Superman: Red Son by Mark Millar

In an alternate universe, Superman lands in Communist-controlled Ukraine and become a symbol for the U.S.S.R. rather than the United States. In the coming decades, as Cold War tension mounts, American genius Lex Luthor leads the attempt to stop him and his ever-spreading ideology by any means necessary. Given the increasing number of retakes on superhero origin stories, especially in recent years, its odd to find one as refreshing as Red Son. Perhaps this has to do with Millar’s refusal to rely on tropes, cliches, and pre-established lore, or perhaps it's because Superman seems to truly believe in his Communist ideology, much as he usually epitomizes the American Way.

One of the more interesting aspects of Red Son is how similarities can be drawn between it and real world tensions. Superman, normally a hero, is in many ways the villain of this story, both as an enemy to Americanism, and in his ethics. Influenced by his near omnipotent power, he goes so far as to lobotomize criminals to create peace. Luthor, the “hero” in that case, isn’t much better, manipulating the American people to raise funding for super weapons, turning DC heroes into his own soldiers, and creating twisted clones and monsters to try and stop Superman. Given this, who then, if either of them, is really fighting for good?

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Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo

Kaz Brekker is a dangerous man. He's called “Dirtyhands” because no crime is too vicious or immoral for him, for the right price. One day he is approached with an offer he can’t refuse: gather an elite group of thieves and con artists, travel to the faraway Ice Court, and free one prisoner. It sounds straightforward enough, but no one has ever infiltrated the Ice Court, an impenetrable frozen fortress, and escaped with their lives. The prisoner they must free is the inventor of a substance that turns the Grisha-- people naturally capable of small, simple magics-- into crazed, all-powerful gods of destruction. If they succeed, they will be rich beyond their wildest fantasies. If they fail, they will die. But criminals like Kaz just love to gamble…

Six of Crows is a young adult fantasy heist book with a sizable cast of extremely fun characters, all with elaborate backstories and motivations. There’s Inej, the girl who can move like a shadow, and Matthias, a former Ice Court soldier who longs to return to his old life, as well as Nina, the Grisha who fought, fell in love with, and betrayed Matthias years ago. Their complex interactions make the book very engaging, and the plot really rolls along once it gets going. If a fantasy heist book sounds appealing to you, and you don’t mind keeping track of six characters at a time, it’s a great adventure. If you enjoy it, make sure to get the sequel, Crooked Kingdom. You might also want to check out Bardugo's Grisha trilogy, which takes place in the same world. If you're looking for a more adult fantasy heist book, try the Gentleman Bastard series as well.

Hush by Jeph Loeb

It’s just another night for Batman, leaping across Gotham rooftops, rescuing a hostage from Killer Croc, when someone intercepts the ransom money and cuts the line to his grappling hook, leaving him for dead in Crime Alley. In trying to uncover the culprit, he finds himself tangled in a web with all his greatest enemies: Poison Ivy, Clayface, Joker, Riddler, Scarecrow, Ra’s al Ghul, and others. They all talk as though it’s a game, but innocent lives are on the line, including some of Bruce Wayne's oldest friends. Working closely (very closely, hint hint) with Catwoman, the Dark Knight fights to uncover who is at the root of this tangle of crimes, mind control, disguise, and deception.

This is a great Batman comic for new readers and old fans alike. It has cameos from almost every Batman enemy and ally you could think of, along with plenty of little explanations of the continuity (Like what happened to the original Robin, or why Barbara Gordon is Oracle). There’s action on nearly every page, and you get to see Batman in his detective mode as well as his “punching Joker in the face” mode. If you like the Batman shows and movies, especially the darker, grittier Batman, Hush is a great introduction to his comic book incarnation. If you like your Batman even darker, try The Killing Joke as well. For a lighter read, try Batman Adventures.

The Lies of Locke Lamora by Scott Lynch

Locke Lamora is a criminal-- a liar, a thief, a crook. As a kid, he was kicked out of a criminal organization for being too good at stealing. As an adult, he runs his own gang of thieves, called the Gentlemen Bastards. They pretend to be minor pickpockets, but in reality, they’re the world’s first con artists, tricking rich families out of their wealth and counting on their marks’ embarrassment to keep themselves secret. Things go swimmingly until someone begins framing Locke for the murders of a powerful crime lord’s family, and he has to pull off the con of his life to save himself and his friends.

This is a fantastic heist book that takes place in a low fantasy world of crystal spires and annual shark fights. There’s innovative cursing and hilarious dialogue, especially from the charming and quick-witted Locke himself. Imagine Ocean’s Eleven crossed with Discworld and Game of Thrones and you’ll have some idea if you’ll like it or not. If you’re burned out on grimdark fantasy, this will make you smile. It’s a large book, but amazingly fast-paced, and it’s the first in the Gentleman Bastard series, so if you like it, there are currently two sequels. For audiobook readers, the narrator is excellent, and it makes for a great listen.

Breaking Wild by Diane Les Becquets

In the Northwestern wilds of Colorado, Amy Raye decides to leave her fellow elk hunters, preferring the peace and quiet of bow hunting alone. She gets her shot and then tracks the wounded elk into even more remote areas, coming up against unanticipated dangers. When Amy Raye fails to return to camp, Pru Hathaway and her search and rescue dog, Kona, are called in to try and find her, but snowstorms halt their exploration. Despite freezing temperatures and clues pointing to Amy Raye's demise, Pru believes she is alive and is determined to find her and to find out more about her mysterious and perplexing life.

Told from the alternating perspectives of Amy Raye and Pru, frustration and tension builds quickly as readers are aware of how close and yet how far away Pru is from discovering what happened to Amy Raye. Flashbacks provide in-depth details into each woman's tragic past and how they both have arrived at their current situations, creating immensely complex and yet sympathetic characters who have already endured a great deal. Breaking Wild is a nail biting adventure, showing how far a person can go to survive and just how brutal nature can be.

Rebel Queen by Michelle Moran

Set during the turbulent 1850s in colonial India, this book recounts the tales of Sita, a fighter for the Queen of Jhansi. Sita comes from a poor family with no sons and no dowry fortune for the two daughters. Rather than being relegated to prostitution at a local temple, Sita's father and neighbor train her to become a fierce and intelligent warrior in the hopes that she will be selected to join the Queen's all female guard and earn money for her younger sister's dowry. Once enlisted as a member of this elite group, Sita learns the precarious position her queen balances, retaining control of Jhansi while meeting the demands of the British occupying forces.

Suspenseful and fast-paced throughout, Rebel Queen is a unique view from a strong female character into Indian politics and culture during the British East India Trading Company encroachment and the subsequent 1857 rebellion. Thrilling to the core, Rebel Queen is not just for historical fiction fans, but will satisfy readers of action and adventure tales, exotic locations, and romances.