Chilling Reflections by Drew Hayes Narrator: Amy Landon
Series: Villains' Code #3
Published by Tantor Audio on June 24, 2025
Genres: Fantasy
Length: 32 hours
Format: Audiobook
Source: Purchased
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With her new product line launched and an updated version of her suit to test, Tori Rivas is ready to focus on her work for a while. But when an eruption of power elsewhere in the multiverse sends monsters bursting into her world, the young villain will find herself in the crosshairs of an unexpected invader.
As if being pursued by an unknown entity from outside her own reality wasn't enough to handle, there's also developing her product line, exploring her suit's new capabilities, and maybe even making some extra money on the side. Add in extradimensional monsters popping in without warning, and Ridge City is even more chaotic than usual.
Yet more danger lurks unseen, as the Rookstone escapees have begun to hatch their own schemes. One of which is a primal force whose goal cannot be denied. No matter what, or who, stands in his way.
I absolutely love the Villains’ Code series, and Chilling Reflections was another fantastic installment. One of my favorite things about this series is how well Drew Hayes balances the heroes (the “capes”) and the villains. They’re technically enemies, but time and again they find themselves forced to work together against bigger threats. That tension, and the way it constantly tests loyalties and secrets, makes the series so addictive for me.
In this book, the boundary between dimensions is thinning, and the results are chaotic. Portals keep opening across Earth, unleashing waves of strange monsters. We see the superhero team, the New Science Sentries, squaring off against these threats, sometimes right alongside Tori and her roommates. Of course, the capes don’t realize that Tori is secretly a villain, which adds to the drama as they end up fighting side by side at places like, of all things, an outlet mall.
But monsters aren’t Tori’s only problem. A mysterious, metal-clad villain starts targeting her directly. Their attacks feel personal, but oddly not lethal, and that lingering threat follows her throughout the book. Meanwhile, Ivan sets off on his own adventure into another dimension to help an old friend, adding another layer to the sprawling story.
One of my favorite side arcs involves Cliché, who has always been a fun character with her idiom-based powers (“a hop, skip, and a jump” for teleportation, for example). In this book she learns that her abilities could be far more dangerous than she realized, especially after coming face-to-face with an alternate version of herself. That twist really broadened her role in the series and added weight to her storyline.
The Sentrients also face their own internal struggles, with Professor Quantum obsessed with recreating his old team. That subplot deepened the sense of unease and hinted at how fractured the “good guys” really are.
All told, this book feels like a transitional entry in the series, setting up a lot of future plotlines while still delivering plenty of action and character development. I loved spending time with these characters again—villains and heroes alike—and I was completely absorbed from start to finish. At 32 hours (1,139 pages), it’s a long one, but I never once felt like it dragged. In fact, when I finished, I immediately went back to the beginning of the series for a full re-listen and still didn’t want to leave this world.
If you’re new to Villains’ Code, I highly recommend starting at the very beginning, including Villains’ Vignettes Part 1, because this series builds on itself and rewards careful reading. Jumping in mid-series would mean missing a lot of the nuance, character development, and callbacks.
Narration:
Amy Landon continues to be an outstanding narrator for this series. She brings such distinct voices to a huge cast of characters, from humans to villains to those who are more machine than flesh. Her performance enhances the action, the humor, and the emotional beats, making it easy to get lost in the story. Landon has become one of my favorite narrators, and this series wouldn’t be the same without her.
Listen to a clip: HERE
About Amy Landon
Amy Landon is a classically trained actress with numerous off-Broadway, film, and television credits. Her voice can also be heard on many television and radio commercials. She has an easy facility with dialects, which she also coaches and teaches, and she is happy to find her lifelong obsession with books is matching up with her acting and vocal work.
About Drew Hayes
Drew Hayes is an aspiring author from Texas who has written several books and found the gumption to publish a few (so far). He graduated from Texas Tech with a B.A. in English, because evidently he’s not familiar with what the term “employable” means. Drew has been called one of the most profound, prolific, and talented authors of his generation, but a table full of drunks will say almost anything when offered a round of free shots. Drew feels kind of like a D-bag writing about himself in the third person like this. He does appreciate that you’re still reading, though.
Drew would like to sit down and have a beer with you. Or a cocktail. He’s not here to judge your preferences. Drew is terrible at being serious, and has no real idea what a snippet biography is meant to convey anyway. Drew thinks you are awesome just the way you are. That part, he meant. Drew is off to go high-five random people, because who doesn’t love a good high-five? No one, that’s who.
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I started listening to audiobooks when a new book in a series was coming out and I wanted to get a refresher, but didn’t have time to read all the books (I think it was Anita Blake). I fell in love. I stayed with strictly re-reading books that I’d already read for a long time. I eventually tried an audiobook for something that I hadn’t read first and was hooked there too. Now, I listen to audio for both re-reads and first time. I have some series that I’ve given up reading and only listen. I try to get any many books/audiobooks from the library to help save on my budget. Books on CD and the newer digital downloads from the library really allow me to listen more. I then purchase my favorites (because who can wait in line for your favorite book??) and less mainstream books from Audible or some other online retailer.
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Amy Landon is just so good.
32 hours is a LONG audiobook, but not surprised for something multiverse! I haven’t had this series on my radar at all, so I guess I’ll need to be diving into it soon. Haha.
This sounds like such a fun series! I loved reading your thoughts. ❤️
This sounds really good. I think there are like 4 or 5 “villain” series out there now. It’s a fun sub-genre.
I’m glad to hear you liked this one so much.
Glad this series is continuing to be a winner for you. It does sound good. The cover of this one is very eye catching too! Great review!