Hero Complex

Thoma (Data Capture) delivers another rousing, high-heat lesbian take on classic sci-fi tropes. Genius scientist Bronte Scales invents zeptobots in an attempt to cure cancer. Her boss, ruthless Bard Verstrand, knows Bronte’s onto something, but worries Bronte’s pesky morals might get in the way of Bard’s plan to produce weapons and control minds and thus sends henchmen to steal her research. Before they can, however, Bronte injects herself with the only sample of her invention, and the zeptobots turn her body metallic and give her superpowers. One year later, at an underground Verstrand facility, nurse Athena Papadakis discovers Bronte sedated and strapped to a hospital bed. Horrified, Athena releases her, and learns her story—and what Bard is planning. With help from cagey doctor Galen Ford and a fellow patient named Spero, Bronte and Athena must escape the lab, hide from Bard’s security guards, and figure out how their powers can take down Verstrand Industries once and for all. Somehow, in all the chaos, they still find time to fall in love—and engage in some midair sexcapades. Though the writing skews expository, the fascinating, queer-normative worldbuilding focused on powerful female characters adds appeal and the push-pull romance will keep readers turning pages. Anyone looking for queer paranormal romance should snap this up. (Jan.)