Genre: Sci-Fi, Superhero, Romance
LGBTQ+ Category: Lesbian, Trans MTF
Reviewer: Beáta
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About The Book
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.
The Review
Transistor is the second book in the Hearts of Heroes series, but can be read as a stand-alone, like I did.
Naomi Woodward is an independent artist and transgender woman who signs up for a special kind of new, experimental surgery that uses nanobots to sculpt her ideal body. Thanks to the surgery, Naomi finally finds the confidence to casually hook up with another woman, and when that too is a success, to ask out her long-term crush, Anika.
Their first date goes well, up to the point when it’s interrupted by someone trying to murder her date. Naomi discovers that she has superpowers, and also a sentient swarm of nanobots living inside of her, as the doctors forgot to turn them off after the surgery. Things go haywire from there – Anika is revealed to be a nephilim, with an archangel after her. To protect her, Naomi must learn how to use her superpowers, and find as many allies as she possibly can, angels and superheroes alike.
The story is very queer and based on Jewish mythology instead of the Christian one you’d usually get from a similar set-up. I liked how all the characters feel as if they could exist in our world, nerdy pop culture interests and all. They also talk a lot about the difficulties they face for being queer, and there are explicit parallels drawn between the dangers Anika faces for being a nephilim and those Naomi knows for being trans. I don’t doubt that the members of the lesbian community will see themselves in these characters too.
The sex scenes are quite graphic, which is a matter of taste.
All of this being said, I keep feeling that something is missing from this story. It took me a while to get my finger on what that is, but I think that this book lacks some of the epic scope I have come to expect from superhero stories. While the plot includes superheroes, sentient robot swarms, dragons (the Asian kind), angels, and stakes that could result in another heavenly war, it at the same time feels like a normal family drama. The characters also feel a little two-dimensional – their communication is always very direct and open. There are no secrets, no lies, no hidden agendas, and generally no serious conflict between them (except for Gabriel and Samael, who clearly have a complicated history beyond what we get to know about. That bit was nice).
Also, the prose feels sometimes a bit like it could have used another beta reader to make it flow more smoothly, especially with dialogue and the repeated use of the verb “said”.
Still, none of these things spoiled the fun. I’m happy that I read this book. It has all the elements for a great story, and while it does sometimes fall a little flat, I did like the characters and enjoyed spending this time with them. I hope that Bragg keeps writing on this series and expanding their universe further.
The Reviewer
Beáta Fülöp is an aspiring filmmaker and writer. She identifies as aromantic and asexual, and has an autistic Special Interest in the representation of minorities. One day, she will use this knowledge in her own stories. Until then, she is happy to sit here and give her opinion on other people’s hard work.