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Wearing the Cape #8
Repercussions
The heroes are on vacation. Really. The wedding of Dane and Annabeth (Danabeth) is over, the team has caught their villain-of-the-month, and Hope thinks everyone deserves a break from the cycle of training and public-relations appearances. So except for Ozma and Grendel (who’ve decided to return to adventures in Oz) they’re all enjoying the sand and the sun in Littleton, the safest secret community in the world.
But then Shell vanishes—her quantum-neural link with Hope and Shelly severed—and Ozma and Grendel return with ominous warnings that something is happening back in Chicago. As the Young Sentinels race to return home, the city is attacked by old and new foes and the fight does not go well. Heroes fall, and the survivors are faced with threats unlike any they have faced before. The Post-Event World is entering a new period of conflict, and Astra and the Sentinels must answer to their motto, Nos Preaestolor; We Stand Ready.
Fortunately, they don’t stand alone.
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WEARING THE CAPE STORIES:
Wearing the Cape.
Bite Me: Big Easy Nights (an Artemis adventure).
Villains Inc.
Omega Night (a WtC short story).
Young Sentinels
Small Town Heroes
Team-Ups & Crossovers
Recursion
Repercussions
WEARING THE CAPE GAMEBOOKS:
Wearing the Cape: The Roleplaying Game.
Wearing the Cape: Barlow’s Guide & The B-Files.
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But then Shell vanishes—her quantum-neural link with Hope and Shelly severed—and Ozma and Grendel return with ominous warnings that something is happening back in Chicago. As the Young Sentinels race to return home, the city is attacked by old and new foes and the fight does not go well. Heroes fall, and the survivors are faced with threats unlike any they have faced before. The Post-Event World is entering a new period of conflict, and Astra and the Sentinels must answer to their motto, Nos Preaestolor; We Stand Ready.
Fortunately, they don’t stand alone.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
WEARING THE CAPE STORIES:
Wearing the Cape.
Bite Me: Big Easy Nights (an Artemis adventure).
Villains Inc.
Omega Night (a WtC short story).
Young Sentinels
Small Town Heroes
Team-Ups & Crossovers
Recursion
Repercussions
WEARING THE CAPE GAMEBOOKS:
Wearing the Cape: The Roleplaying Game.
Wearing the Cape: Barlow’s Guide & The B-Files.
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355 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 30, 2019
86 people are currently reading
135 people want to read
About the author
Marion G. Harmon
24 books290 followersMarion G. Harmon picked up a Masters of History degree because he likes stories. He resides in Las Vegas, where he dabbles in various aspects of financial planning while trying to get the people in his head onto the page so they’ll stop pestering him.
Addendum: M.G.Harmon still lives in Las Vegas, but has ceased telling other people how to invest their money to become a "professional author," whatever that is. He has written nine books, all about Astra and Company. They still won't leave him alone.
Addendum: M.G.Harmon still lives in Las Vegas, but has ceased telling other people how to invest their money to become a "professional author," whatever that is. He has written nine books, all about Astra and Company. They still won't leave him alone.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 32 reviews
January 28, 2022
REPERCUSSIONS is the eighth WEARING THE CAPE novel and one that I was very fond of. I very much enjoyed the fact that it managed to start wrapping up the Teatime Anarchist plot that has been going on for eight books now. While it's awesome that the threat of apocalyptic breakthroughs has been an ongoing theme throughout the series, I think its good that Hope will get a chance to after other threats.
I'm not a big fan of Hope's romance with her Kitsune lover (and annoyed that Seven and Artemis shippers were mocked this book) and was actually hoping Marion G. Harmon would kibosh it this book. Sadly, that doesn't seem to be the case. On the plus side, I found the storyline entertaining throughout with a lot of the stakes being raised as Hope tried to deal with problems beyond even her powers.
Plus, I enjoyed the use of both Ozma as well as Christian angelogy in the storyline. I think that fit the story well. I don't know where Hope Corrigan's story is going to go from here but it is definitely the end of an era in the WTC universe.
9/10
I'm not a big fan of Hope's romance with her Kitsune lover (and annoyed that Seven and Artemis shippers were mocked this book) and was actually hoping Marion G. Harmon would kibosh it this book. Sadly, that doesn't seem to be the case. On the plus side, I found the storyline entertaining throughout with a lot of the stakes being raised as Hope tried to deal with problems beyond even her powers.
Plus, I enjoyed the use of both Ozma as well as Christian angelogy in the storyline. I think that fit the story well. I don't know where Hope Corrigan's story is going to go from here but it is definitely the end of an era in the WTC universe.
9/10
January 27, 2025
Only 1 book left for this 1st story arc and the action is almost nonstop getting there. Great superhero prose. Very recommended
January 28, 2021
Biggest events since the first book.
This newest book in the "Wearing the Cape" series continues the action, humor, and wonderful characters that make the series so much fun to read. The protagonist, Hope Corrigan (aka Astra) has grown from a wide eyed beginner in the first book to an experienced hero and team leader, while retaining the humility, faith, and determination to "save everyone" that has characterized her from the beginning. There are big things happening in this book, however, that will mean changes not only for Astra herself but for the world as a whole.
This newest book in the "Wearing the Cape" series continues the action, humor, and wonderful characters that make the series so much fun to read. The protagonist, Hope Corrigan (aka Astra) has grown from a wide eyed beginner in the first book to an experienced hero and team leader, while retaining the humility, faith, and determination to "save everyone" that has characterized her from the beginning. There are big things happening in this book, however, that will mean changes not only for Astra herself but for the world as a whole.
December 12, 2019
Wearing the Cape book 8. Serious spoilers for the previous books.
Astra and the team are mostly relaxing. Shelly, lucky girl, is in a think tank meeting discussing how their ability to project the future when an attack begins by taking out Shell's connection. Meanwhile, Brian and Ozma are in Oz -- Ozma help deliver a baby -- only to receive news of the danger. They return to Chicago to a brutal, multi-faceted attack, leading to a lot of deaths.
The tale winds on from there. It involves a subplot about Kitsune and Astra; a wake several days before the funeral; Astra's disobeying an order; a hero telling someone to ensure his sidekick gets the cure if only one of them can; a new set up to get heroes into action; new discoveries about the Green Man; more geopolitics; and more. Significant changes.
Astra and the team are mostly relaxing. Shelly, lucky girl, is in a think tank meeting discussing how their ability to project the future when an attack begins by taking out Shell's connection. Meanwhile, Brian and Ozma are in Oz -- Ozma help deliver a baby -- only to receive news of the danger. They return to Chicago to a brutal, multi-faceted attack, leading to a lot of deaths.
The tale winds on from there. It involves a subplot about Kitsune and Astra; a wake several days before the funeral; Astra's disobeying an order; a hero telling someone to ensure his sidekick gets the cure if only one of them can; a new set up to get heroes into action; new discoveries about the Green Man; more geopolitics; and more. Significant changes.
November 10, 2019
So, I appreciated this book, but I also felt it had a number of problems.
First, it starts off with almost 0 exposition. It's basically BAM, MASSIVE ATTACK, Response to it.
This is a problem, because clearly some time has passed for our characters since the last books (which were problematic in some other ways), but we don't get to see that, they're just thrown right into the action.
The scale of destruction in this book was also so huge as to be a jarring divergence from previous books. Like, we have multiple KEWs deployed on various European cities? The amount of damage to infrastructure in the U.S. was also quite extreme. The first book got CLOSE in scale to this with the powerful earthquake, but this seemed quite a bit different.
The European heros that were introduced in this book were basically characters with, from my perspective, almost 0 backstory who I knew nothing about. From notes in the book and online, they may have been introduced elsewhere? It really broke me out of the book when it focused on these characters, because I have no idea what their abilities or limits are. With the Sentinels or Young Sentinels, we've wathced the learn and grow, or seen them work together, so we can understand the scale of the abilities and powers, to some extent. But I honestly don't know what a Grind-Storm is, and whether it is really cool or not, since I don't know who Malmstrum is. And I think that it sort of behooves an author not to require side stories to be read to understand the cast.
I'll also add to this that the end notes on the various countries and political situations would have been great to have at the beginning of the book. No idea how the continental guard worked until I got to the end.
I think that my BIGGEST peeve though was the handing over of Joyuese. Look, I get that there are a wide range of breakthroughs and powers in this world, and somewhat literal 'magic', but I kind of draw the line at Dues Ex Machinas (Almost literally in this case). Astra has a new hammer, because God (or his stand in), gave it to her. How does that being work? NO IDEA!
I still enjoy this world, quite a bit, and I'll read later books, it is 3 stars, but definitely not up to the quality from previous books.
First, it starts off with almost 0 exposition. It's basically BAM, MASSIVE ATTACK, Response to it.
This is a problem, because clearly some time has passed for our characters since the last books (which were problematic in some other ways), but we don't get to see that, they're just thrown right into the action.
The scale of destruction in this book was also so huge as to be a jarring divergence from previous books. Like, we have multiple KEWs deployed on various European cities? The amount of damage to infrastructure in the U.S. was also quite extreme. The first book got CLOSE in scale to this with the powerful earthquake, but this seemed quite a bit different.
The European heros that were introduced in this book were basically characters with, from my perspective, almost 0 backstory who I knew nothing about. From notes in the book and online, they may have been introduced elsewhere? It really broke me out of the book when it focused on these characters, because I have no idea what their abilities or limits are. With the Sentinels or Young Sentinels, we've wathced the learn and grow, or seen them work together, so we can understand the scale of the abilities and powers, to some extent. But I honestly don't know what a Grind-Storm is, and whether it is really cool or not, since I don't know who Malmstrum is. And I think that it sort of behooves an author not to require side stories to be read to understand the cast.
I'll also add to this that the end notes on the various countries and political situations would have been great to have at the beginning of the book. No idea how the continental guard worked until I got to the end.
I think that my BIGGEST peeve though was the handing over of Joyuese. Look, I get that there are a wide range of breakthroughs and powers in this world, and somewhat literal 'magic', but I kind of draw the line at Dues Ex Machinas (Almost literally in this case). Astra has a new hammer, because God (or his stand in), gave it to her. How does that being work? NO IDEA!
I still enjoy this world, quite a bit, and I'll read later books, it is 3 stars, but definitely not up to the quality from previous books.
July 10, 2021
This may have been the best book in the series so far. Tons of action, huge stakes, a massive plan. It delves into the revelations of the last book in a really satisfying way, and has a ton of character development.
Only a handful of things bug me. At times, it feels like the book is moving too fast, hard to keep track of everything that is happening. Some developments felt a bit out of character, but I feel it all worked out in the end.
Overall, this was a fantastic book that shows a bright future of the series.
Only a handful of things bug me. At times, it feels like the book is moving too fast, hard to keep track of everything that is happening. Some developments felt a bit out of character, but I feel it all worked out in the end.
Overall, this was a fantastic book that shows a bright future of the series.
April 11, 2020
Wow.... O.0
Way to shake up the status-Quo!
With Astra and Co away from Chicago for some well deserved R&R, disaster strikes. Astra's link to her cyber friend Shell is lost, and Chicago itself may well be under attack!
This if by far the most epic and quite possibly most ambitious novel in the series to date. Old and New foes line up and ramp-up their treads to everything our heroes stand for. Without going into Spoiler Territory it can be said that this novel is "The Big One" for this series in the same manner as "The Event" was the big thing for the series setting. Things come to a head in this novel like nothing seen before and it clearly raises the stakes.
And all of this made for a awesome novel. Marion G. Harmon wrote an excellent novel here that kept me on the edge of my seat the whole time and never let go. Both Astra and her friends get to show how much they have grown and how far they are willing to go to save all the can.
I can't wait what awaits me during the next novel. For now 5 stars and a job well done!
Way to shake up the status-Quo!
With Astra and Co away from Chicago for some well deserved R&R, disaster strikes. Astra's link to her cyber friend Shell is lost, and Chicago itself may well be under attack!
This if by far the most epic and quite possibly most ambitious novel in the series to date. Old and New foes line up and ramp-up their treads to everything our heroes stand for. Without going into Spoiler Territory it can be said that this novel is "The Big One" for this series in the same manner as "The Event" was the big thing for the series setting. Things come to a head in this novel like nothing seen before and it clearly raises the stakes.
And all of this made for a awesome novel. Marion G. Harmon wrote an excellent novel here that kept me on the edge of my seat the whole time and never let go. Both Astra and her friends get to show how much they have grown and how far they are willing to go to save all the can.
I can't wait what awaits me during the next novel. For now 5 stars and a job well done!
November 2, 2019
Save everyone I can: Hope Corrigan pretty much does
This long awaited entry in Marion G. Harmon's near-decade-long superhero series moves the "overall" plot along quite a bit, and pushes its main character Hope Corrigan, Astra - basically Superman if he had a Spider-Man type origin and was a tiny blonde girl - well along the path of becoming the leader of her world's Justice League - only with a different "J" word for the team!
Though the series are incredibly different, I can't help but be reminded of Adam Warren's superhero comic series "Empowered," in which another blonde superhero discovers deeper and darker secrets about the world she inhabits while inspiring all around her with eyes to see her spiritual strength. In the most recent entry of Warren's series, Empowered discovers that she is a key piece the the cruel game larger powers are playing with humanity's fate. Here, Hope finds herself rising higher and higher in the threats she must defeat to, as she puts it, "save everyone I can." Perhaps not an oath as well known as "In blackest night, in brightest day," but it has a certain ring to it.
The pleasures of Harmon's world have always been the detail he puts into the extremely intricate world, alongside the earnest, idealistic characters who fight the forces of destruction they find. Like Ronin Games, Hope ventures into the world of international capes, but earns new worldwide respect in facing a superhuman terrorist threat we've not yet seen to this point. One really wonders what Legion of Doom we'll see next, as Hope and her team managed to decimate many of the long-time arch-foes Harmon has seeded into Astra's rogue's gallery - but at a significant cost. Thankfully, despite one slightly soap-opera-y twist, Hope's personal life is still fairly steady, avoiding some of the more frustrating romantic detours of the 3-5th books.
It's also extremely enjoyable seeing Harmon articulate an idiosyncratic political and religious philosophy through Hope (a devout, though extremely flexible Catholic). Seeing her navigate the political waters between states, the USA federal government, the international community, and even heavenly beings has long been a delight, but Repercussions takes it to the next level. Here's to Hope, and here's to more of her adventures!
This long awaited entry in Marion G. Harmon's near-decade-long superhero series moves the "overall" plot along quite a bit, and pushes its main character Hope Corrigan, Astra - basically Superman if he had a Spider-Man type origin and was a tiny blonde girl - well along the path of becoming the leader of her world's Justice League - only with a different "J" word for the team!
Though the series are incredibly different, I can't help but be reminded of Adam Warren's superhero comic series "Empowered," in which another blonde superhero discovers deeper and darker secrets about the world she inhabits while inspiring all around her with eyes to see her spiritual strength. In the most recent entry of Warren's series, Empowered discovers that she is a key piece the the cruel game larger powers are playing with humanity's fate. Here, Hope finds herself rising higher and higher in the threats she must defeat to, as she puts it, "save everyone I can." Perhaps not an oath as well known as "In blackest night, in brightest day," but it has a certain ring to it.
The pleasures of Harmon's world have always been the detail he puts into the extremely intricate world, alongside the earnest, idealistic characters who fight the forces of destruction they find. Like Ronin Games, Hope ventures into the world of international capes, but earns new worldwide respect in facing a superhuman terrorist threat we've not yet seen to this point. One really wonders what Legion of Doom we'll see next, as Hope and her team managed to decimate many of the long-time arch-foes Harmon has seeded into Astra's rogue's gallery - but at a significant cost. Thankfully, despite one slightly soap-opera-y twist, Hope's personal life is still fairly steady, avoiding some of the more frustrating romantic detours of the 3-5th books.
It's also extremely enjoyable seeing Harmon articulate an idiosyncratic political and religious philosophy through Hope (a devout, though extremely flexible Catholic). Seeing her navigate the political waters between states, the USA federal government, the international community, and even heavenly beings has long been a delight, but Repercussions takes it to the next level. Here's to Hope, and here's to more of her adventures!
January 15, 2020
Book 8 in the Wearing the Cape super heroes series is a fast paced action thriller with lots of creativity that continues and extends the story of the Wearing the Cape universe. While no doubt as well written as some of the previous works, I did find myself a little bit confused on starting this book as it had been a few years since I'd read the last and I hadn't been able to talk any of my friends into RPing the game version, sadly. The beginning had a sence of urgency with the disappearance of Shell where at least I was genuinely worried for our cyber girl. The series of action was usually pretty good....I kind of wish there had been more slow moments as to much action (maximisim) without enough small words written under the words moments (minimalism) can worse a work--not that it wasn't overall enjoyable. Mr. Harmon is a good enough writer to still pull it off despite leaping from one series of intense action to the next, though I think there were certainly missed opportunities for down time, especially at the end. Would have been nice to have seen Hope or Shell interact with our super badies. Fighting soulless villians is nice and all, but fighting ones that might be the hero if the story were twisted just a bit would be far better. Hats off appearance to Shelly again-that girl deserves her own book or at least short story at some point, at least in my humble opinion. Not really feeling the Kitsune romance. I'd say it feels forced but it doesn't even feel real. Maybe that's the feel Mr. Harmon was going for? IDK. I think I kind of like the whole archangel angle. Overall, I think fans of the series will enjoy this work. If your a new reader, do not read this yet...start at book 1.
November 13, 2019
This series needs to come to an end; it's lost its magic. If you're a fan of the series, you'll know what to expect, but there are problems that are popping up that are starting to wear on me.
1) Acronyms. Acronyms everywhere. There are just too many acronyms and one, BF, is used incorrectly. BF is an acronym for "Boy Friend", not "Best Friend".
2) There are characters that are relatively new and we don't know much about them. They're just a prop. A prime example of this is Kendrake. We know she has a bunch of colorful dragons, but we know nothing about her.
3) There's a lot of jumping around. There are tons of scene and perspective changes. It unnecessary and distracting.
4) Differentiating between the Virtual Person of Shelly and the cloned version of Shelly is difficult and confusing. A completely different name (not just Shell and Shelly) would be a better approach.
5) It feels like this series is becoming yet another forgettable Girl Power series. Nearly every character is female. The male characters (from across the entire series) are either dead or wounded. In this installment we have: Hope, Shell, Shelly, Artemis, Quinn, Ozma, kendrake, Kekkuu, the Morrigan, Nike, the new lockdown hero. For the males we have: Rush (killed), Megaton(wounded), Crash (sick), Sifu (old), Grendel (subservient to Ozma), Iron Jack (subservient to his daughter)
1) Acronyms. Acronyms everywhere. There are just too many acronyms and one, BF, is used incorrectly. BF is an acronym for "Boy Friend", not "Best Friend".
2) There are characters that are relatively new and we don't know much about them. They're just a prop. A prime example of this is Kendrake. We know she has a bunch of colorful dragons, but we know nothing about her.
3) There's a lot of jumping around. There are tons of scene and perspective changes. It unnecessary and distracting.
4) Differentiating between the Virtual Person of Shelly and the cloned version of Shelly is difficult and confusing. A completely different name (not just Shell and Shelly) would be a better approach.
5) It feels like this series is becoming yet another forgettable Girl Power series. Nearly every character is female. The male characters (from across the entire series) are either dead or wounded. In this installment we have: Hope, Shell, Shelly, Artemis, Quinn, Ozma, kendrake, Kekkuu, the Morrigan, Nike, the new lockdown hero. For the males we have: Rush (killed), Megaton(wounded), Crash (sick), Sifu (old), Grendel (subservient to Ozma), Iron Jack (subservient to his daughter)
January 1, 2020
I'm a big fan of this series, and this book was good, but definitely not Harmon's best work. The frequent use of acronyms, rushed pacing, perspective switching, and oversized cast just left something lacking.
Repercussions felt forced, as though Harmon was fighting through writer's block to complete it, and the prose suffers for it. Many new characters are introduced and not at all described, even in terms of basic appearance, events being and coalesce without much gravitas, and even the death of a major character feels like a brief footnote while the plot just moves along.
All told, the villains in this one felt too conveniently wrapped up as well, and a plot thread that's now been dangling for a few books was closed in ways that felt very deus ex machina, with a major power upgrade being acquired at seemingly random because... Well, Hope has to win, after all.
This was not at all a *bad* book, but it was very far from an excellent one. I hope with all the setup this book poses that Harmon can move forward with a better pace and flow in the next.
I'm generously giving this four stars. It's probably more of a 3.5 at best, but I'm considering it within the overall arc of the series, which as a whole I'd happily give four or five stars.
Repercussions felt forced, as though Harmon was fighting through writer's block to complete it, and the prose suffers for it. Many new characters are introduced and not at all described, even in terms of basic appearance, events being and coalesce without much gravitas, and even the death of a major character feels like a brief footnote while the plot just moves along.
All told, the villains in this one felt too conveniently wrapped up as well, and a plot thread that's now been dangling for a few books was closed in ways that felt very deus ex machina, with a major power upgrade being acquired at seemingly random because... Well, Hope has to win, after all.
This was not at all a *bad* book, but it was very far from an excellent one. I hope with all the setup this book poses that Harmon can move forward with a better pace and flow in the next.
I'm generously giving this four stars. It's probably more of a 3.5 at best, but I'm considering it within the overall arc of the series, which as a whole I'd happily give four or five stars.
December 17, 2019
A fantastic continuation of the series. Though it takes some very different and long-lasting turns. I'm hopeful and excited about the direction it seems to be going. I'm fully surprised by the change but I won't spoiler it. It is very exciting, though the future of this book series to new books in the future is going to be charting an interesting course.
I've loved almost every book in this series, though not so much Artemis solo' book. (Hopefully, we'll see her join up with Hope again in the new path being charted.) Just like the previous book I was well entertained and surprised by the turns it took, and how it has broken some genre conventions while embracing others.
I've loved almost every book in this series, though not so much Artemis solo' book. (Hopefully, we'll see her join up with Hope again in the new path being charted.) Just like the previous book I was well entertained and surprised by the turns it took, and how it has broken some genre conventions while embracing others.
January 23, 2020
I have really mixed feelings about this book - I really like the direction he took the story, but it felt a little...disjointed. I'm not sure if it's the wide range of characters we have now - and trying to keep up with each one seems challenging. In some ways, I miss the (relative) simplicity of his earlier books with the Astra only viewpoint.
On the other hand, it's more Astra, so that was great and I continue to enjoy the world he has built. Definitely only recommended if you've (recently) read all of the others, there's a lot going on in this one!
On the other hand, it's more Astra, so that was great and I continue to enjoy the world he has built. Definitely only recommended if you've (recently) read all of the others, there's a lot going on in this one!
March 20, 2020
Another great volume in an outstanding series.
While most superhero fiction tries to put their characters in a world that is superficially like the real world, this series examines the logical result of adding powers that isn't beholden to reality. Repercussions continues examining the results of what it calls ultra level powers where a few individuals have the capacity to wage war on superpowers. In the end it's transformative both to the world and the series protagonists. None of it can possibly be the same after this one.
While most superhero fiction tries to put their characters in a world that is superficially like the real world, this series examines the logical result of adding powers that isn't beholden to reality. Repercussions continues examining the results of what it calls ultra level powers where a few individuals have the capacity to wage war on superpowers. In the end it's transformative both to the world and the series protagonists. None of it can possibly be the same after this one.
November 5, 2019
Another entry into the Wearing the Cape universe that doesn't disappoint
Really enjoyed all of this. Characters both old and new return to the scene, call backs and consequences from earlier novels all come to a head.
I've really enjoyed this series and can't wait to see what else unfolds in the world as time moves forward.
Really enjoyed all of this. Characters both old and new return to the scene, call backs and consequences from earlier novels all come to a head.
I've really enjoyed this series and can't wait to see what else unfolds in the world as time moves forward.
November 4, 2019
Another cracking superhero yarn
This book reminded me why I auto-buy any new Wearing the Cape novel. Fun, inventive use of powers, quirky characters, it has it all. Best of the latest releases and spreads the action across the globe for a larger view of this Post-Event world.
This book reminded me why I auto-buy any new Wearing the Cape novel. Fun, inventive use of powers, quirky characters, it has it all. Best of the latest releases and spreads the action across the globe for a larger view of this Post-Event world.
November 6, 2019
Yes!!
If you haven’t read the other books jumping into this one’s going to hurt but I will say this is probably one of my favorite so far so much happens in this book it would be impossible to go over it in a simple review without writing a whole Nother book.
If you haven’t read the other books jumping into this one’s going to hurt but I will say this is probably one of my favorite so far so much happens in this book it would be impossible to go over it in a simple review without writing a whole Nother book.
November 22, 2019
Grand close of the first arc
This was a wonderful final chapter in the first arc. The character growth was rich and surprising, and inevitable once you saw the events. The plot had fun twists and the action was superb as always. Loved it!
This was a wonderful final chapter in the first arc. The character growth was rich and surprising, and inevitable once you saw the events. The plot had fun twists and the action was superb as always. Loved it!
November 28, 2019
Always enjoy this series
I've been reading/watching Hope from the beginning and her growth as a superhero matches the growth and complexity of the stories. I look forward to seeing what comes next. N
I've been reading/watching Hope from the beginning and her growth as a superhero matches the growth and complexity of the stories. I look forward to seeing what comes next. N
January 3, 2020
A Big Step for the series
A really good and action packed, thoughtful step forward in the series. With lots of changes and cast shake up. But if it was real, wouldn't we expect that?
Really enjoyed this one and looking forward to the the next one.
A really good and action packed, thoughtful step forward in the series. With lots of changes and cast shake up. But if it was real, wouldn't we expect that?
Really enjoyed this one and looking forward to the the next one.
May 24, 2020
Another great instalment and an amazing ending especially with the extra notes and word from the author about how the series will go forward included. Still in my estimation the best superhero world building I have read in novel form.
July 4, 2020
I love these books. Easily top 5 favorite series. Maybe top 3. There's just one small, little minor thing. You keep using BF to mean Best Friend. It means Boy Friend. BFF is what you're going for. And everytime I see it I get just the tiniest flare of rage lol. Maybe fix that in future
November 2, 2019
Energetic and Creative Superhero fiction.
Most people don't think about consequences. They don't wonder if superman has legal authority or if the Avengers need a police union card. If you have the kind of mind that wonders how superhumans are supposed to fit in a world in which inconvenient details don't solve themselves off camera, this is your kind of read.
Most people don't think about consequences. They don't wonder if superman has legal authority or if the Avengers need a police union card. If you have the kind of mind that wonders how superhumans are supposed to fit in a world in which inconvenient details don't solve themselves off camera, this is your kind of read.
November 3, 2019
Harmon is in top form here
Finally we're back with a story that pulls no punches, just like the first one. Really enjoyed the ride and looking forward to the next one.
Finally we're back with a story that pulls no punches, just like the first one. Really enjoyed the ride and looking forward to the next one.
November 23, 2019
A new day comes
We have waited the new adventure and it is epic.
Perhaps a bit more existential than I like, but after a re-read it comes together for me.
We have waited the new adventure and it is epic.
Perhaps a bit more existential than I like, but after a re-read it comes together for me.
April 25, 2020
This one I liked a lot. It tied up a few loose ends from previous books and had a high body count so the stakes were raised.
April 5, 2021
Had some good bits, but I think the part where the main character gets a pep talk from an angel sort of rubbed me the wrong way.
November 9, 2023
Another good example of the series
It was a little darker, had a little more loss, than some, but well done as usual. If you like the genre, it is a good example.
It was a little darker, had a little more loss, than some, but well done as usual. If you like the genre, it is a good example.
June 19, 2022
Repercussions is the latest in the excellent Wearing the Capes series. This book itself, however, is not excellent. It's a good book, but not as good as I was expecting it to be.
It's different from all the other books in the series. For starters, it's written differently. This is the first book in the series that's told in third-person rather than first (not counting Team Ups and Crossovers, which is a total outlier). I suspect this was intentional (rather than just "I feel like writing the next book differently), as this book also appears to take Astra from being a big fish in a small pond (if you can really call Chicago in the Astra-verse "small" and places her in a much larger whole-world setting. The author said that this was the end of the first arc of Astra's story and the beginning of the next, and the way things played out in the last part of the book makes me want to see how that goes.
One of the things that bugs me when I'm reading is a blatant continuity error. There was one in Rush's backstory, where they're showing his breakthrough. He's described as a football star at Colorado State University. Later, in the same paragraph, it describes his breakthrough in the fourth quarter of the Colorado-Arizona game. Um...Colorado and Colorado State are two different schools, and I'm surprised no one caught that before it wound up in my Kindle. Ah, well. Picking nits, I know.
My major problem with the book, and what kept it from being more than three stars, was that it was too action-packed. (Yes, it is, too, possible. Shut up!) If you read the first book in the series, you may remember the Whittier Base attack, in which a consortium of terrorist groups tries to assassinate the President and kill as many capes as they can. It was a brutal battle scene. Repercussions feels like one long Whittier Base Attack. There are something like four or five major battles, and not enough time between to catch your breath. It can be a little overwhelming. I really didn't care for finding out the Shocking Secret Origin of Detective Fisher (I rather enjoyed the "what exactly is he?" air that he brought to the table), and I *really* hope the author doesn't do that to Ozma. And the reveal about the Green Man felt a little forced to me, too...or at least way out of left field.
And the end of the book felt mistimed. It comes at the end of another major battle, and I found myself thinking "That's it? It's over?" Especially since the end of the book came at the 83% mark. Which left about 50 pages for an appendix called "The Post-Event World," comprised of some snippets and flash-fictions as well as some info-dumping, and the "People and Places" glossary. (Another nit...while I appreciate the glossary, it would be nice if it would be updated; some of the characters' information is at least two books out of date.)
I know that it seems like I'm bitching a *lot* about this book. But Wearing the Capeis still far and away the best-written superhero novel(s) I've read so far, and even with all my piddling complaints I still really enjoyed the book (read it twice in the week after I got it). If it didn't have so many nits to pic, it would have been at least a 4-star. But it's still staying in my rotation, and I still recommend it.
It's different from all the other books in the series. For starters, it's written differently. This is the first book in the series that's told in third-person rather than first (not counting Team Ups and Crossovers, which is a total outlier). I suspect this was intentional (rather than just "I feel like writing the next book differently), as this book also appears to take Astra from being a big fish in a small pond (if you can really call Chicago in the Astra-verse "small" and places her in a much larger whole-world setting. The author said that this was the end of the first arc of Astra's story and the beginning of the next, and the way things played out in the last part of the book makes me want to see how that goes.
One of the things that bugs me when I'm reading is a blatant continuity error. There was one in Rush's backstory, where they're showing his breakthrough. He's described as a football star at Colorado State University. Later, in the same paragraph, it describes his breakthrough in the fourth quarter of the Colorado-Arizona game. Um...Colorado and Colorado State are two different schools, and I'm surprised no one caught that before it wound up in my Kindle. Ah, well. Picking nits, I know.
My major problem with the book, and what kept it from being more than three stars, was that it was too action-packed. (Yes, it is, too, possible. Shut up!) If you read the first book in the series, you may remember the Whittier Base attack, in which a consortium of terrorist groups tries to assassinate the President and kill as many capes as they can. It was a brutal battle scene. Repercussions feels like one long Whittier Base Attack. There are something like four or five major battles, and not enough time between to catch your breath. It can be a little overwhelming. I really didn't care for finding out the Shocking Secret Origin of Detective Fisher (I rather enjoyed the "what exactly is he?" air that he brought to the table), and I *really* hope the author doesn't do that to Ozma. And the reveal about the Green Man felt a little forced to me, too...or at least way out of left field.
And the end of the book felt mistimed. It comes at the end of another major battle, and I found myself thinking "That's it? It's over?" Especially since the end of the book came at the 83% mark. Which left about 50 pages for an appendix called "The Post-Event World," comprised of some snippets and flash-fictions as well as some info-dumping, and the "People and Places" glossary. (Another nit...while I appreciate the glossary, it would be nice if it would be updated; some of the characters' information is at least two books out of date.)
I know that it seems like I'm bitching a *lot* about this book. But Wearing the Capeis still far and away the best-written superhero novel(s) I've read so far, and even with all my piddling complaints I still really enjoyed the book (read it twice in the week after I got it). If it didn't have so many nits to pic, it would have been at least a 4-star. But it's still staying in my rotation, and I still recommend it.
June 7, 2023
The pacing and tone of Repercussions is very different than Harmon’s previous novels. Everything occurs at high speed with little time for the heroes to react and even less time for them to think. To add to the feeling of ever-growing frenzy, the point of view changes multiple times in most chapters and reflects a significantly larger number of character perspectives than we have been introduced to before. The civilized world is under attack and it is by no means clear if the Sentinels can save the day this time. Harmon has long flirted with post-apocalyptic settings—both in the visions of the Tea Time Anarchist and in the alternate realities of Team Ups and Crossovers. Within a very few chapters it becomes evident that this might just be the book that sees those dark ages introduced full time into the series. Starting in the United States and spreading outwards, the death count is higher than at any time since the first book in the series, and that number includes the heroes as well as the civilians. If you’ve grown to love the large cast of Wearing the Cape—brace yourself—everything is on the table this time and no one gets away unhurt.
So this book is everything in a superhero novel you could desire—tons of actions, great super powers, and a gritty plot worthy of our heroic cast. That being said, I do have a small complaint that I’ve had a little difficulty articulating. I have read every book in this series at least twice and am listening to the audiobooks now. I feel like I know the action and the characters very well. Yet there were many times when Harmon made references that made me wonder if there was a short story out there that I had missed (and maybe there is) and the novel was just jammed packed with facts about supers in the rest of the planet—as if after finishing the guide books to his super hero roleplaying game, Harmon just couldn’t resist feeding us information a little bit artificially.
That being said, Astra experiences a lot of changes in this novel and I found the character development well thought out and credible. I’m anxious to see what Harmon has in store for her and her friends in the books to come.
If you liked this review, you can find more at www.gilbertstack.com/reviews.
So this book is everything in a superhero novel you could desire—tons of actions, great super powers, and a gritty plot worthy of our heroic cast. That being said, I do have a small complaint that I’ve had a little difficulty articulating. I have read every book in this series at least twice and am listening to the audiobooks now. I feel like I know the action and the characters very well. Yet there were many times when Harmon made references that made me wonder if there was a short story out there that I had missed (and maybe there is) and the novel was just jammed packed with facts about supers in the rest of the planet—as if after finishing the guide books to his super hero roleplaying game, Harmon just couldn’t resist feeding us information a little bit artificially.
That being said, Astra experiences a lot of changes in this novel and I found the character development well thought out and credible. I’m anxious to see what Harmon has in store for her and her friends in the books to come.
If you liked this review, you can find more at www.gilbertstack.com/reviews.
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