'Smart-mouthed monster hunter extraordinaire, Elsa Bloodstone isn’t easily fazed, but a shocking family revelation sends her down a bloody path, in this witty and action-soaked Marvel Heroines adventure
'Elsa Bloodstone just can’t catch a break. She’s barely finished shutting down a hive of ratmen when a special ops squad turns up guns blazing – and they’re shooting at her! It’s nothing a good grenade can’t sort out though. When Elsa returns home, she discovers an unexpected guest claiming to be her long-lost sister, seeking her own stolen Bloodstone shard. The Bloodstone is the secret to Elsa’s superhuman powers, and a shard in villainous hands is seriously bad news. Cue globetrotting adventures full of monster-smashing. But danger stays one step ahead of them as Elsa realises her sister isn’t quite what she seems, and an old enemy with a secret about her family’s past could overturn everything Elsa’s ever believed.'
Elsa Boodstone: Bequest was my first experience with the character of Elsa Bloodstone, and as such I had no idea what to expect from this book. Instead of the usual super hero fare readers get presented with a kick-ass action heroine fighting monsters and the creatures of the night in a story that feels more like Urban Fantasy than a Marvel story; and because of that it stands out as a truly unique and exciting addition the the Marvel Heroines line.
The story follows Elsa Bloodstone, daughter of the immortal monster hunter Ulysses Bloodstone. Thanks to her father's genes, and the powers of the mystical Bloodstone shard she wears around her neck, Elsa has gained superhuman powers of super strength and regeneration; allowing her to follow in her father's footsteps and fight the creatures of the night that haunt the Marvel Universe.
When dealing with what should have been a relatively easy case in Glasgow Elsa is attacked by a group of armed assailants after her Bloodstone shard. After defeating them and making her way back home to Boston Elsa learns that there's another person in the world with a Bloodstone shard, who's just had it stolen; and what's even more surprising, the person who just had their shard stolen is her sister, Mihaela.
Despite not wanting anything to do with this sister she never even knew existed, and doesn't really like much, she agrees that it's dangerous for anyone to possess a piece of the Bloodstone, and sets out on a journey across the globe with Mihaela that will see the two of them seeking out their fathers hidden bases. Their journey will take them to New York, Mombasa, and the Arctic, and will see them having to confront a bevy of monsters, traps, and armed men as they fight to find out who's behind the theft.
From the very first moments of the book it's clear that this isn't going to be like most comic stories. There's no brightly costumed heroes, no villains with odd gimmicks. Instead we meet Elsa as she enters a Glasgow cemetery armed with a variety of weapons and a shovel as she tries to clear out an infestation of rat men. The book feels much more down to earth at time, which is odd considering Elsa jumps around the globe fighting monsters, but this certainly feels like a more street level story; and fans of characters like Blade or Jessica Jones will definitely find something to like here.
Elsa isn't really in this for the adventure, she doesn't really hang out with big name heroes, or fights flashy villains. Instead, she sees herself as more of a pest controller, going around killing monsters in the shadows, unseen and unthanked because it's the right thing to do. In a lot of ways she feels like a more moral hero that most, despite the fact that she kills a lot, because she's never in the public light, and has committed herself to a cause that will never see her showered in praise like people like Iron-Man or the Avengers.
That being said, Elsa isn't perfect, and at times she comes across as a bit of a bitch. And I loved it. Cath Luria manages to make Elsa into the kind of person you'd want at your back in a fight, but one who you might not get on with. She's catty and judgemental, and she's flawed. It makes her all the more relatable, and means that she gets a lot of opportunity to grow across the book; something that's really used in regards to her relationship with her new sister.
The sisters and the way they evolve with each other over the course of the book is one of the best parts of the story. It's nice to get to see how these two people who clearly hate each other and don't want to be friends at the start slowly come to respect each other, and even begin to care. Both of the characters come with a lot of baggage, and seeing them work through that is at times even better than the monster killing action. Mihaela's backstory is particularly interesting, and discovering her secrets across the narrative is a highlight.
The book is also packed with action, and instead of it just being flashy characters punching each other and throwing villains through buildings things have a much more realistic edge to them. Despite her enhanced strength Elsa has to rely on weapons to help her fight her foes, and it's great seeing her having to figure out the best methods of dispatching the strange monsters she comes across in the book. Elsa never feels overly powerful, and despite being able to do things that no human ever could she always feels just a rung or two under her foes, meaning that she really has to struggle to survive some of these encounters.
Cath Lauria has managed to craft an engaging super hero story that's made for people who have probably never picked up a comic before in their lives. Yes, some big named heroes get mentioned here and there, and a few recognisable names make an appearance, but this is a book that could easily exist outside of the Marvel Universe with a couple of tiny tweaks and still stand on it's own. It has great character focus, leads who are able to change and evolve, interesting monsters, and a plot that will go in directions that you'll not be expecting. Thanks to this book I've discovered an awesome new hero, one that I hope I get to see Lauria write again for one day.
Make sure to check back later today for an interview with author Cath Lauria!
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