Heath Amodio

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for an advanced copy in exchange for my honest review!

The plot blurb made the story seem interesting, but sadly the felt flat for me. I think the reveal near the back half is what took me out of it. I couldn't take it seriously after that reveal. The plot is okay on the surface, but the dialogue is a bit cringe at certain parts. Reminds me A LOT of Supernatural's dialogue in the early seasons. Honestly, it made this book feel like the plot of a new CW show. I also couldn't connect the characters, at all. The way Derek is written feels like every "single Dad who is a bit of a mess and is struggling with [Insert Thing] but he loves his daughter" character in every piece of media that's come before him. The different plot lines also felt somewhat disconnected? In an attempt to build suspense and intrigue, it felt like there was too much going on. I logically understand how it's connected, but didn't feel it emotionally. The art style is fine. It's a very classic American comic style, reminiscent of 1980's comics. The characters do feel a bit flat with how they're drawn. Something about them having very muted expressions just made me dislike it a little bit. It's a pity, on paper, the plot is exactly something I'd love to read, but in practice, just fell flat.… (meer)

(Full disclosure: I received a free e-ARC for review through Netgalley. Trigger warning for scenes of violence, including a terrorist bombing. This review contains minor spoilers!)

Ever since the tragic death of his wife Hannah, Professor Derek Flynn has been experiencing blackouts, characterized by lost time and amnesia. He wakes up in unexpected places, with no idea of how he got there, usually just after a major disaster - man made or natural - has occurred.

The first time it happened, Hannah died in a gas leak explosion, in a St. Louis apartment complex to which neither of them had ties. The most recent occurrence is a terrorist bombing at the Mall of America - one that lands Derek on the Department of Homeland Security's radar. Now, with the help of an old colleague named Alice, Derek sets off in search of the truth. But law enforcement isn't the only entity out to get him; a cult-like group of people whose lives he has touched are also looking for Derek. Not all believe him to be a messiah, however.

I wasn't really sure what to expect from HUSTLE & HEART: FORETOLD, but this definitely isn't it. (Cryptids!) It's a really fun and creepy mashup of science fiction, fantasy, horror, urban legends, and cultish goodness. The store never drags, and the ending is pretty much the perfect cliffhanger. The art isn't always my favorite, but it gets the job done. I do really love Derek's shapeshifter form, which is the perfect blend of vulnerable and eerie.

My main complaint is the title, which gives zero indication a) of what the story is about and b) that it's the first volume in a series (I mean, fingers crossed).

Oh, and on page 33, where Officer Hunt commands a subordinate to hack the Texas DMV records because obtaining a warrant would be too cumbersome and cost countless lives? Give me a break, lady.… (meer)