Hello Shiquers and welcome back to Nerdy Shique Universe! It is time for the first book review of the New Year and it is…

Title: Heroine Worship
Author: Sarah Kuhn

Disclaimer: This review is based on thoughts and opinions of the lead writer of this blog! Please respect her thoughts on this book and warning there might be spoilers!

Synopsis: In this sequel to Heroine Complex, it’s been three months since another portal has opened in San Francisco to let out a rampage of demons and Annie Chang, also known as the kick ass super heroine Aveda Jupiter, and her once personal assistant turned fireball shooting super heroine, Evie Tanaka into a time without fighting any demons and living in peace and dreaming for something to do. Once they get called to a lingerie shop known as Pussy Queen (Not kidding on that name) due to some strange happenings, both Annie and Evie find out that the portal in the shop that was closed off to the demon world was gurgling and letting out something invisible. Now both Annie and Evie have to solve this new issue and on top of that noticing the brides in San Fran are acting weird and going after Evie, who is engaged to her mostly human boyfriend, Nate, and Annie has to not only look out for the menacing Bridezillas, an invisible enemy, planning her best friend’s wedding as her Maid of Honor, but also try to figure out the closest best friend, Scott, is not as close to her as they have been in the past. Is Annie having a major identity crisis due to her Aveda Jupiter side or is it just that she wants to stay in the limelight even if Evie is the main attraction after saving the city before from a major threat?

Thoughts: I had to read the first one, Heroine Complex, in order to read this one and oh man I enjoyed both books! I did read them in audio since NLS had them in audio and having Text to Speech reading this one wouldn’t be as entertaining as the first since the comedy and actions were best in audio. Also, the onomatopoeias were even great in audio (where sounds are in word form for anyone who doesn’t know, best example is the old Adam West Batman TV show.)

I think I giggled the most during Heroine Worship because it did bring out a Buffy the Vampire Slayer mood to it since in that to show you have a lot of snark and this one does have that too. I do like how throughout the book Annie was trying so hard to be herself but her Aveda side kept on coming out instead and trying to force it out in every chance she gets. One good example was when they were trying to find Evie the perfect wedding dress and the tent at the vintage show was a hard to get in type thing but she did use her Diva Power to get in. I would have to say with this book shows the reason why I don’t watch the show Bridezilla since I will be getting married myself and hoping I don’t act like that or any of the women in this book despite having a demon puppy running around in every dress. Oh yeah, did I forget to mention demon puppies? I do like how it did call back to the first book with the demon cupcakes because in the first one when it starts you see Aveda go up against demonic cupcakes at a cake shop. You do get to see them at that same cake shop in this one and I have to say is Letta, the owner, does remind me of Mod from My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic because the reader for this book made her sound like that. If this was an anime I would get that actress to be Letta because I was hearing her during that scene. What I find it even funnier is that she might be Goth is how she has porcelain unicorns. Well, when you look at it, you got to have something cute to love and I do have my Twilight Sparkle plush and unicorn earrings.

Now onto the relationship part. Well, since superheroes do have their love interests, these books did blend that in very well. In Complex, I was not expecting Evie to fall for Nate but they do share that personality trait of over explaining things in a way of being comfortable and they do get along with each other while working a case and of course their relationship was really cute and enjoyable throughout the book. It was almost like how Gondras and I met, as in when Nate first shown up and first saw Evie at the front door from when he told her when he first loved her in the cartoon duck shirt, jeans, and a pair of Chuck Taylors, he really wanted her since he thought she was gorgeous. With Scott and Aveda, it felt like a sad build up to their relationship because Scott was the outcast due to being picked on since his mom was working to be a lawyer and keep on providing him food and clothes to survive. Plus, it was even sadder how Aveda always pushed him away and he saw that and had to put a No Love Spell on himself. I see Ren from RWBY a little bit in him since he is a bit a tragic love story but when Aveda and him finally get together it was cavity inducing, as in very, very, VERY sweet and also a heroic rescue by him. Will they actually get engaged? I am hoping to read the third book through Net Galley because I loved every page of this book as it kept on going. I also loved every character:

Bea: Evie’s sister who is very smart and knows how to bounce ideas off of Nate and even joins in with the report making for Officer Rowryk when they have any demon updates to do.
Lucy: Even though she can be a little bit perverted with her lesbian side but she is also badass as much as Aveda and Evie since she may not have super powers but she does know how to back them up with weapons and wear a Lolita style dress while she does it!
Nate: He does have his smarts but he does have a soft side when it comes to Evie.
Mazie: Even though she was the bossiest blogger in the first but she knows how to run a stylish boutique and help small business owners while she’s at it even if her skin is always flaking off due to her demon form.
Shruti: Even though she knows how to have style due to having a vintage shop but she knows how to solve a mystery when it comes to it and of course her power of using her hair as a weapon and able to grow it or make it shorter makes it even cooler!

All in all, Kuhn knows how to make an awesome group of main characters and supporting characters. I can’t wait to see what comes next in the next book!

Rating: 5 Out of 5 for both! This story was a really good superhero story. It takes the idea of Charlie’s Angels and makes it more badass. You have a lot of characters with a ton of personality and ones with style too. If I had to choose which one I relate to more, I would have to say both Evie, Bea, and Nate because I can be a bit technical with my explanations even in writing but I do sometimes have a shy side and get nervous with spotlight but other times I can really shine if the moment is right. I am hoping that the next one is even more action-packed as these two. Last one it went from demon cupcakes to hybrid demons and this one shown that Bridezillas can be scary and now wondering what is next since this is supposed to be a trilogy. Sarah Kune, your books get the “Paw print of Approval!”

Well, that’s it for this review! I will include links to both of these books so you can take a look. By the way, I did redo the link for Coastal Scents in the Affiliate Links page so you can check that out and get some awesome makeup and sales at affordable prices! Heck, their brushes are awesome!

What is next for Nerdy Shique Universe? My Convention Spotlight on Omni Expo 2018 and of course another Access Tech post on the device called Aira and Heroine ComplexHeroine Worshipsoon I will be reviewing RWBY Volume 5! So stay tuned!