Crossfire

The Minus Faction #2

by Rick Wayne

An enigmatic mastermind recruits four people with extraordinary abilities and offers them everything they want in exchange for the impossible. But after one of them uncovers a plot to hack the human race, they're not sure which side they're on -- just that not all of them will survive.

"The Minus Faction" is a super-powered speculative thriller in seven novella-length episodes. In Episode Two . . .

Xana Jace keeps her head down, which isn’t easy when you stand seven feet eight inches tall. She works the night shift and stays out of trouble, striving only to be reunited with her son.

But she’s running out of time. The strange disease that compels her body to grow also threatens to choke her heart.

When a masked gangster terrorizes the small community that shelters her, Xana is left with a terrible choice and just twenty-four hours to discover the truth that everything she believes is a lie.

Genres: Science Fiction, Fantasy

149 pages, Kindle Edition

First published October 9, 2014

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Reviews

[Andy Goldman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rick Wayne's super-heroes-for-grown-ups serial continues with the introduction of Xana Jace, a meek giant of a woman pushed around by powers outside her control. This story started a little slower for me than the first entry in the Minus Faction series, but Xana ended up having more emotional depth than John Regent from the first episode, so that more than made up for it. And of course, when she does act, not only are her feats powerful because of her strength, but also because of how shocking they are given her character up to that point.

I recommend this series for anyone who likes a little bit of super-heroism in their thrillers.

[Emmett J. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really well written. Part if a series that knits together superbly.

[Ryan Toxopeus · Rating 5 out of 5]

This story was a slow build with a big pay off. After enjoying the first episode, I was hooked. When it started out, I noticed straight away that the writing style felt different from the first episode. The writing was in short, simple sentences. It felt a bit broken. But the reason for that became clear as we got to know Xana, the protagonist in this episode. She’s a hulking woman who can’t stop growing. She’s immensely powerful, but pretty simple-minded. So when we see the story from (mostly) her POV, it makes sense that it’s broken into smaller chunks.

The story itself is packed with emotion, as Xana looks for her son who has disappeared. There are layers to this story, and like a master storyteller, Wayne reveals them slowly, teasing the reader with bits of knowledge so you think you know what’s happening, and then another layer is peeled back. The character might think of herself as stupid and ugly, but I felt highly sympathetic to her plight. So far in these two episodes, Wayne has managed to take damaged characters and make them interesting and lovable – quite the feat for short segments.

I will definitely be picking up the third installment soon. The situations and characters that Wayne creates are too interesting for me to walk away. I need to know what happens next!

[Jon · Rating 5 out of 5]

In the second episode of the series, we meet Xana. She's my favorite character in the 5 books released so far. Where the first one was a non-stop, action-filled bit of awesome, this one is a bit more of a slow burn. But it pays off big as you get to know the character though.

Won't get into the specifics for spoilers' sake, but it's a ride for sure! I love how it weaves in a new thread to the cast of the series while continuing to offer glimpses of the bigger picture.

[Ronda Reed · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you have not started The Minus Faction Series, do yourself a favor an start them. Episode one was fantastic. That is all. This Episode Two: Crossfire, resonated with me. Xana Jace is my new female hero. I just love her, and will be thrilled to see if she returns as I anxiously await Episodes Three and Four. Love reading anything by the author.

[Jens · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kick-ass sequel with few of the disappointments of the first instalment.