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Villains' Code #3
Chilling Reflections
With her new product line launched and an updated version of her suit to test, Tori Rivas is ready to focus on her work for a while. But when an eruption of power elsewhere in the multiverse sends monsters bursting into her world, the young villain will find herself in the crosshairs of an unexpected invader.
As if being pursued by an unknown entity from outside her own reality wasn’t enough to handle, there’s also developing her product line, exploring her suit’s new capabilities, and maybe even making some extra money on the side. Add in extradimensional monsters popping in without warning, and Ridge City is even more chaotic than usual.
Yet more danger lurks unseen, as the Rookstone escapees have begun to hatch their own schemes. One of which is a primal force whose goal cannot be denied. No matter what, or who, stands in his way.
As if being pursued by an unknown entity from outside her own reality wasn’t enough to handle, there’s also developing her product line, exploring her suit’s new capabilities, and maybe even making some extra money on the side. Add in extradimensional monsters popping in without warning, and Ridge City is even more chaotic than usual.
Yet more danger lurks unseen, as the Rookstone escapees have begun to hatch their own schemes. One of which is a primal force whose goal cannot be denied. No matter what, or who, stands in his way.
1139 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 8, 2024
408 people are currently reading
407 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 177 reviews
June 30, 2025
May be the best of the series (or just really good idk)
Wow I finally got through that monster, and I'm already looking forward to reading it again.
-You know how when you finish book one of a series, you just can't help imagining where the story is going from here? It's a combination of what if, and wouldn't it be nice if, and too many times what you imagine is way better than what you end up with.
Not here, Drew Hayes does it again. Another sequel that exceeded my expectations.
This is now, without a doubt, my favorite series by Drew.
(Don't get me wrong, I still love Fred.)
Wow I finally got through that monster, and I'm already looking forward to reading it again.
-You know how when you finish book one of a series, you just can't help imagining where the story is going from here? It's a combination of what if, and wouldn't it be nice if, and too many times what you imagine is way better than what you end up with.
Not here, Drew Hayes does it again. Another sequel that exceeded my expectations.
This is now, without a doubt, my favorite series by Drew.
(Don't get me wrong, I still love Fred.)
September 14, 2024
3 to 3.5. Fine, and will stick with series, but this one could have used an editor and trimming. Definitely caught myself at times skimming a bit.
January 20, 2025
Great 3rd book in the series. Excellent superhero prose. Very recommended
August 14, 2024
Just amazing
Long book is long-- but it really pays off. Lots of threads, people whose lives touch against one another, Tori faces off against a new and even deadlier nemesis in this universes-spanning tale with her trusty friends. Everyone develops, one way or another, and usually because they finally understand something important, not because they were gifted power or ground out XP. Looking forward to the next epic tale!
Long book is long-- but it really pays off. Lots of threads, people whose lives touch against one another, Tori faces off against a new and even deadlier nemesis in this universes-spanning tale with her trusty friends. Everyone develops, one way or another, and usually because they finally understand something important, not because they were gifted power or ground out XP. Looking forward to the next epic tale!
August 21, 2024
The book followed the same theme of the previous works. Big villain plots in the background while introducing various obstacles until the big finish. A lot of new variables got introduced in this work though that made it quite interesting to read and It made the book a little better for me.
The author didn't miss adding the occasional twist and he even managed to develop a little romance between two characters that have been hinted to be a thing since book one.
The author didn't miss adding the occasional twist and he even managed to develop a little romance between two characters that have been hinted to be a thing since book one.
June 30, 2025
This book felt like the author didn't know what he wanted to write and just started writing anyway. He would develop a storyline in one direction, decide it wasn't working, then shoot off in a completely new direction without going back and editing what was already written. What remains is a chaotic mess of a novel that is overly long and, sadly, feels like a waste of time to read.
For the third book in a row, the protagonist is the least interesting character. This story actually includes a story element that should finally give her the opportunity to be relevant to the story, but once again, if you cut her out of the novel entirely, you would lose nothing of value. That has been the case for her for all three books in this series, but what's a real shame is that you could actually do that for multiple characters this time round, and honestly, you wouldn't be losing much.
None of this would be so bad if the book weren't so long. The author's writing style is so enjoyable that a book half this size would win through on charisma alone. However, the issue with writing a book that is 3-4 times the length of an average novel is that it needs to provide enough story that would be 3-4 times what an average novel would offer. However, instead, we only get enough story for one average-length novel at most that is spread across far too many pages, and no amount of enjoyable writing style can make up for that sort of padding.
The other issue is too many characters. I said it in the last novel, and I have to repeat it here, I don't care about the new group of superheroes (so much so that I genuinely can't think of their team name other than it has something to do with science in some way). There was already a lot going on with Tori's small team, Donald's team, the guild, the AHC, and the antagonists, and adding this new team with all their problems meant that we spent so little time with each group that I found myself caring about each one less.
Many of the things they go through and what they bring to the story would have had a much more significant impact if it were happening to Donald's team instead. After Apollo took them under his wing and then betrayed the AHC in book one, there is an inbuilt reason for Professor Quantum to take Donald's team under his direct supervision, especially with Donald's abilities challenging his own accomplishments in that first book. He could push these characters in the same way he pushes this new team, he could have them make the same mistakes that cause the same problems, and it all would have meant so much more because it would have been happening to people we already care about.
Instead, Donald's team is relegated to the background in this one... Worse. Donald is made a punching bag throughout this book. It's embarrassing now to think of how many times Donald has gone up against Tori's team and lost badly, despite the fact that Tori just does her own thing, while Donald is dedicatedly training and gaining experience fighting criminals every day. Beyond that, this story doesn't miss a beat to make Donald look utterly useless. I get what it's going for, setting up contrast for the final heroic act, but it's called a story arc, not a story right angle. There's supposed to be a smooth path of challenges, failures and progression, not a straight line of nothing but embarrassing failures followed by a sudden massive success. That path not only doesn't feel earned when it finally arrives, but it also makes you question why Donald is even a superhero in the first place, given that he is so useless that every time he is the story's focus, he fails monumentally.
Ultimately, aside from the author's always enjoyable writing style, the goodwill I have for this author, and the lesser goodwill I have for this series, I would not have been able to finish this one. Worse, I leave it genuinely unexcited about the future of this series. There's not a single storyline that has interest for me anymore, and that's quite the accomplishment when I had a genuine interest in Donald, Fornax, Lodestar and Chloe going into this one.
I'd say this one is a 2.5-star read, which I'm going to round up because it at least kept me reading to the end, a feat in itself in a book this large.
For the third book in a row, the protagonist is the least interesting character. This story actually includes a story element that should finally give her the opportunity to be relevant to the story, but once again, if you cut her out of the novel entirely, you would lose nothing of value. That has been the case for her for all three books in this series, but what's a real shame is that you could actually do that for multiple characters this time round, and honestly, you wouldn't be losing much.
None of this would be so bad if the book weren't so long. The author's writing style is so enjoyable that a book half this size would win through on charisma alone. However, the issue with writing a book that is 3-4 times the length of an average novel is that it needs to provide enough story that would be 3-4 times what an average novel would offer. However, instead, we only get enough story for one average-length novel at most that is spread across far too many pages, and no amount of enjoyable writing style can make up for that sort of padding.
The other issue is too many characters. I said it in the last novel, and I have to repeat it here, I don't care about the new group of superheroes (so much so that I genuinely can't think of their team name other than it has something to do with science in some way). There was already a lot going on with Tori's small team, Donald's team, the guild, the AHC, and the antagonists, and adding this new team with all their problems meant that we spent so little time with each group that I found myself caring about each one less.
Many of the things they go through and what they bring to the story would have had a much more significant impact if it were happening to Donald's team instead. After Apollo took them under his wing and then betrayed the AHC in book one, there is an inbuilt reason for Professor Quantum to take Donald's team under his direct supervision, especially with Donald's abilities challenging his own accomplishments in that first book. He could push these characters in the same way he pushes this new team, he could have them make the same mistakes that cause the same problems, and it all would have meant so much more because it would have been happening to people we already care about.
Instead, Donald's team is relegated to the background in this one... Worse. Donald is made a punching bag throughout this book. It's embarrassing now to think of how many times Donald has gone up against Tori's team and lost badly, despite the fact that Tori just does her own thing, while Donald is dedicatedly training and gaining experience fighting criminals every day. Beyond that, this story doesn't miss a beat to make Donald look utterly useless. I get what it's going for, setting up contrast for the final heroic act, but it's called a story arc, not a story right angle. There's supposed to be a smooth path of challenges, failures and progression, not a straight line of nothing but embarrassing failures followed by a sudden massive success. That path not only doesn't feel earned when it finally arrives, but it also makes you question why Donald is even a superhero in the first place, given that he is so useless that every time he is the story's focus, he fails monumentally.
Ultimately, aside from the author's always enjoyable writing style, the goodwill I have for this author, and the lesser goodwill I have for this series, I would not have been able to finish this one. Worse, I leave it genuinely unexcited about the future of this series. There's not a single storyline that has interest for me anymore, and that's quite the accomplishment when I had a genuine interest in Donald, Fornax, Lodestar and Chloe going into this one.
I'd say this one is a 2.5-star read, which I'm going to round up because it at least kept me reading to the end, a feat in itself in a book this large.
July 5, 2025
So good, a lot going on in the one, but the action and story are great. Some questions are answered while a whole new set come up. I can’t wait for the next installment.
August 23, 2024
I love this series, and the author really has a way or ramping things up in the last 30% of the book.
August 13, 2024
Loved it. Great book
It's a really long book, but I couldn't stop reading it, and it didn't feel that long; I still want more.
First of all, I have to say that this series has one of the best multiverses I have seen/read. I like the references and the actual multiverse travel and visitors. We follow as our heroes, or villains in this case, fight invaders from the multiverse after a cosmic event known as a dimensional nova thins the walls between the universes. But that's not all the main characters have to face; many forces are working behind the curtains, each with their own agendas. Which gives us a lot of adventures and fun situations.
This time, heroes and villains work together against a common enemy, and the lines blur a little more. I love this world with its shades of grey, where it's not so easy to see who is good and who is evil. The lines are clear for a few of them but not for others. Also, the concept of second chances and new beginnings is discussed, and I like the moral ambiguity and the choices the characters have to make.
We have a little bit of everything, and we follow some characters as they face their limitations and learn how to grow stronger. They need to be better, not only for themselves but also for others.
Another thing I loved is that we have a proper ending, none of that cliffhanger stuff. We get glimpses at what's to come, teasers of what's next that leave you wanting more but don't leave you with the feeling you have been cheated.
The book was great, and I like how the characters keep evolving and improving. I expect great things to come.
It's a really long book, but I couldn't stop reading it, and it didn't feel that long; I still want more.
First of all, I have to say that this series has one of the best multiverses I have seen/read. I like the references and the actual multiverse travel and visitors. We follow as our heroes, or villains in this case, fight invaders from the multiverse after a cosmic event known as a dimensional nova thins the walls between the universes. But that's not all the main characters have to face; many forces are working behind the curtains, each with their own agendas. Which gives us a lot of adventures and fun situations.
This time, heroes and villains work together against a common enemy, and the lines blur a little more. I love this world with its shades of grey, where it's not so easy to see who is good and who is evil. The lines are clear for a few of them but not for others. Also, the concept of second chances and new beginnings is discussed, and I like the moral ambiguity and the choices the characters have to make.
We have a little bit of everything, and we follow some characters as they face their limitations and learn how to grow stronger. They need to be better, not only for themselves but also for others.
Another thing I loved is that we have a proper ending, none of that cliffhanger stuff. We get glimpses at what's to come, teasers of what's next that leave you wanting more but don't leave you with the feeling you have been cheated.
The book was great, and I like how the characters keep evolving and improving. I expect great things to come.
August 13, 2024
A new peak of excellence
So good. So many questions answered, so much amazing foreshadowing making me need to get the next book and find out what happens next. Powers rising to new heights, deep pathos & development of the characters, more deep world building, excellent humor & charm, tragedy happening to important characters, genuine uncertainty if a main character I’m invested in might be killed off…
Of course, I think everything Drew Hayes has written has been excellent, so perhaps he’s just perfectly suited to my tastes, but as the title suggests, this most recent work is a new height of quality, & I don’t by any means expect this to be the final top
So good. So many questions answered, so much amazing foreshadowing making me need to get the next book and find out what happens next. Powers rising to new heights, deep pathos & development of the characters, more deep world building, excellent humor & charm, tragedy happening to important characters, genuine uncertainty if a main character I’m invested in might be killed off…
Of course, I think everything Drew Hayes has written has been excellent, so perhaps he’s just perfectly suited to my tastes, but as the title suggests, this most recent work is a new height of quality, & I don’t by any means expect this to be the final top
August 10, 2024
Big Finish... Words to live by
First, and this bears repeating, I have read almost everything Drew has written and have enjoyed all of it.
Drew is a master of "show, don't tell".
Second, (Spoilers ahead)
Vernon is so damaged by his losses that he inspires true pity even as he keeps stepping on his own dick while wearing cleats. I predict Cliche using the phrase " Time heals all wounds" on him for the mental health benefits one day.
I hope that Ricky is the running man just for his sanity.
Faithful is about to experience a slap to his metaphorical face when Whizy and Mr. AV step back into the life. Looking forward to that.
Bert is going to be a problem but c'est la guerre.
I want to see what happens next.
First, and this bears repeating, I have read almost everything Drew has written and have enjoyed all of it.
Drew is a master of "show, don't tell".
Second, (Spoilers ahead)
Vernon is so damaged by his losses that he inspires true pity even as he keeps stepping on his own dick while wearing cleats. I predict Cliche using the phrase " Time heals all wounds" on him for the mental health benefits one day.
I hope that Ricky is the running man just for his sanity.
Faithful is about to experience a slap to his metaphorical face when Whizy and Mr. AV step back into the life. Looking forward to that.
Bert is going to be a problem but c'est la guerre.
I want to see what happens next.
August 12, 2024
A chilling thrill ride.
This was a real rollercoaster of an instalment in an already amazing series. The adventures of Tori and her friends both hero and villain alike grow ever more complex. Between dimensional invasions and a multitude of overlapping schemes the book was nearly impossible to put down.
However, One thing in this universe remains constant even more than Nexus being a chaotic troll is underlined during this story and that is no matter how deeply you loath him, you do not hate Professor Quantum as much as he deserves.
This was a real rollercoaster of an instalment in an already amazing series. The adventures of Tori and her friends both hero and villain alike grow ever more complex. Between dimensional invasions and a multitude of overlapping schemes the book was nearly impossible to put down.
However, One thing in this universe remains constant even more than Nexus being a chaotic troll is underlined during this story and that is no matter how deeply you loath him, you do not hate Professor Quantum as much as he deserves.
August 24, 2024
This book was so much more than I expected. At a certain point when the "final battle" was done, I checked the page number (ebook) and realised that I was barely 40% into the book. Once again lots of moral dilemma's to be found in a world that focuses on the personal lives of villains and heroes and everything in between. The name of the book is a wonderful pun, and we got to see the potential paths of the main cast and crew and all the things that they can achieve.
July 22, 2025
Worth every page.
There is so much going on, so many characters, and the chapters read like popcorn. Looking forward to reading the next books in the series!
There is so much going on, so many characters, and the chapters read like popcorn. Looking forward to reading the next books in the series!
March 4, 2025
4/5
Still greatly enjoyed this one overall, but this one especially felt in need of some additional editing. I strongly felt at least one thread involving Ivan should have been axed and moved to a separate short story, some ideas got a bit reptitive - I especially found that to be an issue with Cyber Geek - and more so than the last there were some jarring and semi frustrating jumps between threads at kind of bizarre points in the action.
But! I had a very good time overall. I had a great time with the multiverse elements in this one and the developments with Chloe, and I also enjoyed seeing more of the New Science Sentries and Professor Quantum's scheming. In general, Tori and her relationships with the other leads continues to shine, and generally all the plotlines and worlds are interesting, even if the movement between them could be tightened up a bit.
The whole ending climax was great.
Another fun read overall, looking forward to the next.
Still greatly enjoyed this one overall, but this one especially felt in need of some additional editing. I strongly felt at least one thread involving Ivan should have been axed and moved to a separate short story, some ideas got a bit reptitive - I especially found that to be an issue with Cyber Geek - and more so than the last there were some jarring and semi frustrating jumps between threads at kind of bizarre points in the action.
But! I had a very good time overall. I had a great time with the multiverse elements in this one and the developments with Chloe, and I also enjoyed seeing more of the New Science Sentries and Professor Quantum's scheming. In general, Tori and her relationships with the other leads continues to shine, and generally all the plotlines and worlds are interesting, even if the movement between them could be tightened up a bit.
The whole ending climax was great.
Another fun read overall, looking forward to the next.
September 13, 2024
I honestly did not expect a superhero/villains series to have such a hold on me, but as I finished this third book I truly appreciate the character development and overall story building the author has put into this series. It is a great mix of both quick satisfying reading with really fantastic slow burn storylines. Hayes does so well with the balance of classic super hero tropes mixed with the actual people living behind the masks. Can’t wait for the next one.
August 17, 2025
I adore every world Drew imagines. Always left wanting more, but grateful for the artistry provided.
Drew is amazing at keeping threads together and connected and tracking ripples. Perfection.
Drew is amazing at keeping threads together and connected and tracking ripples. Perfection.
August 27, 2025
Now the waiting begins anew
August 5, 2025
Amazing superhero fantasy universe with an always compelling story!
August 15, 2024
This could be a frustrating read for me. But ultimately, I bumped this up to 4⭐️ because I wanted more once I got to the end. Maybe because I’m not a gamer, I skimmed a lot when it came to all the mental gymnastics characters did regarding tools and powers. Especially during fight scenes, it would take me out of the story when I wanted to yell “Just deal and get on with it already!” Also skimmed sections that didn’t involve any of the main roster of characters.
As I said, I didn’t want to leave this world and characters when I finished this book. I am really looking forward to next in the series as there were some amazing developments in this book!
P.S. I’m reeeeaallly hoping Prof Quantum will soon get his ass handed to him along with an epic Come-to-Jesus reality check.
As I said, I didn’t want to leave this world and characters when I finished this book. I am really looking forward to next in the series as there were some amazing developments in this book!
P.S. I’m reeeeaallly hoping Prof Quantum will soon get his ass handed to him along with an epic Come-to-Jesus reality check.
August 17, 2024
the series is getting better
Nice to see Tori and others grown in this series. I am looking forward to book 4 and hope for a vignettes book to help us wait. I read this using Kindle Unlimited
Nice to see Tori and others grown in this series. I am looking forward to book 4 and hope for a vignettes book to help us wait. I read this using Kindle Unlimited
August 11, 2024
I'm a sucker for this series. I was in the process of re-reading Bones of the Past (book 2) for the Nth time last week when I got an alert that book 3 was coming out the next day. I read the book in a day and a half and then immediately started over at the beginning to re-read it to catch all the connections and foreshadowing.
I do think Hayes tries to fit too much into each book, with an absurd number of side plots to keep track of as he keeps growing the universe, but it's enjoyable, especially the set scenes where we get to see our favorite characters work together and grow stronger.
I don't know why these characters appeal to me so much but I love hanging out with them, and look forward to the next book once it's available.
I do think Hayes tries to fit too much into each book, with an absurd number of side plots to keep track of as he keeps growing the universe, but it's enjoyable, especially the set scenes where we get to see our favorite characters work together and grow stronger.
I don't know why these characters appeal to me so much but I love hanging out with them, and look forward to the next book once it's available.
August 13, 2024
So Good! Didn't put down
This series latest installment hit just right to make the readers never put down. We have ups, we have downs, we have twists and the story is not predictable. Our characters are back and getting more dynamic and developing in there own ways. It's good fun. I want more of this, but this stroy doesn't need to rush to the end. Keep building, keep telling this story, and slow burn this story and world.
Keep homing to see some overlap with the hero world, but that's a personal want. The story stands on its own.
This series latest installment hit just right to make the readers never put down. We have ups, we have downs, we have twists and the story is not predictable. Our characters are back and getting more dynamic and developing in there own ways. It's good fun. I want more of this, but this stroy doesn't need to rush to the end. Keep building, keep telling this story, and slow burn this story and world.
Keep homing to see some overlap with the hero world, but that's a personal want. The story stands on its own.
August 15, 2024
WOW...
This book is so finely written that you hit a climax and think wow great story, then glance down and see 35% done. This book is really like 3 filling books that share a time and location.
This book is so finely written that you hit a climax and think wow great story, then glance down and see 35% done. This book is really like 3 filling books that share a time and location.
August 10, 2024
3 books in, still going strong
The story continues, character growth happens and is consistent across all the books, and the story manages to be aerious and emotional enough to be satisfying while never ignoring how patently ludicrous superhero worlds always are. Not a huge fan of heroic sacrifice fakeouts, but you re-earn that credit for the time I spent laughing over poor Dickhead Man.
Also I really hope that we find out who "the hat user" and "the weird one" are in book 4. I tend to fixate on throwaway details though, so might be hoping in vain.
The story continues, character growth happens and is consistent across all the books, and the story manages to be aerious and emotional enough to be satisfying while never ignoring how patently ludicrous superhero worlds always are. Not a huge fan of heroic sacrifice fakeouts, but you re-earn that credit for the time I spent laughing over poor Dickhead Man.
Also I really hope that we find out who "the hat user" and "the weird one" are in book 4. I tend to fixate on throwaway details though, so might be hoping in vain.
January 3, 2025
CHILLING REFLECTIONS is the third (technically fourth counting Villains Vignettes volume #1) installment of the Villains Code series. For those unfamiliar with the series, it is a world that superheroes and villains have created an uneasy truce on, The villains have effectively restricted themselves to white collar crime and avoiding prosecution for their crimes in exchange for keeping a low profile as well as keeping the rest of the costumed evil doers in line. It's a reasonably lighthearted series with most of the villains not being that bad except for exceptional brutality to those people that break the rules or threaten their few loved ones. I'm a big fan as I write my own "supervillain with a heart of gold" series and am always on the look for more.
Honestly, I think this really should have just been considered the fourth book as there's a lot of references to the events of the Villains Vignettes book and it feels like a sequel to that story. In this story, Earth finds itself invaded by a horde of extra-dimensional insects that threaten to wipe out all of humanity. They're also accompanied by an incredibly powerful armored villain who turns out to be the alternate version of a very familiar character.
Multiverse stories are somewhat tired these days and for good reason. It's wonderful when you have a strong concept like Injustice, The Justice Lords, or even The Crime Syndicate of America. However, most multiverse stories are cheap one-offs that never really develop the worlds or concepts they create.
The best are alternate stories like Spider-Girl by Tom Defalco and the Gwen-Verse before they decided to permanently move her to Earth-616. Here, the concept is restricted to one visitor from another reality and a high fantasy world that is sufficiently different from the main setting to be interesting in its own right. Still, I sympathized with Fornax when he said that he hated dealing with multiverses.
Much of this book is devoted to character development for Tori, her roommates, and the New Science Sentries. They've all been devoting themselves to their careers as villains and heroes, to the point that a conflict between the two groups is inevitable. This is a problem because Tori and her roommates are friends with the New Science Sentries but there's no way of letting them know the truth.
Other characters have their own plots like Cliche realizing her cutesy power of gaining abilities through folk sayings could actually be trained up to altering reality. Fornax's son is preparing to get himself empowered and his parents are less than thrilled at the possible ramifications. We also have Lodestar trying to win over some of the villains through the power of common decency.
This feels very much like a transitional book and while a lot of plotlines are advanced, very few of them are resolved. One element I enjoyed was that we do get confirmation that the Science Sentries' boss, Professor Quantum, is more supervillain than hero, though. That's been foreshadowed since the first book but it's nice to have it confirmed here.
Whether you'd like the Villains Code series is really where you're more interested in likable protagonists doing low-stakes sort of superherorism while even the villains aren't particularly awful unless they're smashing other bad guys. To judge whether you'd like this book can probably be determined if you find the idea of the equivalent of General Zod and a female Beetle being blackmailed into being Girl Scout supervisors for a weekend by the resident female equivalent of Superman.
In conclusion, this was a fun and entertaining book but I feel like it didn't advance the plot of the Villains Code series much. That isn't necessarily a bad thing since I was entertained throughout the read and will gladly read more books in the future. Still, someone wanting something more substantial might be disappointed given the release rates. This is mostly just heroes and villains hanging out between punching giant insects. Which is all you need sometimes.
Honestly, I think this really should have just been considered the fourth book as there's a lot of references to the events of the Villains Vignettes book and it feels like a sequel to that story. In this story, Earth finds itself invaded by a horde of extra-dimensional insects that threaten to wipe out all of humanity. They're also accompanied by an incredibly powerful armored villain who turns out to be the alternate version of a very familiar character.
Multiverse stories are somewhat tired these days and for good reason. It's wonderful when you have a strong concept like Injustice, The Justice Lords, or even The Crime Syndicate of America. However, most multiverse stories are cheap one-offs that never really develop the worlds or concepts they create.
The best are alternate stories like Spider-Girl by Tom Defalco and the Gwen-Verse before they decided to permanently move her to Earth-616. Here, the concept is restricted to one visitor from another reality and a high fantasy world that is sufficiently different from the main setting to be interesting in its own right. Still, I sympathized with Fornax when he said that he hated dealing with multiverses.
Much of this book is devoted to character development for Tori, her roommates, and the New Science Sentries. They've all been devoting themselves to their careers as villains and heroes, to the point that a conflict between the two groups is inevitable. This is a problem because Tori and her roommates are friends with the New Science Sentries but there's no way of letting them know the truth.
Other characters have their own plots like Cliche realizing her cutesy power of gaining abilities through folk sayings could actually be trained up to altering reality. Fornax's son is preparing to get himself empowered and his parents are less than thrilled at the possible ramifications. We also have Lodestar trying to win over some of the villains through the power of common decency.
This feels very much like a transitional book and while a lot of plotlines are advanced, very few of them are resolved. One element I enjoyed was that we do get confirmation that the Science Sentries' boss, Professor Quantum, is more supervillain than hero, though. That's been foreshadowed since the first book but it's nice to have it confirmed here.
Whether you'd like the Villains Code series is really where you're more interested in likable protagonists doing low-stakes sort of superherorism while even the villains aren't particularly awful unless they're smashing other bad guys. To judge whether you'd like this book can probably be determined if you find the idea of the equivalent of General Zod and a female Beetle being blackmailed into being Girl Scout supervisors for a weekend by the resident female equivalent of Superman.
In conclusion, this was a fun and entertaining book but I feel like it didn't advance the plot of the Villains Code series much. That isn't necessarily a bad thing since I was entertained throughout the read and will gladly read more books in the future. Still, someone wanting something more substantial might be disappointed given the release rates. This is mostly just heroes and villains hanging out between punching giant insects. Which is all you need sometimes.
August 9, 2024
An incredible sequel
I can't put into words how great this book is. The complete cast of characters continue to grow and blossom. Tori continues to try and figure out what path she truly wants to walk. Every book I feel like we get a little closer to true disaster and this book is no different. Expect to feel afraid, excited, sad, happy and so much more!
I can't put into words how great this book is. The complete cast of characters continue to grow and blossom. Tori continues to try and figure out what path she truly wants to walk. Every book I feel like we get a little closer to true disaster and this book is no different. Expect to feel afraid, excited, sad, happy and so much more!
August 10, 2024
Amazing
Just as breathtaking and addicting as the last two books. I will be constantly in regret until the next book in the series is out because I must read it. So many moments to make you gasp or cackle which I loved.
Highly recommend reading the vignettes before this. It does a good job recapping the important parts, but references it. Also they were amazing too.
Just as breathtaking and addicting as the last two books. I will be constantly in regret until the next book in the series is out because I must read it. So many moments to make you gasp or cackle which I loved.
Highly recommend reading the vignettes before this. It does a good job recapping the important parts, but references it. Also they were amazing too.
August 10, 2024
I believe I can safely speak for everyone when I say...
Fuck you, whens the next one.
I would also accept another short story anthology or patreon quarterly preview chapter in compensation.
Fuck you, whens the next one.
I would also accept another short story anthology or patreon quarterly preview chapter in compensation.
Currently reading
August 11, 2024This is so good
I hate how long it takes this man to write a book
But I love how good this man is at writing books
This story is so insanely good
I hate how long it takes this man to write a book
But I love how good this man is at writing books
This story is so insanely good
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