CINCINNATI, Ohio — In a world not unlike the real one, Abigail Turner has to navigate the complexity of corporate politics, public perception and social media clicks to climb her way up from sidekick status and achieve the recognition she craves. Talented but tired of standing in her mentor’s shadow, Abigail takes things one step too far — and now there’s no turning back.
In Wildfire: The Rise of a Hero, author Jordan S. Keller offers a PG-friendly spin on corporate-owned superheroes that will resonate with fans of Prime Video’s The Boys and the My Hero Academia manga series — but with an emotional complexity not found in most superhero-centric tales thanks to an enemies-to-lovers story.
“If superheroes did exist in America, of course they’d have sponsorships, and of course there’d be popularity polls, and of course all of their stuff would be tracked on social media, and I really wanted to explore that,” Keller said.
At the heart of Wildfire: The Rise of a Hero is Abigail Turner, who knew she wanted to be a superhero even before her flame powers developed. She hones her skills, aces community college and becomes the sidekick to San Arbor’s number one hero, Volcanic. However, furthering her career seems impossible when she is fired for misconduct.
Determined to don her cape at a different superhero company, Abigail knows she must get stronger and accepts a deal from an unlikely source. Cinder, a similarly powered villain who has bested her at every encounter, offers to train her if Abigail can promise him one thing: A way out of the city.
Falling in love wasn’t part of the deal.
As the line between good and evil blurs, Abigail must choose between her passion for doing good and her love for a villain who is hiding more than his identity behind his mask.
Wildfire offers an introspective look at the relationships and career complexities within a superhero society and the pursuit of one’s identity when the shadows of the past loom over the future — prompting readers to ask themselves just how far they are willing to go to be dubbed a “hero.”
Wildfire is the first installment in Keller’s Ashes Over Avalon Trilogy, which also includes book two, Burnout: The Rise of a Villain, and the newly released book three, Combustion: The Fall of a Kingdom.
About the Author
Jordan S. Keller is a Cincinnati-based science fiction writer who, when not writing, works as a property manager for college rentals. She was born in Oklahoma, raised in Kentucky, and spent many summers on farms in Wisconsin falling in love with stories and cheese. She received her bachelor’s degree in journalism at Morehead State University, where she worked at the local radio station (MSPR) and was the managing editor for the school newspaper, both of which furthered her love of stories and the people who tell them. She founded the Queen City Fiction Writers critique group in 2017, is an assistant instructor of tai chi, an avid children’s trading card game player, a comic book connoisseur and a dedicated dog mom to her lab, Mojo.
For more information, please visit www.jordanskellerauthor.com, or follow the author on Facebook (Jordan S Keller Author), Instagram (JordanSKellerAuthor) and TikTok (JordanSKellerAuthor).
Amazon link: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1645407624
Wildfire: The Rise of a Hero
Publisher: Speaking Volumes
Paperback: 296 pages
ISBN-13: 978-1645407621
Available from Amazon.com
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PRAISE FOR WILDFIRE:
“‘For the short eternity of their kiss, she saw the wasteland of her dreams come to life.’ And so goes the narrative of Wildfire, where anyone born with the right genetics can be [a] hero, but where no one escapes their humanity. Follow Abigail (the titular character) as she loses her temper and her job and is forced to deal alternately with the mundanity of paying her bills and the spark she feels for a villain, a would be enemy. Can she walk the tightrope suspended between the extremes of her life and still land on her feet? Read the book.”
— Mark E. Scott, author of A Day in the Life series
“Very well written, likable characters, flawed relationships throughout, and a fictional dynamic that was easy to follow as you read and become entangled in this world that is San Arbor.”
— David Washburn, author of Devils That Pray
“The author vividly portrays Abigail, capturing her courage, wit, humor, and flaws with striking authenticity, making her utterly compelling. Cinder is etched with both visible and invisible scars. Every character is depicted with such depth and leaves an unforgettable impression. The narrative delves into themes of identity and loyalty. The romance, while central, is emotionally profound. The passionate scenes are well-executed, focusing on intense, sometimes dark emotional connections.”
— The Online Book Club
Thank you,
Glenda, Charlie and David Cates
