Shero

I was asked a while back to give my thoughts on Shero, a superhero-themed story with a twist by Jack Wallen. I found it to be a great example of envelope pushing fiction, and I think the world needs way more Shero.

Now, I have to prove that statement.

Shero is a transgendered superhero. He rocks fighting crime and the forces of V.I.L.E. in heels and a dress, with his katana and fingernail shooting superpower. He's open about who he is, even if the public doesn't understand, they love him anyways. Shero is a multifaceted character, and he has a log of inner doubts, questions and frustrations. He doesn't lead the perfect, idealized superhero life, which makes him a very sympathetic character. You want to cheer for him. He's lovable, entertaining and misunderstood.

But, just like how gender is actually a shade of grey rather than an oppressive black and white, so are good and evil. Jack Wallen takes the concepts of hero and villain and mixes them around, until you're not sure who is good, and who is evil. The plot is a war between perceptions of stark-contrast good and evil, and reality. It's a refreshing take on the subject, because most bad guys are defined as "bad" just because, and good is good because it isn't bad.

The suspense and action kept me on the edge of my seat. Shero kicks ass, takes names and does all the things a superhero does, all while looking better in a fancy dress than I do. Various superpowers were unique, different and felt super while still giving action scenes that weren't horribly overpowered.

"Shero" by Jack Wallen is a fun romp in Size 14 patent-leather Mary Janes! It is full of sass and attitude, with a narrator who feels like a girlfriend gossiping over coffee and sweet stuff. The ultimate theme of this novel is one that everyone should learn -- it's a story about one man's (girl's!) struggle to remain true to himself in the face of a world that won't let him do so easily. I recommend this book for a read that is funny, full of life, and for a date with a character you'll want to hear more from after the book ends!

This was not a book that impressed me. The description sounded interesting so I agreed to read it. But from the very beginning the book seemed forced and contrived. I tried so hard to enjoy the story and ignore the whining of the main character, but I just couldn't get past it. If the author wanted sympathy for the main character I think he could have made him slightly less annoying and it would have helped quite a bit.