Thank you to Bold Stroke Books and Netgalley for an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

Bronte Scales is a scientist working on the next great cancer breakthrough - who accidentally gives herself super powers in an effort to keep her research out of the wrong hands. Athena Papadaki is a nurse who is all about maintaining her freedom and minimising her ties. Together they find themselves on the run from a CEO and her henchmen, trying to save the day.

Unfortunately for me, this was a Did Not Finish. I was drawn in by the concept - I love super heroes, and romance so it was ticking the boxes. However, I did not find myself connecting with either side of the story. The romance felt forced, and the crime fighting felt hurried.

There were some interesting elements in the book, such as how the villain was trying to utilise technology. This is definitely a book that others have and will enjoy. Personally for me though it was harder to pick up each time I put it down - I think I am just not the person for this book.

eARC provided by NetGalley for reviewing purposes.

This was a real disappointment for me. I was so excited when I was approved for this book (the first one I've read by Jesse J Thoma) but it was a real struggle for me to get through. A major hurdle was how misleading the blurb was. I was expecting action, something like Megamind where we get a little backstory and then we're in the middle of the action. Really, the whole thing is more of an origin story. A better summary would be:
Scientist Bronte Scales makes a breakthrough, but when her aspiring-supervillain boss attempts to use her discovery for evil, Bronte ends up with superpowers. Moments later, she is comatose for a year, imprisoned in a hospital. On her first day in a new ward, nurse Athena inadvertently ends up waking Bronte and breaking her out, with a couple tag-alongs.
This is the first 20% of the book- the longest part of the book, the middle 60% really drags. There's some superhero training and learning to use powers. The writing feels very young (or maybe it's the characters), there's lots of charades and "is this what you mean?" communication with a nonverbal character. The two leads have basically instant-love and some clunky "before I knew you" storytelling bonding. The dialogue is cringey. It feels like so much filler and nothing happens, not even good character or relationship development. It picked up a little near the end, and I could see tiny nuggets of what could've been a potentially great story, but overall I was really put off trying anything else by this author, and I didn't enjoy this book.

I have a particular weakness for queer superhero stories. HERO COMPLEX is the original tale of Bronte Scales, a genius scientist protecting her nanobot research from the disreputable clutches of an evil CEO [all too believable right?]. The romance starts right from the beginning, when Bronte wakes in in hospital and meets new-start nurse, Athena.
For me, the characters are what makes HERO COMPLEX. Bronte and Athena are joined by two other ‘superheroes’ Spero and Galen. I loved the way everything sort of fits together, the nanobots and technology ideas, and the emotional manipulation the Spero and Galen utilised (in different ways and to different degrees). The four have a really nice slow-build found family dynamic which I really enjoyed. Personally I was more sold on the four characters as begrudging allies and eventual friends than the actual romance, not because the romance was bad, but moreso because I loved the group banter and thought the supporting characters were just as compelling as the leads. The romance was a little too quick for me, and I think it might have played out better in a longer novel or as a running thread in a series.
There were a couple of pacing issues around the middle, but overall HERO COMPLEX kept up a good balance of action and character moments. The ‘training montage’ section was well done, and it was a lot of fun to see Bronte’s abilities gradually come to the fore.
Fun and futuristic, HERO COMPLEX is a great superhero adventure.

This was a delightful little read. Once you can get into it, and suspend a little bit of belief on certain things. I haven't really read any specific super hero books, (although I do my best to find them), this was a nice surprise.

I felt in the beginning that the relationships were more telling than showing, but in the end I was invested in the romance between Bronte and Athena. I wanted Spero and Galen to win. I appreciate also that they did manage to speak to some of the silly things that happened, and poke fun at the them.

It was a delightful sapphic super hero novel, and I recommend if you're looking for an origina story.

Thank you to Negalley and the publisher for an early copy in exchange for an honest review.

2.5 stars. Sorry, I could not get onboard with Hero Complex. I somehow made it to the end out of indifference and a sense of duty when I had nothing else to read, but I was bored long before the halfway point. The concept is reasonably interesting, and yet the characters seem to spend so much time waiting around... there wasn't enough tension in the scenes at the warehouse to make it feel like they were really building up to facing Bard. I couldn't suspend my belief at the sci-fi parts: (spoiler) how did the zeptobots give one person the ability to fly, and another the ability to change into anything she wanted? I grew tired of the author's apparent disregard for commas. I hated the end of each chapter, which would summarize the character's emotional state, and bombard the reader with repetitive questions about what they should do. Worse, my initial interest in Bronte and Athena's romance flickered and died when their mutual attraction seemed to be blocked with "I can't do this, I'm not right for you" in a dozen different iterations.

Yet... I read the whole story, which counts for something. It'll stick out in my mind for the worldbuilding. I can totally see how someone who has time to kill and isn't as pedantic about commas would be thrilled with Hero Complex.

Review of Hero Complex by Jesse J. Thoma
So I got a chance to check out the new book by Jesse Thoma, Hero complex, it’s a good dip into the super hero genre for people who do not want to have to watch19 movies to get up to speed.
The story centers around Bronte Scales a scientist who is developing nanotechnology to cure cancer whose work is sought by the head of a greedy corporation. She is captured and held prisoner until a new nurse at the facility Athena Papadaki ends up freeing her and some other inhabitants and before you know it the group is on the run and forced to join forces to stop the evil corporations plans for world domination.

The book was pleasant to read, the world building was light but the snarky banter between Athena and Bronte as their romance grows was entertaining. I also really enjoyed that Athena the person in the foursome who does not have any powers grows to be the center of the group and the heart of their found family. You should pick this one up if you are a fan or romance, super heroes or both.

Totally love a superhero book and this one has all the ingredients for a great series. The zeptobots were intriguing and the scientist who uses their own experiment on themselves is an established trope that works. The other members of the gang provided good support and I definitely want to know more Galen as well as the baddie, Bard. I loved the first half of the story as it was fast paced and full of action. The second half, in the warehouse, wasn’t as interesting and I found myself skimming a bit to push the story on as it seemed to get bogged down. The romance was ok and I enjoyed their flirting, but the sex scene made me cringe. A shame as the overall premise of the book is excellent.

Bronte Scales is a scientist who inadvertently turned herself into a superhuman and finds herself held against her will by an evil ceo, Bard Verstrand. When Athena Papadaki starts a new nursing job and encounters a wing full of highly unusual patients she's regretting taking the job. Athena and Bronte are thrown together with another patient and a doctor from the ward to save the world from the evil Bard.
I wanted to like this and the blurb sounded like so much fun but it fell a bit short for me. The book starts out very fast paced but then lulls for the next while until the end making it feel a bit anticlimactic. I didn't feel like there was enough character development for me to really connect with either MC. Galen added some humor and I liked Spero but felt like too much effort went into his pantomimes in a book that isn't that long. I liked the idea and I've liked books by Thoma in the past but the execution wasn't quite there for me. I'll try the next one though, I liked Thoma's serenity series so I think it was just this particular story that didn't click for me.

This was highly entertaining with a great cast, I really enjoyed the fact that the “mad scientist who develops super powers” was female and so far removed from the traditional aspects of the role. I loved the relationships and the nuances between the characters.
Would actually love to see this as an animated series, especially if done with the right animation style.

This was a well written and entertaining story. I liked Brontë as a character and I think Bard was a brilliant "baddie" but some of the other characters, I found irritating.

The story is about Brontë as a scientist trying to find a cure for cancer but Bard has other plans for the research. Brontë takes a huge risk and it has consequences which work out through the rest of the plot. Ms Thoma knows how to spin a yarn and this is clever with some real moral complexities. The book does grip and while the ending is satisfactory, I think there might be movement enough for Brontë and her comrades to return. I would read any further stories.

I was given a copy of this book by Netgalley

I received an ARC copy of this book from the Publisher via Netgalley and voluntarily leaving my review.

Brontë is a scientist who trying to find a cure for cancer. She develops nano bites that are supposed to stop the cancer cells from developing when she learns CEO Bard of Vestrand industries tries to steal her research she takes what she develops into her to stop Bard from getting to it. Brontë is held captive by Bard and her men. Athena is starting her new job as a nurse where Brontë is being held although she finds things usual she there to help. She gets kidnapped and forms a team with Brontë, who accidentally kidnap her Galen and Spero as they learn about Brontë superpowers from the nano bites. Brontë and Athena starts to fall for each other why they are in hiding. This was a good read humorous I do wish we got more of romance because it’s felt some scenes drag on that could’ve been focus on romance even though they trying dodge danger I did like their banter and getting know characters together and apart.

Really good story. The concept of super beings trying to save the universe from alien beings from another planet was really fun to read the relationship between these characters was so complex and interesting. And, the names of some of them were really cool as well. Bronte Scales and Athena Papadakis had such an interesting and fun relationship. I think this first book from the author was about getting to know these characters and I hope there's a second book in this series because this was really fun to read. I would definitely recommend this book to my friends and family and I look forward to what's next from this author.

(Disclaimer: I received this book from the publisher. This has not impacted my review which is unbiased and honest.)

As someone who's been yearning for another adult superhero vs villain story, Hero Complex seemed like an exciting read.

(The main character was the genius researcher and it's sapphic? I immediately hit the request button.)

Unfortunately, reading the first pages was a disappointment because the author's prose is mediocre.

I found it odd that this novel is so dialogue-heavy that it reads like a rushed screenplay.

The characters also have the same speech pattern; it was really difficult to determine who's speaking.

The conversations are also long, stilted, and the humor fell flat. It tried to be funny.

The romance was also okay.

What I did appreciate was how action-packed the first scenes were; however, I couldn't get in the zone.

This is a story about Brontë Scales who is a scientist trying to find the cure for cancer. She creates these nano bites that are supposed to stop the cancer cells from developing. The company she works for (Vestrand Industries) tries to steal her research and use it to make a ton of money. Bard Verstrand is the acting CEO of Vestrand industries and is very evil and corrupt person and has a group of henchmen working for her that do her dirty work. As Bard tries to steel Brontë research, Brontë drinks her research and is taken captive and held in a comatose state for a year.

Brontë gets a new nurse, Athena, who on the first day on the job gets kidnapped by Bronte’s doctor, Galen and researcher, Spero. They escape together and form a team to take down Bard. While in hiding they learn about Brontë ‘s new superhero powers.

I enjoyed the beginning of the book and the superhero adventure premise. Love the name Brontë ! Nurse Athena seemed to become a techie genius instantly with no explained background. That was very unbelievable for me. In fact her whole personality seemed to change the minute she was kidnapped and she instantly falls in love with Brontë. Not sure how that happened other than instant attraction. I needed more development for the romance to be believable.

Overall this was an ok book. It slowed down in the middle and then picked up speed with a big fight scene at the end. And it left me with the impression that a sequel is in the works.

ARC received from Net Galley for an honest and voluntary review.

3.5 stars. Two of my favorite things are wlw books and superheroes so when I heard about this book I was very excited to read it!

Bronte Stones is a scientist trying to find a cure for cancer when all of a sudden her door gets smashed in by some people after her findings. She ends up injecting herself with her research and gets the ability to turn into metal. That is short lived however when she ends up in a coma for over a year. Athena Papadaki is an ER nurse and it is her first day on the job. Athena comes across Bronte who has surprisingly been woken up by another patient. Together the group tries to escape the hospital and go into hiding.

This was an entertaining book to read especially when Bronte is figuring out her abilities. The pacing however was a little off and at times I felt like not much was happening. I felt at points some of the scenes dragged out or were not necessary, but overall thought it was a fun read. I received an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

I’ve really enjoyed reading Thoma’s Serenity series and this seemingly reluctant and accidental superhero origin story seemed like it should be another winner. For me, it wasn’t what I was expecting or hoping for.

The book started out strong with some immediate action and the creation of the superhero. And that is basically where all the fun ended until you get toward the end. Bronte is a smart scientist, Athena a kick ass nurse with anxiety,Galen a doc with a drug problem and Spero some tech genius, but together they might just be the stupidest group of people. Some decisions they made and how they go about it all… Not always the best choices. The romance between Athena and Bronte is surface level at best, from both sides. Athena is attracted to the shiny (literally and figuratively) Bronte and Bronte admires the “goddess of war”. It’s all a little awkward and unbelievable. The I love yous should never have been said, and the sex scene? Don’t even get me started. Seemingly added as an afterthought in 3 or so chapters before the end and it is very imaginative, let’s go with that.

The last 20% was sorta fun again, when the action picked up, but the large middle dragging but already turned me off this story. With the way this book ended I could see more books coming, not sure if they would be for me.

3.25 stars. I was very excited when I saw the release of this book as I’m a big fan of superhero stories and I have enjoyed Thoma’s books a great deal in the past. This book is a true superhero origin story and has all the ingredients you would expect in such a story; there’s action, unexpected/unlikely friendships, humor, some romance, and a strong good vs. bad vibe. There were parts of this book I enjoyed, but there were also unfortunately several bumps. I don’t know if it is due to my high expectations, but this book was not what I had hoped for in the end.

Origin stories are fun and often a bit awkward, the superhero obtains powers and has to learn to deal with them. That’s definitely the case in this story where scientist Bronte has to learn what she can do with her newly obtained powers (or even accept her superhero status). Due to circumstances she and three others are stuck with each other and an unlikely friendship develops between them. Meanwhile, they are facing a supervillain who wants to dominate the world and needs to be stopped.

Clearly this story has all the ingredients I like, but as mentioned there were some bumps. The first one was the pacing, the story starts with some action scenes, but it quickly slows down. This would be no problem if it gives room for character and/or romance development, but this didn’t really happen, so I found the story dragging in the middle until the speed picked up near the end. The action scenes were fun and somewhat awkward, as can be predicted with an origin story. However, I expected these very intelligent and mature mains to be a bit smarter about their actions, they often went in without much of a plan and relied on luck or coincidences.
The romance arc shows a clear attraction between Bronte and Athena, but I wondered what it really was that they liked about each other (other than physical attraction) and the I love yous were therefore too soon for me. Since this seems to be a first in a series I wish it stayed at a HFN scenario and would evolve into love later on in the series.

The side characters were fun and each had their own specific quirks. I didn’t really know what to think of Galen, she had the strangest character development of all characters, or perhaps I should say personality shift. I didn’t care for her much at the start, but I liked her weird personality at the end.

I think fans of superhero stories might like this book, it did not quite live up to my expectations, but it could for others, be sure to check out some other reviews as well.

I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This is a really fun and inventive story, with a great cast of characters! The blurb honestly doesn't really paint the story as best as it could.

The TL;DR is basically Dr Bronte Scales is a scientist working on a special almost nanite-based technology to cure cancer, when the company she was working for tried to take over her work, and make her disappear - for their own gains. She injects them into herself and ends up with what are essentially super powers.

We then meet nurse Athena Papadaki who starts off her first day in a mysterious basement wing of the hospital, with strange patients she realises are more like test subjects. All hell breaks loose, and she along with two patients and a doctor have to make some decisions to escape.

The banter between the two women love-interests is hot and sexy. We get to know each of them and their individual fears and hopes throughout understanding the conspiracy happening to them, and the strange powers Bronte has.

I enjoyed our two side-characters as well. Dr Galen uses her sarcastic wit to hide behind emotions that are too much for her. While Spero is a unique case with much to mystery to discover. I don't want to let it all out of the bag! But suffice to say this rag-tag group become something more to each other, and want to take down the company that had lied and manipulated them, and is now up to even worse manipulations on a grander scale.

My few complaints was it got bogged down a bit here and there, with rehashing the same lines of thought and fears for the women. Denial of their attraction and feelings for one another. My other irk was that the ending felt a little too easily wrapped up, leaving a fair few things hanging in my mind.

I'm not sure if there will be more installments with these characters, but I think I would really like that. It was ultimately a very enjoyable story with a good balance of humour and emotion. I'd recommend it to lovers of Sci-Fi and if you enjoy stories of the underdog winning out against the odds.

⭐⭐⭐⭐
🦸‍♀️👩🏼‍⚕️👨🏽‍💻🦚🦹‍♀️

Selfmade Sapphic Superheros? Yes, please!

I really enjoyed this book. The plot, the found family, and the relationship between Athena and Bronte.
I loved the snark and sexual innuendos by Galen and Spero was an amazing, funny character with the way he communicated with his computer screen. And the zeptobots were fantastic characters too!

The plot line was great, from explaining how Bronte got her powers, to our main characters meeting, training and working out how to stop the villain. I loved how our Villain, Bard got her on POV chapters so we got to know her thinking behind her actions.

The action scenes were very well written, and captivating, making the book hard to put down.

Oh and that flying scene. 🤌

I received a free advance review copy from Bold Strokes Books through NetGalley. I am leaving this review voluntarily.

I requested this book because of the author. I’ve read most of her other books and really enjoyed them. I am a fan of DC and Marvel superheroes but these days normally in films. (Many years ago I read the comics). But I don’t usually read them in book form. However I found this quite entertaining and it kept my attention. It was quite action filled with the superhero finding out as she went along just what she could do. Just one slight niggle in reference to mentioning Batman as a superhero with powers he discovered with time. Although Batman is regarded as a superhero and included in the Justice League line up he does not have superpowers. All his abilities are by using ingenious technological gadgets (which may in fact make him better than the ones who acquired it through gamma rays or spider bites or just being from another planet!) However this is not a critique of Batman but Jesse J’s book. I liked it. Quite a lot! Hopefully there will be a sequel. .I’ve given this 3 stars but would really like it to be 3½..