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Hearts of Heroes #2
Transistor
When Naomi Woodward’s doctor recommended her for a clinical trial, it seemed like the answer to her prayers. She was finally able to get her gender confirmation surgery and the surgery was a resounding success. She finally looked and felt like the woman she always knew she was.
Her new face and new body finally helped her work up the nerve to ask out Anika, the beautiful nurse that lived across the hall. To her delight Anika said yes, but when they are attacked during their date, Naomi quickly discovers that the experimental procedure she went through had some unexpected side effects, and that when Anika told her things with her family were complicated, she really should have listened.
Now, armed with superpowers she barely understands, a snarky artificial intelligence in her head, and allies that include a Superhero, a Dragon, and the literal Devil, she has to keep Anika safe from the archangel who’s out to kill her while they work desperately to prevent a second civil war in heaven.
Her new face and new body finally helped her work up the nerve to ask out Anika, the beautiful nurse that lived across the hall. To her delight Anika said yes, but when they are attacked during their date, Naomi quickly discovers that the experimental procedure she went through had some unexpected side effects, and that when Anika told her things with her family were complicated, she really should have listened.
Now, armed with superpowers she barely understands, a snarky artificial intelligence in her head, and allies that include a Superhero, a Dragon, and the literal Devil, she has to keep Anika safe from the archangel who’s out to kill her while they work desperately to prevent a second civil war in heaven.
336 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 24, 2022
58 people are currently reading
530 people want to read
About the author
Molly J. Bragg
9 books207 followersI’m a trans woman with a degree in Astro-physics and a love of storytelling. I love science fiction, superheroes, and giant robots. My hobbies include collecting transformers, watching way too many crafting videos on YouTube, and complaining bitterly about the way a certain comic book company treats my favorite superhero.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 65 reviews
October 28, 2022
My rating : 4.5⭐️
Captivating, touching & funny ...
I really can't wait for the next books in the series to be released ...
Captivating, touching & funny ...
I really can't wait for the next books in the series to be released ...
November 7, 2023
Naomi undergoes experimental gender transition therapy which works amazingly well, but leaves her with both superpowers and an emergent AI that shares her body. This all becomes evident when she's caught up in a conflict between her neighbor Anika (who Naomi has had a crush on for years) and Anika's family.
Such a clever idea for a superhero book and a superhero origin. It also really fits in well with the superhero universe that this author created with her first book: queer-friendly, suspicious of bigotry in law enforcement but still relying on friendly and protective authorities.
I enjoyed the take here on the biblical mythos (the main conflict is between angels) which also fits surprisingly well within the superhero genre. It was also good seeing a lot of the characters from the first book and it's cool to speculate where the author will take this rich universe from here. Logically that would be a relationship between Eurion and a new character in this book, but I guess we'll see. I think Eurion would need a lot more filling out to be a protagonist.
Such a clever idea for a superhero book and a superhero origin. It also really fits in well with the superhero universe that this author created with her first book: queer-friendly, suspicious of bigotry in law enforcement but still relying on friendly and protective authorities.
I enjoyed the take here on the biblical mythos (the main conflict is between angels) which also fits surprisingly well within the superhero genre. It was also good seeing a lot of the characters from the first book and it's cool to speculate where the author will take this rich universe from here. Logically that would be a relationship between Eurion and a new character in this book, but I guess we'll see. I think Eurion would need a lot more filling out to be a protagonist.
March 27, 2024
4,5 stars
Well written, good MCs, interesting and engaging story,... Very good.
I liked the previous one a tiny bit better, but that's because I find aliens significantly cooler than abrahamic religions, as deconstructed as this was. I simply don't like archangels.
But Chance the sassy hive mind was the best. Loved them. Honestly my favourite character here. No offense to Naomi or Anika. They were great. Chance was better.
Well written, good MCs, interesting and engaging story,... Very good.
I liked the previous one a tiny bit better, but that's because I find aliens significantly cooler than abrahamic religions, as deconstructed as this was. I simply don't like archangels.
But Chance the sassy hive mind was the best. Loved them. Honestly my favourite character here. No offense to Naomi or Anika. They were great. Chance was better.
September 18, 2023
Unfortunately, I wanted to like this one a little bit more than I did. I don’t think it’s bad by any means, but it didn’t feel totally up to par with the first one. If we’re going on actual enjoyment level, this is probably a 2.5, for me.
I liked Naomi as a character, but I felt like we didn’t really know Anika all that well. We open with Naomi having been pining for her for three years, and see their first date, and then they go on a road trip adventure and fall in love over the course of a week. I think, “adventure” romances where it’s travel and a shorter span of time are really hard to pull off, and this one didn’t quite do it for me personally. It was a lot of action, which is fine, but it felt like (despite having a decent amount of dynamics and characters talking) it didn’t feel fleshed out enough for me. But that could absolutely be a personal preference thing, I’m more of a slow burner girl and less of an action one unless I’m really in the mood for it. I was also sort of confused as to why Naomi was becoming Anika’s protector in the first place? Like, Anika is a former army person, had powers of her own, why isn’t she fighting her own battles? Idk. It didn’t totally make sense to me, but I just rolled with it.
Some of it felt a bit repetitive—every new person we met had to have Anika’s “story” rehashed in ways that the reader already knows, which led to me skipping whole paragraphs more than once. A few of the interactions felt a little cringy for me, but I can’t totally put my finger on WHY. I think I also had to slightly readjust what I thought this world and series was going to be—I realized that part way through the first book too. I came in expecting superheroes and sci-fi, and there is a lot of other magic and fantasy stuff (the dragons, actual magic, and now literal angels and demons) and it took me a bit to switch my brain there.
I DID enjoy elements of this, Naomi is a great character and I like the world building that’s being drawn out and many of the side characters. I’m eager to read the next one in the series, but I’m bummed that I didn’t connect with this one as much as I was excited to, because it felt like it had a lot of potential going into it.
(I hope we get Eurion’s love story at some point!)
I liked Naomi as a character, but I felt like we didn’t really know Anika all that well. We open with Naomi having been pining for her for three years, and see their first date, and then they go on a road trip adventure and fall in love over the course of a week. I think, “adventure” romances where it’s travel and a shorter span of time are really hard to pull off, and this one didn’t quite do it for me personally. It was a lot of action, which is fine, but it felt like (despite having a decent amount of dynamics and characters talking) it didn’t feel fleshed out enough for me. But that could absolutely be a personal preference thing, I’m more of a slow burner girl and less of an action one unless I’m really in the mood for it. I was also sort of confused as to why Naomi was becoming Anika’s protector in the first place? Like, Anika is a former army person, had powers of her own, why isn’t she fighting her own battles? Idk. It didn’t totally make sense to me, but I just rolled with it.
Some of it felt a bit repetitive—every new person we met had to have Anika’s “story” rehashed in ways that the reader already knows, which led to me skipping whole paragraphs more than once. A few of the interactions felt a little cringy for me, but I can’t totally put my finger on WHY. I think I also had to slightly readjust what I thought this world and series was going to be—I realized that part way through the first book too. I came in expecting superheroes and sci-fi, and there is a lot of other magic and fantasy stuff (the dragons, actual magic, and now literal angels and demons) and it took me a bit to switch my brain there.
I DID enjoy elements of this, Naomi is a great character and I like the world building that’s being drawn out and many of the side characters. I’m eager to read the next one in the series, but I’m bummed that I didn’t connect with this one as much as I was excited to, because it felt like it had a lot of potential going into it.
(I hope we get Eurion’s love story at some point!)
November 10, 2023
*4.5
This one was *very* different from the first book, but it was sooo good!! If you were expecting something like the first though, I'd recommend trying to change your mindset cause I don't think you'd enjoy it as much.
This one was *very* different from the first book, but it was sooo good!! If you were expecting something like the first though, I'd recommend trying to change your mindset cause I don't think you'd enjoy it as much.
July 14, 2022
A copy of the book was provided to Sapphic Book Club in exchange for an honest review.
Molly J. Bragg's sequel to Scatter is a standalone, set in the same fascinating world and with a new and equally exciting cast. We follow Naomi as she discovers and learns about powers she has obtained through her experimental gender confirmation surgery going slightly wrong, and uses these new powers to protect her new girlfriend, Anika, in a family drama of epic proportions.
Bragg has a talent for creating a lively and entertaining set of characters. By far my favourite was Chance, the AI accidentally created during Naomi's surgery. They are hilarious, snarky and both highly intelligent and somewhat childish, which makes sense given their canonical age. I really enjoyed seeing them grow and change as a person rapidly over the course of the novel, which again makes sense for an AI, as well as seeing how Naomi and Anika respond to having two people living in Naomi's body. All the other characters were good, and have lives and personalities unique to them. I especially was glad to see some of Scatter's characters return and somewhat feature, such as Eurion and Rachel.
I also enjoyed the main conflict of this book. It was an interesting take on the whole heaven/hell, angels and demons trope, and I liked seeing how the heavenly host fit into the modern world (especially Samael).
If Bragg writes a third book in this series, I would absolutely love to see more of Eurion, and especially to see her finally find a wife.
Molly J. Bragg's sequel to Scatter is a standalone, set in the same fascinating world and with a new and equally exciting cast. We follow Naomi as she discovers and learns about powers she has obtained through her experimental gender confirmation surgery going slightly wrong, and uses these new powers to protect her new girlfriend, Anika, in a family drama of epic proportions.
Bragg has a talent for creating a lively and entertaining set of characters. By far my favourite was Chance, the AI accidentally created during Naomi's surgery. They are hilarious, snarky and both highly intelligent and somewhat childish, which makes sense given their canonical age. I really enjoyed seeing them grow and change as a person rapidly over the course of the novel, which again makes sense for an AI, as well as seeing how Naomi and Anika respond to having two people living in Naomi's body. All the other characters were good, and have lives and personalities unique to them. I especially was glad to see some of Scatter's characters return and somewhat feature, such as Eurion and Rachel.
I also enjoyed the main conflict of this book. It was an interesting take on the whole heaven/hell, angels and demons trope, and I liked seeing how the heavenly host fit into the modern world (especially Samael).
If Bragg writes a third book in this series, I would absolutely love to see more of Eurion, and especially to see her finally find a wife.
December 4, 2023
“Being brave doesn’t mean you aren’t afraid. Being brave means you’re afraid and you do it anyway.”
A really good sci-fi/superhero romance, but it definitely had its issues, and is sadly overall less successful then the first book in the series. I love everything that the book is going for, but there's a lot to be desired about the pace and execution. Naomi takes part in a new clinical trial for her gender confirmation surgery, and it leaves her with all the results she wanted, plus a few she didn't expect. When Anika, her next door neighbour whom she's had a crush on for three years, finds herself in trouble, Naomi swoops in to help, and soon they're on the run and on a dangerous adventure.
This includes a lot of bulletproof themes and tropes for me (self discovery and angels and AI, three things I particularly love) but the way the story was formulated just wasn't... good? Like, 1 pound of plot in a 5 pound bag, and a gallon of character interaction in development in a single cup. Way out of proportion. In books, characters are eternally and always way more important to me than plot, but even I got frustrated with how little was actually happening in the plot? They would go some place, hide out, get attacked, go some place else, rinse and repeat. Anika narrated her backstory a bajillion times. We got cameos from characters I loved in the first book, but nothing super substantial? I really liked all the angels, their very distinct personalities and relationships, and the mythos in the world (especially the Book and Enoch, and Anika being and Ethiopian Jew), but it still felt like we didn't DO anything with it. It seems pretty obvious to me what action the characters would/should take, but they only decided upon it around 90% in, and until then, it really felt like we were in perpetual limbo. A lot of the science stuff... like, it was SO COOL, but it also felt so disjointed? Like, the characters would be faced with a problem, and suddenly Cool New Thing Ex Machina would be thrown out by another character to save the day, with no little rhyme of reason. So much was happening to Naomi and around Naomi, and it's pretty unreal, how well she adjusted.
Lots of character stuff happened within that time period, but it was almost... too much? Everything that happened between Naomi and Anika and Chance, the directions that things go and the conclusion they come to: all wonderful. I loved it. But it was SO much to happen in a little 330 page book. The arc that they go on, that's something that needs time and care and development and at least two books imo. The fact that it all happens in a week in, once again, an average length book? It felt to weird. I really liked the romance and the mutual pining that Anika and Naomi have going on, and all the other spoilery revelations are cute (came a liiiiittle bit out of left field to me, but I like what I like in fiction, so it was still cute to me). But it still felt like it just HAPPENED, at the snap of a finger, because the author wanted it to happen. I felt no real and organic development. And that was such a bummer, because the romance was the best part of the first book. In addition, the writing didn't appeal to me as much here. Lots of fun bits, fandom references, tongue in cheek quips, snarkiness... but some of it went over the top, and became a little cringey. A lot of cute stuff, but some of it verged on cutesy which is a very different vibe. Idk. I really liked the characters, but I wanted more out of this story.
Listened to the audiobook as read by Jennifer Pickens, which I loved. A lot of different voices and accents, and I enjoyed them all. The book started off so so well, and I really expected to enjoy it more than this? But sadly, in spite of the great characters, I'm a little underwhelmed.
Content warnings:
June 26, 2024
3.5 star
We have here new super hero characters with a trans backdrop. The author has great ways to transpose emotions with character presentations. Loving the series so far
We have here new super hero characters with a trans backdrop. The author has great ways to transpose emotions with character presentations. Loving the series so far
July 11, 2022
And she goes three for three. This is Molly J Bragg's third book ever and the third one this year AND another success. She is going in my 'buy without reading the blub' authors. Now back to the book.
It starts off nice enough with Naomi a recently transitioned woman struggling to ask her neighbor of three years who has been dropping 'anvil sized hints' that they want to go out on a date but after they get together the crazy uncle appears and Naomi gets stabbed in the chest and we take off from there.
The story was great and I think it was more enjoyable than had it been a normal romance or general fiction. It mirrors the real world in the a lot aspects during the conflict however due to the superhero genre of the book you knew it was going to end well whereas in real life it is really hard to know which way things will go and usually the result pleases noone.
Anyways I genuinely believe people will enjoy the second installment of 'Heart of Heroes' with some cameos from the previous book though not necessary to read the first one it will add to the experience.
A copy of the book was provided to Sapphic Book Club in exchange for an honest review.
It starts off nice enough with Naomi a recently transitioned woman struggling to ask her neighbor of three years who has been dropping 'anvil sized hints' that they want to go out on a date but after they get together the crazy uncle appears and Naomi gets stabbed in the chest and we take off from there.
The story was great and I think it was more enjoyable than had it been a normal romance or general fiction. It mirrors the real world in the a lot aspects during the conflict however due to the superhero genre of the book you knew it was going to end well whereas in real life it is really hard to know which way things will go and usually the result pleases noone.
Anyways I genuinely believe people will enjoy the second installment of 'Heart of Heroes' with some cameos from the previous book though not necessary to read the first one it will add to the experience.
A copy of the book was provided to Sapphic Book Club in exchange for an honest review.
June 9, 2023
I absolutely loved the first book in the series and was pretty excited to pick this one up. Unfortunately I found myself a bit disappointed.
The book wasn’t bad and I didn’t hate it. I just didn’t love it as much as I wanted to.
The premise was interesting and I liked where the author went with the whole angels and had mythology. The characters were fine individually, but I didn’t really see the chemistry between Naomi and Anika. They went from being neighbors/friends to madly in love within a blink of an eye. I just would have liked to see some genuine build up there.
The biggest issue for me personally was the AI. I just wasn’t a huge fan. I thought the idea behind it was fascinating land I loved the concept, but I just didn’t love the character.
Which sort of ties into the ending. I don’t want to spoil it so I won’t go into details, but I personally didn’t love it and would have preferred things take a slightly different turn.
With all that said, I’m still enjoying the series and I am absolutely looking forward to seeing where things go in the next book.
The book wasn’t bad and I didn’t hate it. I just didn’t love it as much as I wanted to.
The premise was interesting and I liked where the author went with the whole angels and had mythology. The characters were fine individually, but I didn’t really see the chemistry between Naomi and Anika. They went from being neighbors/friends to madly in love within a blink of an eye. I just would have liked to see some genuine build up there.
The biggest issue for me personally was the AI. I just wasn’t a huge fan. I thought the idea behind it was fascinating land I loved the concept, but I just didn’t love the character.
Which sort of ties into the ending. I don’t want to spoil it so I won’t go into details, but I personally didn’t love it and would have preferred things take a slightly different turn.
With all that said, I’m still enjoying the series and I am absolutely looking forward to seeing where things go in the next book.
November 17, 2022
Hella original
4.5 stars. Maybe not quite as good as Scatter (first in this world), but still awesomely unique. (Can read as stand-alone.) Evil angels, a helpful devil, dragons, a sentient AI and a kick-butt trans heroine who will do anything to protect her angel-child girlfriend. Lots going on but a really fun read.
4.5 stars. Maybe not quite as good as Scatter (first in this world), but still awesomely unique. (Can read as stand-alone.) Evil angels, a helpful devil, dragons, a sentient AI and a kick-butt trans heroine who will do anything to protect her angel-child girlfriend. Lots going on but a really fun read.
July 3, 2024
Molly J. Bragg is an outstanding author, but this is not her best work.
Let's start with the great - this book has some awesome trans rep. Naomi's struggles to have society see and accept her identity have definitely shaped her, and it's easy to see how she would be wary of the police and cautious in her relationship with Anika. There was also a good discussion of anxiety and body dysmorphia - something I learned from and appreciated.
As for the good - this book is a cornucopia of great ideas. As usual, Bragg offers a unique perspective on the human body (and the notion of being "embodied") as well as the challenges of finding peace in a society that is trying to erase you.
As for the things I struggled with - well there's a few:
336 pages is not enough to do the ideas in this novel justice.
First, there is the hugely complex and info-dumpy backstory that comes with Anika's family. In truth, a lot of this isn't strictly necessary. Unlike the in Scatter, the species-specific that our new cast-members got involved with had barely any impact on the plot. I mean, the plot is stupid-simple.
Go team.
Second, was a great idea terribly executed.
Third, Anika doesn't get any character development beyond "nice girl who needs saving".
SPOILER-ALERT: I played way too much Super Mario as a kid, so I have already met my lifetime quota of "nice girls who need saving" - they are not interesting and worse, they make me sad.
Fourth, the weirdly repeating jokes about Naomi being everyone's most important person. It starts with which come on, was maybe funny the first time it happened but then got really mean the second and third time. And then it continued on . And then there's even a scene .
I mean seriously, this is not the "love" equivalent of the Hunger Games. For a book that there doesn't seem to be any recognition that you can love two people equally because they are different, and because they meet different needs for you.
And finally, the romance felt forced. I honestly felt they would all have been better off friends. It's like Bragg tried to rush while also giving her perspective on while also telling , giving cameos and doing some quick wish fulfilment with Naomi's eventual powers. I mean, girl - you're good - but this is too much. I didn't get enough page time with any of these people to actually develop a real relationship with them.
:( I feel terrible, but this wasn't the book for me.
Let's start with the great - this book has some awesome trans rep. Naomi's struggles to have society see and accept her identity have definitely shaped her, and it's easy to see how she would be wary of the police and cautious in her relationship with Anika. There was also a good discussion of anxiety and body dysmorphia - something I learned from and appreciated.
As for the good - this book is a cornucopia of great ideas. As usual, Bragg offers a unique perspective on the human body (and the notion of being "embodied") as well as the challenges of finding peace in a society that is trying to erase you.
As for the things I struggled with - well there's a few:
336 pages is not enough to do the ideas in this novel justice.
First, there is the hugely complex and info-dumpy backstory that comes with Anika's family. In truth, a lot of this isn't strictly necessary. Unlike the in Scatter, the species-specific that our new cast-members got involved with had barely any impact on the plot. I mean, the plot is stupid-simple.
Go team.
Second, was a great idea terribly executed.
Third, Anika doesn't get any character development beyond "nice girl who needs saving".
SPOILER-ALERT: I played way too much Super Mario as a kid, so I have already met my lifetime quota of "nice girls who need saving" - they are not interesting and worse, they make me sad.
Fourth, the weirdly repeating jokes about Naomi being everyone's most important person. It starts with which come on, was maybe funny the first time it happened but then got really mean the second and third time. And then it continued on . And then there's even a scene .
I mean seriously, this is not the "love" equivalent of the Hunger Games. For a book that there doesn't seem to be any recognition that you can love two people equally because they are different, and because they meet different needs for you.
And finally, the romance felt forced. I honestly felt they would all have been better off friends. It's like Bragg tried to rush while also giving her perspective on while also telling , giving cameos and doing some quick wish fulfilment with Naomi's eventual powers. I mean, girl - you're good - but this is too much. I didn't get enough page time with any of these people to actually develop a real relationship with them.
:( I feel terrible, but this wasn't the book for me.
November 12, 2023
A trans superhero story by an author whose books I have thoroughly enjoyed? There was no way that I wasn't going to read this one. But given that I loved Scatter, the previous title in this series, it did mean that I went into it with high expectations, especially as for this one the main character is trans (and I appreciate that she is post hatching and transition for this story).
Naomi has just received an experimental surgery, come out of it well, and finally managed to gather the courage to ask her long term crush, Anika, out. Then suddenly everything gets rather complicated and messy as an angel attacks them at the end of their first date. And only gets more involved from there.
Wow. I loved this story. It really did manage to meet and then exceed my expectations. There aren't a huge amount of good trans stories out there that I can related to, but this one I certainly can. The challenges that trans people face, both external and internal, are well represented and only add to Naomi's depth. That there are other trans characters is a nice bonus.
The story is well written, engaging, decently paced, and thoroughly enjoyable. It is very much a superhero story, even if it plays with the divine element, and it adds so much to the universe that it is set it. It was nice to see cameo's of characters from the first book, though the focus of the book was very much on Naomi and Anika. The romance was adorable, and seeing them come to accept each other and the situation they were in (and all of the complications that are involved) was really sweet. Again, as per her other books, Transistor is low crisis, but I see that as a strength to her story telling. It is worth noting that this is a story that involved angels and all that they come with, though their representation may not match what some people expect. It works well for this setting and story, and adds to story.
Overall, absolutely loved this story, and would like to see more in this setting. Highly recommended.
Naomi has just received an experimental surgery, come out of it well, and finally managed to gather the courage to ask her long term crush, Anika, out. Then suddenly everything gets rather complicated and messy as an angel attacks them at the end of their first date. And only gets more involved from there.
Wow. I loved this story. It really did manage to meet and then exceed my expectations. There aren't a huge amount of good trans stories out there that I can related to, but this one I certainly can. The challenges that trans people face, both external and internal, are well represented and only add to Naomi's depth. That there are other trans characters is a nice bonus.
The story is well written, engaging, decently paced, and thoroughly enjoyable. It is very much a superhero story, even if it plays with the divine element, and it adds so much to the universe that it is set it. It was nice to see cameo's of characters from the first book, though the focus of the book was very much on Naomi and Anika. The romance was adorable, and seeing them come to accept each other and the situation they were in (and all of the complications that are involved) was really sweet. Again, as per her other books, Transistor is low crisis, but I see that as a strength to her story telling. It is worth noting that this is a story that involved angels and all that they come with, though their representation may not match what some people expect. It works well for this setting and story, and adds to story.
Overall, absolutely loved this story, and would like to see more in this setting. Highly recommended.
October 24, 2023
I think I mightve found my fav author.
I loved the trans rep. these are definitely some of the most unique characters I've ever met. chance is a menace, naomi is an amazon and anika is an angel.
my only gripe is that you see the side characters a lot more than focus and her beau, which is fine albeit mildy dissapointing.
idk I loved it tho, can't wait for the third tomorrow
I loved the trans rep. these are definitely some of the most unique characters I've ever met. chance is a menace, naomi is an amazon and anika is an angel.
my only gripe is that you see the side characters a lot more than focus and her beau, which is fine albeit mildy dissapointing.
idk I loved it tho, can't wait for the third tomorrow
October 9, 2023
I loved Scatter so much! I even reread it before finally reading Transistor and loved it just as much if not more than the first time I’ve read it.
It’s unfortunate that I didn’t like Transistor as much.
It started well enough, but halfway through, my interest just kept on dwindling down and just a lot of loopholes kept on bugging me.
Like why did Naomi become the protector of a literal angel-child with army time?? And all those Gabriel bs that kept them from helping and don’t get me started on Demiurge ugh.
Then the artificial intelligence. The idea of Chance, a swarm of nanites giving her power was interesting at first. I thought it’d be more like JARVIS but as it went on, it just kept getting weirder. Like how the hell could an AI cause the transmutation of a human being to a freaking mountain lion or bird?? I rolled with it tho but it just wasn’t as convincing even in a realm made of dragons, aliens, sorcerers, angels and whatnot.
Then the love story. I wasn’t as invested with Anika and Naomi as I was with Ayanda and Danny. I truly felt for the friendship more than the romance which felt so rushed notwithstanding the 3-year pining. Ironically, I felt more chemistry with Elana and Naomi than I did with Anika and Naomi. And I think this is also the reason why the polyamory aspect with Chance just fell flat for me.
Good things though! I loved the side characters. Eurion! She was a delight in Scatter but I’m glad she had more exposure here. I’d love to see her finding a new love again in her own book. I loved how there is a central theme for this story which is finding your true self and accepting it and loving it which is shown in various ways — not only in Naomi’s transition, but Anika’s Nephilim origin, and even Eurion and Cinderella and Samael’s own stories.. I loved how action packed it is too.
All in all, I wasn’t as enthusiastic as I had with Scatter but a good enough read. Now onto the next, Aether.
It’s unfortunate that I didn’t like Transistor as much.
It started well enough, but halfway through, my interest just kept on dwindling down and just a lot of loopholes kept on bugging me.
Like why did Naomi become the protector of a literal angel-child with army time?? And all those Gabriel bs that kept them from helping and don’t get me started on Demiurge ugh.
Then the artificial intelligence. The idea of Chance, a swarm of nanites giving her power was interesting at first. I thought it’d be more like JARVIS but as it went on, it just kept getting weirder. Like how the hell could an AI cause the transmutation of a human being to a freaking mountain lion or bird?? I rolled with it tho but it just wasn’t as convincing even in a realm made of dragons, aliens, sorcerers, angels and whatnot.
Then the love story. I wasn’t as invested with Anika and Naomi as I was with Ayanda and Danny. I truly felt for the friendship more than the romance which felt so rushed notwithstanding the 3-year pining. Ironically, I felt more chemistry with Elana and Naomi than I did with Anika and Naomi. And I think this is also the reason why the polyamory aspect with Chance just fell flat for me.
Good things though! I loved the side characters. Eurion! She was a delight in Scatter but I’m glad she had more exposure here. I’d love to see her finding a new love again in her own book. I loved how there is a central theme for this story which is finding your true self and accepting it and loving it which is shown in various ways — not only in Naomi’s transition, but Anika’s Nephilim origin, and even Eurion and Cinderella and Samael’s own stories.. I loved how action packed it is too.
All in all, I wasn’t as enthusiastic as I had with Scatter but a good enough read. Now onto the next, Aether.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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December 17, 2024The devil being behind the gay agenda was not enough to make this book good
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 24, 2022
So those of you who've read my reviews consistently will know that I loved Molly J. Bragg's last two books quite a bit. Like, a lot, and I was eagerly awaiting Transistor to be released. Ho boy was I disappointed in this book. It's set in the same world as Scatter, and she's eager to have cameos of *all* the characters in Scatter show up here, and I think that takes away from the book's identity. I'd rather it have stood on its own with maybe *one* character from Shatter show up, to help tie it in with the universe. As it is, it's more of a distraction than anything else.
One of the other things about this book is that it changes the universe in which they all live. Scatter is set in world with superheroes, aliens and mystical creatures like dragons. Here they add angels to the universe and, okay, I *do* rather enjoy deconstructing Abrahamic mythology, but it just doesn't feel like it fits. That and it's rather derivative. It really doesn't do anything new that hasn't been done before and while that's not necessarily a bad thing, I think it's a missed opportunity.
The main character is... fine. She's trans and she gets her ideal body from being submerged in a nanite bath (who later becomes sentient and gives her her powers.) Clearly this is a trans power fantasy and for me (let me stress this is *for me*) I'm getting kind of tired of them. I always end up feeling that these novels are written more for the author than the audience, and while I don't have a problem with that I find it kind of exhausting. I mean, yes, I wish that I could have been submerged in a nanite bath to have my ideal body, but the entire book kind of revolves around that. There *have* been books where the trans fantasy has been presented but it was just a facet of the book (Like the wonderful Dreadnaught), and these are more suited to my taste. The fantasy is there, but there's more meat on the bones.
Now, the thing that really killed it for me. (Gonna spoiler this because it spoils the end of the book) Totally ruined the book for me.
Ahem. Anyway. Do I recommend this book? Eenh? :woman_shrugging: You might want to read it if the next book in the series references these characters, but on the whole I say skip it. 3 stars.
One of the other things about this book is that it changes the universe in which they all live. Scatter is set in world with superheroes, aliens and mystical creatures like dragons. Here they add angels to the universe and, okay, I *do* rather enjoy deconstructing Abrahamic mythology, but it just doesn't feel like it fits. That and it's rather derivative. It really doesn't do anything new that hasn't been done before and while that's not necessarily a bad thing, I think it's a missed opportunity.
The main character is... fine. She's trans and she gets her ideal body from being submerged in a nanite bath (who later becomes sentient and gives her her powers.) Clearly this is a trans power fantasy and for me (let me stress this is *for me*) I'm getting kind of tired of them. I always end up feeling that these novels are written more for the author than the audience, and while I don't have a problem with that I find it kind of exhausting. I mean, yes, I wish that I could have been submerged in a nanite bath to have my ideal body, but the entire book kind of revolves around that. There *have* been books where the trans fantasy has been presented but it was just a facet of the book (Like the wonderful Dreadnaught), and these are more suited to my taste. The fantasy is there, but there's more meat on the bones.
Now, the thing that really killed it for me. (Gonna spoiler this because it spoils the end of the book) Totally ruined the book for me.
Ahem. Anyway. Do I recommend this book? Eenh? :woman_shrugging: You might want to read it if the next book in the series references these characters, but on the whole I say skip it. 3 stars.
September 8, 2022
After reading three novels by Molly J. Bragg, I’ve learned one important fact. Ms. Bragg is an exceptional story teller. For proof, I only have to point to her most recent book, Transistor.
The narrative begins with the main character, Naomi Woodward finally going through her gender confirmation surgery. Her doctor had recommended her for a very special clinical trial, and thankfully the surgery was a complete success. Now Naomi has the body and face to match the woman she knows she is. It still takes some time and courage for Naomi to ask her neighbor Anika out on a date, but she finally does, and is over the moon when Anika accepts. The dinner is a success, at least until they are attacked on the way home. This is when Naomi suddenly finds out her surgery gave her a few more powers than just a new body and face.
Thus begins an adventure that will have Naomi and Anika joining a Superhero, a Dragon, an artificial intelligence residing in Naomi’s body (one of the unexpected outcomes of her surgery), and the Devil himself. Together, they must keep Anika from being killed by a rogue archangel and stop a second civil war in heaven.
This novel is the second in the ‘Hearts of Heroes’ series, and I believe it’s just as great as the first book. All of the characters are engaging and easy to connect with. I especially bonded with Naomi. She had so much to overcome in her life, and yet she has accomplished so much. The author did an excellent job developing all of these characters, but especially Naomi. The sci-fi and fantasy elements fit in flawlessly with the overall story. I also enjoyed seeing a few characters from Scatter, the first book in the series, joining the crew helping Naomi and Anika. It’s a good way to show the two stories are written in the same universe.
I had great fun reading this book. I will be looking eagerly for new stories in the series and from this author. This book actually can be read as a standalone, but I would encourage you to get both Scatter and Transistor, and read them in order. You will be glad you did.
I received an ARC for an honest review.
The narrative begins with the main character, Naomi Woodward finally going through her gender confirmation surgery. Her doctor had recommended her for a very special clinical trial, and thankfully the surgery was a complete success. Now Naomi has the body and face to match the woman she knows she is. It still takes some time and courage for Naomi to ask her neighbor Anika out on a date, but she finally does, and is over the moon when Anika accepts. The dinner is a success, at least until they are attacked on the way home. This is when Naomi suddenly finds out her surgery gave her a few more powers than just a new body and face.
Thus begins an adventure that will have Naomi and Anika joining a Superhero, a Dragon, an artificial intelligence residing in Naomi’s body (one of the unexpected outcomes of her surgery), and the Devil himself. Together, they must keep Anika from being killed by a rogue archangel and stop a second civil war in heaven.
This novel is the second in the ‘Hearts of Heroes’ series, and I believe it’s just as great as the first book. All of the characters are engaging and easy to connect with. I especially bonded with Naomi. She had so much to overcome in her life, and yet she has accomplished so much. The author did an excellent job developing all of these characters, but especially Naomi. The sci-fi and fantasy elements fit in flawlessly with the overall story. I also enjoyed seeing a few characters from Scatter, the first book in the series, joining the crew helping Naomi and Anika. It’s a good way to show the two stories are written in the same universe.
I had great fun reading this book. I will be looking eagerly for new stories in the series and from this author. This book actually can be read as a standalone, but I would encourage you to get both Scatter and Transistor, and read them in order. You will be glad you did.
I received an ARC for an honest review.
July 19, 2024
Ok, I love this book for multiple reasons. It is both one of my favorites and least favorites of Bragg's books that I've read. I love having so many trans and queer characters in the book. It was amazing to see the rep. However, I did not need to read the scene between Naomi and Elana. I'm not interested in spicy scenes not involving the love interest. Yes, it was nice to finally see a safe sex scene with dental dam usage...but I needed it to not be with someone other than Anika. I'm also not sure about the logic of a hookup being easier to do than asking out a friend.
Naomi, Chance, and Anika were great characters. This is a sort of poly relationship...but the lines are little blurry considering the body sharing aspect of everything. They are all very cute and fun together though. Chance was probably my favorite character with all the snark and smack talking. The side characters were all pretty great as well. It was nice to see so many old friends from the first book. The new additions were fun as well. The new twist on religions and the divine was also great, really enjoyed it.
There is no third act breakup. There is some drama and big feels at the very end of the book, but it is resolved quickly and happily.
I'm hoping for Cinderella's book eventually, along with Eurion's. Poor Eurion keeps finding nice women after they've already found their person. That dragon needs a wife.
Naomi, Chance, and Anika were great characters. This is a sort of poly relationship...but the lines are little blurry considering the body sharing aspect of everything. They are all very cute and fun together though. Chance was probably my favorite character with all the snark and smack talking. The side characters were all pretty great as well. It was nice to see so many old friends from the first book. The new additions were fun as well. The new twist on religions and the divine was also great, really enjoyed it.
There is no third act breakup. There is some drama and big feels at the very end of the book, but it is resolved quickly and happily.
I'm hoping for Cinderella's book eventually, along with Eurion's. Poor Eurion keeps finding nice women after they've already found their person. That dragon needs a wife.
April 5, 2024
The same as before, but a fatal flaw for me
I really liked Scatter, and my recent reread lead to me then reading the third book in the series Aether, which I also really liked. This was the second time I read Transistor, the first time I dropped it 1/3 of the way in but after reading the other two in the series I decided to finish it. I forced myself to do it, and I would say my lack of enjoyment comes down to 2 personal factors. The first is that I found Chance to be slightly too cringy for me personally. They weren’t anything terrible, but if a friend talked like them I’d be wincing behind a smile. The second more personal thing is that this book plays with gods and the divine. I’m very choosy in this particular field, because I feel that most divine fiction has gods or other divine creatures essentially be just superheroes with lots of power. I realized at the very end of this book that the angels, and ultimately the Abrahamic God, are treated this way in the book, especially when you compare what we see them do versus what we see other superheroes do in the other two books.
If you don’t have these two hangups and you enjoyed the other 2 books, you’ll probably enjoy this one too.
I really liked Scatter, and my recent reread lead to me then reading the third book in the series Aether, which I also really liked. This was the second time I read Transistor, the first time I dropped it 1/3 of the way in but after reading the other two in the series I decided to finish it. I forced myself to do it, and I would say my lack of enjoyment comes down to 2 personal factors. The first is that I found Chance to be slightly too cringy for me personally. They weren’t anything terrible, but if a friend talked like them I’d be wincing behind a smile. The second more personal thing is that this book plays with gods and the divine. I’m very choosy in this particular field, because I feel that most divine fiction has gods or other divine creatures essentially be just superheroes with lots of power. I realized at the very end of this book that the angels, and ultimately the Abrahamic God, are treated this way in the book, especially when you compare what we see them do versus what we see other superheroes do in the other two books.
If you don’t have these two hangups and you enjoyed the other 2 books, you’ll probably enjoy this one too.
June 24, 2024
So much great potential in this book, but it didn’t really work. I loved the trans/ poly/ gender fluid/ lesbian/ queer rep. I thought the MCs were appealing and relatable, and the sci-fi aspect to the MC’s storyline with chance (trying not to give spoilers) was soooo good. However the plot repeatedly stalled and dragged with plodding info about the ‘divine’ mythological characters and their backstory, and repetitive conversations about what they could and could not do. Ultimately I felt there was too many characters trying to tell too many stories and it meant none of the characters, or relationships, had an opportunity to become whole. This meant I didn’t feel enough of an engagement to weather the lengthy dragging parts and became annoyed with the whole ‘divine’ storyline.
I’m also curious-ish about the, to me anyway, contradiction between being anti cop but accepting the US military as ok. And lastly I was uncomfortable with the storyline borrowing mythology and culture from Ethiopia. I don’t know enough to have an idea whether this was in anyway accurate or respectful. I generally don’t think it’s appropriate for a person to appropriate from marginalised cultures.
I wouldn’t really recommend this book. I think I would give the author another chance though?
I’m also curious-ish about the, to me anyway, contradiction between being anti cop but accepting the US military as ok. And lastly I was uncomfortable with the storyline borrowing mythology and culture from Ethiopia. I don’t know enough to have an idea whether this was in anyway accurate or respectful. I generally don’t think it’s appropriate for a person to appropriate from marginalised cultures.
I wouldn’t really recommend this book. I think I would give the author another chance though?
March 27, 2023
3.5 stars
If you've ever heard a halfway decent tune get stuck on repeat, that's what reading this felt like. It had such a great premise with a trans super-heroine's origin story. Superpowers, lesbian romance, and a road-trip/ journey to acceptance and friendship... what's not to like? It's a set-up for an epic adventure!
However, the book had some repetitive elements that I couldn't get over. The MCs actions basically boiled down to: fight, cuddle, and meet more super-powered or connected people that may or may not help... not necessarily in that order. Anika also tells her back story, not once or twice but, at least three times. While I get the need to fill in new characters to get them up to speed, reading it grates a little. Writing it out once would have been enough to understand how caring and compassionate she is.
Overall, the characters are very like-able, and the book is action-packed. A pretty decent read.
If you've ever heard a halfway decent tune get stuck on repeat, that's what reading this felt like. It had such a great premise with a trans super-heroine's origin story. Superpowers, lesbian romance, and a road-trip/ journey to acceptance and friendship... what's not to like? It's a set-up for an epic adventure!
However, the book had some repetitive elements that I couldn't get over. The MCs actions basically boiled down to: fight, cuddle, and meet more super-powered or connected people that may or may not help... not necessarily in that order. Anika also tells her back story, not once or twice but, at least three times. While I get the need to fill in new characters to get them up to speed, reading it grates a little. Writing it out once would have been enough to understand how caring and compassionate she is.
Overall, the characters are very like-able, and the book is action-packed. A pretty decent read.
December 18, 2023
A Fun Read!
Molly J Bragg writes fun stories, and this one is no exception. Naomi is a trans woman who undergoes an experimental new type of gender confirmation surgery. Unfortunately, or fortunately depending on your point of view, she awakens from that surgery with powers, literally super powers. And she’s not even aware of it until a vengeful archangel tries to kill her new girlfriend, Annika, but instead stabs Naomi through the heart with a divine sword.
But the problem for that archangel is Naomi doesn’t just survive that attack, she gets more and more powerful each time the archangel attacks again.
You might think this ends with Naomi finally killing the archangel but nothing could be further from the truth. Because as Naomi becomes Transistor and falls in love with Annika, another way to end this threat becomes available.
This was a good fun WLW sci-fi/fantasy story and is part of my permanent collection.
Molly J Bragg writes fun stories, and this one is no exception. Naomi is a trans woman who undergoes an experimental new type of gender confirmation surgery. Unfortunately, or fortunately depending on your point of view, she awakens from that surgery with powers, literally super powers. And she’s not even aware of it until a vengeful archangel tries to kill her new girlfriend, Annika, but instead stabs Naomi through the heart with a divine sword.
But the problem for that archangel is Naomi doesn’t just survive that attack, she gets more and more powerful each time the archangel attacks again.
You might think this ends with Naomi finally killing the archangel but nothing could be further from the truth. Because as Naomi becomes Transistor and falls in love with Annika, another way to end this threat becomes available.
This was a good fun WLW sci-fi/fantasy story and is part of my permanent collection.
April 6, 2024
I read the spicy scenes with an absolutely straight face, and then I was giggling and kicking my legs like a schoolgirl anytime they were fluffy!
Coming right off of Scatter, I wasn’t sure if I would enjoy this one as much, but I loved it. There were still some issues that I found with Scatter. Namely, the lack of descriptors for the dialogue. She said, she said, they said. It seemed very much telling without showing.
Plus why does it seem like with Scatter and Transistor, the main girls take like not even a week to have full control of their powers? And there was so much build up for this final battle, that ended in like 2 seconds.
I enjoyed reading this book, but some of the characters just seem a little flat at all times. Like I know not every character can be completely fleshed out without the book being way too long. But some of the relationships just fell flat to me.
Can’t wait to start the next book!
Coming right off of Scatter, I wasn’t sure if I would enjoy this one as much, but I loved it. There were still some issues that I found with Scatter. Namely, the lack of descriptors for the dialogue. She said, she said, they said. It seemed very much telling without showing.
Plus why does it seem like with Scatter and Transistor, the main girls take like not even a week to have full control of their powers? And there was so much build up for this final battle, that ended in like 2 seconds.
I enjoyed reading this book, but some of the characters just seem a little flat at all times. Like I know not every character can be completely fleshed out without the book being way too long. But some of the relationships just fell flat to me.
Can’t wait to start the next book!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 21, 2022
A copy of this book was sent to me for a review from discord sapphic book club.
The first book in the series Heart of Heroes, Scatter was fun to read. Villains will always be who I'd root for but for this book, I wouldn't. I love how the characters all play into their own roles and how their personality affected their kind of super powers.
The love build was so touching. The meet up was kinda cute and verrrryyyyy gay....like how do you fall for someone who's moving in next door and help them move and have not made a move to ask them out.
The warning tags were there and I had completely sympathized with Naomi and her struggle to accept herself completely. For the longest time any queer person undergoes this phase until the level of acceptance rings true.
This book kinda gives Super drags vibes but with Sapphics instead.
Dragons, vampires, fae, nymphs, shapeshifters, hybrids, ghouls, gods and goddess themed books are a fav pick of mine especially if the story isn't too long.
The Transistor is a good pick and I would most likely re-read it in the future. The author's train of thought to build this world and give the minority their own heroes is noble and their efforts have not gone unnoticed.
All in all, this book will probably suit a cold weather,gloomy day, short time read, adventure mood and definitely an easy read.
The first book in the series Heart of Heroes, Scatter was fun to read. Villains will always be who I'd root for but for this book, I wouldn't. I love how the characters all play into their own roles and how their personality affected their kind of super powers.
The love build was so touching. The meet up was kinda cute and verrrryyyyy gay....like how do you fall for someone who's moving in next door and help them move and have not made a move to ask them out.
The warning tags were there and I had completely sympathized with Naomi and her struggle to accept herself completely. For the longest time any queer person undergoes this phase until the level of acceptance rings true.
This book kinda gives Super drags vibes but with Sapphics instead.
Dragons, vampires, fae, nymphs, shapeshifters, hybrids, ghouls, gods and goddess themed books are a fav pick of mine especially if the story isn't too long.
The Transistor is a good pick and I would most likely re-read it in the future. The author's train of thought to build this world and give the minority their own heroes is noble and their efforts have not gone unnoticed.
All in all, this book will probably suit a cold weather,gloomy day, short time read, adventure mood and definitely an easy read.
October 20, 2023
What's the point of having explicit scenes involving a character who can literally transform their body into any shape at will and then not have them even consider using that power for fun sexytimes?
I say that half-jokingly but it kinda highlights the missed potential I see in this story. Having a trans character with transformational powers seems like a hole in one. Yeah, they can finally have their ideal body. But what is the "ideal body" anyway? What if they're not satisfied with it and keep changing it? What if they change so much that they lose their sense of self, or feel like they still have to change to match the expectations of others? How much of the self is defined by the physical body anyways? (I suppose Aether kind of addresses that question already...)
Anyway, the action is fun and characters are eclectic and interesting.
I say that half-jokingly but it kinda highlights the missed potential I see in this story. Having a trans character with transformational powers seems like a hole in one. Yeah, they can finally have their ideal body. But what is the "ideal body" anyway? What if they're not satisfied with it and keep changing it? What if they change so much that they lose their sense of self, or feel like they still have to change to match the expectations of others? How much of the self is defined by the physical body anyways? (I suppose Aether kind of addresses that question already...)
Anyway, the action is fun and characters are eclectic and interesting.
November 14, 2024
Inventive, enlightening, major laughs and sweet love. And that's in addition to all sorts of characters from Arch Angels to superheroes and a dog with a touch of the divine.
It can be difficult for any of us to understand what someone else is going through, especially when they're growth is as difficult as a person who is experiencing body acceptance issues. Molly J Bragg's description of the mental and physical challenges gave me a deeper understanding of my friends who are trans, and I have read and listened to this book multiple times sharing it with my wife and friends.
I addition to that, the story is a lot of fun and excitement while two people fall madly in love.
It can be difficult for any of us to understand what someone else is going through, especially when they're growth is as difficult as a person who is experiencing body acceptance issues. Molly J Bragg's description of the mental and physical challenges gave me a deeper understanding of my friends who are trans, and I have read and listened to this book multiple times sharing it with my wife and friends.
I addition to that, the story is a lot of fun and excitement while two people fall madly in love.
April 9, 2025
Think Supergirl mixed with Lucifer with some Heinlein, The Moon Is a Harsh Mistress and I Will Fear No Evil, mixed in. A trans lesbian on a first date with her best friend, who happens to be a Nephilim, ends up battling an archangel with the help of the snarky, collective, sentient, nanite hive that was used to complete her sex-change operation at the cellular level. Happens all the time. Set in the same world as the first in the series, it has only a small cameo by Focus and Scatter, which was disappointing. But it is well-written, with exactly the same romance-heavy fantasy/SF mix, same sort of explicit sex scenes, and fanfic vibe as the first.
December 12, 2023
I love so much the idea behind this book and I think Molly J. Bragg, will deliver masterpieces in the future. These series could have been so much more, and I am sad she rushed to print these books, but the story, the idea, the characters, the world building was chef's kiss!
Her writing needs some work, the dialogues were dull, it was like "lalalala" Naomi said "Lalalala" Anika said, "lalalala" Naomi said and so on! And a lot of things were repeated again and again, but truly, I do recommend this book to anyone that is looking for a sci-fi, fantasy story, utterly enjoyed it!
Her writing needs some work, the dialogues were dull, it was like "lalalala" Naomi said "Lalalala" Anika said, "lalalala" Naomi said and so on! And a lot of things were repeated again and again, but truly, I do recommend this book to anyone that is looking for a sci-fi, fantasy story, utterly enjoyed it!
June 14, 2024
Molly Bragg is one of the best supers/alternative lifestyle authors I've read from.
To be honest, I am not a fan of transgender politics. I do not agree with a large amount of the dogma that surrounds it. However, I felt this protag's struggle to find themselves, to DECLARE themselves. To stand for what they believed was right. That is, in the end, what being heroic is all about...and what writing heroic fiction is all about.
I thank the author for the experience and wish them all success while going forward.
To be honest, I am not a fan of transgender politics. I do not agree with a large amount of the dogma that surrounds it. However, I felt this protag's struggle to find themselves, to DECLARE themselves. To stand for what they believed was right. That is, in the end, what being heroic is all about...and what writing heroic fiction is all about.
I thank the author for the experience and wish them all success while going forward.
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