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Out of the Box #25
Blood Ties
When a vicious attack by an unstoppable enemy sends Sienna Nealon looking for help, she finds it in the most unlikely of places:
Friday.
No, not the day. Nor the movie. The Guy.
Guy Friday: Strongman. Rapper. All-around idiot.
Facing the strongest enemy she's ever gone against, Sienna is left with no choice but to rely on Friday to help her as she races to solve a mystery that will take her into the digital depths of Silicon Valley. She will ward off enemies, mercenaries, hipsters...and face her greatest challenge:
A man with no common sense or connection to reality whatsoever. Friday. The man. The myth. The legend in his own mind.
And he's her only hope.
Friday.
No, not the day. Nor the movie. The Guy.
Guy Friday: Strongman. Rapper. All-around idiot.
Facing the strongest enemy she's ever gone against, Sienna is left with no choice but to rely on Friday to help her as she races to solve a mystery that will take her into the digital depths of Silicon Valley. She will ward off enemies, mercenaries, hipsters...and face her greatest challenge:
A man with no common sense or connection to reality whatsoever. Friday. The man. The myth. The legend in his own mind.
And he's her only hope.
- GenresFantasy
437 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 15, 2019
945 people are currently reading
203 people want to read
About the author
Robert J. Crane
140 books1,175 followersRobert J. Crane was born and raised on Florida's Space Coast before moving to the upper midwest in search of cooler climates and more palatable beer. He graduated from the University of Central Florida with a degree in English Creative Writing. He worked for a year as a substitute teacher and worked in the financial services field for seven years while writing in his spare time.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 40 reviews
May 11, 2019
A Sienna story with Friday in it? Come on, you know it's going to be totally KITTENS!
As is customary, this story is told from multiple points of view. And the fact that one is Friday's, lifts this story with a humourous and sometimes slightly disturbing narrative.
As is also customary, Sienna is once again facing an apparently impossible to beat bad guy. But this feels different. This feels like, just possibly, she is working her way back (oh so slowly) towards a potential HEA. Don't get me wrong, I can't see that happening any time soon, given the teasers laid for the future story arc.
But help and support comes from unexpected avenues. And doesn't that just add a hint of hope to this book.
I voluntarily reviewed an advanced reader copy of this book.
As is customary, this story is told from multiple points of view. And the fact that one is Friday's, lifts this story with a humourous and sometimes slightly disturbing narrative.
As is also customary, Sienna is once again facing an apparently impossible to beat bad guy. But this feels different. This feels like, just possibly, she is working her way back (oh so slowly) towards a potential HEA. Don't get me wrong, I can't see that happening any time soon, given the teasers laid for the future story arc.
But help and support comes from unexpected avenues. And doesn't that just add a hint of hope to this book.
I voluntarily reviewed an advanced reader copy of this book.
June 8, 2019
Brilliant read
Great read, was a bit unsure at first as Friday as a whole is a bit cheesy, but the more you read we get to have a behind the scenes look into his life and find a whole new perspective on why he is the way he is. Full of action and humour. Really enjoyed it
Great read, was a bit unsure at first as Friday as a whole is a bit cheesy, but the more you read we get to have a behind the scenes look into his life and find a whole new perspective on why he is the way he is. Full of action and humour. Really enjoyed it
May 19, 2019
4.5 stars. A very good installation in the Sienna saga, but minor criticism.
I have been reading the Girl in the Box, and Out of the Box series for years now. I must say some books and the series are better than others. I think it is possible to enjoy this book without reading the earlier volumes, but you will like it a lot more if you start at the beginning and read them all. Also there is some use of foul language, potty humor, and some childish sexual references, but all this does not feel gratuitous given the characters, and a lot of it made me laugh.
As with all of the books in the series, this one is of fun, full of graphic super-hero violence, and very interesting, creative concepts and characters. There is even a bit of education thrown in about mob mentality and social media.
The heroine, Sienna, is a full on badass, who has grown up a lot over the course of the series. The author, Robert J. Crane, has a knack for making humorous pop culture references, especially in Sienna’s voice. I found the book to be quite entertaining and as a Sienna fan, I appreciate Crane’s continual development of Sienna as a character.
I had one issue, though. Before I get to it, let me say that I don’t think this is a spoiler because I am addressing something that happens very early in the book, but just in case - I’M ABOUT TO SAY SOMETHING THAT SOMEONE MAY POSSIBLY CONSIDER A SPOILER.
POSSIBLE SPOILER WARNING!
FINAL WARNING - SOMEONE MAY CONSIDER THIS A SPOILER, DON’T READ FURTHER IF YOU DON’T WANT TO RISK IT!
Here is my issue , Sienna is a superhero succubus, who absorbs people’s souls, thus killing them if they touch for long enough. in an early, very violent fight scene Sienna is choking the villain, and there is some prolonged contact, but she didn’t start to absorb him? Sienna has a history of using this power (sometimes against her will), yet it doesn’t come into play at all in this early scene, however it does show up later in the book. It would have killed the story if she had succeeded in defeating the villain so early, but little things like this bug me. Consistency is important in a well crafted fantasy universe and that was a disappointment.
I have been reading the Girl in the Box, and Out of the Box series for years now. I must say some books and the series are better than others. I think it is possible to enjoy this book without reading the earlier volumes, but you will like it a lot more if you start at the beginning and read them all. Also there is some use of foul language, potty humor, and some childish sexual references, but all this does not feel gratuitous given the characters, and a lot of it made me laugh.
As with all of the books in the series, this one is of fun, full of graphic super-hero violence, and very interesting, creative concepts and characters. There is even a bit of education thrown in about mob mentality and social media.
The heroine, Sienna, is a full on badass, who has grown up a lot over the course of the series. The author, Robert J. Crane, has a knack for making humorous pop culture references, especially in Sienna’s voice. I found the book to be quite entertaining and as a Sienna fan, I appreciate Crane’s continual development of Sienna as a character.
I had one issue, though. Before I get to it, let me say that I don’t think this is a spoiler because I am addressing something that happens very early in the book, but just in case - I’M ABOUT TO SAY SOMETHING THAT SOMEONE MAY POSSIBLY CONSIDER A SPOILER.
POSSIBLE SPOILER WARNING!
FINAL WARNING - SOMEONE MAY CONSIDER THIS A SPOILER, DON’T READ FURTHER IF YOU DON’T WANT TO RISK IT!
Here is my issue , Sienna is a superhero succubus, who absorbs people’s souls, thus killing them if they touch for long enough. in an early, very violent fight scene Sienna is choking the villain, and there is some prolonged contact, but she didn’t start to absorb him? Sienna has a history of using this power (sometimes against her will), yet it doesn’t come into play at all in this early scene, however it does show up later in the book. It would have killed the story if she had succeeded in defeating the villain so early, but little things like this bug me. Consistency is important in a well crafted fantasy universe and that was a disappointment.
May 15, 2019
The one thing that I can always guarantee from an RJC book, is that they always make me smile. Those smiles are a great relief for me personally and very much appreciated. They also offset the amount of times I have wanted to kick the author in the head or scream in his face for what he has done to some of his characters.
When reviewing these books I often feel that I'm repeating myself albeit using different words. But you just have to give credit where it's due because he consistently delivers in producing book after book ..... always outstanding.
I love Friday! As a brit I'd describe him as an uncle knob head on steroids and without a filter. Totally kittens and definitely not Kardashians!!
Sienna has a big big problem with her latest adversary and its touch and go kind of stuff throughout the book. The newest big bad is unstoppable but as always sienna doesnt waiver. Interwoven through this there continues to be conspiracy which I cant envision ending well.
A lot of emotion towards the end which hits you in the feels. Seriously love Friday!
When reviewing these books I often feel that I'm repeating myself albeit using different words. But you just have to give credit where it's due because he consistently delivers in producing book after book ..... always outstanding.
I love Friday! As a brit I'd describe him as an uncle knob head on steroids and without a filter. Totally kittens and definitely not Kardashians!!
Sienna has a big big problem with her latest adversary and its touch and go kind of stuff throughout the book. The newest big bad is unstoppable but as always sienna doesnt waiver. Interwoven through this there continues to be conspiracy which I cant envision ending well.
A lot of emotion towards the end which hits you in the feels. Seriously love Friday!
May 17, 2019
Once again Robert j crane finds a way to impress with both humor and action, this time capitalizing on showing us that a character here from almost the beginning has more beneath the surface, Juy Friday. Of course, that's not his real name... but regardless, in this book we learn just how deep the bonds of blood and love can go between our heroine and her uncle, grandmother, and 'mi-maw' great grandmother. The plot was surprisingly straightforward this time; Sienna gets sent after a meta wrecking tech in New York, and... something happens; something so severe, I actually was worried about how the story would continue. Eventually, with the help of family and harry, she gets to pursue this new, highly lethal meta... headed westward, we get to see highlights of humor and revealed secrets. Former coworkers turned bitter rivals, a Meta powered fight club, and a plot to devastate the technological landscape of America... to tie it all together, we have a meathead obsessed with all things swole and awful... what will it take to get through to the inner tenderness of our favorite uncle?
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 9, 2019
Sienna’s latest adventure takes her to the Bay Area of California to battle another meta human who has a beef with Silicon Valley. As the book title indicates, Sienna receives help from family when she runs into forces beyond her control. Also, being saddled with an uncle who we have met before creates continuing headaches along with no help from her FBI bosses.
Sienna’s ongoing ethics to be the solution rather just an enforcer entails a lot of the challenges our heroine faces. You will enjoy following what unfolds.
The saga continues with further clues of more powerful entities creating more question begging for answers.
This tale would make for a great movie on the big screen. I hope someday it happens along with Robert’s other universes.
Sienna’s ongoing ethics to be the solution rather just an enforcer entails a lot of the challenges our heroine faces. You will enjoy following what unfolds.
The saga continues with further clues of more powerful entities creating more question begging for answers.
This tale would make for a great movie on the big screen. I hope someday it happens along with Robert’s other universes.
May 14, 2019
Sienna teams up with Friday. What could possibly go wrong? In the midst of Friday's complete buffoonery he has actual intelligent thoughts and expresses them clean and concisely. Who knew? And all in the middle of trying not to get killed fighting an almost unstoppable meta. This book will have you going thru some extreme moments where you want to just throttle Friday, but then he says something that makes perfect sense. Those two usually don't go hand in hand. I laughed quite a bit, because, kittens lol. Those serious moments were just as poignant. Finally get to see Friday's backstory, and I was honestly surprised. Excellent book as always.
December 13, 2019
I typically read books in 1-3 days. This book took me 2 weeks to read. The downward trend in these books hit it's all time low with this book. The last several chapters saved this book from a 1 star rating. Many times, I found myself having a difficult time getting past a chapter or two in one sitting. I would need to go back and look, but somewhere before the events in Scotland, this Series lost its way. That isn't saying there hasn't been a few good books along the way since then, it's just an overall lack of quality. I still read because I am invested in Sienna and truly want to see where this ends.
April 13, 2024
Sienna ass kicker name taker!
RJC! Is one of my go-to's for a great read. I've been hooked from the beginning. The always entertaining world of metahumans. I would love to have Sienna
as a bestie, she is so
freaking cool. Super powered yet down to earth
good people.
I'm worried though, how can our guy RJC handle all these power hungry short lived regular humans handle being metal. I don't know but I also can't wait to find out. Thanks Robert and family. Your fans truly
appreciate you and the world you conjured up.
RJC! Is one of my go-to's for a great read. I've been hooked from the beginning. The always entertaining world of metahumans. I would love to have Sienna
as a bestie, she is so
freaking cool. Super powered yet down to earth
good people.
I'm worried though, how can our guy RJC handle all these power hungry short lived regular humans handle being metal. I don't know but I also can't wait to find out. Thanks Robert and family. Your fans truly
appreciate you and the world you conjured up.
August 4, 2019
Enjoyed series from In the Box through now!
I can hardly wait for the next one. I have read both of Sienna's series for the past few weeks to catch up, and enjoyed then every one! I love her character; sarcasm, intelligent, and down to earth. I miss her other powers, and maybe she will find new ways to get own, or accumulate new ones. Also, her supporting cast are just as well written as she is, so I am hooked!
I can hardly wait for the next one. I have read both of Sienna's series for the past few weeks to catch up, and enjoyed then every one! I love her character; sarcasm, intelligent, and down to earth. I miss her other powers, and maybe she will find new ways to get own, or accumulate new ones. Also, her supporting cast are just as well written as she is, so I am hooked!
October 25, 2019
Love this series...always look forward to what Sienna & the gang are doing now. This book was a great addition to one of my favorite ongoing stories. I was a little sad about Friday & the turn of events from him being him, but we also learn a little about why he is the way he is (which has us sympathizing more in his favor). Can't wait to start on the next book and see where their journey leads this time
December 12, 2019
Totally kittens!
Another awesome book by Robert J. Crane! Poor Sienna, continues to work for the FBI, and having to keep her distance from her brother, family and friends in order to keep them safe. Her current case requires a little bit of help from the person she least expects/wants help from, her uncle Friday.
This is an excellent metahuman/superh-human series, I definitely recommend checking it out!
Another awesome book by Robert J. Crane! Poor Sienna, continues to work for the FBI, and having to keep her distance from her brother, family and friends in order to keep them safe. Her current case requires a little bit of help from the person she least expects/wants help from, her uncle Friday.
This is an excellent metahuman/superh-human series, I definitely recommend checking it out!
June 1, 2020
This book took me over a month to read. It's about a Grendel breaking into tech companies on a revenge plot. It was slow and after 400 pages, we don't even know who the bad guy was or why. I did enjoy Guy Friday, but hated the author had the world turn on him. He also looped Sienna into it and had her apologize to something she didn't even do, now she is hated again. Needless to say, I'm really frustrated. These characters need a break. A happy ending.
February 9, 2021
Friday
Sienna's idiot uncle.... oh how he shines. From horrible rap, horrible ideas of music, to being a proud uncle. I loved him for the first time in 35 books!
The overarching story arc has me enthralled... I need to know more about the behind the scenes story! And Gwen! Its weird that Sienna is "powerless" and I keep waiting for her to steal a soul or 5... or for Hades to pop up with a serum or 2... can't wait to see what happens next
Sienna's idiot uncle.... oh how he shines. From horrible rap, horrible ideas of music, to being a proud uncle. I loved him for the first time in 35 books!
The overarching story arc has me enthralled... I need to know more about the behind the scenes story! And Gwen! Its weird that Sienna is "powerless" and I keep waiting for her to steal a soul or 5... or for Hades to pop up with a serum or 2... can't wait to see what happens next
July 26, 2022
Great series. It's totally kittens!
You think this far into a series you may get bored, but, you'd be wrong. I love the characters and the story seems to have an endless line-up of evil villains. I hope Sienna gets powers again or somehow gets to lead a life where she gets her dreams fulfilled.
Read the series, I believe you will love it too!
I love the author's writing and comical humor. I love Sienna's snark. Enjoy the ser
You think this far into a series you may get bored, but, you'd be wrong. I love the characters and the story seems to have an endless line-up of evil villains. I hope Sienna gets powers again or somehow gets to lead a life where she gets her dreams fulfilled.
Read the series, I believe you will love it too!
I love the author's writing and comical humor. I love Sienna's snark. Enjoy the ser
May 26, 2019
Sienna & Friday
A fun, fearless foray into SiliValley & the tech world. Friday blundering every other step, doing it right-ish in between. Loving the family & friendship dynamics in this book. New, hopefully, long lasting friends for Sienna to turn to in her othersise crazy life. Read, enjoy , then await the next book. Thanks RJC 🧡
A fun, fearless foray into SiliValley & the tech world. Friday blundering every other step, doing it right-ish in between. Loving the family & friendship dynamics in this book. New, hopefully, long lasting friends for Sienna to turn to in her othersise crazy life. Read, enjoy , then await the next book. Thanks RJC 🧡
May 22, 2019
Awwww
Never ceases to amaze me with these stories. I loved how Sienna finally got along with not Friday. I have recommended these books to all my friends. Keep up the fantabulous writing.
Never ceases to amaze me with these stories. I loved how Sienna finally got along with not Friday. I have recommended these books to all my friends. Keep up the fantabulous writing.
June 2, 2019
Another great installment in the series
While I enjoy the great girl power I miss the friends and family approach to solving the meta problem of the month. Glad she had Uncle Friday to help save the day as Harry predicted.
While I enjoy the great girl power I miss the friends and family approach to solving the meta problem of the month. Glad she had Uncle Friday to help save the day as Harry predicted.
June 16, 2019
I'm a sucker for this series
Let's be honest this is not great literature. But it is a pretty good series that I look forward to reading. Maybe I just like smart ass heroines who kick butt.
Let's be honest this is not great literature. But it is a pretty good series that I look forward to reading. Maybe I just like smart ass heroines who kick butt.
July 5, 2019
Sienna really needs to get some new souls. Having her as just as a super strong meta is wearing off. Let's get her back to the Sienna we all loved. Her souls, and her conversations with them, surely missed.
August 10, 2019
Blood Ties
It is very difficult for me to watch Sienna go through months working for the government when they put her in dangerous positions hoping she will die and she lets them. I want her to take the shots to strengthen her powers.
It is very difficult for me to watch Sienna go through months working for the government when they put her in dangerous positions hoping she will die and she lets them. I want her to take the shots to strengthen her powers.
August 1, 2020
I've read every Sienna book up to this point and I persevered through 60% of this book before DNF. I couldn't take Friday anymore. I no longer cared what happened in the story. If I find Friday in another story again will not even read the book.
August 29, 2021
Tough one to get through
Not sure if it was Friday or what but this one dragged. I’ve read every book in the series up to this one and this one was by far the worst, very difficult to get through.
Not sure if it was Friday or what but this one dragged. I’ve read every book in the series up to this one and this one was by far the worst, very difficult to get through.
November 28, 2021
Loved it!
Loved seeing “the softer side” of these characters.. different from previous books & kinda refreshing. But, looking forward to more ass kicking in the next one 😉 and I’m ready for more Harry!
Loved seeing “the softer side” of these characters.. different from previous books & kinda refreshing. But, looking forward to more ass kicking in the next one 😉 and I’m ready for more Harry!
May 20, 2019
Story line good. Writing has declined sorry
I have been hooked on these books since book 1 so Please please improve this before I stop reading them .
I have been hooked on these books since book 1 so Please please improve this before I stop reading them .
May 27, 2019
Great read, enjoyingthe stories
Loving the story line, can not wait for the next one. Each one draws you into the drama with each line
Loving the story line, can not wait for the next one. Each one draws you into the drama with each line
May 27, 2019
WOW!
Not gonna spoil anything but Blood Ties is a PERFECT TITLE for this one!!! RJC you NEVER disappoint! As always I will be eagerly awaiting the next one!!!
Not gonna spoil anything but Blood Ties is a PERFECT TITLE for this one!!! RJC you NEVER disappoint! As always I will be eagerly awaiting the next one!!!
May 29, 2019
Fun
Really enjoyed that installment! Did not thing adding Guy Friday to the mix would work, glad to be proven wrong.
Really enjoyed that installment! Did not thing adding Guy Friday to the mix would work, glad to be proven wrong.
June 26, 2019
Guy Friday
Was a hoot through the whole book. You know I love this series if I lasted through book 25. Metahumans, action, and humor, it's all there.
Was a hoot through the whole book. You know I love this series if I lasted through book 25. Metahumans, action, and humor, it's all there.
August 6, 2019
Love these girl in the box out of the books ..everyone has a different page turning story ..I'm waiting for the next book to be released
Displaying 1 - 30 of 40 reviews