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Action Figures #8
Crawling From the Wreckage
One war is over but a new war is beginning, and Lightstorm is once again caught in the crossfire.
After eight months in space fighting alongside the Vanguard against the Black End, Carrie "Lightstorm" Hauser comes home to rejoin her friends and family -- but do they even need her anymore?
Carrie returns to Earth and finds herself a stranger in her own life. Matt has taken over as leader of the Hero Squad, her secret identity has been revealed to the world, and her father wants nothing to do with his super-hero daughter. Worst of all, Concorde refuses to let Carrie back in the field until she deals with the trauma she suffered in the Black End War.
As Carrie struggles to figure out her place in the world, a new threat rises in the form of Massacre and Vendetta, two rival super-villain teams on a collision course -- and Kingsport is their battleground.
Heroes will rise. Heroes will fall. And no one will walk away unscathed.
After eight months in space fighting alongside the Vanguard against the Black End, Carrie "Lightstorm" Hauser comes home to rejoin her friends and family -- but do they even need her anymore?
Carrie returns to Earth and finds herself a stranger in her own life. Matt has taken over as leader of the Hero Squad, her secret identity has been revealed to the world, and her father wants nothing to do with his super-hero daughter. Worst of all, Concorde refuses to let Carrie back in the field until she deals with the trauma she suffered in the Black End War.
As Carrie struggles to figure out her place in the world, a new threat rises in the form of Massacre and Vendetta, two rival super-villain teams on a collision course -- and Kingsport is their battleground.
Heroes will rise. Heroes will fall. And no one will walk away unscathed.
322 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 9, 2019
14 people are currently reading
2 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 - 5 of 5 reviews
April 20, 2019
Action Figures is one of my favorite series of all time, so having to wait almost a year for Book Eight has been torture! Obviously, I wasted no time devouring this latest in this phenomenal series, and it did not disappoint.
Carrie Hauser, as always, remains the series' most compelling character. At a mere seventeen years old, she's done something no human can claim to have done - been a determining factor in a bloody galactic war that saw thousands fall, including many of Carrie's friends and fellow Vanguard members.
In this book, she returns home after eight months away to find that her human friends and family have founds ways to move on without her. Relationships have begun, ended, or evolved in Carrie's absence, making her feel like a stranger in her own life. Trying to be a teenage girl/high school student after so long away - and especially now that the whole world knows her secret identity - is a tall order for someone who's been to hell and back. And just to stir the pot, not one but TWO teams of super-baddies are closing in on Kingsport, having already left a trail of bodies in their wake.
I won't give spoilers, but DAMN, parts of this book were tough to read. Carrie's tough-as-nails personality still remains (Thank God), but with her hair-trigger temper, you just know things will happen, and they won't be pretty.
Be prepared for some surprises. And to have the tension ramped up for the next few books!
Carrie Hauser, as always, remains the series' most compelling character. At a mere seventeen years old, she's done something no human can claim to have done - been a determining factor in a bloody galactic war that saw thousands fall, including many of Carrie's friends and fellow Vanguard members.
In this book, she returns home after eight months away to find that her human friends and family have founds ways to move on without her. Relationships have begun, ended, or evolved in Carrie's absence, making her feel like a stranger in her own life. Trying to be a teenage girl/high school student after so long away - and especially now that the whole world knows her secret identity - is a tall order for someone who's been to hell and back. And just to stir the pot, not one but TWO teams of super-baddies are closing in on Kingsport, having already left a trail of bodies in their wake.
I won't give spoilers, but DAMN, parts of this book were tough to read. Carrie's tough-as-nails personality still remains (Thank God), but with her hair-trigger temper, you just know things will happen, and they won't be pretty.
Be prepared for some surprises. And to have the tension ramped up for the next few books!
April 26, 2021
It's a dark turn for the Hero Squad. While still geared toward the YA market, this book deals with more mature themes such as death, mental health, sex, and more.
After returning from her adventures with the Vanguard, Carrie Hauser has found life has changed quite a bit. From her mother's personal life and relationship with friend Sara, her own relationship with her father, the status of superheroes in the general community, and how she's dealing with the trauma of being at war.
The book flips back and forth between a first person account from Carrie's perspective (which is a running theme in the series) and a third person narrative from the "bad guys". While we have no better idea of the motives of the bad guys, we do get a look into their strategy. And we find that some people have a limit as to how far they will go.
Content Warning:
Overall, it's a great read. The teenagers within these stories seem to be more mature than one would expect from high school students, but that may be due in part to their life experiences. My own view of teenager maturity may be skewed by my own experiences. In the end, you're still reminded that these are kids experiencing what kids should not. While older readers may be better prepared for what's in this book, I'd recommend parents get a first read before younger readers delve into this book. It goes places where this series has not previously gone, not necessarily areas that teens are unfamiliar with.
After returning from her adventures with the Vanguard, Carrie Hauser has found life has changed quite a bit. From her mother's personal life and relationship with friend Sara, her own relationship with her father, the status of superheroes in the general community, and how she's dealing with the trauma of being at war.
The book flips back and forth between a first person account from Carrie's perspective (which is a running theme in the series) and a third person narrative from the "bad guys". While we have no better idea of the motives of the bad guys, we do get a look into their strategy. And we find that some people have a limit as to how far they will go.
Content Warning:
Overall, it's a great read. The teenagers within these stories seem to be more mature than one would expect from high school students, but that may be due in part to their life experiences. My own view of teenager maturity may be skewed by my own experiences. In the end, you're still reminded that these are kids experiencing what kids should not. While older readers may be better prepared for what's in this book, I'd recommend parents get a first read before younger readers delve into this book. It goes places where this series has not previously gone, not necessarily areas that teens are unfamiliar with.
April 30, 2021
This was kind of a downer for me. I just couldn’t get past Carrie’s whining and mood swings. It reminded me of someone who is self centered and needy. I get it what she went through in space but she took it out on everyone. Plus I would have liked to have seen more of the hero squad. I found everything else in the story enjoyable except Carrie.
June 6, 2019
An excellent story in a generally excellent series. Carrie discovers that actions have consequences, and things don't stay as you left them.
December 17, 2019
A good follow-up to the Black End war
Consider PTSD as a serious problem with good people going off the rails and this series comes together more with every book.
Consider PTSD as a serious problem with good people going off the rails and this series comes together more with every book.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews