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Wearing the Cape #3
Young Sentinels
The reward for a job well done is another job.
After the Sentinels' takedown of the second incarnation of Villains Inc., things are relatively quiet in the great metropolis of Chicago. Astra, aka Hope Corrigan, is able to breathe a little, to hang out with her friends, and even to attend classes (where her professors are starting to think she is a myth). But Blackstone is loading more training and responsibilities on her, and converging events threaten the compromises she has made to balance her superhero career and student life and to protect her family and friends.
Worse, a new supervillain has come to town, and it will take all of Chicago's capes to defeat the threat of the Green Man — if he can be defeated at all. When a new supervillain group begins targeting anti-superhuman groups, it becomes apparent that even the Sentinels are going to need help.
Because one thing is certain: Chicago is going to have a very bad day.
After the Sentinels' takedown of the second incarnation of Villains Inc., things are relatively quiet in the great metropolis of Chicago. Astra, aka Hope Corrigan, is able to breathe a little, to hang out with her friends, and even to attend classes (where her professors are starting to think she is a myth). But Blackstone is loading more training and responsibilities on her, and converging events threaten the compromises she has made to balance her superhero career and student life and to protect her family and friends.
Worse, a new supervillain has come to town, and it will take all of Chicago's capes to defeat the threat of the Green Man — if he can be defeated at all. When a new supervillain group begins targeting anti-superhuman groups, it becomes apparent that even the Sentinels are going to need help.
Because one thing is certain: Chicago is going to have a very bad day.
315 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 25, 2013
49 people are currently reading
374 people want to read
About the author
Marion G. Harmon
24 books290 followersMarion G. Harmon picked up a Masters of History degree because he likes stories. He resides in Las Vegas, where he dabbles in various aspects of financial planning while trying to get the people in his head onto the page so they’ll stop pestering him.
Addendum: M.G.Harmon still lives in Las Vegas, but has ceased telling other people how to invest their money to become a "professional author," whatever that is. He has written nine books, all about Astra and Company. They still won't leave him alone.
Addendum: M.G.Harmon still lives in Las Vegas, but has ceased telling other people how to invest their money to become a "professional author," whatever that is. He has written nine books, all about Astra and Company. They still won't leave him alone.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 57 reviews
November 27, 2023
Nice 3rd book in the series. Very good superhero prose. Very recommended
June 6, 2023
One of the many things Marion Harmon does very well is develop ultra-powerful super villain threats. This time the book opens with the Green Man—a super-powered eco-terrorist with the ability to make plant life grow and spread at remarkable speed. So new trees essentially “charge” across the parks, break up roads, grab and kill anyone in their paths, wreck property, overturn cars and basically try and turn Chicago into a forest. Stopping the growth across a front more than a mile wide and rescuing all the people involved would tax the abilities of the Justice League or the Avengers and it’s a great challenge for Harmon’s Sentinels. But it’s not the only difficulty they face in this story.
The Wreckers, a new group of super villains, has come to Chicago where they are targeting for execution known members of the Paladins—an anti-supers extremist group. The Wreckers powers are top-notch and dangerous and they’re not afraid of causing a lot of collateral damage in their attacks. To make matters worse, their appears to be a connection between the Wreckers and the mysterious mass murderer called the Ascendant, further complicating the Sentinels’ problems.
While all of this is happening, Blackstone decides to increase the fire power of the main team by recruiting a group of trainee heroes to be led by Astra. Technically, these new heroes-in-training will be blocked from most combat operations, but in the insanity that has become Chicago that is often impossible. With the city in constant danger the Sentinels are going to need all the help they can get to win this face off.
Enriching all the action is the growing cast of very strong characters and intriguing personal relationships that are Harmon’s bread and butter. One of the young Sentinels is a Merlin-type super who believes she is Ozma of Oz. Grendel is a shape changer who gained his powers the day he lost his family in the Ascendant’s first mass homicide. Megaton’s family has deserted him because they’re afraid of his new superpowers. These backdrops create intriguing problems for Astra to deal with that can’t be simply punched and kicked into submission.
Finally, in my review of Villain’s Inc I expressed some unhappiness with the change in narrator from K. F. Lim to Caitlin Kelly. I still like Lim’s excellent narration of Wearing the Cape, but Kelly has found her groove in the series and I was completely comfortable with her storyteller’s voice. She shows a lot of talent in bringing the large cast to life and I look forward to hearing her read the next book in the series.
If you liked this review, you can find more at www.gilbertstack.com/reviews.
The Wreckers, a new group of super villains, has come to Chicago where they are targeting for execution known members of the Paladins—an anti-supers extremist group. The Wreckers powers are top-notch and dangerous and they’re not afraid of causing a lot of collateral damage in their attacks. To make matters worse, their appears to be a connection between the Wreckers and the mysterious mass murderer called the Ascendant, further complicating the Sentinels’ problems.
While all of this is happening, Blackstone decides to increase the fire power of the main team by recruiting a group of trainee heroes to be led by Astra. Technically, these new heroes-in-training will be blocked from most combat operations, but in the insanity that has become Chicago that is often impossible. With the city in constant danger the Sentinels are going to need all the help they can get to win this face off.
Enriching all the action is the growing cast of very strong characters and intriguing personal relationships that are Harmon’s bread and butter. One of the young Sentinels is a Merlin-type super who believes she is Ozma of Oz. Grendel is a shape changer who gained his powers the day he lost his family in the Ascendant’s first mass homicide. Megaton’s family has deserted him because they’re afraid of his new superpowers. These backdrops create intriguing problems for Astra to deal with that can’t be simply punched and kicked into submission.
Finally, in my review of Villain’s Inc I expressed some unhappiness with the change in narrator from K. F. Lim to Caitlin Kelly. I still like Lim’s excellent narration of Wearing the Cape, but Kelly has found her groove in the series and I was completely comfortable with her storyteller’s voice. She shows a lot of talent in bringing the large cast to life and I look forward to hearing her read the next book in the series.
If you liked this review, you can find more at www.gilbertstack.com/reviews.
June 7, 2017
Another Wearing the Cape one. An Astra one again, although this one is multi-POV. Spoilers for earlier ones.
It opens with attacking trees. Hope is on patrol when she sees them go wild, calls for help, and goes in on the rescue and try to stop the growth. And at a nearby school, an accident while they were evacuating leads to an explosive breakthrough -- fortunately late enough that Hope can save him from falling to his death.
And in the aftermath, it turns out that the Sentinels decided they need a new team. They don't want to just beef up theirs for PR reasons, so they don't look like an army. So -- the Young Sentinels, with Hope/Astra leading them. Hope picks out three more besides herself, the new breakthrough, Mal/Megaton, and the two already connected with the team, Jamal/Crash and Galatea. All three of whom come from the nearby school for breakouts, and all three of whom, in the Teatime Anarchist's records of the no-longer-future, turned bad in one way or another; she hopes to avert that. Tsuris, with wind powers. Grendel who can shift, and get speed or strength or toughness depending on how he does it. And Ozma. The books, she observes, aren't quite accurate.
The story involves someone Astra met before going bad; more attacks by trees; a villain organization that no longer cares whether it's secret; Hope's family and a secret becoming public; deliberate attempts to provoke Mal; new costumes; the three choices making a dramatic entrance from their airplane; Ozma's finding a Wishing Pill; Grendel's dead family; and more.
It opens with attacking trees. Hope is on patrol when she sees them go wild, calls for help, and goes in on the rescue and try to stop the growth. And at a nearby school, an accident while they were evacuating leads to an explosive breakthrough -- fortunately late enough that Hope can save him from falling to his death.
And in the aftermath, it turns out that the Sentinels decided they need a new team. They don't want to just beef up theirs for PR reasons, so they don't look like an army. So -- the Young Sentinels, with Hope/Astra leading them. Hope picks out three more besides herself, the new breakthrough, Mal/Megaton, and the two already connected with the team, Jamal/Crash and Galatea. All three of whom come from the nearby school for breakouts, and all three of whom, in the Teatime Anarchist's records of the no-longer-future, turned bad in one way or another; she hopes to avert that. Tsuris, with wind powers. Grendel who can shift, and get speed or strength or toughness depending on how he does it. And Ozma. The books, she observes, aren't quite accurate.
The story involves someone Astra met before going bad; more attacks by trees; a villain organization that no longer cares whether it's secret; Hope's family and a secret becoming public; deliberate attempts to provoke Mal; new costumes; the three choices making a dramatic entrance from their airplane; Ozma's finding a Wishing Pill; Grendel's dead family; and more.
September 24, 2014
What shall I do with my life now that I have finished the last current book in the series?
I DO NOT KNOW.
This is all I could have asked for. We finally got more with the Young Sentinels. We finally got a glimpse into the less fortunate side of breakthroughs (and yay for acknowledging one's privilege, Astra!)
We finally got Jackie back, which was lovely. And Acacia. I really want to see the further adventures of those two.
I am very glad that the whole romance thing didn't pan out between Astra and Seven because that would have been...off. Honestly I hope that Seven turns out to be secretly gay and is just "lucky" enough not to have been outed yet against his will.
I do like Astra and Grendel, though. He seems like a sweet kid. I wonder what his race is, though? The Infamous Dreads would probably look terrible unless they were dark. I wish we could more physical description of him when he's not morphed out! Unless he IS morphed out all the time?
OK, so I would say: read this book if you're curious about more in this series and don't mind being left a little hanging. There's room for more books but it's still a satisfying end--no cliffhangers, no real unfinished business (but room for finishing more). It's like a coffee that's got room for cream--it's fine on its own, but its flavor could be expanded.
PS: unlike some people in the reviews, I actually LOVED the switch in point of views. Astra was getting tiring, because I feel like she doesn't see the whole picture. POVs I would love in the future: Shelley, Ozma, and Blackstone
WHY IS THERE NOT MORE IN THIS SERIES, THO.
I DO NOT KNOW.
This is all I could have asked for. We finally got more with the Young Sentinels. We finally got a glimpse into the less fortunate side of breakthroughs (and yay for acknowledging one's privilege, Astra!)
We finally got Jackie back, which was lovely. And Acacia. I really want to see the further adventures of those two.
I am very glad that the whole romance thing didn't pan out between Astra and Seven because that would have been...off. Honestly I hope that Seven turns out to be secretly gay and is just "lucky" enough not to have been outed yet against his will.
I do like Astra and Grendel, though. He seems like a sweet kid. I wonder what his race is, though? The Infamous Dreads would probably look terrible unless they were dark. I wish we could more physical description of him when he's not morphed out! Unless he IS morphed out all the time?
OK, so I would say: read this book if you're curious about more in this series and don't mind being left a little hanging. There's room for more books but it's still a satisfying end--no cliffhangers, no real unfinished business (but room for finishing more). It's like a coffee that's got room for cream--it's fine on its own, but its flavor could be expanded.
PS: unlike some people in the reviews, I actually LOVED the switch in point of views. Astra was getting tiring, because I feel like she doesn't see the whole picture. POVs I would love in the future: Shelley, Ozma, and Blackstone
WHY IS THERE NOT MORE IN THIS SERIES, THO.
April 24, 2018
A bunch of new, teenage heroes are introduced in this book and the author apparently discovered the issue with first-person narrative. His solution is to switch viewpoints at every opportunity. I found that irritating to begin with, but it grew on me. My only complaint by the end was that the differentiation between internal voices was kind of shallow. If the characters didn't have different powers and got their names at the top of their PoV sections, I'd have trouble figuring out who was speaking.
Clearly a set-up for "things to come," this is still an enjoyable book with another fast-paced, non-stop-action plotline.
Clearly a set-up for "things to come," this is still an enjoyable book with another fast-paced, non-stop-action plotline.
December 23, 2021
The everyday life of a hero plus mysterious villains.
After having taken down the second incarnation of villains Inc., things go back to normal. As normal as things ever get for our hero Astra. The Sentinels are doing well, and it's finally decided to create a junior team. Three guesses who gets to lead this new team...
This is yet another great multi-POV story in the Wearing the Cape universe. The story progresses steadily, cool characters are introduced, and we get quite a few cool tidbit on young breakthroughs.
A good read. On to the next novel in the series.
After having taken down the second incarnation of villains Inc., things go back to normal. As normal as things ever get for our hero Astra. The Sentinels are doing well, and it's finally decided to create a junior team. Three guesses who gets to lead this new team...
This is yet another great multi-POV story in the Wearing the Cape universe. The story progresses steadily, cool characters are introduced, and we get quite a few cool tidbit on young breakthroughs.
A good read. On to the next novel in the series.
June 24, 2023
I still have the same problems with this book as I did with the two previous books. Shelly is written to be infantile most of the time which is exceptionally annoying. She speaks the way an adult thinks teenagers talk. “Like, Oh My God WHATEVER!” type of stuff. Very stereotypical.
I missed Artemis for most of the book. Harmon must have realized she was way cooler than Astra and had to remove her as a regular character lest she overtake Astra in awesomeness (she still does).
And I’m generally confused about what the author wants me to think of Astra. Is she a badass? Or is she a dainty bundle of nerves who giggles at every opportunity? It seems to oscillate fairly frequently between the two.
The only saving grace of this book is that the new characters are WAY more interesting than anything Astra has going on. Megaton is great with coming to grips with his powers (although, that was solved a bit too neatly) and the disintegration of his family. Grendel has a tragic backstory with clear motivations that he sticks to. And Ozma is just fascinating. Is she insane? Is she like Fisher? Is she the real deal? Great stuff.
I did not mind the changing POVs in this book the way some people did. I think it helped the book because Astra is so uninteresting.
One unfortunate trend I have noticed in this book and the previous one is that some of the tougher problems are solved a bit too neatly. Astra has PTSD? Have a character speak a word from god that heals her disordered brain. Megaton can’t use his powers due to trauma? Chakra uses her weird sex magic to fix that. Shelly dying? Wish her back into existence. Rather than working through the problems, there is some hand-wavey mechanism for the characters to just make the problem go away. I hope we’re done with that.
The story was fine.
I missed Artemis for most of the book. Harmon must have realized she was way cooler than Astra and had to remove her as a regular character lest she overtake Astra in awesomeness (she still does).
And I’m generally confused about what the author wants me to think of Astra. Is she a badass? Or is she a dainty bundle of nerves who giggles at every opportunity? It seems to oscillate fairly frequently between the two.
The only saving grace of this book is that the new characters are WAY more interesting than anything Astra has going on. Megaton is great with coming to grips with his powers (although, that was solved a bit too neatly) and the disintegration of his family. Grendel has a tragic backstory with clear motivations that he sticks to. And Ozma is just fascinating. Is she insane? Is she like Fisher? Is she the real deal? Great stuff.
I did not mind the changing POVs in this book the way some people did. I think it helped the book because Astra is so uninteresting.
One unfortunate trend I have noticed in this book and the previous one is that some of the tougher problems are solved a bit too neatly. Astra has PTSD? Have a character speak a word from god that heals her disordered brain. Megaton can’t use his powers due to trauma? Chakra uses her weird sex magic to fix that. Shelly dying? Wish her back into existence. Rather than working through the problems, there is some hand-wavey mechanism for the characters to just make the problem go away. I hope we’re done with that.
The story was fine.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 26, 2023
I enjoyed this story and young or old I think you might too, if you like lots of action and evil villains. There is a lot going and although one villain does get stopped, there is also a bigger picture which I think will continue on into the next book. It does get a little bit confusing and certainly helps if you have listened to the previous books, as thing that happened in them have an effect in this one. It also really helps if you get to know the characters and there is a lot on both sides. There is also plenty of action, flying, break outs and fights. Hope was more focused on the missions and how to help here friends so I think there was less romance drama or teenage against in this book. The story is told from three different characters perspectives as each thought there own battles but Astra is still my hero and I look forward to joining her and her new team again.
Knowing what is supposed to happen in the future means when Astra is tasked with forming a new team, she tries to give previous villains a chance to prove themselves before they turn bad. Is she doing the right thing? Especially when they are facing a new super villain, a villain like no other and one nobody has fought before. At the same time villains seem to be levelling up and what were once quite easy to stop bad guy's now need the whole team. Can the Sentinels young and old keep Chicago safe?
The author went with three different narrators to tell this story and on the whole it worked really well. Except one of the men had a really gruff voice and wasn't so easy to understand.
Knowing what is supposed to happen in the future means when Astra is tasked with forming a new team, she tries to give previous villains a chance to prove themselves before they turn bad. Is she doing the right thing? Especially when they are facing a new super villain, a villain like no other and one nobody has fought before. At the same time villains seem to be levelling up and what were once quite easy to stop bad guy's now need the whole team. Can the Sentinels young and old keep Chicago safe?
The author went with three different narrators to tell this story and on the whole it worked really well. Except one of the men had a really gruff voice and wasn't so easy to understand.
November 11, 2020
I'm not a big super hero fan, but I have to give praise to this author for how well thought out this series is. It takes a real world look at what would happen in a world with super heroes, what challenged it would face and how society would realistically change. This book is a fun romp with an interesting set of villains, and introduces some new characters. Overall it's a lot of fun, a bit slow at some parts but a fast read.
October 16, 2025
Young Sentinels (Wearing the Cape Series Book 3)
For fans of super hero fiction, or just someone that wants a wild ride on the bucking horse that is great ( ok, probably just very good, but make your own decision after reading) writing, with a plot that holds you and squeezes, this series is for you!
Thanks again to the author. I had these originally in softcover and paperback, and now on kindle. And I just want to say, that I really enjoy reading these again.
For fans of super hero fiction, or just someone that wants a wild ride on the bucking horse that is great ( ok, probably just very good, but make your own decision after reading) writing, with a plot that holds you and squeezes, this series is for you!
Thanks again to the author. I had these originally in softcover and paperback, and now on kindle. And I just want to say, that I really enjoy reading these again.
September 16, 2018
Another fantastic read. Harmon delivers exactly what I want in this series. I appreciate the characters and continue to be amused by them and concerned for their lives. It speaks well to his prose that he can spin stories that draw me in so completely.
August 11, 2017
Getting good
So much more character development through this series. I'll forgive the "romance" of book one if we can grow up more than a year in the next books.
So much more character development through this series. I'll forgive the "romance" of book one if we can grow up more than a year in the next books.
March 9, 2019
Deeper drama
The villains and powers are as fun as ever. But this one got deeper into the drama, political and personal. Great superhero story.
The villains and powers are as fun as ever. But this one got deeper into the drama, political and personal. Great superhero story.
November 11, 2019
These get better, with added depth as Hope matures through the series. Definitely not heavy stuff, but very enjoyable!
December 7, 2021
Great story, the only complaint I could give was the ending seemed a bit rushed. Not enough to lose a star but I thought it noteworthy.
June 10, 2022
Review to follow
June 19, 2022
Not as interesting as the previous and the young sentinels the focus of most of the book.
January 5, 2018
Pretty good sequel, adds several new characters making up the new YS team, with 1 exception they seem likeable to some degree or another. Too sick to think of anything else.
January 18, 2016
The fourth book in the Wearing the Cape series, Young Sentinels continues the adventures of Astra the world's most powerful nineteen-year-old. When last we left our heroine, she was stepping into the role of being the world's most powerful hero, period. This book examines the fact she's still a very young woman, barely an adult, and how other superhuman teenagers are reacting to their powers.
The continued development of Astra is handled throughout the book, including a shocking twist where she's forced to confront a situation where her powers are useless. I was disappointed with the developments regarding her relationship with the superhero Seven, hoping it would develop into something more. Most of what I liked in this book is her relationship with Shelly, the superheroine Galatea.
Young Sentinels introduces a number of new characters to the mythos as well, my favorites of which being Megaton and Ozma. Megaton is a typical teenaged boy, contrasting strongly against Astra and possibly her future love interest. Ozma is another fictional character come to life, this one being the titular Empress of Oz.
As a fan of the Oz books when I was a child and teenager, it was nice to have someone remember the Empress existed. The Ozma of Young Sentinels is a significantly darker character than the one from the books. Ozma merrily turns anyone who offends her into a hat for a short while and is believed to conquer Kansas in the future. As a result, everyone is treating her like a ticking time bomb--a quality she handles with royal aplomb.
The book introduces a number of new villains to the series as well, including the Green Man (possessing powers similar to the Floronic Man x10) and a group called the Wreckers. We also get a new mastermind to replace the Teatime Anarchist. I won't spoil the new villain's identity but I was underwhelmed--I wanted more insight into their motivations as well as plans.
If there's a flaw with the books, I'd have to say we don't get as much insight into the "regular world" which was the big appeal of the previous volumes. What separates the series from a comic book is the insight into the lives of the characters. This book is mostly action sequences and battles between heroes versus villains.
In conclusion, Young Sentinels is a good read and enjoyable but not amazing. It's mostly set-up for future volumes and fight scenes. Sadly, by being more like a comic book, the novel cripples its ability to live up to the full-potential of its medium as previous works did. Despite this, it's really fun to read. Fans of the series should pick it up for this reason alone.
8/10
The continued development of Astra is handled throughout the book, including a shocking twist where she's forced to confront a situation where her powers are useless. I was disappointed with the developments regarding her relationship with the superhero Seven, hoping it would develop into something more. Most of what I liked in this book is her relationship with Shelly, the superheroine Galatea.
Young Sentinels introduces a number of new characters to the mythos as well, my favorites of which being Megaton and Ozma. Megaton is a typical teenaged boy, contrasting strongly against Astra and possibly her future love interest. Ozma is another fictional character come to life, this one being the titular Empress of Oz.
As a fan of the Oz books when I was a child and teenager, it was nice to have someone remember the Empress existed. The Ozma of Young Sentinels is a significantly darker character than the one from the books. Ozma merrily turns anyone who offends her into a hat for a short while and is believed to conquer Kansas in the future. As a result, everyone is treating her like a ticking time bomb--a quality she handles with royal aplomb.
The book introduces a number of new villains to the series as well, including the Green Man (possessing powers similar to the Floronic Man x10) and a group called the Wreckers. We also get a new mastermind to replace the Teatime Anarchist. I won't spoil the new villain's identity but I was underwhelmed--I wanted more insight into their motivations as well as plans.
If there's a flaw with the books, I'd have to say we don't get as much insight into the "regular world" which was the big appeal of the previous volumes. What separates the series from a comic book is the insight into the lives of the characters. This book is mostly action sequences and battles between heroes versus villains.
In conclusion, Young Sentinels is a good read and enjoyable but not amazing. It's mostly set-up for future volumes and fight scenes. Sadly, by being more like a comic book, the novel cripples its ability to live up to the full-potential of its medium as previous works did. Despite this, it's really fun to read. Fans of the series should pick it up for this reason alone.
8/10
September 11, 2013
While not great, this was a good, enjoyable sequel to Wearing the Cape and Young Sentinels. Rather than expand on plot points or anything else, I'm just going to tell you what worked, and what didn't.
Things I liked -
- More Astra! While not a lot of character development, we did see some of her old conflicts get resolved.
- FABULOUS new super villain/multi-book plot. I was very disappointed that the Teatime Anarchist died so quickly - I thought he had a lot of potential. It's nice to see another baddy showing up with just as much, if not more potential. And this one didn't die! I really look forward to what they'll be doing next.
- Some insight into the behind the scenes experience of a conflict. Normally we've seen Astra take on the bad guys and stomp on them, this time we got to see the directing that goes on behind her orders.
Things I didn't like -
- Alternate POVs. Actually, I like the concept of additional POVs, but I didn't feel the was that much difference between the voices. I occasionally had to go back and see who's POV I was reading.
- No real off-time. Usually there's some off the clock action happening, whether a party Hope's mom is giving, or just hanging out at the Fortress. This time, everything pretty much happened at the Dome. It felt rather insular. One of the things that makes Hope different is all her ties to the community OUTSIDE the Dome.
- Price. I happily snatched up the prior two books when they were under $5. This book I borrowed. Sorry, but I don't like spending that much.
Things I liked -
- More Astra! While not a lot of character development, we did see some of her old conflicts get resolved.
- FABULOUS new super villain/multi-book plot. I was very disappointed that the Teatime Anarchist died so quickly - I thought he had a lot of potential. It's nice to see another baddy showing up with just as much, if not more potential. And this one didn't die! I really look forward to what they'll be doing next.
- Some insight into the behind the scenes experience of a conflict. Normally we've seen Astra take on the bad guys and stomp on them, this time we got to see the directing that goes on behind her orders.
Things I didn't like -
- Alternate POVs. Actually, I like the concept of additional POVs, but I didn't feel the was that much difference between the voices. I occasionally had to go back and see who's POV I was reading.
- No real off-time. Usually there's some off the clock action happening, whether a party Hope's mom is giving, or just hanging out at the Fortress. This time, everything pretty much happened at the Dome. It felt rather insular. One of the things that makes Hope different is all her ties to the community OUTSIDE the Dome.
- Price. I happily snatched up the prior two books when they were under $5. This book I borrowed. Sorry, but I don't like spending that much.
June 12, 2014
In the newest book in Marion G. Harmon’s “Wearing the Cape” series, we get to see the world explored a little more – through revelations during an attack of someone called "Green Man" and the ensuing chaos that comes from it. We meet new, young capes who form a team under Astra, the Young Sentinels. And we learn just enough in this novel to make the anticipation of the next book grow to super proportions.
Marion's handling of "normal life" in a super hero world is part of what keeps drawing me back to his novels – that and the good writing, the interesting characters and the hectic action. Marion shows us that life isn't normal in a world with super heroes and that things can get scary and down right apocalyptic very quickly. The story opens up with an attack in Chicago by Green Man, who basically causes rapid and violent plant growth. This leads to a breakthrough, as a high school is caught in the path of the charging plant growth and a student explodes onto the scene.
You can read the rest of my review at Nerd's Domain
Marion's handling of "normal life" in a super hero world is part of what keeps drawing me back to his novels – that and the good writing, the interesting characters and the hectic action. Marion shows us that life isn't normal in a world with super heroes and that things can get scary and down right apocalyptic very quickly. The story opens up with an attack in Chicago by Green Man, who basically causes rapid and violent plant growth. This leads to a breakthrough, as a high school is caught in the path of the charging plant growth and a student explodes onto the scene.
You can read the rest of my review at Nerd's Domain
December 13, 2015
I get why Marion needed multiple POVs for this one, but. . .not my favorite style. Even though every POV was 1st person, Marion did a good job at making every head-hop unique and distinctive.
Although, I thoroughly enjoyed the book, there were a couple of dramatic moments that got glossed over with some possibilities that deserved more attention. No spoilers here. =) But I'm looking at you, Wishing Pill, because you swallowed two of them in a less than satisfying way.
Marion is getting better at raising the stakes, but I'm concerned about the whimsical and unbalanced nature of the "new" heroes he chooses to imagine. I'm starting to have trouble keeping track of everyone in the universe as it is, and I just re-read the first two novels and two novellas.
I'm still along for the ride, though. Looking forward to the next book!
Although, I thoroughly enjoyed the book, there were a couple of dramatic moments that got glossed over with some possibilities that deserved more attention. No spoilers here. =) But I'm looking at you, Wishing Pill, because you swallowed two of them in a less than satisfying way.
Marion is getting better at raising the stakes, but I'm concerned about the whimsical and unbalanced nature of the "new" heroes he chooses to imagine. I'm starting to have trouble keeping track of everyone in the universe as it is, and I just re-read the first two novels and two novellas.
I'm still along for the ride, though. Looking forward to the next book!
May 10, 2020
The probable future histories Astra has access to indicate that supers above 'A' class will appear and will be called "ultra"class. The problem is they are starting to appear now, years ahead of schedule. Also supers whose powers were known begin to show up with greatly enhanced powers. Apparently someone has gained the ability to manipulate super powers.
While investigating the ultra powers mystery Astra also becomes leader of the Young Sentinels, an impressive group of high school seniors to be trained to be superheroes. One such Young Sentinel has the magic powers described in the Wizard of Oz book series. These powers are so impressive they may even be able to give Julie, Astra's childhood friend whose mind was uploaded to a computer, her life back.
Bottom line: Worth the read.
While investigating the ultra powers mystery Astra also becomes leader of the Young Sentinels, an impressive group of high school seniors to be trained to be superheroes. One such Young Sentinel has the magic powers described in the Wizard of Oz book series. These powers are so impressive they may even be able to give Julie, Astra's childhood friend whose mind was uploaded to a computer, her life back.
Bottom line: Worth the read.
February 28, 2016
While I think this one has to be rated slightly lower than the previous two novels in the series, it is still an amazing read and a great continuation of the series. In this novel, as demonstrated by the title, Astra gets her own team of young super heroes, in the tradition of young justice and teen titans. The new cast of characters are great and will make amazing story material in time to come. While I love all the chartacters and can't wait to find out more about them, it is quickly becoming a fairly megalithic cast of characters, which makes it harder for individual characters to shine. Still, the plot is great, and it keeps the reader desperately turning the page, wondering what will happen next.
January 3, 2022
More super hero goodness, just what I wanted!
This one did have a couple little things that did annoy me:
1. I wasn't in love with the addition of multiple perspectives. The first two books were just Astra, this one added in several others - and in particular, Megaton and Grendel just weren't especially distinct from each other in tone and voice.
2. Narrative was a teeny bit bumpy - the aborted romance with Seven in particular was kind of...odd. I suppose you could argue that she is still a teenage girl and this just reflects that.
Other than that, it was more of the superhero fun that we got in the first two books. I love this series, such a great overall optimistic tone, feels like the superhero cartoons I grew up watching. Very relaxing and pleasant to read.
This one did have a couple little things that did annoy me:
1. I wasn't in love with the addition of multiple perspectives. The first two books were just Astra, this one added in several others - and in particular, Megaton and Grendel just weren't especially distinct from each other in tone and voice.
2. Narrative was a teeny bit bumpy - the aborted romance with Seven in particular was kind of...odd. I suppose you could argue that she is still a teenage girl and this just reflects that.
Other than that, it was more of the superhero fun that we got in the first two books. I love this series, such a great overall optimistic tone, feels like the superhero cartoons I grew up watching. Very relaxing and pleasant to read.
August 9, 2014
I didn't like the extra povs, or the way Hope has a crush on the ugly monster dude (just because he has a deep voice!). I still think there are too many characters and names. I did finally figure out who that Quin girl was, though (Harlequin).
The powers got too outlandish. I like super powers because they have limits and drawbacks. Start giving people magic wands and letting them do anything, and your characters cannot be cool any more. They might do neat things, but I'll never believe they were clever. I'll never believe they were ever in danger. Every new magical ability feels like Deus ex machina.
So, this last one wasn't nearly as good. :/
The powers got too outlandish. I like super powers because they have limits and drawbacks. Start giving people magic wands and letting them do anything, and your characters cannot be cool any more. They might do neat things, but I'll never believe they were clever. I'll never believe they were ever in danger. Every new magical ability feels like Deus ex machina.
So, this last one wasn't nearly as good. :/
August 21, 2014
There are bigger villains waiting, including one who can amp up powers or temporarily take them away. The Green man, who works for him for instance can cause huge forests to grow, threatening the Chicago Airports. Astra picks and is put in charge of a group of Young Sentinels (paper from Amazon) Then reporters out her and she can’t hide as Hope anymore. Then her powers are taken, she is kidnapped. When rescued she only has her team to help save the city as the rest of the Sentinels are putting down a prison break. I love the series and eagerly await more tales. review printed by the Philadelphia Weekly Press
February 6, 2017
I've been really enjoying this series, but this book wasn't as good as the others. I'm not a big fan of point of view change in the middle of a series. I think it's done to show the change from being Astra book to being a Young Sentinels book. I'm also not a big fan of Ozma, but to each their own. Still worth reading and I will keep reading the series.
September 3, 2013
After the Interquel (Bite Me took place between Wearing the Cape and Villains Inc) and the short story Omega Night, we get a full length novel. Harmon have decided to follow the school of what's the worse thing that can happened to his character, and this novel definitely stepped up a level.
For a change we have a villain that's just as interesting as the first novel's. I bought and finish this book in one day, so I enjoy it quit a bit.
One bit, Harmon did have fun with the paper thin disguise of Superman as Clark Kent in this novel. Albeit, his solution is a bit creative.
For a change we have a villain that's just as interesting as the first novel's. I bought and finish this book in one day, so I enjoy it quit a bit.
One bit, Harmon did have fun with the paper thin disguise of Superman as Clark Kent in this novel. Albeit, his solution is a bit creative.
October 9, 2013
Pues ya terminada toda la saga de Wearing the Cape, puedo decir que me gustó mucho. Imperdible para cualquier fan de los superheroes, en este caso, toda la vida que los rodea, mucho más a fondo de lo que un comic puede retratarlo.
Y tengo que hacer notar que la explicación que dan las novelas sobre la razón y origen de los superpoderes, es la más ingeniosa y a la vez la más homogenizadora que he leido. Además, amé la clasificación de los superheroes, de ahora en adelante, sólo podré pensar en Superman como un "Atlas Type" o en Wolverine como un "Ajax Type".
Y tengo que hacer notar que la explicación que dan las novelas sobre la razón y origen de los superpoderes, es la más ingeniosa y a la vez la más homogenizadora que he leido. Además, amé la clasificación de los superheroes, de ahora en adelante, sólo podré pensar en Superman como un "Atlas Type" o en Wolverine como un "Ajax Type".
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