Staff Review: LIGHTNING & THUNDER

LIGHTNING & THUNDER by Sara Raasch
9781250428813 
12/29/26 
Bramble
Fiction / Fantasy / Romance

“In a world plagued by rampaging monsters and greedy mortals, the descendants of gods were meant to protect humanity.”

But who protects humanity from the heroes?

Lux, a self-proclaimed low-life hacker with a Robin Hood ethos, is the poster child for “Be Bi, Do Crime.” Although he’s descended from Zeus, his bully of an older brother leads the local Hero Council, and Lux has made it his mission to look out for their collateral damage.

When his brother disappears, the Council turns to Lux to stabilize a panicked public. Lux despises the Council’s preference for performative justice over preventative reform, but takes the opportunity to infiltrate the corrupt organization.

After all, if the system doesn’t work for you, work for the system…and hack it to pieces. 

Lux is determined to bring the “plastic action figures” of the Hero Council down to earth, but they aren’t nearly as self-righteous as he assumed. Especially Erik, his brother’s best friend and Lux’s erstwhile childhood hero.

While Lux tries to convince the Council of his heroism through three trials, Erik helps him believe that even if the system’s broken, it might just be waiting for a villain to fix it.

Lux is eminently likable: a casual genius/criminal mastermind, a people person with a bratty streak, and an occasional disaster bi. Despite a tragic past that could serve as a villain origin story, Lux avoids outward bitterness, and flashes of injustice make him easy to root for. 

Sparks between Lux and Erik, a blond Viking with a head and heart of gold, crackle like—what else?—lightning and thunder. A complicated past makes their relationship feel like fan service in the best possible way: all the payoff of a wary slow burn with none of the waiting. Raasch’s ability to create a hurt/comfort dynamic for original characters is masterful, and watching these tired twenty-somethings take care of each other is heartwarming. 

I’m also obsessed with the Avengers-assemble energy of the Council’s diverse pantheons. Each ensemble character flies off the page, whether or not they have the power of flight. Molly, Lux’s virtual assistant (trained on reality TV, naturally) is laugh-out-loud funny, and I thoroughly enjoyed the antics of the Hero Council during their downtime. Fandom-forward and tropetastic, they range from sunshine personified in a descent of Ra to a grim reaper who’s a mix of Margot Robbie’s Barbie and Harley Quinn. A very tongue-in-cheek scene at a bowling alley with fanfic tags is welcome, self-aware fun. 

LIGHTNING & THUNDER evokes an aged-up Percy Jackson with its NYC setting, effervescent snark, and Greek god-descended heroes. While the worldbuilding is mythological, its heart belongs to modern superhero media. Like The Incredibles and The Boys, it’s concerned with the liabilities of heroics and the dangers of pedestals, and perfect for fans of STARTER VILLAIN, THE EXTRAORDINARIES, and RENEGADES.

Like a gods-descended superhero shooting into the air, this series-starter easily flew to the top of my favorite reads of the year. I’m already stoked to explore new relationships on the Hero Council, and can’t wait for cameos!

Happy reading!
<3 Jadyn

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