely chooses to forgo the coffee breaks which interrupted the flow of his previous book.
Return of the Griffin is a lot of fun, and it also does a commendable job depicting Rohan’s internal struggles as he faces family and friends from his past life. After running away for ten years, he continues to make questionable decisions upon his return to Earth and must deal with the inevitable consequences. Nevertheless, the downside of the book’s overtly humorous tone is that it doesn’t plumb the same level of dark emotional depth as in the latter part of Wistful Ascending.
As a whole, Return of the Griffin works most effectively as a satire, delivering on its promise of a witty, action-packed story with plenty of laugh-out-loud moments.
April 10, 2025
Back with Rohan, our favorite wise-cracking, big hearted Tow Chief Second Class from the Wistful spacestation! I was so excited to continue this series, I think Berne has created something really fresh and fun in the Sci-Fi genre. If you had told me three years ago that I'd love a superhero space opera, I might have given you a raised eyebrow, but here we are.
Turn Two of the Hybrid Helix takes a big step away from the setting and characters we grew to know and love in Wistful Ascending. And in that comes my main reason for liking this installment less than the first. Returning to Earth this early in the series after establishing such strong connections with the crew of Wistful and removing most of those characters for the entirety of book two had me feeling a bit adrift. I found myself struggling to form new connections with the book two characters despite the intrigue that came with exploring some of Rohan's past.
Earth is under attack by giant megaton land sharks speeding toward every continent, killing and displacing millions of people from their homes, leaving devastation in their wake. After the more sophisticated alien races of book one, giant sharks with legs felt a bit humdrum. The tension seemed lower in this book as well, and when I tried to decipher why, I realized that we had less of a connection in Return of the Griffin to the everyday people who were most at risk from these new deadly invaders. In Wistful Ascending, when a threat appeared, we were worried about Rohan's love interest and her young son, the owner of the diner where Rohan had his favorite breakfast... the everyday people.
Here in book two, the threat of danger and death covers wide swathes of the world and countless innocent lives, but we really don't meet any of them. Most of the book takes place in conference rooms, out on a desert or forest battlefield, or in the medbay as Rohan recovers from his latest encounter with a massive shark. It felt more detached.
The humor also included a fair amount of direct inspiration from our current political climate, which is always a hard sell for me. I had a hard time believing that this was a futuristic story when such specific anecdotes were used, and it's something that I bounce off of when reading SFF.
All in all, I love Rohan and the story of his failed retirement. I love the sentient spaceships, the quips and the brawls, and the relationships that Berne is building into the series. I look forward to book three and a return to many of the aspects of Rohan's story that captured my heart. While this second installment didn't land where I'd hoped, I am really looking forward to book 3.
2.5 stars
Turn Two of the Hybrid Helix takes a big step away from the setting and characters we grew to know and love in Wistful Ascending. And in that comes my main reason for liking this installment less than the first. Returning to Earth this early in the series after establishing such strong connections with the crew of Wistful and removing most of those characters for the entirety of book two had me feeling a bit adrift. I found myself struggling to form new connections with the book two characters despite the intrigue that came with exploring some of Rohan's past.
Earth is under attack by giant megaton land sharks speeding toward every continent, killing and displacing millions of people from their homes, leaving devastation in their wake. After the more sophisticated alien races of book one, giant sharks with legs felt a bit humdrum. The tension seemed lower in this book as well, and when I tried to decipher why, I realized that we had less of a connection in Return of the Griffin to the everyday people who were most at risk from these new deadly invaders. In Wistful Ascending, when a threat appeared, we were worried about Rohan's love interest and her young son, the owner of the diner where Rohan had his favorite breakfast... the everyday people.
Here in book two, the threat of danger and death covers wide swathes of the world and countless innocent lives, but we really don't meet any of them. Most of the book takes place in conference rooms, out on a desert or forest battlefield, or in the medbay as Rohan recovers from his latest encounter with a massive shark. It felt more detached.
The humor also included a fair amount of direct inspiration from our current political climate, which is always a hard sell for me. I had a hard time believing that this was a futuristic story when such specific anecdotes were used, and it's something that I bounce off of when reading SFF.
All in all, I love Rohan and the story of his failed retirement. I love the sentient spaceships, the quips and the brawls, and the relationships that Berne is building into the series. I look forward to book three and a return to many of the aspects of Rohan's story that captured my heart. While this second installment didn't land where I'd hoped, I am really looking forward to book 3.
2.5 stars
September 21, 2022
What can I saw about JCM Berne that I haven’t already said. I guess I can tell you Return of the Griffon is another home run. I can tell you that Rohan continues to be compelling witty and funny. I can also tell you that I Hybrid Helix is an auto but series for me.
I loved exploring Rohans origins in this book. There is something about revisiting a hero’s roots while also seeking redemption and forgiveness that just really appeals to me.
The struggle to save humanity against overwhelming odds against the terrible shark Kaiju is both rewarding, pulse pounding, and at times hilarious.
My only real gripe is the resolution happens really fast and the encounter mechanic of dealing with waves of enemies is by nature rinse wash and repeat. Overall I can say that Berne is being a powerhouse in Superhero fiction. Killer stuff
I loved exploring Rohans origins in this book. There is something about revisiting a hero’s roots while also seeking redemption and forgiveness that just really appeals to me.
The struggle to save humanity against overwhelming odds against the terrible shark Kaiju is both rewarding, pulse pounding, and at times hilarious.
My only real gripe is the resolution happens really fast and the encounter mechanic of dealing with waves of enemies is by nature rinse wash and repeat. Overall I can say that Berne is being a powerhouse in Superhero fiction. Killer stuff
October 25, 2022
Disclaimer: ARC provided by the author in exchange for honest and fair review
JCM Berne is back at it again with another sarcastic witty adventure and I’m 100% here for it. If you read “Wistful Ascending” and enjoyed it then “Return of the Griffon” should be an instant buy for you.
In this installment we get to see Rohan’s finally return home to earth and learn more about his roots, his first love interest as well as what led to him deciding to go fight for the il’Drach Empire.
Not only did JCM Berne once again stick the landing both with the dad jokes and the character arc but more importantly he delivers a great story about redemption that I think we can all relate too.
We also get a great mixture of some of the old cast we all grew to love in “Wistful” as well as a plethora of new heroes (Vanguard Prime) who I’m sure you will adore and some new villains who you are sure to hate. As if that isn’t enough we get Godzilla size Sharks with four legs wrecking havoc all over planet earth. I personally loved how each shark attack seemed to raise the stakes just a little more for our ragtag team of superheroes and really drove home the old adage “team work makes the dream work” in this case that dream is to save planet earth.
So did Rohan and the rest of the Vanguard Prime come up with a solution to save planet earth or do they perform a massive evacuation plan back to Wistful? Only one way to find out but let me leave you with this:
“No offense, ma’am, but I’ve known Griffin a lot longer than you have. If Earth’s survival is in his hands, maybe we should be planning an evacuation instead of a rescue.”
JCM Berne is back at it again with another sarcastic witty adventure and I’m 100% here for it. If you read “Wistful Ascending” and enjoyed it then “Return of the Griffon” should be an instant buy for you.
In this installment we get to see Rohan’s finally return home to earth and learn more about his roots, his first love interest as well as what led to him deciding to go fight for the il’Drach Empire.
Not only did JCM Berne once again stick the landing both with the dad jokes and the character arc but more importantly he delivers a great story about redemption that I think we can all relate too.
We also get a great mixture of some of the old cast we all grew to love in “Wistful” as well as a plethora of new heroes (Vanguard Prime) who I’m sure you will adore and some new villains who you are sure to hate. As if that isn’t enough we get Godzilla size Sharks with four legs wrecking havoc all over planet earth. I personally loved how each shark attack seemed to raise the stakes just a little more for our ragtag team of superheroes and really drove home the old adage “team work makes the dream work” in this case that dream is to save planet earth.
So did Rohan and the rest of the Vanguard Prime come up with a solution to save planet earth or do they perform a massive evacuation plan back to Wistful? Only one way to find out but let me leave you with this:
“No offense, ma’am, but I’ve known Griffin a lot longer than you have. If Earth’s survival is in his hands, maybe we should be planning an evacuation instead of a rescue.”
October 3, 2023
After thoroughly enjoying the first book, I struggled with turn two of the Hybrid Helix. Sci-fi that starts off away from Earth, not to mention away from our solar system, and then comes back to Earth is hard for me to wrap my mind around. I can't imagine a world where there are sentient spaceships, but then Earth is more or less the same as it is now. The other downside of returning to Earth is leaving behind the likable side characters and relationships from the first book.
I also didn't enjoy the obvious avengers references and felt the creatures they're fighting being giant sharks with legs was a bit cheesy.
The writing itself was still good and Rohan's sarcasm is just as fun in this book as the first book, but that wasn't enough to carry the story for me. I'm looking forward to leaving Earth and going back to Wistful for book 3.
I also didn't enjoy the obvious avengers references and felt the creatures they're fighting being giant sharks with legs was a bit cheesy.
The writing itself was still good and Rohan's sarcasm is just as fun in this book as the first book, but that wasn't enough to carry the story for me. I'm looking forward to leaving Earth and going back to Wistful for book 3.
March 7, 2025
This review was originally posted on SFF Insiders.
Move over, Steve Rogers, we have a new candidate for America’s Ass!
Wait, Rohan’s Canadian? Whatever, never mind, joke was lame anyway, stupid Griffin.
Know what’s not lame, though? Return of the Griffin, that’s what. JCM Berne ups the stakes in the second entry in the Hybrid Helix series, with superheroes galore, world-threatening giant sharks, an endlessly charming lead, and pulse-pounding action all contributing to make an instant page-turner. And, for posterity, KID LIGHTNING!
Monsters have risen from the depths of the Pacific Ocean, and humanity finds itself on the edge of extinction. As entire cities lay devastated, and Earth’s mightiest heroes have fallen, the planet calls to the legendary exiled hero Hyperion to return and save them. The only problem? Hyperion is long since dead. But to answer the call to action in his place is the Griffin, who has long since retired from the hero business to serve on the peaceful station Wistful. It has been over a decade since he returned home, and his return will resurface the sins he has never been cleansed of. But if it is redemption he seeks, saving his home planet may offer him that chance…so long as he does not become the same type of monster he is saving Earth from.
Where the first book in the Hybrid Helix series explored Berne’s world on a galactic scale, Return of the Griffin places the action back on Earth with some classic kaiju-brawling, planet-saving action, and it helps ground the series a bit, insofar as that’s possible when we’re talking about superheroes fighting Godzilla-sized sharks. Throughout Wistful Ascending, we hear plenty of Rohan’s hybrid origins, but it is in this book that we explore the human side of him more. Reluctance marks Rohan’s return to earth—the past has long since haunted him, but what would haunt him more would be to allow his home to falter, and Berne plays off of that dynamic well.
There is also a strong understanding of the stakes at play in Return of the Griffin. Often times in disaster movies or superhero movies, the destruction is part of the spectacle, but so long as the hero comes out on top, whatever lies in its wake is brushed to the side. Here, it’s made clear that millions have died already, and millions more will continue to die should the attacks continue. There’s a palpable sense of dread felt throughout the book by its characters, a countdown to annihilation. Humanity is on its last legs, and countless heroes have fallen already. With all of that at play, it allows Return of the Griffin to pull the reader in immediately, with a lingering urgency that leads one to believe that not everyone will come out of it all unscathed.
And this is all lifted by a strong cast of characters—Powered or otherwise—with eclectic backgrounds and motivations. The exploration of Rohan’s past before he left Earth was a treat. We have known since the first book that his past actions haunt him. He was used as a weapon of mass destruction by the il’Drach Empire, seen as a hero to some worlds and a monster to others. But on Earth, we see that, even as all-powerful as he is, he is still human, and has made human mistakes, once formed strong bonds, and one broke those bonds. We explore familial relationships, past loves, excesses of power, and what happens when a past you have long tried to run from finally returns to catch up with you. Even on Earth, Rohan is not universally viewed as a hero. In some circles, he is a criminal, a monster, and the implications of that are explored very well.
If there’s anything I could take issue with in Return of the Griffin, it’s that the prologue and ending feel a bit disjointed from the rest of the book. As with Wistful Ascending, the prologue begins in medias res, well into the action of the main story. The issue here, though, is that by the time we get to the action alluded to in the prologue, the book is almost over—we return to this scene at around the 90-95% mark, and the resolution to this plot point is tied up far too quickly. There are some minor connections to the rest of the book, but it felt a touch out of place given the rest of the narrative. It’s a minor gripe, but it felt like a scene that could have played well in a different book in the series.
Despite that, Return of the Griffin is still a blast of a book. If you’re looking for a fresh take on the superhero genre, with lasting stakes, deep characters, a very likeable lead, and people punching the shit out of giant sharks, then, well…hopefully you read Wistful Ascending first, because, you know…this is book 2. Read Wistful as well. And then this one, because it’s great.
Now, if you’ll excuse me, KID LIGHTNING!
Move over, Steve Rogers, we have a new candidate for America’s Ass!
Wait, Rohan’s Canadian? Whatever, never mind, joke was lame anyway, stupid Griffin.
Know what’s not lame, though? Return of the Griffin, that’s what. JCM Berne ups the stakes in the second entry in the Hybrid Helix series, with superheroes galore, world-threatening giant sharks, an endlessly charming lead, and pulse-pounding action all contributing to make an instant page-turner. And, for posterity, KID LIGHTNING!
Monsters have risen from the depths of the Pacific Ocean, and humanity finds itself on the edge of extinction. As entire cities lay devastated, and Earth’s mightiest heroes have fallen, the planet calls to the legendary exiled hero Hyperion to return and save them. The only problem? Hyperion is long since dead. But to answer the call to action in his place is the Griffin, who has long since retired from the hero business to serve on the peaceful station Wistful. It has been over a decade since he returned home, and his return will resurface the sins he has never been cleansed of. But if it is redemption he seeks, saving his home planet may offer him that chance…so long as he does not become the same type of monster he is saving Earth from.
Where the first book in the Hybrid Helix series explored Berne’s world on a galactic scale, Return of the Griffin places the action back on Earth with some classic kaiju-brawling, planet-saving action, and it helps ground the series a bit, insofar as that’s possible when we’re talking about superheroes fighting Godzilla-sized sharks. Throughout Wistful Ascending, we hear plenty of Rohan’s hybrid origins, but it is in this book that we explore the human side of him more. Reluctance marks Rohan’s return to earth—the past has long since haunted him, but what would haunt him more would be to allow his home to falter, and Berne plays off of that dynamic well.
There is also a strong understanding of the stakes at play in Return of the Griffin. Often times in disaster movies or superhero movies, the destruction is part of the spectacle, but so long as the hero comes out on top, whatever lies in its wake is brushed to the side. Here, it’s made clear that millions have died already, and millions more will continue to die should the attacks continue. There’s a palpable sense of dread felt throughout the book by its characters, a countdown to annihilation. Humanity is on its last legs, and countless heroes have fallen already. With all of that at play, it allows Return of the Griffin to pull the reader in immediately, with a lingering urgency that leads one to believe that not everyone will come out of it all unscathed.
And this is all lifted by a strong cast of characters—Powered or otherwise—with eclectic backgrounds and motivations. The exploration of Rohan’s past before he left Earth was a treat. We have known since the first book that his past actions haunt him. He was used as a weapon of mass destruction by the il’Drach Empire, seen as a hero to some worlds and a monster to others. But on Earth, we see that, even as all-powerful as he is, he is still human, and has made human mistakes, once formed strong bonds, and one broke those bonds. We explore familial relationships, past loves, excesses of power, and what happens when a past you have long tried to run from finally returns to catch up with you. Even on Earth, Rohan is not universally viewed as a hero. In some circles, he is a criminal, a monster, and the implications of that are explored very well.
If there’s anything I could take issue with in Return of the Griffin, it’s that the prologue and ending feel a bit disjointed from the rest of the book. As with Wistful Ascending, the prologue begins in medias res, well into the action of the main story. The issue here, though, is that by the time we get to the action alluded to in the prologue, the book is almost over—we return to this scene at around the 90-95% mark, and the resolution to this plot point is tied up far too quickly. There are some minor connections to the rest of the book, but it felt a touch out of place given the rest of the narrative. It’s a minor gripe, but it felt like a scene that could have played well in a different book in the series.
Despite that, Return of the Griffin is still a blast of a book. If you’re looking for a fresh take on the superhero genre, with lasting stakes, deep characters, a very likeable lead, and people punching the shit out of giant sharks, then, well…hopefully you read Wistful Ascending first, because, you know…this is book 2. Read Wistful as well. And then this one, because it’s great.
Now, if you’ll excuse me, KID LIGHTNING!
September 1, 2022
Please read my review at the following link:
https://escapistbookcompany.com/2022/...
Thanks for taking the time to read my review. As always, happy reading and Stay Great!
https://escapistbookcompany.com/2022/...
Thanks for taking the time to read my review. As always, happy reading and Stay Great!
November 20, 2022
4.5 stars (rounded up)
Guess who’s back? Back again? That’s right, The Return of the Griffin continues the story of Rohan, our favourite witty and sarcastic retired superhero. And let me tell you, he’s back and better than ever. This was another rip-roaring adventure full of mishaps and mayhem, but at least Rohan has got his corny dad jokes ready to keep everyone’s spirits up.
Whereas book one was set on space station Wistful and had more of a slice-of-life feel to it, this sequel dives more into the superhero aspect of the series as we return to Earth. Once there, Rohan has to confront his past, all while trying to save humanity from the humongous killer sharks (with legs, mind you) that could cause the complete extinction of the human race.
It’s definitely a bold choice from the author to leave behind the setting and the majority of the characters that we had grown to love in the first book, but I personally think he pulled it off magnificently and we got an amazing story for it in return.
This series is just so wildly entertaining to me and I think it’s all because of the characters. First of all, Rohan is just an absolute delight to follow. All he wants is to just live a quiet and peaceful life, but trouble seems to have a way of finding him. While he is still his dashing, witty, and sarcastic self, we also get some great character development as he is confronted with the past he left behind on Earth. I really appreciated seeing him grow and mature as he faces up to his past mistakes and attempts to mend broken relationships. When you peel back the layers of this wacky and entertaining superhero sci-fi adventure, you discover that it’s actually a story about healing and redemption. The author really nailed the balance between high stakes action scenes and heartfelt, emotional character interactions, which added a lot of depth to the story and only increased my investment!
But I can’t talk about the outstanding character work without mentioning the delightful cast of side characters in this series. Whether we’re dealing with various humanoid species, peculiar alien races, impetuous old gods or emotional sentient spaceships, all of the supporting characters have their own distinct voice and their hysterical interactions with Rohan add so much humour to the story. The witty banter is just top-notch and there are so many laugh-out-loud funny moments between all these characters. Also, I wasn’t expecting to relate deeply to a depressed and anxious sentient spaceship, but here we are.
Don’t think that all this amazing character work comes at the expense of a great plot and interesting world building, though, because that’s here as well!
In the first book we learned about space station Wistful and all its remarkable inhabitants, but in this sequel we focus much more on the history of our own planet Earth. I love that the author took some familiar existing conspiracy theories and seamlessly wove them into his story by creating his own (admittedly bizarre) origin stories. Some of these world building elements did feel a tiny bit out of place and could potentially distract from the main plot, but it was still fun to see J.C.M. Berne let his imagination run wild here.
The plot is overall just super engaging and the pacing is great, which gives these books that wonderful ‘just one more chapter’ feel. The final resolution may have happened a bit too quickly for my liking (just like in book 1), but I am mostly here for the characters anyway, so it didn’t really end up hindering my enjoyment.
All in all, The Return of the Griffin was a surprising, but extremely satisfying and entertaining sequel. No second-book syndrome here, this is just as good as the first book, if not better.
If you are in the mood for a riveting superhero sci-fi adventure with great characters, an engaging plot, pulse-pounding action scenes, hysterical banter and a good dose of humour, then this is the series for you. Though, fair warning, once you start reading, you might not be able to stop. These books are just insanely addictive, but I love them for it. Highly recommend!
Guess who’s back? Back again? That’s right, The Return of the Griffin continues the story of Rohan, our favourite witty and sarcastic retired superhero. And let me tell you, he’s back and better than ever. This was another rip-roaring adventure full of mishaps and mayhem, but at least Rohan has got his corny dad jokes ready to keep everyone’s spirits up.
Whereas book one was set on space station Wistful and had more of a slice-of-life feel to it, this sequel dives more into the superhero aspect of the series as we return to Earth. Once there, Rohan has to confront his past, all while trying to save humanity from the humongous killer sharks (with legs, mind you) that could cause the complete extinction of the human race.
It’s definitely a bold choice from the author to leave behind the setting and the majority of the characters that we had grown to love in the first book, but I personally think he pulled it off magnificently and we got an amazing story for it in return.
This series is just so wildly entertaining to me and I think it’s all because of the characters. First of all, Rohan is just an absolute delight to follow. All he wants is to just live a quiet and peaceful life, but trouble seems to have a way of finding him. While he is still his dashing, witty, and sarcastic self, we also get some great character development as he is confronted with the past he left behind on Earth. I really appreciated seeing him grow and mature as he faces up to his past mistakes and attempts to mend broken relationships. When you peel back the layers of this wacky and entertaining superhero sci-fi adventure, you discover that it’s actually a story about healing and redemption. The author really nailed the balance between high stakes action scenes and heartfelt, emotional character interactions, which added a lot of depth to the story and only increased my investment!
But I can’t talk about the outstanding character work without mentioning the delightful cast of side characters in this series. Whether we’re dealing with various humanoid species, peculiar alien races, impetuous old gods or emotional sentient spaceships, all of the supporting characters have their own distinct voice and their hysterical interactions with Rohan add so much humour to the story. The witty banter is just top-notch and there are so many laugh-out-loud funny moments between all these characters. Also, I wasn’t expecting to relate deeply to a depressed and anxious sentient spaceship, but here we are.
Don’t think that all this amazing character work comes at the expense of a great plot and interesting world building, though, because that’s here as well!
In the first book we learned about space station Wistful and all its remarkable inhabitants, but in this sequel we focus much more on the history of our own planet Earth. I love that the author took some familiar existing conspiracy theories and seamlessly wove them into his story by creating his own (admittedly bizarre) origin stories. Some of these world building elements did feel a tiny bit out of place and could potentially distract from the main plot, but it was still fun to see J.C.M. Berne let his imagination run wild here.
The plot is overall just super engaging and the pacing is great, which gives these books that wonderful ‘just one more chapter’ feel. The final resolution may have happened a bit too quickly for my liking (just like in book 1), but I am mostly here for the characters anyway, so it didn’t really end up hindering my enjoyment.
All in all, The Return of the Griffin was a surprising, but extremely satisfying and entertaining sequel. No second-book syndrome here, this is just as good as the first book, if not better.
If you are in the mood for a riveting superhero sci-fi adventure with great characters, an engaging plot, pulse-pounding action scenes, hysterical banter and a good dose of humour, then this is the series for you. Though, fair warning, once you start reading, you might not be able to stop. These books are just insanely addictive, but I love them for it. Highly recommend!
December 23, 2022
4.5/5 Stars Rounded to 5 Stars
I received this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
Please be mindful of spoilers for Wistful Ascending.
Yet again, JCM Berne pulls you in with a gripping prologue and takes you on a wild adventure. Return of the Griffin is Turn Two of the Hybrid Helix series and continues Rohan’s story.
Story Overview:
Earth is under attack by Ten-kiloton monsters, cities have been destroyed and millions have died. The heroes of Earth have given their lives, but the threat continues. The survivors put together a desperate plan to find Hyperion. Only Hyperion is dead.
Rohan has retired from war and fighting to a peaceful life on the space station, Wistful. When word reaches Rohan of the devastation on Earth, he returns home to try and save humanity. Only Rohan didn’t leave on the best of terms and facing these monsters aren’t the only troubles he must overcome. Can he save the Earth, or will he become the Griffin again?
Review:
It was great to be back with our witty superhero Rohan, and to see more of his past. In Wistful Ascending we learn that Rohan has committed some terrible acts in his past. However, he’s since retired to a peaceful life and is trying to be a better person, while also gaining more control of his il’Drach nature.
Return of the Griffin sheds light into Rohan’s origin and how his past actions affected those on Earth. Ultimately, this gives us more depth to Rohan, his internal struggles, and the complexities of the relationships he has with others. Not to mention how all this impacted his efforts to save humanity.
There were also heartwarming and creepy moments that left me wanting more. JCM Berne excels at building captivating characters and a diverse world. This is done in such a way that invests you, not just in our main character, but also the side cast we meet along the way.
The worldbuilding continues to grow as the setting for this story takes place on Earth, instead of on Wistful. With Powered Beings, villains, metaphysical and scientific elements, vampires, giant monsters, ancient aliens, sentient spaceships, and epic battle scenes there was lots to love in this.
There was also a change in tone to this story. Where Wistful Ascending had a slice of life feeling to it, Return of the Griffin is far more adventurous, action packed and serious due to the perils at hand.
All that being said, with how much happens in the plot, I found the ending felt rushed. However, the story overall was engaging and entertaining.
Rohan has quickly become one of my favourite characters, despite the fashion faux pas of his yellow and purple jumpsuit.
I look forward to continuing the Hybrid Helix series with Turn Three, Blood Reunion.
A great read for any sci-fi and superhero fans!
I received this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
Please be mindful of spoilers for Wistful Ascending.
Yet again, JCM Berne pulls you in with a gripping prologue and takes you on a wild adventure. Return of the Griffin is Turn Two of the Hybrid Helix series and continues Rohan’s story.
Story Overview:
Earth is under attack by Ten-kiloton monsters, cities have been destroyed and millions have died. The heroes of Earth have given their lives, but the threat continues. The survivors put together a desperate plan to find Hyperion. Only Hyperion is dead.
Rohan has retired from war and fighting to a peaceful life on the space station, Wistful. When word reaches Rohan of the devastation on Earth, he returns home to try and save humanity. Only Rohan didn’t leave on the best of terms and facing these monsters aren’t the only troubles he must overcome. Can he save the Earth, or will he become the Griffin again?
Review:
It was great to be back with our witty superhero Rohan, and to see more of his past. In Wistful Ascending we learn that Rohan has committed some terrible acts in his past. However, he’s since retired to a peaceful life and is trying to be a better person, while also gaining more control of his il’Drach nature.
Return of the Griffin sheds light into Rohan’s origin and how his past actions affected those on Earth. Ultimately, this gives us more depth to Rohan, his internal struggles, and the complexities of the relationships he has with others. Not to mention how all this impacted his efforts to save humanity.
There were also heartwarming and creepy moments that left me wanting more. JCM Berne excels at building captivating characters and a diverse world. This is done in such a way that invests you, not just in our main character, but also the side cast we meet along the way.
The worldbuilding continues to grow as the setting for this story takes place on Earth, instead of on Wistful. With Powered Beings, villains, metaphysical and scientific elements, vampires, giant monsters, ancient aliens, sentient spaceships, and epic battle scenes there was lots to love in this.
There was also a change in tone to this story. Where Wistful Ascending had a slice of life feeling to it, Return of the Griffin is far more adventurous, action packed and serious due to the perils at hand.
All that being said, with how much happens in the plot, I found the ending felt rushed. However, the story overall was engaging and entertaining.
Rohan has quickly become one of my favourite characters, despite the fashion faux pas of his yellow and purple jumpsuit.
I look forward to continuing the Hybrid Helix series with Turn Three, Blood Reunion.
A great read for any sci-fi and superhero fans!
December 30, 2022
It’s sooooooo good!
This series is fast becoming a major favorite! The character development is solid, the story and pacing is fast and threaded together so well. There aren’t any odd loose ends at the end of each installment, but you somehow know there are so many places to go and explore. Instead of an author trying to figure out how to rinse and repeat, we have a storyteller that is just getting started and obviously loves what he’s doing! Wow. I may have liked this book even better than the first. On to the third.
This series is fast becoming a major favorite! The character development is solid, the story and pacing is fast and threaded together so well. There aren’t any odd loose ends at the end of each installment, but you somehow know there are so many places to go and explore. Instead of an author trying to figure out how to rinse and repeat, we have a storyteller that is just getting started and obviously loves what he’s doing! Wow. I may have liked this book even better than the first. On to the third.
May 19, 2025
Rohan is back and now he has to save Earth from... giant sharks. Yea, you're in for a ride.
JCM Berne's wit and humor are on full display again, but there's more depth to this superhero-in-space story. I particularly liked the moments between Rohan and his ex, Bright Angel, where we get a more mature and realistic view of a relationship than you usually see in SFF. But at the core, this is a superhero story and there's plenty of fun and action in Return of the Griffin.
This series is addicting in the same way that Dungeon Crawler Carl is addicting and it's hard to put down once you start. This is a more narrow story than book one, so be prepared for that and it might better set your expectations going in. The Hybrid Helix is a special series and I can't wait to read book three.
7.75/10
4/5 ⭐️
JCM Berne's wit and humor are on full display again, but there's more depth to this superhero-in-space story. I particularly liked the moments between Rohan and his ex, Bright Angel, where we get a more mature and realistic view of a relationship than you usually see in SFF. But at the core, this is a superhero story and there's plenty of fun and action in Return of the Griffin.
This series is addicting in the same way that Dungeon Crawler Carl is addicting and it's hard to put down once you start. This is a more narrow story than book one, so be prepared for that and it might better set your expectations going in. The Hybrid Helix is a special series and I can't wait to read book three.
7.75/10
4/5 ⭐️
November 25, 2024
This review was originally posted on SFFINSIDERS.COM
Discovering Rohan in Wistful Ascending has to be one of my favorite new encounters of 2024. Apart from the fact that he hails from my country of origin, Rohan’s personality, backstory, and compulsive likeability make him a near-perfect protagonist that you just cannot stop rooting for. With Return of the Griffin, we see him face his past—friends and foes alike.
I’ve mentioned multiple times that despite its kinetic action scenes and badass character clashes, it’s the cozy moments in between that really stood out for me in Wistful Ascending. But, is that the same case for its sequel? Keep reading!
What I liked:
Return of the Griffin starts out in a similar fashion as the last entry. We find Rohan stuck in the middle of a confusing action scene where he is seemingly overpowered. Cut to weeks earlier, where we slowly see the events leading up to that moment unfold.
Rohan is on Wistful, gearing up for a rescue mission on Toth 3. In the opening chapters, we see much of what we’ve come to like—and fear—about this universe. Berne makes you comfortable by reintroducing his setting, before pulling the rug from under your feet and transporting Rohan to Earth for the rest of the book. I honestly didn’t expect this (I had not read the blurb), but it came as a happy surprise.
Return of the Griffin is an all-out superhero novel. We get everything from superhero team-ups to ageing-heroes tropes, all perfectly blended with Rohan’s personality and bad jokes. Unlike the first novel, this one takes us back to Rohan’s world, where he comes face to face with his former teammates, ex-lover, former villains, and most importantly, his mother. We learn more about his past, and how his il’Drach blood has cost him during his time on Earth.
But it’s not just about Rohan making amends. This is an experienced superhero who’s seen his share of war and life. Instead of being the angsty brooding superhero, he sheds all inhibitions to display his vulnerability. Rohan doesn’t shy away from admitting his mistakes, instead going all the way to accept accountability. This mature and wholesome attitude towards all the wrong he did is one of the many reasons that Rohan is compulsively likeable. Even in the face of the worst accusations, Rohan remains true to himself and does not pass the blame—even when there are multiple excuses.
Right, so I’ve rambled on for two whole paragraphs about how Rohan is a great protagonist and how he singlehandedly makes this series a better character-driven work than the vast majority of superhero stories out there. But he isn’t the only good thing about this book.
The supporting cast from Wistful Ascending is largely missing from this one. However, the replacement roster of superheroes—and Rohan’s mom—doesn’t once make us feel their absence. Since Rohan already has a history with all of these folks, the character moments really shine in revealing Rohan and his past. All this not only makes the reading experience more fun but keeps on adding layers to Rohan’s backstory. Be it Bright Angel and Rohan’s tension as ex-lovers, or his mother’s mixed emotions towards her child who has been missing for eleven years, Berne navigates these dynamics with the same ease and fluidity as he did in Wistful Ascending.
To build off that, the earth we visit is populated with superheroes, powered villains, and everything we’ve come to expect and love from Marvel, DC, and even Invincible. Some ‘inspirations’ are very much on-the-nose, with the Green, Kid Lightning, and Poseidon. But, it doesn’t matter. Berne unapologetically integrates these elements into his plot to focus on the larger theme of coming to terms with your past mistakes. The superheroes, kaiju sharks, and the plot of the Old Ones make for a rich backdrop for Rohan’s emotional and personal journey. The similarities make it easier to assimilate into this world, while Berne’s spin makes the read a fun, enjoyable, and often times a cozy experience. He doesn’t waste time teasing a larger universe, instead grounding us in the one he’s already built and focusing on the things that actually matter.
What I didn’t like:
As much as I love the Hybrid Helix, there were a few things that did feel underutilized. Primarily, the main antagonist.
Conclusion:
The superhero genre has been on the decline post-Endgame. But there are a few properties out there that are keeping the genre alive and relevant to pop culture. In my very honest opinion, Hybrid Helix is one of those properties. If you love the superhero genre, you have to pick up these books!
Return of the Griffin is a solid sequel to an amazing Wistful Ascending. I am tempted to abandon my reading plans and binge on this series because these stories are just that damn good!
TL;DR:
WHAT I LIKED: Rohan, character moments and dynamics, fast-paced story.
WHAT I DIDN’T LIKE: the main antagonist and the conclusion of the Old Ones plot.
Discovering Rohan in Wistful Ascending has to be one of my favorite new encounters of 2024. Apart from the fact that he hails from my country of origin, Rohan’s personality, backstory, and compulsive likeability make him a near-perfect protagonist that you just cannot stop rooting for. With Return of the Griffin, we see him face his past—friends and foes alike.
I’ve mentioned multiple times that despite its kinetic action scenes and badass character clashes, it’s the cozy moments in between that really stood out for me in Wistful Ascending. But, is that the same case for its sequel? Keep reading!
What I liked:
Return of the Griffin starts out in a similar fashion as the last entry. We find Rohan stuck in the middle of a confusing action scene where he is seemingly overpowered. Cut to weeks earlier, where we slowly see the events leading up to that moment unfold.
Rohan is on Wistful, gearing up for a rescue mission on Toth 3. In the opening chapters, we see much of what we’ve come to like—and fear—about this universe. Berne makes you comfortable by reintroducing his setting, before pulling the rug from under your feet and transporting Rohan to Earth for the rest of the book. I honestly didn’t expect this (I had not read the blurb), but it came as a happy surprise.
Return of the Griffin is an all-out superhero novel. We get everything from superhero team-ups to ageing-heroes tropes, all perfectly blended with Rohan’s personality and bad jokes. Unlike the first novel, this one takes us back to Rohan’s world, where he comes face to face with his former teammates, ex-lover, former villains, and most importantly, his mother. We learn more about his past, and how his il’Drach blood has cost him during his time on Earth.
But it’s not just about Rohan making amends. This is an experienced superhero who’s seen his share of war and life. Instead of being the angsty brooding superhero, he sheds all inhibitions to display his vulnerability. Rohan doesn’t shy away from admitting his mistakes, instead going all the way to accept accountability. This mature and wholesome attitude towards all the wrong he did is one of the many reasons that Rohan is compulsively likeable. Even in the face of the worst accusations, Rohan remains true to himself and does not pass the blame—even when there are multiple excuses.
Right, so I’ve rambled on for two whole paragraphs about how Rohan is a great protagonist and how he singlehandedly makes this series a better character-driven work than the vast majority of superhero stories out there. But he isn’t the only good thing about this book.
The supporting cast from Wistful Ascending is largely missing from this one. However, the replacement roster of superheroes—and Rohan’s mom—doesn’t once make us feel their absence. Since Rohan already has a history with all of these folks, the character moments really shine in revealing Rohan and his past. All this not only makes the reading experience more fun but keeps on adding layers to Rohan’s backstory. Be it Bright Angel and Rohan’s tension as ex-lovers, or his mother’s mixed emotions towards her child who has been missing for eleven years, Berne navigates these dynamics with the same ease and fluidity as he did in Wistful Ascending.
To build off that, the earth we visit is populated with superheroes, powered villains, and everything we’ve come to expect and love from Marvel, DC, and even Invincible. Some ‘inspirations’ are very much on-the-nose, with the Green, Kid Lightning, and Poseidon. But, it doesn’t matter. Berne unapologetically integrates these elements into his plot to focus on the larger theme of coming to terms with your past mistakes. The superheroes, kaiju sharks, and the plot of the Old Ones make for a rich backdrop for Rohan’s emotional and personal journey. The similarities make it easier to assimilate into this world, while Berne’s spin makes the read a fun, enjoyable, and often times a cozy experience. He doesn’t waste time teasing a larger universe, instead grounding us in the one he’s already built and focusing on the things that actually matter.
What I didn’t like:
As much as I love the Hybrid Helix, there were a few things that did feel underutilized. Primarily, the main antagonist.
Conclusion:
The superhero genre has been on the decline post-Endgame. But there are a few properties out there that are keeping the genre alive and relevant to pop culture. In my very honest opinion, Hybrid Helix is one of those properties. If you love the superhero genre, you have to pick up these books!
Return of the Griffin is a solid sequel to an amazing Wistful Ascending. I am tempted to abandon my reading plans and binge on this series because these stories are just that damn good!
TL;DR:
WHAT I LIKED: Rohan, character moments and dynamics, fast-paced story.
WHAT I DIDN’T LIKE: the main antagonist and the conclusion of the Old Ones plot.
June 24, 2023
I am so FINISHED with angry USA racism and neo-nazi plotlines in *checks notes* Canadian-Desi Superhero Space Opera Fantasy books.
DNF at 57%
DNF at 57%
October 10, 2024
If you prefer watching videos, I've posted a full, spoiler-free discussion about my experience with RETURN OF THE GRIFFIN on my BookTube Channel!
The following is a brief summary of the transcript taken from the above referenced video review.
If you love science fiction blended with fantasy, and stories about superheroes, I think this series will be right up your alley. RETURN OF THE GRIFFIN really felt like reading a comic book—minus the pictures. The writing is so vivid that I could picture every scene, especially the shark ones.
In RETURN OF THE GRIFFIN, humanity is on the brink of extinction. Massive monsters rise out of the Pacific, destroying cities and killing millions. Earth’s heroes are nearly wiped out, and the survivors desperately seek out the help of Hyperion, the planet's most powerful hero. But instead, they learn he’s dead, leaving them to look to the Griffin, a former weapon of mass destruction once wielded by the Il'Drach Empire. The Griffin sees this as his chance for redemption for past deeds, provided he can exercise restraint from becoming the monster he once was.
If you've read the first book, WISTFUL ASCENDING, you might notice that RETURN OF THE GRIFFIN feels darker and more serious. We dive into the character of Rohan—the Griffin—and learn why he fought so hard to control his powers in the previous book. This installment doesn’t have the slice-of-life humor we got in the first book, but it’s much deeper in terms of character development.
One of the main differences in RETURN OF THE GRIFFIN is that it takes place mostly on Earth, which, for me, was a bit disappointing because it meant less time with the characters I loved from the first book. Among the new characters introduced, the standouts were Rohan’s mother and, of course, the sharks. I love anything with sharks, so I was instantly sold.
Rohan's mother was a pleasant surprise. She's human, not a hybrid or a superhero, but she exudes strength and confidence in a way that really impressed me. The author’s descriptions of her were so well done, giving her a commanding presence without any supernatural abilities.
And then there are the sharks. Yes, these sharks have four legs, which sounds ridiculous, but the way they’re written is terrifying. Each time they appear, there’s a sense of doom. The destruction they cause is on a massive scale—entire cities wiped out, millions displaced, superheroes killed. Every time one of these creatures was sighted, I found myself on edge, just like you would if tracking a hurricane's path, waiting to see where it will make landfall. (EDIT: I filmed this review months ago and this last comment really hits some kind of way since we just had Hurricane Milton hit Florida last night.)
JCM Berne really shines in these moments. He’s able to switch from light-hearted banter to dark, tension-filled scenes with ease, and it makes for an engaging, high-stakes read.
Now, one part of the book that didn’t land for me was the introduction of a group called the Proud Guys. My guess is that they were added for brevity and a bit of comedic relief, but their inclusion felt out of place. Rohan is trying to recruit anyone with powers to help fight the sharks, even villains. But instead of a broader recruitment effort, the story singles out this one group, which is clearly a spoof of a real-world organization. The humor didn’t land for me, and it felt like a missed opportunity to develop the plot further by bringing in more varied villains.
Overall, RETURN OF THE GRIFFIN delivers an exciting, character-driven story, focusing heavily on Rohan’s past and the internal conflict he faces as he tries to protect Earth. While it takes on a darker tone than the first book, Rohan's wit and humor still manage to shine through, even if it’s more subdued.
I had a great time with this book, and I’m looking forward to continuing the series with BLOOD REUNION, the third installment in the Hybrid Helix series.
A heartfelt thanks to my Patrons on Patreon for their support towards my enthusiasm for reading and reviewing!
Special thanks to my highest level Patrons: Ev, Sharon, Andrew, Star, Kate, Gail, Amanda F., Tara, John, Ann, Chad K., & Ashley E.
The following is a brief summary of the transcript taken from the above referenced video review.
If you love science fiction blended with fantasy, and stories about superheroes, I think this series will be right up your alley. RETURN OF THE GRIFFIN really felt like reading a comic book—minus the pictures. The writing is so vivid that I could picture every scene, especially the shark ones.
In RETURN OF THE GRIFFIN, humanity is on the brink of extinction. Massive monsters rise out of the Pacific, destroying cities and killing millions. Earth’s heroes are nearly wiped out, and the survivors desperately seek out the help of Hyperion, the planet's most powerful hero. But instead, they learn he’s dead, leaving them to look to the Griffin, a former weapon of mass destruction once wielded by the Il'Drach Empire. The Griffin sees this as his chance for redemption for past deeds, provided he can exercise restraint from becoming the monster he once was.
If you've read the first book, WISTFUL ASCENDING, you might notice that RETURN OF THE GRIFFIN feels darker and more serious. We dive into the character of Rohan—the Griffin—and learn why he fought so hard to control his powers in the previous book. This installment doesn’t have the slice-of-life humor we got in the first book, but it’s much deeper in terms of character development.
One of the main differences in RETURN OF THE GRIFFIN is that it takes place mostly on Earth, which, for me, was a bit disappointing because it meant less time with the characters I loved from the first book. Among the new characters introduced, the standouts were Rohan’s mother and, of course, the sharks. I love anything with sharks, so I was instantly sold.
Rohan's mother was a pleasant surprise. She's human, not a hybrid or a superhero, but she exudes strength and confidence in a way that really impressed me. The author’s descriptions of her were so well done, giving her a commanding presence without any supernatural abilities.
And then there are the sharks. Yes, these sharks have four legs, which sounds ridiculous, but the way they’re written is terrifying. Each time they appear, there’s a sense of doom. The destruction they cause is on a massive scale—entire cities wiped out, millions displaced, superheroes killed. Every time one of these creatures was sighted, I found myself on edge, just like you would if tracking a hurricane's path, waiting to see where it will make landfall. (EDIT: I filmed this review months ago and this last comment really hits some kind of way since we just had Hurricane Milton hit Florida last night.)
JCM Berne really shines in these moments. He’s able to switch from light-hearted banter to dark, tension-filled scenes with ease, and it makes for an engaging, high-stakes read.
Now, one part of the book that didn’t land for me was the introduction of a group called the Proud Guys. My guess is that they were added for brevity and a bit of comedic relief, but their inclusion felt out of place. Rohan is trying to recruit anyone with powers to help fight the sharks, even villains. But instead of a broader recruitment effort, the story singles out this one group, which is clearly a spoof of a real-world organization. The humor didn’t land for me, and it felt like a missed opportunity to develop the plot further by bringing in more varied villains.
Overall, RETURN OF THE GRIFFIN delivers an exciting, character-driven story, focusing heavily on Rohan’s past and the internal conflict he faces as he tries to protect Earth. While it takes on a darker tone than the first book, Rohan's wit and humor still manage to shine through, even if it’s more subdued.
I had a great time with this book, and I’m looking forward to continuing the series with BLOOD REUNION, the third installment in the Hybrid Helix series.
A heartfelt thanks to my Patrons on Patreon for their support towards my enthusiasm for reading and reviewing!
Special thanks to my highest level Patrons: Ev, Sharon, Andrew, Star, Kate, Gail, Amanda F., Tara, John, Ann, Chad K., & Ashley E.
January 23, 2023
Finished this gem this morning while drinking my coffee. I would've finished it last night however I kept dozing while trying to read. Book 2 of The Hybrid Helix continues the life and adventures of Rohan who is trying to live a normal life which is pretty much impossible for the il'Drach hybrid. Rohan ends up returning to his home planet Earth to help defeat these massive land sharks that are wiping out cities and humanity. The best superheroes, metahumans and even villains are losing the fight against these creatures. Earth sent out a small team to find there top hero Hyperion to help to find out by Rohan that Hyperion is dead. Rohan reluctantly goes back with the team to help fight. Once there Rohan is facing his past mistakes and pretty much trying to make up for it. Return of the Griffin has the same spirit as book 1 Wistful Ascending and thankfully the same humor. It was interesting to learn about Rohan's past and meet his mother and other friends. You still she more growth in Rohan which I love and of course I will continue this series. JCM Berne keep up the good work I really enjoy these books, it's a nice change of pace for me.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 15, 2025
‘“Rohan, if you get yourself killed, I will be sad. If you get Lyst killed, I will find a team of Shayjh to resurrect you so I can kill you again, with my own hands.”
He sighed. “I’ll prioritize her safety over my own. Good enough?”
“It is a start.”’
I’m back with turn two of the hybrid helix and am determined to get through the series this year. It is definitely one of the fun books I get to read. Superhero fantasy usually gets little of the limelight while discussing the different subgenres under the fantasy umbrella but this series is one of the best realizations of it. There is no way simply that readers do not love Rohan a.ka. The Griffin.
Book 1 (Wistful Ascending) is one of the best books I have ever read and it was in my top 10 reads of the year 2023. I shouldn’t have taken such a long break after that but I’m determined to correct that this year especially with one or two books coming out every year. As I said in book 1’s review, even with a lot of action and some pretty dark stuff, I associate a cozy, comforting feel with this series and it doesn’t change.
Sentient spaceships are always a nice touch. A new one was introduced in the beginning of this book and immediately skyrocketed to the top of my favorites list. While the first book happens entirely in space, this one takes Rohan back to Earth. He was an angry superhero who left Earth a decade ago but is now back because Earth is facing an extinction-level threat. The way this threat is written is so effective. I truly felt that humanity was in an impossible situation and the battle, and the losses suffered as the threat grew felt so convincing. The stakes were set up so well and I was invested. While he faces a very obvious threat, he also has to go back and talk to his mother and his ex - after being in no contact for more than a decade.
‘Ben raised his donut in a salute. “Two angry women. Not something the Empire trained you to handle.”’
Great action scenes, witty banter, and great emotional character arcs are all ̶f̶a̶s̶t̶ ̶b̶e̶c̶o̶m̶i̶n̶g̶ already trademarks of JCM Berne. Rohan is such a captivating character to follow, I simply don’t see how anyone can not enjoy and be captivated by his journey. He is such an OP character in this universe and yet is also flawed, relatable, complex - leaving the readers with such a lasting impression and an emotional connection. I want Rohan to win and I want him to be happy. We also get a lot of references to our Earth’s pop culture and that adds to a lot of fun.
Two minor quibbles I have are that - I am personally more partial to the side characters and relationships developed in book 1 and I miss them. This book being set in a totally new area, offers a new cast of side characters but it is like starting a tv series on its fourth season and while they do win me over, it takes a very long time. The other is that while the ending is certainly explosive and has a proper resolution to the plot threads, I wanted the orchestrators of the enormous thread explored a bit more. This one definitely seems to be more about Rohan’s character growth and redemption.
So while this falls slightly short of the highs Wistful Ascending (Book 1) reached for me, it was still an enjoyable time and I’m certainly going to start Book 3 very soon.
He sighed. “I’ll prioritize her safety over my own. Good enough?”
“It is a start.”’
I’m back with turn two of the hybrid helix and am determined to get through the series this year. It is definitely one of the fun books I get to read. Superhero fantasy usually gets little of the limelight while discussing the different subgenres under the fantasy umbrella but this series is one of the best realizations of it. There is no way simply that readers do not love Rohan a.ka. The Griffin.
Book 1 (Wistful Ascending) is one of the best books I have ever read and it was in my top 10 reads of the year 2023. I shouldn’t have taken such a long break after that but I’m determined to correct that this year especially with one or two books coming out every year. As I said in book 1’s review, even with a lot of action and some pretty dark stuff, I associate a cozy, comforting feel with this series and it doesn’t change.
Sentient spaceships are always a nice touch. A new one was introduced in the beginning of this book and immediately skyrocketed to the top of my favorites list. While the first book happens entirely in space, this one takes Rohan back to Earth. He was an angry superhero who left Earth a decade ago but is now back because Earth is facing an extinction-level threat. The way this threat is written is so effective. I truly felt that humanity was in an impossible situation and the battle, and the losses suffered as the threat grew felt so convincing. The stakes were set up so well and I was invested. While he faces a very obvious threat, he also has to go back and talk to his mother and his ex - after being in no contact for more than a decade.
‘Ben raised his donut in a salute. “Two angry women. Not something the Empire trained you to handle.”’
Great action scenes, witty banter, and great emotional character arcs are all ̶f̶a̶s̶t̶ ̶b̶e̶c̶o̶m̶i̶n̶g̶ already trademarks of JCM Berne. Rohan is such a captivating character to follow, I simply don’t see how anyone can not enjoy and be captivated by his journey. He is such an OP character in this universe and yet is also flawed, relatable, complex - leaving the readers with such a lasting impression and an emotional connection. I want Rohan to win and I want him to be happy. We also get a lot of references to our Earth’s pop culture and that adds to a lot of fun.
Two minor quibbles I have are that - I am personally more partial to the side characters and relationships developed in book 1 and I miss them. This book being set in a totally new area, offers a new cast of side characters but it is like starting a tv series on its fourth season and while they do win me over, it takes a very long time. The other is that while the ending is certainly explosive and has a proper resolution to the plot threads, I wanted the orchestrators of the enormous thread explored a bit more. This one definitely seems to be more about Rohan’s character growth and redemption.
So while this falls slightly short of the highs Wistful Ascending (Book 1) reached for me, it was still an enjoyable time and I’m certainly going to start Book 3 very soon.
June 4, 2025
Probably my favorite of the Hybrid Helix books, our protagonist has returned to Earth where a bunch of kaiju are destroying the planet. It's full of superheroes and it's interesting to contrast it against so much of the space opera stuff from the previous volume. I really like the character development of our protagonist and how he left things on the world. The book goes in some dark places and I feel it's all the stronger for it.
November 3, 2022
A great followup to one of my favourite reads of 2022.
Fast paced full of action, humour and great characters. I absolutely loved this. In this second book we delve into Rohan’s past while he battles to save earth from Giant Kaiju sized shark’s…. with legs. If you’re not sold from that well I can’t help you.
The author is one to follow and I am eager to continue on to the third novel.
Fast paced full of action, humour and great characters. I absolutely loved this. In this second book we delve into Rohan’s past while he battles to save earth from Giant Kaiju sized shark’s…. with legs. If you’re not sold from that well I can’t help you.
The author is one to follow and I am eager to continue on to the third novel.
December 23, 2025
ahhh it's Godzilla
October 1, 2023
4/5.
Once again JCM Berne slams it with the sarcastic banter. This time our boi, Rohan comes back to earth to face off against some ginormous Sharks. This was very reminiscent of the Avengers and definitely felt like a marvel movie in novel form. The only thing for me that didn't work out is that I would like to have more backstory on the side characters and supers we see in this book.
Once again JCM Berne slams it with the sarcastic banter. This time our boi, Rohan comes back to earth to face off against some ginormous Sharks. This was very reminiscent of the Avengers and definitely felt like a marvel movie in novel form. The only thing for me that didn't work out is that I would like to have more backstory on the side characters and supers we see in this book.
October 22, 2023
Fantastic story-work, lovable characters, hilarious banter, such an enjoyable read, just as good as the first!
You know it’s a good book when you keep thinking about the first one and wishing there was more. I was so glad to be back with these characters, but Rohan specifically. It’s a good thing he’s so likable, since the other characters from Book One only got a few cameos and now we’ve got new folks.
One of the most brilliant decisions Berne made was to give his lead character Rohan a past on Earth. By doing that, he’s able to make constant references and quotes to things from our world in his science-fiction world.
Fans of Murder Bot will love the banter and sarcasm found in the Hybrid Helix series!
First one had space bears, now land sharks and Lovecraft and Dr. Who and—Berne is having way too much fun!
“The easiest way to be cruel to people is to treat them like objects. Like things. So I figure the easiest way to avoid bring cruel is to treat more things like people, to practice doing the opposite.” Thought-provoking words in the midst of a superhero space adventure. This seems like a great reason behind why people name their cars…
Berne does a fantastic job of throwing lots of things at you and then bringing them all together at the end. Much like writing a mystery, you never know what’s going to be important!
Excellent, fun read. Cannot wait to dive into the third one!
You know it’s a good book when you keep thinking about the first one and wishing there was more. I was so glad to be back with these characters, but Rohan specifically. It’s a good thing he’s so likable, since the other characters from Book One only got a few cameos and now we’ve got new folks.
One of the most brilliant decisions Berne made was to give his lead character Rohan a past on Earth. By doing that, he’s able to make constant references and quotes to things from our world in his science-fiction world.
Fans of Murder Bot will love the banter and sarcasm found in the Hybrid Helix series!
First one had space bears, now land sharks and Lovecraft and Dr. Who and—Berne is having way too much fun!
“The easiest way to be cruel to people is to treat them like objects. Like things. So I figure the easiest way to avoid bring cruel is to treat more things like people, to practice doing the opposite.” Thought-provoking words in the midst of a superhero space adventure. This seems like a great reason behind why people name their cars…
Berne does a fantastic job of throwing lots of things at you and then bringing them all together at the end. Much like writing a mystery, you never know what’s going to be important!
Excellent, fun read. Cannot wait to dive into the third one!
April 21, 2022
The author's second book, and second in this series, continues the grandiose space opera starring Rohan, aka The Griffin, an imperfect hero in an imperfect universe.
Rohan's adventures take him back to Earth this time, where he has been summoned to help save it from gaiju that are laying its cities to waste.
I continue to be impressed by the story, the character development, and the quality of the writing. Berne's sarcastic sense of humor comes through in the voice of Rohan, keeping the story grounded and not taking itself too seriously.
The world he has developed clearly has many more stories to tell about both the past and the future. I'm looking forward to book 3, which I hear is currently in development.
Rohan's adventures take him back to Earth this time, where he has been summoned to help save it from gaiju that are laying its cities to waste.
I continue to be impressed by the story, the character development, and the quality of the writing. Berne's sarcastic sense of humor comes through in the voice of Rohan, keeping the story grounded and not taking itself too seriously.
The world he has developed clearly has many more stories to tell about both the past and the future. I'm looking forward to book 3, which I hear is currently in development.
August 3, 2024
Return of The Griffin by J.C.M. Berne - Second book in the Hybrid Helix series
Adventurous, challenging, emotional, hopeful,
inspiring, reflective, sad, and tense.
Medium-paced
Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters are main focus? Yes
4.25 Stars
Loved this book, but felt that it was a bit uneven in pace. On a positive note, the characters of this book...steal the show. Love them, and all their interactions. That being said, I feel that the story was a little unfocused.
Love the idea of Rohan going back home to Earth to save his home from destruction. Also the way he deals with past misdeeds shows a LOT of growth.
Loved his mother, and all that she represented.
The bad guys were bad, but also funny and ridiculous at the same time. In ANY other story/book it wouldn't work, but in this one...they are both funny and scary at the same time.
There was a choice by the author, narrative-wise, that I disagreed with how Rohan dealt with a certain group of people. He get called out on it (which I was glad to see), but I think it should've been dealt differently (like the in-world critic said). It didn't effect the Star rating, but it did bother me...when I read it.
I miss Wistful and Rohan's life on the station. I miss all the characters that we grew to love from the first book. It was good to see people who knew him, from the past...so that part of the story was great, but I miss the characters from the first book. Ugh.
I will be reading some other books, but will come back to this series...for it is the perfect "palette cleanser", from most of the books I've been reading, recently.
Adventurous, challenging, emotional, hopeful,
inspiring, reflective, sad, and tense.
Medium-paced
Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters are main focus? Yes
4.25 Stars
Loved this book, but felt that it was a bit uneven in pace. On a positive note, the characters of this book...steal the show. Love them, and all their interactions. That being said, I feel that the story was a little unfocused.
Love the idea of Rohan going back home to Earth to save his home from destruction. Also the way he deals with past misdeeds shows a LOT of growth.
Loved his mother, and all that she represented.
The bad guys were bad, but also funny and ridiculous at the same time. In ANY other story/book it wouldn't work, but in this one...they are both funny and scary at the same time.
There was a choice by the author, narrative-wise, that I disagreed with how Rohan dealt with a certain group of people. He get called out on it (which I was glad to see), but I think it should've been dealt differently (like the in-world critic said). It didn't effect the Star rating, but it did bother me...when I read it.
I miss Wistful and Rohan's life on the station. I miss all the characters that we grew to love from the first book. It was good to see people who knew him, from the past...so that part of the story was great, but I miss the characters from the first book. Ugh.
I will be reading some other books, but will come back to this series...for it is the perfect "palette cleanser", from most of the books I've been reading, recently.
April 23, 2023
First, a disclaimer: I adored Wistful Ascending. It was one of my favourite books of 2022. It had the right balance of action and humour, with some fantastic character development. So, I had high hopes with Return of the Griffin.
This is not a worse book that Wistful, it's just different. The vast majority of the book is set on Earth and has a completely separate cast except for Rohan and some brief cameos. I like my space opera set in space but that's a me thing, it doesn't really reflect on the book. It is good. Non-stop action with some soul-searching, we find out a lot more about Rohan's past. There's a lot of power on display but it's shared across the board, so it's not too Mary-sueish (not a word but can't think of the proper term). The Villians are ridiculous but in a 70's star trek or Dr Who kind of way.
It was fun. It was ridiculous. It was exactly what I would expect from the Hybrid Helix series. I would have liked more "space" but you can't have everything. What I would really like is for GoodReads to add half stars! Definitely looking forward to book 3. 4.5 stars 🌟
This is not a worse book that Wistful, it's just different. The vast majority of the book is set on Earth and has a completely separate cast except for Rohan and some brief cameos. I like my space opera set in space but that's a me thing, it doesn't really reflect on the book. It is good. Non-stop action with some soul-searching, we find out a lot more about Rohan's past. There's a lot of power on display but it's shared across the board, so it's not too Mary-sueish (not a word but can't think of the proper term). The Villians are ridiculous but in a 70's star trek or Dr Who kind of way.
It was fun. It was ridiculous. It was exactly what I would expect from the Hybrid Helix series. I would have liked more "space" but you can't have everything. What I would really like is for GoodReads to add half stars! Definitely looking forward to book 3. 4.5 stars 🌟
November 26, 2024
4.5⭐️’s
We will get backstory in this story!!
Action packed
Interesting characters!!!
We will get backstory in this story!!
Action packed
Interesting characters!!!
January 5, 2023
5 stars! I loved both of the Hybrid Helix books. I thought it was fun to see Rohan's relationships on Earth. The new characters were great. I thought that all the beings with Powers had to be Hybrids, but that doesn't seem to be the case. I think I picked up on some foreshadowing of a bigger-picture situation going on. It's hard to say much more without spoilers. The fights were good, and there were a lot of them. The main character spends half the book with broken arms and hands. This series is a lot of fun and I'm definitely reading the next one.
January 7, 2024
Return of the Griffin, Hybrid Helix #2, was such a great follow up to Wistful Ascending.
I mentioned how emulatory book 1 was of several Superhero types, while remaining its own thing, and once again the same was done.
One of the strengths (and I’d argue weaknesses) of the Xmen franchise is Soap Opera level of drama continually happening inside Xavier’s school. It is weakest when the Xmen are having a full on heart-to-heart in the middle of the battle, and the fight and convo are entirely divorced from one another. Well, JCM Berne doesn’t fool around. There is plenty of drama to be had, but it’s all tied up in the inner workings of the plot. Even punching a land shark is a perfectly curated allegory for the turmoil that Rohan is coming to terms with in his own heart.
To say that there is no character growth in this or the last book (as another reviewer has mentioned) shows a lack of the insight that Berne has in spades.
(Aside: Berne’s reference-dropping paired with 90s Deadpool banter is laugh out loud funny in ways that should be criminal. His ability to create ease, relatability, and vulnerability ought to be studied my Comic Book writers.)
Thank you for capturing the moral discussion that I’ve missed reading in comics, and marrying it so well with some of the easiest to follow and well-choreographed fights I’ve ever read.
On to Hybrid Helix 3, Blood Reunion!
4.75 out of 5!!
I mentioned how emulatory book 1 was of several Superhero types, while remaining its own thing, and once again the same was done.
One of the strengths (and I’d argue weaknesses) of the Xmen franchise is Soap Opera level of drama continually happening inside Xavier’s school. It is weakest when the Xmen are having a full on heart-to-heart in the middle of the battle, and the fight and convo are entirely divorced from one another. Well, JCM Berne doesn’t fool around. There is plenty of drama to be had, but it’s all tied up in the inner workings of the plot. Even punching a land shark is a perfectly curated allegory for the turmoil that Rohan is coming to terms with in his own heart.
To say that there is no character growth in this or the last book (as another reviewer has mentioned) shows a lack of the insight that Berne has in spades.
(Aside: Berne’s reference-dropping paired with 90s Deadpool banter is laugh out loud funny in ways that should be criminal. His ability to create ease, relatability, and vulnerability ought to be studied my Comic Book writers.)
Thank you for capturing the moral discussion that I’ve missed reading in comics, and marrying it so well with some of the easiest to follow and well-choreographed fights I’ve ever read.
On to Hybrid Helix 3, Blood Reunion!
4.75 out of 5!!
September 14, 2024
This one was difficult for me. It was kind of a combination of Pacific Rim and The Boys (Amazon series).
I really just wanted Tow Chief Second Class Rohan to do more stuff in space... like towing ships at the space station. I wanted more development of Rohan's character (on his own), and I felt it was too soon to delve into Rohan's past and do a homecoming thing.
Further, there were elements that I really didn't understand how they fit into the storyline -- like the vampires and the white supremacists -- and they distracted from the plot.
I really just wanted Tow Chief Second Class Rohan to do more stuff in space... like towing ships at the space station. I wanted more development of Rohan's character (on his own), and I felt it was too soon to delve into Rohan's past and do a homecoming thing.
Further, there were elements that I really didn't understand how they fit into the storyline -- like the vampires and the white supremacists -- and they distracted from the plot.
March 4, 2024
Big recommend on the Hybrid Helix series from me. My rating of 4 stars is in no way any detriment. I'm just a very difficult "get" when it comes to getting a full 5 stars. Basically, those books are mind-changing or life-changing to me in some way.
If there was a subgenre called "literary comic-book-style fantasy", this series would top my favorites list. There is much to appreciate here in the author's sense of humor, action pacing, mystery-weaving, and dialogue.
I look forward to the next turn in the helix and anticipate reading #3 this Spring.
If there was a subgenre called "literary comic-book-style fantasy", this series would top my favorites list. There is much to appreciate here in the author's sense of humor, action pacing, mystery-weaving, and dialogue.
I look forward to the next turn in the helix and anticipate reading #3 this Spring.
January 31, 2023
Novelty wears thin
The first installment was decent enough but this second one falters. In the first novel the MC was attempting to escape his past deeds and his actions were consistent with that. In the second novel the MC feels like he's shed his past entirely and is a different character. Where before his meekness was shed when friends and family were threatened, here he is apologizing for just about everything.
The insertion of modern day politics was also distracting.
The first installment was decent enough but this second one falters. In the first novel the MC was attempting to escape his past deeds and his actions were consistent with that. In the second novel the MC feels like he's shed his past entirely and is a different character. Where before his meekness was shed when friends and family were threatened, here he is apologizing for just about everything.
The insertion of modern day politics was also distracting.
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