Location: United States
Member Since: March 23, 2012
Terry B.
Books
This member has not published any books.Smashwords book reviews by Terry B.
- West Pacific Supers: Victory at Any Cost
on April 16, 2012
This is another fun book from K.M. Johnson-Weider. After enjoying the first one in the series, "West Pacific Supers: Rising Tide," I've looked forward to the arrival of "Victory at Any Cost." Sometimes a sequel does not live up to expectations. Happily, "Victory" does not disappoint. I won't detail the plot or spoil the ending. I liked returning to a world that I knew. "Rising Tide" introduced the Draft, the Season, and the superhero teams; the last chapter was a teaser for this new book. "Victory" starts the next year in West Pacific. I anticipated reuniting with characters I've previously enjoyed, but right off the bat there is someone new and the action pulled me in. The second chapter - would I find the characters I remembered? Not right away, first there is the development of a minor superhero from the first book and this too is interesting. So, "Victory" is not simply going to rely on the same characters from the first book. Finally - at the end of Chapter 2 - I found some of my old friends. Its a new Season: interesting new team members, new supervillains intent on catastrophe, new unanticipated plot twists; it all kept me reading. Once again the action is well done and unpredictable. The dialogue continues to be sharp. I liked the depth of the characters, they're frequently humorous, often frustrated, sometimes anguished. You learn more about what shaped the superheroes - how events in the past affect both their on the job performance, and their private lives. The characters in these novels are very realistic, their decisions definitely reflect their personalities, and once again I found myself wondering how I would react in their situation. When I finished, I was not ready for the book to end. The author did not run out of situations or characters to make an interesting read. It seems pretty certain that there can be more to come. I hope so!
- West Pacific Supers: Rising Tide
on May 10, 2012
I do a lot of reading; this book was a new genre for me. It's an interesting premise - it's the U.S. future, pretty much as we know it, except that cities are protected, not just by police, but by teams of superheroes. How a superhero becomes part of a team, how the team functions, or doesn't function, and what villains there are to subdue, are all part of this book. The nefarious plots that must be foiled are an interesting backdrop for the allure of the characters. The action is suitably unpredictable and diverting, while the characters provide the most entertainment. Some of them are normal in appearance and have extraordinary powers. Some are mutants with unusual physical characteristics that both enhance their powers and cause inconveniences and embarrassments. How the supers deal with their chosen profession of saving the world, while trying to save their sanity and have a life, makes for some intriguing reading. The characters are multi-dimensional, each with very distinct personalities; sometimes tugging at your heart, sometimes making you grit your teeth, sometimes drawing a laugh. The dialogue really shines; revealing their personalities and providing the real meat of this book. I found myself thinking about being a superhero, or being married to one. And just who IS Dr. Annie Sterling? The novel kept me focused, and when I finished reading, I really didn't want it to end.