One of the most unique titles for a book in a superhero series has to be Toga. By its name alone, a reader may assume this work is historical non-fiction, historical fiction, or possibly a fantasy about Roman gods ala Rick Riordan. The last guess is partially correct as it’s a superhero action novel where our main characters travel to a fantasy world and are assumed to be gods.
Book five of the Arca series involves all three of our heroes—Zita, Wyn, and Andy—on nearly all the pages. When a superhero spell goes awry, our three champions plus one wounded villain end up in a fantasy world as if concocted by Greco-Roman philosophers. They encounter a variety of mythological beings in their quest to return home. And I do mean “quest” because they embark on many of them throughout the narrative.
As it is quick to point out in multiple places, Toga isn’t interested in being historically accurate though it’s self-aware enough to refer to their clothes as chitons. The book would rather explore popular myths, introduce oddball supporting characters, stage exciting action sequences, and further the relationships between its central trio. Zita’s (Arca’s) conflicts, being the primary character, are the most interesting. Always proud of her athleticism, the book posits the question of what else she can do, and places her in a situation where that theory becomes her reality. Wyn also has demons (figurative, not literal) she must overcome, and Andy has a secret which he never has a chance to reveal, but I know where to place my money.
Author Karen Diem has taken her superheroes to different fascinating locations across the series. This one tops them all. She’s also kept a narrative thread moving forward and this tradition continues in the group of supervillains they meet, a powerful inventory item on said adversaries, and the relationships described at the beginning and the end. The author has produced short stories, also referenced in the novels and vice-versa. So reading her novels is like putting together a crossword puzzle because they’re a pastiche of a new idea, and references to her short fiction and prior novels. While sometimes it’s hard to remember details, Toga succeeds because it separates the characters from the rest of the world. If anyone were to step in the middle of the series and read one of the Arca books, I’d recommend Toga.
Does it work on its own? Toga knows how to set the stakes and the way the plot limits Zita every time she uses her powers was particularly clever. The creative quests, interesting subplots, and usual playing-against-trope characters make for a creative read. Certainly one of the highlights is the team is together through this novel. Always stronger when on the same page, the novel works well when its central trio are playing off each other. Only a few passages have one of the characters sidelined.
The setup, the world, the humor, and the action all make Toga one of the bright spots in Diem’s series. It also opens her Arca world to many possibilities for I’m sure the Greco-Roman world will be revisited in the future. Fun and fast, pick up Toga for a super read.
Now, let the Party (Arca #6) begin.
Amazon Link: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0859JWC6L