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Panopolis #3
Where There's a Will
Being a Hero in Panopolis means living the high parties, money, influence, even reality television. And I’m one of the most powerful Heroes in the city. I have plenty of fans, a manager who looks out for me (after himself), and a job that pays the bills. I should be enjoying myself.
Unfortunately, the downside of my superpower means I can’t touch anyone, which tends to put a damper on things. I probably don’t deserve all those perks anyway, since I’m working in secret with two of Panopolis’s biggest Villains to undermine GenCorp—my main sponsor and the company that controls what gets through my force field.
I obviously don’t trust my corporate overseers, but they’ve hired a new scientist who actually seems interested in helping me. Dr. Mansourian might have the answers to all my questions—not to mention a starring role in most of my dreams—but he’s hiding something big. If I let him have what he wants, I might not live to regret it.
Then again, the way things are going in Panopolis these days, I might not live either way.
Unfortunately, the downside of my superpower means I can’t touch anyone, which tends to put a damper on things. I probably don’t deserve all those perks anyway, since I’m working in secret with two of Panopolis’s biggest Villains to undermine GenCorp—my main sponsor and the company that controls what gets through my force field.
I obviously don’t trust my corporate overseers, but they’ve hired a new scientist who actually seems interested in helping me. Dr. Mansourian might have the answers to all my questions—not to mention a starring role in most of my dreams—but he’s hiding something big. If I let him have what he wants, I might not live to regret it.
Then again, the way things are going in Panopolis these days, I might not live either way.
290 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 30, 2016
9 people are currently reading
196 people want to read
About the author
Cari Z.
133 books534 followersCari Z. is a Colorado girl who loves snow and sunshine. She has a wonderful relationship with her husband, a complex relationship with the characters in her head and a sadomasochistic relationship with her exercise routine. She feels like Halloween should happen every month, which is why you get this picture of her, and hopes that you enjoy reading what she's put out there as much as she enjoyed writing it in the first place.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 57 reviews
August 19, 2016
I’m very surprised by my rating, considering that I really enjoyed the first two books in the Panopolis series.
Also, I think this gif is appropriate in this context:
‘Where There’s A Will’ diverges from the preceding books by focusing on a Hero instead of a Villain. The Hero is Freight Train, or Craig Haney, whose special ability is that he has a thin forcefield around him which does not allow anything to touch him. The love interest is Dr. Ari Mansourian, a new reasearcher at GenCorp.
Craig has been a bit of a conundrum for me since the first book, Where There’s Smoke, when he was Edward’s clueless suitor. Craig was never a bad person, but he was instrumental in exposing Edward and Raul’s relationship to the authorities. And while he redeemed himself somewhat in the second book, I wasn’t sure whether I liked him.
Having read this book from his point of view, I could understand his previous actions. I liked getting into Craig’s head and discovering that he was more than just a pretty face and mindless robot for GenCorp.
The author continues building this world of Heroes and Villains in Panopolis. The additions to the history of the city and its residents were interesting and answered a few questions I had from the previous books.
We also get a front-row seat to how GenCorp and the other sponsors control and manipulate the Heroes, which was eye-opening. GenCorp is the epitome of the evil corporation theme.
So I enjoyed the worldbuilding, and how the plot moved forward. We’ve got the action scenes, the explosions, the back-stabbing, the twists and turns, and the politics that I’ve come to expect and enjoy from this series. But what really didn’t work for me was the romance.
Craig and Ari’s relationship just came off as very bland. I didn’t feel any chemistry between them. It seemed like the main thing that the two had going for them was that they were the only two decent human beings in GenCorp’s employment. It probably also didn’t help that we get nothing from Ari’s POV, so he remains a bit of a mystery.
I couldn’t help but compare Ari and Craig to Edward and Raul. Edward and Raul have passion and a connection that goes far beyond their crappy situation. The two are bit messed up, but together they’re whole. Compared to that, Craig and Ari’s more cookie-cutter romance didn’t shine at all.
Despite the lacklustre romance in book 3 of the Panopolis series, these books are still very fun reads. If you’re looking for some gay superheroes or supervillains and an entertaining plot, I’d recommend this series.
P.S. Imagining Chris Evans as Freight Train makes things more interesting. Because oomph.
Also, I think this gif is appropriate in this context:
‘Where There’s A Will’ diverges from the preceding books by focusing on a Hero instead of a Villain. The Hero is Freight Train, or Craig Haney, whose special ability is that he has a thin forcefield around him which does not allow anything to touch him. The love interest is Dr. Ari Mansourian, a new reasearcher at GenCorp.
Craig has been a bit of a conundrum for me since the first book, Where There’s Smoke, when he was Edward’s clueless suitor. Craig was never a bad person, but he was instrumental in exposing Edward and Raul’s relationship to the authorities. And while he redeemed himself somewhat in the second book, I wasn’t sure whether I liked him.
Having read this book from his point of view, I could understand his previous actions. I liked getting into Craig’s head and discovering that he was more than just a pretty face and mindless robot for GenCorp.
The author continues building this world of Heroes and Villains in Panopolis. The additions to the history of the city and its residents were interesting and answered a few questions I had from the previous books.
We also get a front-row seat to how GenCorp and the other sponsors control and manipulate the Heroes, which was eye-opening. GenCorp is the epitome of the evil corporation theme.
So I enjoyed the worldbuilding, and how the plot moved forward. We’ve got the action scenes, the explosions, the back-stabbing, the twists and turns, and the politics that I’ve come to expect and enjoy from this series. But what really didn’t work for me was the romance.
Craig and Ari’s relationship just came off as very bland. I didn’t feel any chemistry between them. It seemed like the main thing that the two had going for them was that they were the only two decent human beings in GenCorp’s employment. It probably also didn’t help that we get nothing from Ari’s POV, so he remains a bit of a mystery.
I couldn’t help but compare Ari and Craig to Edward and Raul. Edward and Raul have passion and a connection that goes far beyond their crappy situation. The two are bit messed up, but together they’re whole. Compared to that, Craig and Ari’s more cookie-cutter romance didn’t shine at all.
Despite the lacklustre romance in book 3 of the Panopolis series, these books are still very fun reads. If you’re looking for some gay superheroes or supervillains and an entertaining plot, I’d recommend this series.
P.S. Imagining Chris Evans as Freight Train makes things more interesting. Because oomph.
March 6, 2016
Where There's Smoke and Where There's Fire are two of my favorites from last year but this one just up the ante when it comes to fleshing out its characters and I totally loved what the author did here exploring deeper into the Panopolis and its Supers.
Being selfless is what makes up the core of Freight Train and I think readers will totally root for him. I know I did. It’s also fun to see the Mastermind (Edward Dinges) and the Mad Bombardier (Raul) again! So there’s that. I’m a happy kid!!!
Again, what a truly delightful addition to the series that I can’t recommend this series highly enough! Do pick this one up and I swear, you won’t regret it!
Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
Being selfless is what makes up the core of Freight Train and I think readers will totally root for him. I know I did. It’s also fun to see the Mastermind (Edward Dinges) and the Mad Bombardier (Raul) again! So there’s that. I’m a happy kid!!!
Again, what a truly delightful addition to the series that I can’t recommend this series highly enough! Do pick this one up and I swear, you won’t regret it!
Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
never-finished
March 28, 2016unlike the first 2 Panopolis stories this one I couldn't get into. Freight Train isn't a interesting lead character so this is a DNF
March 3, 2016
A full length addition to the series, so exciting.
Told from a different perspective, but it's an expansion of the story so far, so the gangs all here. So you have a lovely balance of familiarity combined with the new, and it works really well.
Overall a seriously exciting series, great characterisation, plotting and writing.
Strongly recommended.
Told from a different perspective, but it's an expansion of the story so far, so the gangs all here. So you have a lovely balance of familiarity combined with the new, and it works really well.
Overall a seriously exciting series, great characterisation, plotting and writing.
Strongly recommended.
May 3, 2016
Full reviewage on Prism Book Alliance®
There were times when being completely untouchable was depressing. And then there were times like today, when I was so damn grateful for my power I could almost cry.
It’s the safest of safe things to say that Cari Z is fawesome at writing in first person. She knows her characters, including our narrator this time, Craig aka Freight Train, and their voices, how they think. She communicates all of these things without making them feel insular like some stories from this point of view can feel.
As for Freight Train? Man. He’s in a tough spot. He’s bought what GenCorp has been selling him regarding the status of his power and what this means for the rest of his life as a Hero. He’s bought it because it means his survival since he believes he doesn’t have much to offer anyone beyond this job. The rub is that this job and being under GenCorp’s control goes against his naturally caring self, a kind of person who feels the pull to do the right thing even if he doesn’t like it, and it means his naturally affectionate self will never get to be truly affectionate with someone ever again. In other words, not much has changed for Craig since we first met him early in this series. Except, it feels like he’s ready for things to change if he’s presented with an opportunity.
From the get go, I had that feeling of wanting more for Craig, wanting him to have all of the things he dreams of but doesn’t believe he’ll ever have, or even feel worthy of fighting for.
Enter mysterious scientist dude, aka Ari Monsourian. One, he has an awesome name and, two, he doesn’t seem to be the typical GenCorp suit, whether in a lab or otherwise. Would he be the opportunity Craig needed? I was hoping. Oh, I was hoping. There was more than meets the eye going on with this guy.
Cari Z is a sneaky one, slipping in those slice-you-through-the-heart moments between the action and the humor. She builds these tendrils of connection that grab hold and carry us through the story.
Speaking of, I like the way this one builds. No easy answers, no quick ones at that, no immediate connections between characters that feel forced in order to move the plot forward. Instead, the mysteries evolve rather organically, with people making choices and taking actions that are consistent with their characters as we know them to be in those moments.
As for supporting characters? They all play their roles, including those that made me want to scream at them, call them jerks and worse, especially Ray and Memaw. Selfish son of a guns.
But then we have Ianthe and even the likes of Jean who round things out in the right direction.
My one issue with the story are most of the action scenes. On their own, they’re great, as well done as ever in physical description and pacing. For me, though, they lacked connection to the story in terms of furthering the plot while maintaining the characters as front and center of the whole show. They felt disconnected, sometimes reiterations of emotions and other things we already knew the characters were feeling. Add to that the big reveals being pretty obvious, and the action sequence factor in this fiction equation didn’t work so well. I kept asking myself, why is this happening, why is it important? The dastardly dastards behind the events are barely revealed so there’s no substantial connection to the motivations behind them, beyond the obvious. Maybe that’s why they fell short for me, they were too obvious and depended too much on what we already know going into this third book in the series.
Everything else in this story is spot on on spectacular: the continued blurred lines between good and evil, the unique character traits and rules governing this society – and some of them are clearly a commentary on our own – and the emotional investment these characters demand of those reading their stories.
This entire series is a clever, humorous, entertaining take on the usual treatment of superheros, villains, how regular folk interact with and react to them, and it’s all done in Cari Z’s energetically cheeky storytelling style. G’on, have fun with this one. :)
There were times when being completely untouchable was depressing. And then there were times like today, when I was so damn grateful for my power I could almost cry.
It’s the safest of safe things to say that Cari Z is fawesome at writing in first person. She knows her characters, including our narrator this time, Craig aka Freight Train, and their voices, how they think. She communicates all of these things without making them feel insular like some stories from this point of view can feel.
As for Freight Train? Man. He’s in a tough spot. He’s bought what GenCorp has been selling him regarding the status of his power and what this means for the rest of his life as a Hero. He’s bought it because it means his survival since he believes he doesn’t have much to offer anyone beyond this job. The rub is that this job and being under GenCorp’s control goes against his naturally caring self, a kind of person who feels the pull to do the right thing even if he doesn’t like it, and it means his naturally affectionate self will never get to be truly affectionate with someone ever again. In other words, not much has changed for Craig since we first met him early in this series. Except, it feels like he’s ready for things to change if he’s presented with an opportunity.
From the get go, I had that feeling of wanting more for Craig, wanting him to have all of the things he dreams of but doesn’t believe he’ll ever have, or even feel worthy of fighting for.
Enter mysterious scientist dude, aka Ari Monsourian. One, he has an awesome name and, two, he doesn’t seem to be the typical GenCorp suit, whether in a lab or otherwise. Would he be the opportunity Craig needed? I was hoping. Oh, I was hoping. There was more than meets the eye going on with this guy.
Cari Z is a sneaky one, slipping in those slice-you-through-the-heart moments between the action and the humor. She builds these tendrils of connection that grab hold and carry us through the story.
Speaking of, I like the way this one builds. No easy answers, no quick ones at that, no immediate connections between characters that feel forced in order to move the plot forward. Instead, the mysteries evolve rather organically, with people making choices and taking actions that are consistent with their characters as we know them to be in those moments.
As for supporting characters? They all play their roles, including those that made me want to scream at them, call them jerks and worse, especially Ray and Memaw. Selfish son of a guns.
But then we have Ianthe and even the likes of Jean who round things out in the right direction.
My one issue with the story are most of the action scenes. On their own, they’re great, as well done as ever in physical description and pacing. For me, though, they lacked connection to the story in terms of furthering the plot while maintaining the characters as front and center of the whole show. They felt disconnected, sometimes reiterations of emotions and other things we already knew the characters were feeling. Add to that the big reveals being pretty obvious, and the action sequence factor in this fiction equation didn’t work so well. I kept asking myself, why is this happening, why is it important? The dastardly dastards behind the events are barely revealed so there’s no substantial connection to the motivations behind them, beyond the obvious. Maybe that’s why they fell short for me, they were too obvious and depended too much on what we already know going into this third book in the series.
Everything else in this story is spot on on spectacular: the continued blurred lines between good and evil, the unique character traits and rules governing this society – and some of them are clearly a commentary on our own – and the emotional investment these characters demand of those reading their stories.
This entire series is a clever, humorous, entertaining take on the usual treatment of superheros, villains, how regular folk interact with and react to them, and it’s all done in Cari Z’s energetically cheeky storytelling style. G’on, have fun with this one. :)
March 6, 2016
3.5 stars
There's something about Cari Z's writing. She can pull me into a story like few others can. And she doesn't even usually write contemporary, which is my subgenre of choice. BUT, she has done a good job with this series as far as making me feel like I'm a part of this world.
The first two books were Raul and Edward's story. And I honestly thought I'd continue to read about them in Book 3. But lo and behold.....it's time for a new Superhero's story. I should've seen that coming with as much page time as Craig Haney (aka Freight Train) took up in the first 2.
Superhero books are not my cuppa......usually. There are few authors I would read them for, and Cari Z is one of them. It's her writing. She just knows this subgenre and writes it well enough to pull it off.
Freight Train, as with all Supers, came about his powers through an unexpected accident. Don't ask me to remember details of that shit - that's too granular for even me. And, as a result, he has a "force field" around him that nothing can penetrate. Everything pretty much bounces right off him. So he can't get hurt, right? But it also means that HE can't touch anyone. No touch from another person in 7 years! That would make anyone go crazy!
But he's a good guy, a nice guy, overall. He just wants some love! The new scientist at GenCorp, his sponsor, becomes interested and smitten with him, and the feelings are very mutual. I did find myself wondering at times whether Craig latched onto the "feelings for him" train because it was the first guy in so long who showed interest and could touch him, but I was ok with how it played out.
There is a LOT of suspension of belief because of the nature of the book, but when in Superhero and Supervillain world, I was realistic (ha!) about my suspension of belief. Cari Z does a great job of world-building.
I enjoyed this for a light, fun, minimal-angst read. If you've never read this author before, please check out the short, FREE story: Ten Simple Tips for Surviving the Apocalypse.
There's something about Cari Z's writing. She can pull me into a story like few others can. And she doesn't even usually write contemporary, which is my subgenre of choice. BUT, she has done a good job with this series as far as making me feel like I'm a part of this world.
The first two books were Raul and Edward's story. And I honestly thought I'd continue to read about them in Book 3. But lo and behold.....it's time for a new Superhero's story. I should've seen that coming with as much page time as Craig Haney (aka Freight Train) took up in the first 2.
Superhero books are not my cuppa......usually. There are few authors I would read them for, and Cari Z is one of them. It's her writing. She just knows this subgenre and writes it well enough to pull it off.
Freight Train, as with all Supers, came about his powers through an unexpected accident. Don't ask me to remember details of that shit - that's too granular for even me. And, as a result, he has a "force field" around him that nothing can penetrate. Everything pretty much bounces right off him. So he can't get hurt, right? But it also means that HE can't touch anyone. No touch from another person in 7 years! That would make anyone go crazy!
But he's a good guy, a nice guy, overall. He just wants some love! The new scientist at GenCorp, his sponsor, becomes interested and smitten with him, and the feelings are very mutual. I did find myself wondering at times whether Craig latched onto the "feelings for him" train because it was the first guy in so long who showed interest and could touch him, but I was ok with how it played out.
There is a LOT of suspension of belief because of the nature of the book, but when in Superhero and Supervillain world, I was realistic (ha!) about my suspension of belief. Cari Z does a great job of world-building.
I enjoyed this for a light, fun, minimal-angst read. If you've never read this author before, please check out the short, FREE story: Ten Simple Tips for Surviving the Apocalypse.
April 3, 2016
I really enjoyed this. Full review to come
Me: "I need to take a break from doing reviews."
Review site boss: "Ok. Then you don't want Where There's A Will?"
Me: "Give to it to me right NOW!"
**gah...I'm so weak**
Me: "I need to take a break from doing reviews."
Review site boss: "Ok. Then you don't want Where There's A Will?"
Me: "Give to it to me right NOW!"
**gah...I'm so weak**
May 4, 2016
IN A WORLD WHERE ONE MAN PROTECTS EVERYONE BUT CAN TOUCH NO ONE…
He leaned in closer and gently ran the end of the straw over the back of my hand. I watched the cap trace my veins, winding up and and down for a few endless seconds before Ari finally lifted it away. It was only then that I remembered to breathe again…It was nothing like being touched by another person, but it was probably the closest I was going to get…
…AND WHO LIVES TO SERVE THOSE AROUND HIM…
I liked taking care of people, and I liked being a power for good. I especially liked the fact that I could go toe-to-toe with some of the baddest Villains to set foot in Panopolis, and come out on top. That was what I did now–it was my reason for being.
…THIS HERO MUST TRUST THE HELP OF TWO VILLAINS…
If people learn that I’m working with Mastermind and the Mad Bombardier, I’ll be tried and sentenced before the day is done, Hero or not.”
…A FRIEND…
Jean Parks was one of the few people who never hesitated when it came to touching me, even though she didn’t like the buzz of the force field. It helped that we were old friends, but her tenacity helped even more.
…AND A DOCTOR WHO HOLDS THE HOPE FOR A CURE…AND HIS HEART…
“We might not have much history together, but you haven’t been working at GenCorp for long either. I’ve got no reason to think you knew about any of this before, and besides…I want to believe you. I really want to, because I like you, Ari. Maybe way more than I should. Please don’t make me regret it.”
…AGAINST AN EVIL THAT HAS LURKED LONG IN THE HEART OF THE CITY…
The truth is, we don’t know how much we don’t know about what really goes on here in Panopolis.
…TO UNCOVER A SECRET THAT COULD RIP THE WORLD…AND OUR HERO…APART
“I know things about them, their owners, their sponsors, that they wouldn’t want to be exposed to the greater public…No matter what you say, I am inviolable here.”
THAT MAN IS CRAIG HANEY
THAT CITY IS PANOPOLIS
THIS IS WHERE THERE’S A WILL
Now in bookstores everywhere. Get it before they get you.
Craig Haney has lived his life since the accident that moved him from normal cop to superhero unable to touch any other living (and almost all non-living) things. But unlike Craig’s condition, this book reaches out and grabs you, never letting you go. Filled with flawed heroes, redemptive villains, and all sorts of skullduggery, Where There’s A Will takes the Panopolis series up several notches and leaves the reader desperate for more.
The theme of touch flows thru this story, bringing together hero, villain, and normals–-all in a desperate attempt to connect to a world that is less real than ever before. From the general populous that is becoming more out of touch with reality, to the heroes who are increasingly out of touch with humanity, this book subtly invites the reader to question what is real and what is not. Especially when what you see is not always what is actually there.
“They came because I called them!” She pounded a filthy hand on the glass. “Because I didn’t want to be alone! Caught in glass with nothing to touch, no heartbeats to soothe me, nothing! They came to be with me! They only came to be with me; be kind to them, be kind!”
Craig, who has been forcibly separated from human contact since his hero-ing, is oddly enough one of the most in touch people in this book. Despite his powers, and maybe even because of his condition, Craig never loses his human touch. Unlike some other heroes, he goes out of his way to break the reins put on him, to reach out to the human populous of the city. Increasingly the Heros of Panopolis have been made into figures of celebrity…denying them their humanity, and their limitations. However Craig is well aware of how limited he is, and it shows. He can still see what makes a Hero–-and the ability to look good on camera is not part of that.
This humility makes him all the more relatable, and as I read I couldn’t help but feel that if more Heroes had been like him, maybe Panopolis wouldn’t have been as bleak as it had become. Where others choose to hide their flaws, Craig forces himself to face them. He acknowledges how badly he messed up with Edward…probably even more so as the story goes on and the fate of Freight Train looks bleaker and bleaker. While I fully enjoyed the look at super villains in the first two books in this series, this third book makes you look past labels like hero and villain and see the many shades of evil and the complacency that feeds it. Neither side is blameless in this book. In fact there don’t seem to be sides so much as many warring factions all struggling to come out on top…all the while unaware of the hand that has been moving them around for its own gain.
In this world where nothing is certain, we are left unsure of everything. Of who the good guys are–-or more importantly, who the bad guys are. Of whether Craig, Raul, Edward, and Ari can actually survive in a world that makes everyone a Hero while simultaneously chopping away at their pedestals. Of what will become of a city as twisted as Panopolis when Heroes fall and are left to die. As we inch closer and closer to the end, we are left to wonder if an ending, with tarnished happiness, is better than no ending at all.
Not to worry, though. Because where there is a will, there is a way, and where there is no way, then that is when you need Heroes the most. And Heroes, left to flounder, always seem to find a way to fly free in the end. Even if with slightly singed capes.
This book was provided free in exchange for a fair and honest review for Love Bytes. Go there to check out other reviews, author interviews, and all those awesome giveaways. Click below.
February 20, 2018
This series really grew on me. With the first book I wasn't 100% sold on it but I didn't give up. This book is longer than the other 2, and it did feel like it dragged some at times, but overall I really enjoyed this and hope to see more of these characters. This was well written and it's not all hearts and flowers. The ending was good, but things are still not perfect in Panopolis. But our Hero's (and this includes some "villains") have a plan and I think everything will be okay in the end. :) This series would make an awesome movie and/or TV show.
May 31, 2016
This is my review of Where There's A Will from my M/M Romance Books Blog, OJ He Say. Click the link below to see the whole review and more.
Where There's A Will by Cari Z
Rating: 4.5 stars
BLURB
Being a Hero in Panopolis means living the high life: parties, money, influence, even reality television. And I’m one of the most powerful Heroes in the city. I have plenty of fans, a manager who looks out for me (after himself), and a job that pays the bills. I should be enjoying myself.
Unfortunately, the downside of my superpower means I can’t touch anyone, which tends to put a damper on things. I probably don’t deserve all those perks anyway, since I’m working in secret with two of Panopolis’s biggest Villains to undermine GenCorp— my main sponsor and the company that controls what gets through my force field.
I obviously don’t trust my corporate overseers, but they’ve hired a new scientist who actually seems interested in helping me. Dr. Mansourian might have the answers to all my questions— not to mention a starring role in most of my dreams— but he’s hiding something big. If I let him have what he wants, I might not live to regret it.
Then again, the way things are going in Panopolis these days, I might not live either way.
Where There’s A Will
I had already read the two previous Panopolis universe books by Cari Z and, truth be told, it’s such a wonderful universe. Creating this universe populated with Heroes and Villains was, I felt, one of those strokes of literary lightning that hit every once in a while, and the way she carries it out? Yeah, good stuff!
We finally get some good answers. Lots of good answers to the questions started in the two previous books: GenCorp, Freight Train, Mr. Fabulous, Morpho Girl, the City of Panopolis, and most interestingly of all SuperTruther!
THE CHARACTERS
Craig Haney, A.K.A. Freight Train:
Craig Haney wasn’t an exciting guy. I’d been a fairly average kid, raised by my grandmother after my parents were killed during a battle between Earthquake and Sky King. I’d grown into a fairly average man who wasn’t smart enough to make it through college, so I’d gone into the police academy instead. I’d been a decent cop, but that was all I’d been. Then came the accident, and shortly after that, Freight Train was born.
Ari Mansourian:
I almost did a double take. I hadn’t even noticed the man standing there, and I definitely had reason to. …his suit had reasserted itself, as had the gray shirt he wore, and a tie that just barely kept him from being completely monochrome thanks to a faint white pinstripe running through the fabric. His blue eyes seemed bigger when I stood a few feet from him, accentuated by those thick black frames. I couldn’t make myself look away.
THE STORY
This is a phenomenal universe that Cari Z created. If you like the whole super hero story line, and a lot of us seem to considering movie box office proceeds, then this is fantastic! She’s created a complete universe where the Heroes and Villains co-exist with the rest of us in modern day, 21st Century America, complete with product placements, sponsorship, marketing collaterals, agents, and action figures. If you haven’t read the first two Panopolis books, I urge you to read them first as they all flow in sequence. This is the third, and hopefully not the final, episode in the series and all of the secondary characters come back, along with the previous main characters now in supporting roles.
In Where There’s a Will we get answers to the questions from the first two books and get the story of Craig Haney, Freight Train, and the guy he falls head over heels for, Dr. Ari Mansourian. We get to see how The Mad Bombardier, Raul, and Mastermind, Edward Dinges (Freight Train’s previous love interest) are getting along and what they’re up to. Sorry, no spoilers as Bombardier and Mastermind play an important part of this story. We get to re-visit the infamous Abattoir prison and the evil Dr. Steuben, and we finally get a glimpse into just who SuperTruther is!
THE WRITING
Groovy stuff here, boys and girls. This is super hero story-telling at its finest, with the traditional super hero story arc and surprising plot twists. The story flows smoothly, no hiccups or rough sentence structures. Solid, good editing and beta/proof reading, no typos. You can just sit back and immerse yourself in a great story, buckle up and enjoy the ride. One of the hallmarks I’ve found with publishing houses such as Riptide and a few others. If you want to escape and enjoy a good book, this is it.
THE DISCLAIMER
I would like to thank Cari Z and Riptide Publishing with providing OJ He Say! with a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
Where There's A Will by Cari Z
Rating: 4.5 stars
BLURB
Being a Hero in Panopolis means living the high life: parties, money, influence, even reality television. And I’m one of the most powerful Heroes in the city. I have plenty of fans, a manager who looks out for me (after himself), and a job that pays the bills. I should be enjoying myself.
Unfortunately, the downside of my superpower means I can’t touch anyone, which tends to put a damper on things. I probably don’t deserve all those perks anyway, since I’m working in secret with two of Panopolis’s biggest Villains to undermine GenCorp— my main sponsor and the company that controls what gets through my force field.
I obviously don’t trust my corporate overseers, but they’ve hired a new scientist who actually seems interested in helping me. Dr. Mansourian might have the answers to all my questions— not to mention a starring role in most of my dreams— but he’s hiding something big. If I let him have what he wants, I might not live to regret it.
Then again, the way things are going in Panopolis these days, I might not live either way.
Where There’s A Will
I had already read the two previous Panopolis universe books by Cari Z and, truth be told, it’s such a wonderful universe. Creating this universe populated with Heroes and Villains was, I felt, one of those strokes of literary lightning that hit every once in a while, and the way she carries it out? Yeah, good stuff!
We finally get some good answers. Lots of good answers to the questions started in the two previous books: GenCorp, Freight Train, Mr. Fabulous, Morpho Girl, the City of Panopolis, and most interestingly of all SuperTruther!
THE CHARACTERS
Craig Haney, A.K.A. Freight Train:
Craig Haney wasn’t an exciting guy. I’d been a fairly average kid, raised by my grandmother after my parents were killed during a battle between Earthquake and Sky King. I’d grown into a fairly average man who wasn’t smart enough to make it through college, so I’d gone into the police academy instead. I’d been a decent cop, but that was all I’d been. Then came the accident, and shortly after that, Freight Train was born.
Ari Mansourian:
I almost did a double take. I hadn’t even noticed the man standing there, and I definitely had reason to. …his suit had reasserted itself, as had the gray shirt he wore, and a tie that just barely kept him from being completely monochrome thanks to a faint white pinstripe running through the fabric. His blue eyes seemed bigger when I stood a few feet from him, accentuated by those thick black frames. I couldn’t make myself look away.
THE STORY
This is a phenomenal universe that Cari Z created. If you like the whole super hero story line, and a lot of us seem to considering movie box office proceeds, then this is fantastic! She’s created a complete universe where the Heroes and Villains co-exist with the rest of us in modern day, 21st Century America, complete with product placements, sponsorship, marketing collaterals, agents, and action figures. If you haven’t read the first two Panopolis books, I urge you to read them first as they all flow in sequence. This is the third, and hopefully not the final, episode in the series and all of the secondary characters come back, along with the previous main characters now in supporting roles.
In Where There’s a Will we get answers to the questions from the first two books and get the story of Craig Haney, Freight Train, and the guy he falls head over heels for, Dr. Ari Mansourian. We get to see how The Mad Bombardier, Raul, and Mastermind, Edward Dinges (Freight Train’s previous love interest) are getting along and what they’re up to. Sorry, no spoilers as Bombardier and Mastermind play an important part of this story. We get to re-visit the infamous Abattoir prison and the evil Dr. Steuben, and we finally get a glimpse into just who SuperTruther is!
THE WRITING
Groovy stuff here, boys and girls. This is super hero story-telling at its finest, with the traditional super hero story arc and surprising plot twists. The story flows smoothly, no hiccups or rough sentence structures. Solid, good editing and beta/proof reading, no typos. You can just sit back and immerse yourself in a great story, buckle up and enjoy the ride. One of the hallmarks I’ve found with publishing houses such as Riptide and a few others. If you want to escape and enjoy a good book, this is it.
THE DISCLAIMER
I would like to thank Cari Z and Riptide Publishing with providing OJ He Say! with a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
May 4, 2016
The war is still raging in Panopolis in this third installment in the series that has held me captivated from the very start. From its thought-provoking ideas to its fast-paced action sequences to a sweet yet sensual romance, this book perfectly juggled all these elements to keep me wholeheartedly entertained and desperate for more. Whether there is more has yet to be seen, but what Ms. Z has crafted thus far is a crowd-pleasing superhero epic that had me cheering!
Freight Train aka Craig Haney is the epitome of what a Superhero should be, kind and quick to do right. From the outside he's beloved by all, but on the inside Craig's life is in chaos. His attraction to Edward, and his role in his incarceration, led to the creation of the villain Mastermind which Craig is still feeling guilt over despite his assistance in breaking Edward out of prison. With escape came the discovery of experiments on Superheroes and Villains which has led to an uneasy alliance between Craig and the man he once loved, who's now in love with someone else. Along with his love life in chaos, his role as a Superhero is being put in doubt in retaliation by the company who supports him as his doubts and concerns become louder. With the death of one Superhero and his bloody altercation with another, Craig's life spirals completely out of control and he ends up in a place he may never return from intact. It will take both heroes and enemies to save him as the nefarious truth regarding these unnatural powers comes to light and changes everything. Craig is a truly sweet character with a kind heart. He always felt lacking until the day he gained his powers and he feels obligated to live up to the standards of being a Superhero. With his Meemaw constantly bashing his self-esteem too, being a Superhero is all he has. Not being able to be touched is a lonely thing though and the author depicts Craig's feelings in a heartbreaking manner that left me wanting to hug him. The only bright spot amidst all this was meeting Doctor Ari Mansourian who treated Craig as an equal and wanted to find a way for him to live a more normal life. Meeting Ari though was also frustrating as they could never touch which made for a relationship full of frustration, sweetness, and teeming with sexual tension. Throughout everything Craig remained someone worth looking up to and I enjoyed getting to know more about him as previous glimpses showed someone a bit arrogant and too-perfect. In this story, despite his being a Superhero, Craig was down-to-earth and immensely likable as readers got to see the man behind the persona.
Ari's life has been one of chaos as well from a youth touched by the nefariousness of governments creating unnatural powers to an adulthood spent in hiding trying to help those most cruelly used. It's brought him to Craig though and sets him on a path to finding out the truth regarding his powers and leads to an attraction that has him putting his life on the line when Craig needs all the help he can get after being turned on by those who were once his biggest supporters. Ari's a mysterious character who was never overly emotional, he was always so controlled, but there was a sweetness to him in Craig's presence that had me liking him all the more. Though he didn't have unnatural abilities he was good in a fight, using his brains instead of brawn, to add a bit of unexpected entertainment to the fight scenes.
This was a delightful addition to the series that had me on edge from start to finish. The previous installments showed the couple of Edward and Raul and their journey from Villains to trailblazers in a new world so it was nice seeing the battle from the side of the Superheroes this time around. Craig's an endearing character with issues he was dealing with that were heartbreaking but he never shirked his duty to help others. The loneliness he experienced because of his powers was palpable, the things we take for granted that he couldn't experience had me teary-eyed at times and happy for those few moments of happiness he found with Ari. Because of his issues the romance wasn't the center of the story but a sweet and sensual respite from the danger that brought a smile to my face. The action scenes were exhilarating and kept me on the edge of my seat with the slowly emerging truths regarding the government and scientist's manipulations adding fuel to the fire. It's a war with lines that blur ever more with each new installment that provides lots of food for fodder that still has me thinking long after the final page was turned.
Freight Train aka Craig Haney is the epitome of what a Superhero should be, kind and quick to do right. From the outside he's beloved by all, but on the inside Craig's life is in chaos. His attraction to Edward, and his role in his incarceration, led to the creation of the villain Mastermind which Craig is still feeling guilt over despite his assistance in breaking Edward out of prison. With escape came the discovery of experiments on Superheroes and Villains which has led to an uneasy alliance between Craig and the man he once loved, who's now in love with someone else. Along with his love life in chaos, his role as a Superhero is being put in doubt in retaliation by the company who supports him as his doubts and concerns become louder. With the death of one Superhero and his bloody altercation with another, Craig's life spirals completely out of control and he ends up in a place he may never return from intact. It will take both heroes and enemies to save him as the nefarious truth regarding these unnatural powers comes to light and changes everything. Craig is a truly sweet character with a kind heart. He always felt lacking until the day he gained his powers and he feels obligated to live up to the standards of being a Superhero. With his Meemaw constantly bashing his self-esteem too, being a Superhero is all he has. Not being able to be touched is a lonely thing though and the author depicts Craig's feelings in a heartbreaking manner that left me wanting to hug him. The only bright spot amidst all this was meeting Doctor Ari Mansourian who treated Craig as an equal and wanted to find a way for him to live a more normal life. Meeting Ari though was also frustrating as they could never touch which made for a relationship full of frustration, sweetness, and teeming with sexual tension. Throughout everything Craig remained someone worth looking up to and I enjoyed getting to know more about him as previous glimpses showed someone a bit arrogant and too-perfect. In this story, despite his being a Superhero, Craig was down-to-earth and immensely likable as readers got to see the man behind the persona.
Ari's life has been one of chaos as well from a youth touched by the nefariousness of governments creating unnatural powers to an adulthood spent in hiding trying to help those most cruelly used. It's brought him to Craig though and sets him on a path to finding out the truth regarding his powers and leads to an attraction that has him putting his life on the line when Craig needs all the help he can get after being turned on by those who were once his biggest supporters. Ari's a mysterious character who was never overly emotional, he was always so controlled, but there was a sweetness to him in Craig's presence that had me liking him all the more. Though he didn't have unnatural abilities he was good in a fight, using his brains instead of brawn, to add a bit of unexpected entertainment to the fight scenes.
This was a delightful addition to the series that had me on edge from start to finish. The previous installments showed the couple of Edward and Raul and their journey from Villains to trailblazers in a new world so it was nice seeing the battle from the side of the Superheroes this time around. Craig's an endearing character with issues he was dealing with that were heartbreaking but he never shirked his duty to help others. The loneliness he experienced because of his powers was palpable, the things we take for granted that he couldn't experience had me teary-eyed at times and happy for those few moments of happiness he found with Ari. Because of his issues the romance wasn't the center of the story but a sweet and sensual respite from the danger that brought a smile to my face. The action scenes were exhilarating and kept me on the edge of my seat with the slowly emerging truths regarding the government and scientist's manipulations adding fuel to the fire. It's a war with lines that blur ever more with each new installment that provides lots of food for fodder that still has me thinking long after the final page was turned.
May 2, 2016
A Joyfully Jay review.
4.75 stars
Join me back in Panopolis where Heroes save the day and Villains run amok. I love this world that Cari Z has created, this Gotham-esque town that puts Heroes in the spotlight and makes them celebrities. While the first two books focused on Edward and Raul and their villainy and relationship, Freight Train/Craig played a very large role as a secondary character. I didn’t know quite what to expect when I saw that Craig was the MC of this much longer book. I was initially just a tiny bit disappointed both because I loved Edward so much and because I found Craig somewhat hard to like in the first book, though he redeemed himself a little in the second. But I went into this story with an open mind, knowing that I’d loved the series up until this point and that Cari Z wouldn’t let me down. What I found was an incredibly well-crafted story, characters I cared about immensely, and a story line I found engrossing.
Craig is our narrator, and as I said a moment ago, I found him hard to like in the first book. He was pushy and kind of dense, and I couldn’t believe he, who was supposed to have such a sense of justice, would stand by while Edward was in trouble. What I loved about this book was that I was immediately drawn into his story and was given a great sense of his character. Almost instantly, all those misconceptions I had about Craig were tossed out. Within the first few pages, I understood him far better than I ever did, understood his motivations and his heart, and I found myself completely engaged. This guy has a strong sense of morals and a huge heart. He does the right thing because it’s the right thing, and for no other reason. His motivations are so clear, there was nothing he did that I didn’t expect him to. Craig was a particularly well-drawn character, and I was on his side and in his corner from the very beginning. I will add here, that this is an accomplishment by the author, because I tend to gravitate toward the anti-hero—like Edward and Raul—so to make me care so thoroughly about a traditional Hero was quite a feat.
Read Kris’ review in its entirety here.
4.75 stars
Join me back in Panopolis where Heroes save the day and Villains run amok. I love this world that Cari Z has created, this Gotham-esque town that puts Heroes in the spotlight and makes them celebrities. While the first two books focused on Edward and Raul and their villainy and relationship, Freight Train/Craig played a very large role as a secondary character. I didn’t know quite what to expect when I saw that Craig was the MC of this much longer book. I was initially just a tiny bit disappointed both because I loved Edward so much and because I found Craig somewhat hard to like in the first book, though he redeemed himself a little in the second. But I went into this story with an open mind, knowing that I’d loved the series up until this point and that Cari Z wouldn’t let me down. What I found was an incredibly well-crafted story, characters I cared about immensely, and a story line I found engrossing.
Craig is our narrator, and as I said a moment ago, I found him hard to like in the first book. He was pushy and kind of dense, and I couldn’t believe he, who was supposed to have such a sense of justice, would stand by while Edward was in trouble. What I loved about this book was that I was immediately drawn into his story and was given a great sense of his character. Almost instantly, all those misconceptions I had about Craig were tossed out. Within the first few pages, I understood him far better than I ever did, understood his motivations and his heart, and I found myself completely engaged. This guy has a strong sense of morals and a huge heart. He does the right thing because it’s the right thing, and for no other reason. His motivations are so clear, there was nothing he did that I didn’t expect him to. Craig was a particularly well-drawn character, and I was on his side and in his corner from the very beginning. I will add here, that this is an accomplishment by the author, because I tend to gravitate toward the anti-hero—like Edward and Raul—so to make me care so thoroughly about a traditional Hero was quite a feat.
Read Kris’ review in its entirety here.
October 31, 2017
When I started Where There's a Will, I was a little disappointed to learn that Craig was the main character, rather than Edward. It's not that I didn't like Craig or the hero's perspective, it just that I wanted more Edward and Raul. My disappointment was quickly dispelled as I became immediately engrossed by the plot and charmed by both Craig and Ari.
I gave all three books in the series 5 stars but I have to say Where There’s Fire is my favorite. If Where There's Smoke and Where There’s a Will each deserve 5 stars from me, Where There's Fire deserves 5+. I was entertained and delighted from start to finish throughout all three books.
I highly recommend the entire series. In fact, I gushed so much about it to my daughter and her boyfriend, that he has added it to his tbr list as well.
I gave all three books in the series 5 stars but I have to say Where There’s Fire is my favorite. If Where There's Smoke and Where There’s a Will each deserve 5 stars from me, Where There's Fire deserves 5+. I was entertained and delighted from start to finish throughout all three books.
I highly recommend the entire series. In fact, I gushed so much about it to my daughter and her boyfriend, that he has added it to his tbr list as well.
May 27, 2016
A marvelously entertaining series!
December 7, 2018
Outstanding! This wasn't what I expected in the best possible way.. First I was sure the last installment, like the previous two, would be of Edward and Raul taking over the city and while they are both constant in this book it's actually all about "Freight Train" or as he preferred to be called - Craig Haney - the name he was born with and doesn't define just one aspect of his life...
Being a Hero isn't easy. It's not just a job, it's what people expect you to be 24/7 and while Craig is ALL about saving lives and doing the right thing, sometimes all he wan'ts to do, all he wants to be, it a regular Joe. Being surrounded by a force field means he is out of reach from life at all times. He can't eat unless it's with a special straw with a concoction GenCorp has manufactured especially for him. It isn't tasty but he can't taste if anyway.. But what he misses the most is being touched. Even a simple caress. Being appreciated and SEEN not as just a Hero but a person.
The only person who did that he almost destroyed.. and that was Edward. He mistakenly saw his kindness as personal and then he couldn't NOT pursue him which was wrong because Raul was already in the picture (and frankly Edward wasn't really interested to begin with). But his worst crime was doing nothing when his grandmother rattled Edward to the authorities for harboring and collaborating with a Villain (Raul). He SHOULD have done something yet he didn't and now it's a real wonder he, Edward and Raul are sort of friends. Well, working together.. cooperating.. as much as they can considering Craig is the "Good Guy" and Edward and Raul are considered "Bad Guys" as they are both Villains now (after Edward was experimented on shortly while in prison).
From the outside life seems good with all the benefits he receives as one of the most known and appreciated Hero, yet he is mostly lonely and he starts to realize just how out of control his life really is. His agent does only what HE wants and when he doesn't comply it's SO easy to take away benefits - like REAL crimes to solve but also getting cellular connection on his phone so he can communicate with the short list of friends he has on it. Not to mention GenCorp, the company who maintains him yet does NOTHING for him, only what they need so he can FUNCTION nothing less, nothing more. The little data Edward was able to decrypt of Freight Train (from the memory stick he stolen) just leaves more blank spots.
Enter Dr. Ari Mansourian, a new scientist in GenCorp who wants to work with Craig and try and understand what makes his "tick" and what can be done, maybe, to help him. Though Craig is worried of Ari's intentions he is mostly loving the attention he is getting from the guy. He enjoys his company and hopes Ari can help make his life a little bit easier though he isn't sure what to expect would happen really.
There's quite a lot of happening with another Hero who is close to Craig (though could hardly be considered a friend..) and all in all it just makes him realize how much he wants and NEEDS a change even if he isn't sure what he can offer the world if one day he will stop being the Hero he have been for the past 7 years. Can he dare to hope?
When Ari's past is revealed it puts a big questing mark on all they shared together yet Craig still wants to hope that's why he makes the mistake of confiding someone with what they have been up to. BIG MISTAKE one that almost cost Craig his life, even if he thought he mostly cannot be hurt. Oh, he can.. What Craig doesn't know about his ability Dr. Steuben does. He is not "just" the head doctor in The Abattoir (Panopolis' Prison for Supers) he is SO MUCH MORE. I was getting WWII Dr. Mengele vibes. Frankly, I was pretty scared I won't be able to sleep last night when I finished the book. Lucky I was DEAD tired..
The romance between Craig and Ari was precious. It was sweet and endearing, it was slow going, mostly about getting to know each other, being friends first as touch is mostly out of reach for them with Craig's powers. Yet the feelings are THERE, waiting for an opportunity to be explored if only they could.. if Craig could.. if Ari would find a way..
The whole story ended beautifully, Cari wrapped everything up beautifully. Though there is much to do to fix all the wrongs that have been done to both Heroes and Villains, there is HOPE it can be achieved now that GOOD people are making sure it's done. It doesn't matter if they are Villains or Heroes or even Supers. Panopolis CAN change for the benefit of ALL it's people.
A wonderful ending to a SUPERB series. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!
More Reviews HERE
Being a Hero isn't easy. It's not just a job, it's what people expect you to be 24/7 and while Craig is ALL about saving lives and doing the right thing, sometimes all he wan'ts to do, all he wants to be, it a regular Joe. Being surrounded by a force field means he is out of reach from life at all times. He can't eat unless it's with a special straw with a concoction GenCorp has manufactured especially for him. It isn't tasty but he can't taste if anyway.. But what he misses the most is being touched. Even a simple caress. Being appreciated and SEEN not as just a Hero but a person.
The only person who did that he almost destroyed.. and that was Edward. He mistakenly saw his kindness as personal and then he couldn't NOT pursue him which was wrong because Raul was already in the picture (and frankly Edward wasn't really interested to begin with). But his worst crime was doing nothing when his grandmother rattled Edward to the authorities for harboring and collaborating with a Villain (Raul). He SHOULD have done something yet he didn't and now it's a real wonder he, Edward and Raul are sort of friends. Well, working together.. cooperating.. as much as they can considering Craig is the "Good Guy" and Edward and Raul are considered "Bad Guys" as they are both Villains now (after Edward was experimented on shortly while in prison).
From the outside life seems good with all the benefits he receives as one of the most known and appreciated Hero, yet he is mostly lonely and he starts to realize just how out of control his life really is. His agent does only what HE wants and when he doesn't comply it's SO easy to take away benefits - like REAL crimes to solve but also getting cellular connection on his phone so he can communicate with the short list of friends he has on it. Not to mention GenCorp, the company who maintains him yet does NOTHING for him, only what they need so he can FUNCTION nothing less, nothing more. The little data Edward was able to decrypt of Freight Train (from the memory stick he stolen) just leaves more blank spots.
Enter Dr. Ari Mansourian, a new scientist in GenCorp who wants to work with Craig and try and understand what makes his "tick" and what can be done, maybe, to help him. Though Craig is worried of Ari's intentions he is mostly loving the attention he is getting from the guy. He enjoys his company and hopes Ari can help make his life a little bit easier though he isn't sure what to expect would happen really.
There's quite a lot of happening with another Hero who is close to Craig (though could hardly be considered a friend..) and all in all it just makes him realize how much he wants and NEEDS a change even if he isn't sure what he can offer the world if one day he will stop being the Hero he have been for the past 7 years. Can he dare to hope?
When Ari's past is revealed it puts a big questing mark on all they shared together yet Craig still wants to hope that's why he makes the mistake of confiding someone with what they have been up to. BIG MISTAKE one that almost cost Craig his life, even if he thought he mostly cannot be hurt. Oh, he can.. What Craig doesn't know about his ability Dr. Steuben does. He is not "just" the head doctor in The Abattoir (Panopolis' Prison for Supers) he is SO MUCH MORE. I was getting WWII Dr. Mengele vibes. Frankly, I was pretty scared I won't be able to sleep last night when I finished the book. Lucky I was DEAD tired..
The romance between Craig and Ari was precious. It was sweet and endearing, it was slow going, mostly about getting to know each other, being friends first as touch is mostly out of reach for them with Craig's powers. Yet the feelings are THERE, waiting for an opportunity to be explored if only they could.. if Craig could.. if Ari would find a way..
The whole story ended beautifully, Cari wrapped everything up beautifully. Though there is much to do to fix all the wrongs that have been done to both Heroes and Villains, there is HOPE it can be achieved now that GOOD people are making sure it's done. It doesn't matter if they are Villains or Heroes or even Supers. Panopolis CAN change for the benefit of ALL it's people.
A wonderful ending to a SUPERB series. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!
More Reviews HERE
May 10, 2016
Cari Z is a repeat author for me, and like the other stories I have read by her, I couldn’t put down the next novel in the Panopolis series. Where There’s a Will takes a turn from the previous installments, as the other stories were told by the Villains. That doesn’t detract from Cari Z’s abilities and, in fact, enhances my respect and admiration for such dedication to the trade. As a villain girl through and through, this says something to me, and that something is Cari Z has talent. She knows her characters, and her world, and doesn’t skimp on sharing those details with her readers. But she does it at her own pace, and that makes this world, and story, all the more fantastic.
This is Freight Train’s story, and he is a Hero. That means something in Panopolis, and not always for the good. There’s a fine line between Heroes and Villains in Panopolis, and the more this series advances, the more that line blurs until it is completely blown out of the water by Freight Train and the residents of Panopolis.
I wanted Freight Train’s story and yet, I dreaded it a bit. He was arrogant, and took no responsibility for his actions in our first introduction. The second go-round wasn’t much better, but I began to see the cracks in the city of Panopolis and our protagonist. And I so wanted more of this fantastically detailed world—even if I didn’t want to like this Hero. I knew this author would have the chutzpah to make me consider changing my mind, and she did without sacrificing one iota of the wonderful descriptions of the story.
In this third tale, Cari Z breaks her own mold and turns the superhero genre on its ear once more. Freight Train’s tale is one of growth and maturity and redemption. It is a slow-burn romance, and had all the excellent world building and story advancement I have come to expect from Cari Z, and then some. And with appearances from previous characters that enrich the story in such vivid detail, it was so hard to stop when I had to… like stop reading to fix dinner for my kid, but never fear, she got fed and I got back to the story.
I had to fight my previous instincts to not like this character, because Cari Z is just that good. Freight Train’s story, his reactions to his circumstances and the aftermath just made me love Cari Z’s ability to fully engross the reader into her world all the more. Though I am still not a complete convert, I will say Cari Z made a compelling argument for me to reconsider my stance on Heroes.
Thank you, Cari Z, for sharing a glimpse into the fantastical world you created. I hope to visit Panopolis once again, if the mood takes you.
Reviewed by Angel for The Novel Approach Reviews
http://www.thenovelapproachreviews.co...
This is Freight Train’s story, and he is a Hero. That means something in Panopolis, and not always for the good. There’s a fine line between Heroes and Villains in Panopolis, and the more this series advances, the more that line blurs until it is completely blown out of the water by Freight Train and the residents of Panopolis.
I wanted Freight Train’s story and yet, I dreaded it a bit. He was arrogant, and took no responsibility for his actions in our first introduction. The second go-round wasn’t much better, but I began to see the cracks in the city of Panopolis and our protagonist. And I so wanted more of this fantastically detailed world—even if I didn’t want to like this Hero. I knew this author would have the chutzpah to make me consider changing my mind, and she did without sacrificing one iota of the wonderful descriptions of the story.
In this third tale, Cari Z breaks her own mold and turns the superhero genre on its ear once more. Freight Train’s tale is one of growth and maturity and redemption. It is a slow-burn romance, and had all the excellent world building and story advancement I have come to expect from Cari Z, and then some. And with appearances from previous characters that enrich the story in such vivid detail, it was so hard to stop when I had to… like stop reading to fix dinner for my kid, but never fear, she got fed and I got back to the story.
I had to fight my previous instincts to not like this character, because Cari Z is just that good. Freight Train’s story, his reactions to his circumstances and the aftermath just made me love Cari Z’s ability to fully engross the reader into her world all the more. Though I am still not a complete convert, I will say Cari Z made a compelling argument for me to reconsider my stance on Heroes.
Thank you, Cari Z, for sharing a glimpse into the fantastical world you created. I hope to visit Panopolis once again, if the mood takes you.
Reviewed by Angel for The Novel Approach Reviews
http://www.thenovelapproachreviews.co...
May 6, 2016
I've had a love/hate relationship with Freight Train (Craig) since the beginning of the Panopolis series. The world that Cari Z created for her characters is twisted. A world where heroes aren't always the good guys and villains aren't always the bad. Craig has slowly proven himself to be one of the exceptions in the hero category and getting inside his head in Where There's a Will confirmed it.
This is the third book in the series and the first where Raul and Edward weren't the main characters. I wasn't sure how I was going to feel about that, but it didn't take long for Craig to win me over. On the surface, he was someone who had it all, but he did a pretty good job of hiding how broken and alone he really was. He didn't really trust the people he depended on. His only remaining family member seemed to care more about herself than him and he was risking his life by putting his trust in people he was supposed to be fighting against. Add to that the fact that he couldn't touch anyone and they couldn't touch him. He couldn't even eat food and was dependent on GenCorp for pretty much everything keeping him going.
Dr. Mansourian is different from the other doctors who poke and prod at Craig when he goes to GenCorp. There's something about him that draws Craig in, but it's also obvious that he's hiding something. Craig has secrets of his own and keeping Dr. Mansourian close may not be smart, but he's the only person besides Edward who acts as if he truly cares about the man behind the hero. As things heat up in the war that's escalating, Craig finds himself in more danger than he ever expected. People are shutting him out and the lines between who he should and shouldn't trust get blurrier by the minute.
As usual, the message behind this story is as intriguing as the story itself. I can't wait to see what Cari Z has in store for the residents of Panopolis next.
I received Where There's a Will in exchange for a fair and honest review.
This is the third book in the series and the first where Raul and Edward weren't the main characters. I wasn't sure how I was going to feel about that, but it didn't take long for Craig to win me over. On the surface, he was someone who had it all, but he did a pretty good job of hiding how broken and alone he really was. He didn't really trust the people he depended on. His only remaining family member seemed to care more about herself than him and he was risking his life by putting his trust in people he was supposed to be fighting against. Add to that the fact that he couldn't touch anyone and they couldn't touch him. He couldn't even eat food and was dependent on GenCorp for pretty much everything keeping him going.
Dr. Mansourian is different from the other doctors who poke and prod at Craig when he goes to GenCorp. There's something about him that draws Craig in, but it's also obvious that he's hiding something. Craig has secrets of his own and keeping Dr. Mansourian close may not be smart, but he's the only person besides Edward who acts as if he truly cares about the man behind the hero. As things heat up in the war that's escalating, Craig finds himself in more danger than he ever expected. People are shutting him out and the lines between who he should and shouldn't trust get blurrier by the minute.
As usual, the message behind this story is as intriguing as the story itself. I can't wait to see what Cari Z has in store for the residents of Panopolis next.
I received Where There's a Will in exchange for a fair and honest review.
April 26, 2016
The third book in the Panopolis series has moved on to a new couple. Edward and Raul from the first two books are still present but the focus has shifted to Craig, Freight Train. Craig is a Hero. Seven years ago while working as a cop in Panopolis Craig was exposed to a chemical that put a forcefield around his person. Craig is happy that he is able to help as a Hero but he desperately misses the touch of another, the taste of food, and don’t even get him started on things we all take for granted like hygiene and bathroom breaks. His Hero status has cost him so much.
There’s a new scientist as GenCorp and he has a heart. Ari wants to help Heroes. Ari want to help Panopolis. It’s not going to be as easy as he would like. Panopolis is full of corruption and it has infiltrated every office and pocket in the city. There is positive about the new job though and he is looking forward to all the time it allows him to spend with the Hero Freight Train, the man Craig.
Panopolis is one of those series that is best read in order. In Where There’s Smoke Craig did not get the guy. The fact that Craig wants a loved one in his life makes this romance so sweet. Craig wants to feel the touch of another. He wants someone to want Craig in their life. He’s tired of the fans and their love of Freight Train. Craig wants to be Craig and Ari only sees Craig so this story really works romantically. Ari’s role and Craig’s thoughts of Panopolis is what makes the other part of the story work. Readers know from the previous two books that things really need to change in Panopolis. The Heroes are seen as objects, servants to the city. To read as it all unfolds makes for an exciting fast paced read.
There’s a new scientist as GenCorp and he has a heart. Ari wants to help Heroes. Ari want to help Panopolis. It’s not going to be as easy as he would like. Panopolis is full of corruption and it has infiltrated every office and pocket in the city. There is positive about the new job though and he is looking forward to all the time it allows him to spend with the Hero Freight Train, the man Craig.
Panopolis is one of those series that is best read in order. In Where There’s Smoke Craig did not get the guy. The fact that Craig wants a loved one in his life makes this romance so sweet. Craig wants to feel the touch of another. He wants someone to want Craig in their life. He’s tired of the fans and their love of Freight Train. Craig wants to be Craig and Ari only sees Craig so this story really works romantically. Ari’s role and Craig’s thoughts of Panopolis is what makes the other part of the story work. Readers know from the previous two books that things really need to change in Panopolis. The Heroes are seen as objects, servants to the city. To read as it all unfolds makes for an exciting fast paced read.
May 30, 2016
3.5 Stars
Another good story from the Panopolis series. This one is told from the perspective of the hero Freight Train - Craig.
In this story we see Freight Train grappling with his fellow colleagues and with Gen Corp, the science research company that basically own and controls him. Freight Train finds himself being marginalised and sidelined when Mr Fabulous signs on to do his own TV show. Suddenly the city's heroes are focused on making Mr Fabulous look good and getting good ratings. Fighting crime takes second place.
As Freight Train grapples with these development he gets to know the newest scientist at Gen Corp, Ari Mansourian. There is something hidden about Ari but that doesn't stop Freight Train from getting closer to him. When Ari invites Freight Train to help him with research, Freight Train seizes the opportunity for friendship not knowing where this will actually lead.
I did enjoy this return to Panopolis but not as much as the first two. It took me some time to get into the story and I think Ari, nice as he was, just doesn't have the charisma of Edward and Raoul from the previous books. Having said this it was still a good story from a good series and really enjoyable for anyone who like superhero mm stories.
Copy provided by Riptide Publishing via NetGalley in exchange for a review.
Another good story from the Panopolis series. This one is told from the perspective of the hero Freight Train - Craig.
In this story we see Freight Train grappling with his fellow colleagues and with Gen Corp, the science research company that basically own and controls him. Freight Train finds himself being marginalised and sidelined when Mr Fabulous signs on to do his own TV show. Suddenly the city's heroes are focused on making Mr Fabulous look good and getting good ratings. Fighting crime takes second place.
As Freight Train grapples with these development he gets to know the newest scientist at Gen Corp, Ari Mansourian. There is something hidden about Ari but that doesn't stop Freight Train from getting closer to him. When Ari invites Freight Train to help him with research, Freight Train seizes the opportunity for friendship not knowing where this will actually lead.
I did enjoy this return to Panopolis but not as much as the first two. It took me some time to get into the story and I think Ari, nice as he was, just doesn't have the charisma of Edward and Raoul from the previous books. Having said this it was still a good story from a good series and really enjoyable for anyone who like superhero mm stories.
Copy provided by Riptide Publishing via NetGalley in exchange for a review.
December 5, 2017
I've loved this series.
Why, WHY? Would you tell Zach something like that? The moment he opened his mouth I started yelling at him. If I could have, I would have smacked Craig in the forehead.
In previous books, I felt bad for Freight Train, going so long without a simple touch.
He was a little hard headed in the beginning of the series, only believing what his handlers told him. I was glad when he started thinking for himself last book. It was nice getting his POV.
I liked Ari, and I was crossing my fingers that it wasn't a trick. You just knew there was more to his story. I was just hoping it wasn't something backstabbing.
I liked seeing all the corruption in the organization that funded the superheros being revealed.
The story has a nice flow, and it never dragged for me.
Why, WHY? Would you tell Zach something like that? The moment he opened his mouth I started yelling at him. If I could have, I would have smacked Craig in the forehead.
In previous books, I felt bad for Freight Train, going so long without a simple touch.
He was a little hard headed in the beginning of the series, only believing what his handlers told him. I was glad when he started thinking for himself last book. It was nice getting his POV.
I liked Ari, and I was crossing my fingers that it wasn't a trick. You just knew there was more to his story. I was just hoping it wasn't something backstabbing.
I liked seeing all the corruption in the organization that funded the superheros being revealed.
The story has a nice flow, and it never dragged for me.
May 4, 2016
Once again, I’m coming in late on a series I now have to devour completely. I grabbed the first two Panopolis stories in a single volume, so I have goodies for later. Because I just enjoyed this book so much.
Our POV character is Freight Train, almost never known as Craig Haney, a Hero in a city that requires all augmented persons to choose sides. Stumble into, or choose, a superpower, and you have to be either a Hero or a Villain, no middle ground. In Panopolis (nice touch, this is Gotham City, Metropolis, Your Home Town, and a touch of ancient Rome all rolled into one), the Heroes not only protect the citizens from the Villains, they’re the bread and circuses too. It’s not a real rescue unless the cameras are watching, is it? But it’s not scripted so it can go down the toilet fast, and the real powers that be, GenCorp, don’t care what it does to the people who fight the battles.
The force field that’s become part of Craig prevents almost everything from passing in or out, but his invulnerability comes with some serious limitations on survival, and intimacy is another casualty. He can neither touch nor be touched, and he’s so much a victim of his celebrity and his power that to be called by his real name becomes the most human contact he can hope for. And he almost never gets it. How this author turns something so simple into heartbreak is an art.
Dr. Ari Mansourian does call Craig by name, and he knows a few things about his force field. But who is this mysterious scientist, and what is he really doing in the GenCorp labs? That force field makes their burn slow enough to answer questions.
GenCorp happily pits their manufactured heroes against one another, offering this one a reality show while that one languishes in obscurity, or poverty. There’s a grim undercurrent of favoritism, keeping everyone off balance and asking the wrong questions.
All is never as it seems, and there are twists, turns, betrayals, saves, and some smiles, in true comic book hero style, with depth and a wry humor. Characters from the first two books have parts to play here, which neither spoil the earlier books nor overwhelm this one.
The writing is wonderful, and the situations are classic superhero seen through the jaundiced eye of the person who has to live them. The plot twists are canny, and one major issue was resolved with such audacious perfection that I gasped out loud and then screamed YES! at my Kindle.
The chance conversation that led me to this book was a happy one, because I quit watching Batman 4 movies ago and might not have picked this one up. But I’m off to read the rest of the Panopolis stories, because this was a terrific tale in every way!
Our POV character is Freight Train, almost never known as Craig Haney, a Hero in a city that requires all augmented persons to choose sides. Stumble into, or choose, a superpower, and you have to be either a Hero or a Villain, no middle ground. In Panopolis (nice touch, this is Gotham City, Metropolis, Your Home Town, and a touch of ancient Rome all rolled into one), the Heroes not only protect the citizens from the Villains, they’re the bread and circuses too. It’s not a real rescue unless the cameras are watching, is it? But it’s not scripted so it can go down the toilet fast, and the real powers that be, GenCorp, don’t care what it does to the people who fight the battles.
The force field that’s become part of Craig prevents almost everything from passing in or out, but his invulnerability comes with some serious limitations on survival, and intimacy is another casualty. He can neither touch nor be touched, and he’s so much a victim of his celebrity and his power that to be called by his real name becomes the most human contact he can hope for. And he almost never gets it. How this author turns something so simple into heartbreak is an art.
Dr. Ari Mansourian does call Craig by name, and he knows a few things about his force field. But who is this mysterious scientist, and what is he really doing in the GenCorp labs? That force field makes their burn slow enough to answer questions.
GenCorp happily pits their manufactured heroes against one another, offering this one a reality show while that one languishes in obscurity, or poverty. There’s a grim undercurrent of favoritism, keeping everyone off balance and asking the wrong questions.
All is never as it seems, and there are twists, turns, betrayals, saves, and some smiles, in true comic book hero style, with depth and a wry humor. Characters from the first two books have parts to play here, which neither spoil the earlier books nor overwhelm this one.
The writing is wonderful, and the situations are classic superhero seen through the jaundiced eye of the person who has to live them. The plot twists are canny, and one major issue was resolved with such audacious perfection that I gasped out loud and then screamed YES! at my Kindle.
The chance conversation that led me to this book was a happy one, because I quit watching Batman 4 movies ago and might not have picked this one up. But I’m off to read the rest of the Panopolis stories, because this was a terrific tale in every way!
June 17, 2016
Where There’s a Will is the third installment in the author’s Panapolis Series and this story focuses on the Superhero, Freight Train. Freight Train’s superpower is a force field that surrounds his body. He is protected by this field and no one can hurt him. But, he can’t touch anyone or anything which causes him to lead a very lonely life. That is until a new scientist arrives at GenCorp and is able to touch him!
Ari is new to GenCorp and he develops strong feelings for the Superhero called Freight Train. But, Freight Train is Craig to Ari and Ari can touch and feel him, unlike anyone else. Craig ends up being captured and put into jail with all the other villains he has put away and Ari has to find a way to rescue Craig.
Just like with the other two books in this series, the author’s writing sucked me in from the beginning and would not let go until the last page! Craig and Ari have such a strong connection – not only because Ari is the only one that can touch Craig, but his feelings are just as intense and strong as Craig’s desire to be loved! These two just made my heart swoon! Love them! Then, add in the excitement and suspense as any Superhero story will have and you can image how amazing this book is! I don’t know what kind of magical dust Cari Z sprinkles on her stories to make me want more, but she really needs to keep it up because I am undoubtedly a lifelong fan of this author because of this series! Great job!
*copy provided for review.
Ari is new to GenCorp and he develops strong feelings for the Superhero called Freight Train. But, Freight Train is Craig to Ari and Ari can touch and feel him, unlike anyone else. Craig ends up being captured and put into jail with all the other villains he has put away and Ari has to find a way to rescue Craig.
Just like with the other two books in this series, the author’s writing sucked me in from the beginning and would not let go until the last page! Craig and Ari have such a strong connection – not only because Ari is the only one that can touch Craig, but his feelings are just as intense and strong as Craig’s desire to be loved! These two just made my heart swoon! Love them! Then, add in the excitement and suspense as any Superhero story will have and you can image how amazing this book is! I don’t know what kind of magical dust Cari Z sprinkles on her stories to make me want more, but she really needs to keep it up because I am undoubtedly a lifelong fan of this author because of this series! Great job!
*copy provided for review.
May 28, 2016
Read the full review on Bookaholics Not-So-Anonymous.
Note: This ARC was provided by Riptide Publishing in exchange for an honest review.
I am so glad that fans of the series like me now have the opportunity to get to know Craig better with this third novel. He was always such an interesting character and while I wasn't thrilled with his lack of defense when it came to his grandmother's treatment of Edward in the first book, he redeemed himself in the second one. Not only do we get Craig's back story, but his current situation ties in with things that happened in the past, so it felt like a full circle moment in terms of Heroes and Villains in general. Both he and Ari were keeping their share of secrets from one another, but Ari's secrets had the potential to impact not just Craig but the rest of the Hero community. We also get unexpected answers to lingering questions, especially when it comes to SuperTruther (major shocker!), so this does feel like a series ender, but I'm hoping it isn't because this series has a treasure trove character-wise and I certainly won't say no to more books in the Panopolis universe. Cari Z has so outdone herself with Where There's a Will. Five-plus stars. ♥
Note: This ARC was provided by Riptide Publishing in exchange for an honest review.
I am so glad that fans of the series like me now have the opportunity to get to know Craig better with this third novel. He was always such an interesting character and while I wasn't thrilled with his lack of defense when it came to his grandmother's treatment of Edward in the first book, he redeemed himself in the second one. Not only do we get Craig's back story, but his current situation ties in with things that happened in the past, so it felt like a full circle moment in terms of Heroes and Villains in general. Both he and Ari were keeping their share of secrets from one another, but Ari's secrets had the potential to impact not just Craig but the rest of the Hero community. We also get unexpected answers to lingering questions, especially when it comes to SuperTruther (major shocker!), so this does feel like a series ender, but I'm hoping it isn't because this series has a treasure trove character-wise and I certainly won't say no to more books in the Panopolis universe. Cari Z has so outdone herself with Where There's a Will. Five-plus stars. ♥
May 2, 2019
I think I'm in the minority for this one because I actually much preferred this book over the others in the series. Craig was such a sweetie whereas I found Edward really boring, and annoying with his back-and-forthing and his overreactions to everything.
I think the thing that helped most were just the added pages! This book is easily twice, maybe even three times as long as the other two and it definitely helps. The two characters have chance to actually form a relationship instead of being a small aside (oh, and by the way we're now sleeping together). Not in this book! They met, and got to know each other, and because of that I found myself getting to know the characters more too. The characters become so fleshed out just because of the extra pages in which they're allowed to grow.
From the very beginning I was rooting for Craig, I felt so bad for him and wanted him to get his happy ending.
A delightful read and one I wholly recommend!
I think the thing that helped most were just the added pages! This book is easily twice, maybe even three times as long as the other two and it definitely helps. The two characters have chance to actually form a relationship instead of being a small aside (oh, and by the way we're now sleeping together). Not in this book! They met, and got to know each other, and because of that I found myself getting to know the characters more too. The characters become so fleshed out just because of the extra pages in which they're allowed to grow.
From the very beginning I was rooting for Craig, I felt so bad for him and wanted him to get his happy ending.
A delightful read and one I wholly recommend!
April 3, 2016
I haven't read the earlier stories in the series, but this one can more or less stand alone because the MC is a different character from the first two books in the series. (Those guys are in this book, but mostly off to the side.)
Craig lives inside a force field and can't touch anything except the special straws which his sponsors give him to eat through. It's not a great life, but he gets to help people as "Freight Train," and that makes him happy.
The relationship that blossoms between Craig and Ari, a new scientist who seems to want to help him, is cautious at first. Then when mistakes occur and Craig ends up in same prison as all the Villains he's helped put away, it's up to Ari and friends to figure out a way to get him out before Craig's time is up.
Good story, fun universe, fun read. I thoroughly enjoyed it, and I may need to go back and read the first two in the series. =)
Craig lives inside a force field and can't touch anything except the special straws which his sponsors give him to eat through. It's not a great life, but he gets to help people as "Freight Train," and that makes him happy.
The relationship that blossoms between Craig and Ari, a new scientist who seems to want to help him, is cautious at first. Then when mistakes occur and Craig ends up in same prison as all the Villains he's helped put away, it's up to Ari and friends to figure out a way to get him out before Craig's time is up.
Good story, fun universe, fun read. I thoroughly enjoyed it, and I may need to go back and read the first two in the series. =)
May 7, 2016
That book is better than the first two! The romance was a bit short in the first two books, but this one was completely evolved. Both characters had a share on development and the plot was more open to possible ends! You couldn't predict a shit what's going to happen next and I loved it!
Btw whoever does the covers for this series needs an award. It's refreshing not to look at half naked torsos and actually see one that refers to the story.
My favorite quote in this book: "I learned at an early age, Mr. Haney, that the primary driving mechanism of humanity is self-interest. With enough power over the self-interests of those in nominal control, you can get away with almost anything."
SuperTruther didn't disappoint me either!
Btw whoever does the covers for this series needs an award. It's refreshing not to look at half naked torsos and actually see one that refers to the story.
My favorite quote in this book: "I learned at an early age, Mr. Haney, that the primary driving mechanism of humanity is self-interest. With enough power over the self-interests of those in nominal control, you can get away with almost anything."
SuperTruther didn't disappoint me either!
May 16, 2016
In the first two books we got to see how the villains in Panapolis were treated. And we were able to see that the lines between villains and heroes were very blurred especially in this corrupt society. Now we get to see what happens to the heroes.Being a hero is just a means to make money for the leaders of the city, for the heroes, agents, and GenCorp a biotech company with really insidious intentions. Freight Train/ Craig is one of the most popular heroes until he begins to question the lack of care for the safety of the normal citizens. Other heroes who toe the line take his place on jobs and havoc ensues. Really enjoyed this story of corruption and the work being done to fix it. I like how certain villains and heroes know when to work together. And I really like Ari and Craig.
July 10, 2016
The short review train continues!
When I heard that this was a gay superhero romance, I was pretty sure it would be a lot of fun, and it was. What I wasn't expecting was how much I would love Craig, aka Freight Train, as a character. He was so lonely and vulnerable and sad and desperate to be useful and he just broke my heart. His horrible isolation and loneliness made the developing romance all the more powerful and poignant.
Plus there were lots of big battles and conspiracies and explosions. How could you go wrong? Although I would probably start at the beginning of the series, rather than at the end like I did. I do plan on going back, though. I want more Panopolis.
When I heard that this was a gay superhero romance, I was pretty sure it would be a lot of fun, and it was. What I wasn't expecting was how much I would love Craig, aka Freight Train, as a character. He was so lonely and vulnerable and sad and desperate to be useful and he just broke my heart. His horrible isolation and loneliness made the developing romance all the more powerful and poignant.
Plus there were lots of big battles and conspiracies and explosions. How could you go wrong? Although I would probably start at the beginning of the series, rather than at the end like I did. I do plan on going back, though. I want more Panopolis.
February 28, 2019
After the bits I saw of Craig in Where There's Smoke and Where There's Fire, it was absolutely lovely to see him have his own story. He's physically invulnerable, but his soft squishy heart! Such a wonderful character! What a good series -- I only wish there were more of them!
May 9, 2016
Another super engrossing offering in this series. Can't help but love Craig's innocence and naivete, his earnest belief in good in people no matter who they are, letting their actions speak louder than their stereotypes, his wanting to think good of people but still being aware sometimes what you see is not what you get. An actually complex character in a simple wrapping, and really enjoyable. Totally immersed in the characters, world, plot, and situation. Nicely done and really fun series.
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