Red-Haired Ash Reads

Xander is just trying to live his life but since he is a villain, he finds his research frequently being blocked by Big City’s beloved hero, Captain Masculine. It also doesn’t help that Captain Masculine looks pretty good in his Lycra suit. When his bestie signs him up for the Bangers dating app he doesn’t expect to fall so hard and fast for the himbo he matched with, or to find out later that he is his enemy, Captain Masculine. 

This book and series has been on my radar for a while now and I kept hearing good things. I finally picked it up this week while randomly scrolling through my kindle for something to read. I was instantly sucked into Xander and Butch’s story and now understand why so many people love this series. 

From the very beginning I was sucked into this world of superheroes and villains, politics, and scheming families. But the best part was how emotional and powerful the relationship between Butch and Xander was. Yes it was super steamy with the daddy dom/bratty sub and praise kink, but the connection between these two really is what hooked me from the beginning. 

Xander and Butch have instant chemistry and quickly realize they have a lot in common. They both have to deal with family pressure to be someone who they are not, and they have to worry about those same parents wanting to hurt or kill them. I loved seeing the progression of their relationship and how it lead to both of them being stronger individuals in the end, especially Butch who finally learns to be his own person. 

The politics surrounding heroes and villains in this was surprisingly rich and dark, which I think just made this so much better. It makes more sense to me that heroes and villains will kill and be killed for doing their jobs and that the whole system is very corporate and geared towards profit. If you have watched and enjoyed the series, The Boys, this is very similar to showing that the heroes and villains are just people and that it is all a grey area. Also that the whole system is corrupt, just add more romance in this. 

Overall, this was a fantastic start to a series and a fantastic couple. I really enjoyed this world and all the characters within it. I can’t wait to read more and find out who else finds their inventus. 

TW: controlling and toxic parents; eugenics discussed; violence and death;

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