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renpuspita's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
lighthearted
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Part of Heroine Complex series binge reading
Now we got into book 5, Hollywood Heroine and just like the first arc the sole narrator is Annie Chang whom more known by her superhero name, Aveda Jupiter. I wonder in book 4, how exactly Kuhn will bring Aveda's inner turmoil since if you read the series back to back or follow it from the beginning, you know that Aveda's biggest problems is her low self-esteem in the form of Annie Chang therefore make her act like diva and bad friend to Evie. Aveda kinda redeem herself tho, she's still Hurricane Annie, determinable and intense, yet in a good way. Although, the aftermath of the event in book 4, Haunted Heroine show to reader that deep inside Aveda is actually..not okay.
Just like book 4, the setting happen outside San Fransisco and we know get swept into the city of angels aka Los Angeles. It's Hollywood baby, because apparently some Hollywood executive want to make a tv series based on Aveda and Eve's super heroine pursuits. Also just like book 4, yep, you kinda feels the pattern here, a people that Aveda known from her past make their appearance. At first arc, we just got a glimpse into Mercedes, a fellow super heroine with human GPS ability like that also start her super heroine debut in San Fransisco only to be less famous compared to Aveda. We get to know that Mercedes is basically Karen in disguise, rotten and racist to the core. Aveda and Mercedes toxic dynamic (more like from Mercedes side) is one of the focus of this book.
As for character development, we get to know that Aveda actually almost fall into burn out state, but it's frustrating to see because she just didn't want to admit it. The Hurricane Annie mode made Aveda insist that she can solve the problems herself, forget that she also have her own teams that ready to support her. Also her fear of changes also pretty well put and I think kinda resonated with me, because I too, sometimes hate changes. Yet, changes are not always bad. In the other side, while Aveda and her husband, Scott, didn't have those emotional distance like Evie and Nate in book 4 since Scott also happen to accompany Aveda to L.A that didn't mean they don't have their own problems as well. Aveda sure is jealous of Mercedes that try to act friendly to Scott, but she also didn't want to saddle Scott with her dreams that sadly all of it come from her own assumptions. Don't worry all will get well, while Aveda and Scott also got into fights they also solve it like what adults should behave. I also liked to read the glimpse into Aveda and Scott's wedding since we never get to know when and how they married. Romantic is not enough to describe it. In the steamy sex scene, well, more like vanilla. I always think that Kuhn reserve those steamy scenes for the Tanaka sisters, lol.
After ghost, the supernatural forces now come in the form of vampire which is somehow silly. But, eh, puppy demon in book 2 itself were already quirky. Vampire aside, the main problems in this book is how Kuhn try to show so many big problem with the way Hollywood work. Just like book 4, the unfairness toward women of color are glaring. Kuhn's way to writing might be too blatant for my taste, but I can feel her frustration. She also point it to for some people (especially white), diversity seems like just a form of trend, and I guess she was right. So, there's so many aspect to be discuss from this book regarding the diversity and what people of Asian American face especially in the Hollywood. For example, how the studio cast a Japanese actor for Aveda while she's a Chinese and cast Chinese actor for Evie whom is Japanese. Because apparently all of them look Asian enough. It's such a tongue-in-cheek sarcasm but worth to thinking for since the it's still happen to this day (together with white-washing).
The book itself is okay. I enjoy Aveda's inner turmoils and her character developments are well written since Kuhn pretty much excels in writing emotional scenes. She also put some interesting tidbits in this book that might be get missed if they are not familiar enough like The Ripped Bodice, a bookshop that cater to romance readers alike. I happen to know them since I also on Twitter (not X, f*ck you melon!) so it's amusing to read how Aveda, Evie and their new member, Pippa (also from book 4) try to search clue about vampires from the paranormal section books. Also, I think Kuhn is a major Nalini Singh fans, since she mention her names twice (in this book and also in Heroine Journey). I'm intrigued of what Singh's series that she liked!
Overall, a pretty strong installment in Heroine Complex series and especially if you like Aveda, you can't missed this one. If you still not read book 1, Heroine Complex yet, then don't hesitate. Go. Read it!!
Now we got into book 5, Hollywood Heroine and just like the first arc the sole narrator is Annie Chang whom more known by her superhero name, Aveda Jupiter. I wonder in book 4, how exactly Kuhn will bring Aveda's inner turmoil since if you read the series back to back or follow it from the beginning, you know that Aveda's biggest problems is her low self-esteem in the form of Annie Chang therefore make her act like diva and bad friend to Evie. Aveda kinda redeem herself tho, she's still Hurricane Annie, determinable and intense, yet in a good way. Although, the aftermath of the event in book 4, Haunted Heroine show to reader that deep inside Aveda is actually..not okay.
Just like book 4, the setting happen outside San Fransisco and we know get swept into the city of angels aka Los Angeles. It's Hollywood baby, because apparently some Hollywood executive want to make a tv series based on Aveda and Eve's super heroine pursuits. Also just like book 4, yep, you kinda feels the pattern here, a people that Aveda known from her past make their appearance. At first arc, we just got a glimpse into Mercedes, a fellow super heroine with human GPS ability like that also start her super heroine debut in San Fransisco only to be less famous compared to Aveda. We get to know that Mercedes is basically Karen in disguise, rotten and racist to the core. Aveda and Mercedes toxic dynamic (more like from Mercedes side) is one of the focus of this book.
As for character development, we get to know that Aveda actually almost fall into burn out state, but it's frustrating to see because she just didn't want to admit it. The Hurricane Annie mode made Aveda insist that she can solve the problems herself, forget that she also have her own teams that ready to support her. Also her fear of changes also pretty well put and I think kinda resonated with me, because I too, sometimes hate changes. Yet, changes are not always bad. In the other side, while Aveda and her husband, Scott, didn't have those emotional distance like Evie and Nate in book 4 since Scott also happen to accompany Aveda to L.A that didn't mean they don't have their own problems as well. Aveda sure is jealous of Mercedes that try to act friendly to Scott, but she also didn't want to saddle Scott with her dreams that sadly all of it come from her own assumptions. Don't worry all will get well, while Aveda and Scott also got into fights they also solve it like what adults should behave. I also liked to read the glimpse into Aveda and Scott's wedding since we never get to know when and how they married. Romantic is not enough to describe it. In the steamy sex scene, well, more like vanilla. I always think that Kuhn reserve those steamy scenes for the Tanaka sisters, lol.
After ghost, the supernatural forces now come in the form of vampire which is somehow silly. But, eh, puppy demon in book 2 itself were already quirky. Vampire aside, the main problems in this book is how Kuhn try to show so many big problem with the way Hollywood work. Just like book 4, the unfairness toward women of color are glaring. Kuhn's way to writing might be too blatant for my taste, but I can feel her frustration. She also point it to for some people (especially white), diversity seems like just a form of trend, and I guess she was right. So, there's so many aspect to be discuss from this book regarding the diversity and what people of Asian American face especially in the Hollywood. For example, how the studio cast a Japanese actor for Aveda while she's a Chinese and cast Chinese actor for Evie whom is Japanese. Because apparently all of them look Asian enough. It's such a tongue-in-cheek sarcasm but worth to thinking for since the it's still happen to this day (together with white-washing).
The book itself is okay. I enjoy Aveda's inner turmoils and her character developments are well written since Kuhn pretty much excels in writing emotional scenes. She also put some interesting tidbits in this book that might be get missed if they are not familiar enough like The Ripped Bodice, a bookshop that cater to romance readers alike. I happen to know them since I also on Twitter (not X, f*ck you melon!) so it's amusing to read how Aveda, Evie and their new member, Pippa (also from book 4) try to search clue about vampires from the paranormal section books. Also, I think Kuhn is a major Nalini Singh fans, since she mention her names twice (in this book and also in Heroine Journey). I'm intrigued of what Singh's series that she liked!
Overall, a pretty strong installment in Heroine Complex series and especially if you like Aveda, you can't missed this one. If you still not read book 1, Heroine Complex yet, then don't hesitate. Go. Read it!!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gaslighting, Panic attacks/disorders, Cursing, and Racism
Moderate: Violence, Sexual content, and Pregnancy
Minor: Abandonment
displacedcactus's review
adventurous
emotional
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
Although this series remains enjoyable, I felt like Hollywood Heroine hit a lot of the same beats as the previous book, Haunted Heroine. Maybe I wouldn't have noticed it so much if I'd read them as they were published, rather than just a month and a half apart.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Violence, Racism, and Sexual content
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