Panopolis

Panopolis #1-2

by Cari Z.

Panopolis, the City of a place where exciting things happen every single day. Things like mad science, reckless public endangerment, corporate espionage, and political puppetry.


You’ve got to wonder, why would anyone ever want to move here?


And once they get here, why would they ever want to stay?


Maybe for the excitement of watching real super-powered Heroes battle it out with Villains every day—preferably from a few hundred yards back. Maybe for the chance to become one of those Heroes, brave and stalwart and always doing the right thing.


Or maybe . . . just maybe . . . some people stay because they prefer to take their chances with a Villain or two.


This collection includes the novellas WHERE THERE'S SMOKE and WHERE THERE'S FIRE.

Genres: M M Romance, Urban Fantasy, Superheroes, Science Fiction

167 pages, Kindle Edition

First published October 18, 2015

About the author

Cari Z. is a Colorado girl who loves snow and sunshine. She has a wonderful relationship with her husband, a complex relationship with the characters in her head and a sadomasochistic relationship with her exercise routine. She feels like Halloween should happen every month, which is why you get this picture of her, and hopes that you enjoy reading what she's put out there as much as she enjoyed writing it in the first place.

Reviews

[M.I.A · Rating 4 out of 5]

* 3.75 Stars*
This was fun and something new in MM for me.
Superheroes, well more like Villains!!
Ordinary, bank teller/manager, Edward, meets a villain, the Mad Bombardier, when he robs his bank and so a budding romance begins between them. They get tangled up in the mess that is Panopolis. The politics, the heroes that do the cities bidding, the villains that are used and discarded. Edward from Kansas finding himself deep into a life he never expected all for the love of the Mad Bombardier.
Fun. Fun.
This resonates in the same manner as other superhero movies/tv shows. Expect the same level of enjoyment.
My one niggle is the fade-into-black that happens during the MC's courtship. It's fast tracked, mostly because of the length of this story. It's sort of like they meet, they date, they're a couple now bam. I wish that was lengthened to really solidify the couple. 🤷🏽‍♀️ The plot is a little too broad. It succeeds in world building and doesn't quite reach it's potential as a romance until the last quarter of the book.
Alas, I still enjoyed this. It was a treat!

[Chetana · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5⭐️

This book was a great find. I was trolling through the internet to find more books to read (as I am wont to do when I am bored) to add to my never ending TBR and I stumbled upon this series. After having read the 1st volume of The Boys and Not All Heroes Wear Capes last year I was primed to read a book that subverted the usual superhero - villain story. (It should be obvious by now that I loved the movie Megamind😂🤷‍♀️)

For a book that is only 167 pages long, it sure packed quite a punch. The author made me care for Edward and by extension Raul, the villain. This book reminded me quite a bit of The Boys graphic novel what with the Heroes being associated with corporations but this was more focused on the man with no powers falling for the villain. I quite enjoyed the book but was saddened that it ended in an open ended way. But I learnt the author recently came out with a sequel from Freight Train, the hero's perspective and that might go on my soon to read list.

[Shannon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Superheroes aren't normally my thing, but I'm really glad I read this one. I loved the grimdark setting of Panopolis, and the way that Edward and Raul were able to snatch a HEA from the world they live in. Cari Z also set up the sequel bait quite nicelhy, and I can't wait to read more in this world.


The blog posts that poked holes in how the economy of a city infested with superheroes and supervillains would run were my favorite part. I'm hoping she eventually reveals who wrote them, because I am intrigued by the identity of the superhero truther.

I'm not sure I'm quite ready to read a straight-up superhero book, but one with tongue-in-cheek humor and a bit of grit is totally up my street.

[Rhode PVD · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love how creative this is. It functions on a few different levels - a dig at the civilian deaths and damages in traditional superhero entertainment; a nod of the head toward government corruption; a wink at the media breathlessly reporting on branded celebrities; a shout out to cynical anti-establishment reporters.

It also functions as an SF story of an ordinary guy finding his way through a dangerous world, juggling a job, a boyfriend, a nosy next door neighbor, and his own new superhero/ (or is it villain?) powers.

I generally don't like novels with an obvious message, or fantasy fiction serving as a metaphor for life. For me it's about a character-driven story. This was a fun one. I could believe in the characters and be pulled along wide-eyed by the plot while at the same time maintaining a light consciousness of the other levels. Sure, fine.

[Julesmarie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I actually found this thoroughly delightful. Less about superheroes and super-villains than about the city of Panopolis and its politics, but enough superpowers to delight me.

And enough delightfully unique superpowers that I was willing to put up with the politics.

Some Favorite Quotes:
I wanted to ask him to come back, to brave my stupid anger and put up with my moods and be better than I deserved.

I was a Villain, but not a complete asshole.

but sometimes my subconscious wasn't completely honest with the rest of me.

[Laxmama · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had been waiting to read this series until book 3 was released. This is book 1 & 2 together, I really enjoyed the way it's presented. Kinda reminded me from when I was a kid watching the superheroes vs league of doom cartoon but adult version. You know "meanwhile back in Panopolis". This was such a cool different twist on the anti-hero and unraveling the mystery/with a romance. On to book 3