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The Fire Inside
Jack King is going scorch the city to avenge his friend's murder.
When his best friend is murdered, former crime-fighter Jack leaps head-first back into a world he walked away from - a world more complicated and dangerous than he ever knew. With a squad of ruthless killers on his six and uncertain allies by his side, Jack is going to find his friend's murderer — even if he has to burn the city down!
"By the end of this book I was fist punching the air and looking for things to fight with my epic Highlander broadsword!" - Kelly, Reading the Paranormal
The first book in the Sidekicks Series, The Fire Inside is an urban fantasy crime thriller that grabs you by the throat and doesn't let go. Filled with exciting characters, sharp dialogue, and an edge-of-your-seat plot, The Fire Inside takes the reader on a roller-coaster ride where right and wrong isn't always black and white.
Interview with the Author
Q- Tell us about yourself?
A- My name is Raymond M Rose and I took my passion for science fiction, thrillers, comic books, and mysteries and mixed them into something exciting and fun-to-read.
Q- Like...
A- X-Men meets Person of Interest, Arrow meets Elvis Cole, X-Files meets The Avengers. The best of all worlds mixed together. It's got Science Fiction Superhumans caught up in an Action Packed plot.
Q- Your main character--
A- Jack King
Q- He's got a bit of a temper. That seems like a bad trait for someone who can control fire?
A- Quite bad.
Q- Can he control it?
A- Usually. But when his best friend is murdered, well...
Q- Things seem a little different in the Sidekicks world...?
A- It's a Science Fiction Alternative History world where superheroes have changed the world.
Q- Are there more books to the Sidekicks Series?
A- I'm just getting started. Head over to www.raymondmrose.com to find out what I'm up to.
And enjoy.
Sidekicks: Action Packed Urban Fantasy Crime Series eBook Categories:
Science Fiction & Fantasy : Science Fiction : Adventure : Thriller or Mystery
Science Fiction & Fantasy : Science Fiction : Alternative History : Mystery
Science Fiction & Fantasy : Science Fiction : Cyberpunk
Mystery, Thriller & Suspense : Thrillers : Assassinations
When his best friend is murdered, former crime-fighter Jack leaps head-first back into a world he walked away from - a world more complicated and dangerous than he ever knew. With a squad of ruthless killers on his six and uncertain allies by his side, Jack is going to find his friend's murderer — even if he has to burn the city down!
"By the end of this book I was fist punching the air and looking for things to fight with my epic Highlander broadsword!" - Kelly, Reading the Paranormal
The first book in the Sidekicks Series, The Fire Inside is an urban fantasy crime thriller that grabs you by the throat and doesn't let go. Filled with exciting characters, sharp dialogue, and an edge-of-your-seat plot, The Fire Inside takes the reader on a roller-coaster ride where right and wrong isn't always black and white.
Interview with the Author
Q- Tell us about yourself?
A- My name is Raymond M Rose and I took my passion for science fiction, thrillers, comic books, and mysteries and mixed them into something exciting and fun-to-read.
Q- Like...
A- X-Men meets Person of Interest, Arrow meets Elvis Cole, X-Files meets The Avengers. The best of all worlds mixed together. It's got Science Fiction Superhumans caught up in an Action Packed plot.
Q- Your main character--
A- Jack King
Q- He's got a bit of a temper. That seems like a bad trait for someone who can control fire?
A- Quite bad.
Q- Can he control it?
A- Usually. But when his best friend is murdered, well...
Q- Things seem a little different in the Sidekicks world...?
A- It's a Science Fiction Alternative History world where superheroes have changed the world.
Q- Are there more books to the Sidekicks Series?
A- I'm just getting started. Head over to www.raymondmrose.com to find out what I'm up to.
And enjoy.
Sidekicks: Action Packed Urban Fantasy Crime Series eBook Categories:
Science Fiction & Fantasy : Science Fiction : Adventure : Thriller or Mystery
Science Fiction & Fantasy : Science Fiction : Alternative History : Mystery
Science Fiction & Fantasy : Science Fiction : Cyberpunk
Mystery, Thriller & Suspense : Thrillers : Assassinations
- GenresUrban FantasyFantasy
480 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 22, 2010
7 people are currently reading
31 people want to read
About the author
Raymond M. Rose
4 books66 followersAuthor, Marketing Consultant, Web Designer, Husband, Father,... Lover of cereals!
From intriguing characters, breakneck plot lines, and fascinating settings, I focus on crafting stories that take readers on a ride. I want you to love or love-to-hate my characters as much as I do. For me, that's the only way to really read a book.
Growing up, I tore through Stephen King, Clive Barker, and Thomas Harris novels. Every Wednesday, I went to the comic book store to get the newest X-Men and Spider-Man. Not to mention, I wrote elaborate back stories for my Star Wars, G.I. Joe, and Transformer characters.
Today, I mash all these elements together to write the books that I want to read.
Go to www.raymondmrose.com to sign up for a free copy of my novel, The Fire Inside, the first book in the Science Fiction Thriller series, Sidekicks.
From intriguing characters, breakneck plot lines, and fascinating settings, I focus on crafting stories that take readers on a ride. I want you to love or love-to-hate my characters as much as I do. For me, that's the only way to really read a book.
Growing up, I tore through Stephen King, Clive Barker, and Thomas Harris novels. Every Wednesday, I went to the comic book store to get the newest X-Men and Spider-Man. Not to mention, I wrote elaborate back stories for my Star Wars, G.I. Joe, and Transformer characters.
Today, I mash all these elements together to write the books that I want to read.
Go to www.raymondmrose.com to sign up for a free copy of my novel, The Fire Inside, the first book in the Science Fiction Thriller series, Sidekicks.
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Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
July 31, 2011
The city of Claremont was once a home to many superheroes and villains. But then came the Battle where many of the super powered people died along with a lot of innocent people, and the city hasn’t been the same. However, some of the heroes didn’t die. They were wounded and decided to retire anonymously.
One of those people is Jack King who used to be Teen Protector call Sparks. Ten years after the Battle, he works in a book store and has a gorgeous lawyer as a girlfriend. Then, a man from his past walks back into his life: Bruce Webster who was like a brother to Jack and a member of the Teen Protectors as Osprey. Today, Bruce is an Agent for the Federal Agency and he’s worried about something. He’d like Jack to protect his back, but Jack doesn’t want to get back into heroics and refuses. However, the next day Jack hears that Bruce has been brutally murdered and of course Jack has to find out who murdered his former best friend.
Jack is the main character but the book has a lot of POV character. Agent Manning is Bruce’s long-time friend and has his own powers. He too wants to investigate Bruce’s murder but is prevented by his superior. Karen is Bruce’s gorgeous wife who is on the run with a mysterious package. Sword-wielding knights and a shape shifter chase her around. Bruce has also contacted a homeless teenager Jonathan who also has powers. Jonathan becomes involved in the case by accident.
The book starts with a scene shortly before the Battle until it jumps to ten years later. There are several such short scenes about the Battle in the book. Also, Jack has some flashbacks which are written in the present tense. That was a bit jarring at first but I got used to them quickly.
Most of the POV characters are heroes but they are flawed with distinct personalities, and powers. However, they are all brave and loyal to their friends, and they all have great fighting skills. Jack controls fire. He carries some heavy baggage from the Battle and is afraid of using the full extent of his powers. He’s also quick to anger and resorts easily to violence. Manning is professionally suspicious of everyone. He can see through everything and everyone, and uses his power in his work. Jonathan is also suspicious of others because he’s seen a lot of predators on the streets but he’s pretty secure of himself. He’s very accurate with thrown weapons. Karen is frantic because she doesn’t know where her husband is or who are the people chasing her. She can change herself into a data stream and teleport herself that way. Jack, Jonathan and a couple of other characters are readers and Rose mentions a lot of SF books by name.
There’s a lot of fighting in the book. The obvious difference to the mainstream superhero comic books is that both villains and heroes use deadly weapons, such as guns and swords, and kill people. Very few are just knocked unconscious. In fact, Jack uses his fire powers to brutally cook people alive and the scenes are pretty gory. All of the heroes we meet here carry weapons in addition to having powers.
The book is fast-paced. In fact, the first few chapters, after the scene set during the Battle, are the slowest ones in the book because they describe Jack’s pretty ordinary life.
The book has some romance. Jack has a girlfriend Rachel and he hasn’t told her about his superhero past. Manning is married and there’s romance brewing between two younger characters.
Unlike some of other reviewers, I noticed only a few spelling errors. Maybe they’ve been fixed. However, I did notice some other errors such as when a man is sincerely crying because his best friend is dead, this is called crocodile tears. Also, since the book is written in a tight third POV, there isn’t an obvious narrator, but a couple of times Rose used “we” in the narration, for example, “heroes who protect us” and that was jarring.
Kindle has a short preview of the next book, Black Mirror. While the story reaches a satisfying conclusion, there are some threads left open.
One of those people is Jack King who used to be Teen Protector call Sparks. Ten years after the Battle, he works in a book store and has a gorgeous lawyer as a girlfriend. Then, a man from his past walks back into his life: Bruce Webster who was like a brother to Jack and a member of the Teen Protectors as Osprey. Today, Bruce is an Agent for the Federal Agency and he’s worried about something. He’d like Jack to protect his back, but Jack doesn’t want to get back into heroics and refuses. However, the next day Jack hears that Bruce has been brutally murdered and of course Jack has to find out who murdered his former best friend.
Jack is the main character but the book has a lot of POV character. Agent Manning is Bruce’s long-time friend and has his own powers. He too wants to investigate Bruce’s murder but is prevented by his superior. Karen is Bruce’s gorgeous wife who is on the run with a mysterious package. Sword-wielding knights and a shape shifter chase her around. Bruce has also contacted a homeless teenager Jonathan who also has powers. Jonathan becomes involved in the case by accident.
The book starts with a scene shortly before the Battle until it jumps to ten years later. There are several such short scenes about the Battle in the book. Also, Jack has some flashbacks which are written in the present tense. That was a bit jarring at first but I got used to them quickly.
Most of the POV characters are heroes but they are flawed with distinct personalities, and powers. However, they are all brave and loyal to their friends, and they all have great fighting skills. Jack controls fire. He carries some heavy baggage from the Battle and is afraid of using the full extent of his powers. He’s also quick to anger and resorts easily to violence. Manning is professionally suspicious of everyone. He can see through everything and everyone, and uses his power in his work. Jonathan is also suspicious of others because he’s seen a lot of predators on the streets but he’s pretty secure of himself. He’s very accurate with thrown weapons. Karen is frantic because she doesn’t know where her husband is or who are the people chasing her. She can change herself into a data stream and teleport herself that way. Jack, Jonathan and a couple of other characters are readers and Rose mentions a lot of SF books by name.
There’s a lot of fighting in the book. The obvious difference to the mainstream superhero comic books is that both villains and heroes use deadly weapons, such as guns and swords, and kill people. Very few are just knocked unconscious. In fact, Jack uses his fire powers to brutally cook people alive and the scenes are pretty gory. All of the heroes we meet here carry weapons in addition to having powers.
The book is fast-paced. In fact, the first few chapters, after the scene set during the Battle, are the slowest ones in the book because they describe Jack’s pretty ordinary life.
The book has some romance. Jack has a girlfriend Rachel and he hasn’t told her about his superhero past. Manning is married and there’s romance brewing between two younger characters.
Unlike some of other reviewers, I noticed only a few spelling errors. Maybe they’ve been fixed. However, I did notice some other errors such as when a man is sincerely crying because his best friend is dead, this is called crocodile tears. Also, since the book is written in a tight third POV, there isn’t an obvious narrator, but a couple of times Rose used “we” in the narration, for example, “heroes who protect us” and that was jarring.
Kindle has a short preview of the next book, Black Mirror. While the story reaches a satisfying conclusion, there are some threads left open.
May 9, 2011
Can you say X-Men with a twist? The Fire Inside, the first book in the Sidekicks series by Raymond Rose should have been made into a graphic novel, what with all the action-packed scenes and death-defying heroics by its totally amazing characters.
If you ever wondered what happened to Batman, Spiderman, Flash Gordon, and all the other popular super heroes out there when they got older and needed to retire - or perhaps needed to start anew after their real identities were revealed - then The Fire Inside is perfect for you. This book, with its world-weary and reluctant former super hero, perfectly captures what could have been a super hero's life after saving the world. Bruce and Jack were part of the Teen Protectors, an elite group of super heroes who used their powers to defend mankind against The Villains. Ten years later, with the two friends drifting apart and Jack leading a quiet, unexciting life, Bruce returns and asks for Jack's help that turns their lives - along with others like them - upside down.
This book was awesome! A little predictable but hey, the fight between good versus evil has always been the issue and admit it or not, we all want good to win and have a happy ending. I am not saying that that is what happens in this story, but I assure you that you will get a bit of that, plus a whole lot more than you can ever imagine.
It was such an adrenaline rush to read this book because of all the running and the fighting and the guessing that I literally found myself gasping for air as some shocking development was revealed. The excitement never stops and when I turned the last page, my first thought was I have to ask Mr. Rose to release the next book soon! This book was on my mind for days after I have finished it and all the scenes kept coming back to me.
Bruce and Jack were very strong characters in this book. They were the best of friends but they could not have been more different from each other. Bruce is level-headed, analytical, and had a very satisfying family life with his parents. Jack is emotional, volatile, and had never known any family until he became part of the Teen Protectors and met Bruce and others like him. I swear, after reading about them, a part of my mind was somehow convinced that people like them do exist and that I had to find them. Another part placed them along the ranks of other super heroes that I know. They were so relatable and very likable and I enjoyed witnessing their friendship and their adventures. The other characters were equally good as their own individual stories provided very credible information about each person. They were very interesting and I liked reading about their powers.
That said, I am looking forward to the next book off this series, as I hope to see more of these characters and their powers, and what would happen to them next.
If you ever wondered what happened to Batman, Spiderman, Flash Gordon, and all the other popular super heroes out there when they got older and needed to retire - or perhaps needed to start anew after their real identities were revealed - then The Fire Inside is perfect for you. This book, with its world-weary and reluctant former super hero, perfectly captures what could have been a super hero's life after saving the world. Bruce and Jack were part of the Teen Protectors, an elite group of super heroes who used their powers to defend mankind against The Villains. Ten years later, with the two friends drifting apart and Jack leading a quiet, unexciting life, Bruce returns and asks for Jack's help that turns their lives - along with others like them - upside down.
This book was awesome! A little predictable but hey, the fight between good versus evil has always been the issue and admit it or not, we all want good to win and have a happy ending. I am not saying that that is what happens in this story, but I assure you that you will get a bit of that, plus a whole lot more than you can ever imagine.
It was such an adrenaline rush to read this book because of all the running and the fighting and the guessing that I literally found myself gasping for air as some shocking development was revealed. The excitement never stops and when I turned the last page, my first thought was I have to ask Mr. Rose to release the next book soon! This book was on my mind for days after I have finished it and all the scenes kept coming back to me.
Bruce and Jack were very strong characters in this book. They were the best of friends but they could not have been more different from each other. Bruce is level-headed, analytical, and had a very satisfying family life with his parents. Jack is emotional, volatile, and had never known any family until he became part of the Teen Protectors and met Bruce and others like him. I swear, after reading about them, a part of my mind was somehow convinced that people like them do exist and that I had to find them. Another part placed them along the ranks of other super heroes that I know. They were so relatable and very likable and I enjoyed witnessing their friendship and their adventures. The other characters were equally good as their own individual stories provided very credible information about each person. They were very interesting and I liked reading about their powers.
That said, I am looking forward to the next book off this series, as I hope to see more of these characters and their powers, and what would happen to them next.
July 11, 2011
Ten years ago, Jack and Bruce barely survived a battle royale between good and evil that left half the city bathed in red and the other half burned to the ground. Over the years, they’ve drifted apart – their lives going separate paths. Jack took a life of peace; Bruce, one of danger. But now Bruce is back looking for Jack’s help. Because what’s about to happen is worse than anything they've seen... and could imagine.
Raymond Rose offered me a chance to review The Fire Inside, and I found myself intrigued enough by the premise to agree to read and review my second self-published novel. What I found was a fast-paced superhero tale that gave homage to such beloved properties as X-Men, Watchmen and Raymond Chandler - stealing wantonly from each, but in a charming manner that shows Rose delights in the source material.
The characters were vivid and lifelike, from Jack King, retired superhero crimefighter, to Fey, talented and cute young girl with recently discovered powers.Their dialogue was well written and Rose introduced their back stories in an effective manner.
What I will say in the negative, however, is that Rose's novel showcases exactly how an editor and proof-reading can benefit a novel. There were a large number of spelling errors, some grammatical problems, skips between past and present tense in the same paragraph and far too many exclamation marks.
I would also say that The Fire Inside was a little too long as well, since there were battle scenes every few pages or so. Although these helped to define the various powers on show by the superheros, they did become quite repetitive and I think I would have preferred a little more character development in favour of too many fights.
Lastly, I found myself metaphorically turning the last page (since it's an ebook, natch!) and not being completely sure about what the Agency was - it could have been a Federal Agency, but it seemed to be superhero-oriented? I wasn't entirely certain, and I think that Rose could have made this clearer.
If this novel had received that extra edit and proof-read, then I do believe Rose is talented enough to make a snappy noir book out of it. As it was, I found myself utterly distracted by the errors. I lost my patience with the fact that it hadn't been checked over better before going into the public domain, and would encourage Rose to use stronger beta readers to help shape his novels in the future. The Fire Inside had promise within the storylines and character, but was unfortunately let down by a weak presentation.
Raymond Rose offered me a chance to review The Fire Inside, and I found myself intrigued enough by the premise to agree to read and review my second self-published novel. What I found was a fast-paced superhero tale that gave homage to such beloved properties as X-Men, Watchmen and Raymond Chandler - stealing wantonly from each, but in a charming manner that shows Rose delights in the source material.
The characters were vivid and lifelike, from Jack King, retired superhero crimefighter, to Fey, talented and cute young girl with recently discovered powers.Their dialogue was well written and Rose introduced their back stories in an effective manner.
What I will say in the negative, however, is that Rose's novel showcases exactly how an editor and proof-reading can benefit a novel. There were a large number of spelling errors, some grammatical problems, skips between past and present tense in the same paragraph and far too many exclamation marks.
I would also say that The Fire Inside was a little too long as well, since there were battle scenes every few pages or so. Although these helped to define the various powers on show by the superheros, they did become quite repetitive and I think I would have preferred a little more character development in favour of too many fights.
Lastly, I found myself metaphorically turning the last page (since it's an ebook, natch!) and not being completely sure about what the Agency was - it could have been a Federal Agency, but it seemed to be superhero-oriented? I wasn't entirely certain, and I think that Rose could have made this clearer.
If this novel had received that extra edit and proof-read, then I do believe Rose is talented enough to make a snappy noir book out of it. As it was, I found myself utterly distracted by the errors. I lost my patience with the fact that it hadn't been checked over better before going into the public domain, and would encourage Rose to use stronger beta readers to help shape his novels in the future. The Fire Inside had promise within the storylines and character, but was unfortunately let down by a weak presentation.
March 13, 2011
Review:
I had a lot of mixed feelings about this book. It started out with action and then slowed down a bit, which for me is hard. I like my books to grab my attention immediately and hold onto it. But a few chapters into the book found me at the next sequence of a seemingly unending string of action scenes. I have to say, the action really the kept me going through the first half. There was a lot going on but I felt like I didn't really understand why there was so much going on. I kept asking myself "why?" but the characters (it seemed) were only asking "who?" Because of that, I kept feeling that there was no "why?" to the plot and therefore my question wouldn't be answered. It left me feeling confused and frustrated. The continuous flashback were something for me to get used to as well, but served as an important tool in telling the history of the characters.
About 3/4 of my way through the book, I felt like I finally had some answers. It took a long time and a lot of story telling to get there, but when it finally came together, everything made sense. I had my answer! There was even a little twist surprised me! The follow up after the story was well written, and the author left room for a sequel.
Now that I understand this author's writing style, I think I would be inclined to read the sequel, which is in the works.
Rating:
About half way through this book I was ready to give it 3 stars. I liked it but didn't love it. The ending was the kicker for me, though. So many books are great all the way up until the ending at which point the author seemingly gives up. Not the case with The Fire Inside. The ending was perfect, wrapping up all the lose ends in a way that was fitting for the story. Overall, I give this book 4 stars.
I would recommend this book to anyone who is a fan of super heroes or any action packed story. On a side note, I think this would make for an exciting and action packed movie (my favorite kind)!
I had a lot of mixed feelings about this book. It started out with action and then slowed down a bit, which for me is hard. I like my books to grab my attention immediately and hold onto it. But a few chapters into the book found me at the next sequence of a seemingly unending string of action scenes. I have to say, the action really the kept me going through the first half. There was a lot going on but I felt like I didn't really understand why there was so much going on. I kept asking myself "why?" but the characters (it seemed) were only asking "who?" Because of that, I kept feeling that there was no "why?" to the plot and therefore my question wouldn't be answered. It left me feeling confused and frustrated. The continuous flashback were something for me to get used to as well, but served as an important tool in telling the history of the characters.
About 3/4 of my way through the book, I felt like I finally had some answers. It took a long time and a lot of story telling to get there, but when it finally came together, everything made sense. I had my answer! There was even a little twist surprised me! The follow up after the story was well written, and the author left room for a sequel.
Now that I understand this author's writing style, I think I would be inclined to read the sequel, which is in the works.
Rating:
About half way through this book I was ready to give it 3 stars. I liked it but didn't love it. The ending was the kicker for me, though. So many books are great all the way up until the ending at which point the author seemingly gives up. Not the case with The Fire Inside. The ending was perfect, wrapping up all the lose ends in a way that was fitting for the story. Overall, I give this book 4 stars.
I would recommend this book to anyone who is a fan of super heroes or any action packed story. On a side note, I think this would make for an exciting and action packed movie (my favorite kind)!
March 23, 2011
You know how sometimes you have to be in the right mood for a book? (As an aside, that's why I haven't read book 6 in the Black Dagger Brotherhood series, because it's so damn epic and I have to be in the moooood for that level of angst and awesomeness.) By the time I made it to the end of this book I was fist punching the air and looking for things to fight with my epic Highlander broadsword. No fooling! Where's the cadre of super villains that I'm going to decimate? I'm coming for you!
While the end was literally a non-stop run of action, blood, guts and flame, the beginning is a little less frantic. Taking place mostly in the present, the narrative intersperses flashes of the epic battle that decimated the city 10 years before to give backstory on the main characters. Initially, this felt a little choppy and was hard for me to keep up with, but as the characters began to take shape a little more in my head it all started to make sense.
With fast-paced action and well written characters bundled in with a touch of intrigue to keep you guessing, this book was hard to put down and it had plenty of threads left open to explore the lives of the other supposedly dead superheroes. I'm looking forward to see where it goes.
-Kelly @ Reading the Paranormal
While the end was literally a non-stop run of action, blood, guts and flame, the beginning is a little less frantic. Taking place mostly in the present, the narrative intersperses flashes of the epic battle that decimated the city 10 years before to give backstory on the main characters. Initially, this felt a little choppy and was hard for me to keep up with, but as the characters began to take shape a little more in my head it all started to make sense.
With fast-paced action and well written characters bundled in with a touch of intrigue to keep you guessing, this book was hard to put down and it had plenty of threads left open to explore the lives of the other supposedly dead superheroes. I'm looking forward to see where it goes.
-Kelly @ Reading the Paranormal
September 7, 2011
To say this book is a thriller or fantasy would be misleading, it has elements of thriller and fantasy, along with sci-fi, mystery, action and even comic book (without the pictures lol)
I admit I was a bit wary starting this book because there were elements to it that just aren't my 'thing.' But I'm glad I read it anyway! It took me a while to get into, it was past halfway before I found myself not wanting to put it down to go to bed at a reasonable time! And I enjoyed trying to solve the mystery as I read.
The book is packed full of action and was rich with lots of details of both the scenery and background info every time we met someone new.
However there are a lot of characters to meet in the book and I found myself getting a bit confused at times, so I was pretty proud of myself when I guessed the bad guy before he was revealed lol
Out of all the characters I felt myself caring about Jack, or Sparks, the most. The title 'The fire inside' is really apt for him and I felt him go through a journey throughout the book and he steps up when he has to. I just loved the final scene where we see, not just a team but a family come together.
I'm not sure if there will be a follow up to this, but I'd happily read one if there were because I enjoyed it a lot.
I admit I was a bit wary starting this book because there were elements to it that just aren't my 'thing.' But I'm glad I read it anyway! It took me a while to get into, it was past halfway before I found myself not wanting to put it down to go to bed at a reasonable time! And I enjoyed trying to solve the mystery as I read.
The book is packed full of action and was rich with lots of details of both the scenery and background info every time we met someone new.
However there are a lot of characters to meet in the book and I found myself getting a bit confused at times, so I was pretty proud of myself when I guessed the bad guy before he was revealed lol
Out of all the characters I felt myself caring about Jack, or Sparks, the most. The title 'The fire inside' is really apt for him and I felt him go through a journey throughout the book and he steps up when he has to. I just loved the final scene where we see, not just a team but a family come together.
I'm not sure if there will be a follow up to this, but I'd happily read one if there were because I enjoyed it a lot.
June 3, 2011
I'm not usually a fan of this kind of book (superheroes, action/adventure, etc.), but it was addicting! Rose grabbed me from the beginning and at the end I wanted to know what happened next. Though the flashback can trip up even the most experienced author, I thought Rose did it in a manner that was easy to follow as possible. I often feel that flashbacks are mostly without purpose, and the exposition could happen in a less "clunky" way, but I really felt that Rose's flashbacks added to the story, and shouldn't have been done any other way.
Yes, you can definitely see some similarities to the X-men, but Rose really made the characters his own. I really felt Jack's motivation, pain, and elation at various points in the book. Bruce and Karen Webster were as different as any married couple can be, and played the perfect foil to each other. Really, I can't say enough good things about this book, and I can't wait for the next Sidekicks novel!
Yes, you can definitely see some similarities to the X-men, but Rose really made the characters his own. I really felt Jack's motivation, pain, and elation at various points in the book. Bruce and Karen Webster were as different as any married couple can be, and played the perfect foil to each other. Really, I can't say enough good things about this book, and I can't wait for the next Sidekicks novel!
October 18, 2012
I have to be honest - I purchased this book thinking it was gonna be one of those cheap throwaway books, but I have to say I enjoyed this book a lot more than I thought I would.
I really liked the world and the characters that Rose has created. All of the characters were well written, with likable personalities and realistic motivations. And like most of the more interesting superhero stories, this title reads more like a detective novel, with the author focusing less on the heroes' (and villians') powers, and more on the characters themselves.
The weakest part of the story I thought was the main villain, but the author has a chance to redeem himself yet, since a new book has been promised, suggesting perhaps that this could just be a small part of a larger story arc.
I really liked the world and the characters that Rose has created. All of the characters were well written, with likable personalities and realistic motivations. And like most of the more interesting superhero stories, this title reads more like a detective novel, with the author focusing less on the heroes' (and villians') powers, and more on the characters themselves.
The weakest part of the story I thought was the main villain, but the author has a chance to redeem himself yet, since a new book has been promised, suggesting perhaps that this could just be a small part of a larger story arc.
May 23, 2012
I liked it, though there were some times that I wanted to punch whoever edited this book in the nose. A lot of grammar/spelling errors and the term 'macadam' was over used. It felt as though at one point the author had inadvertently done a find and replace for the term 'rubble'.
June 1, 2012
Great realistic superhero story! Love the character interactions! Well plotted and crafted writing. Author needs to get the typos fixed though. I read the Kindle edition and this was the only down point to it.
July 10, 2011
A great superhero novel. I recommend it not just for superhero fans, but for mystery/suspense fans, too.
September 3, 2022
Jack King seems like a normal guy. He works at a bookstore, has a beautiful girlfriend, and loves photography. But he isn’t normal. Not by a long stretch. He could blow up half this city in the blink of an eye.
It was with this simple tease, just a few short lines, that Raymond M. Rose first captured his attention.Without knowing anything more about it, The Fire Inside immediately slipped into the depths of my towering review pile, just waiting for its chance to see the light of day - or, as the case may be, light of my new Kindle Glo!
Stylistically, the novel challenged me a bit, requiring a bit of persistence to get beyond the sometimes awkward dialogue, irregular word choices, and oddities of grammar. It felt like the manuscript could have used one more round of editing and polishing to smooth out the rough edges, but while it tried my patience early on, it (thankfully) never exhausted it.
Having said that, this was an exceptionally fun read, and one that pretty well captured the spirit of what a superhero novel should be. With many similar novels I've read over the last few years, the trend seems to have been to dress up, modernize, and rationalize all the joy out of the comic book inspiration. I think that's why I struggled so with Myke Cole's first Shadow Ops novel, ultimately relegating it to the DNF pile, while so many peers were gushing over it. I don't want a superhero novel that struggles to attain some level of plausibility - just accept that you've suspended my disbelief, and entertain me.
That's that Rose has done here with The Fire Inside, letting his characters (and their respective powers) shine, free of any artificial guilt restraint. Of course, it helps that they have a solid core story to work around, with a central mystery that invites the reader to play along and try to out-sleuth the characters. I suspect most readers will guess the identity of the supervillain before the characters, but that's all part of the fun. The liberal sprinkling of 'geek' nods is a bit of a distraction, in that it so often pulls you out of the story with either an ah-hah laugh or a knowing smirk, but it shows a love for the genre that can't be ignored.
Are the characters a bit too perfect, a bit too attractive, and bit too good to be true? Sure, but that's precisely what we want our superheroes to be. This is a comic book without the panel illustrations, but one that provides enough detail to allow the reader to imagine their own illustrations. Some readers may feel there's a bit too much exposition, with Rose struggling to pain too much of a picture which each new character introduction or scene change, but think of it in terms of a comic book, with those transitional 'blocks' of text to carry you through, and it all feels quite natural.
Overall, this is a fun, fast-paced, action-packed adventure with enough backstory and character development to really engage the reader. While not perfect - there are a few plot holes or inconsistencies that nagged at me - I'd more than curious to see where Rose takes the Sidekicks saga next.
Originally reviewed at Beauty in Ruins
It was with this simple tease, just a few short lines, that Raymond M. Rose first captured his attention.Without knowing anything more about it, The Fire Inside immediately slipped into the depths of my towering review pile, just waiting for its chance to see the light of day - or, as the case may be, light of my new Kindle Glo!
Stylistically, the novel challenged me a bit, requiring a bit of persistence to get beyond the sometimes awkward dialogue, irregular word choices, and oddities of grammar. It felt like the manuscript could have used one more round of editing and polishing to smooth out the rough edges, but while it tried my patience early on, it (thankfully) never exhausted it.
Having said that, this was an exceptionally fun read, and one that pretty well captured the spirit of what a superhero novel should be. With many similar novels I've read over the last few years, the trend seems to have been to dress up, modernize, and rationalize all the joy out of the comic book inspiration. I think that's why I struggled so with Myke Cole's first Shadow Ops novel, ultimately relegating it to the DNF pile, while so many peers were gushing over it. I don't want a superhero novel that struggles to attain some level of plausibility - just accept that you've suspended my disbelief, and entertain me.
That's that Rose has done here with The Fire Inside, letting his characters (and their respective powers) shine, free of any artificial guilt restraint. Of course, it helps that they have a solid core story to work around, with a central mystery that invites the reader to play along and try to out-sleuth the characters. I suspect most readers will guess the identity of the supervillain before the characters, but that's all part of the fun. The liberal sprinkling of 'geek' nods is a bit of a distraction, in that it so often pulls you out of the story with either an ah-hah laugh or a knowing smirk, but it shows a love for the genre that can't be ignored.
Are the characters a bit too perfect, a bit too attractive, and bit too good to be true? Sure, but that's precisely what we want our superheroes to be. This is a comic book without the panel illustrations, but one that provides enough detail to allow the reader to imagine their own illustrations. Some readers may feel there's a bit too much exposition, with Rose struggling to pain too much of a picture which each new character introduction or scene change, but think of it in terms of a comic book, with those transitional 'blocks' of text to carry you through, and it all feels quite natural.
Overall, this is a fun, fast-paced, action-packed adventure with enough backstory and character development to really engage the reader. While not perfect - there are a few plot holes or inconsistencies that nagged at me - I'd more than curious to see where Rose takes the Sidekicks saga next.
Originally reviewed at Beauty in Ruins
April 25, 2011
Article first published as Book Review:The Fire Inside: A Side Kicks Novel by Raymond Rose on Blogcritics.
When we think of heroes and villains and better yet, superpowers, comic books are instantly brought to mind, with the slick Ka Pow, the cool costumes, and the vicious and yet famous moves. Even as children, many of us wanted to join the exalted ranks of Green Hornet, Batman and Robin, as well as Superman and all his friends.
In The Fire Inside: A Side Kicks Novel, by Raymond M. Rose, we are given an opportunity to follow up on the lives of a spectacular group of superheroes and villains, waging a war to protect the innocent. Rose has built Claremont into a city to be reckoned with; a place that once housed the Protectors, and the Teen Protectors. Of course, that was all before the Battle, when a large portion of the town itself was destroyed as well as most if not all of the Protectors and villains. To make matter worse, many innocents died that night so history no longer honored the Protectors, as was once the case.
While most were confirmed dead, a few still made it through yet remained hidden from public record due to their recorded deaths. The villains had moved to a lower income part of town, and most superpowers just disappeared into obscurity. Some of the names were Osprey, Rook, Sparks, Minotaur, Ox and Lady Nyx; they were people to be proud of. Yet for some unknown reason it all went to hell in one fell swoop.
Jack King is one of the survivors, confirmed dead and now leading a new life. He belonged to the Teen Protectors in another lifetime, but in time had found himself a new life. He now worked in a bookstore and took photographs. He was making a name for himself and doing well. His best friend Bruce Webster also survived and joined the Agents, but Jack had not seen or heard from him in some time. Life was mundane and he was getting used to it.
When Webster shows up in his favorite coffee shop to ask for his help, Jack assures him he is no longer interested in his old life. He is no longer the Jack that Bruce used to know. Bruce was easy at accepting his dismissal and they agreed to meet later at a gallery showing of Jack’s work. Little did Jack know this was the last time he would see his friend alive again. Bruce had a secret, and now there were those looking to find the files he carried. All paths now lead back to Jack.
As he begins to look into his friend’s death, unusual episodes begin to happen around him. Things are beginning to happen. Long ago names are beginning to pop up, some of the vilest villains of the past seem to have survived. For some reason they have locked on to Jack. As his life turns crazy and people begin to die, he along with a group of other superheroes decide to find the answers.
Rose’s characters leap off the pages with bold relief. Visualization is a quality that only the best authors consistently attain, and I would have to list Rose in that category. They are true to life, and very human, easily hurt, and not at all casual about their friendships. You are in there with them as they enter the fray and battle the bad guys, you feel the pain as they are hurt and you can actually feel their anger and grief. These heroes are the reason we all wanted to be superheroes as youngsters, the exemplify everything that is human and good. Yet with that good comes just a spark of darkness, the one thing they must constantly overcome to maintain their status.
Rose’s world building is well done and again quite a visual masterpiece. I really enjoyed this book. Usually when you read a book of superheroes there is an expectation of unbelievability, and yet Rose makes you believe. That is a trick all in itself.
I would recommend this book for a reading group or book club. This book is not intended for children. It contains some graphic death scenes. It is hard to put down and I read in in one setting, I did not want to wait to know what happened and then I wanted to go back and slow down because I missed the characters. It is a must have for your library.
This book was received as a free download from the author. All opinions are my own based off my reading and understanding of the material
When we think of heroes and villains and better yet, superpowers, comic books are instantly brought to mind, with the slick Ka Pow, the cool costumes, and the vicious and yet famous moves. Even as children, many of us wanted to join the exalted ranks of Green Hornet, Batman and Robin, as well as Superman and all his friends.
In The Fire Inside: A Side Kicks Novel, by Raymond M. Rose, we are given an opportunity to follow up on the lives of a spectacular group of superheroes and villains, waging a war to protect the innocent. Rose has built Claremont into a city to be reckoned with; a place that once housed the Protectors, and the Teen Protectors. Of course, that was all before the Battle, when a large portion of the town itself was destroyed as well as most if not all of the Protectors and villains. To make matter worse, many innocents died that night so history no longer honored the Protectors, as was once the case.
While most were confirmed dead, a few still made it through yet remained hidden from public record due to their recorded deaths. The villains had moved to a lower income part of town, and most superpowers just disappeared into obscurity. Some of the names were Osprey, Rook, Sparks, Minotaur, Ox and Lady Nyx; they were people to be proud of. Yet for some unknown reason it all went to hell in one fell swoop.
Jack King is one of the survivors, confirmed dead and now leading a new life. He belonged to the Teen Protectors in another lifetime, but in time had found himself a new life. He now worked in a bookstore and took photographs. He was making a name for himself and doing well. His best friend Bruce Webster also survived and joined the Agents, but Jack had not seen or heard from him in some time. Life was mundane and he was getting used to it.
When Webster shows up in his favorite coffee shop to ask for his help, Jack assures him he is no longer interested in his old life. He is no longer the Jack that Bruce used to know. Bruce was easy at accepting his dismissal and they agreed to meet later at a gallery showing of Jack’s work. Little did Jack know this was the last time he would see his friend alive again. Bruce had a secret, and now there were those looking to find the files he carried. All paths now lead back to Jack.
As he begins to look into his friend’s death, unusual episodes begin to happen around him. Things are beginning to happen. Long ago names are beginning to pop up, some of the vilest villains of the past seem to have survived. For some reason they have locked on to Jack. As his life turns crazy and people begin to die, he along with a group of other superheroes decide to find the answers.
Rose’s characters leap off the pages with bold relief. Visualization is a quality that only the best authors consistently attain, and I would have to list Rose in that category. They are true to life, and very human, easily hurt, and not at all casual about their friendships. You are in there with them as they enter the fray and battle the bad guys, you feel the pain as they are hurt and you can actually feel their anger and grief. These heroes are the reason we all wanted to be superheroes as youngsters, the exemplify everything that is human and good. Yet with that good comes just a spark of darkness, the one thing they must constantly overcome to maintain their status.
Rose’s world building is well done and again quite a visual masterpiece. I really enjoyed this book. Usually when you read a book of superheroes there is an expectation of unbelievability, and yet Rose makes you believe. That is a trick all in itself.
I would recommend this book for a reading group or book club. This book is not intended for children. It contains some graphic death scenes. It is hard to put down and I read in in one setting, I did not want to wait to know what happened and then I wanted to go back and slow down because I missed the characters. It is a must have for your library.
This book was received as a free download from the author. All opinions are my own based off my reading and understanding of the material
February 28, 2011
The Fire Inside by Raymond Rose is an action packed science fiction novel that is the first of the Sidekicks series.
The book bounces from past to present as it introduces you to the characters and the world. At first this was a tad confusing, but as the novel went on it became enlightening and I looked forward to the flashbacks. The strength of the flashbacks themselves make me think that this story would do well with a prequel.
The novel flows from a variety of character perspectives, though Jack, the protagonist, is the one who is developed the most. The characters are well written and flow together wonderfully. Each has their own unique powers which are described in great detail and with much style. Rose is quite adept at creating emotional connections from the reader to his characters. While reading the book, I found myself many times picking sides and cheering on certain characters and distrusting others. This is a sign of well developed characters and a wonderful writing style.
The best part of this book stems from the action scenes and there are plenty of those to choose from. The fight scenes in the book are well choreographed and very interesting as they use a variety of powers as well as weapons. Both male and female characters are strong and hold their own in the book. Though each character has their own strengths and weaknesses, no one character is shown as being excessively weak or excessively strong. This made for very interesting and lasting fight scenes.
What was wonderful about this book was that though it was the first in a series, it didn’t leave you with a bunch of questions hanging at the end. Everything was wrapped up smoothly, but with lots of room for more action and adventures to be had. The action and mystery created a book that was hard to put down and was a constant page turner. The characters in the book are both well written and interesting.
A drawback of the book is that the world is not as well developed as I would have liked. Though you get to know the characters, it is hard to understand whether the world is supposed to be this one or another world altogether. I think the background dimensions could have had more time spent on them. Some of my questions about the world were answered towards the end of the book, but not enough to make me understand fully the environment the characters were living in.
Overall The Fire Inside by Raymond Rose was a great science fiction novel and well worth picking up and reading. It is not a long novel and definitely keeps you turning the pages, so it can be read easily and quickly.
The book bounces from past to present as it introduces you to the characters and the world. At first this was a tad confusing, but as the novel went on it became enlightening and I looked forward to the flashbacks. The strength of the flashbacks themselves make me think that this story would do well with a prequel.
The novel flows from a variety of character perspectives, though Jack, the protagonist, is the one who is developed the most. The characters are well written and flow together wonderfully. Each has their own unique powers which are described in great detail and with much style. Rose is quite adept at creating emotional connections from the reader to his characters. While reading the book, I found myself many times picking sides and cheering on certain characters and distrusting others. This is a sign of well developed characters and a wonderful writing style.
The best part of this book stems from the action scenes and there are plenty of those to choose from. The fight scenes in the book are well choreographed and very interesting as they use a variety of powers as well as weapons. Both male and female characters are strong and hold their own in the book. Though each character has their own strengths and weaknesses, no one character is shown as being excessively weak or excessively strong. This made for very interesting and lasting fight scenes.
What was wonderful about this book was that though it was the first in a series, it didn’t leave you with a bunch of questions hanging at the end. Everything was wrapped up smoothly, but with lots of room for more action and adventures to be had. The action and mystery created a book that was hard to put down and was a constant page turner. The characters in the book are both well written and interesting.
A drawback of the book is that the world is not as well developed as I would have liked. Though you get to know the characters, it is hard to understand whether the world is supposed to be this one or another world altogether. I think the background dimensions could have had more time spent on them. Some of my questions about the world were answered towards the end of the book, but not enough to make me understand fully the environment the characters were living in.
Overall The Fire Inside by Raymond Rose was a great science fiction novel and well worth picking up and reading. It is not a long novel and definitely keeps you turning the pages, so it can be read easily and quickly.
June 2, 2011
Originally posted on my blog, Denim-Jacket Librarian Dishes
It’s always interesting to find authors willing or brave enough to start out in two different genres at the same time. I had read Rose’s Better Together and enjoyed the warmth created by his charming, small-town setting and characters pulling together in a time of personal crisis. To be honest, I didn’t know what to expect with his second novel, but I found instead of warmth, there was an undercurrent of heat that flowed throughout The Fire Inside.
Meet Jack King, bookseller and part-time photographer...and former teen superhero sidekick, Sparks. After the great Battle between dozens of superheroes and villains, he along with many other heroes chose to disappear, allowing the public to think they had died alongside others. Ten years later, when his friend Bruce, former superhero Osprey, comes asking for his help, Jack is hesitant to join. Given that his power is one of destruction without proper control, it’s easy to see Jack’s reluctance to come out of retirement. But as Jack learns, when you’re a superhero it’s tough as nails to avoid your past forever.
With such a diverse cavalcade of heroes and villains, I’m sure Rose had his hands full keeping tabs on everyone involved, including the minor characters. Seeing the points of view of several key characters helped to move the plot in a fairly smooth manner that kept my curiosity piqued. I just had to know who was behind this great plot against the investigation of this “ragtag” team of superheroes. There were several clues that I thought helped in identifying the one responsible, but then Rose would throw in another question that made me second-guess my original assessment. Personally, I like those added elements in a story since they help keep the reader on their toes.
Although the pace did feel a bit slow in the first portion of the book, once the action started, it kept coming at a rapid pace. There were pauses in the storyline where breathing room was needed, and then it would pick right back up, making the story flow more naturally. I have to say my only question now is will Mr. Rose give his readers another story featuring these sidekicks-turned-hero? And how soon that will be.
It’s always interesting to find authors willing or brave enough to start out in two different genres at the same time. I had read Rose’s Better Together and enjoyed the warmth created by his charming, small-town setting and characters pulling together in a time of personal crisis. To be honest, I didn’t know what to expect with his second novel, but I found instead of warmth, there was an undercurrent of heat that flowed throughout The Fire Inside.
Meet Jack King, bookseller and part-time photographer...and former teen superhero sidekick, Sparks. After the great Battle between dozens of superheroes and villains, he along with many other heroes chose to disappear, allowing the public to think they had died alongside others. Ten years later, when his friend Bruce, former superhero Osprey, comes asking for his help, Jack is hesitant to join. Given that his power is one of destruction without proper control, it’s easy to see Jack’s reluctance to come out of retirement. But as Jack learns, when you’re a superhero it’s tough as nails to avoid your past forever.
With such a diverse cavalcade of heroes and villains, I’m sure Rose had his hands full keeping tabs on everyone involved, including the minor characters. Seeing the points of view of several key characters helped to move the plot in a fairly smooth manner that kept my curiosity piqued. I just had to know who was behind this great plot against the investigation of this “ragtag” team of superheroes. There were several clues that I thought helped in identifying the one responsible, but then Rose would throw in another question that made me second-guess my original assessment. Personally, I like those added elements in a story since they help keep the reader on their toes.
Although the pace did feel a bit slow in the first portion of the book, once the action started, it kept coming at a rapid pace. There were pauses in the storyline where breathing room was needed, and then it would pick right back up, making the story flow more naturally. I have to say my only question now is will Mr. Rose give his readers another story featuring these sidekicks-turned-hero? And how soon that will be.
March 4, 2011
I have to admit that this is the first ebook that I have read. And it was really, really good. The story focuses on Jack who was once a member of a group called Teen Protectors. Each member of the group has a different and original super power. But there are also those with powers who become villains. After an epic battle one night between the powers of good and evil which affects the entire city, the group disbands and Jack decides that he does not want to be a part of the agency anymore and only wants a life of normalcy. This lasts for 10 years until his life is forever changed by a visit from his old friend Bruce who came to him for help with a special project. After Bruce turns up dead that evening, Jack feels he must find out who killed his friend, why, and what Bruce had been working on. Bruce has only left him with few cryptic clues to go on. The story is often taken back to the night of the tragic battle 10 years before when Jack and Bruce were young, their roles in the battle, and the loss of so many people who were important to them. There are so many different characters with such very different superpowers such as copying themselves, digitizing, and even “leeching” by taking someone elses powers. It is a very well thought out and intriguing story with non-stop action. The author has a very good ability of making you feel as if you really know the characters and what makes them tick. There are many surprises! Definitely a recommended read!
December 6, 2010
Since I enjoyed Better Together by Raymond Rose so much I decided to pick up another of his novels, The Fire Inside.
The Fire Inside is the first story in a series called Sidekicks. The story literally begins with a bang. The first paragraph has a gang called the Rook, a machine gun, a pistol, a knife and exploding windows. Already the story was off and running.
One of the leading characters is Karen. Karen loses her husband Bruce in a brutal killing but she eventually comes out on top and learns how to let go of the guilt and anguish and move on. The heroine is very well written and believable. In fact all of the superhero characters are easily understood and even easier to relate too even with their powers.
This is a story about personal struggles in a character motivated story but as I noticed with Raymond Rose’s first work there is excellent satire woven all through the story providing angst with joviality thrown in on the side.
I can't wait for the next installment.
Another five stars !!
The Fire Inside is the first story in a series called Sidekicks. The story literally begins with a bang. The first paragraph has a gang called the Rook, a machine gun, a pistol, a knife and exploding windows. Already the story was off and running.
One of the leading characters is Karen. Karen loses her husband Bruce in a brutal killing but she eventually comes out on top and learns how to let go of the guilt and anguish and move on. The heroine is very well written and believable. In fact all of the superhero characters are easily understood and even easier to relate too even with their powers.
This is a story about personal struggles in a character motivated story but as I noticed with Raymond Rose’s first work there is excellent satire woven all through the story providing angst with joviality thrown in on the side.
I can't wait for the next installment.
Another five stars !!
February 27, 2011
I had the pleasure of getting to read this novel prior to it's release. I was worried about it though... it's more or less supernatural and it's structure is built upon the storytelling that the majority of comic books lack: neither of these subjects do I read much of (if you exclude vampires, which by this point, I think you can). I've never read a comic book in my life (except for one manga series... which I'm pretty sure are two different things, almost?) and action packed scifi stuff is above and beyond me. I was figuring this would be a tough read, it would be a read that I found myself dragging through and unable to relate to in any way.
I was wrong. Entirely. I flew through the pages of this book and was done before I wanted to be. Well, I use pages loosely since it's an ebook.
Read more of my review here.t
I was wrong. Entirely. I flew through the pages of this book and was done before I wanted to be. Well, I use pages loosely since it's an ebook.
Read more of my review here.t
June 13, 2012
I really enjoyed this book, but it really needs a better editor. There are lots of mistakes such as missing letters, doubled words or parts of sentences, and even quite a few misspellings including one paragraph with Jack calling someone a "looser" three times in a row instead of a "loser." Other than that, it was enjoyable.
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