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Action Figures #7
The Black End War
On Earth, Carrie Hauser is a hero.
But on the far side of the galaxy, she’s just another soldier on the front lines of an interplanetary war.
Carrie has barely recovered from thwarting an alien invasion of her home town when she’s whisked away to the heart of the Kyros Alliance and pressed into service with the Vanguard, a cosmic peacekeeping force dedicated to defeating the terrorist network known as the Black End.
Surrounded by hostile extraterrestrials, including among her teammates in the Vanguard, Carrie finds herself in for the fight of her life against an unstoppable force hellbent on spreading chaos and destruction — and if the Kyros Alliance falls, Earth could be next.
Get ready for the wildest ride yet in the Action Figures saga!
But on the far side of the galaxy, she’s just another soldier on the front lines of an interplanetary war.
Carrie has barely recovered from thwarting an alien invasion of her home town when she’s whisked away to the heart of the Kyros Alliance and pressed into service with the Vanguard, a cosmic peacekeeping force dedicated to defeating the terrorist network known as the Black End.
Surrounded by hostile extraterrestrials, including among her teammates in the Vanguard, Carrie finds herself in for the fight of her life against an unstoppable force hellbent on spreading chaos and destruction — and if the Kyros Alliance falls, Earth could be next.
Get ready for the wildest ride yet in the Action Figures saga!
290 pages, Kindle Edition
Published February 19, 2018
9 people are currently reading
3 people want to read
About the author
Michael C. Bailey
29 books35 followersMichael C. Bailey is a professional writer from Falmouth, Massachusetts who kind of hates writing bios.
Michael has been a working writer since 1998 when he simultaneously (and at the same time) sold his first freelance article to Renaissance Magazine and landed a job as a staff reporter for the Enterprise Newspapers. Michael recently ended his time at the Enterprise to focus on his creative writing.
Over the years Michael has contributed several more articles to Renaissance Magazine and other local publications, and has since 2004 been a staff writer for two New England-based renaissance faire production companies: Pastimes Entertainment and the Connecticut Renaissance Faire.
In September 2013, Michael's debut novel "Action Figures" became available on Amazon.com.
Michael has been a working writer since 1998 when he simultaneously (and at the same time) sold his first freelance article to Renaissance Magazine and landed a job as a staff reporter for the Enterprise Newspapers. Michael recently ended his time at the Enterprise to focus on his creative writing.
Over the years Michael has contributed several more articles to Renaissance Magazine and other local publications, and has since 2004 been a staff writer for two New England-based renaissance faire production companies: Pastimes Entertainment and the Connecticut Renaissance Faire.
In September 2013, Michael's debut novel "Action Figures" became available on Amazon.com.
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
March 1, 2018
It's Book Seven of the Action Figures series, which means if you're reading this, you're probably as heavily invested in the characters as I am. If you get nothing else from this review, know this - this series has not lost steam at all. In fact, it seems to be picking up speed. This is all due to Michael Bailey's incredible writing.
In the first chapter of Book One, we met Carrie "Lightstorm" Hauser, a teenage girl who gained superpowers after meeting a dying alien in the woods near her Kingsport, Massachusetts home. We all said "Ooooookay," but we ventured ahead. In the first five books, we've seen our intrepid Carrie take on rogue AIs, a demon lord, and various psychopathic super-villains. But though we've watched Carrie not only grow into her fantastical powers but grow as a person, the series never fully explored the origins of both the devices (the astrarma) that give Lightstorm her powers but the alien that bequeathed them to her. That all ended in Book Five when a monstrous alien baddie showed up on Earth looking for her. After defeating said baddie, Carrie was given a choice - join the galactic battle against the terrorist cell known as the Black End, or give up her powers forever. Even if you haven't read the story, you don't need to guess which option she took.
While her friends and family dealt with the aftermath of the battle and Carrie's sudden, subsequent absence (Book Six), Carrie finds herself thrown into the deep end of a bitter conflict with a myriad group of aliens, The Vanguard, who are determined to end the Black End's threat to galactic peace once and for all.
Yeah. Just another day at the office.
I give all the credit in the wor... UNIVERSE to Mike Bailey for taking the series in this wholly unexpected turn. Everything that's happened in the series thus far has been ten levels of weird and wacky, but at least it took place in a modern-day setting, in a place that could be our own hometown, and our characters dealt with everyday situations that made them incredibly relatable.
When the scene shifts to another part of the galaxy, a setting inhabited by dozens of sentient races with strange physiologies, hard-to-pronounce names (Zquurl? Really?) and kooky customs, Bailey had to create yet another universe pretty much from scratch. This is evidence of his genius, as he seems to be able to write any setting as if it's perfectly normal, perfectly familiar. At no time was I confused or bored while savoring every word of this story.
Carrie makes new friends, new enemies (or pseudo-enemies), and though they're aliens, we connect to them almost as much as we did to the Hero Squad. Just keep in mind when starting this book - war is hell. Keep a box of Kleenex close at hand, is all I'm saying.
I can probably count on one hand the number of series that have enthralled me like this one. These books would make great movies (animated OR live-action), and they are eminently re-readable. If you're a card-carrying member of Team Carrie, then you won't be disappointed by this installment. AT ALL.
In the first chapter of Book One, we met Carrie "Lightstorm" Hauser, a teenage girl who gained superpowers after meeting a dying alien in the woods near her Kingsport, Massachusetts home. We all said "Ooooookay," but we ventured ahead. In the first five books, we've seen our intrepid Carrie take on rogue AIs, a demon lord, and various psychopathic super-villains. But though we've watched Carrie not only grow into her fantastical powers but grow as a person, the series never fully explored the origins of both the devices (the astrarma) that give Lightstorm her powers but the alien that bequeathed them to her. That all ended in Book Five when a monstrous alien baddie showed up on Earth looking for her. After defeating said baddie, Carrie was given a choice - join the galactic battle against the terrorist cell known as the Black End, or give up her powers forever. Even if you haven't read the story, you don't need to guess which option she took.
While her friends and family dealt with the aftermath of the battle and Carrie's sudden, subsequent absence (Book Six), Carrie finds herself thrown into the deep end of a bitter conflict with a myriad group of aliens, The Vanguard, who are determined to end the Black End's threat to galactic peace once and for all.
Yeah. Just another day at the office.
I give all the credit in the wor... UNIVERSE to Mike Bailey for taking the series in this wholly unexpected turn. Everything that's happened in the series thus far has been ten levels of weird and wacky, but at least it took place in a modern-day setting, in a place that could be our own hometown, and our characters dealt with everyday situations that made them incredibly relatable.
When the scene shifts to another part of the galaxy, a setting inhabited by dozens of sentient races with strange physiologies, hard-to-pronounce names (Zquurl? Really?) and kooky customs, Bailey had to create yet another universe pretty much from scratch. This is evidence of his genius, as he seems to be able to write any setting as if it's perfectly normal, perfectly familiar. At no time was I confused or bored while savoring every word of this story.
Carrie makes new friends, new enemies (or pseudo-enemies), and though they're aliens, we connect to them almost as much as we did to the Hero Squad. Just keep in mind when starting this book - war is hell. Keep a box of Kleenex close at hand, is all I'm saying.
I can probably count on one hand the number of series that have enthralled me like this one. These books would make great movies (animated OR live-action), and they are eminently re-readable. If you're a card-carrying member of Team Carrie, then you won't be disappointed by this installment. AT ALL.
March 5, 2018
Just when Carrie Hauser felt her life could get back to "normal", she has to go clear across the galaxy for further training in how to be a superhero. Doesn't seem fair does it? But, in reality, she does need to go - the other races need her, they just don't know it yet.
The latest entry in the Action Figures series is the best thus far. When is the next one?!
The latest entry in the Action Figures series is the best thus far. When is the next one?!
September 1, 2018
Great series! I've loved every book.
The characters are well developed, and the story line is compelling. Hard to put one of these stories down, as I write a review at 1am! I am eager for more!
The characters are well developed, and the story line is compelling. Hard to put one of these stories down, as I write a review at 1am! I am eager for more!
March 14, 2018
This series gets better and better.
I loved this book its almost 5 am and i just finished it. Keep them coming please. Illbread them all.
I loved this book its almost 5 am and i just finished it. Keep them coming please. Illbread them all.
April 24, 2018
An adventure in space with a rich tapestry of alien life forms, where we find our hero Carrie is part of a much larger force than she ever realized
March 18, 2025
I thought I wouldn't like it since the focus is no longer superheroes on Earth but aliens (or extraterrestrials as used in the book) in space. However, I was quite surprised. I liked it a lot and learnt many things about how extraterrestrials are represented in science fiction.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews