#Review - An Outcast and an Ally by Caitlin Lochner #YA #Dystopian #Superheroes

Series: A Soldier and a Liar Series (#2)
Format: Hardcover, 352 pages
Release Date: April 21, 2020
Publisher: Swoon Reads
Source: Publisher
Genre: Young Adult / Dystopian / Superheroes

Dark secrets and conflicting loyalties abound as four superpowered teens are torn apart by war in this epic YA sequel to A Soldier and a Liar.

Lai, Jay, Al, and Erik are on the run after the military accuses them of being traitors. Tensions between everyone are high, but they have to stick together if they want to survive. And somehow stop the war that’s now in full swing.
But when Erik returns to the rebels to find answers about his past, Lai, Al, and Jay have no choice but to go to the Order—a peace coalition bent on stopping the rebels and dissolving the enmity between gifted and ungifted. However, the longer the war drags on, the more Lai’s long-kept secrets threaten to destroy everything she’s ever worked for. Sparks fly as the team constantly questions whether they can trust one another and everyone tries to navigate a war that will change everything.

Filled with the same high-stakes superpowered action and complex relationships as Caitlin's first book, An Outcast and an Ally brings this story to a dramatic and satisfying close.

An Outcast and an Ally is the second and final installment in Caitlin Lochner's A Soldier and a Liar duology. The story picks up about 2 days after the ending to A Soldier and a Liar. As a summary, in this world, Nytes have special abilities and can function outside the domed sectors of this dystopian world. The Etoiles are what's left of humanity. They make up the majority of the population, but fear the Nytes due to their abilities.

After being used for peace negotiations with the rebels that ended up a trap, Lorelai (Lai) Cathwell, Erick Mendel, Jay Kitahara, and Alary (Al) Johann have been betrayed, charged with treason, and are now wanted criminals after they escaped prison thanks to Lai's ingenuity. They also suffered a tragic loss of a member of Lai's Order after they battled the Nyte rebels. But, now, they have bigger fishes to fry. As a Nyte Special Forces team, Jay's team was to flush out the Nyte rebels and put an end to their attempt to destroy what's left of humanity. 

There are questions that have pushed Lai's team to seek answers. What secrets are the Council hiding and what lengths will they go to to keep them quiet? Can Lai's Order bring together an alliance between Nytes, the Military, as well as Etoiles in order to save the Sectors from being destroyed? Can Lai rely on her own foster father, or has he betrayed her in her moment of need? Lai and her people, including Fiona, Syon, Peter, & Trist, have put together an impressive organization but need serious help.

Lai opens up to her team about the Amaryllis Order to her teammates which causes a whole lot of hurt feelings. Erik encounters a rebel named Cal who claims he taught him how to fight, and that Erik may be close the the Rebel leader Sara Ellis. Erik finds himself being drawn back into the Rebel faction so that he can figure out what happened to his memories and what Sara and her Rebellion are really up to and what comes next. Lai believes that a Nyte is responsible for Erik's memories being blocked or removed.

With Erik back with the rebels, readers get a first hand look at who is part of the rebellion. Meanwhile, the Order is restless. Many of them want to do something other than planning and stocking up supplies. They want to fight the rebels, especially now that a key member of the team has been taken from them. The Order has an extensive intelligence network and methods of operating secretly. But, nobody has any clue what the Council has been hiding for the past 20 years, until Sara drops the bomb which will have interesting consequences for all. 

What becomes crystal clear over the course of this story as well as the first installment, is how important Lai really is to not only the Order but to the entire series. Over the course of 2 1/2 years she spent in prison, she put together a team capable of doing remarkable things. But, can she put the division and infighting aside in time to stop Sara and her Rebellion from destroying everything she's worked for? Lai has a tendency of putting her life on the line for the good of the Order and her teammates. Sometimes, that's not such a good thing since she suffers the most of any character in this book and I kid you not. 

There is real awakening for characters like Al who is a wonderful fighter but has a chip on her shoulder a mile long due to her desire for vengeance against her brother who she believes killed her parents. She's also been hiding who she really is and what she's capable of. Erik faces similar challenges. It becomes apparent that the old Erik was a real bastard who the rebels, for the most part, are eager to have back because of his hatred for the Etoiles. There is an old saying about spots not changing their colors; except when it comes to Erik.

It is fair to say that I enjoyed this book better than the first book. It's because the author explores each of her main characters and let's us in on what they are thinking and how they are acting to a world that has now grown much, much bigger. There is plenty of action, and battle scenes between the Rebels and the Order, as well as the Rebel, the Order, and General Austin's military who don't agree with how things have been handled by the Council. There are plenty of surprises and a nice revelation as to who the real leader of the Order really is. I think there is only one regret. I wish the author had explored parts of the other Sectors that make up this world. Instead, we are stuck mostly in Sector 8.

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#Review - Supernova by Marissa Meyer #Fantasy #Superheroes

Series: Renegades (#3)
Format: Hardcover, 560 pages
Release Date: November 5, 2019
Publisher: Feiwel & Friends
Source: Library
Genre: Young Adult / Superheroes

All's fair in love and anarchy...

The epic conclusion to Marissa Meyer's thrilling Renegades Trilogy finds Nova and Adrian struggling to keep their secret identities concealed while the battle rages on between their alter egos, their allies, and their greatest fears come to life. Secrets, lies, and betrayals are revealed as anarchy once again threatens to reclaim Gatlon City.  

Supernova is the third and final installment in author Marissa Meyer's Renegades trilogy. The story once again alternatives between Nova Artino nee McLain (Nightmare & Insomnia) and Adrian Everheart (Sketch & Sentinel). The aftermath of Archenemies is immediately felt. Nova was successful in stealing back Ace Anarchy's helmet, but in the aftermath, Max was left as a innocent victim of her fight with the Renegades. Several Renegades where hit with Agent N thus making them basically human. Nova could be exposed at any moment.

 

From the first book onward, Nova thought that the Renegades were to blame for the tragic death of her parents and little sister Evie. Where were they with their promises to protect her family? It was Ace who took her in and raised her to be an Anarchist with the ability to put someone to sleep with only a touch. One could call it brainwashing. After all, Nova spent her life with Leroy, Honey and Phobia believing Ace was her hero and the Renegades were true villains. Nova's walk between doing what's right, and doing the wrong thing, was a tightrope that I was glad to have read.

 

Adrian hates Nightmare, but is absolutely in love with Nova. Adrian is the son of two Renegade Council members as well as the son of Lady Indomitable who was killed by someone unknown to him. Adrian has spent his life trying to find the person who killed his mother. He has a remarkable talent for using tattoos to make his alias Sentinel even more impressive. He adores his younger brother Max, but will his secret finally be revealed to his fathers as to who he has been spotlighting as? What will he do when it discovers Nova's true identity?

 

There are so many surprises and revelations in this story that to actually spoil any of them, would defeat the entire idea of reading the book for yourself. Nova's world definitely becomes much, clearer in this book after a series of events that leads to a massive reveal. The villains are not necessarily villains but they do villainous things in this book that leads to a major conflict between the Renegades and Anarchists. The heroes are definitely not what you would expect. After all, who uses a chemical agent to neutralize anyone with powers? Instead of using law enforcement to carry out justice, they choose who gets to live with their powers or not. 

 

I adored Max and the author doesn't let readers down by putting Max into the thick of things when the final conflicts are brought to bear.  I liked how Adrian and Nova explored the gray areas between "good" and "evil". That. Ending. Killed. ME! Seriously! Read the book, but pay particular attention so that when a certain character pops up in the Epilogue, you don't scream, WHO THE HELL WAS THAT? like I did because I'm an idiot. 

 

I can't imagine what was going through the author's head when she thought let's introduce this character, forget about her except at key moments, make it as though Nova hated her guts, and then slam the readers in the head with the most shocking revelation imaginable and then close the story as though nothing happened! I demand a recount! I demand another story featuring this character! I want her to find her own happy ending and discover the truth that's she not alone! I really thought about lowering my rating after the identity was revealed to me since I apparently slept walked though part of the book!

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#Review - Unsung Heroine by Sarah Kuhn #Urban #Fantasy #Superheroines

Series: Heroine Complex #3.5
Format: E-Galley, 121 pages
Release Date: July 2, 2019
Publisher: DAW Books
Source: Publisher
Genre: Urban Fantasy

The e-novella, which will be released in July 2019 and serve as a bridge between the two trilogies, shines a spotlight on a character many readers have asked for more of: Lucy Valdez, Team Tanaka/Jupiter’s charismatic fight trainer and weapons expert (who also happens to be a vintage fashion plate and the most badass person in San Francisco without superpowers).

 

Unsung Heroine, by author Sarah Kuhn, is the bridge between the authors first trilogy called Heroine Complex, and a new trilogy coming soon! This new installment follows personal superhero trainer Lucy Valdez and friends Aveda Jupiter and Bea and Evie Tanaka as they combat a new supernatural threat. Lucy Valdez is many things: fight trainer, bodyguard, and weapons expert to super-heroines. She's also a fabulous vintage fashion plate, and undisputed karaoke queen at local joint, The Gutter.

She is also one of the toughest fighters in all of San Francisco without superpowers. That's right. She has no powers unlike her best friends and co-workers Aveda, Bea, and Evie. So why can't she seem to confess her feelings to her longtime crush Rose Rorick, head of the San Francisco Police Department's Demon Unit? Well.... actually, she knows why. She's afraid Rose won't like the real Lucy, the Lucy underneath all the fabulous bravado. (She is still fabulous underneath that bravado--just in a different way.)

When a mysterious new karaoke star rises up at The Gutter and eclipses her, Lucy finds her confidence further shaken--and when strange, seemingly supernatural happenings threaten both this new star and The Gutter's very existence, she must rise to the challenge and investigate alongside Rose. Will Lucy be able to vanquish the demonic threat to her beloved karaoke haven, confess her true feelings to Rose, and reclaim her karaoke throne?

This is actually a really fun story. I love Lucy. She's so insecure about her feelings towards Rose, that you can't help but want to help her out of her conundrum. This story weaves back and forth via current events, as well as text messages between Lucy and Rose. And, while this story is all about Lucy, it does have some cheeky moments with Aveda and Evie trying to make Lucy see that taking a chance with someone that you really love, is the best thing ever. 

I have zero knowledge of when the next trilogy is going to release. I have tried the authors web page without any success. I am wondering if the author will continue to revolve her stories around Evie, Lucy, and Aveda, or will Lucy take charge once again?  

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#Review - #HeroFail by Lexie Dunne #Fantasy #Superheroes

Series: Superheroes Anonymous # 4
Format: E-Galley, 384 pages
Release Date: November 27, 2019
Publisher: Harper Voyager Impulse
Source: Publisher
Genre: Fiction / Superheroes

Gail "Hostage Girl" Godwin is back and ready to save the day—sort of—in #Herofail, the fourth book in Lexie Dunne's action-packed Superheroes Anonymous series!

She’s been in trouble before, but Gail Godwin has really stepped in it now.

Once a favorite plaything of supervillains everywhere, the former Hostage Girl has settled into interning for the world’s most famous superhero: the Raptor. Sure, fetching coffee comes with a side of fighting crime and night patrol hours are horrible, but that’s fine. Gail likes her boss, she likes her job, and things with her boyfriend couldn’t be better.

So of course disaster strikes the first time she dons the armor. One ill-timed photo later, she’s trending on every platform (and not in a good way), the Raptor is out of commission, and thousands are in danger. And when two of the worst supervillains in history battle for Top Evildoer of All Time, Gail’s stuck in the spotlight without a mentor or a plan. It’s up to her to uncover old secrets, fight the bad guys, and save the world (again).

Provided she doesn’t fall flat on her ass in the process.

 

#HeroFail is the fourth installment in author Lexie Dunne's Superheroes Anonymous series. If you haven't yet read this series yet, how come? No really! This is an extremely fun and entertaining series which features a bunch of superheroes, and super-villains, and a girl who was once kidnapped by nearly everyone who is a super-villain constantly for 4 years straight until she was dosed with a radioactive isotope called Mobium and found some curious abilities of her own. 

Former Hostage Girl Gail Godwin, who people still call her by that name in public, has become Raptor's apprentice. Gail, who has the ability to absorb abilities from superheroes, really does try to do the best she can under crappy situations. Some times she has to ask herself if it's all worth it, especially when she is caught in the spotlight and her identity is nearly exposed to the public. Number one rule of being a superhero, never allow your identity to be revealed. 

As Raptor, Gail is expected to work in the darkness, let nobody know who she really is, be fast, and merciless and efficient against villains. Gail has some interesting friends as well as enemies. From Angelica Rocha, who has taken Gail under her wing, and trained her, to Jessie Davenport, aka Razor, who chose Gail to become her apprentice, to Guy Bookman, the former superhero known as Blaze who is her love interest, as well as Razor, a villain who has decided that Gail is and will forever be her frenemy.  

When Tamara Diesel makes an unannounced entrance to a Davenport event, things go sideways quickly and people end up sprayed with a toxic gas. To make matters worse, Gail has to face the reality that one of the most dangerous, & one of the original villains, Rita Detmer, has broken out of prison and somehow managed to do something to her powers. Rita just happens to be Raptor's main nemesis. With Heroes and Supervillains battling for supremacy, and two major villains stirring up trouble across the nation, Gail will have to pull a rabbit out of her hat in order to survive. 

Gail struggles at times with her new role as a super-hero. After all, she's been dosed with Mobium, arrested, and sent to Detmer prison for something she didn't do, exonerated, and then chosen to become an apprentice superhero. For Gail, there are good days, & some days when Gail just wants to sit home and let someone else pick up the slack for once. But, Gail may be the only one who is able to stop Rita and Diesel from upending the world and saving her friends.

The ending leaves me with questions that I hope I am able to find answers to. The author says that she never thought she would see the light at the end of the tunnel. Is this the final book in the series? Or, will she write another book? I am all for another book, but I am not selfish in being depressed if the author chooses to walk away and work on something else.

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#Review - Archenemies by Marissa Meyer #YALit #Superheroes

Series: Renegades (#2)
Format: E-Galley, 496 pages
Release Date: November 6, 2018
Publisher: Feiwel & Friends
Source: Publishers
Genre: Young Adult / Superheroes

The Renegades Trilogy continues, in this fiercely awaited second installment after the New York Times-bestselling Renegades by Marissa Meyer, author of the Lunar Chronicles.

Time is running out.
Together, they can save the world.
But they are each other’s worst nightmare.

In Renegades, Nova and Adrian (aka Insomnia and Sketch) fought the battle of their lives against the Anarchist known as the Detonator. It was a short-lived victory.

The Anarchists still have a secret weapon, one that Nova believes will protect her. The Renegades also have a strategy for overpowering the Anarchists, but both Nova and Adrian understand that it could mean the end of Gatlon City – and the world – as they know it.

 

Archenemies is the second installment in author Marissa Meyer's Renegades trilogy. The story revolves around and alternates between two main characters: Adrian Everhart (Sketch) and Nova McLean (Insomnia). In Gatlon City, there are two factions of heroes and superheroes. There are the Renegades, and the Anarchists. After the first installment in this series, the Anarchists are feeling the pain of losing, while the Renegades are collectively working towards something even more shocking.

For Nova McLain who goes by both Insomnia and Nightmare, her world revolves around one thing; getting revenge on the Renegades who didn't do anything to save her family. Nova unwittingly has become something of a hero to the Renegades by removing a dangerous threat. Nova has quite a bit to handle in this installment. She has to try get back Ace's helmet; she has to discover a way to counter act the Renegades new weapon; and she has to find a way to gain revenge on the Sentinel her personal archnemesis. 

For Adrian, who also goes by Sentinel, his goal has been to find those responsible for killing his mother, while keeping his secret identity and the tattoos he has created on his body from being revealed. The curious thing about the story is that Adrian's Sentinel persona is now thought of as dangerous as the Anarchists, while Nova is a heroine. Funny how that works when you fight and help save people's lives but don't go by the Renegades rules.

I would say that Meyer ups her game in this installment. Meyer jumps right into the action from the first page, and doesn't let up until the final chapter. While the story adds yet another new villain, it also adds an element to the story that really gets you thinking as a reader. How far would the government, or in this case, the Renegades go in order to keep the peace and remove anyone who steps out of line even a little bit? 

There is an old adage that says there's no good or bad, black or white. Not until you add the human element and free choice into the equation. Are the Anarchists all bad? Some are, yes. Are the Renegades all good? No way, Jose, especially Genissa and her squad. The back and forth between Adrian and Nova has really gone to another level but I really can't see how it can endure what comes next. I do have a questions about Nova, her fathers bracelet, and her apparent connection to Ace's helmet. I would have loved to see more of Hawthorne. This is a villain who really gives Doctor Octopus (Spider Man) a run for his money. The ending has all but assured that I will read the third and final installment. 

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#Thursday Review - Black Widow: Red Vengeance by Margaret Stohl #Fantasy #Comics #Superheroes

Series: Black Widow # 2
Format: Hardcover, 438 pages
Release Date: October 11th 2016
Publisher: Marvel Press
Source: Library
Genre: Comics - Superheroes

The Avengers’ iconic master spy is back, and she’s seeing red.

Emotions are dangerous, which is why the graduates of Moscow’s famed spy school the Red Room are taught to keep their enemies close and their loved ones at a distance. Black Widow and Red Widow, also known as Natasha Romanov and Ava Orlova, forgot that lesson once, and they won’t forget it again.

But the Widows have inherited something else from their shared Moscow past: a relentless need for vengeance—Ivan Somodorov is dead, but his network of terror remains.
While the Widows search South America in order to extinguish a smuggling operation with ties to their old nemesis, their own Red Room not only attempts to assassinate them both but also hacks their secure S.H.I.E.L.D. network. As a result, Ava and Natasha find themselves thrust into a trying mission of international intrigue that takes them throughout the world and back to New York City, where their friends Dante and Sana become unlikely targets as well.

Once again, nothing is as it seems, no one can be trusted, and no one is safe—not unless the Widows can stop a conspiracy involving stolen nuclear warheads, mind-altering chemical weapons, and ultimately, betrayal by old friends and enemies alike. 

Red Vengeance is the second installment in author Margaret Stohl's Black Widow series. The last we saw of Natasha Romanoff aka Black Widow, and her new partner Ava Orlova aka Red Widow, they had both lost someone, Alexei, that they each loved. Now they seek vengeance on those responsible for his death, and if in the process they take down anyone else who had anything to do with his death, more's the pity. But, who could stand toe to toe with the mighty Black Widow and not blink? 

Ava. who has some crazy abilities that are sure to please readers and comic book fans alike, has now become the newest SHIELD candidate. But, with her partnering with the infamous Black Widow, anything is sure to happen and usually does. Natasha and Ava relocate to South America where they not only try to take a bit of Rest and Relaxation, but also understand the new link that came about from the previous mission.

Natasha is targeted by an unknown nemesis, and Ava is along for the ride since she is still a heroine in training. Stohl not only has Agent Coulson along for the ride, but Tony Stark & Maria Hill also make appearances. But, the most interesting and eye opening addition to this series is Captain Marvel. If you don't know who Captain Marvel is, or why her presence makes this story so fun to read about, do yourself a favor that research her name. She hasn't been in any previous Marvel movies yet, but no worries. Her time will be upon us sooner than you think.

Red Vengeance is a story that is pure fun, but leaves a serious burn at the end of the story. The story is alternatively told in after-action reports, and narratives from both primary characters Natasha and Ava. The after action reports are pure Marvel, pure Coulson, and gives you hints about what makes the Black Widow such a badass. We are also introduced to several other characters who play important roles. Will be interesting to see if they appear again in the third installment?

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