Born into the early twentieth century, Daniel Hecht, Lionheart, the American war hero who is unable to escape his heroism even into the modern world, has no memory of several decades missing from his life. A stranger in his own body, he leads an underground group of superpower misfits in the twenty-first century. After a new recruit, Nina Asher who has no recollection of her past joins the group, Daniel finds himself strangely attracted to her. Before long, she becomes the target of a group of vicious creatures who want to unsettle the world. As she and Daniel work to unlock a cryptic, ancient myth, they experience strange flashbacks. To save the world, they must recollect the memories of their earlier lives. As they fall in love, Nina’s troubled past come to haunt them. Readers will experience heightened tension in this first installment of the fantasy romance series as shocking mystery unfolds, leading to a heartfelt climax. Janowsky skilfully reveals the duo’s intricately complex attraction to each other, allowing their romance to develop with sensuality. With their human afflictions, the superheroes in the story have a tender side to them—Daniel’s humanity and vulnerability make him a compelling hero. Nina’s character has plenty of scope for further growth in the upcoming installment. Though the fantasy elements form the basis of the plot, the book is heavy on feelings and subtle romance (heavy love-making stretches beyond a few pages as well) making it more of a romance read. Yearning and tender love dominate the story, turning the book into a melancholy, haunting read.

Romance and mystery fuse in this supernatural thriller that is perfectly timed for the tastes of today’s readers, but also touches on classic themes in multiple genres. The fast-paced scenes of adventure and discovery are balanced with the expository and personal explorations of the time period – along with anecdotal scenes from the characters’ murky past.

The title of this series, The Persistence of Memory, is a bold choice, but while the prose does not reach the realm of literary fiction, there are flashes of brilliance in the writing. Janowsky pays attention to small details, which are so important to a romance – clever details of physical contact that say so much, or the heavy weight of glances across a room. It is this beauty in the prose that carries the book, even with a riveting story and unique take on the superhero genre.