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Terminal Engagement
The honeymoon is over.
Finally married to Kitsune (again!), Astra settles into Heroes Without Borders work with Joyeuse Guard, this time in Malawi. The small and poor African country is experiencing an influx of refugees from the Mozambique civil war across the border and HWB has set up a base in dusty Marka to provide relief. It should be a relatively quiet posting; the actual fighting is far away and not something Joyeuse Guard has any authorization to get mixed up in but they’d be doing good and not every HWB assignment needs to be high-stakes.
Except somebody decides to take out a contract on her and suddenly she finds herself the target of an increasingly deadly series of attacks. When the attacks injure comrades, endanger the mission, and come close to succeeding, with no knowledge of the source of the contract she is faced with hard choices. Should she hang up the cape for a while and retreat to the safety of a new secret identity, where attacks won’t endanger everyone around her? At least long enough for Shell and others to discover the source and give her a target? When an attempt by her would-be assassins violates the unspoken rules of engagement—you don’t go after capes in their civilian identities—nearly kills her and people she loves, she makes her decision.
The world is going to learn why even the bad guys need to play by the rules, because the next engagement is going to be a terminal one.
Finally married to Kitsune (again!), Astra settles into Heroes Without Borders work with Joyeuse Guard, this time in Malawi. The small and poor African country is experiencing an influx of refugees from the Mozambique civil war across the border and HWB has set up a base in dusty Marka to provide relief. It should be a relatively quiet posting; the actual fighting is far away and not something Joyeuse Guard has any authorization to get mixed up in but they’d be doing good and not every HWB assignment needs to be high-stakes.
Except somebody decides to take out a contract on her and suddenly she finds herself the target of an increasingly deadly series of attacks. When the attacks injure comrades, endanger the mission, and come close to succeeding, with no knowledge of the source of the contract she is faced with hard choices. Should she hang up the cape for a while and retreat to the safety of a new secret identity, where attacks won’t endanger everyone around her? At least long enough for Shell and others to discover the source and give her a target? When an attempt by her would-be assassins violates the unspoken rules of engagement—you don’t go after capes in their civilian identities—nearly kills her and people she loves, she makes her decision.
The world is going to learn why even the bad guys need to play by the rules, because the next engagement is going to be a terminal one.
280 pages, Kindle Edition
Published July 22, 2025
78 people are currently reading
7 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
August 20, 2025
I'm not entirely sure about this one - I was positively surprised about a new book about Astra, but this one feels a little bit ... not bad, but as if something's lacking ... and it also feels "transitory". Maybe it's because the author hasn't spent much time with these characters for a while, maybe it's the beginning of a new storyline - maybe, possibly, both.
The Worldbuilding is still absolutely strong, though - and I also like that there are consequences in this superhero world. They bleed, they can loose - and afterward they aren't as they were before. That's for me a truly remarkable thing about this series.
And I loved the short story at the end of this book - another Faith & Hope Story.
Let's see, how this world will continue - and intertwine with the Harmon's other Cape Series
The Worldbuilding is still absolutely strong, though - and I also like that there are consequences in this superhero world. They bleed, they can loose - and afterward they aren't as they were before. That's for me a truly remarkable thing about this series.
And I loved the short story at the end of this book - another Faith & Hope Story.
Let's see, how this world will continue - and intertwine with the Harmon's other Cape Series
August 3, 2025
Another great read!
I very much enjoyed the latest escapade of Astra and her motley crew. While I was initially concerned with a change to Astra about halfway through the story that could have been a cheat code in the hands of a lesser writer, here Harmon manages to keep the stakes high and keep Hope believably challenged throughout. I’m not a fan of superhero moralizing (once you decide to kill indiscriminately you don’t deserve to be here anymore) but even that is balanced out. Not sure where the story goes from here, but it’s certainly a fitting end to the tale of Astra, if need be.
I very much enjoyed the latest escapade of Astra and her motley crew. While I was initially concerned with a change to Astra about halfway through the story that could have been a cheat code in the hands of a lesser writer, here Harmon manages to keep the stakes high and keep Hope believably challenged throughout. I’m not a fan of superhero moralizing (once you decide to kill indiscriminately you don’t deserve to be here anymore) but even that is balanced out. Not sure where the story goes from here, but it’s certainly a fitting end to the tale of Astra, if need be.
September 5, 2025
It took a few chapters for Harmon to find his stride again with his character Astra, but once he does the novel is a high octane delight right up to the end. The problem that confronts Astra is extremely clever. She is extraordinarily difficult to kill, but the people around her are not and that means that efforts to get at her have the potential to threaten people she loves.
The villain is great and it was very interesting watching the heroes figure out what he could do, how to beat him, and then--because they are who they are--failing to carry through with their plans and slipping into old patterns of behavior.
I'm anxious to see what Harmon will do next.
The villain is great and it was very interesting watching the heroes figure out what he could do, how to beat him, and then--because they are who they are--failing to carry through with their plans and slipping into old patterns of behavior.
I'm anxious to see what Harmon will do next.
January 6, 2026
While the premis of demonstrating what happens if someone breaks the unwritten rules around targeting heroes civilian identities and loved ones, which was aluded to in one of the first books in this series, is interesting, I wasn't impressed by the execution. It was portrayed like a personal vendetta, when the previous hints made it seem like it would have been an unofficial open season on not just the perpatrators but their associates.
I also couldn't shake the feeling that the previous book was probably meant to be the end of the series but the author just decided to keep going
I also couldn't shake the feeling that the previous book was probably meant to be the end of the series but the author just decided to keep going
July 30, 2025
Complicated Feelings
I read this, and mostly enjoyed the latest adventure of Astra.
But. But the antagonists are exceedingly grim, in method. A grim-ness that only responds to grim actions. By contrast, Astra's actions are too optimistic, too idealistic - they fit her wonderfully, but they don't match well with the foe. It is a dissonance that sticks with me.
Also, indicating the return of the Ascendant is the most comic book crap possible.
I read this, and mostly enjoyed the latest adventure of Astra.
But. But the antagonists are exceedingly grim, in method. A grim-ness that only responds to grim actions. By contrast, Astra's actions are too optimistic, too idealistic - they fit her wonderfully, but they don't match well with the foe. It is a dissonance that sticks with me.
Also, indicating the return of the Ascendant is the most comic book crap possible.
August 20, 2025
Evil never takes a Holiday
As always Harmon delivers
a Superhero tale with elements of traditional fantasy and weaves them together in a way that seems grounded given the limits he has set his superhero world in. Poor Hope just doesn’t seem to catch a break and to top it off there’s another sinister criminal empire she’s only beginning to dismantle.
As always Harmon delivers
a Superhero tale with elements of traditional fantasy and weaves them together in a way that seems grounded given the limits he has set his superhero world in. Poor Hope just doesn’t seem to catch a break and to top it off there’s another sinister criminal empire she’s only beginning to dismantle.
August 25, 2025
Decent, but still more darkness than I like
I like this series, but my issue has always been the permanent repercussions that occur. For me it is specifically the one that happened to Hope. The only way I'll come back and increase the rating is if the lasting damage is cured in the next story.
I like this series, but my issue has always been the permanent repercussions that occur. For me it is specifically the one that happened to Hope. The only way I'll come back and increase the rating is if the lasting damage is cured in the next story.
August 27, 2025
Jarring continuation
The shift to third person really doesn't work for this series as it means loosing the main characeers unique voice. Also it felt like the charamter went anderegressed to making some stupid choices that she hadegrown past four or five books ago at least. And finally the inclusion of Oz is really starting to hurt this story in a big way.
The shift to third person really doesn't work for this series as it means loosing the main characeers unique voice. Also it felt like the charamter went anderegressed to making some stupid choices that she hadegrown past four or five books ago at least. And finally the inclusion of Oz is really starting to hurt this story in a big way.
July 26, 2025
10th As tra story
Even without a Faith and Hope bonus Christmas story, this would be a worthy 10th book of Wearing the Cape-Astra goodness. And it does have a very good bonus story of Crossover-worlds Christmas goodness to boost it. Well done, Marion G. Harmon. -tc
You
Even without a Faith and Hope bonus Christmas story, this would be a worthy 10th book of Wearing the Cape-Astra goodness. And it does have a very good bonus story of Crossover-worlds Christmas goodness to boost it. Well done, Marion G. Harmon. -tc
You
July 28, 2025
Great Scott!!! Marion does it again!
Excellent addition to the ongoing story of Hope and her world. A little lite on the side characters mostly focused on Hope and her Husband but still great. The Christmas Short was excellent as well.
Excellent addition to the ongoing story of Hope and her world. A little lite on the side characters mostly focused on Hope and her Husband but still great. The Christmas Short was excellent as well.
October 25, 2025
Terminal Engagement (Wearing the Cape Book 10)
Wow whay a great wind up of the storyline, to date! Lots of action lots of adventure, lots of fun!
Thank you!
Wow whay a great wind up of the storyline, to date! Lots of action lots of adventure, lots of fun!
Thank you!
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews