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Ashes Over Avalon Trilogy #1
Wildfire: The Rise of a Hero
Abigail Turner knew she wanted to be a superhero even before her flame powers developed. She honed her skills, aced community college, and became the sidekick to San Arbor’s number one hero, Volcanic. When she is fired for misconduct, however, furthering her career seems impossible.
Determined to don her cape at a different superhero company, Abigail knows she must get stronger and accepts a deal from an unlikely source.
Cinder, a similarly powered villain who has bested her at every encounter, offers to train her if Abigail owes him a favor: A way out of the city.
Falling in love wasn’t part of the deal.
As the line between good and evil blurs, Abigail must choose between her passion to do good and her love for a villain who is hiding much more behind his mask.
Wildfire offers an introspective look at the relationships and career complexities within a superhero society and the pursuit of one’s identity when the shadows of their past loom over their future.
Determined to don her cape at a different superhero company, Abigail knows she must get stronger and accepts a deal from an unlikely source.
Cinder, a similarly powered villain who has bested her at every encounter, offers to train her if Abigail owes him a favor: A way out of the city.
Falling in love wasn’t part of the deal.
As the line between good and evil blurs, Abigail must choose between her passion to do good and her love for a villain who is hiding much more behind his mask.
Wildfire offers an introspective look at the relationships and career complexities within a superhero society and the pursuit of one’s identity when the shadows of their past loom over their future.
296 pages, Paperback
Published October 3, 2022
4 people are currently reading
1921 people want to read
About the author
Jordan S. Keller
4 books36 followersJordan S. Keller is a Cincinnati-based writer whose love for stories started at a young age when she preferred to write in a spiral-bound notebook than play outside at recess.
Her thirst for stories grew in college where she majored in print and radio journalism sharing the lives of the incredible people who lived in Eastern Kentucky.
She sharpens her writing skills while recounting the heroics of her Dungeons and Dragons characters over dinner, and co-running The Central Cincinnati Fiction Writers Group.
Jordan S. Keller lives in Cincinnati with her husband, their bearded dragon, a goblin disguised as a cat, a puppy with airplane ears, and fourteen koi fish inherited when they bought the house.
Her thirst for stories grew in college where she majored in print and radio journalism sharing the lives of the incredible people who lived in Eastern Kentucky.
She sharpens her writing skills while recounting the heroics of her Dungeons and Dragons characters over dinner, and co-running The Central Cincinnati Fiction Writers Group.
Jordan S. Keller lives in Cincinnati with her husband, their bearded dragon, a goblin disguised as a cat, a puppy with airplane ears, and fourteen koi fish inherited when they bought the house.
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
September 13, 2023
An exciting start to the series! A fast-paced novel with a strong female lead, Wildfire‘s endlessly creative world sucked me in. I found myself cheering Abigail on as she fought to gain control of her powers and navigated the minefield of priorities between her superhero ambitions and her personal life.
Love the integration of superheroes and Arthurian legends, with a healthy dose of the realities of being a twentysomething in modern society. Looking forward to seeing where Abigail’s journey takes her next!
Love the integration of superheroes and Arthurian legends, with a healthy dose of the realities of being a twentysomething in modern society. Looking forward to seeing where Abigail’s journey takes her next!
March 5, 2024
Too hot to just be a sidekick!
This book is a little outside of what I’d normally read. I find myself saying this a lot lately and most of the time the stories I read outside of my preferred genre still entertain me. This one is no different.
Abigail is a sidekick with fire abilities working for a superhero company (think The Boys) and when she goes off script at a crime scene, it leads to her termination.
Betrayed, hurt, and in need for a job, she finds herself a gig as an assistant to a hero at a different hero company.
In this time, she has a flame villain that she is obsessed with taking down because of him leaving her with a nasty scar, only when she is confronted again, it is the start to something else entirely that she did not expect.
I’ll leave the rundown at that, but what I can say about this story…
Very well written, likable characters, flawed relationships throughout, and a fictional dynamic that was easy to follow as you read and become entangled in this world that is San Arbor.
My only nitpicks are minor and probably just me, but early one as heroes were being introduced I found some of the names to be goofy and if they were real I would 100% make jokes. I know, minor… the other thing being that while I loved the story I felt like a hero story could’ve used a little more action to showcase these other heroes that were explained so well but we didn’t get to see much of them in action.
This is book one of a trilogy and I am planning now to read book two. I recommend this book to anyone that is interested in heroes in real world settings and how they’re used as marketing props and endorsements.
This book is a little outside of what I’d normally read. I find myself saying this a lot lately and most of the time the stories I read outside of my preferred genre still entertain me. This one is no different.
Abigail is a sidekick with fire abilities working for a superhero company (think The Boys) and when she goes off script at a crime scene, it leads to her termination.
Betrayed, hurt, and in need for a job, she finds herself a gig as an assistant to a hero at a different hero company.
In this time, she has a flame villain that she is obsessed with taking down because of him leaving her with a nasty scar, only when she is confronted again, it is the start to something else entirely that she did not expect.
I’ll leave the rundown at that, but what I can say about this story…
Very well written, likable characters, flawed relationships throughout, and a fictional dynamic that was easy to follow as you read and become entangled in this world that is San Arbor.
My only nitpicks are minor and probably just me, but early one as heroes were being introduced I found some of the names to be goofy and if they were real I would 100% make jokes. I know, minor… the other thing being that while I loved the story I felt like a hero story could’ve used a little more action to showcase these other heroes that were explained so well but we didn’t get to see much of them in action.
This is book one of a trilogy and I am planning now to read book two. I recommend this book to anyone that is interested in heroes in real world settings and how they’re used as marketing props and endorsements.
July 13, 2023
I wasn't sure I would like a superhero romance but this was a fun and entertaining read. The author did a nice job balancing the sci-fi superhero side of the story with the personal story of the main character Abigail. Good character development and an interesting story arc kept me reading past my bedtime. Making it more interesting and relatable, the superheroes work for corporations (think the series The Boys but, thank goodness, not as rough). I also really appreciated that this was the first in a trilogy yet did NOT end in a cliff hanger! You can just read this one book as it stands on its own. Though I, for one, was glad to hear that book 2 is already out!
Since the author lives in our area, she was able to attend our book club dinner. Jordan was as impressive as her first published book. I enjoyed hearing what she based the character Abigail on and learning more about how she got this published. I see great things in her future!
Since the author lives in our area, she was able to attend our book club dinner. Jordan was as impressive as her first published book. I enjoyed hearing what she based the character Abigail on and learning more about how she got this published. I see great things in her future!
June 26, 2023
I am a librarian in the hometown where the author grew up. This book was mentioned at a book club event I hosted at the library and it piqued my interest so I ordered it.
I am a fan of superheroes and did enjoy the more realistic take of how things would be handled if superheroes existed. The corporate lifestyle and legal aspects keep everything together to make sense. The main part I did not like was the love story. It, on the other hand, was entirely unrealistic. It was all just sexual chemistry as they barely knew anything about each other. I wish there was more details because there is no way these two people fell in love from training and hooking up.
The ending left me wanting more, and I will read the whole trilogy once it is released. Overall, not terrible but not great.
I am a fan of superheroes and did enjoy the more realistic take of how things would be handled if superheroes existed. The corporate lifestyle and legal aspects keep everything together to make sense. The main part I did not like was the love story. It, on the other hand, was entirely unrealistic. It was all just sexual chemistry as they barely knew anything about each other. I wish there was more details because there is no way these two people fell in love from training and hooking up.
The ending left me wanting more, and I will read the whole trilogy once it is released. Overall, not terrible but not great.
November 3, 2022
A SUPER Superhero Romance
The story is about a rising young superhero who falls in love with her villain nemesis and about how far she’s willing to compromise herself to protect him. A beautifully-delivered superhero romance, Wildfire is filled with passion and conflict. And boy, do the sparks fly! Although it’s the first book in what promises to be a great new series, its satisfying ending leaves reader wanting more without feeling incomplete. No annoying cliffhangers. Highly recommend reading and can’t wait until book two!
The story is about a rising young superhero who falls in love with her villain nemesis and about how far she’s willing to compromise herself to protect him. A beautifully-delivered superhero romance, Wildfire is filled with passion and conflict. And boy, do the sparks fly! Although it’s the first book in what promises to be a great new series, its satisfying ending leaves reader wanting more without feeling incomplete. No annoying cliffhangers. Highly recommend reading and can’t wait until book two!
November 21, 2022
THIS BOOK IS AMAZING!
I love how the series intertwines the hero world with the modern world, and doesn't shy away from questions like 'why do we need a police force when we have heros', but rather addresses them both realistically and comically. And the romance between Abigail and Cinder - wow!
Fast-paced, intriguing, and stimulating. I can't wait for the next one!
All I'm saying is if you're into fiction/superheroes/just generally into reading books, any of Jordan Keller's books would be a GREAT choice!
I love how the series intertwines the hero world with the modern world, and doesn't shy away from questions like 'why do we need a police force when we have heros', but rather addresses them both realistically and comically. And the romance between Abigail and Cinder - wow!
Fast-paced, intriguing, and stimulating. I can't wait for the next one!
All I'm saying is if you're into fiction/superheroes/just generally into reading books, any of Jordan Keller's books would be a GREAT choice!
January 12, 2023
Wildfire had all of my favorite tropes: Enemies to lovers, slow burn, and forbidden romance. The book was well-balanced between action (felt like I was reading a comic book!) and character-driven moments. My favorite moments were the roof top scene and the trip to the mountains. The corporate world the book is set in reminded me of The Boys and My Hero Academia where being a hero is a job/popularity contest. Overall a fun read.
February 15, 2023
A great, unique entry in the “Corporate Hero” genre. A down-to-earth, lovable, superpowered protagonist, a morally gray antagonist, and the unexpected romance that develops from their rivalry. Loved it! Well done, Jordan! 👏🏻🔥🦸🏼♀️
July 14, 2023
This book was a wonderful read from start to finish. An entertaining twist on a classic superhero story that kept me in its grips until the final page. I’m thoroughly looking forward to book #2!
August 30, 2023
A great intro to the series, love the main characters! Easy to read with some great plot twists. This is an amazing story.
April 16, 2024
An enjoyable read! I really like how the author tied in how superheros work with the police and how that dynamic might look.
August 25, 2024
Reading physical copies instead of audiobooks is difficult for me, but this was so worth it!!!
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February 5, 2025My conversation with Keller discussing the book here:
https://umfm.com/programming/broadcas...
https://umfm.com/programming/broadcas...
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April 29, 2023Modern superhero stories seem to fall into two camps: classic idolization and cynical satire. Wildfire offers a nice compromise: it builds a realistic world where superheroes coexist with (if not downright acquiesce to) the rest of the society, but the tone is not jaded. Think "The Boys" but with more likeable, grounded, and ultimately human characters--and a more PG rating.
The story wholly embraces grey morals and the two-sides-to-every-story approach, which is necessary if you're going to tell a story about heroes vs. villains. It's even more necessary if your protagonist is a young hero (?) who's soul searching for her purpose in life. So, the setting and the characters do well to give the story momentum and continued conflict that adds layers to the world with each new turn.
The writing itself complements the story's genre and pacing. The dialogue and narration are well balanced and straightforward, which makes for a quick read. It's clear that Keller knows her audience and how to write for them.
On that note, I see Wildfire's audience as perhaps reaching beyond the superhero or speculative fiction genre. Yes, this is a story about a superhero. But that's really only a jumping off point to explore her character arc. At its heart, I see this story as one about young adult grappling with her ambition and insecurities; it's arguably best described as a new adult romance.
That said, I did wish the story would throw me for more of a loop on occasion. That's not to say it lacks character development or turns in the plot, but I feel like I knew Abigail's trajectory from the onset. I hesitate to call out a story for common "tropes" (as every story employs them, and there's nothing inherently wrong with familiarity), but the characters' relationships did progress as most readers would suspect. But really, is that a bad thing? Perhaps Keller has laid all the breadcrumbs for us to follow as intended. If readers want to follow Abigail down a fiery path of self-discovery, and perhaps yell at her along the way, then this book will deliver.
The story wholly embraces grey morals and the two-sides-to-every-story approach, which is necessary if you're going to tell a story about heroes vs. villains. It's even more necessary if your protagonist is a young hero (?) who's soul searching for her purpose in life. So, the setting and the characters do well to give the story momentum and continued conflict that adds layers to the world with each new turn.
The writing itself complements the story's genre and pacing. The dialogue and narration are well balanced and straightforward, which makes for a quick read. It's clear that Keller knows her audience and how to write for them.
On that note, I see Wildfire's audience as perhaps reaching beyond the superhero or speculative fiction genre. Yes, this is a story about a superhero. But that's really only a jumping off point to explore her character arc. At its heart, I see this story as one about young adult grappling with her ambition and insecurities; it's arguably best described as a new adult romance.
That said, I did wish the story would throw me for more of a loop on occasion. That's not to say it lacks character development or turns in the plot, but I feel like I knew Abigail's trajectory from the onset. I hesitate to call out a story for common "tropes" (as every story employs them, and there's nothing inherently wrong with familiarity), but the characters' relationships did progress as most readers would suspect. But really, is that a bad thing? Perhaps Keller has laid all the breadcrumbs for us to follow as intended. If readers want to follow Abigail down a fiery path of self-discovery, and perhaps yell at her along the way, then this book will deliver.
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews