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Legends
(Failstate #2)
by
A young superhero.
A legend reborn.
And a whole mess of zombies.
Failstate (a.k.a., Robin Laughlin) thought his life would get easier after he’d earned his superhero license. But now a legendary superhero has returned from the dead…along with a horde of shambling horrors who want to eat his brains.
New Chayton’s other licensed heroes are indisposed, meaning that the whole weig ...more
A legend reborn.
And a whole mess of zombies.
Failstate (a.k.a., Robin Laughlin) thought his life would get easier after he’d earned his superhero license. But now a legendary superhero has returned from the dead…along with a horde of shambling horrors who want to eat his brains.
New Chayton’s other licensed heroes are indisposed, meaning that the whole weig ...more
Paperback, 455 pages
Published
March 1st 2013
by Marcher Lord Press
(first published February 27th 2013)
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Start your review of Legends (Failstate, #2)

I loved it! Best book ever! I mean . . . wait, this isn't kosher, is it? ;)
...more

In Legends, John W. Otte pens a slam-bang sequel to Failstate. I sat down to sneak a quick peek into the story and didn’t get up until I’d finished it. With a plot that keeps twisting like your favorite roller coaster ride, zombies on the loose, and Failstate’s superpowers doing some surprising things, there’s never a dull moment in Legends.
Reading about Failstate, Gauntlet, and Veritas felt like hanging out with old friends. And I enjoyed meeting the new cast of characters as well.
For a superhe ...more
Reading about Failstate, Gauntlet, and Veritas felt like hanging out with old friends. And I enjoyed meeting the new cast of characters as well.
For a superhe ...more

In the second book of this series, the fast-paced action and affable character of Rob/Failstate continued to propel me through the story. Not to mention, there are zombies. Yes! Failstate and his friends, old and new, face a horde of zombies and new super villains.
Except for a couple places where words were missing or added or incorrect (in other words a few typos), and, at one point where an incorrect character name was used, this was cleanly written and a pleasure to read.
I recommend it for ...more
Except for a couple places where words were missing or added or incorrect (in other words a few typos), and, at one point where an incorrect character name was used, this was cleanly written and a pleasure to read.
I recommend it for ...more

The teenage superhero Failstate (Robin Laughlin) won his won his Vigilante license as a result of a reality TV show and returns to his hometown of New Chayton facing a brand new challenge: the emergence of zombies on the streets of New Chayton.
Unfortunately, while New Chayton is allotted several licensed heroes, Failstate is the only one available. His liaison officer with the government agency that regulates costumed vigilantes invites a swarm of licensed heroes to New Chayton to assist in the ...more
Unfortunately, while New Chayton is allotted several licensed heroes, Failstate is the only one available. His liaison officer with the government agency that regulates costumed vigilantes invites a swarm of licensed heroes to New Chayton to assist in the ...more

Teen superhero Failstate thought life would get easier now that he'd earned his superhero license. But when a legendary superhero returns from the dead and brings with him a horde of zombies, Failstate is a bit flustered. Dozens of professional superheroes come in from all over the world to help, and most of them are treating Failstate like a kid when New Chayton is HIS town to protect!
Nobody thinks he can get the job done. Plus his older brother, Gauntlet, and his best friend, Veritas, aren't ...more
Nobody thinks he can get the job done. Plus his older brother, Gauntlet, and his best friend, Veritas, aren't ...more

After a five-star review for Failstate, I have mixed feelings about Legends. I must admit, I've never really been impressed with the Failstate villains or situations, which I believe to be the series' biggest drawback. The concept of a teenaged Christian superhero with a deforming power works—but the weakest part of Failstate was definitely the big bad's identity. Legends has a better villain, probably the best in the series so far, but unfortunately that's not saying much. The conflict also fee
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Though he has his superhero license from the VOC now, Failstate is still struggling with feelings of inadequacy. Many in the superhero world still treat him like a wannabe because they feel that winning a license on a reality tv show isn't really earning it, and there's a widespread feeling that cognits (those who have mental-based powers) are second rate superheroes anyway. Failstate keeps plugging away to keep the town safe though, but when he runs into real live undead zombies not once but tw
...more

Four and a half stars.
What a fun romp. Some spoilers follow.
Failstate is a teen with superpowers. He's won a reality tv show to become America's next superhero. His superpower? Hmm... apparently, breaking things.
It's thought he can split the molecular bonds in matter - causing its solid state to fail. Hence his somewhat unfortunate name.
He's got a superhero bro, Gauntlet. Charming, handsome, a winner with the girls, flashy costume - especially compared to Failstate's daggy camo outfit which look ...more
What a fun romp. Some spoilers follow.
Failstate is a teen with superpowers. He's won a reality tv show to become America's next superhero. His superpower? Hmm... apparently, breaking things.
It's thought he can split the molecular bonds in matter - causing its solid state to fail. Hence his somewhat unfortunate name.
He's got a superhero bro, Gauntlet. Charming, handsome, a winner with the girls, flashy costume - especially compared to Failstate's daggy camo outfit which look ...more

It was fun reading about Failstate again and meeting more heroes. I especially liked Dr. Olympus (she was so funny). I also liked Etal'el, who had some great advice. Failstate learning more about is powers was a treat because I had been wondering if more would be discovered. I also liked how the story brought in "history" of the heroes, which was creative and added to the world of the superheros. The story was a bit more grown up (maybe even a little dark) in one spot, such as stopping drug lord
...more

John has done it again with the follow-up to his first Failstate novel, which I may like even more than the first. This time around Robin is dealing with a host of problems, not the least of which is zombies. The book is jam-packed with mystery, excitement, romance, new super heroes, and everything you need to have a good story. And, as other reviewers have noted, these books aren't just for kids! John is one of the more skilled authors I've read in the past few years and I can't wait to see wha
...more

It had to have zombies! I didn't care for that and almost threw it down (except it was in my NOOK). But it turned out to be pretty good. Failstate is still the underdog of superheroes, but has matured considerably in this book. I love the characters, and it really was a good story. Great for teenagers/young adults.
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Solid superhero sequel
Failstate is an ideal superhero role model for teens. He’s an awkward teenager with the powerful but somewhat (okay, really) unrefined ability to destroy things.
In Failstate Legends, he’s the holder of a superhero’s license but the governing authorities are none too excited that he’s the city’s protector.
Superheroes from around the country converge on New Chayton as a crop of zombies show up on the scene. Among the undead is a very alive Prohibition era superhero; Sarge ha ...more
Failstate is an ideal superhero role model for teens. He’s an awkward teenager with the powerful but somewhat (okay, really) unrefined ability to destroy things.
In Failstate Legends, he’s the holder of a superhero’s license but the governing authorities are none too excited that he’s the city’s protector.
Superheroes from around the country converge on New Chayton as a crop of zombies show up on the scene. Among the undead is a very alive Prohibition era superhero; Sarge ha ...more

I liked it just as much as the first one! And that despite the fact that I really don't like zombies.
AT ALL.
One of the things that I enjoy about this series is that I can never tell what's going to happen. (view spoiler)
And who wouldn't like to speculate about what would happen if your local youth pastor discovered you were a super-hero? ...more
AT ALL.
One of the things that I enjoy about this series is that I can never tell what's going to happen. (view spoiler)
And who wouldn't like to speculate about what would happen if your local youth pastor discovered you were a super-hero? ...more

A fun, quick read. I liked it more than the first book in the series. I noticed a couple of "Easter eggs". I'm sure there would be even more if I read again.
...more

Just when I thought the story couldn't get much better, well, guess what? It does! If I thought that Failstate was good, well, Legends blows it away. The story just gets bigger and better as our favorite unlikely hero trips from one misadventure to the next. The storyline of this book was even better than the last and as we enter the world of the licensed heroes we are introduced to a whole colorful cast including: Kynetic, Doc Olympus, and my new favorite - Etzal'el. I really hope to see a lot
...more
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Failstate
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