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Gray Widow #1
Gray Widow's Walk
"The only thing in this world you can truly control is yourself." Janey Sinclair's ability to teleport has always been a mystery to her. She tried for years to ignore it, but when tragedy shatters her life, Janey's anger consumes her. She hones her fighting skills, steals a prototype suit of military body armor, and takes to the streets of Atlanta, venting her rage as the masked vigilante dubbed "the Gray Widow" by the press. But Janey's power, and her willingness to use it, plunges her into a conflict on a much grander scale than she had anticipated. Soon she encounters Simon Grove, a bloodthirsty runaway with a shapeshifting ability gone horribly wrong... Garrison Vessler, an ex-FBI agent and current private defense contractor, who holds some of the answers Janey's been searching for... And Tim Kapoor, the first person in years with a chance of breaking through Janey's emotional shell-if she'll let him. But as Janey's vigilantism gains worldwide attention, and her showdown with Simon Grove draws ever closer, the reason for her augmented abilities-hers and all the others like her-begins to reveal itself. Because, high above the Earth, other eyes are watching. And they have far-reaching plans... Gray Widow's Walk is book one of the Gray Widow Trilogy, to be followed by Gray Widow's Web and Gray Widow's War. "The only thing in this world you can truly control is yourself." Janey Sinclair's ability to teleport has always been a mystery to her. She tried for years to ignore it, but when tragedy shatters her life, Janey's anger consumes her. She hones her fighting skills, steals a prototype suit of military body armor, and takes to the streets of Atlanta, venting her rage as the masked vigilante dubbed "the Gray Widow" by the press. But Janey's power, and her willingness to use it, plunges her into a conflict on a much grander scale than she had anticipated. Soon she encounters Simon Grove, a bloodthirsty runaway with a shapeshifting ability gone horribly wrong... Garrison Vessler, an ex-FBI agent and current private defense contractor, who holds some of the answers Janey's been searching for... And Tim Kapoor, the first person in years with a chance of breaking through Janey's emotional shell-if she'll let him. But as Janey's vigilantism gains worldwide attention, and her showdown with Simon Grove draws ever closer, the reason for her augmented abilities-hers and all the others like her-begins to reveal itself. Because, high above the Earth, other eyes are watching. And they have far-reaching plans... Gray Widow's Walk is book one of the Gray Widow Trilogy, to be followed by Gray Widow's Web and Gray Widow's War.
344 pages, Paperback
First published April 19, 2016
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178 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews
December 14, 2020
GRAY WIDOW'S WALK by Dan Jolley is a fascinating bit of dark superhero fantasy that I think fans of literary comic book fiction will enjoy. I'm a big fan of superhero fiction (my Supervillainy Saga series is evidence enough of that) but it can be sometimes hard to differentiate the gems from the dross. Sometimes they're too dark, sometimes they don't have enough "superhero" elements to justify their inclusion in the genre, and sometimes they're just bad. Gray Widow's Walk is none of these and is a trilogy I look forward to devouring.
The premise is Janey Sinclair is the titular Gray Widow. Unlike the vast majority of female superheroes across all media, she is fully covered and wears a set of body-armor that is more akin to Boba Fett or Samus Aran than Wonder Woman's attire (not that I don't love Princess Diana of Themyscira). She is also capable of teleporting, an ability that makes her unique among humanity as far as she knows. Janey has had a series of horrible events happen to her in recent years and it has convinced her to become a crime-fighting vigilante.
Janey has some initial success with her attempts to clean up Atlanta, Georgia because she has a near preternatural sense for when crime is about to go down. She also benefits from the fact she can be at any location instantly without any need to wait for police. Her motives aren't entirely pure, though, because she's driven by a desire to vent the anger she feels from so many horrible tragedies in her life. It takes a lot to turn someone into a teleporting Batwoman and Janey has more justification than Bruce Wayne by far.
Unfortunately, Janey is not the only superpowered individual in the world. Simon Grove is blessed with the ability to shapeshift and is truly sick in the head. A violent misogynist and serial killer, he's protected by individuals who want to figure out the nature of his abilities. Indeed, people who want to exploit the powers of Augments are everywhere in Georgia and they have the resources to carry out their mission in secret. Well, at least until Janey blows the whole thing open by drawing massive amounts of attention to the fact superpowers are real.
I really enjoyed this book and think a large part of this is due to the fact Dan tries to keep both the comic book elements as well as a gritty "realistic" story. It's more or less a prose version of The Dark Knight with the addition of superpowers. Janey is a fascinating character that can't fully come to terms with her own simmering rage because she's not a naturally violent or aggressive person. The Gray Widow is something that springs from her pain and her attempts to live a normal life while also bouncing around town beating criminals is an interesting contrast. Certainly, it plays havoc with her love life.
I think my favorite part of the book is the fact that Janey unwittingly triggers a media frenzy with her actions, having never quite contemplated that the public would be interested in the sudden appearance of a real life superhero among them. She inspires imitators, lawsuit happy bottom feeders, and a public that doesn't quite realize how serious her actions are. The police, of course, are confused as much as anything else. There's also the typical media vultures who only know that the public will eat this up.
In conclusion, Gray Widow's Walk is an excellent superhero prose fiction novel and one that I very much enjoyed. I'm definitely going to check out the other two volumes in the trilogy and I'm eager to see how the story turns out. A warning for readers, Simon Grove is a femicide focused serial killer that is motivated by sick obsessions. Dan Jolley always cuts away from the horrible things the man does but it's not too hard to fill in the blanks as to what he does.
The premise is Janey Sinclair is the titular Gray Widow. Unlike the vast majority of female superheroes across all media, she is fully covered and wears a set of body-armor that is more akin to Boba Fett or Samus Aran than Wonder Woman's attire (not that I don't love Princess Diana of Themyscira). She is also capable of teleporting, an ability that makes her unique among humanity as far as she knows. Janey has had a series of horrible events happen to her in recent years and it has convinced her to become a crime-fighting vigilante.
Janey has some initial success with her attempts to clean up Atlanta, Georgia because she has a near preternatural sense for when crime is about to go down. She also benefits from the fact she can be at any location instantly without any need to wait for police. Her motives aren't entirely pure, though, because she's driven by a desire to vent the anger she feels from so many horrible tragedies in her life. It takes a lot to turn someone into a teleporting Batwoman and Janey has more justification than Bruce Wayne by far.
Unfortunately, Janey is not the only superpowered individual in the world. Simon Grove is blessed with the ability to shapeshift and is truly sick in the head. A violent misogynist and serial killer, he's protected by individuals who want to figure out the nature of his abilities. Indeed, people who want to exploit the powers of Augments are everywhere in Georgia and they have the resources to carry out their mission in secret. Well, at least until Janey blows the whole thing open by drawing massive amounts of attention to the fact superpowers are real.
I really enjoyed this book and think a large part of this is due to the fact Dan tries to keep both the comic book elements as well as a gritty "realistic" story. It's more or less a prose version of The Dark Knight with the addition of superpowers. Janey is a fascinating character that can't fully come to terms with her own simmering rage because she's not a naturally violent or aggressive person. The Gray Widow is something that springs from her pain and her attempts to live a normal life while also bouncing around town beating criminals is an interesting contrast. Certainly, it plays havoc with her love life.
I think my favorite part of the book is the fact that Janey unwittingly triggers a media frenzy with her actions, having never quite contemplated that the public would be interested in the sudden appearance of a real life superhero among them. She inspires imitators, lawsuit happy bottom feeders, and a public that doesn't quite realize how serious her actions are. The police, of course, are confused as much as anything else. There's also the typical media vultures who only know that the public will eat this up.
In conclusion, Gray Widow's Walk is an excellent superhero prose fiction novel and one that I very much enjoyed. I'm definitely going to check out the other two volumes in the trilogy and I'm eager to see how the story turns out. A warning for readers, Simon Grove is a femicide focused serial killer that is motivated by sick obsessions. Dan Jolley always cuts away from the horrible things the man does but it's not too hard to fill in the blanks as to what he does.
February 22, 2018
Janey Sinclair is an artist who paints tormented, dark paintings that can drive a man mad. She's also some silver masked vigilante the town has named "The Gray Widow."
Across town, there are detectives housing a boy who was the victim of parental abuse and now can't seem to function in the real world.
Then, across the state, is the son of a famous actress who is battling his demons inside his head which cause him to be some sort of serial killer.
For me, it felt like there were way too many characters and side plots all happening at once. It was hard for me to keep track and become connected to any one character. Eventually, by 30% into the book I began to understand the characters and by 50%, I was deeply invested in the plot. All characters were brought nicely together and the story itself would be any comic book lovers dream come true.
Across town, there are detectives housing a boy who was the victim of parental abuse and now can't seem to function in the real world.
Then, across the state, is the son of a famous actress who is battling his demons inside his head which cause him to be some sort of serial killer.
For me, it felt like there were way too many characters and side plots all happening at once. It was hard for me to keep track and become connected to any one character. Eventually, by 30% into the book I began to understand the characters and by 50%, I was deeply invested in the plot. All characters were brought nicely together and the story itself would be any comic book lovers dream come true.
July 13, 2016
Gray Widow's Walk was the book version of a classic comic book tale: a super power is given to an individual with a painful past that motivates them to fight back against the evil in the world. While the foundation is nothing new, the details of the story is what makes it fun. I enjoyed the lead character being a female. While the traditional gender roles were reversed, it was not the focus of the story. The Gray Widow was a human, dealing with human emotions.
The pacing of the story was perfect for me. There was no filler, no wasted pages and each chapter ended with me wanting more. The book, while part 1 of a trilogy, completes the main story discussed and teases enough for what's coming.
My one complaint involves not the book, but the synopsis. On the back of the book there is what I would consider a spoiler that reveals something that you don't find out until being about 90% done with the book. I really think that moment would have had a much larger impact on the story if it wasn't revealed to me before I started reading.
Overall it was a solid story and I'm looking forward to the next book!
The pacing of the story was perfect for me. There was no filler, no wasted pages and each chapter ended with me wanting more. The book, while part 1 of a trilogy, completes the main story discussed and teases enough for what's coming.
My one complaint involves not the book, but the synopsis. On the back of the book there is what I would consider a spoiler that reveals something that you don't find out until being about 90% done with the book. I really think that moment would have had a much larger impact on the story if it wasn't revealed to me before I started reading.
Overall it was a solid story and I'm looking forward to the next book!
November 3, 2020
4++ stars that deserves the round-up. This book was/is to a fan of the superhero genre just flat out fantastic! I've said it before and I'll probably say it again some day, but when folks with experience in the actual BIZ of graphic novels put their minds to a story, they get it right! This story works on so many levels and the imagery is beyond fantastic!
I mean, I rarely gush like this about the first in a series of ANY genre but this book had me at page 1 and just kept getting better. Jolley balances just so much here so very very well and had me reading almost straight through (darn election and voting getting in the way)! And I have to say he does something I so enjoy when it's done right, namely, give us the perspective of not only the main character but also the input from the minds of secondary or even tertiary characters along the way! Newspaper dude appears for 2 or 3 pages? No worries, it works! There just are no unneeded bits and just, well, damn!
And what a story. I would compare this first chapter of the 'Gray Widow' (not crazy about that name btw, sorry) to the absolute fun that the first of the 'Reckoners' series delivered ('Steelheart' by Brandon Sanderson, which sadly crashed and burned more and more as it reached its conclusion) as well as the truly gritty 'Villains' duology from V.E.Schwab. Oh and I'm also expecting Ford Jackson's "Sh*t" books and some of the books that Chris Tullbane is cranking out to join this list!
Any other major contenders had more of a YA flair to them (see Meyer's "Renegades" or Linton's vastly under-rated "Crimson Son" books). I really can't say too much without making it all spoil-y so I'll just say this is superpowers done right including some well-placed gore, goo and outright nastiness to boot! And the best compliment of all is I'm hanging up the phone now (well, not literally but stick with my middle-aged imagery please) and getting my copies of parts 2 AND 3 downloaded! Enjoy!
I mean, I rarely gush like this about the first in a series of ANY genre but this book had me at page 1 and just kept getting better. Jolley balances just so much here so very very well and had me reading almost straight through (darn election and voting getting in the way)! And I have to say he does something I so enjoy when it's done right, namely, give us the perspective of not only the main character but also the input from the minds of secondary or even tertiary characters along the way! Newspaper dude appears for 2 or 3 pages? No worries, it works! There just are no unneeded bits and just, well, damn!
And what a story. I would compare this first chapter of the 'Gray Widow' (not crazy about that name btw, sorry) to the absolute fun that the first of the 'Reckoners' series delivered ('Steelheart' by Brandon Sanderson, which sadly crashed and burned more and more as it reached its conclusion) as well as the truly gritty 'Villains' duology from V.E.Schwab. Oh and I'm also expecting Ford Jackson's "Sh*t" books and some of the books that Chris Tullbane is cranking out to join this list!
Any other major contenders had more of a YA flair to them (see Meyer's "Renegades" or Linton's vastly under-rated "Crimson Son" books). I really can't say too much without making it all spoil-y so I'll just say this is superpowers done right including some well-placed gore, goo and outright nastiness to boot! And the best compliment of all is I'm hanging up the phone now (well, not literally but stick with my middle-aged imagery please) and getting my copies of parts 2 AND 3 downloaded! Enjoy!
December 26, 2018
I'm only 25% in this book but I'm hooked. If I had to say what this book is, it's definitely a cross between, The Punisher, Nikita and Houdini. If you cut the book in half it would have AWESOME written in side. Will give an update when I've finished.
UPDATE 26TH DECEMBER
What a book, hell it was perfect. Really enjoyed every word Dan Jolley wrote. This Gray Widow is one cool, arse kicking babe, and she's got super powers to boot. I've just stayed up late on Christmas night, Boxing day morning to finish this story. I can truly say I really looking forward to book 2, The Gray Widow's Web.
I didn't know much about this book when I bought it and I don't want to spoil anything about it but really if your a Marvel or a D.C fan you need to read this. Defo 5 Stars. Well done Dan
UPDATE 26TH DECEMBER
What a book, hell it was perfect. Really enjoyed every word Dan Jolley wrote. This Gray Widow is one cool, arse kicking babe, and she's got super powers to boot. I've just stayed up late on Christmas night, Boxing day morning to finish this story. I can truly say I really looking forward to book 2, The Gray Widow's Web.
I didn't know much about this book when I bought it and I don't want to spoil anything about it but really if your a Marvel or a D.C fan you need to read this. Defo 5 Stars. Well done Dan
August 6, 2017
Complex characters with comic worthy characteristics that contains a lot of violence.
This was my first glimpse of Dan Jolley's work.
I liked this book although in total honesty it took me longer to read than I'd planned due to the violence (he did a good job of taming it down as this is YA, but a few topics take on a much more serious tone). I was expecting some being that his main character is a vigilante tired of people's terrible actions & hate toward others, but I wasn't quite prepared for the repeated topic of rape & abuse. Those happen to be two things I dislike reading about most (a personal preference particularly when involving children). Thankfully he did not go into excessive detail in any of those scenes, & villains are a must with these times of tales. The rest of the book totally made up for the parts that I wasn't comfortable with. Despite my personal unease with with some topics brought up in this story I look forward to seeing how the Gray Widow's story ends as Jolley brings a nice balance between good & evil with his unique characters & imaginative plots in true comic style. He surprised me quite a few times with the twists he created. His characters are likable (minus the criminals the Gray Widow does a terrific job of delivering justice to) & their emotions quite vivid. A few scenes bring up racist issues/remarks I am not a fan of, & the way a certain augment handled that issue made me wish it were so easy to get everyone on board with her train of thought. The world really would be a better place.
https://jenisbookshelf.blogspot.com/2...
This was my first glimpse of Dan Jolley's work.
I liked this book although in total honesty it took me longer to read than I'd planned due to the violence (he did a good job of taming it down as this is YA, but a few topics take on a much more serious tone). I was expecting some being that his main character is a vigilante tired of people's terrible actions & hate toward others, but I wasn't quite prepared for the repeated topic of rape & abuse. Those happen to be two things I dislike reading about most (a personal preference particularly when involving children). Thankfully he did not go into excessive detail in any of those scenes, & villains are a must with these times of tales. The rest of the book totally made up for the parts that I wasn't comfortable with. Despite my personal unease with with some topics brought up in this story I look forward to seeing how the Gray Widow's story ends as Jolley brings a nice balance between good & evil with his unique characters & imaginative plots in true comic style. He surprised me quite a few times with the twists he created. His characters are likable (minus the criminals the Gray Widow does a terrific job of delivering justice to) & their emotions quite vivid. A few scenes bring up racist issues/remarks I am not a fan of, & the way a certain augment handled that issue made me wish it were so easy to get everyone on board with her train of thought. The world really would be a better place.
https://jenisbookshelf.blogspot.com/2...
May 23, 2016
The blurb had me really interested and the book pulled me in right from the first page, where the author mentioned the main character cutting off her long hair because it fit under her vigilante mask better. I thought that was awesome that an author went with something practical instead of her having long flowing hair underneath her mask.
However, I got to the 33% mark and had to put the book down. I love urban fantasy and paranormal romance because I love the strong female characters. However, as I guy I still like to see strong male characters too. EVERY male character in the book, even if they started out good, ended up being, horrible, abusive, a murder, a stalker, and/or a rapist. There are bad people out there and I love seeing terrible people taken down in books. But I’m not going to read a book that portrays all men in such a horrible light. There’s a chance the book got better, but not fast enough for me.
However, I got to the 33% mark and had to put the book down. I love urban fantasy and paranormal romance because I love the strong female characters. However, as I guy I still like to see strong male characters too. EVERY male character in the book, even if they started out good, ended up being, horrible, abusive, a murder, a stalker, and/or a rapist. There are bad people out there and I love seeing terrible people taken down in books. But I’m not going to read a book that portrays all men in such a horrible light. There’s a chance the book got better, but not fast enough for me.
May 24, 2016
Janey Sinclair is one of my new favorite characters. I love how nuanced she is as a fully developed, kick butt woman trying her best to do the right thing even when that line gets a little more complicated than she anticipated. While I love superhero stories, a lot of them feel very formulaic and Gray Widow's Walk was a true breath of fresh air in the genre.
Dark, twisted and a heck of a wild ride, I had a hard time putting the book down once I'd started. There are a ton of twists, turns and a wide range of characters who all have their own motives. It's amazing seeing all the pieces weave together and to see the development of everyone from page one to the end. Gray Widow's Walk has created an entire new world for more stories to happen in. And with that ending, I cannot wait to see what the sequel has in store!
Dark, twisted and a heck of a wild ride, I had a hard time putting the book down once I'd started. There are a ton of twists, turns and a wide range of characters who all have their own motives. It's amazing seeing all the pieces weave together and to see the development of everyone from page one to the end. Gray Widow's Walk has created an entire new world for more stories to happen in. And with that ending, I cannot wait to see what the sequel has in store!
March 19, 2024
Hey, tea lovers and book journeyers,
We're about to unpack a recent read of mine: "The Gray Widow's Walk." I received an unedited ARC copy—it's funny getting your hands on one especially when this one was kind of like a retro dive into an ARC when the book is already out there in the wild.
"The Gray Widow's Walk" puts on its cape and dives headfirst into the comic book pool without the actual... well, comics. It speaks and flows like comic book, but it doesn’t show it, which, for some, can be a tad disorienting. I found myself rereading SOME parts to find the flow. REMEMBER I received the UNEDITED version before final print.
The lead is this fierce femme character—she's basically a reverse Dorian Gray with a paint brush, who picked up a vigilante cape on his eternal stroll through morally gray (again, pun intended) existence...while making people mad with art. Ambitious? Absolutely. Intriguing? Without a doubt.
My cup of tea? It didn't hit my literary sweet spot like a perfectly brewed Oolong, nor will it find a home outside of the digital copy into the realm of reality with the rest of my physical books. That is the beauty of reading various books. Each book comes with it's own flavor...it's own unique tea blend —and even the ones that don’t entirely charm you...it will still leave you with something to ponder over.
Keep steeping through those chapters, and remember that just because a book didn't hit my literary sweet spot like my favorite brew, doesn't mean that this brew wont hit your sweet spot.
May your teacup always be full, the tea in your teapot the right temperature, your TBR list endless, and with multiple book journeys 🍵🫖📚✨
We're about to unpack a recent read of mine: "The Gray Widow's Walk." I received an unedited ARC copy—it's funny getting your hands on one especially when this one was kind of like a retro dive into an ARC when the book is already out there in the wild.
"The Gray Widow's Walk" puts on its cape and dives headfirst into the comic book pool without the actual... well, comics. It speaks and flows like comic book, but it doesn’t show it, which, for some, can be a tad disorienting. I found myself rereading SOME parts to find the flow. REMEMBER I received the UNEDITED version before final print.
The lead is this fierce femme character—she's basically a reverse Dorian Gray with a paint brush, who picked up a vigilante cape on his eternal stroll through morally gray (again, pun intended) existence...while making people mad with art. Ambitious? Absolutely. Intriguing? Without a doubt.
My cup of tea? It didn't hit my literary sweet spot like a perfectly brewed Oolong, nor will it find a home outside of the digital copy into the realm of reality with the rest of my physical books. That is the beauty of reading various books. Each book comes with it's own flavor...it's own unique tea blend —and even the ones that don’t entirely charm you...it will still leave you with something to ponder over.
Keep steeping through those chapters, and remember that just because a book didn't hit my literary sweet spot like my favorite brew, doesn't mean that this brew wont hit your sweet spot.
May your teacup always be full, the tea in your teapot the right temperature, your TBR list endless, and with multiple book journeys 🍵🫖📚✨
April 11, 2023
I'm not a fan of hyperbole, but I truly can't think of a more accurate way to say it other than that this might be the worst book I've read without DNF. The writing wasn't good, but it wasn't terrible. The real problem was that I constantly felt that the author was writing about things with absolutely no frame of reference (guns*, fighting, women, race, etc.) and just extrapolating out from his own worldview in a way that felt oppressively and unrelentingly inauthentic. This made the non-stop misogyny and racism that occurs throughout the book particularly uncomfortable to read, since it felt like it was coming from the author rather than the characters. I certainly could be wrong in that assessment, but I'm still putting this author on my "never read anything written by them" list. I finished the book with a hearty "blech!" and a sense of relief.
* There's a scene where two characters are described as carrying 9mm revolvers. Let me say that again....9mm revolvers. Sure, they exist, but they're very niche guns, so having two characters armed with them felt like the author just didn't know that 9mm wasn't designed for revolvers, rather than being a deliberate choice. I'm still laughing over that one.
* There's a scene where two characters are described as carrying 9mm revolvers. Let me say that again....9mm revolvers. Sure, they exist, but they're very niche guns, so having two characters armed with them felt like the author just didn't know that 9mm wasn't designed for revolvers, rather than being a deliberate choice. I'm still laughing over that one.
March 13, 2024
A comic book/super hero style novel with people with powers and augmentations. This book is not my usual style at all, and I went into unsure. It started off a little slower the first several chapters but the further I got into it the more it picked up and the more interesting it got. I enjoyed Simon's character and wish there had been more into his side. I definitely grew to enjoy this book more than I expected and look forward to reading the rest of the series. It opened up a new genre/style for me. I hope that they go further into what happens with the MFC paintings.
May 7, 2019
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Dan Jolley created fully-developed, three dimensional characters to populate this story of a real world superhero. I am normally very good at seeing the plot twists that an author will introduce, but this book took some very unexpected twists and turns, especially for the first in a trilogy. With quick pacing, enjoyable dialogue, and intense action, Gray Widow's Walk leaves you stunned trying to determine what is next for our intrepid hero.
December 20, 2023
Great book! Just as a warning under no circumstances should you read the epilogue, I lt ruined the mystery and spoiled the second book for me, I have no clue why the author would want to spoil what could have been an amazing surprise I will read forward but now I pretty much know what's going to happen next.
March 26, 2019
Super Heroes????
I'm going to get the next one which tells you that I think it's worth reading. Give it a try some of the action is pretty ghoulish but I enjoyed it. In the end I want to see what happens.
I'm going to get the next one which tells you that I think it's worth reading. Give it a try some of the action is pretty ghoulish but I enjoyed it. In the end I want to see what happens.
January 19, 2023
This novel got me hooked at the very start. I'm not too much of a science-fiction reader but once in a while I discover a gem, and it's a real treat.
The Gray Widow is one heroine that grips your heart with all her angst, her thirst for justice and let's not forget her super powers.
If you love superheroes and science-fiction, this is a series you don't want to miss. The audiobook version makes it an immersive experience that makes it even better.
The Gray Widow is one heroine that grips your heart with all her angst, her thirst for justice and let's not forget her super powers.
If you love superheroes and science-fiction, this is a series you don't want to miss. The audiobook version makes it an immersive experience that makes it even better.
April 15, 2023
First book in a super hero trilogy with a good mix of gruesome and heartfelt. Strong comic book feel made it a real fun read.
March 9, 2017
What a great start to a superhero series, I loved that Janey wasn't a one-dimensional character and felt like a fleshed out person. I'm glad that the romance in the book didn't fell forced and that it didn't feel like a add-on. Mr. Jolley has a way to write all characters in a way that make them feel real. I thought the scene where Gray Widow confronts the minister was a great scene and one we don't usually see in a superhero novel, I loved how the Widow changed her appearance to something more alien. The final battle between Janey and Simon was climatic and exciting, I could see that scene in a movie. Overall I really enjoyed reading this and look forward to the sequels.
February 11, 2022
Strong Horror Elements to this Superhero Series - The Heroes Fight True Monsters
Gray Widow's Walk is a superhero prose story written by Dan Jolley (co-creator of DC Comic's Firestorm - so he knows supes). While this book includes the Gray Widow's origin, it isn't just an origin story. And while this is mostly a superhero story, it also includes romance, thriller, and horror elements. Well-developed characters are presented; the large-ish cast introduced one at a time in a clear and easy-to-follow manner.
Mr. Jolley knows how to write a novel by the numbers with solid action, great rise and fall of emotions, the tense of true crime and horror, the laughter of developing friendships, and a tight story. Solid A work here.
***
The victim of a home invasion as a teen, Janey Sinclair concentrated on never being a victim again. Then, one day, she gained the power of teleportation and she decided that no one needed to be a victim anymore if she could help them. The story starts on her first day "on the job".
Like any job, what sold you on the job during the interviews, and what the job actually entails are two VERY different things. Janey had never met anyone else with powers but that changes, and some people that gain powers like making victims.
(Read through Kindle Unlimited)
Gray Widow's Walk is a superhero prose story written by Dan Jolley (co-creator of DC Comic's Firestorm - so he knows supes). While this book includes the Gray Widow's origin, it isn't just an origin story. And while this is mostly a superhero story, it also includes romance, thriller, and horror elements. Well-developed characters are presented; the large-ish cast introduced one at a time in a clear and easy-to-follow manner.
Mr. Jolley knows how to write a novel by the numbers with solid action, great rise and fall of emotions, the tense of true crime and horror, the laughter of developing friendships, and a tight story. Solid A work here.
***
The victim of a home invasion as a teen, Janey Sinclair concentrated on never being a victim again. Then, one day, she gained the power of teleportation and she decided that no one needed to be a victim anymore if she could help them. The story starts on her first day "on the job".
Like any job, what sold you on the job during the interviews, and what the job actually entails are two VERY different things. Janey had never met anyone else with powers but that changes, and some people that gain powers like making victims.
(Read through Kindle Unlimited)
October 16, 2016
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Janey Sinclair is a uniquely flawed character that carries her own specific reasons for putting on a costume and going out each night to fight crime. There is a nice bit of character development and world building throughout the book which makes me interested to see where the story goes from here. The pacing of the story was well done and really well thought out. The supporting cast is nicely fleshed out and there are some characters that I hope to see more of in the next installments.
I also enjoyed the take on the super powers shown in the book. The powers don't make any one person unbeatable it seems. The way they are used keeps the story a little more grounded. There's a nice dose of Science Fiction throughout the book as well, which I really enjoyed.
It is also nice to see the setting in Atlanta instead of the typical NY or LA se superhero story. The Southern setting provides a nice change of pace.
I highly recommend this book.
I also enjoyed the take on the super powers shown in the book. The powers don't make any one person unbeatable it seems. The way they are used keeps the story a little more grounded. There's a nice dose of Science Fiction throughout the book as well, which I really enjoyed.
It is also nice to see the setting in Atlanta instead of the typical NY or LA se superhero story. The Southern setting provides a nice change of pace.
I highly recommend this book.
August 21, 2016
There are so many sides to Janey Sinclair. She’s determined and strong, yet sensitive and full of self-doubt. She’s brimming with passion and pain, inner turmoil and righteous indignation. There’s a haunted and lonely melancholy there as well, which makes her as vulnerable as she is tough. She’s a great character and Gray Widow’s Walk is a great read. It moves fast and is full of action and surprises, but not at the expense of character. The suspense is palpable and that makes it a real page turner. The title telegraphs that fact that the world Dan Jolley created isn’t black and white and neither are the characters. The villains are as complex and multifaceted as the heroes. The dialogue crackles and the action doesn’t let up. I can’t wait to find out what happens to Janey Sinclair next.
October 2, 2016
Terrific read! I'm a big fan of superhero tales with a twist, and Gray Widow's Walk delivers. I think my favorite thing is that the characters are human first, and "augmented" second - their actions make sense in the real world. There is plenty of thrills, but also time for character development. Looking forward to reading the next one in the series.
October 14, 2021
Good book. I'd definitely recommend!
Warning: Slight spoilers ahead.
Was a really good read. I liked the amount of detail put into everything. Even the one off, side characters (like the girl Janey saved in the college parking lot), got details about there character instead of being random, unnamed people. Also the characters reactions and emotions seemed very realistic.
Warning: Slight spoilers ahead.
Was a really good read. I liked the amount of detail put into everything. Even the one off, side characters (like the girl Janey saved in the college parking lot), got details about there character instead of being random, unnamed people. Also the characters reactions and emotions seemed very realistic.
February 4, 2022
I didn't care for it and didn't like some of the wording used
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