Content levels
Trigger warnings
Positive tags
Hero archetypes
Protagonist archetypes
Tropes
Themes
Synopsis
In a slightly alternate world, heroics mean different things to different people. Oblivion and Fogg, inseparable friends for seventy years, guarding the British Empire, bound together by a shared fate. Until one night in Berlin, in the aftermath of the Second World War, and a secret that tore them apart. Now, recalled to the Retirement Bureau from which no one can retire, Fogg and Oblivion must face up to a past of terrible war and unacknowledged heroism: a life of dusty corridors and secret rooms, of furtive meetings and blood-stained fields, to answer one last, impossible question: What makes a hero?
The violent century: content & age rating
Intended for adult readers (18+).
This alternate-history fantasy set during WWII and beyond contains strong war violence, espionage themes, and morally complex characters. The narrative explores dark themes of heroism, betrayal, and the cost of war through superhuman operatives.
What to know going in
This book has strong violence, mild sexual content, and moderate language. Content notes include death, mass death, and grief (see the full list above).
Who'll love this
Adult readers interested in literary takes on superhero stories and WWII espionage will appreciate this dark exploration of friendship and moral ambiguity.