Review of SuperPower Book 4 — In Ashes, Phoenix Eagles Shall Rise by Roger Pedersen. SuperPower: The Ability to Fly or to Become Invisible: In Ashes, Phoenix Eagles Shall Rise (Book #4) blends corporate intrigue, mythic quests, and quirky SuperPower antics into a sprawling, satirical adventure that’s as much about power plays as it is about powers.
Plot and Setting: despite rumors that Professor Steele has been “terminated,” he’s alive and active, now working with his nephews Apollo and Rocky on lunar projects like the Apollo 14 Lunar Golf Course and resource extraction. The story weaves together multiple threads: Apollo and Rocky face a modern, corporate twist on the Twelve Labors of Hercules, tackling mythic beasts and quests tied to a multimillion-dollar seafood corporation. Myrena Gorgona, a ruthless businesswoman, navigates dating, fashion, and corporate ambition, while also uncovering a mysterious connection to the Steele twins. Glenn Peterson, an international chess master, and other characters introduce political and corporate stakes.
The Ability to Fly or to Become Invisible: In Ashes, Phoenix Eagles Shall Rise (Book #4): despite the world’s belief that Professor Steele has been terminated, a rumor of his resilience persists, especially fueled by his exterminator, Myrena Gorgona. The Professor, with his two nephews, Apollo and Rocky, takes a lunar transporter to the Moon, where Professor Steele, using his technological genius, helps make advances at the Lunar Hilton, creating lunar lakes that support sea life and extracting valuable energy resources from the lunar surface.
Rocky and Apollo Steele, with the help of Robbie the robot, create the first Alan Shepard Apollo 14 Lunar Golf Course, which they play on several times; other days, the twins, with the lunar real estate mogul, explore to own property on the lunar surface.
After returning to Earth, Apollo Steele desires to marry Amelia Kristjánsson, but her father refuses unless the Steele twins can help his multimillion-dollar seafood corporation by completing 12 Herculean tasks. The twins’ tasks are to defeat Leo Nemean, remove the nine heads of the Lernaean Hydra, catch and stop the Ceryneian Hind, defeat the Erymanthian Boar, clean the stables, race Aries and his Stymphalian Birds, capture the Cretan Bull, capture the Mares of Diomedes, order a gold belt from Amazon Queen Hippolyta, get the stray herd of Geryon, obtain the golden apples of the Hesperides, and capture the three-headed Hound of Hades, Cerberus.
As the CEO of the Steele Corporation, Myrena Gorgona discovers that the single life isn’t as grand as she thought. With the help of her BFF, Astrid Christiansen, she embarks on a thrilling journey into the world of Internet dating. Meeting several worthy suitors, she takes each one to worldwide fashion shows, where her designers and fashion team showcase their new lines. As each relationship fades, her fashion orders skyrocket, marking the excitement of her new experiences.
She discovers a photo of her exes, Rocky and Apollo Steele, next to an attractive young man whom she cannot get out of her thoughts. She needs to know who he is and why she must have him. The narrative also features bizarre, high-concept powers — such as Harmony’s ability to turn people into “mindless zombies” with her words and Justice Nemesis’s supernatural justice — and even reimagines ancient myths, like the Golden Apples of the Hesperides, as corporate missions.
Style and Tone: according to Literary Titan, the book is “a tangled web of high-stakes business drama, espionage, bizarre characters with unique abilities, and a never-ending series of plot twists.” Pedersen’s style shifts rapidly between serious corporate thriller, comic book satire, and whimsical fantasy, creating a “corporate thriller collided with a comic book” feel.
Character Highlights: Harmony — a darkly comedic, manipulative character whose powers are used for both mischief and strategic advantage. Justice Nemesis — a “supernatural” enforcer who ensures the mighty fall. Apollo and Rocky Steele — twin heirs juggling mythic quests, lunar real estate, and personal ambitions.
Strengths and Critiques: rich, eclectic cast with memorable abilities and personalities; clever blending of myth, corporate satire, and sci-fi elements; multiple intersecting storylines that keep the plot unpredictable.
Verdict: if you appreciate a combination of corporate espionage, mythological reinterpretations, and unconventional SuperPowers, In Ashes, Phoenix Eagles Shall Rise offers a chaotic, twist-filled experience. Rather than presenting a conventional superhero epic, it delivers a satirical, multifaceted adventure in which power is shaped as much by political influence as by extraordinary abilities. Recommended for readers who enjoy Stranger Things and The Boys, complemented by elements of Greek mythology and corporate satire.