The Brokenhearted

In an atmospheric, adventure-laced debut, Kahaney launches a series in which a wealthy ballerina becomes a superhuman vigilante in the corrupt, crime-ridden city of Bedlam. Seventeen-year-old Anthem Fleet falls in love with a boy from the wrong side of town, but he's soon kidnapped and held for ransom. After Anthem suffers an accident that results in a mad scientist replacing her heart with a bionic one, she uses her newfound superhuman speed, strength, and stamina to track down and fight the criminals who have disrupted her life. The further she takes her crusade, the more she becomes a symbol of hope, even as she discovers some uncomfortable truths about Bedlam's secret history. Kahaney's graceful world-building allows the setting to emerge as a character in its own right, while hinting at intriguing developments to come. Strong characterizations and an enveloping plot are only mildly undermined by some light soap operatics and logistical implausibility, with the majority of the narrative fueled by Anthem's steady development as an action heroine. An Alloy Entertainment property. Ages 13%E2%80%93up. (Oct.)