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The Dire Saga #2
Seed
Doctor Dire, now a full-fledged supervillain, returns to Icon City with two Find her friends, and obtain enough money to afford the next part of her sinister master plan. Only thing is, not everyone she cares about is so easily located, and she must contend with gangsters, shadowy intrigues from dubious employers, and rival supervillains. Oh, and heroes, too. Can't forget them, they're everywhere. From civil-minded super-speedsters to incompetent time-travelers, all of them want to see Dire brought down for her crimes. And when a cargo of hijacked experimental flowers turns out to be far more sinister than anticipated, she's pushed to the limit not only to survive, but also to save the world itself from a horrible fate. For a profit, of course. Villain, remember? This is the second full novel of the Tales from the Teslaverse project.
274 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 27, 2016
67 people are currently reading
105 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 33 reviews
February 5, 2019
This superhero urban fantasy series is a lot of fun. 2nd book was even better than the first.
January 18, 2021
I really enjoyed this Teslaverse series one of the most unique books I've read as of late. It makes you question what a hero and villain really is. Is heroes always good the good guys and are the villains always the evil ones? It's interesting how different things are from book 1. Later on in the series, you will even question how many assumptions heroes does about what the villains are truly up too.
December 30, 2018
Well now.
This is getting interesting. I rarely find a series where the main character is female, and I enjoy it. I look forward to the next installment.
This is getting interesting. I rarely find a series where the main character is female, and I enjoy it. I look forward to the next installment.
November 30, 2018
I dropped this book in the blender with some ice cream and milk, liquefied it, and drank it down in one go. It was delicious.
June 4, 2020
I'm disinclined to spend too much time on this review other than to say: read this series. One thing definitely worth mentioning is that Amy McFadden is the perfect narrator for this series. She really does a superb job.
Again, not a perfect book but very good. Really the only issue worth mentioning is how the author handles the "big picture" story about just who Dire is and how she came to be. Personally I believe I would have been able to enjoy this story more if that was just a part of the story being told rather than a background mystery repeatedly alluded to. However, even that criticism is somewhat invalid since the story is told from Dire's point of view and Dire can't know certain things so her enemies can't take them from her mind.
For a better impression of the story's high points read the blurb on amazon or some such.
Bottom line: I've read a lot of superhero books and this series is some of the best.
Again, not a perfect book but very good. Really the only issue worth mentioning is how the author handles the "big picture" story about just who Dire is and how she came to be. Personally I believe I would have been able to enjoy this story more if that was just a part of the story being told rather than a background mystery repeatedly alluded to. However, even that criticism is somewhat invalid since the story is told from Dire's point of view and Dire can't know certain things so her enemies can't take them from her mind.
For a better impression of the story's high points read the blurb on amazon or some such.
Bottom line: I've read a lot of superhero books and this series is some of the best.
November 17, 2020
Good. It's getting better. So 3 & 1/2 stars.
Timetripper is ... kind of hilarious, kind of. Lots of promise there, however.
Looking forward to the next installment.
Timetripper is ... kind of hilarious, kind of. Lots of promise there, however.
Looking forward to the next installment.
May 6, 2016
New author to me. I've been on somewhat of a comic book / super heroes reading kick lately. Amazon recommendation here. Very glad I took the suggestion. This author does a fantastic job of story telling while still delivering a sympathetic anti-hero.
PS. Review meant for first book in series. This is second book. ALSO very very good.
PS. Review meant for first book in series. This is second book. ALSO very very good.
April 5, 2016
I love Dire with unholy love!!!!! There were lots of funny bits and action bits and even-gasp!-romance bits. There was an adorable child! It was glorious and I will will stalk the next book just as much as I stalked this one.
MWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!
MWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!
December 20, 2022
TL;DR: Book two of the Dire series, and needs to be read in order. If you liked Dire: Born, you'll probably be OK with this one, although it's mostly more questions and no answers.
TL: Meet Dire:
She's basically a kick-arse heroine, except she isn't, she's a supervillain...because that's how things work here in Icon City.
Six months after the events of Born, Dire is starting to pick up the pieces and is ready to begin on her world-reforming goals...right after she ties up a few loose ends, like what happened to all her friends after the big showdown at the end of Dire: Born.
This book continues the story of things happening to Dire, and her hacking her way out of trouble. And that's kind of where this series has lost me. I did enjoy this story, but less so than the first and all the things that annoyed me about the first book continued to annoy me here (looking at you Time Tripper). Time-travel continues to play a role in this series, and I'm pretty sure that book three being titled Time indicates that role isn't diminishing. I don't object to time-travel out of hand (The First Fifteen Lives of Harry August is a fantastic book) but using it as a no-consequence solution to problems such as people dying...eh. Also, Time Tripper is a tool and no fun in this book, and I dislike everything that happened in his storyline thus far.
My main gripe is that there's nothing really engaging here, it's a fun popcorn romp through a comic-book universe, a gritty one, but not particularly engaging. It's an episodic set of things happening to identifiable characters...which, to be fair, is an extremely pared down skeleton of pretty much any series, but I think the key difference between a two-star (it was OK) and a four-or five-star (it was amazing) story is engaging characters involved in situations with non-trivial outcomes. An obvious non-trivial outcome is death, and that was effectively wielded in the first book to good effect, and less so here (that's all I'll say, remaining spoiler-free). It's actually a lot like MacGyver, now that I think about it, and you just know that in every episode MacGyver is going to get seemingly outsmarted and/or ensnared before MacGyvering his way out of it with the goodies in tow and the baddies dealt with.
This isn't to say there's nothing good in this book, in particular the spot-on observations of the world continue (e.g. "Most simple solutions are for dumbasses because the world is a complicated place." 🙂) and if you enjoyed Dire's "go get 'em" attitude and problem-solving demeanor in the first book, there's plenty more of that here. Overall, this is an acceptable entry in the saga, I enjoyed reading it, but I'm not left desirous of more. If I happen to read it in the future, cool! If I don't, no biggie!
TL: Meet Dire:
She's got a battle suit capable of fending off groups of heroes, obscene amounts of scientific skill with a focus in robotics and hardware and an intuitive grasp of computers and hacking.
She's basically a kick-arse heroine, except she isn't, she's a supervillain...because that's how things work here in Icon City.
Six months after the events of Born, Dire is starting to pick up the pieces and is ready to begin on her world-reforming goals...right after she ties up a few loose ends, like what happened to all her friends after the big showdown at the end of Dire: Born.
This book continues the story of things happening to Dire, and her hacking her way out of trouble. And that's kind of where this series has lost me. I did enjoy this story, but less so than the first and all the things that annoyed me about the first book continued to annoy me here (looking at you Time Tripper). Time-travel continues to play a role in this series, and I'm pretty sure that book three being titled Time indicates that role isn't diminishing. I don't object to time-travel out of hand (The First Fifteen Lives of Harry August is a fantastic book) but using it as a no-consequence solution to problems such as people dying...eh. Also, Time Tripper is a tool and no fun in this book, and I dislike everything that happened in his storyline thus far.
My main gripe is that there's nothing really engaging here, it's a fun popcorn romp through a comic-book universe, a gritty one, but not particularly engaging. It's an episodic set of things happening to identifiable characters...which, to be fair, is an extremely pared down skeleton of pretty much any series, but I think the key difference between a two-star (it was OK) and a four-or five-star (it was amazing) story is engaging characters involved in situations with non-trivial outcomes. An obvious non-trivial outcome is death, and that was effectively wielded in the first book to good effect, and less so here (that's all I'll say, remaining spoiler-free). It's actually a lot like MacGyver, now that I think about it, and you just know that in every episode MacGyver is going to get seemingly outsmarted and/or ensnared before MacGyvering his way out of it with the goodies in tow and the baddies dealt with.
This isn't to say there's nothing good in this book, in particular the spot-on observations of the world continue (e.g. "Most simple solutions are for dumbasses because the world is a complicated place." 🙂) and if you enjoyed Dire's "go get 'em" attitude and problem-solving demeanor in the first book, there's plenty more of that here. Overall, this is an acceptable entry in the saga, I enjoyed reading it, but I'm not left desirous of more. If I happen to read it in the future, cool! If I don't, no biggie!
September 28, 2019
Coax and Burpsi
I had to laugh when I read the analogs for Coke and Pepsi in this volume. Overall it was a good read. I liked the first volume a lot better. There were some political overtones in this volume that parallel the real world. I must say I read books to get away from politics. It's bad enough we get pelted by politics 24/7 by the main stream media. I don't need it in my fiction. I'm sick to death of politics!
Dire continues blurring the lines of heroism and villainy. I'm still curious as to why she did surgery on herself in the first volume. I guess I'll just have to keep reading to find out. There are some language and sexual situations here but very mild. Nothing to graphic or vulgar. Dire is a female Tony Stark without the vast resources but I'm sure that will change very soon in the next volumes. Anyways I have like it so far and will read the next book.
I had to laugh when I read the analogs for Coke and Pepsi in this volume. Overall it was a good read. I liked the first volume a lot better. There were some political overtones in this volume that parallel the real world. I must say I read books to get away from politics. It's bad enough we get pelted by politics 24/7 by the main stream media. I don't need it in my fiction. I'm sick to death of politics!
Dire continues blurring the lines of heroism and villainy. I'm still curious as to why she did surgery on herself in the first volume. I guess I'll just have to keep reading to find out. There are some language and sexual situations here but very mild. Nothing to graphic or vulgar. Dire is a female Tony Stark without the vast resources but I'm sure that will change very soon in the next volumes. Anyways I have like it so far and will read the next book.
January 6, 2019
Dire returns with some great supporting characters (Vorpal and Bunny (although we do not see enough of her)) and some not so great (Martin)
Love the series and Dire is a great and complex character,
One point soured it a bit for me - I do not like time travel but (like Martin) it was not a big enough feature to ruin the book.
On a side note I was thinking Dire and Vorpal would make a great couple - kinda like Harley and Ivy!
Love the series and Dire is a great and complex character,
One point soured it a bit for me - I do not like time travel but (like Martin) it was not a big enough feature to ruin the book.
On a side note I was thinking Dire and Vorpal would make a great couple - kinda like Harley and Ivy!
June 5, 2020
Most everything I liked about book one is still present with more action.
Doctor Dire is a slightly different character in book two, but still a likeable character. Where Dire had eschewed labels like "hero" or "villain" in book one, she seems to have fully embraced the villain label here in book two. Even embracing stereotypes and living up to expectations.
Still the core of what make Dire good is still in there, but we are also getting glimpses of what will make Dire so dangerous.
Doctor Dire is a slightly different character in book two, but still a likeable character. Where Dire had eschewed labels like "hero" or "villain" in book one, she seems to have fully embraced the villain label here in book two. Even embracing stereotypes and living up to expectations.
Still the core of what make Dire good is still in there, but we are also getting glimpses of what will make Dire so dangerous.
January 7, 2020
Not too bad, but the fight scenes were tiresome and the plot just didn't hold my attention enough. I'm especially sad to see the main protagonist play to the Villainous persona, which I find weird, as she absolutely refuses to play to a heroic persona instead. It just....doesn't feel right.
February 7, 2022
Did not meet my expectations.
With book one being a set-up and origin story, I had high hopes for book two. It did not meet them. This is a tale of a reactionary mess that in no way resembles a super genius. That's it. At no point is Dire driving the story.
With book one being a set-up and origin story, I had high hopes for book two. It did not meet them. This is a tale of a reactionary mess that in no way resembles a super genius. That's it. At no point is Dire driving the story.
March 5, 2025
I'd feel better about this series if I had a clear idea of Dire's plan for the world. So far it seems to stop at tear-it-all-down.
Mr Seiple: The word "collateral" has it's own distinct meaning. Please use the term "collateral damage" when that's what you mean.
Mr Seiple: The word "collateral" has it's own distinct meaning. Please use the term "collateral damage" when that's what you mean.
February 19, 2018
Book 2
I only found one mistake in this book.
Still enjoying the series. Off to book three.
I recommend this book.
I only found one mistake in this book.
Still enjoying the series. Off to book three.
I recommend this book.
August 14, 2018
Total comic-book-style awesomeness.
June 10, 2019
A very good series so far I've been enjoying it.
May 29, 2020
Continues from book 1 and we see Dire becoming a full fledged vigilante supervillain. Action packed fun. She gets caught in a conspiracy and we get to see a bit more of extended cast. Fun to read!
June 16, 2020
Still a great series!
I'm still in enjoying this series even though I'm only f finished with book two. I hope the third book is just as great.
I'm still in enjoying this series even though I'm only f finished with book two. I hope the third book is just as great.
October 5, 2020
Good read
Fast paced and highly enjoyable. The characters are well developed and have depth. I'm looking forward to reading the rest of the series.
Fast paced and highly enjoyable. The characters are well developed and have depth. I'm looking forward to reading the rest of the series.
March 10, 2021
I think I got into the series with this book.
May 4, 2021
Better than the first book.
January 21, 2022
Fun fluff.
January 9, 2024
Builds nicely on Dire foundations.
March 13, 2017
In the opening chapter Dire establishes herself as a villain to contend with and also establishes that she always has a solid purpose behind every act she takes. This volume in the Dire Saga is about building up her relationships with the friends and foes around her and does a great job of making everyone feel like believable people.
Dire feels a little stiff, but because of her origin this feels like an intentional choice on the author's part as none of the rest of the characters feel this way.
If you've read Dire:Born (and if you haven't then why not?) this is an excellent followup and I recommend it.
Dire feels a little stiff, but because of her origin this feels like an intentional choice on the author's part as none of the rest of the characters feel this way.
If you've read Dire:Born (and if you haven't then why not?) this is an excellent followup and I recommend it.
June 5, 2017
A solid entry into the Dire Saga. While it has a few less twists and turns than it's predecessor, DIRE : BORN it's still an excellent book with lots of fun to be had.
Dire has grown stronger than during her previous outing, yet her world has also grown larger; so just as she has grown, so too have her challenges. Once again we have an action packed book with diverse challenges coming at her from all sides, and Dire attempting to make progress on multiple fronts.
And just as in real life, few of her plans survive contact with her enemies.
Once again, it's superhero/villain action with a pleasant dose of introspection and the continued examination of variable morality and how people choose their own realities.
Fun stuff! Give it a try.
I've rated it lower than the previous book, but I think it's only a hair less good, let's call it a 4.5 star rating.
I have one minor quibble regarding the plot:
I paid retail price for the Kindle version of this book, my thoughts on it are my own.
Dire has grown stronger than during her previous outing, yet her world has also grown larger; so just as she has grown, so too have her challenges. Once again we have an action packed book with diverse challenges coming at her from all sides, and Dire attempting to make progress on multiple fronts.
And just as in real life, few of her plans survive contact with her enemies.
Once again, it's superhero/villain action with a pleasant dose of introspection and the continued examination of variable morality and how people choose their own realities.
Fun stuff! Give it a try.
I've rated it lower than the previous book, but I think it's only a hair less good, let's call it a 4.5 star rating.
I have one minor quibble regarding the plot:
I paid retail price for the Kindle version of this book, my thoughts on it are my own.
October 6, 2019
Awesome super villain character.
Being a super villain isn't cheap and Dire doesn't do anything by halve, including money-making. Ting is however, that an antagonistic AI, the Heroes and some of her fellow Villains are hunting for her. So when things go bad, the do so spectacular en Dire and her team have to pull out all the stops to reach their goals.
Dire continues to entertain. Her antics, mannerisms and practical mind make her an amusing character to follow and a daunting foe to fight. As expected from Mr. Seiple, the action is well-written and the cast is varied with plenty of twists and turns in the plot to keep thins interesting.
A full recommend from me in any case!
Being a super villain isn't cheap and Dire doesn't do anything by halve, including money-making. Ting is however, that an antagonistic AI, the Heroes and some of her fellow Villains are hunting for her. So when things go bad, the do so spectacular en Dire and her team have to pull out all the stops to reach their goals.
Dire continues to entertain. Her antics, mannerisms and practical mind make her an amusing character to follow and a daunting foe to fight. As expected from Mr. Seiple, the action is well-written and the cast is varied with plenty of twists and turns in the plot to keep thins interesting.
A full recommend from me in any case!
August 20, 2016
This one kind of spun its wheels to set up teammates for the next one, it seems.
And no mention of Locust, really. Suppose The Last Janissary did his work. Or it's going to come up later.
As predicted the time travel got used up. Not sure it was worth of from my enjoyment perspective, Minna doesn't add much to the story. But in-universe hooray.
Mag-whatever, CEO dude, was a bit too strong and a bit to switching sides and showing up at the right time. A little lucky for Dire, that.
And no mention of Locust, really. Suppose The Last Janissary did his work. Or it's going to come up later.
As predicted the time travel got used up. Not sure it was worth of from my enjoyment perspective, Minna doesn't add much to the story. But in-universe hooray.
Mag-whatever, CEO dude, was a bit too strong and a bit to switching sides and showing up at the right time. A little lucky for Dire, that.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 25, 2016
The second in the Dire series is a worthy sequel to the first of these excellent stories.
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