The Heroic Fallacy by Angela Funk, book review

The Heroic Fallacy is the action-packed second installment of the Forsaken Trilogy written by Iowa author Angela Funk. Fantasy readers will enjoy this epic sword-and-sorcery sequel set in a unique fantasy world blended with modern dialogue giving a vibe reminiscent of K-Pop Demon Hunters. The Heroic Fallacy is an epic sequel to the Heroic Facade and is set in a unique fantasy world with modern technology that reminds me a little bit of the world that is rooted in realism.

Published in March of 2024, The Heroic Fallacy begins with a dark and stormy night of our protagonist Othelia finding herself on the run. In the first book, the main five characters give the reader a quick jump start into the fantasy world but the The Heroic Fallacy gives the reader a quick jump into the action! Rooted in traditional fantasy action series, The Heroic Fallacy gives fantasy readers an epic adventure while keeping the characters grounded in believable dialogue. Some of the dark twists may be a bit graphic for some readers, but I found the action kept the pace of the novel into a page turner. Even if you are not a traditional fantasy or young author fan, the strong character exploration and concise world-building gives readers a fun but dark read.

The book’s official description is read as “It’s been five months since the perilous exam that tested each participant’s morals and sanity. Now, the found family of five have embarked on their own journeys, ebbing and flowing out of each other’s lives in ways they could never expect.

As Isabelle searches for the one who killed her brother, she finds herself trapped in a vengeful game she willingly stepped foot in. Leo has completed training with his new Essence abilities and prepares to embark on his first expedition — only to discover he made a critical error. Galen must navigate his life without his family–or an eye–surrounded by Essence users as he remains powerless.

On the other side of the world, Eli falls into a precarious situation as he runs to be a member of the New Guayi Republic Committee, torn between lying and love. Othelia and Abel search the world for their long-lost powers while evading capture and stumble upon a group of dangerous criminals that offer more than what they bargained for. Othelia finds her world being pulled out from under her as she destroys everything in her wake.”

Picking up immediately after the EO exam from The Heroic Facade, the story begins with protagonist Othelia on the run during a dark and stormy night. While the main characters collaborated in book one, they are now split up and grappling with the consequences of their failure. The plot masterfully explores the drastically changed lives of the core group, delving into themes of peer pressure, groupthink, and coming of age. From Othelia’s compromising situations and Galen’s struggle after losing an eye, to Isabelle’s unexpected journey for justice and Eli’s derailed political aspirations, no one is where they planned to be.

This sequel is darker and grittier, featuring more gore and intense fantasy violence, yet the gore weaves in moments of romance between obligation and survival. The sea, island, forest, and mountains setting creates and epic backdrop for the characters to develop the plot in stragetic twists. The dialogue flows smoothly between charming friendships that result in plot reveals of hallucination attacks on unsuspecting guards in between bouts of young adult anxieties. Like many sequels, the return of the characters are wiser, but more gritty yet. The concise world-building and strong character exploration make this a lengthy, but compelling adventure that will give readers an adrenaline rush that traditional fantasy readers will enjoy. You can find The Heroic Fallacy at the link below as well as at the annual Windsor Heights Book Fair, featuring over two dozen local authors with a free will donation to a local food bank.

Tyler Granger

Iowa Author

10/31/2025

The Annual Windsor Heights Book Fair is held on the first Sunday in October and features over two dozen local authors with a free will donation to a local food bank. The opinion of this article does not reflect the authors of the Windsor Heights Book Fair but uses sources from The Des Moines Register, Associated Press, KCCI, Times-Delphic, WOI, Daily Iowan, WHO-13, Wikipedia, Google, and ESPN; all rights reserved.