Superteam

Raptors, Book 2

By: Jaime Castle, CJ Valin

Narrated by: Jack Meloche, Jessica Almasy

Length: 7 hrs and 41 mins

Publisher's Summary

If you didn’t listen to Sidekick, you’ve gotta listen to that first. Trust me.

If you did...

Wow. Who saw that coming? I know I didn’t. As you know, I’m the Red Raptor. Now that things have...changed, I’ve asked my friend Amy to help tell the story. No, seriously, she’s just a friend. I mean - I guess if it were up to me? But...no. 

Okay, so there’s a new threat - a bunch of punks called the Neon Knights. They’re causing mayhem, armed with some kind of plasma-photon-light weapons that I can’t even begin to understand, and as usual, I’ve gotta stop them. 

However, this time I’ve got help. That’s right, I formed my own superteam. One for the ages. 

But first, I’ve gotta do my shift at Big Frankie Junior’s. What? You like eating burgers, right? Well, someone has to cook them. 

We can’t be heroes all the time. 

From number one Audible best sellers Jaime Castle and CJ Valin comes the next installment from the best new superhero universe, perfect for fans of both DC and Marvel.

Actually, it’s for fans of anything superhero-related. You’re gonna like it. Promise.

©2021 Aethon Books (P)2021 Audible, Inc.

Sequel Even More Fun!

Just like the first entry, Superteam is a fun take on the superhero genre. This time we get alternating voices between our lead Sawyer AKA Red Kite (or Red Raptor he'd like) and Amy AKA Osprey. Both performances are fantastic for each character. It'd be nice if each character played them throughout the whole book. Each chapter is only read by one actor, so when it's a Red Kite chapter, even if Osprey is speaking it's read by his actor and vice versa. A full cast reading would be cool, but either way it's really well performed.

Each character has their own sidestory to go along with the main plot. This is a really cool universe being set up and I hope we get every book here on Audible Plus.

Epic Sequel to one of the Best Books of 2021!!

There is always that question of whether the sequel is going to be as good as the original, especially when the original was as exceptional as Sidekicks was. Superteam easily meets the standard of the first book in the series, with a storyline that continues to be brilliant, as well as having some of the best Character work you will find in this genre.
This is all wrapped in this extraordinary world building, which really makes the Raptors series just such a captivating and compelling read (And I say this having finished book 1 and 2 in just single days as they are both so brilliant!).
Superteam is a little different to book 1 in that we get a few different points of view, having not just Sawyer (Or Red Raptors) Point of View this time, but also Amy’s (Osprey), as well as Alex (Black Harrier/Redhawk).
Sawyer still remains the main character to a large extent, but we do get a lot more input from Amy this time, and it is interesting hearing her side of things.
Book 2 picks up not long after Book 1, and Sawyer and Amy have been left to ‘Patrol’ New York on their own, as Alex has been ordered back to Boston by the Guild. Even though Frank passed the mantle of Black Harrier onto Alex, the ‘Guild’ has not officially ratified it, and so Alex is not able to actually act as the Black Harrier without incurring the wrath of the Guild (which really just means Eaglestar).
Sawyer has also had his official request for the name change from Red Kite to Red Raptor rejected again, and he can’t understand why the Guild (and more importantly, the (insert your favourite insult), Eaglestar), just won’t approve it?
Sawyer is getting more and more frustrated with the Guild and their attitude to things, especially with regards to big things like Alex coming to New York.
I won’t give too much away, needless to say, there are a bunch of different antics between Amy, and Sawyer as their alter ego’s fighting various thugs, and these scenes are not only exceptionally well choregraphed, with stunning descriptive work of the actual combat and manoeuvres, but there is also a liberal amount of humour thrown in to make each of the sequences not only fun to read, but you find yourself in stiches from laughing so hard.
I have to admit though, Book 2 has a bit of a darker edge to it than Part 1, and whilst there is still a high degree of sarcastic wit and humour, there is also a lot more grit and brutal intensity to Book 2. It feels like Sawyer and Amy have had to grow up and mature a bit without Black Harrier around, and this has had an impact on their outlooks and the story.
As I said before, Amy’s perspective makes for an interesting input to the story, and we get to understand a lot more about her Character, how she can to be Osprey, her back story, as well as her relationship with her Father Luis Chen.
This really adds not only to her character, (and of course Osprey), but it adds a lot of depth to the overall story to, and for me, I love to learn the backstories of the characters.
Again, without trying to give too much away, there are several major story arcs, that make this a really brilliant sequel. As mentioned, Sawyer, Amy and Alex all get more backstory, but in this one, we are introduced to a new gang, The Neon Knights, led by a new Super Villain.
The Knights have special plasma enhanced weapons and armour that make them incredibly strong, and give them all special abilities, making them incredibly powerful in combat.
It is pretty soon that Sawyer and Amy realise that they are outgunned by this new turn of events, and with the Guild refusing to help out with Alex as the Black Harrier, Sawyer takes things into his own hands, and thus we end up with ‘Superteam’.
Again, without wanting to give anything away, because this is easily one of the funniest parts of the book, Amy and Sawyer put together a Superteam to help them out, by doing a kind of ‘Audition’ style test to check out their applicants.
It might take you a while to get through this section, just because you will have to stop from laughing so hard.
This is an epic sequel to the first book, Castle and Valin have continued to build on the extraordinary world they created in book 1, with outstanding world building that is not only multi-faceted, but so real with so much detail and depth, that you feel like you are in each of the locations with the characters.
One of the things I really love about this story, is the emotional connection you get with the Characters, they are written so well, that from the first pages of book 1, we have felt a bond with Sawyer, and gone on the emotional ride with him, all the ups and downs of the various things that have happened to him (And there are so many more in this book – Poor Lad….), but we feel this bond with Amy to now, thanks to book 2, and it is the gritty, intelligent and perceptive writing of Castle and Valin that lets us connect with the Characters like this, and really makes this story so much more special.
Superteam is a thrill ride, with a lot of laughs, with exceptional character work, and stunning world building. This is a sequel that can’t be missed, and if you haven’t read book 1, now is the time to drop everything, and go and do so – because these are two books that are not to be missed for 2021!!
Jack Meloche and Jessica Almasy do such a spectacular job with the Narration of this book, that there is no doubt, that you should absolutely listen to the audiobook, rather than read the book, as you will get so much more out of this version. Their Narration is just brilliant, both Meloche and Almasy are able to not only capture each of the Main Characters beautifully, but they do all of the secondary characters so well to. On top of that, they are able to really portray the emotions of the character, and let you feel how the character is feeling, so you really understand and perceive, and are able to connect with the characters in the story. This is a story with some powerful and gritty characters, and whilst they use a lot of humour (which both Narrators pull off with consummate ease), they are also fighting for their lives and those of their friends, and the Narrators really make you believe this.
Both of them are very easy to understand, with clear and concise voices, and both have voices that are very easy to listen to as well, making this a really enjoyable Audiobook, and one that is a stunning bit of Narration – This is a must listen!!

Even better than the first

First book was great and established some solid characters. Second book got to expand on those characters and build some great plots. Looking forward to book 3!

The further adventures of Red Raptor

I throughly enjoyed the first and second installments of this series! It’s like the comic books I read as a kid! It is so awesome to find a “Clean” super hero story line where the first order of business for the characters isn’t rutting as if they are wild animals on the Discovery channel! I personally like the main character who is as annoying as any teenager I’ve ever known. It’s as if Batman had Peter Parker as Robin!

What’s not to like? Good stuff!

Villains. A variety of compelling characters. Action. Drama. Romance. What’s not to like?
Also it was brilliantly narrated. I loved the back and forth narration between Osprey and Red Kite, I mean, Raptor.

Loved It!

Was a little worried when the author added more points of view other than the main character, but I have to say that I like the series even more with the two additional POVs. Can't wait to read the third novel!

Sooo book 3?

don't look at reviews when you could be listening... it's amazing, enough said.

well apparently not enough... I need more words to post this review.
🙄

Can't finish....

The female characters were good in the last book. Now they are men haters and find all men are "cromagnons", and are below her. Im over the man hating trend.

So good

I loved it. Exciting and laugh out loud funny. Can't wait until the next one.

better than the first one, I was impressed.

I enjoyed having two reader's, but it would be best if they intermixed so she did the female voices and he did the male. Switching chapter by chapter just made it somewhat confusing and jarring.

Sidekicks make a stand

I enjoyed this book but found it a bit slower than the first book. This book continues on from the first book with Red Raptor stepping up to save the city but it is not totally necessarily because the author gives you a good round up of the previous book. I think this book was more about teenage drama and doesn't really pick up until towards the end. Don't get me wrong there is a few fight scenes or skirmishes as the characters and situation our introduced. I like the characters and the introduction of the new team members but it contain s a lot of relationship wows, some of which was amusing but I like to be entertained with death defying and impossible fights. It is set up nicely for the next book, which I think will be more action packed. Off to find out.
With all the rules the guild has and there inability to make any quick decisions about who will become the new super hero for the city, Red Raptor decides to form his own team. And just in time. A group of teenagers known as the Neon knight are robbing banks and causing havoc. Can the Red Raptor and his newly formed team stop them before anybody gets hurt? Or will homework, part time jobs and personal relationships get in the way? The guild demand he disband the group but that is before they disappear during a sidekick celebration and Red Raptor finds he is once again battling to save the world as he knows it by saving the super heros.
The story is told by the two main super hero characters and each chapter starts with who's perspective it was but don't worry the use of a male and female narrator make it easy to follow along. Both narrator's were good and made it an enjoyable listen.

amazing performance

I enjoy this story a lot I read the books first then listened to the audio books. jessica almasy fices an amazing performance and catches the essence of the character and makes it better. Jack meloche did the same with Sawyer but Jessica's performance stands out and makes this story so much bettrr