Doctor Impossible is the smartest man in the world, whose efforts at world domination have been thwarted repeatedly. Fatale is a girl who was reportedly run over by a dump truck in Brazil, and resurrected as a cyborg, who has been brought in to fulfill the mecha-requirements of a superhero team called The Champions. The story is narrated from these two perspectives: Doctor Impossible and his wry humor, relentless efforts at villainy, and not a small amount of ego; and Fatale, lonely encased within her machinery, feeling like an outsider within the team, with no memories of her former life.

The book is quite humorous, poking fun at what it is that drives supervillains to keep on trying to conquer the world, regardless of the humiliating defeat that punctuates each new diabolical plot. The superheroes' foibles are quite visibly exposed, and the team isn't always the best of teams. If you enjoy superhero comics, you'll probably enjoy how this novel takes many of the standard superhero clichés and has fun with them. The story is always at its finest when inside Doctor Impossible's head, but the book as a whole is a light and entertaining read.

The Fujiwara clan held great wealth and power in Heian Japan, and Mitsuko is the youngest daughter of a branch of this most fortunate family. However, when the capital is rocked by fire and marauding warrior-monks, her world is turned upside down when she and her family are forced to flee to the mountains for safety. Her adventures take a supernatural turn when her elder sister's husband is killed, her sister is nearly catatonic, and a tengu--- a shape-shifting crow spirit--- agrees to help Mitsuko look for her soul, which must be wandering in search of her missing husband.

It's hard to find fiction set during this fascinating time period, so I was pleased to find this book. Mitsuko's Orphean adventures through the various mythological underworlds, drawing from both the Shinto and Buddhist traditions so prevalent then and now, were colorful and well-depicted. Mitsuko has many of the shortcomings of people of her class of her time period, but she also has many strengths that would have shocked them. She is a fun, good-hearted heroine, and it's entertaining to watch her friendship develop with the impish and mischievous Goranu.