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O P E N I N G H O O K:
This was the only thought I could muster when a cupcake with fangs launched itself at my head.
"Evie, duck!" The voice rant out through the sugar-laced air. "And whatever you do, don't stop filming!"
"I'm on it, boss!" I yelped. I bobbed out of the cupcake's path and flung myself behind a counter, my tailbone colliding with the floor previously pristine bakery Cake My Day. That floor had been a spotless expanse of ivory up 'til about fifteen minutes ago, when a posse of demons leapt through their portal of choice, assumed pastry form, and started acting like a bunch of assholes.
I peeked over the countertop, tightening my grip on my phone. Its plastic case was slippery with palm sweat. It was a cold sweat, though. No warmth. Never any warmth if I could help it.
I finally located my boss, held the phone aloft, hit record/livestream on the video app, and managed to get her in frame as she spun around to deliver a solid roundhouse kick to another fanged cupcake. When confronted with the power and sheer stylishness of her thigh-high leather boots, the cupcake split in half, sending frosting pinwheeling outward.
I couldn't help but imagine her name popping up over this bit of footage in cartoony buble letters:
AVEDA JUPITER
She is a superhero.
(Page 1-2, US ebook edition)
"Not yet." I shoveled more creal into my mouth and got a bite that mixed pink and green marshmallows with the perfect ratio of sawdust bits. "We don't have to get her out for the party until seven and we have . . . " I checked my watch. "Approximately twenty minutes 'til she cycles through her rage levels, embraces a feeling of helplessness, and asks for my assistance."
~Evie, HEROINE COMPLEX
I was really excited to read HEROINE COMPLEX by Sarah Kuhn but OMG I was unprepared for how much I was going to LOVE IT. When the first scene opened with snarky main character narrative and a kickass battle scene amid a flurry of demon cupcakes, I was hooked. This story takes place in an alternative version of San Francisco where most of the setting fits the world we know and love. But years ago a demon portal opened, and while the attempted invasion ended in the invaders dead on the ground, the portal gave nearby humans abilities. It's cool to have that kind of dynamic as a setting, where most of the world is familiar and current pop culture references are made and the entire aspect of demon attacks are handled the same way we handle other issues. Our main character, Evie is SUCH a pistol, god I absolutely loved following the story through her narrative, mostly because she often THINKS more than she says. She's good at being her friend and resident superheroine Aveda Jupiter's assistant. Managing Aveda is easier than trying to manager attempts to raise her teen sister on her own, or trying to figure out why she can be so emotionally closed off at times, and a secret buried deep in her heart. Evie is messy, she curses, when she does experience emotions they tend to be intense bursts that she can't really control. It's safer for her, in her opinion, playing background roles. But when Aveda is injured and put on bed rest for 4-6 weeks, Evie has to pose as her for what is supposed to be just one evening and then consequently stretches. Being a superheroine is hard. They're held to the same standards as celebrities and that means a lot of pressure and merciless scrutiny on social media. When Aveda takes out a hoarde of demons with a kickass move, all anyone sees is a zit on her face. Evie isn't as good at schmoozing the crowd, at calculating what moves she needs to make amid social expectation. But she is fiercely protective, smart, opinionated and dedicated. Her sister is 90% of her world and her friends Aveda, Lucy, and Nate (though she and Nate bicker and quarrel and maaaaaaybe other things happen but I won't tell). Conversations get awkward sometimes, which makes them feel real and appealed to me greatly. The fight scenes are fast-paced and draw up stunning visual images in your mind, and the humor mixes with the angst and the badassery to create a rich, well padded world to lose yourself in. I love that this story arcs into really cool evil vs good themes and supernatural fights, but at the same time there's a strong and constant look at the effect fame and celebrity and superness can/might have on the people at the forefront. All that attention can go to your head and your heart and make you crack under the weight but when lives are on the line you have to push past all of that and become a pulse of good intention and nothing else. That's a big sacrifice. Friendships are tested, family bonds are strained, and Evie expects to completely crack open more than once as she tries to decide whether she or the demons are the more dangerous entities. Get your leather pants and demon butt-kicking boots on and check out HEROINE COMPLEX by Sarah Kahn!!! |
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C O N T E N T R A T I N G S
Content Ratings: highlight between ( ) for details
Romance: NC17 ( There's some heated smutty times, and general graphic talk about sex and sexual intimacy)
Language: PG13 (.Moderate cursing, f-bomb, sh*t etc )
Violence: PG (.Typical superhero violence )
Other: (.- )
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C O V E R D E S I G N:
This book is humorous and kickass and both of those sentiments are seen in the cover art. The two female characters look badass and most definitely heroic, while the demonized cupcakes make you go "omg what is happening, do I take this seriously". The color scheme really pops and catches potential reader's eyes.
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O F F I C I A L I N F O:
Title: HEROINE COMPLEX
Author: Sarah Kuhn
Author: Sarah Kuhn
Release Date: July 5th, 2016
Publisher: DAW
Received: Purchased
Received: Purchased
SUMMARY:
Being a superheroine is hard.
Working for one is even harder. Evie Tanaka is the put-upon personal assistant to Aveda Jupiter, her childhood best friend and San Francisco's most beloved superheroine. She's great at her job—blending into the background, handling her boss's epic diva tantrums, and getting demon blood out of leather pants.
Unfortunately, she's not nearly as together when it comes to running her own life, standing up for herself, or raising her tempestuous teenage sister, Bea.
But everything changes when Evie's forced to pose as her glamorous boss for one night, and her darkest secret comes out: she has powers, too. Now it's up to her to contend with murderous cupcakes, nosy gossip bloggers, and supernatural karaoke battles—all while juggling unexpected romance and Aveda's increasingly outrageous demands. And when a larger threat emerges, Evie must finally take charge and become a superheroine in her own right... or see her city fall to a full-on demonic invasion.
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GIVEAWAY
During Will You Rise or Will You Fall?,
we're giving away a book of YOUR CHOICE
from the event!
It could be NOT YOUR SIDEKICK!
we're giving away a book of YOUR CHOICE
from the event!
It could be NOT YOUR SIDEKICK!
This giveaway is INTERNATIONAL to any country that Book Depository ships to. You can also claim an e-book as a prize; it doesn't have to be a physical copy!
You must be at least 13 years old to enter or have a parent's permission!
Enter now!
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