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Once a villain, always a villain?
Optimistic and idealistic superhero Prism is determined to redeem her father’s legacy by rebooting his supervillain rehabilitation program. To do so, she sets her sights on Fade, the relapsed supervillain who was the reason the government canceled the original program in the first place. However, when she petitions for Fade to be released into her custody, she finds out things might not be as simple as she thought.
Convicted of an unforgivable crime, Fade received a choice: surrender to trial and possible execution or endure a memory erasure so he could start fresh. Now with no recollection of his time before incarceration, Fade doubts he has the ability to be anything but the villain the public believes him to be.
A series of attacks by a mysterious power-swapping villain points back to Fade’s past and the crime that cost him his freedom and memory. With her father's legacy and her own reputation on the line, even Prism has to wonder: can a villain truly be reformed?
Optimistic and idealistic superhero Prism is determined to redeem her father’s legacy by rebooting his supervillain rehabilitation program. To do so, she sets her sights on Fade, the relapsed supervillain who was the reason the government canceled the original program in the first place. However, when she petitions for Fade to be released into her custody, she finds out things might not be as simple as she thought.
Convicted of an unforgivable crime, Fade received a choice: surrender to trial and possible execution or endure a memory erasure so he could start fresh. Now with no recollection of his time before incarceration, Fade doubts he has the ability to be anything but the villain the public believes him to be.
A series of attacks by a mysterious power-swapping villain points back to Fade’s past and the crime that cost him his freedom and memory. With her father's legacy and her own reputation on the line, even Prism has to wonder: can a villain truly be reformed?
230 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 1, 2020
43 people are currently reading
196 people want to read
About the author
H.L. Burke
94 books566 followersBorn in a small town in north central Oregon, H. L. Burke spent most of her childhood around trees and farm animals and was always accompanied by a book. Growing up with epic heroes from Middle Earth and Narnia keeping her company, she also became an incurable romantic.
An addictive personality, she jumped from one fandom to another, being at times completely obsessed with various books, movies, or television series (Lord of the Rings, Star Wars, and Star Trek all took their turns), but she has grown to be what she considers a well-rounded connoisseur of geek culture.
Married to her high school crush who is now a US Marine, she has moved multiple times in her adult life but believes that home is wherever her husband, two daughters, and pets are.
She is the author of a four part fantasy/romance series entitled "The Dragon and the Scholar," the Award Winning (2016 Realm Award for Young Adult Fiction) Nyssa Glass Steampunk series, and MG/Fantasy "Cora and the Nurse Dragon," among others .
Sign up for her monthly newsletter at www.hlburkeauthor.com
http://www.amazon.com/H.-L.-Burke/e/B...
An addictive personality, she jumped from one fandom to another, being at times completely obsessed with various books, movies, or television series (Lord of the Rings, Star Wars, and Star Trek all took their turns), but she has grown to be what she considers a well-rounded connoisseur of geek culture.
Married to her high school crush who is now a US Marine, she has moved multiple times in her adult life but believes that home is wherever her husband, two daughters, and pets are.
She is the author of a four part fantasy/romance series entitled "The Dragon and the Scholar," the Award Winning (2016 Realm Award for Young Adult Fiction) Nyssa Glass Steampunk series, and MG/Fantasy "Cora and the Nurse Dragon," among others .
Sign up for her monthly newsletter at www.hlburkeauthor.com
http://www.amazon.com/H.-L.-Burke/e/B...
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 72 reviews
August 21, 2023
Love Marvel movies but want it in a novel form? Do you like superheroes in general? If either of these sound like you then you’ve come to the right review and book because Reformed is all that and so much more!
(Am I reading yet another of H. L. Burke’s superhero series before finishing the other two I started? Yes, yes I am, so why are you looking at me like that?!?!)
Ahem, side tangent aside, the first thing that struck me about this book was how real and human everyone felt even though they can literally go through walls and shoot light out of their hands among other powers (which ain’t normal in case you were wondering), not to mention they all have distinct voices and personalities I could spot from a mile away and not once did anyone act out of character. Also I have to add that I love how the seemingly naive, compassionate Prism is the team leader and that her strong feelings are always justified and not bashed down by trusting the wrong person that turns her jaded—as someone who relies a lot on feelings to stay alive in this crazy world a million THANK YOUS to the author for making me feel validated!
Secondly, the action. Holy heck is the action amazing! I could picture what was going on at all times and how everyone combined their powers as a team was awesome. Though I gotta wonder has throwing superheroes through glass always been a thing, or is it just because in movies it looks cool (cough, painful) when someone smashes through it and now it’s a cliche? Not sure but it’s fun to wonder about. (As if I don’t have anything else to do with my day…)
Thirdly, the plot is complicated and even I fell for a couple of red herrings the author threw on who this bad guy really was. Also loved watching Fade become a real hero rather then keep believing himself to be a villain with no redemption.
So whether you like superheroes or not, I’d highly recommend this book plus the others in this author’s universe, and I can’t wait to eventually read book two!
‼️Content‼️
Language: jackass; damning; screw up; crap; heck; damn; perp; dang; darn; ass; BS; bastard; dammit; arse; what the heck; frick; gosh; badass; what the; hellscape; damned; go to hell; what the hell; that B
Violence: fighting with superpowers and weapons (not detailed); several supervillains hold people hostage; a character’s neck is snapped; a mutilated body is found strapped to a chair (not detailed); lasers go off inside a villain’s chest (not detailed); a bomb is strapped to a door; injuries and blood (not detailed)
Sexual: mild suggestive hints and comments; talk about characters having slept around (never shown or detailed); a woman is called hot; a woman calls herself sexy; kissing (not detailed); characters sleep together (not sexually); a character thinks that others will assume they slept with someone (they didn’t)
Drug/Alcohol: toxic gas is released and kills people; characters drink alcohol
Other: superheroes and supervillains; superpowers and abilities; death and grief
(Am I reading yet another of H. L. Burke’s superhero series before finishing the other two I started? Yes, yes I am, so why are you looking at me like that?!?!)
Ahem, side tangent aside, the first thing that struck me about this book was how real and human everyone felt even though they can literally go through walls and shoot light out of their hands among other powers (which ain’t normal in case you were wondering), not to mention they all have distinct voices and personalities I could spot from a mile away and not once did anyone act out of character. Also I have to add that I love how the seemingly naive, compassionate Prism is the team leader and that her strong feelings are always justified and not bashed down by trusting the wrong person that turns her jaded—as someone who relies a lot on feelings to stay alive in this crazy world a million THANK YOUS to the author for making me feel validated!
Secondly, the action. Holy heck is the action amazing! I could picture what was going on at all times and how everyone combined their powers as a team was awesome. Though I gotta wonder has throwing superheroes through glass always been a thing, or is it just because in movies it looks cool (cough, painful) when someone smashes through it and now it’s a cliche? Not sure but it’s fun to wonder about. (As if I don’t have anything else to do with my day…)
Thirdly, the plot is complicated and even I fell for a couple of red herrings the author threw on who this bad guy really was. Also loved watching Fade become a real hero rather then keep believing himself to be a villain with no redemption.
So whether you like superheroes or not, I’d highly recommend this book plus the others in this author’s universe, and I can’t wait to eventually read book two!
‼️Content‼️
Language: jackass; damning; screw up; crap; heck; damn; perp; dang; darn; ass; BS; bastard; dammit; arse; what the heck; frick; gosh; badass; what the; hellscape; damned; go to hell; what the hell; that B
Violence: fighting with superpowers and weapons (not detailed); several supervillains hold people hostage; a character’s neck is snapped; a mutilated body is found strapped to a chair (not detailed); lasers go off inside a villain’s chest (not detailed); a bomb is strapped to a door; injuries and blood (not detailed)
Sexual: mild suggestive hints and comments; talk about characters having slept around (never shown or detailed); a woman is called hot; a woman calls herself sexy; kissing (not detailed); characters sleep together (not sexually); a character thinks that others will assume they slept with someone (they didn’t)
Drug/Alcohol: toxic gas is released and kills people; characters drink alcohol
Other: superheroes and supervillains; superpowers and abilities; death and grief
April 24, 2020
4.5 stars
A fun superhero adventure with an adorable, little bit angsty romance, and more feels than I was expecting... Just hurt me, it's fine. *sniff, sniff* But really, it was good--made me smile, made me laugh, made me sad, made me anxious, and definitely had me shipping the couple the whole time. The mystery of the bad guy and some other things isn't that shocking or hard to figure out--there were pieces I was like "c'mon, guys, stop and think about it..." but also things I didn't guess until shortly before they were revealed--so probably don't read it expecting a shocking mystery you won't see coming. Find a mystery for that, lol. But for a fun, relatively quick read with a lot of heart and well-done, convincingly laid out plot concluded in a very satisfying way, a redemption story, and a fairly clean (one short make out sesh, a handful of cuss words) romance with superhero flair--definitely check this one out!
A fun superhero adventure with an adorable, little bit angsty romance, and more feels than I was expecting... Just hurt me, it's fine. *sniff, sniff* But really, it was good--made me smile, made me laugh, made me sad, made me anxious, and definitely had me shipping the couple the whole time. The mystery of the bad guy and some other things isn't that shocking or hard to figure out--there were pieces I was like "c'mon, guys, stop and think about it..." but also things I didn't guess until shortly before they were revealed--so probably don't read it expecting a shocking mystery you won't see coming. Find a mystery for that, lol. But for a fun, relatively quick read with a lot of heart and well-done, convincingly laid out plot concluded in a very satisfying way, a redemption story, and a fairly clean (one short make out sesh, a handful of cuss words) romance with superhero flair--definitely check this one out!
July 19, 2020
VIDEO REVIEW HERE: https://youtu.be/E8hhgsQjaxo
Confession: I really struggled to get engaged for almost the first half of Reformed. My guess is because I've only read one other superhero book in recent years and not a big superhero fan in general. I just had a hard time connecting with the characters and feel that was a "me" thing as I have deeply loved other books by this author (and have devoured them).
Though even with that said, I was glued to my Kindle for the second half! When these characters roped me in with their powers, I was indeed hooked (and actually "hid away" for a little bit to finish it)! In many ways, this reminds me of a modern Marvel movie, but cooler because it's by an indie author. (Though this would seriously make an EPIC film, hands down!)
Everything seemed very plausible and thought the "mystery" aspect was superbly well done. I had to do quite a bit of thinking and how it entangled with characters was definitely creating feelings of :o :o :o :o!
Prism was a really great main character and loved her bright personality. Her leadership and caring for her team really warmed my heart and think she might be up there in some of my favorite characters. Her brother, Aiden, was definitely a second favorite! He was quite the character and loved his snarky, over protective self. Fade was also really cool too!
I'm looking forward to reading book two and seeing what happens next! I've gotten pretty attached to these characters and want to see what villain they will defeat next time! I also definitely want more of a certain "thing" I will leave unsaid. ;)
Recommended to superhero readers and Marvel fans!
*(I received an ARC from the author and was not required to write a positive review. All thoughts expressed are my own.)*
Confession: I really struggled to get engaged for almost the first half of Reformed. My guess is because I've only read one other superhero book in recent years and not a big superhero fan in general. I just had a hard time connecting with the characters and feel that was a "me" thing as I have deeply loved other books by this author (and have devoured them).
Though even with that said, I was glued to my Kindle for the second half! When these characters roped me in with their powers, I was indeed hooked (and actually "hid away" for a little bit to finish it)! In many ways, this reminds me of a modern Marvel movie, but cooler because it's by an indie author. (Though this would seriously make an EPIC film, hands down!)
Everything seemed very plausible and thought the "mystery" aspect was superbly well done. I had to do quite a bit of thinking and how it entangled with characters was definitely creating feelings of :o :o :o :o!
Prism was a really great main character and loved her bright personality. Her leadership and caring for her team really warmed my heart and think she might be up there in some of my favorite characters. Her brother, Aiden, was definitely a second favorite! He was quite the character and loved his snarky, over protective self. Fade was also really cool too!
I'm looking forward to reading book two and seeing what happens next! I've gotten pretty attached to these characters and want to see what villain they will defeat next time! I also definitely want more of a certain "thing" I will leave unsaid. ;)
Recommended to superhero readers and Marvel fans!
*(I received an ARC from the author and was not required to write a positive review. All thoughts expressed are my own.)*
September 10, 2020
What I expected: a light-hearted, superhero romp.
What I got: a light-hearted, superhero romp with unexpected depth and rip-your-heart-out moments.
The characters of Prism and Fade drew me in, and all of the supporting characters are well developed and distinct. Aiden was my favorite. Yes, I may have choked up at a certain part. If you've read the book, you'll know which one.
While I was not impressed the last time I listened to a book done by this audiobook narrator, the one I listened to was her first audiobook narration and she has definitely improved her technique and narration and editing. I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed the narration since I expected to not enjoy it. I will definitely be getting the next audiobook if/when it releases!
What I got: a light-hearted, superhero romp with unexpected depth and rip-your-heart-out moments.
The characters of Prism and Fade drew me in, and all of the supporting characters are well developed and distinct. Aiden was my favorite. Yes, I may have choked up at a certain part. If you've read the book, you'll know which one.
While I was not impressed the last time I listened to a book done by this audiobook narrator, the one I listened to was her first audiobook narration and she has definitely improved her technique and narration and editing. I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed the narration since I expected to not enjoy it. I will definitely be getting the next audiobook if/when it releases!
June 14, 2022
A perfect blend of action, mystery, and romance!
This is my idea of the perfect book! Prism's team of superheroes works for a government agency to take down supervillains. Prism lobbies to resurrect her father's rehabilitation program, starting with the most dangerous villain in custody, Fade. Her team consists of an entertaining and well-balanced cast whose unusual abilities complement and support each other admirably. The fast-paced action and dialogue make this a quick read that keeps you guessing at the true villain's identity until the very end. Though they have incredible powers, the struggles the characters face relate to everyone: loss, grief, shame, sorrow, betrayal, desire, passion, and vengeance. Characters make difficult but realistic moral choices, and there are some beautiful references to faith and conversion. A delightful read for older teens to adults with some cussing, violence, references to torture, and "clean" romance. Highly recommend!
This is my idea of the perfect book! Prism's team of superheroes works for a government agency to take down supervillains. Prism lobbies to resurrect her father's rehabilitation program, starting with the most dangerous villain in custody, Fade. Her team consists of an entertaining and well-balanced cast whose unusual abilities complement and support each other admirably. The fast-paced action and dialogue make this a quick read that keeps you guessing at the true villain's identity until the very end. Though they have incredible powers, the struggles the characters face relate to everyone: loss, grief, shame, sorrow, betrayal, desire, passion, and vengeance. Characters make difficult but realistic moral choices, and there are some beautiful references to faith and conversion. A delightful read for older teens to adults with some cussing, violence, references to torture, and "clean" romance. Highly recommend!
September 20, 2021
4 stars // read September 2021
(Sorry, this review feels like a bit of a mess. I’ll come back and edit it later. Probably. 😉)
I wasn’t planning on reading this in one night, but between the addictive writing and apparently drinking too much caffeine, I read it in one sitting. :)
Overall, “Reformed” was enjoyable. The superpowers in particular were original and interesting to read about. However, it didn’t “wow” me like I expected, which might be due to accidentally reading a later book in the series before this one, and also the fact that I was uncomfortable with some of the content in the romance area. Both of those things are subjective, though, and if you enjoy superhero stories, I would recommend checking this one out. Mainly because I do know spoilers, I’m looking forward to reading more in this series in the future.
Content: If you’ve read any of the author’s other books, the content level is about the same or a bit more than the usual.
Sensuality: Medium. Veers into the spicier side of clean- some suggestive comments; mentions of a guy’s thoughts about an attractive girl; it’s mentioned that a guy had a physical relationship with a girl; a girl considers going farther than a kiss but ends up rejecting the idea.
Violence: Mild. Mostly typical superhero violence; a character’s neck is snapped (on-screen).
Language: Mild/Medium.
(Sorry, this review feels like a bit of a mess. I’ll come back and edit it later. Probably. 😉)
I wasn’t planning on reading this in one night, but between the addictive writing and apparently drinking too much caffeine, I read it in one sitting. :)
Overall, “Reformed” was enjoyable. The superpowers in particular were original and interesting to read about. However, it didn’t “wow” me like I expected, which might be due to accidentally reading a later book in the series before this one, and also the fact that I was uncomfortable with some of the content in the romance area. Both of those things are subjective, though, and if you enjoy superhero stories, I would recommend checking this one out. Mainly because I do know spoilers, I’m looking forward to reading more in this series in the future.
Content: If you’ve read any of the author’s other books, the content level is about the same or a bit more than the usual.
Sensuality: Medium. Veers into the spicier side of clean- some suggestive comments; mentions of a guy’s thoughts about an attractive girl; it’s mentioned that a guy had a physical relationship with a girl; a girl considers going farther than a kiss but ends up rejecting the idea.
Violence: Mild. Mostly typical superhero violence; a character’s neck is snapped (on-screen).
Language: Mild/Medium.
December 28, 2020
A well-written Superhero novel with some fun twists and turns, and a suprising but inevitable reveal at the end. I was just expecting a light-hearted superhero romp, but found much more than that. This story had heart. There was drama and a natural-feeling romance that doesn't overwhelm the story.
August 13, 2025
Superheroes, Action, Suspense, Romance? Sign me up!
I really enjoyed reading about Prism, the hero with a savior complex, and Fade, the hopefully-going-to-be-reformed villain. The other characters were also brought to life with unique personalities, including Aiden, the mind reading brother, Keeper, the Scottish animal tamer, and Tanvi, the strength sable. The plot itself was intense, building with action and suspense until the epic and breathtaking finale. Burke made the hero world easy to understand, putting it in alternate-reality earth with easy to understand explanations of abilities. There's even a minor faith discussion as a cherry on top for the book.
I honestly lost a lot of interest in superheroes after some of the latest movies, but after reading another book in Burke's series, my interest is peaked in this genre. Trust me, I'm going on to read the others, and very excited to do so. As for the movies? These books are better :-)
Content Warnings: This is a VERY PG-13 book. There's cussing, drinking, and sexual references. This is a book for adults with discernment. There's nothing explicit, and I found I could read it without any issues. However, for a more sensitive reader, they may not want to read it.
I really enjoyed reading about Prism, the hero with a savior complex, and Fade, the hopefully-going-to-be-reformed villain. The other characters were also brought to life with unique personalities, including Aiden, the mind reading brother, Keeper, the Scottish animal tamer, and Tanvi, the strength sable. The plot itself was intense, building with action and suspense until the epic and breathtaking finale. Burke made the hero world easy to understand, putting it in alternate-reality earth with easy to understand explanations of abilities. There's even a minor faith discussion as a cherry on top for the book.
I honestly lost a lot of interest in superheroes after some of the latest movies, but after reading another book in Burke's series, my interest is peaked in this genre. Trust me, I'm going on to read the others, and very excited to do so. As for the movies? These books are better :-)
Content Warnings: This is a VERY PG-13 book. There's cussing, drinking, and sexual references. This is a book for adults with discernment. There's nothing explicit, and I found I could read it without any issues. However, for a more sensitive reader, they may not want to read it.
May 18, 2020
Can I say how much I loved this superhero book? The sweet romance was on point (happy sigh), the main villain perfectly mysterious (and had me guessing who it was until the reveal), and the action worth every moment (freaking love superheroes). I especially enjoyed Fade's character arc as well as everything about Prism's character. I ship them. I totally ship them. I enjoyed reading this fun book so much!
April 8, 2025
This book reminded me of the Supervillain of the Day series which I enjoyed several years ago.
Prism is a super-abled young woman employed by DOSA, a government agency that oversees hero work. She leads a small team of heroes tasked with neutralizing criminal activities enacted by super abled villains. However, Prism has additional ambitions. She wants to carry on her father's legacy of rehabilitating villains and bringing them over into hero work. And she wants to start with her father's star pupil, a man named Fade who relapsed into villany rather spectacularly after her father's death. The trouble is, Fade isn't sure he's capable or deserving of redemption.
Though not the most polished narration, I still thoroughly enjoyed this story. It was lighthearted but also had depth. In fact, I almost cried a couple of times! Fade is a charming
I'll definitely be reading more books in this series.
CONTENT
Religion: Prism and her brother share a Christian faith. Though not a focal element of the story, it is present. There is a conversion scene which felt a little rushed.
Romance: Awareness of proximity and physical attractiveness. Mention of a man's mental reaction to seeing a girl he finds attractive. Reference to extra-marital sex. An unmarried couple platonically sharing a bed in a moment of crisis. And a few kissing scenes with a moderate level of description.
Language: Characters use PG-13 level swear words
Violence: Lots of fight scenes, as one would expect in a superhero story. Nothing overly graphic.
Substances: All characters are comfortable with alcohol consumption. Prism reflects that she enjoys drinking but not to the point of excess.
Prism is a super-abled young woman employed by DOSA, a government agency that oversees hero work. She leads a small team of heroes tasked with neutralizing criminal activities enacted by super abled villains. However, Prism has additional ambitions. She wants to carry on her father's legacy of rehabilitating villains and bringing them over into hero work. And she wants to start with her father's star pupil, a man named Fade who relapsed into villany rather spectacularly after her father's death. The trouble is, Fade isn't sure he's capable or deserving of redemption.
Though not the most polished narration, I still thoroughly enjoyed this story. It was lighthearted but also had depth. In fact, I almost cried a couple of times! Fade is a charming
I'll definitely be reading more books in this series.
CONTENT
Religion: Prism and her brother share a Christian faith. Though not a focal element of the story, it is present. There is a conversion scene which felt a little rushed.
Romance: Awareness of proximity and physical attractiveness. Mention of a man's mental reaction to seeing a girl he finds attractive. Reference to extra-marital sex. An unmarried couple platonically sharing a bed in a moment of crisis. And a few kissing scenes with a moderate level of description.
Language: Characters use PG-13 level swear words
Violence: Lots of fight scenes, as one would expect in a superhero story. Nothing overly graphic.
Substances: All characters are comfortable with alcohol consumption. Prism reflects that she enjoys drinking but not to the point of excess.
August 13, 2022
#Justice for Aiden
This was a fun, fast-paced superhero adventure. Aiden, aka the The Only Sensible Person In The Room At All Times, was by far my favorite character. I adored him. Prism, our MC, was harder for me to connect to because she seemed so naive. I accept this as a realistic character flaw, but it's still not one I enjoy reading about. And I was a little frustrated when Prism never seemed to mature beyond this flaw. Every time she trusts her own instincts over what more cautious and experienced people are telling her, she's rewarded by the narrative. This sounds mean, but... I would have liked to see her be wrong at least once. Just for the Growth and Development, you know?
Overall, though, this book creatively imagines how superheroes might be integrated into the government and military bureaucracy, and even into casual daily life. The storyworld feels natural and lived-in, but still fresh and exciting, which is a tough balance to strike. Nice work.
This was a fun, fast-paced superhero adventure. Aiden, aka the The Only Sensible Person In The Room At All Times, was by far my favorite character. I adored him. Prism, our MC, was harder for me to connect to because she seemed so naive. I accept this as a realistic character flaw, but it's still not one I enjoy reading about. And I was a little frustrated when Prism never seemed to mature beyond this flaw. Every time she trusts her own instincts over what more cautious and experienced people are telling her, she's rewarded by the narrative. This sounds mean, but... I would have liked to see her be wrong at least once. Just for the Growth and Development, you know?
Overall, though, this book creatively imagines how superheroes might be integrated into the government and military bureaucracy, and even into casual daily life. The storyworld feels natural and lived-in, but still fresh and exciting, which is a tough balance to strike. Nice work.
June 24, 2021
To write a superhero story primarily in a character driven rather than plot driven mode is difficult enough. Trying to say something fresh in the genre is ambitious. I'm not much of a superhero fan. Does Burke pull it off and compel me to care? 4 stars for mostly "yes". In an ensemble cast I thought the leads were strong, Aiden was compelling and everyone else was a bit in the shade. Maybe the sequels will flesh out the rest of the team further.
May 18, 2025
I cried
I read this right after Relapsed, and seeing that Fade had gone back to jail was heartbreaking!
The action was great, but the emotions are what really got me in this one. I was crying. I've read other books later in the timeline and had spoilers for some things that happened, and I still cried over them. I still felt like they punched me in the gut and I knew they were coming!!! That's truly a testament to how well the book is written.
I read this right after Relapsed, and seeing that Fade had gone back to jail was heartbreaking!
The action was great, but the emotions are what really got me in this one. I was crying. I've read other books later in the timeline and had spoilers for some things that happened, and I still cried over them. I still felt like they punched me in the gut and I knew they were coming!!! That's truly a testament to how well the book is written.
August 18, 2021
Stars: 5 of 5; Hearts: 1 of 5;
Tags: superpowers; heroes & villains; suspense; clean romance;
Now, I’m not the biggest Marvel/DC fan, but after getting stuck in fae courts for a while I needed a change of pace and decided to give this book a try. And boy, am I ever glad that I did!!
Both story and characters immediately drew me in so deep that I literally couldn’t put my tablet down before finishing. Which I did in less than a day! Yup, that’s a sure sign for one riveting read imo.
The writing is excellent and lively, the world building is solid and relatable and all the characters are well fleshed-out and likeable from page one. Prism – the female MC – may come off as naïve and idealistic at first, but soon it’s clear that she is no fool and not afraid to show her claws when it comes to fighting for what she cares for. Fade – the male MC – sort of reminds me of Tolemek from Lindsay Buroker’s Dragonblood series as both are “bad boys” with a heart of gold who wish to redeem themselves from the tragic things they did in the past. But to achieve that, Fade must first find his place in this group of misfit superheroes who’ve agreed to give him a second chance.
Add in the sudden appearance of a new villain that somehow seems to be linked to Fade’s past and we’re all set for one kick-ass superhero adventure. Indeed, the plot was so well crafted that for once I did not guess at the villain’s true identity before it was revealed by the characters themselves. I applaud you, Miss Burke, that hasn’t happened in a while. Well Done!
Seriously, I haven’t enjoyed a book as much as this one in a while. I’m already excited to read the rest of the books in the series as well as other books by the same author and will surely do so in the near future!
> Slight warning: this is not a cozy “the-heroes-save-them-all” kinda story! There will be fighting, pain and human casualties!
Tags: superpowers; heroes & villains; suspense; clean romance;
Now, I’m not the biggest Marvel/DC fan, but after getting stuck in fae courts for a while I needed a change of pace and decided to give this book a try. And boy, am I ever glad that I did!!
Both story and characters immediately drew me in so deep that I literally couldn’t put my tablet down before finishing. Which I did in less than a day! Yup, that’s a sure sign for one riveting read imo.
The writing is excellent and lively, the world building is solid and relatable and all the characters are well fleshed-out and likeable from page one. Prism – the female MC – may come off as naïve and idealistic at first, but soon it’s clear that she is no fool and not afraid to show her claws when it comes to fighting for what she cares for. Fade – the male MC – sort of reminds me of Tolemek from Lindsay Buroker’s Dragonblood series as both are “bad boys” with a heart of gold who wish to redeem themselves from the tragic things they did in the past. But to achieve that, Fade must first find his place in this group of misfit superheroes who’ve agreed to give him a second chance.
Add in the sudden appearance of a new villain that somehow seems to be linked to Fade’s past and we’re all set for one kick-ass superhero adventure. Indeed, the plot was so well crafted that for once I did not guess at the villain’s true identity before it was revealed by the characters themselves. I applaud you, Miss Burke, that hasn’t happened in a while. Well Done!
Seriously, I haven’t enjoyed a book as much as this one in a while. I’m already excited to read the rest of the books in the series as well as other books by the same author and will surely do so in the near future!
> Slight warning: this is not a cozy “the-heroes-save-them-all” kinda story! There will be fighting, pain and human casualties!
November 27, 2025
This was such a fun book!! In the words of Larry from VeggieTales, "I laughed, I cried, it moved me, Bob."
But in all seriousness—absolutely loved this world building!! I'm always a fan of worlds with such prevalent superheroes, and this had a very Renegades by Marissa Meyer feel to it in that way. The different powers and names were awesome, and I liked seeing a few characters who weren't as trusting of the establishment, because it makes sense to have both!
I was also a huge fan of the concept in general, of super villain rehabilitation. I love me a good redemption arc, and a book series entirely about it? Sign me UP
The characters were, of course, amazing. Prism is so sweet and optimistic, as well as being a determined and confident team leader (who is also flawed because no one's perfect!), and Fade was such a fascinating character to watch! I loved watching their relationship develop (may have face planted into the book and screamed silently over a few scenes after Certain Events in chapter 17). Keeper was probably my favorite side character—he's just a silly guy who also has a bazillion random contacts and his cat??? HELLO???? Did NOT see that coming. But I also loved Aiden and his proclivity for nicknaming Fade sarcastically.
Speaking of Aiden, I really loved how there was just as much of an emphasis on the sibling relationship as there was on the romantic one. Prism and Aiden were such siblings, and I loved them, and they made me feeling a NORMAL AMOUNT OF EMOTIONS AT CERTAIN POINTS okay no spoilers gotta stay calm
Plot twists were masterfully executed (I gasped VERY loudly at one of them) and the story was brilliant. Highly recommend this book for fans of Renegades!!
But in all seriousness—absolutely loved this world building!! I'm always a fan of worlds with such prevalent superheroes, and this had a very Renegades by Marissa Meyer feel to it in that way. The different powers and names were awesome, and I liked seeing a few characters who weren't as trusting of the establishment, because it makes sense to have both!
I was also a huge fan of the concept in general, of super villain rehabilitation. I love me a good redemption arc, and a book series entirely about it? Sign me UP
The characters were, of course, amazing. Prism is so sweet and optimistic, as well as being a determined and confident team leader (who is also flawed because no one's perfect!), and Fade was such a fascinating character to watch! I loved watching their relationship develop (may have face planted into the book and screamed silently over a few scenes after Certain Events in chapter 17). Keeper was probably my favorite side character—he's just a silly guy who also has a bazillion random contacts and his cat??? HELLO???? Did NOT see that coming. But I also loved Aiden and his proclivity for nicknaming Fade sarcastically.
Speaking of Aiden, I really loved how there was just as much of an emphasis on the sibling relationship as there was on the romantic one. Prism and Aiden were such siblings, and I loved them, and they made me feeling a NORMAL AMOUNT OF EMOTIONS AT CERTAIN POINTS okay no spoilers gotta stay calm
Plot twists were masterfully executed (I gasped VERY loudly at one of them) and the story was brilliant. Highly recommend this book for fans of Renegades!!
May 7, 2022
Who doesn't love supes?
If you like superhero stories with a little romance sprinkled in, this is a good choice. Most superheroes do have their love interests, so I guess this is not really different from most comic heroes in that regard.
Reformed has a familiar take on superheroes becoming part of a government organization, in this case, DOSA. Fans of Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. will enjoy the range of super abilities this allows to be introduced and easily feel at home in the universe of these novels.
We have a ragtag but loveable group of sables (super abled) with an almost naively optimistic leader Prism, her brother Aiden, best friend Tanvi, and the older, more experienced Keeper to round them out. Naturally Prism wants to believe in her late father's program to rehabilitate villains and thus Fade, a sable with a serious crime in his past, is the first attempt, thanks to a memory wipe that gives him a fresh start.
I didn't really have any doubt that Fade would be able to reform, but still, unraveling his past and exploring the team dynamics kept me reading.
This was a good introduction to the series, even though it took me longer than I expected to feel very invested in the story, about 50%. With many pieces to set up before picking up the action in the back half, I'm not sure it could have been done any other way and it all came together in the end.
I already have book two started and look forward to uncovering more about the team.
If you like superhero stories with a little romance sprinkled in, this is a good choice. Most superheroes do have their love interests, so I guess this is not really different from most comic heroes in that regard.
Reformed has a familiar take on superheroes becoming part of a government organization, in this case, DOSA. Fans of Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. will enjoy the range of super abilities this allows to be introduced and easily feel at home in the universe of these novels.
We have a ragtag but loveable group of sables (super abled) with an almost naively optimistic leader Prism, her brother Aiden, best friend Tanvi, and the older, more experienced Keeper to round them out. Naturally Prism wants to believe in her late father's program to rehabilitate villains and thus Fade, a sable with a serious crime in his past, is the first attempt, thanks to a memory wipe that gives him a fresh start.
I didn't really have any doubt that Fade would be able to reform, but still, unraveling his past and exploring the team dynamics kept me reading.
This was a good introduction to the series, even though it took me longer than I expected to feel very invested in the story, about 50%. With many pieces to set up before picking up the action in the back half, I'm not sure it could have been done any other way and it all came together in the end.
I already have book two started and look forward to uncovering more about the team.
December 13, 2025
After reading several other books in the same universe, I've finally started the main series. I thought I might enjoy it less than the romance or YA ones but, as I was already attached to the main characters (having seen them many times in the books I read before) and also knew most of the others at least a little, I loved finding out all about events I had seen mentioned in later books, especially how Prism and Fade met and got together (yes, cute and/or fun interactions are always more interesting to me than action scenes, even if I do like stories about people with superpowers).
Of course a few things (including the main supervillain's identity) could be considered spoiled by what I had read before, but I didn't mind and, in one case, I'm even really glad I didn't read this without any idea of what would happen later. I definitely will read the rest of this series too as soon as possible.
Of course a few things (including the main supervillain's identity) could be considered spoiled by what I had read before, but I didn't mind and, in one case, I'm even really glad I didn't read this without any idea of what would happen later. I definitely will read the rest of this series too as soon as possible.
August 25, 2024
Holy freaking moly this book was SO FREAKING GOOD.
Superhero fatigue is real, but every once in awhile I get bit by the bug for a good superhero/supervillain story, and my GOSH this book was just what the doctor ordered.
The characters in this book were so vivid and real, brought to life by a wonderful narrator. I was immediately invested in Fade and Prism’s story and rooting with them all the way. A suspenseful but also surprisingly cozy read, there were lots of twists and turns to keep me on the edge of my seat, but lots of sweetness to balance everything out.
The idea of the Supervillain Rehabilitation Project was a breath of fresh of air, especially since I loooooove villain redemption arcs. I’m super excited to continue the series!
Superhero fatigue is real, but every once in awhile I get bit by the bug for a good superhero/supervillain story, and my GOSH this book was just what the doctor ordered.
The characters in this book were so vivid and real, brought to life by a wonderful narrator. I was immediately invested in Fade and Prism’s story and rooting with them all the way. A suspenseful but also surprisingly cozy read, there were lots of twists and turns to keep me on the edge of my seat, but lots of sweetness to balance everything out.
The idea of the Supervillain Rehabilitation Project was a breath of fresh of air, especially since I loooooove villain redemption arcs. I’m super excited to continue the series!
July 25, 2022
Here's a funny-ish thing: I was arguably a fan of this book before I started reading it. I've been following H.L. Burke since before she started writing her superhero novels, and I've thoroughly enjoyed reading the snippets she posts as part of her writing process. So, I ended up rather attached to a lot of the characters without ever reading the actual book.* But then Realm Makers came, and I was searching through my Kindle for something to read, and thought "Hey, let's read a book by an Actual Realmie," and decided that was as good a reason as any to move this off my TBR.
And, I'm pleased to say, Reformed was every bit as excellent as I expected! As mentioned, I was already attached to the characters, but I enjoyed getting to meet them properly and learning the sides of them that you don't get in the snippets. The storyline was an excellent balance of relational and character-based elements (Prism's drive to revive her father's project and help Fade, Fade's tension over whether or not he could be a hero when so many say he's only a villain, the whole team learning to trust Fade and Fade learning to trust them, and of course the romance) with mystery, suspense, and action. On that note: I would argue that the mark of an exciting plot and an excellent book is that you can technically know most of the ending and still end up unable to stop reading when you should go to sleep . . . and if so, Reformed definitely qualifies. And, of course, the world of the series — a version of our world where superpowered people are a part of society — was very cool. I do think that the superhero genre is still a bit overlooked in prose fiction, and I'm glad Burke is filling that niche.
All in all, Reformed is an absolutely super story with plenty of both excitement and depth. I look forward to reading the rest of the series (which is a good thing, because I bought them in paperback when I was halfway through this book), and I'd absolutely recommend this one to anyone interested!
*This is, arguably, my preferred method of getting into a story — see also: watching Critical Role after enjoying massive amounts of fanart, animatics, and miscellaneous posts about the characters, reading Six of Crows after reading loads of quotes, fan theories, and headcanons, watching Fairy Tail after hearing my roommate talk about it for a year (and getting most of the major spoilers from her), and reading Discworld after running across entries about the series on basically every possible TVTropes page.
And, I'm pleased to say, Reformed was every bit as excellent as I expected! As mentioned, I was already attached to the characters, but I enjoyed getting to meet them properly and learning the sides of them that you don't get in the snippets. The storyline was an excellent balance of relational and character-based elements (Prism's drive to revive her father's project and help Fade, Fade's tension over whether or not he could be a hero when so many say he's only a villain, the whole team learning to trust Fade and Fade learning to trust them, and of course the romance) with mystery, suspense, and action. On that note: I would argue that the mark of an exciting plot and an excellent book is that you can technically know most of the ending and still end up unable to stop reading when you should go to sleep . . . and if so, Reformed definitely qualifies. And, of course, the world of the series — a version of our world where superpowered people are a part of society — was very cool. I do think that the superhero genre is still a bit overlooked in prose fiction, and I'm glad Burke is filling that niche.
All in all, Reformed is an absolutely super story with plenty of both excitement and depth. I look forward to reading the rest of the series (which is a good thing, because I bought them in paperback when I was halfway through this book), and I'd absolutely recommend this one to anyone interested!
*This is, arguably, my preferred method of getting into a story — see also: watching Critical Role after enjoying massive amounts of fanart, animatics, and miscellaneous posts about the characters, reading Six of Crows after reading loads of quotes, fan theories, and headcanons, watching Fairy Tail after hearing my roommate talk about it for a year (and getting most of the major spoilers from her), and reading Discworld after running across entries about the series on basically every possible TVTropes page.
September 4, 2023
This is a breath of fresh air I didn’t know I needed! Reformed is fun and action-packed, with a cute romance, and a few moments of heartbreak. All around a good read!
I did predict the twists early on, and it’s not completely unique in the superhero genre—but it’s definitely a blast. The writing is solid.
My favorite character was Aiden, but I definitely enjoyed the FMC, Prism, as well as Fade. The characters were all a lot of fun! I enjoyed each team member.
This is a great start to what promises to be a strong series, perfect for fans of Marvel/DC or My Hero Academia.
Content: Brief strong language (no f-bombs), some suggestive conversations and mild innuendo, some violence/death, and casual drinking.
I did predict the twists early on, and it’s not completely unique in the superhero genre—but it’s definitely a blast. The writing is solid.
My favorite character was Aiden, but I definitely enjoyed the FMC, Prism, as well as Fade. The characters were all a lot of fun! I enjoyed each team member.
This is a great start to what promises to be a strong series, perfect for fans of Marvel/DC or My Hero Academia.
Content: Brief strong language (no f-bombs), some suggestive conversations and mild innuendo, some violence/death, and casual drinking.
September 10, 2024
HL Burke writes super-abled (sables) fiction like the best X-men comic runs I can remember. The characters come to life, much more than just their powers. I’m officially in a bromance with Fade, and love the rest of the SVR team he’s introduced into. This first novel also brought to mind the first season of Heroes giving me chills. I HIGHLY recommend this book to anyone who likes super-stories or action movies. There was only one small issue I had with this story, I can’t say it here for spoilers. To be clear though, it had zero impact on my love of the SVR project.
Oh, bonus: if you get a chance to listen to the Audible version, do it! The narration is superb.
Oh, bonus: if you get a chance to listen to the Audible version, do it! The narration is superb.
March 9, 2025
I’ve heard a lot about out the Supervillain Reform Project series by HL Burke for a while now and I’m glad I have finally jumped in! I think if you’re a fan of superheroes in comics or media, you’ll have a great time with this. Prism is seeking to start up an old program that was her father’s legacy and reform one of the villains he had worked with—Fade. But nefarious shenanigans arise and make you question whether Fade is all that much of a villain or just a person framed and never given a fair chance.
dnf
January 2, 2021Interesting premise, mildly amusing, but two chapters in it’s just not holding my interest.
July 9, 2023
I love Prism and Fade
I found this world when I read Power On, so when I heard Reformed is where their story starts I had to read it. A great start to a superhero world.
I found this world when I read Power On, so when I heard Reformed is where their story starts I had to read it. A great start to a superhero world.
April 23, 2020
I had the chance to beta read this story for Heidi, and I LOVED it. Superheroes? Yes please. Character with snark and a good heart and a past he'd like to overcome...? ALL THE YASSSSSS.
I love Fade, hands down. He's exactly the kind of character I have a soft spot for: scruffy bad past guy who is trying to do the right thing. Prism is adorkable, and I related to her mom mode far more than I care to admit... Tanvi is such a cool character (musical? Dancer? Strong? Quirky? YAS!), and so are Aiden and Keeper. Well drawn characters and a story that just starts rolling and keeps right on going.
And that opening line about a secondary super power of "PowerPoint" had me laughing from the start. Go read it, guys. It's a fun story that hits the right notes of humor, sass, snark, and all the rest of it.
I love Fade, hands down. He's exactly the kind of character I have a soft spot for: scruffy bad past guy who is trying to do the right thing. Prism is adorkable, and I related to her mom mode far more than I care to admit... Tanvi is such a cool character (musical? Dancer? Strong? Quirky? YAS!), and so are Aiden and Keeper. Well drawn characters and a story that just starts rolling and keeps right on going.
And that opening line about a secondary super power of "PowerPoint" had me laughing from the start. Go read it, guys. It's a fun story that hits the right notes of humor, sass, snark, and all the rest of it.
March 1, 2021
Reformed is an interesting and well-paced superhero story with the proper amount of action balanced by rounded characterizations. I enjoyed the premise and the twists, and I loved how gently the imbedded love story progressed. And though one incident did leave me in shock, I found the ending satisfying.
I did, however, have one problem with the writing. Though it is currently politically correct to use the plural pronouns ‘they’ and ‘them’ when referring to a person of unknown sex, I have a problem processing this. While reading Reformed, every time I came across this disjointed, grammatically incorrect usage of a plural pronoun referring to a single person, I needed to stop, think, and correct my automatic assumption of ‘plural.’ It bothered me enough to continuously pull me out of the story. The need to frequently reorient myself within the story led me to reduce what would have been a five-star rating to a four-star rating.
I did, however, have one problem with the writing. Though it is currently politically correct to use the plural pronouns ‘they’ and ‘them’ when referring to a person of unknown sex, I have a problem processing this. While reading Reformed, every time I came across this disjointed, grammatically incorrect usage of a plural pronoun referring to a single person, I needed to stop, think, and correct my automatic assumption of ‘plural.’ It bothered me enough to continuously pull me out of the story. The need to frequently reorient myself within the story led me to reduce what would have been a five-star rating to a four-star rating.
March 23, 2020
Watch out for this brand new series by the genre hopping author, H.L. Burke! I beta read this one and it was so much fun! It has wonderful characters, witty banter, romance, action, and suspense. Prism is the optimistic team leader who has a vision to see supervillains reformed and working as superheroes. Her first project is to take on Fade, a particularly challenging case. He was given a second chance previously and messed it up abominably. Has Prism bitten off more than she can chew? It certainly seems that way when things begin going horribly wrong. I'm already looking forward to the next book!
July 23, 2020
This is the second superhero book I've ever read (and I don't watch the movies either) so I'm pretty certain there must have been 'in' jokes and just basic superhero conventions that I totally missed while reading this book but that didn't stop me from thoroughly enjoying this book. It had a good balance of action, mystery and romance. The main characters had a good mix of heart, snark and eccentricity and were highly likeable. Mostly, it's a fun read aside from one rather tragic twist part way through.
July 7, 2022
Ever wanted a book that was half story, half comic book! Look no further!
This was a good urban fantasy that talked about super-heroes (with powers!) and super villains, and it had a comic vibe I appreciated.
I loved the characters, the purity of Prism's soul, all the times Fade went soul-searching, and of course all the powers and twists and turns!
The one thing I really appreciated was the greyness of the supervillain: they aren't evil for the sake of being evil, they have actually a reason even though they go all wrong about it.
Now I'm curious to know how the program will continue and if we'll get glimpses of Prism and Fade in future books too!
This was a good urban fantasy that talked about super-heroes (with powers!) and super villains, and it had a comic vibe I appreciated.
I loved the characters, the purity of Prism's soul, all the times Fade went soul-searching, and of course all the powers and twists and turns!
The one thing I really appreciated was the greyness of the supervillain: they aren't evil for the sake of being evil, they have actually a reason even though they go all wrong about it.
Now I'm curious to know how the program will continue and if we'll get glimpses of Prism and Fade in future books too!
April 25, 2020
If you have been looking for a romantic superhero novel with high stakes, this is the novel for you! Prism has a heart of gold and believes she can make the world a better place. Fade doesn't believe there is good in everyone, because he once was a supervillain. Aiden, Prism's brother, tends to agree with him as someone with the ability to touch others minds. I think Tanvi was my favorite character, right next to Keeper. I'd read a novel from Keeper's perspective.
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