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Stretched Thin
Pulled between crime and the law, the Rubber Bandit is about to snap.
It's hard enough keeping a job as a former supervillain without every gang initiate, cocky teen, and local tough trying to pick a fight with the notorious Rubber Bandit.
Elam Bentley has worked at the bar as a bouncer for 3 months. His criminal background makes spotting a fake ID easy. When an under-aged, super-powered teen's escapades cause havoc, his employer reluctantly has to let him go. Unemployed and still under scrutiny from the local superhero team, what is he going to do?
Though Elam would love to see the look on his superhero nemesis Byte's face, there's no way he's joining the Department of Super-Abled. At least that's what he thinks until recently promoted Detective Fang asks him to go undercover.
Feeling he owes Fang, Elam agrees, but because he is a Sable, he has to go through DOSA to do it. Can he suck it up and do the job, or will the temptation to return to criminal life be too strong?
It's hard enough keeping a job as a former supervillain without every gang initiate, cocky teen, and local tough trying to pick a fight with the notorious Rubber Bandit.
Elam Bentley has worked at the bar as a bouncer for 3 months. His criminal background makes spotting a fake ID easy. When an under-aged, super-powered teen's escapades cause havoc, his employer reluctantly has to let him go. Unemployed and still under scrutiny from the local superhero team, what is he going to do?
Though Elam would love to see the look on his superhero nemesis Byte's face, there's no way he's joining the Department of Super-Abled. At least that's what he thinks until recently promoted Detective Fang asks him to go undercover.
Feeling he owes Fang, Elam agrees, but because he is a Sable, he has to go through DOSA to do it. Can he suck it up and do the job, or will the temptation to return to criminal life be too strong?
- GenresSuperheroes
96 pages, Paperback
Published June 7, 2025
2 people are currently reading
12 people want to read
About the author
Amber Gabriel
20 books80 followersEver since I was a little girl, I have loved to read. One of the first books I remember reading was a Wonder Book version of Cinderella. It was in the reading station in my kindergarten class, and I loved the illustrations. I would pick that book out every time, so my teacher finally removed it from the shelf to force me to expand my horizons. Now I have my own copy.
Another book that influenced me very early on was Richard Scarry’s Busy, Busy World. It told a story of two creative painters who painted a mural of a large sun inside someone’s house. I thought the idea was genius, so I drew a large sunshine on my wall with crayon. It was scrubbed off, but I continued to have a desire to express myself artistically.
In middle school, I enjoyed writing, and my English teacher told me I would write a book someday. I loved to read, sometimes reading late into the night. When I was not reading, I was making up stories in my head for my own amusement, but I never wrote them down. I was more interested in drawing and painting than writing. I have since painted numerous works of art, including some very large outdoor murals. You can see some of them if you do an internet search of Paint by Amber.
Over the years, I have had a lot of trouble with insomnia. I had heard that if you write down your ideas, it will help you to be able to go to sleep. That didn’t help, but I did end up writing some complete novels. Recently, I was diagnosed with narcolepsy, and understanding my sleep patterns, along with scheduling at least one nap during the day, has greatly improved my quality of life. The line between dreaming and wakefulness for me is sometimes blurred, and some of my ideas come straight from my dreams. Others are worked out while I’m lying in bed unable to sleep. It was fun to type them out, and I am planning to continue writing.
My goal as an author is to write the type of books that I would like to read. My favorite genre is fantasy fiction, and I read and write books that tackle difficult issues but resolve themselves into a happy ending. I hope you enjoy my stories and characters as much as I do.
Another book that influenced me very early on was Richard Scarry’s Busy, Busy World. It told a story of two creative painters who painted a mural of a large sun inside someone’s house. I thought the idea was genius, so I drew a large sunshine on my wall with crayon. It was scrubbed off, but I continued to have a desire to express myself artistically.
In middle school, I enjoyed writing, and my English teacher told me I would write a book someday. I loved to read, sometimes reading late into the night. When I was not reading, I was making up stories in my head for my own amusement, but I never wrote them down. I was more interested in drawing and painting than writing. I have since painted numerous works of art, including some very large outdoor murals. You can see some of them if you do an internet search of Paint by Amber.
Over the years, I have had a lot of trouble with insomnia. I had heard that if you write down your ideas, it will help you to be able to go to sleep. That didn’t help, but I did end up writing some complete novels. Recently, I was diagnosed with narcolepsy, and understanding my sleep patterns, along with scheduling at least one nap during the day, has greatly improved my quality of life. The line between dreaming and wakefulness for me is sometimes blurred, and some of my ideas come straight from my dreams. Others are worked out while I’m lying in bed unable to sleep. It was fun to type them out, and I am planning to continue writing.
My goal as an author is to write the type of books that I would like to read. My favorite genre is fantasy fiction, and I read and write books that tackle difficult issues but resolve themselves into a happy ending. I hope you enjoy my stories and characters as much as I do.
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
November 14, 2025
When I first read about the Rubber Bandit, aka Elam, in Refined (I think it was that one…?) it didn’t even once cross my mind that he needed a book of his own, but in all honesty I’m glad this author thought he did because it was really fun!
While not written by H. L. Burke the writing style feels close enough to hers—while still being uniquely Amber’s—that it never once felt like this story didn’t belong in this world. Elam’s an interesting guy to follow and I really like how his power works, it’s very creative and reminds me a lot of a zany Quirk you’d see in My Hero Academia.
Short and fun with lots of heroics and heart; I’m looking forward to the sequel!
‼️Content‼️
TRIGGER WARNING: human/child trafficking (kids are chained up in a bus, are rescued); talk about drug smuggling
Language: crap; darn it; screw up
Violence: fighting with weapons, superpowers, hand to hand (not detailed); injuries and blood (not detailed)
Alcohol/Drugs: a character works as a bouncer at a bar; adults and underage teens drink; talk about drug smuggling; people/kids are injected with a superpower giving drug; a man smokes
Other: superheroes/supervillains/superpowers; gangs; human/child trafficking (kids are chained up in a bus, are rescued)
While not written by H. L. Burke the writing style feels close enough to hers—while still being uniquely Amber’s—that it never once felt like this story didn’t belong in this world. Elam’s an interesting guy to follow and I really like how his power works, it’s very creative and reminds me a lot of a zany Quirk you’d see in My Hero Academia.
Short and fun with lots of heroics and heart; I’m looking forward to the sequel!
‼️Content‼️
TRIGGER WARNING: human/child trafficking (kids are chained up in a bus, are rescued); talk about drug smuggling
Language: crap; darn it; screw up
Violence: fighting with weapons, superpowers, hand to hand (not detailed); injuries and blood (not detailed)
Alcohol/Drugs: a character works as a bouncer at a bar; adults and underage teens drink; talk about drug smuggling; people/kids are injected with a superpower giving drug; a man smokes
Other: superheroes/supervillains/superpowers; gangs; human/child trafficking (kids are chained up in a bus, are rescued)
May 16, 2025
This newest Novella in the SVR universe is the first one written by someone other than H.L. Burke.
Amber Gabriel has contributed to the SVR lore before as an author in the DOSA Files anthologies. Now she takes her character, Elam, from those stories and gives him room to grow as a person.
Amber does a fantastic job of mirroring Burke's style and tone from the original SVR series while still making this book her own.
The plot line and final resolution of the story are so perfectly suited to the world building that I am surprised it hasn't already been done. 10/10 perfect addition to the SVR universe.
Amber Gabriel has contributed to the SVR lore before as an author in the DOSA Files anthologies. Now she takes her character, Elam, from those stories and gives him room to grow as a person.
Amber does a fantastic job of mirroring Burke's style and tone from the original SVR series while still making this book her own.
The plot line and final resolution of the story are so perfectly suited to the world building that I am surprised it hasn't already been done. 10/10 perfect addition to the SVR universe.
May 10, 2025
Amber Gabriel's first story about small time supervillain The Rubber Bandit and his somewhat accidental brush with heroism was my favourite piece in the first volume of The DOSA Files. This more serious standalone novella takes that character arc forward as he is both metaphorically and literally stretched between alternate life paths. Anyway, he makes me smile.
April 18, 2025
This came in as a bonus reward/stretch goal on the recent Kickstarter for the next two DOSA Files books (DOSA Files: Tales from the SVR Universe, Volume 2 & DOSA Files: Tales from the SVR Universe, Volume 3).
Loved that it was a quick, short read - nothing too complicated or complex. Just lots of good feels for a poor ex-supervillain trying to leave a life of crime. He's really more honourable than he thinks he is...
Loved that it was a quick, short read - nothing too complicated or complex. Just lots of good feels for a poor ex-supervillain trying to leave a life of crime. He's really more honourable than he thinks he is...
November 8, 2025
This book fits seamlessly into the SVR universe!
Elam (AKA The Rubber Bandit) is a great protagonist! At the start, he finds his past catching up to him, seemingly ruining his chance of going straight and living a normal life. He then finds himself working undercover and unsure what side he should land on. Before long, he is in way over his head and has to acknowledge the fact his past actions have hurt more people than he realized.
I love a good redemption story, and Elam's story is both believable and inspiring!
Elam (AKA The Rubber Bandit) is a great protagonist! At the start, he finds his past catching up to him, seemingly ruining his chance of going straight and living a normal life. He then finds himself working undercover and unsure what side he should land on. Before long, he is in way over his head and has to acknowledge the fact his past actions have hurt more people than he realized.
I love a good redemption story, and Elam's story is both believable and inspiring!
December 20, 2025
I loved this new story of Amber Gabriel's. As with all her other books, I love how she develops the characters. I always feel like I get to know them as real people. I love how Elam has grown through the DOSA Files and into this story. His accidental act of heroism in the first Dosa File sets him on an intriguing path of considering whether or not he would rather be a hero or a villain. Then as he goes begrudgingly to jury duty in the 2nd Dosa Files and again finds himself acting heroically he is again considering whether this life on the right side of the law is better. Than in Stretched Thin he asked to go undercover to work as a body guard for a bad guy who is doing shady business. In this story he really gets to weigh out whether or not the "Big pay" of shady dealings might be more appealing that living an upright life, but than also comes face to face with the consequences of this life style. I love how the pacing perfectly builds up the tension and mystery of what these shady dealing are and whether Elam would choose to do what is right or ultimately return to villainy. As always, Amber Gabriel does the redemption arc beautifully.
June 8, 2025
I really enjoyed this!
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews