4 out of 5 stars
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We are all aware of superheroes who rescue people and save lives. However, have you ever heard of a superhero who needs to be saved himself? Hero by Danielle Bouthillier is the story of one such extraordinary superhero.
Orphaned at a young age with no memories of her past, Hero is adopted by a neurosurgeon named Joe Anderson. Though doted upon by her daddy, she is abused by her overtly religious adoptive mother who is wary of her unnatural abilities. When a sudden turn of events separates her from her beloved father, Hero is stuck with her tyrannical mother. To make matters worse, Kingston, the city's kingpin, has a warrant out against the superhero. One thing leads to another, and Hero finds herself homeless, playing her guitar to make a living. Fate leads Johnny, Kingston's estranged son, to her. Johnny, who was saved by Hero at one point, finds out a dark secret about the superhero.
Will Johnny turn in Hero to his father? What is Hero's secret? Why is she out on the roads? Most importantly, will she ever be rescued and find her happily ever after?
Hero is Danielle Bouthillier's debut novel. Bouthillier's unconventional superhero story is super engrossing. She brings to us a book full of action, drama, and romance. The fast-paced action sequences and the intricately crafted emotional scenes make it a scintillating read.
Danielle Natalie Bouthillier weaves a tale that enmeshes us in the life of a heroic woman with dangerously low self-esteem. I love how Bouthillier addresses the issue of mental health in her book. Hero is a deaf woman who saves the world time and again with her special abilities. Yet, she always finds herself betrayed by the people closest to her. Her father's abandonment and her mother's systematic brainwashing have left her vulnerable. Despite her supernatural abilities and kind heart, she is ashamed of herself. Leo does a heroic job of breaking her barriers. It is not easy as Hero is more than a handful with all her baggage. Yet, he perseveres. Leo proves that love, compassion, and patience are all that are needed to uplift a person.
I really liked Hero's brother, James. However, his actions toward the end make little sense, especially as his love for his sister is evident throughout the book. Also, Joe Anderson appears to be a great father. His abandonment of his beloved daughter does not make much sense to me. It would have been great if Bouthillier fleshed out James' and Joe's storylines a little bit more. Johnny is a great psychologist who truly tries his best to be there for Hero. I would have loved it if we got to know more about his relationship with his father. Speaking of his father, Mr. Kingston is a typical villain. A little more depth to his character would have been appreciated.
Apart from the cons already discussed and a couple of errors, I did not find any shortcomings in this book. Hence, I rate Danielle Bouthillier's Hero 4 out of 5 stars.
I highly recommend Hero to fans of action-packed novels. People who enjoy a superhero story with a twist will love this novel.
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Hero
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