Heroes? In these bodies? You've got to be kidding!
All Brady Owen wants from this highly experimental research program is a chance at normalcy, away from the crushing migraines that dominate his life. So when he wakes in the lab with the ability to hear distant sounds, see through walls, and sense microscopic particles with his fingers, his fractured world tips on its axis.
Brady's temporary enhancements land him among a ragtag band of young chronic illness warriors for whom the treatments have had similar effects. But how can a guy be a hero when some days he can't even lift his head from the pillow? And why would God give him a gift that's not even his to control?
This collection contains all five episodes from season On the Brink, Uncommon Sense, Team Up, Car Alarm, and Savior Complex.
An avid reader and incurable story-spinner, Angie Thompson also enjoys volunteering in her church’s children’s program and starting (but not always finishing) various kinds of craft projects. She currently lives in central Virginia near most of her incredible family, including two parents, six brothers, one sister, and six siblings-in-law—plus four nieces, ten nephews, and several assorted pets!
Get a FREE short story when you sign up for her author newsletter!
On the Brink 5 stars. So this series has been ongoing since 2022… and I’ve been wanting to read it yet been terrified to, because it’s superheroes. But you know I adore Angie Thompson’s books. So I’ve been collecting the series and planning to read them sometime when I was brave enough to bite the bullet and give them a shot. I finally did because I needed a book that started with U. And when I did… I loved them. Of course. Why do I always doubt? Angie keeps delivering books out of my normal reading genre and I always go “ehhh” and then discover they’re amazing. You’d think I’d learn.
So for starters, I was intrigued by the chronic illness part of this book. Having a large number of family and friends with chronic illness, I really appreciated the realistic inclusion of this in a book. As for the superpowers, they made enough sense in a pseudo-scientific way for me not to be weirded out. I mean, they’re still a bit weird but Angie Thompson does a great job handling it, as she does everything else. I may be a bit of a fangirl.
The characters are what made me fall, though. Brady is so sweet and strong, Rachelle is absolutely amazing, Grace is adorable, Harper is intriguing, and I want to (and know I will) like Dash eventually. I may or may not have binged the series in one night (from 9:30 to midnight to be precise) so I don’t exactly remember what happens in this book, but it’s the set up for everything and it includes Brady managing to accidentally be a hero thanks to his new superpowers… and it’s super sweet and funny and intriguing and everything Angie-Thompson-ish and I absolutely had to read the next book ASAP immediately.
A Favourite Quote: “This isn’t about needing to feel useful. If the best we can do is stock you with water and shut the door, then that’s what we’ll do. It’s not—not really the migraine I’m asking about. But you. What makes things more bearable, when you can get it?” A Favourite Humorous Quote: “I know it’s small and a little bare, but you wouldn’t have to keep it that way. Bare, I mean—there’s not much you could do about the size.”
Uncommon Sense 5 stars. So book 1 is all about foundation, and here you finally get to see the accidental chronic illness superheroes use their superpowers… for good. :)
I love the characters more than ever! They just get more amazing—I love Harper so much now and I’m already starting to reallyyyy like Dash. 3 ALSO, Car is an EPIC addition & sidekick. So is the nutritionist…
Things ended up a bit more intense than I expected with what Brady ends up helping with, but I love the theme of trusting God even when it doesn’t make sense and when we are totally helpless to do anything more to help or fix the situation. And I really appreciate seeing the characters struggle with the downsides of their superpowers (even if it’s primarily Brady doing so, lol) as well as still battling the chronic illness itself.
On to the next book, even if it’s 11:30 PM. XD
A Favourite Quote: “I can’t save the world. I can’t save anyone…. All I can do is my part. Bloom where I’m planted. And let God handle the rest.” A Favourite Humorous Quote: He gulped air, attempting to slow the frantic beating of his heart that had expected—what? Kidnappers? The police? Some tough guy who didn’t appreciate a stranger staking out the random tree he’d been staring through?
Team Up 5 stars. This serial is kinda addicting, not gonna lie. I’m loving how they build on each other!
As a huge people-pleaser, I identified deeply with Brady. His mini lesson about choosing to do what God called him to do despite Dash’s grumpiness, and trust Him with making things work, really touched me.
I enjoyed seeing everyone working together, and Car giving him the pep talks he needed, and Harper smoothing everything down, and Brady learning to trust himself. And most of all I loved seeing Dash’s real self emerge. 3 That little line about him and his heart was amazing.
I can’t wait for the next episode. <3
A Favourite Quote: Was this really the surrender he had promised? Ignoring the work God had put in front of him to do exactly what he’d chosen for himself instead? Of course if Rachelle asked for help, that would be a different thing—a real need he could fill, not a convenient excuse to hide from bad timing and uncertain consequences. And if God was in control as always, then was the timing truly bad? Suppose God had picked this day because of something going on in the city that he could help and Dash couldn’t? Was he willing to turn his back on that for the sake of Dash’s ego and his own comfort? A Favourite Humorous Quote: “I’m sorry. I was out of line—shouldn’t have gone off on you.” “That’s your version of going off?” Dash scoffed a little. “Needs work; that’s all I can say.” “I don’t—really have any plans of getting better at it.
Car Alarm 5 stars. To be honest I did not remember where we left off, so I was kinda launched into things trying to remember what was up. That made things a bit odd at first. ;P Of course I adoreddddd the banter and love between the friends (or frenemies, in Dash+Brady’s case—I love that plot line). And sweet, sweet little Gracie + Brady… ❤️ Car’s “alarm” was terrifying but I loved seeing everyone rally and show their best when they were at their worst. Of course Rachelle was AMAZING and so was Brady, and I LOVE DeANDRE, and I’m so happy with how this episode went!!! Also hearing more backstory was epic and Rachelle’s story was so well done and heart-tugging… 💔
I am so, so excited for the final episode to this season. 😁
A Favourite Quote: “And you let the world slide off your shoulders for a while and get some rest, okay? … God’s still got this. We’ll be all right.” A Favourite Humorous Quote: Of course, she didn’t want them exposed any more than they did—hopefully just for publicity and funding reasons, not because she was breaking some major ethical code in creating a team of half-baked superheroes and keeping them in her basement.
Savior Complex 5 stars. I read this as a serial on the blog (https://chronicwarriorchronicles.subs...) and boy, it was way more of a wild ride than the four other episodes of this season one! To start off, there’s division among the group: Rachelle is understandably upset, Brady has to choose between the guilt of betraying either one of the girls, and Dash is furious. Tensions are high, and the clock is ticking…
Let me tell you, my emotions were everywhere… but the ending was SO satisfactory and worth it all!! I’m so happy to hear more of Harper’s backstory and I look forward to huge strides in the group’s relationships in Season 2! And finally, the message is absolutely amazing. <3
*I received a complimentary copy of these books for promotional purposes but I was not required to write a review. These are my honest thoughts and opinions.*
I liked this a lot! It's such a neat approach to superpowers and the superhero genre as a whole. Much as I love action-focused superhero stories, a story focused on the everyday lives of people struggling with health issues, limited powers, their relationships with each other, and how to be heroes is a lovely addition to the genre. The format (mimicking a TV show) was fun as well.
✨Characters✨
The characters were the gem of this story. They're all very enjoyable, and I loved how Ms. Thompson revealed more and more of each character's motivations and backstory in each episode. Some of the characters felt a tiny bit one-dimensional, but for the main part the cast had their own different motivations and personalities enough that this was not the case.
Brady's kindness and desire to do the right thing even in the little things was inspiring (and humbling). Rachelle was also a good character. My favorites, however, were Dash and Harper! I loved their relationships with each other and Brady's relationships with them. Car was fun too. 😁
The character arcs were small but well done, and the ending was very satisfying. ❤
✨Content/Trigger Warnings✨
Pretty tame. There are references to parental abandonment, divorce, and neglect, but none condoned. A kidnapping victim is restrained in someone's home. Someone gets slapped.
Something more significant: one of the characters is nicknamed "Mighty Midge" or "Midget" because of her short stature/superpower (although she does not have dwarfism). However, 'midget' is a slur used against people with dwarfism, so using it as a nickname is insensitive. While the author most likely had no intention of being offensive, I wanted to mention it in my review as something readers should be aware of.
✨Conclusion✨
If you like cozy, character-driven stories, creative world-building, fun characters, chronic illness representation, strong faith content, and a story about how even the smallest acts of kindness and service to others are worthwhile, then I'd recommend this book! Can't wait to see what else happens in the series!
Great to be able to read them all together. You get to enjoy the development and changes as they "grow" into their parts. A really enjoyable series that is extra-ordinary.