Worst Hero Ever by Archer Thorn
Heroes are the worst. Jim Riven would know-he used to be one. Now he just wants to run his crumbling old bar and be left alone. Beer and chicken wings don’t try to vaporize him. Well, not since that one time.
But when remnants of his old life come calling, they bring the one reason he can’t ignore. Lock, a hero who died fighting for the Spectrum-the world’s premier hero team-may not be so dead after all. But if she’s alive, where has she been? Though Jim works hard at not caring about stuff, this is different. Lock was his sister, and the truth about her is hidden somewhere in the Spectrum’s base.
Sneaking in is easy. For the first time in years, the Spectrum has invited aspiring heroes to compete for recruitment. The hard part? Something has twisted the Spectrum’s minds, and now they’re hunting the recruits for sport. If Jim’s going to survive long enough to find the truth, he’ll have to work with a ragtag group of wannabe heroes-and one villain-all while keeping his true identity secret.
See? Heroes are the worst.
Worst Hero Ever Review
I was compensated with a small amount for my time and effort in reading the book and writing this review. However, all thoughts and opinions expressed are my own and are based on my honest personal experience reading the book. Nor did the publisher in any way shape or form ever pressure me to give a positive review.
We follow ex-hero James “Jim” Riven working at his bar, going on with his life after retiring from the hero industry. Although he initially comes across as sour and aloof from his dislike towards his former field, it soon becomes apparent that there is much more going on below causing all this. Specifically, the agony of losing his sister Summer while she was a member of the Spectrum, an elite hero squad.
But Jim is unwittingly pulled back into the world he vowed to leave when a gang of would-be teenage heroes appear and entice him to join a new Dare iteration, a lethal recruitment contest held atop the Spectrum’s orbiting base. He must deal with both old scars and fresh threats as he attempts to conceal his identity, such as the possibility that the Spectrum is not the benevolent force that the world perceives it to be. He also learns along the road that his own abilities are much more profound than he had previously thought.
What I enjoyed most about Worst Hero Ever was the gradual build-up of the plot. Initially, the story takes its time, allowing the reader to settle into Jim’s life and mindset before revealing the central catalyst, which is the discovery that Jim’s sister, Summer, may actually be alive. From that point onward, the narrative gains momentum, exploring Jim’s internal struggles in greater depth, particularly his trauma from Summer’s presumed death and the reasons behind his decision to abandon his superhero career.
The revelation of Summer being alive symbolically parallels Jim’s own dormant potential as a hero. For most of the story, Jim sees himself as a failure, someone who walked away from heroism and couldn’t live up to the title. He constantly refers to himself as a terrible hero, preferring to stay on the sidelines rather than risk disappointing others again.
Yet as the story progresses, he ends up proving that he’s not only capable, but also essential. He steps up when it matters most, making difficult choices and protecting those around him despite his doubts. Summer’s survival mirrors this exact arc: what was thought to be lost forever turns out to have endured in secret. In the same way, Jim’s heroism (though buried under years of cynicism and grief) was never truly gone, just waiting to be awakened.
I won’t lie, I’m personally biased toward stories about ex-heroes, and that’s what initially drew me to this book. I’m sure this preference played a big part in how much I enjoyed it (for context, my favourite animated movie is Megamind). Maybe it’s because this kind of theme does such a great job of humanizing superheroes by showing their internal struggles, flaws, and even their prejudices. Jim, for instance, doesn’t always behave admirably. There are moments like when he stereotypes a Russian character for ordering vodka that clearly aren’t “right.” But it’s these imperfections that make him feel real. They remind us that, powers or not, superheroes can still be just as flawed and human as anyone else.
Speaking of Jim’s behavior, Jim’s character development was another highlight. Watching him come into his own as he discovers the full scope of his powers was incredibly satisfying, particularly as he transitions from believing himself a failed hero to becoming arguably the most crucial figure in the story. I appreciated his journey from deep-seated self-doubt to reluctant acceptance of his responsibilities and abilities. Jim maintains his sardonic outlook and reluctance even as he steps into the hero role, adding authenticity to his transformation.
Worst Hero Ever does end with a cliffhanger, though. The final pages, revealing Summer’s survival and imprisonment, promise that Jim’s journey will continue as he seeks to uncover who captured his sister and why. I am personally invested in the story and would be very interested to find out more about the conspiracies involving the Spectrum and the Lighthouse.
However, there were still aspects of the book that I felt could have been improved. The frequent flashbacks, particularly those inserted amidst intense action scenes, often disrupted the story’s pacing. These interruptions occasionally made the narrative feel disjointed, breaking the immersion. Additionally, some of the dialogue and writing style felt awkward or unnatural, detracting slightly from the overall experience. Conversations sometimes felt scripted rather than organic, making certain interactions feel less genuine than they could have been.
I still feel like Worst Hero Ever is an engaging read with compelling characters and an intriguing plot premise. Despite some minor issues with pacing and dialogue, the story itself was fun to read, which is ultimately what is most important when it comes to the quality of the book and how much you would recommend it.
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