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Heroine Complex #4
Haunted Heroine
The fourth book in the smart, snarky, and action-packed Heroine series follows Evie Tanaka, Aveda Jupiter, and Bea Tanaka as they combat a new supernatural threat.
Everything in Evie Tanaka's life is finally perfect. As a badass superheroine, she defends San Francisco from demon invasion on the regular. Her relationships with superhero partner Aveda Jupiter, little sister Bea, and hot, half-demon husband Nate have never been stronger. Maybe it's possible for a grad school dropout turned put-upon personal assistant turned superhero to have it all?
As if things can't get any better, Evie learns she's pregnant. She's overjoyed, but also worried about whether she's cut out for motherhood. Before she can dwell on her dilemma too much, a women's college reports a string of mysterious "hauntings," and Evie and Aveda are called in to investigate. When the hauntings turn deadly, they decide to move into the dorms full-time, going undercover as grad students.
As she lives out a bizarre version of her grad school life, Evie can't help but wonder about the road not taken: what would her life be like if she'd stayed here instead of pursuing superheroing with Aveda?
Everything in Evie Tanaka's life is finally perfect. As a badass superheroine, she defends San Francisco from demon invasion on the regular. Her relationships with superhero partner Aveda Jupiter, little sister Bea, and hot, half-demon husband Nate have never been stronger. Maybe it's possible for a grad school dropout turned put-upon personal assistant turned superhero to have it all?
As if things can't get any better, Evie learns she's pregnant. She's overjoyed, but also worried about whether she's cut out for motherhood. Before she can dwell on her dilemma too much, a women's college reports a string of mysterious "hauntings," and Evie and Aveda are called in to investigate. When the hauntings turn deadly, they decide to move into the dorms full-time, going undercover as grad students.
As she lives out a bizarre version of her grad school life, Evie can't help but wonder about the road not taken: what would her life be like if she'd stayed here instead of pursuing superheroing with Aveda?
Audio CD
First published July 7, 2020
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About the author
Sarah Kuhn
68 books669 followersSarah Kuhn is the author of Heroine Complex—the first in a series starring Asian American superheroines—for DAW Books. She also wrote The Ruby Equation for the comics anthology Fresh Romance and the romantic comedy novella One Con Glory, which earned praise from io9 and USA Today and is in development as a feature film. Her articles and essays on such topics as geek girl culture, comic book continuity, and Sailor Moon cosplay have appeared in Uncanny Magazine, Apex Magazine, AngryAsianMan.com, IGN.com, Back Stage, The Hollywood Reporter, StarTrek.com, Creative Screenwriting, and the Hugo-nominated anthology Chicks Dig Comics. In 2011, she was selected as a finalist for the CAPE (Coalition of Asian Pacifics in Entertainment) New Writers Award.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 65 reviews
July 8, 2020
3.75 stars
**I received an ARC from Netgalley. These are my honest opinions, and in no way was I compensated for this review.**
It’s been about two to three years since I’ve read the first three books, but I was so excited to read this next installment in the Heroine Complex series! This book is the start of the new trilogy, but you definitely still feel the character growth that has gone on in the original trilogy. Haunted Heroine was an excellent addition to a beloved trilogy, a return to a world that still needs saving.
There are spoilers for the first three book in this review!
Evie‘s life is pretty much perfect: she’s happily married and a badass superheroine, plus she just found out that she’s pregnant. But she’s also dealing with the fear of not being a good mother and not communicating well with her husband. She doesn’t have time to fully process this before she falls into a new case. Along with her best friend (and fellow superheroine) Aveda, Evie goes undercover at the college that she dropped out of years ago, Morgan College.
My favorite thing about this series has always been the characters and the bonds they have with each other. Evie and Aveda have always been so close, and now they’ve formed a healthy and supportive friendship. I feel like their dynamic is at the forefront of this book, if only because we see more of them because they’re undercover together. Aveda helps Evie realize some pent-up feelings, including the rage she still feels towards her ex, a professor who’s still teaching at Morgan.
Despite being in Hawaii, Bea is still very much present in this story, and she and Evie have a heart-to-heart. I loved reading this strong sister relationship! And while we don’t see as much of Nate, we do still get his and Evie’s relationship. Also, I loved seeing Aveda and Scott making kissy faces in the background; I can’t wait to read more of them in the next book!
While Evie’s life is so-called “perfect,” she still has to work through her repressed feelings, especially since they’re at Morgan, the site of one of her most traumatic events. I loved seeing that there was still character growth to be had; moving into a new trilogy can be difficult, I think, because the first book serves as a bridge of the two halves. Also, Evie gets to beat down on her narcissistic ex, the professor who dated her when she was a grad student (there wasn’t too much of an age difference, but still, the power dynamics remain), and we love to see it!
The plot was a prominent aspect of the book. Evie and Aveda spend most of their time tracking down ghosts and the people who have seen them. I’m not saying this was boring but…I was a touch bored most of the time. However, I think I’ve just realized that I’m so invested in this series because of the characters and not any of the demon stuff, which is the basis for the series.
Anyways, Morgan College is open to women and nonbinary people for undergrad and to all genders for grad. There is a prominent side character who is nonbinary (they/them pronouns), as well as many wlw side characters.
Overall, I enjoyed this book. The plot was a little lacking for me but that’s just because I’m more invested in the characters and their dynamics than anything else. I loved returning to this world in Haunted Heroine and can’t wait for the next book in this series!
original review:
this was good, I just think I’m more invested in the characters than the actual plot itself
**I received an ARC from Netgalley. These are my honest opinions, and in no way was I compensated for this review.**
Team Tanaka/Jupiter is gonna go undercover and catch ourselves some ghosts.
It’s been about two to three years since I’ve read the first three books, but I was so excited to read this next installment in the Heroine Complex series! This book is the start of the new trilogy, but you definitely still feel the character growth that has gone on in the original trilogy. Haunted Heroine was an excellent addition to a beloved trilogy, a return to a world that still needs saving.
There are spoilers for the first three book in this review!
Evie‘s life is pretty much perfect: she’s happily married and a badass superheroine, plus she just found out that she’s pregnant. But she’s also dealing with the fear of not being a good mother and not communicating well with her husband. She doesn’t have time to fully process this before she falls into a new case. Along with her best friend (and fellow superheroine) Aveda, Evie goes undercover at the college that she dropped out of years ago, Morgan College.
My favorite thing about this series has always been the characters and the bonds they have with each other. Evie and Aveda have always been so close, and now they’ve formed a healthy and supportive friendship. I feel like their dynamic is at the forefront of this book, if only because we see more of them because they’re undercover together. Aveda helps Evie realize some pent-up feelings, including the rage she still feels towards her ex, a professor who’s still teaching at Morgan.
Despite being in Hawaii, Bea is still very much present in this story, and she and Evie have a heart-to-heart. I loved reading this strong sister relationship! And while we don’t see as much of Nate, we do still get his and Evie’s relationship. Also, I loved seeing Aveda and Scott making kissy faces in the background; I can’t wait to read more of them in the next book!
While Evie’s life is so-called “perfect,” she still has to work through her repressed feelings, especially since they’re at Morgan, the site of one of her most traumatic events. I loved seeing that there was still character growth to be had; moving into a new trilogy can be difficult, I think, because the first book serves as a bridge of the two halves. Also, Evie gets to beat down on her narcissistic ex, the professor who dated her when she was a grad student (there wasn’t too much of an age difference, but still, the power dynamics remain), and we love to see it!
The plot was a prominent aspect of the book. Evie and Aveda spend most of their time tracking down ghosts and the people who have seen them. I’m not saying this was boring but…I was a touch bored most of the time. However, I think I’ve just realized that I’m so invested in this series because of the characters and not any of the demon stuff, which is the basis for the series.
Anyways, Morgan College is open to women and nonbinary people for undergrad and to all genders for grad. There is a prominent side character who is nonbinary (they/them pronouns), as well as many wlw side characters.
Overall, I enjoyed this book. The plot was a little lacking for me but that’s just because I’m more invested in the characters and their dynamics than anything else. I loved returning to this world in Haunted Heroine and can’t wait for the next book in this series!
original review:
this was good, I just think I’m more invested in the characters than the actual plot itself
July 27, 2020
This series is actual magic! Seriously, every book in it is like a hug for my heart, with a side of awesome superhero action! And in this one- ghosts!!!
July 6, 2020
4.5 stars - Reviewed for
Wit and Sin
The adventure continues as superheroine Evie Tanaka confronts the past and faces the future in Haunted Heroine . Sarah Kuhn’s latest entry in the Heroine Complex series has all the action, humor, and heart I’ve come to expect from this wonderful, original series.
When she and Aveda go undercover as grad students at Evie’s former college, it’s time for Evie to face what might have been. She had to drop out as a grad student because she was burning the candle at both ends, trying to be a mom to her grieving little sister while also taking a challenging class load was just too much. Being back at Morgan College posing as a grad student makes Evie question things. She loves her life, loves her husband and the family she’s made, but impending motherhood (with a baby who has both superhero and demon DNA) and an emotional distance between her and Nate is making Evie doubt herself. I really loved that there wasn’t false drama; these are all logical questions. Take away the supernatural elements and Evie’s doubts and insecurities are all real-world problems people face. Evie has already become the badass superheroine she’s meant to be and I won’t spoil the story by going into detail over the obstacles she faces. Suffice it to say that in Haunted Heroine Evie fully comes into her own and learns self-acceptance, which I absolutely loved.
Evie’s college adventure wouldn’t be complete without her co-superheroine at her side. The growth of Evie and Aveda’s friendship is one of my favorite things about the Heroine Complex series. While their friendship was toxic at the beginning of Heroine Complex and Aveda really had to learn boundaries, she’s come a long way. Aveda is supportive and protective of Evie, recognizing her own faults and determined to be the best friend she can be. She also takes to college life immediately and her enthusiasm was infectious. I adored watching their friendship grow even stronger. They also make plenty of new friends at Morgan and each of these students are interesting and engaging characters in their own right. The bonds that form in this book are wonderful to read about and the pages of the story practically flew by because of them.
It would be remiss of me to talk about Haunted Heroine and not mention the hauntings. Morgan College is experiencing some fearsome ghost activity and Evie and Aveda are on the case. I loved watching the layers of the mystery unfold as Evie and Aveda investigate the supernatural happenings. The action is fun and exciting, the mystery and its potential consequences are interesting, and I finished the story excited to see what Ms. Kuhn has in store for the Heroine Complex-verse.
FTC Disclosure: I received this book for free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
The adventure continues as superheroine Evie Tanaka confronts the past and faces the future in Haunted Heroine . Sarah Kuhn’s latest entry in the Heroine Complex series has all the action, humor, and heart I’ve come to expect from this wonderful, original series.
When she and Aveda go undercover as grad students at Evie’s former college, it’s time for Evie to face what might have been. She had to drop out as a grad student because she was burning the candle at both ends, trying to be a mom to her grieving little sister while also taking a challenging class load was just too much. Being back at Morgan College posing as a grad student makes Evie question things. She loves her life, loves her husband and the family she’s made, but impending motherhood (with a baby who has both superhero and demon DNA) and an emotional distance between her and Nate is making Evie doubt herself. I really loved that there wasn’t false drama; these are all logical questions. Take away the supernatural elements and Evie’s doubts and insecurities are all real-world problems people face. Evie has already become the badass superheroine she’s meant to be and I won’t spoil the story by going into detail over the obstacles she faces. Suffice it to say that in Haunted Heroine Evie fully comes into her own and learns self-acceptance, which I absolutely loved.
Evie’s college adventure wouldn’t be complete without her co-superheroine at her side. The growth of Evie and Aveda’s friendship is one of my favorite things about the Heroine Complex series. While their friendship was toxic at the beginning of Heroine Complex and Aveda really had to learn boundaries, she’s come a long way. Aveda is supportive and protective of Evie, recognizing her own faults and determined to be the best friend she can be. She also takes to college life immediately and her enthusiasm was infectious. I adored watching their friendship grow even stronger. They also make plenty of new friends at Morgan and each of these students are interesting and engaging characters in their own right. The bonds that form in this book are wonderful to read about and the pages of the story practically flew by because of them.
It would be remiss of me to talk about Haunted Heroine and not mention the hauntings. Morgan College is experiencing some fearsome ghost activity and Evie and Aveda are on the case. I loved watching the layers of the mystery unfold as Evie and Aveda investigate the supernatural happenings. The action is fun and exciting, the mystery and its potential consequences are interesting, and I finished the story excited to see what Ms. Kuhn has in store for the Heroine Complex-verse.
FTC Disclosure: I received this book for free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
June 24, 2020
(Disclaimer: I received this book from Netgalley. This has not impacted my review which is unbiased and honest.)
TW: panic attacks
It's been a while since I read the last Heroine Complex story, but Haunted Heroine reminded me why I love the series. It's one of my favorite superhero series because of how emotional and endearing the characters. In Haunted Heroine, Evie has to confront her own past mistakes and failures. We think we've moved on from the past, that we've made peace with our ghosts, but then they come back to haunt us. They prove that they've never really left us.
In Haunted Heroine, Evie's grappling with her past, her ex-boyfriend who was awful, and her decision to leave grad school balanced with her new fears of being a mother. Ghosts and hauntings aside, Haunted Heroine had moments that struck a chord within me. The burden of women of color to represent, and be perfect. Memories of being gaslight and having ex-boyfriends who thought they were more knowledgeable dismiss my opinion. And the influence of Asian American superheroes/representation growing up.
full review: https://utopia-state-of-mind.com/revi...
TW: panic attacks
It's been a while since I read the last Heroine Complex story, but Haunted Heroine reminded me why I love the series. It's one of my favorite superhero series because of how emotional and endearing the characters. In Haunted Heroine, Evie has to confront her own past mistakes and failures. We think we've moved on from the past, that we've made peace with our ghosts, but then they come back to haunt us. They prove that they've never really left us.
In Haunted Heroine, Evie's grappling with her past, her ex-boyfriend who was awful, and her decision to leave grad school balanced with her new fears of being a mother. Ghosts and hauntings aside, Haunted Heroine had moments that struck a chord within me. The burden of women of color to represent, and be perfect. Memories of being gaslight and having ex-boyfriends who thought they were more knowledgeable dismiss my opinion. And the influence of Asian American superheroes/representation growing up.
full review: https://utopia-state-of-mind.com/revi...
February 15, 2023
Talk about throwing in the drama for the fourth book! No fair Sarah for making me cry so much.
This book picks up about 2 months into Evie's pregnancy which was revealed in Book 3! So we get to know more about how Evie feels about the whole thing.
Like with all the other books, Aveda and Evie are pulled into an investigation, this time on Evie's old college campus. Ghosts are haunting the buildings and they aren't being very nice. Aveda and Evie get to know some new friends while doing the ghost hunts and even new enemies.
I found that this new story arc was really intense; Sarah really focused on the emotional tensions between the characters, especially Evie and Nate. I look forward to seeing what is going to happen next.
This book picks up about 2 months into Evie's pregnancy which was revealed in Book 3! So we get to know more about how Evie feels about the whole thing.
Like with all the other books, Aveda and Evie are pulled into an investigation, this time on Evie's old college campus. Ghosts are haunting the buildings and they aren't being very nice. Aveda and Evie get to know some new friends while doing the ghost hunts and even new enemies.
I found that this new story arc was really intense; Sarah really focused on the emotional tensions between the characters, especially Evie and Nate. I look forward to seeing what is going to happen next.
September 11, 2020
We’re back to Evie with this one, which usually is a plot return I’m not too in favour of, but this is more Evie sorting out her stuff. This book is feels. So many feels all the way through. By the end, I needed both a carpet ball and spam musashi AND I’d had to look up a Taco Bell menu (which didn’t help because I got a UK one, but I get the idea). There’s even a table of cheese at one point (a WHOLE TABLE).
Okay, so I work in academia and I’ve taught the subjects mentioned here. And fan shaming, which is a huge part of the shitty teacher character’s schtick, is absolutely not cool. (I mean, I’ve referenced and recommended the Heroine Complex series in class, so pretty clear where I sit in this). We’re desperate to get students reading beyond the norm - I deliberately recommend Ready Player One because of this (and tell students to read, enjoy, and think about it’s message carefully afterwards - which they frequently do). So ugh, he’s gross, and feels very real as a result. As a games theory lecturer I’m constantly aware that people think my subject is trivial. Anyway... it felt alarmingly close to the wire, even if he is just a big bad ole parody, that dude has been chasing me round university since I started teaching. His ignominious end felt like justice.
Long live the heroines!
Okay, so I work in academia and I’ve taught the subjects mentioned here. And fan shaming, which is a huge part of the shitty teacher character’s schtick, is absolutely not cool. (I mean, I’ve referenced and recommended the Heroine Complex series in class, so pretty clear where I sit in this). We’re desperate to get students reading beyond the norm - I deliberately recommend Ready Player One because of this (and tell students to read, enjoy, and think about it’s message carefully afterwards - which they frequently do). So ugh, he’s gross, and feels very real as a result. As a games theory lecturer I’m constantly aware that people think my subject is trivial. Anyway... it felt alarmingly close to the wire, even if he is just a big bad ole parody, that dude has been chasing me round university since I started teaching. His ignominious end felt like justice.
Long live the heroines!
dnf
August 13, 2020DNFed 4 chapters in because I didn't pay enough attention when I saw a new Heroine Complex book and clicked download, thinking it would be about another character getting a romance and doing some superhero-ing. Actually this is about Evie, the heroine from book one, as she faces parenthood, which, since I liked this series for the romance more than the plot, I don't think is going to be for me.
Based on what I read, this has the humor and the characterization of the earlier books, and, as long as you're not primarily interested in romance (or you don't mind a romance sequel with baby), I think you'll enjoy this. Kuhn's a talented writer, for sure, and I look forward to what she does, but I'm going to check out of Heroine Complex, unless maybe there's another romance.
Based on what I read, this has the humor and the characterization of the earlier books, and, as long as you're not primarily interested in romance (or you don't mind a romance sequel with baby), I think you'll enjoy this. Kuhn's a talented writer, for sure, and I look forward to what she does, but I'm going to check out of Heroine Complex, unless maybe there's another romance.
Read
August 17, 2022
Trigger & Content Warnings
Racism
Panic attacks
Racism
Panic attacks
December 30, 2020
Spoiler warning! This is the fourth novel in the series Heroine Complex and this review may contain spoilers for earlier books in the series. I suspect it will also be a lot more satisfying for someone who's read the preceeding three books. Begin with Heroine Complex.
Poor Evie is not having a fun time of it in this book. While she's excited about her pregnancy, she's also terrified. She was given strange superpowers through demonic energy and her husband is half-demon. Said husband is also completely on edge about Evie and super protective of her. He pretty much wants her wrapped in cotton wool until the baby is born, and to Evie's frustration, absolutely refuses to engage in anything resembling physical affection (so as not to elevate her blood pressure). Neither Evie nor Nate exactly had good parenting role models, and while Evie and her younger sister Bea now have a close and mutually supportive relationship, Evie is still feeling guilt and inadequacy in how she handled a lot of her responsibilities when she pretty much had to raise her teenage sister on her own.
Aveda, on the other hand, is in full cheerleader mode and does whatever she can to support and encourage Evie. She's also the one who insists that she and Evie go back to Morgan College for a reunion. Evie doesn't feel like she belongs at a reunion, after all, she didn't graduate, but quit her degree, exhausted from juggling her studies and taking care of her sister. It's also the place where her powers first properly manifested, when she burned down the campus library in a rage, after finding her college professor boyfriend Richard cheating on her. No matter, Aveda won't take no for an answer, and once they're on campus, they discover that there may be some kind of malevolent supernatural activity there, actually harming the students. Morgan College has always had a reputation for ghosts, but only in brief and occasional appearances. Lately, there have been several harmful and dangerous encounters, and Aveda and Evie are asked to investigate.
Since Evie isn't all too happy with her husband, she agrees to go undercover with Aveda as grad students, which involves not only having to interact with her weaselly ex-boyfriend, Richard but to try out a very different student experience than she was ever able to first time around.
While it's eventually sort of explained, Nate, Evie's one true love, really is a big dumb stupid for a lot of this book. He kind of makes up for it towards the end of the book, but it takes far too long, in my opinion. So anyone looking for a lot of romance is going to be disappointed, there's mostly angst and pregnancy worries here instead.
There is, however, the new and much-improved friendship between Aveda Jupiter and Evie Tanaka. They have come a very long way from Evie being Aveda/Annie's long-suffering and put-upon assistant in book 1. With Bea away researching paranormal activities and only able to communicate with her sister long-distance, Aveda is Evie's staunchest supporter, and when Evie finally breaks down and confesses her worries and fears, does her best to put her mind at ease. She's also determined that Evie get to experience all the various college things she never got to do the first time around (except get blinding drunk, no alcohol while she's gestating).
The two women also befriend several young women who are connected to the case of the malevolent hauntings, and older, stronger, and much more confident Evie gets a chance to finally confront her ex and tell him just how badly he treated her and how f**ked up the power dynamic of their relationship was. By the end of the book, Evie has exorcised a lot of personal demons and is in a much better place.
This book is the start of a new trilogy about the Jupiter/Tanaka superheroines, and it was a lot of fun revisiting this fantasy world again. I reiterate what I said at the beginning of this review, though, I would recommend not starting with this book, there is so much important back story about the various characters and their interpersonal relationships to learn about before reading this one.
Judging a book by its cover: These books really have absolutely amazing cover art. All kudos to Jason Chan, the artist, for time after time knocking it out of the park with fun, creative and very accurate ways in giving the reader a glimpse into what the book will feature.
Poor Evie is not having a fun time of it in this book. While she's excited about her pregnancy, she's also terrified. She was given strange superpowers through demonic energy and her husband is half-demon. Said husband is also completely on edge about Evie and super protective of her. He pretty much wants her wrapped in cotton wool until the baby is born, and to Evie's frustration, absolutely refuses to engage in anything resembling physical affection (so as not to elevate her blood pressure). Neither Evie nor Nate exactly had good parenting role models, and while Evie and her younger sister Bea now have a close and mutually supportive relationship, Evie is still feeling guilt and inadequacy in how she handled a lot of her responsibilities when she pretty much had to raise her teenage sister on her own.
Aveda, on the other hand, is in full cheerleader mode and does whatever she can to support and encourage Evie. She's also the one who insists that she and Evie go back to Morgan College for a reunion. Evie doesn't feel like she belongs at a reunion, after all, she didn't graduate, but quit her degree, exhausted from juggling her studies and taking care of her sister. It's also the place where her powers first properly manifested, when she burned down the campus library in a rage, after finding her college professor boyfriend Richard cheating on her. No matter, Aveda won't take no for an answer, and once they're on campus, they discover that there may be some kind of malevolent supernatural activity there, actually harming the students. Morgan College has always had a reputation for ghosts, but only in brief and occasional appearances. Lately, there have been several harmful and dangerous encounters, and Aveda and Evie are asked to investigate.
Since Evie isn't all too happy with her husband, she agrees to go undercover with Aveda as grad students, which involves not only having to interact with her weaselly ex-boyfriend, Richard but to try out a very different student experience than she was ever able to first time around.
While it's eventually sort of explained, Nate, Evie's one true love, really is a big dumb stupid for a lot of this book. He kind of makes up for it towards the end of the book, but it takes far too long, in my opinion. So anyone looking for a lot of romance is going to be disappointed, there's mostly angst and pregnancy worries here instead.
There is, however, the new and much-improved friendship between Aveda Jupiter and Evie Tanaka. They have come a very long way from Evie being Aveda/Annie's long-suffering and put-upon assistant in book 1. With Bea away researching paranormal activities and only able to communicate with her sister long-distance, Aveda is Evie's staunchest supporter, and when Evie finally breaks down and confesses her worries and fears, does her best to put her mind at ease. She's also determined that Evie get to experience all the various college things she never got to do the first time around (except get blinding drunk, no alcohol while she's gestating).
The two women also befriend several young women who are connected to the case of the malevolent hauntings, and older, stronger, and much more confident Evie gets a chance to finally confront her ex and tell him just how badly he treated her and how f**ked up the power dynamic of their relationship was. By the end of the book, Evie has exorcised a lot of personal demons and is in a much better place.
This book is the start of a new trilogy about the Jupiter/Tanaka superheroines, and it was a lot of fun revisiting this fantasy world again. I reiterate what I said at the beginning of this review, though, I would recommend not starting with this book, there is so much important back story about the various characters and their interpersonal relationships to learn about before reading this one.
Judging a book by its cover: These books really have absolutely amazing cover art. All kudos to Jason Chan, the artist, for time after time knocking it out of the park with fun, creative and very accurate ways in giving the reader a glimpse into what the book will feature.
November 2, 2020
I'm really glad I read this at Halloween, since that's when the book is set. This installment of the series has a real country-house-mystery vibe rather than the straight-up urban fantasy of previous installments. Evie and Aveda rarely use their superpowers here, and instead rely on their detective skills. Mystery aside, there's also a really lovely exploration of Evie's past and reflection on her growth as a person. Fun, spooky and touching, it's a solid addition to an entertaining series.
January 5, 2021
This is everything I have ever wanted in a book. This is it. This is my Gold Standard.
Spooky season.
University setting.
Late night food runs.
Ride or die friends.
Shitting on pretentious mediocre white male academics.
Asian American womxn kicking ass.
Sapphics.
Working through emotional repression and trauma that forced you to grow up too fast.
I thought Heroine's Journey would be my favorite book in this series, but oooooooooohhhhhhhhhh this came for the crown!
Spooky season.
University setting.
Late night food runs.
Ride or die friends.
Shitting on pretentious mediocre white male academics.
Asian American womxn kicking ass.
Sapphics.
Working through emotional repression and trauma that forced you to grow up too fast.
I thought Heroine's Journey would be my favorite book in this series, but oooooooooohhhhhhhhhh this came for the crown!
February 6, 2021
While I wish that the library had the print rather than the audio of this book, it was enjoyable and seeing Evie revisiting her college years (and college self) was surprisingly introspective, what with ghosts and hauntings and tongue-in-cheek glimpses at college life. I loved the dynamic between Evie and Aveda and their in disguise antics. Some of Richard’s mannerisms were a bit...much, but oh so frustrating to hear.
Is this the end? A spinoff in the same universe might be fun.
Is this the end? A spinoff in the same universe might be fun.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 31, 2021
In the fourth installment of the Heroine Complex, the San Francisco's superheroine duo, Evie and Ava, must return to Evie's alma mater to deal with some ghostly guests that seem to be attacking the current student population. Throw in Evie's previous professor and lover and Ava's attempts to go undercover as college students and you get a story that fits this series perfectly.
I look forward to the next installment.
I look forward to the next installment.
June 24, 2023
This is a fun installment of the Heroine Complex series. I wasn't sure how the book would go since the first 3 books each set up the romance for the MCs and now these second 3 books involve established couples. However, it works really well: the relationship is part of the focus of the book, but there's still plenty of paranormal shenanigans to focus on as well.
I especially enjoyed how realistic the college aspect of this book felt. The new characters (almost all college students) were believable and distinct, and I wanted to be their friends. I also appreciated how honest Evie's emotions were in this book. While I haven't felt the exact things she did, I did experience similar feelings when I was in college and I didn't always let myself process them in a healthy fashion. I think I've grown and healed since then, so it was refreshing to see Evie grow and heal as well.
I especially enjoyed how realistic the college aspect of this book felt. The new characters (almost all college students) were believable and distinct, and I wanted to be their friends. I also appreciated how honest Evie's emotions were in this book. While I haven't felt the exact things she did, I did experience similar feelings when I was in college and I didn't always let myself process them in a healthy fashion. I think I've grown and healed since then, so it was refreshing to see Evie grow and heal as well.
October 29, 2023
a wonderfully fun book, and perfect for halloween season
REP: mixed race Asian main character, queer (sapphic) side characters, nonbinary side characters
REP: mixed race Asian main character, queer (sapphic) side characters, nonbinary side characters
March 3, 2021
I said after Heroine’s Journey that I would only read Evie’s second book and call it a day. I’m still likely to do that, but will also likely look at spoilers regarding her from the next two books (this one ended somewhat in an open-ended manner). She is the only one I actually care about.
I know Evie deals with unfinished business here, but Kuhn overuses so many references from her past books that it got really repetitive and annoying, to say nothing of her usual cheesy, cartoonish writing, and Aveda. Sorry not sorry, but while she’s come a long way to be a better friend to Evie, her over-the-top schtick of “I’m a fabulous badass superheroine and you will pay attention to me” is just SOOO overdone, as well as her penchant for referring to herself in the third person. Also, the repetitive use of “badass superheroine” (not necessarily used together) was getting tiring, as well as the Hamilton references. I would have squealed 4-5 years ago, but I guess my preferences have changed overtime.
Bea is not much of an annoying brat here, because she’s in Maui and I guess she’s matured or whatever, but it always bugged me that she never really apologized for being such a pain in the ass to her overworked sister. (If she did, her actions don’t really reflect that.) Only until the end of this book (and in a small degree, Bea’s own book) where they address the time Evie told her she got to be sad about their mother’s death while scrambling to care for them both when Bea accused her of not caring do we see some realization on Bea’s part.
And true to his name, Richard really is a dick. Surprised Kuhn didn’t think to use the Richard/Dick name usage.
Nate might not have shown up a lot here, but when he did, and especially near the end where he channels some top/Dom energy...🥵🔥 I couldn’t help but notice that Evie’s the only one of the three (sorry, didn’t read Lucy’s novella) in which their last line is in a dialogue with their SO. Aveda and Bea end with self-reflection, but Evie in both her books ends the story with talking to Nate. Similar to what Aveda said, Evie hardly ever thinks of herself, at times to a fault, but I always love her scenes with her man.
I know Evie deals with unfinished business here, but Kuhn overuses so many references from her past books that it got really repetitive and annoying, to say nothing of her usual cheesy, cartoonish writing, and Aveda. Sorry not sorry, but while she’s come a long way to be a better friend to Evie, her over-the-top schtick of “I’m a fabulous badass superheroine and you will pay attention to me” is just SOOO overdone, as well as her penchant for referring to herself in the third person. Also, the repetitive use of “badass superheroine” (not necessarily used together) was getting tiring, as well as the Hamilton references. I would have squealed 4-5 years ago, but I guess my preferences have changed overtime.
Bea is not much of an annoying brat here, because she’s in Maui and I guess she’s matured or whatever, but it always bugged me that she never really apologized for being such a pain in the ass to her overworked sister. (If she did, her actions don’t really reflect that.) Only until the end of this book (and in a small degree, Bea’s own book) where they address the time Evie told her she got to be sad about their mother’s death while scrambling to care for them both when Bea accused her of not caring do we see some realization on Bea’s part.
And true to his name, Richard really is a dick. Surprised Kuhn didn’t think to use the Richard/Dick name usage.
Nate might not have shown up a lot here, but when he did, and especially near the end where he channels some top/Dom energy...🥵🔥 I couldn’t help but notice that Evie’s the only one of the three (sorry, didn’t read Lucy’s novella) in which their last line is in a dialogue with their SO. Aveda and Bea end with self-reflection, but Evie in both her books ends the story with talking to Nate. Similar to what Aveda said, Evie hardly ever thinks of herself, at times to a fault, but I always love her scenes with her man.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 24, 2023
4,5 stars
Part of Binge Reading Heroine Complex series (contain spoilers from the first 3 books)
The emotional train is still going strong for our superhero trio and now the second arc of the trio's journey into managing life while kicking demon's ass continue. Kuhn bring back Evie Tanaka as the narrator for Book 4, Haunted Heroine. From all the trio (Evie, Aveda, Bea), I admit I have a soft spot for Evie since I can see myself on her. We both a first child with some chips on our shoulder, though Evie's emotional baggage was bigger than mine. The story itself continue directly from Heroine's Journey aka Bea's book. Evie find that she's pregnant with child. She's over the moon, her life is finally perfect. She's know a superheroine of her own right, become co-superheroine with her best friend, Aveda Jupiter. Her love life is also fabulous since Nate is so in love with her, and finally her tumultuous relationship with Bea turn to the right path with both of them agree to join therapy to process their emotions. All was good.
But is it?
While Haunted Heroine was indeed, feature ghosts and demons alike, I think the title also refer to Evie's haunted past. The setting of Haunted is back to Evie's college and since she's drop out from her grad, things was awkward. Especially, her ex, Richard, professor that love mansplaining and belittle his own student is still teaching there. In the other side, her pregnancy make Evie worried because one classic thinking. Is Evie capable to be a good mother since in the past she can't somehow become a good parent to Bea? Add it with some marital woes because Nate become emotionally distant from Evie and constantly reject her sexual advances. All of it kinda of overwhelming right? But I'm glad that Evie didn't face that all alone. She have Aveda in her side, that now is totally a best friend to Evie, a sign that show Aveda really change for the better.
Kuhn kinda challenge Evie in this book. How to accept and let go of her pasts and regrets. How to forgive her own faults. I said that I have a soft spot for Evie, because I know how it feels to have a bottled up feeling. Evie is too hard to herself, Aveda pointed once that Evie can be angry for Richard's unfair treatment to the student in Morgan College but not angry for herself since Richard is also a douchebag to Evie. Her dilemma, her weariness to constantly balanced grad life and become a sole parent to Bea also what make Evie finally snap and yet she still feel guilty. A guilt that later will be weaponized against her. I like what Kuhn write for Evie's character development. It's feel like closure after what happen to Evie in the first book and also touch some topic from book 3 where Evie and Bea fight and Evie admit that she can't grieving after their mom's death because she just try to survive. I like that Kuhn incorporated via Nate that, life is not perfect and he also remind Evie that life is full of unexpected things but that what make it interesting. I feel that the pregnancy part also well written, since Evie's feeling for her pregnancy somehow valid and give me insight of the fear of a mom-to-be.
For romance department, while it's true that Evie and Nate become emotionally distant, I like how Kuhn solve the problem. The groveling scenes make me go aww and the heart to heart talk make me almost shed tears of my own. I admit that in book 1, both Evie and Nate is going too fast of their romance and also married 4 months after they proclaimed their love. So their problems were also stemmed from that fact and also both are broken in some ways. So it's so good to read how they solve their marital fights. I'm not read book 5 (Aveda) and book 6 (Bea) yet, but I always feel that when it comes to Evie and Nate, the sex scenes become scorching hot, lel. Some of Evie's horny thoughts are pretty hilarious to read, but in the same time also kinda sadden me because of the emotional distance between Evie and Nate. Don't fret tho, all will end well.
The ghosts itself didn't creepy of give me heebies jeebies. The villain itself more like the people in Morgan College that somehow become nasty and that including Richard, the big jerk. While I liked how Kuhn show that Richard's view regarding fantasy featured PoC is so bad, I just wish she didn't drag Tolkien's work. Like, I know I know, I get her points, but I really like Tolkien, sobs. Some of her writing in criticize the state of the fantasy literature and how student study it (since Richard is teaching the pop culture class) can be too in your face, but in the end it depends to how reader perceive it. In the other side, both Evie and Aveda got new friends from the undergraduate student and they finally enjoy what college life should be since Aveda didn't go to college and Evie dropped out. The characters were of course still diverse from both race, gender and sexuality preference and this is the first time I read a side character who is a non binary. There's a new development regarding the demon portals and I'm curious if the villain from the first book will come back and start their villainy ways to rule the world (not gonna happen, I bet).
Overall, a good book that left me satisfied with how Evie's character develops and how she finally make peace with her pasts. The next book, Hollywood Heroine is about Aveda and I think, I'm intrigued for what Kuhn have for Aveda. Aveda in this book is totally a supportive characters, the diva persona is already gone although Aveda is still bossy. Aveda also kinda solved her "Annie Chang" problem in her own book, Heroine Worship, so there's no lingering past or regrets. Well, I must read her second arc book to find out, right?
Part of Binge Reading Heroine Complex series (contain spoilers from the first 3 books)
The emotional train is still going strong for our superhero trio and now the second arc of the trio's journey into managing life while kicking demon's ass continue. Kuhn bring back Evie Tanaka as the narrator for Book 4, Haunted Heroine. From all the trio (Evie, Aveda, Bea), I admit I have a soft spot for Evie since I can see myself on her. We both a first child with some chips on our shoulder, though Evie's emotional baggage was bigger than mine. The story itself continue directly from Heroine's Journey aka Bea's book. Evie find that she's pregnant with child. She's over the moon, her life is finally perfect. She's know a superheroine of her own right, become co-superheroine with her best friend, Aveda Jupiter. Her love life is also fabulous since Nate is so in love with her, and finally her tumultuous relationship with Bea turn to the right path with both of them agree to join therapy to process their emotions. All was good.
But is it?
While Haunted Heroine was indeed, feature ghosts and demons alike, I think the title also refer to Evie's haunted past. The setting of Haunted is back to Evie's college and since she's drop out from her grad, things was awkward. Especially, her ex, Richard, professor that love mansplaining and belittle his own student is still teaching there. In the other side, her pregnancy make Evie worried because one classic thinking. Is Evie capable to be a good mother since in the past she can't somehow become a good parent to Bea? Add it with some marital woes because Nate become emotionally distant from Evie and constantly reject her sexual advances. All of it kinda of overwhelming right? But I'm glad that Evie didn't face that all alone. She have Aveda in her side, that now is totally a best friend to Evie, a sign that show Aveda really change for the better.
Kuhn kinda challenge Evie in this book. How to accept and let go of her pasts and regrets. How to forgive her own faults. I said that I have a soft spot for Evie, because I know how it feels to have a bottled up feeling. Evie is too hard to herself, Aveda pointed once that Evie can be angry for Richard's unfair treatment to the student in Morgan College but not angry for herself since Richard is also a douchebag to Evie. Her dilemma, her weariness to constantly balanced grad life and become a sole parent to Bea also what make Evie finally snap and yet she still feel guilty. A guilt that later will be weaponized against her. I like what Kuhn write for Evie's character development. It's feel like closure after what happen to Evie in the first book and also touch some topic from book 3 where Evie and Bea fight and Evie admit that she can't grieving after their mom's death because she just try to survive. I like that Kuhn incorporated via Nate that, life is not perfect and he also remind Evie that life is full of unexpected things but that what make it interesting. I feel that the pregnancy part also well written, since Evie's feeling for her pregnancy somehow valid and give me insight of the fear of a mom-to-be.
For romance department, while it's true that Evie and Nate become emotionally distant, I like how Kuhn solve the problem. The groveling scenes make me go aww and the heart to heart talk make me almost shed tears of my own. I admit that in book 1, both Evie and Nate is going too fast of their romance and also married 4 months after they proclaimed their love. So their problems were also stemmed from that fact and also both are broken in some ways. So it's so good to read how they solve their marital fights. I'm not read book 5 (Aveda) and book 6 (Bea) yet, but I always feel that when it comes to Evie and Nate, the sex scenes become scorching hot, lel. Some of Evie's horny thoughts are pretty hilarious to read, but in the same time also kinda sadden me because of the emotional distance between Evie and Nate. Don't fret tho, all will end well.
The ghosts itself didn't creepy of give me heebies jeebies. The villain itself more like the people in Morgan College that somehow become nasty and that including Richard, the big jerk. While I liked how Kuhn show that Richard's view regarding fantasy featured PoC is so bad, I just wish she didn't drag Tolkien's work. Like, I know I know, I get her points, but I really like Tolkien, sobs. Some of her writing in criticize the state of the fantasy literature and how student study it (since Richard is teaching the pop culture class) can be too in your face, but in the end it depends to how reader perceive it. In the other side, both Evie and Aveda got new friends from the undergraduate student and they finally enjoy what college life should be since Aveda didn't go to college and Evie dropped out. The characters were of course still diverse from both race, gender and sexuality preference and this is the first time I read a side character who is a non binary. There's a new development regarding the demon portals and I'm curious if the villain from the first book will come back and start their villainy ways to rule the world (not gonna happen, I bet).
Overall, a good book that left me satisfied with how Evie's character develops and how she finally make peace with her pasts. The next book, Hollywood Heroine is about Aveda and I think, I'm intrigued for what Kuhn have for Aveda. Aveda in this book is totally a supportive characters, the diva persona is already gone although Aveda is still bossy. Aveda also kinda solved her "Annie Chang" problem in her own book, Heroine Worship, so there's no lingering past or regrets. Well, I must read her second arc book to find out, right?
December 18, 2021
I like the idea of these books much more than I like the execution. I like the characters but I never find the books themselves all that great. I can't put my finger on what makes them register as mediocre to me. I did get a kick out of the setting - the women's college having financial issues is a thinly disguised version of Mills but could easily represent many other women's schools as well. But the story, no. It comes off with all the depth of an episode of Scooby-Doo.
July 7, 2020
Content warnings:
I’ve been a fan of this series since the very first book, and I was so happy to see that this book was once again from Evie’s POV (after a book each from Aveda and Bea’s POVs.) After the bombshell in the last book, I was very interested to see how Evie was going to handle everything, and this book did not disappoint. This is the fourth book in the Heroine Complex series and I wouldn’t recommend reading these out of order. These books are heavily character driven, and each book builds on the relationships of the last one.
Evie has the perfect life – a great career as one half of the Evie Tanaka/Aveda Jupiter superhero duo, a healthy best friend relationship with the other half of that duo, a marriage with the love of her life, and the reassurance that the little sister she basically raised is all grown up and doing well, and now she’s – surprise! – pregnant. So why does everything seem to be falling apart? Besides the all-day nausea and the need for constant naps, Nate’s treating her like a science experiment and she can’t help think about the baby without a sense of dread. So a little time away for a weekend trip with Aveda to the college she attended grad school at is perfect, right? Dropping out of grad school – after burning down the library when she lost control of her fire powers – was a turning point in her life, and perhaps going back will help her realize just how far she’s come from that overwhelmed and sad kid. But besides her out of control pregnancy hormones, the ghost sightings at Morgan College have suddenly turned violent, and Evie and Aveda decide to go undercover as TAs to investigate. Can confronting the ghosts on campus also help Evie confront the ghosts of her past?
A large part of Evie’s journey had been accepting her emotions instead of suppressing them, and by extension also accepting her superheroine powers. It’s no shock that being given a chance to relive her grad school days brings up all sorts of emotions for Evie, especially around her relationship with her old professor and boyfriend, Richard. He’s frankly a dirtbag of the first order who had no qualms about having a relationship with one of his own students and belittled her constantly. It’s especially gross because in his role as a pop culture professor, he puts down women of color for enjoying media that centers and empowers them. After all, it can’t be great unless it was written by an old white guy, right? While Evie’s wrestling with why and how she ever put up with this guy, it also doesn’t help that she’s having communication problems with her husband Nate. As primarily a romance reader, this did hit a few of my HEA alarm bells (it’s generally accepted that once a couple gets their HEA, they stay in love forever with no issues) but at the end of the book, I felt like it was necessary. Both Evie and Nate have messy pasts and lots of even more messy emotions, and learning to own them is just as essential in their relationship as it is for the rest of Evie’s life.
I love the partnership between Evie and Aveda. They’ve both grown tremendously over the course of the books, and it was wonderful to see how Aveda navigated being supportive of Evie while also calling her on some of her behaviors. There is, in fact, a lot about the power of friendship, and not just the main characters. There’s several super sweet friendships among the group of female and non-binary college students that Evie and Aveda fall into and they made a nice foil to their own relationship.
But what I loved most about this book was its take on the “women can have it all!” narrative – that, obviously, if we want it enough, we can figure how to have a career, a romantic relationship, and a family without shortchanging one or all of them – or ourselves. Evie can’t help but compare Sad Mouse Evie (as she calls her grad student self), who was exhausted all the time from juggling her responsibility for kid Bea, TA’ing classes, and trying to finish her own coursework, to her present-day self. What would life have been like if she’d been able to live in the dorms with her best friend, attend raucous dorm parties, and make late night runs to Taco Bell? Was dropping out of grad school and going to work as Aveda’s assistant really the best path for her life? Evie has clung to a certain interpretation of those years of her life, and it’s only while she’s back at college with motherhood on the horizon that she’s finally forced to deal with it. It’s a very timely realization – about the importance of rage, and about using your voice to speak up for others and, most importantly, yourself,
Overall, I absolutely adored this book and the chance to catch up with Evie again, and I’ll be eagerly looking forward to the next one!
I received an advance review copy of this book from NetGalley. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
I’ve been a fan of this series since the very first book, and I was so happy to see that this book was once again from Evie’s POV (after a book each from Aveda and Bea’s POVs.) After the bombshell in the last book, I was very interested to see how Evie was going to handle everything, and this book did not disappoint. This is the fourth book in the Heroine Complex series and I wouldn’t recommend reading these out of order. These books are heavily character driven, and each book builds on the relationships of the last one.
“The two of you undercover?” Bea snorted. “Sounds like a classic Aveda Jupiter scheme—the chance of shenanigans is off the charts.”
Evie has the perfect life – a great career as one half of the Evie Tanaka/Aveda Jupiter superhero duo, a healthy best friend relationship with the other half of that duo, a marriage with the love of her life, and the reassurance that the little sister she basically raised is all grown up and doing well, and now she’s – surprise! – pregnant. So why does everything seem to be falling apart? Besides the all-day nausea and the need for constant naps, Nate’s treating her like a science experiment and she can’t help think about the baby without a sense of dread. So a little time away for a weekend trip with Aveda to the college she attended grad school at is perfect, right? Dropping out of grad school – after burning down the library when she lost control of her fire powers – was a turning point in her life, and perhaps going back will help her realize just how far she’s come from that overwhelmed and sad kid. But besides her out of control pregnancy hormones, the ghost sightings at Morgan College have suddenly turned violent, and Evie and Aveda decide to go undercover as TAs to investigate. Can confronting the ghosts on campus also help Evie confront the ghosts of her past?
A large part of Evie’s journey had been accepting her emotions instead of suppressing them, and by extension also accepting her superheroine powers. It’s no shock that being given a chance to relive her grad school days brings up all sorts of emotions for Evie, especially around her relationship with her old professor and boyfriend, Richard. He’s frankly a dirtbag of the first order who had no qualms about having a relationship with one of his own students and belittled her constantly. It’s especially gross because in his role as a pop culture professor, he puts down women of color for enjoying media that centers and empowers them. After all, it can’t be great unless it was written by an old white guy, right? While Evie’s wrestling with why and how she ever put up with this guy, it also doesn’t help that she’s having communication problems with her husband Nate. As primarily a romance reader, this did hit a few of my HEA alarm bells (it’s generally accepted that once a couple gets their HEA, they stay in love forever with no issues) but at the end of the book, I felt like it was necessary. Both Evie and Nate have messy pasts and lots of even more messy emotions, and learning to own them is just as essential in their relationship as it is for the rest of Evie’s life.
I love the partnership between Evie and Aveda. They’ve both grown tremendously over the course of the books, and it was wonderful to see how Aveda navigated being supportive of Evie while also calling her on some of her behaviors. There is, in fact, a lot about the power of friendship, and not just the main characters. There’s several super sweet friendships among the group of female and non-binary college students that Evie and Aveda fall into and they made a nice foil to their own relationship.
“I’d come back to Morgan College to close the door on the past, but I’d been going out of my way to avoid it, to pretend like it didn’t bother me. To act like Scared Mouse Evie had been left so far in the dust, she didn’t even exist anymore.”
But what I loved most about this book was its take on the “women can have it all!” narrative – that, obviously, if we want it enough, we can figure how to have a career, a romantic relationship, and a family without shortchanging one or all of them – or ourselves. Evie can’t help but compare Sad Mouse Evie (as she calls her grad student self), who was exhausted all the time from juggling her responsibility for kid Bea, TA’ing classes, and trying to finish her own coursework, to her present-day self. What would life have been like if she’d been able to live in the dorms with her best friend, attend raucous dorm parties, and make late night runs to Taco Bell? Was dropping out of grad school and going to work as Aveda’s assistant really the best path for her life? Evie has clung to a certain interpretation of those years of her life, and it’s only while she’s back at college with motherhood on the horizon that she’s finally forced to deal with it. It’s a very timely realization – about the importance of rage, and about using your voice to speak up for others and, most importantly, yourself,
Overall, I absolutely adored this book and the chance to catch up with Evie again, and I’ll be eagerly looking forward to the next one!
I received an advance review copy of this book from NetGalley. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
September 26, 2020
I don't know...around the last 50 pages it started to annoy me. The ending was a jut rushed but this series is more about the characters.
October 8, 2020
This felt like an extraneous storyline, and I didn't like that Evie and Aveda were separated from so many of the side characters who bring this series to life.
February 1, 2022
2.5 stars
April 3, 2021
Fantastically Funny
The best feature of Sarah Kuhn’s writing is the humor. While I’m new to reading her work, I’m finding her snarky, smart comedy part of what makes the books so fresh and original. I’m a sucker for humor and wit in my stories and every author I love shares some facet of this trait. Sarah Kuhn is rapidly beginning to become a favorite. But if it was only the comedic elements that wouldn’t make it nearly as good. So I’d like to talk a bit about her newest in the series and why I liked it so much.
To begin with, the characters grow and change. The original novel starts with a character unmarried and not as confident. By the time, we meet up with Evie Tanaka in Haunted Heroine, she is married, confident, pregnant and has a brand new life with her best friend, sister and husband. But nobody is perfect and no life is perfect. Evie has doubts and fears that linger from her college days and now she must go back and confront those feelings. It is her confrontations and reliance on her friends that teaches her new skills and helps her learn about herself and her power. That kind of powerful writing, the ability to have a character doubt themselves but rise to a challenge and change over the course of a book is what makes a strong story.
She and her friends aren’t perfect, they make mistakes. But she and they learn from them to find the solution to the problems happening on her old campus. Part of also makes the story compelling is it isn’t straight forward. Those causing the problems aren’t always who you think, nor are all the college students. Everyone has a piece of the puzzle and that helps draw out the mystery and the action.
The romance elements are smoking hot, but honest to who the characters are. And while the relationship in the novel is male/female, some of the other relationships depicted are of different sexual orientations as well as including other genders beyond male and female. I find the author’s ability to include that level of diversity part of the draw of her writing.
If you love humor, mystery, diversity, and compelling action with unique and strong characters, you will love the latest in Sarah Kuhn’s Heroine series. I loved the thoughtful growth of the characters, the comedy, and the realistic emotions in the story. The resolution is unexpected and the romance beautifully truthful. I can’t wait to read more about the characters and world of the Heroine Series.
The best feature of Sarah Kuhn’s writing is the humor. While I’m new to reading her work, I’m finding her snarky, smart comedy part of what makes the books so fresh and original. I’m a sucker for humor and wit in my stories and every author I love shares some facet of this trait. Sarah Kuhn is rapidly beginning to become a favorite. But if it was only the comedic elements that wouldn’t make it nearly as good. So I’d like to talk a bit about her newest in the series and why I liked it so much.
To begin with, the characters grow and change. The original novel starts with a character unmarried and not as confident. By the time, we meet up with Evie Tanaka in Haunted Heroine, she is married, confident, pregnant and has a brand new life with her best friend, sister and husband. But nobody is perfect and no life is perfect. Evie has doubts and fears that linger from her college days and now she must go back and confront those feelings. It is her confrontations and reliance on her friends that teaches her new skills and helps her learn about herself and her power. That kind of powerful writing, the ability to have a character doubt themselves but rise to a challenge and change over the course of a book is what makes a strong story.
She and her friends aren’t perfect, they make mistakes. But she and they learn from them to find the solution to the problems happening on her old campus. Part of also makes the story compelling is it isn’t straight forward. Those causing the problems aren’t always who you think, nor are all the college students. Everyone has a piece of the puzzle and that helps draw out the mystery and the action.
The romance elements are smoking hot, but honest to who the characters are. And while the relationship in the novel is male/female, some of the other relationships depicted are of different sexual orientations as well as including other genders beyond male and female. I find the author’s ability to include that level of diversity part of the draw of her writing.
If you love humor, mystery, diversity, and compelling action with unique and strong characters, you will love the latest in Sarah Kuhn’s Heroine series. I loved the thoughtful growth of the characters, the comedy, and the realistic emotions in the story. The resolution is unexpected and the romance beautifully truthful. I can’t wait to read more about the characters and world of the Heroine Series.
August 6, 2022
Ahh I love this series so much, but this installment fell so flat for me.
First the good stuff: I super love the characters of Aveda and Evie and their friendship. This book did a good deep-dive into Evie's past, with her finally confronting trauma from college days. There was an interesting subplot about her and Nate's marital problems, and a sex scene at a desk that's scorching good. It was also fun to see Aveda dork out over college life and Taco Bell.
But mostly, and despite some truly strong scenes, this book fell flat for me. It took me forever to get through, and honestly, there were several points when I almost DNF'd. The whole subplot about Richard was meh -- I get how it was important to help Evie move on from her past self, and he's truly a sleazy, odious man, but....meh. The story lacked the usual Evie/Aveda magic.
And maybe it's coz I'm generally meh about pregnancy and babies in books, but I was super meh about Evie's pregnancy here. I loved all the angst it caused in her relationship with Nate, and it does play a part later on, but mostly I just wanted more angst and hot desk sex.
I was also confused at how far along Evie's pregnancy was. No one outside her inner circle comments on it, and she still does tons of physical stunts and dangerous situations, so I figure she's super early still. But then she's already super hormonal and craving weird foods, and the strain in her and Nate's relationship seems to have gone on for a while. So I was mostly confused and trying to figure out how much of a danger the pregnancy was in.
I was also confused how Nate kept popping up at random moments. Like, why? Just on random whims? I mean it turns out well and leads to some of my favourite scenes in the book (I love their relationship), but mostly it just felt convenient that he'd show up at one particular point or other. There didn't seem to be a big research break or real reason for him to come over then.
So mostly, this book felt disjointed, slow, and often boring to me. But there were some scenes I loved, and I loved the development of Evie/Aveda's relationship and Evie/Nate's relationship. It was just disappointing given how much I loved the earlier books.
First the good stuff: I super love the characters of Aveda and Evie and their friendship. This book did a good deep-dive into Evie's past, with her finally confronting trauma from college days. There was an interesting subplot about her and Nate's marital problems, and a sex scene at a desk that's scorching good. It was also fun to see Aveda dork out over college life and Taco Bell.
But mostly, and despite some truly strong scenes, this book fell flat for me. It took me forever to get through, and honestly, there were several points when I almost DNF'd. The whole subplot about Richard was meh -- I get how it was important to help Evie move on from her past self, and he's truly a sleazy, odious man, but....meh. The story lacked the usual Evie/Aveda magic.
And maybe it's coz I'm generally meh about pregnancy and babies in books, but I was super meh about Evie's pregnancy here. I loved all the angst it caused in her relationship with Nate, and it does play a part later on, but mostly I just wanted more angst and hot desk sex.
I was also confused at how far along Evie's pregnancy was. No one outside her inner circle comments on it, and she still does tons of physical stunts and dangerous situations, so I figure she's super early still. But then she's already super hormonal and craving weird foods, and the strain in her and Nate's relationship seems to have gone on for a while. So I was mostly confused and trying to figure out how much of a danger the pregnancy was in.
I was also confused how Nate kept popping up at random moments. Like, why? Just on random whims? I mean it turns out well and leads to some of my favourite scenes in the book (I love their relationship), but mostly it just felt convenient that he'd show up at one particular point or other. There didn't seem to be a big research break or real reason for him to come over then.
So mostly, this book felt disjointed, slow, and often boring to me. But there were some scenes I loved, and I loved the development of Evie/Aveda's relationship and Evie/Nate's relationship. It was just disappointing given how much I loved the earlier books.
May 25, 2020
I read and very much enjoyed the first in the series, and although I haven't read the second and third, I had no trouble following this one.
I noted about the first book that all the characters have a lot of issues, but they are, at least, mostly aware of them and committed to working on them. Three books further on, they've clearly done a lot of that, but there's still work to do, and Evie working on her issues is in fact the central focus of this book.
Although it's technically a supers book, if you're after old-school superpowered battles and banter and costumes this is not the place to look for it. There's a bit of each of those (especially costumes, though largely of the Halloween variety), but it's more a character-driven than a plot-driven book. There's definitely a plot - a mystery plot, in fact - but the important part is not so much solving the mystery as how the process of working on solving the mystery is also a process of Evie dealing with issues from her past, and Evie (and others under her mentorship) learning to be confident, appropriately angry, and self-nurturing.
Most of these people are young women of colour, and I am none of those three things; I suspect if I was, the book would get a fifth star. I didn't find it preachy or too much of a performance of contemporary expected opinions; it came across as authentic, and I'm sure will be very powerful for its intended audience. I also didn't object to the portrayal of the privileged, entitled white guy; he's a type that exists, in distressingly large numbers. I've read books by him, in fact, though these days I try not to.
Overall, recommended, including for people who are not dead centre of its target demographic, because I think we all need to hear these conversations being had - even if our contribution to them is to shut up and listen for a change.
I received a review copy via Netgalley.
I noted about the first book that all the characters have a lot of issues, but they are, at least, mostly aware of them and committed to working on them. Three books further on, they've clearly done a lot of that, but there's still work to do, and Evie working on her issues is in fact the central focus of this book.
Although it's technically a supers book, if you're after old-school superpowered battles and banter and costumes this is not the place to look for it. There's a bit of each of those (especially costumes, though largely of the Halloween variety), but it's more a character-driven than a plot-driven book. There's definitely a plot - a mystery plot, in fact - but the important part is not so much solving the mystery as how the process of working on solving the mystery is also a process of Evie dealing with issues from her past, and Evie (and others under her mentorship) learning to be confident, appropriately angry, and self-nurturing.
Most of these people are young women of colour, and I am none of those three things; I suspect if I was, the book would get a fifth star. I didn't find it preachy or too much of a performance of contemporary expected opinions; it came across as authentic, and I'm sure will be very powerful for its intended audience. I also didn't object to the portrayal of the privileged, entitled white guy; he's a type that exists, in distressingly large numbers. I've read books by him, in fact, though these days I try not to.
Overall, recommended, including for people who are not dead centre of its target demographic, because I think we all need to hear these conversations being had - even if our contribution to them is to shut up and listen for a change.
I received a review copy via Netgalley.
March 27, 2024
This series is very cute and I have two very specific issues with it. The first is Aladdin movification where characters seem to work through problems in the previous installments only to...not have done so as fully as it seemed like they had the first time around. Which is fine, psychological healing is complicated, but I would prefer we showed that not by jumping immediately to "expressed my feelings, feeling better!" in the previous book only to rework it now, but to acknowledge the incompleteness from the getgo.
And, like, I do like empowerment in stories and I'm also annoying about it because the fantasy that just understanding your *cough* stuff is enough to vanquish it is particularly pernicious even if convenient. (Fantasies aimed at men are muscle-power fantasies while those aimed at women are will-power fantasy and the latter need a certain amount of critique.)
There is, of course, the irony of critiquing a book that both depicts unrealistic female empowerment AND depicts the kind of dickwaffle who tears those fantasies down for...depicting the unrealistic wish fulfillment. Granted I'm entirely on board with the unrealistic wish fulfillment of kicking ass and taking names. It's just solving years of psychological trauma by thinking hard about it for about forty-eight hours that I find...frustrating.
Also, on the subject of wish-fulfillment fantasies, I would love a dude who did not become a jerk when feeling protective. Like if I can have any unrealistic fantasy at all, why not one of those!?
And this is still a very fun superhero pop psych series of novels that I will probably continue to read because, well, thems the books.
And, like, I do like empowerment in stories and I'm also annoying about it because the fantasy that just understanding your *cough* stuff is enough to vanquish it is particularly pernicious even if convenient. (Fantasies aimed at men are muscle-power fantasies while those aimed at women are will-power fantasy and the latter need a certain amount of critique.)
There is, of course, the irony of critiquing a book that both depicts unrealistic female empowerment AND depicts the kind of dickwaffle who tears those fantasies down for...depicting the unrealistic wish fulfillment. Granted I'm entirely on board with the unrealistic wish fulfillment of kicking ass and taking names. It's just solving years of psychological trauma by thinking hard about it for about forty-eight hours that I find...frustrating.
Also, on the subject of wish-fulfillment fantasies, I would love a dude who did not become a jerk when feeling protective. Like if I can have any unrealistic fantasy at all, why not one of those!?
And this is still a very fun superhero pop psych series of novels that I will probably continue to read because, well, thems the books.
March 6, 2023
Evie is pregnant with the first part superhero, part demon baby and while there is the normal nausea and slightly elevated blood pressure, Evie’s husband Nate is so overly solicitous that Evie is feeling like an experiment on a slab in his science lab. It doesn’t help that she is feeling extremely amorous and Nate keeps turning her down so Evie is frustrated, incredibly frustrated, which is not helping her doubts about whether or not she can handle becoming a mother. When an invitation to a reunion at the college Evie attended shows up in her email even though she is suspicious, after all she never even graduated, she and her crime fighting partner Aveda cross the bay for a girl’s weekend away. But, once on campus, Evie finds that not only must she confront the ghosts of her past life but real ghosts who are injuring students. When young student Julie is attacked and then disappears after telling Evie not to trust the college authorities, Evie and Aveda go undercover to find the truth and protect the students.
I have not read the first trilogy but there is enough backstory mentioned that it is possible to start the series with this, the beginning of the second trilogy of the Heroine Complex. The characters are well-developed, each with their own strengths and weakness as well as self-doubts and areas of confidence. A fun series with characters you will want in your friend circle. Since the next book does not come out until July, I am off to look up the first trilogy and find out even more about these superheroines. Recommended
I have not read the first trilogy but there is enough backstory mentioned that it is possible to start the series with this, the beginning of the second trilogy of the Heroine Complex. The characters are well-developed, each with their own strengths and weakness as well as self-doubts and areas of confidence. A fun series with characters you will want in your friend circle. Since the next book does not come out until July, I am off to look up the first trilogy and find out even more about these superheroines. Recommended
July 17, 2020
I was over the moon thrilled when I learned that the "Heroine Complex" series would go beyond a trilogy. The fact that the first novel of this continuation circles all the way back to the perspective of Evie Tanaka - my favorite of the three heroines - made it all the more thrilling for me.
I found it fascinating for Evie and Aveda to spend most of this story away from the other members of their team and on a mission of personal proportions for the former; back at the school she was originally pursuing a Master's before dropping out. Fans of the series will have known since the first book that Evie's power originally came to light - literally - after catching her then-boyfriend cheating on her at the school library. The fact that Sarah Kuhn gives a payoff to a detail about Evie that I originally thought would be unexplored backstory was incredible.
If you couldn't already tell from the fabulous cover for this novel, there are ghosts in this story, and without saying too much, let's just say that they're not always the kind of ghosts of those who've passed away. The way Sarah factored in that - for lack of a better word - "haunting" thought experiment really paves the way for Evie with coming to terms with her past, while on the brink of a future that will certainly change things up for her. It was a compelling position Sarah put Evie in, all the while bringing the same spunk, humor, and badassery the "Heroine Complex" series is best known for.
I found it fascinating for Evie and Aveda to spend most of this story away from the other members of their team and on a mission of personal proportions for the former; back at the school she was originally pursuing a Master's before dropping out. Fans of the series will have known since the first book that Evie's power originally came to light - literally - after catching her then-boyfriend cheating on her at the school library. The fact that Sarah Kuhn gives a payoff to a detail about Evie that I originally thought would be unexplored backstory was incredible.
If you couldn't already tell from the fabulous cover for this novel, there are ghosts in this story, and without saying too much, let's just say that they're not always the kind of ghosts of those who've passed away. The way Sarah factored in that - for lack of a better word - "haunting" thought experiment really paves the way for Evie with coming to terms with her past, while on the brink of a future that will certainly change things up for her. It was a compelling position Sarah put Evie in, all the while bringing the same spunk, humor, and badassery the "Heroine Complex" series is best known for.
October 29, 2020
This fourth entry in the Heroine Complex series is by far my favorite of the series. I like spooky things and, as the title already suggests, there are plenty of them here.
Another thing, or rather lack thereof, which makes this book much better than the previous ones is the fact that Maisy's interludes are missing for nearly the entire novel. These short "articles" always feel like trying far too hard to appeal to I don't even know what audience.
In general concentrating on just Evie (whose POV Haunted Heroine is again written from) and Aveda seems much better than adding too many characters into the mix. The interactions between the two friends feel much more genuine than whatever the author does when throwing in more and more characters which are supposedly super close to the main character in the matter of days. While this is also the case in this novel, the core is really the relationship between Evie and Aveda which has always been the biggest strength of this series. However, the way how the relationship between Evie and her husband is written is questionable. It is very trope-y and the typical "lack of communication" makes me yawn at this point.
While this short review sounds rather negative, I still enjoyed Haunted Heroine a lot.
Another thing, or rather lack thereof, which makes this book much better than the previous ones is the fact that Maisy's interludes are missing for nearly the entire novel. These short "articles" always feel like trying far too hard to appeal to I don't even know what audience.
In general concentrating on just Evie (whose POV Haunted Heroine is again written from) and Aveda seems much better than adding too many characters into the mix. The interactions between the two friends feel much more genuine than whatever the author does when throwing in more and more characters which are supposedly super close to the main character in the matter of days. While this is also the case in this novel, the core is really the relationship between Evie and Aveda which has always been the biggest strength of this series. However, the way how the relationship between Evie and her husband is written is questionable. It is very trope-y and the typical "lack of communication" makes me yawn at this point.
While this short review sounds rather negative, I still enjoyed Haunted Heroine a lot.
July 7, 2020
If there was ever a series that needed more books, it was this one. I was excited when Haunted Heroine got announced, and now that I’ve read it I can say for certain that the excitement was well deserved. Haunted Heroine was a fantastic addition to the Heroine Complex series. It was an excellent continuation for the characters of the series—and as they embarked on the next chapter in their story, they were literally and figuratively being haunted by things from the past and present. With this kind of story, it was an emotional rollercoaster from start to finish, and I was rooting for the characters every step of the way.
Haunted Heroine is told from the perspective of Evie Tanaka, one of my favorite characters. Her POV is what introduced the series, and her perspective was just as delightful to read from as the first time around, in Heroine Complex. While the beginning was looking at her future—with her husband, Nate, and her pregnancy—much of the story explored Evie’s past. That also included an old relationship that has haunted (no pun intended) Evie in previous books in the series. It had affected her relationships with others, as well as how she saw herself. So it was great to see it finally addressed. Plus Kuhn’s handling of the emotional side of the character arcs was fantastic. It was one of my favorite aspects about the story, and I felt like a lot of the lingering plot threads from previous stories reached a satisfying resolution.
It was also great to see how the other characters in the series were adjusting to changes in their lives/ what they were currently doing after the end of the third book—including Evie’s younger sister, Bea, Aveda, and everyone else. Evie and Aveda’s friendship has always been one of the highlights of the series, even with the ups and downs. I liked how they were both still working on their friendship, but there was never a doubt that there was a bond there.
Overall, I liked Haunted Heroine’s story. It took place in October, and the setting—Morgan College—was different from the more familiar urban city setting of San Francisco. The grounds of the college afforded for something of a spooky atmosphere, and it was a perfect place for the latest mystery to play out.
Haunted Heroine is one of the best books I’ve read so far this year. If you’re a fan of this series, then this one should be on your TBR list.
This copy of the book was provided by the publisher (DAW Books) via netgalley for this review, thank you!
This review is also posted on my blog, Our Thoughts Precisely
Haunted Heroine is told from the perspective of Evie Tanaka, one of my favorite characters. Her POV is what introduced the series, and her perspective was just as delightful to read from as the first time around, in Heroine Complex. While the beginning was looking at her future—with her husband, Nate, and her pregnancy—much of the story explored Evie’s past. That also included an old relationship that has haunted (no pun intended) Evie in previous books in the series. It had affected her relationships with others, as well as how she saw herself. So it was great to see it finally addressed. Plus Kuhn’s handling of the emotional side of the character arcs was fantastic. It was one of my favorite aspects about the story, and I felt like a lot of the lingering plot threads from previous stories reached a satisfying resolution.
It was also great to see how the other characters in the series were adjusting to changes in their lives/ what they were currently doing after the end of the third book—including Evie’s younger sister, Bea, Aveda, and everyone else. Evie and Aveda’s friendship has always been one of the highlights of the series, even with the ups and downs. I liked how they were both still working on their friendship, but there was never a doubt that there was a bond there.
Overall, I liked Haunted Heroine’s story. It took place in October, and the setting—Morgan College—was different from the more familiar urban city setting of San Francisco. The grounds of the college afforded for something of a spooky atmosphere, and it was a perfect place for the latest mystery to play out.
Haunted Heroine is one of the best books I’ve read so far this year. If you’re a fan of this series, then this one should be on your TBR list.
This copy of the book was provided by the publisher (DAW Books) via netgalley for this review, thank you!
This review is also posted on my blog, Our Thoughts Precisely
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