Star Wars: Leia Princess of Alderaan Book Review

Star Wars: Leia – Princess of Alderaan Book Review

The Journey to The Last Jedi

SPOILER FREE

Star Wars: Leia – Princess of Alderaan was written by New Your Times Bestselling Author, Claudia Gray. This young adult novel is part of the Journey to The Last Jedi marketing. Claudia Gray also wrote Lost Stars another YA novel and Bloodline.

SUMMARY: Princess Leia begins her trials to be recognized as the official heir to the throne of Alderaan. The 16 year old Princess must test herself, so that one day, she will be named the Queen of Alderaan. In this book of self-discovery and the unintentional discovery of political unrest as she uncovers her parents secrets. Leia needs has to be extra careful and play it cool around her peers. The secret of the rebellion is a heavy burden.

Leia and other youth around the galaxy attend the Apprentice Legislature, a program designed to shape future government officials. The program allows the youth to mingle, to get to know each other and learn more about the Empire and Galactic Senate.

We learn a lot about Leia’s rise to power. She’s got the best intentions, but it seems no matter what she does, she’s always at the wrong place at the wrong time. Leia’s efforts definitely didn’t go unnoticed by the Empire… or the rebel alliance.

CHARACTERS: As always, there will be a mention of a few characters. I will mention two that we already know, but explore further in this book. One surprise character from The Last Jedi

Leia: She is brave, honorable, and daring. She feels distant from her parents lately. The feeling comes as she prepares for the royalty trials of Alderaan, to be recognized as the proper heir to the throne. Leia is a smart young lady. She loves her parents and is saddened by the distance between them. She’s able to reveal these feelings after finding trouble on a humanitarian effort, meddling in business.

Princess of Alderaan

Bail: The adoptive father of Leia and viceroy of Alderaan. We know him from the prequel trilogy. He’s an original member/founder of the rebel alliance. He is stern and confident. For a long time, he has been building up a rebellion against the tyranny of the Empire. Bail wants the best for his daughter, wanting her to remain ignorant of the plans to overthrow the Empire, to remain innocent. However, when Leia starts putting pieces together, he does have a bit of a temper.

Amilyn Holdo: She’s from the planet, Gatalenta. She serves in the Apprentice Legislature alongside Leia. She is super weird, most of time she annoys everyone with her strange behavior. Her view on life is abstract, she approaches situations differently. She gets quite a few eye rolls from Leia. She’s highly fashionable in the strangest sense, donning bright colors and extreme hair colors.

OVERALL THOUGHTS: I’m convinced Claudia Gray is the supreme writer of the new canon. She’s 3 for 3 when it comes to superior storytelling in Star Wars. Her books are deep, the characters well fleshed out, and her books are laced together in subtle ways.

While this story wasn’t action packed, it was political and entertaining. There are a few nuggets referencing the film The Last Jedi such as Amilyn Holdo and the planet, Crait. I’ve complained in the past about writers handling Leia wrong, Gray understands the character and does a fantastic job.

As I like to remain as spoiler free as possible, I will say that I was pleased with the new planet, Crait. It’s used a rebel base, from The Last Jedi footage we’ve seen as the time of this review, looks like either snow or sand… it’s actually salt.

I couldn’t help but smile at the tie in to Lost Stars and the link to Bloodline. I mentioned there wasn’t much action, which is perfect. Why does every Star Wars book have to have loads of action? This story focuses on Leia at the age of 16 and her introduction to galactic politics. As for the climax… there really wasn’t one, but the story wraps up nice with some tragedy.

Do I recommend you read Star Wars: Leia – Princess of Alderaan? Absolutely yes!

RATING: I will give this book a 5 out of 5.

If you enjoyed this review, you should check out my book review on PHASMA!

Princess of Alderaan - Princess Leia Book Cover Image

Star Wars: Phasma Book Review

by Matthew Wilson

Phasma

– A Star Wars Book Review –

SPOILER FREE

Star Wars: Phasma was written by Delilah S. Dawson. She wrote a short story for Star Wars in 2015, The Perfect Weapon. Phasma appears on the novel timeline after Bloodline.

A BRIEF SUMMARY

SUMMARY: Vi Moradi, a resistance spy, sent by General Leia to verify the First Orders presence at a specific location. When Vi drops out of hyperspace, she is immediately captured, caught in a tractor beam from First Order ship, Absolution.

A red clad stormtrooper meets Vi when she’s brought aboard his First Order destroyer. He quickly takes her to an isolated interrogation room before anyone else really notices. The trooper straps her into a torture chair and sends electrical shocks through her body. He gets straight to the point, making it clear he will do what it takes to get what he wants; information on Phasma.

Vi knows this trooper as Cardinal. What she doesn’t know, is that Cardinal knows that she’s a resistance spy, her name is Vi Moradi, and that she has family. Cardinal is aware that Vi recently visited Parnassos, Phasma’s home world. He wants everything she’s learned about Phasma. He believes Phasma is a threat to the First Order and she has already committed treason. He just needs to prove it.

The story Vi tells is of Phasma’s life and how she was able to get off her desolate world of Parnassos. It was a tough time, leading up to her joining the First Order.

ABOUT THE CHARACTERS

As always, I’m going to mention a few characters. With this novel, I’ll go ahead and talk about three.

Phasma: She’s a mighty warrior of the Scyre people of Parnassos, where the young rule over the elders. Parnassos is a barren world, its’s hard to survive. While she’s the fighter, her brother is the leader of the Scyre. She’s hard edged, she’s serious, and to her enemies, menacing. She doesn’t speak often, when she does it’s too the point. The other Scyre warriors look to her for guidance, and trust her with their lives. However, Phasma is a very selfish person. She’s all about herself and keeps others at a distance. Her entire life, she still remains a bit of a mystery.3

Siv: A Scyre warrior. She’s also tough, yet emotional. It is her duty to pass on the ritual of the detraxors. The detraxors are used to extract the essence of life (the fluid) from the fallen Scyre bodies. They put the salve on their skin to protect from the elements, “your today will help our tomorrow.” It’s a mystical type tradition and it’s up to Siv to continue this tradition by teaching it to others.

Cardinal: He’s taken under the wing of Brendol Hux, on Jakku. He was raised up as a First Order stormtroomer. He excelled in all his duties, granting him promotion after promotion. Cardinal was the first to done a unique trooper outfit!, and it’s RED! He became the right hand man of Hux, personal guard. Cardinal trains the youth to become stormtroopers, while Phasma fine tunes them and makes them great warriors. He’s supposedly a tough guy, but he’s a softy. He’s angry that Phasma seems to get all the glory that should be his.

NOW FOR MY OVERALL THOUGHTS

Phasma is certainly entertaining, mostly. I’ve gotta say, I’m not a huge fan of the way this story was told. There were many times this novel stepped over the line from Star Wars and reality. We’ve got that classic line you’ve heard many times, “it tastes like chicken.” So now we have chicken in Star Wars. There’s also that ridiculous sand quote from Anakin, from the mouth of Phasma! I literally put the book down and walked away from it a few times with irritation. The Scyre warriors pull a Poe Dameron from The Force Awakens… they meet stormtroopers, and as you know they have ID numbers, not names. Well, PT-number number number… we’re not gonna call you that, we’ll call you Petey… Petey! LE-2003, you’re Elly. That… is stupid! The mention of R&R time with umbrellas in drinks also irritated me… a lot.

The Detraxors thing, it’s interesting, but it’s extremely gross. Not complaining about that, thought it was a cool idea for the culture.

Do I recommend you read Star Wars: Phasma? Sure, parts are cool… but be prepared to get irritated by many earthly things.

AS FOR THE RATING

I will give this book a rating of 2 out of 5.

Check out another review… Thrawn, right here.

Star Wars: Adventures In Wild Space The Heist Book Review

by Matthew Wilson

SPOILER FREE

The Heist

Star Wars: Adventures in Wild Space – Book III

Star Wars: Adventures In Wild Space – The Heist was written by Cavan Scott. This book is part three in an ongoing young readers series.

SUMMARY: Lina and Milo Graf, still on the search for their parents, head to the planet Lothal, the source of a rebellious transmission they came across. The children want to find the source of the broadcast in hopes that they can find someone to trust. Once they find the trustworthy party, they will ask for assistance in the tracking down their parents, who were taken by the Empire.

The Imperial, Captain Korda, has hired a bounty hunter to find these pesky children, and bring them to him.

Once the children and their droid CR-8R make landfall on Lothal, they are met by a Devaronion. He overhears the siblings having a conversation and uses it to his advantage. He takes the children to his boss, Rask Odai, who is said to be a powerful man, who can help them find the transmission source. However, once again, events go sour.

CHARACTERS: Because this young readers novel is so short, I’m only going to mention one character.

Captain Shalla Mondatha: She’s the owner of a mobile restaurant, her ship! She’s the cook, dishwasher, and owner. She is kind and helpful. Once she sees Lina and Milo, she sees their grief and wants to help. Long ago, Shalla was actually a smuggler. She uses her past experience to help the children with a local problem.

OVERALL THOUGHTS: This book had a direct tie into Rebels, I only know this because I’m somewhat aware of the main characters in the show. We meet a certain characters parents.

This book was good. In my opinion it’s better than the previous two. It really shows how dangerous the galaxy is. These kids have such a difficult time and their trust for others is quickly fading.

The villains in this book were good, didn’t like the way dialogue was handle among them though. There’s always got to be that idiot bad guy that talks like a moron? I understand it’s a kids book, but don’t kids need to realize that bad guys don’t always talk like idiots?

RATING: I give this book a 3 out of 5

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BOOK TWO: THE NEST

Star Wars: Aftermath Empire’s End Book Review

by Matthew Wilson

Star Wars: Aftermath Empire’s End

Star Wars: Aftermath Empire’s End was written by Chuck Wendig, a New York Times Best Selling Author. It is the third and final installment in the Aftermath trilogy.

SUMMARY: All the characters from the previous Aftermath novels are present in this tale. Our team of heroes are on the search for Grand Admiral Sloane. They desperately want to find her, and bring her in, so justice can be served.. if they don’t decide to kill her first.

The antagonist, Sloane, is on a mission of her one to find out more about the mysterious Gallius Rax. She want’s to find out what his plans are for the Empire. She’s desperately wants to seize control for herself.

Finally, the Battle of Jakku takes place! This confrontation is the last desperate attempt for the Empire to recover, to heal its wounds before the rebellion/new republic takes them completely out.

CHARACTERS: Gallius Rax was interesting, in the previous book. In Empire’s End he remains mysterious, until the end. His character and his plans were a major let down.

The other characters were consistent and honest to who they were in the previous Aftermath books. They were just so boring, dramatic, or gay.

OVERALL THOUGHTS: Thank you Lord, this trilogy is over. I was really hoping this book was better than the previous books. Life Debt was better than the first book, this one sinks right back down to the crap of the first book.

The best part of the book was that it was fast paced. The rest of it, an intense build up to a major… major let down.

RATING: I will give this book a 0 of 5

Star Wars: The Weapon of A Jedi Book Review

by Matthew Wilson

SPOILER FREE

Star Wars: Weapon of a Jedi– A Luke Skywalker Adventure, is a junior novel written by Jason Fry. The book was published by Disney Lucasfilm Press as part of the Journey to The Force Awakens in 2015.

SUMMARY: This tale focuses on Luke Skywalker and the first use of his lightsaber in action. Luke is sent off on a mission to gather some intelligence on imperial business. But as the force reaches out to him, it pulls him in, luring him to complete his own personal mission… to become a Jedi.

Luke travels to an old Jedi temple and trains with his lightsaber. He also has some unwanted guests showing up.

CHARACTERS: Now let’s just talk about Luke. He is not a great character in this book. It drives me crazy how Luke is written and portrayed in books, be it legends and canon. Always ignorant and boring. There is one ignorant thing about him I believe is legitimate and it really is sad. He never knew his father, he hasn’t heard the truth about his father. So, he thinks his father was a great Jedi, and Luke wants to be just like him! Oh, Obi-wan and your point of view.

OVERALL THOUGHTS: Well, I thought the book was boring. Wild animals are involved in the so called climax. They gather around Luke in protective ring, giving him knowing looks of, we got your back. So bummed by this book.

I think this story would have been more entertaining as a comic. Seeing Luke use the saber would be cooler than reading about it in a junior novel. Between this and Heir to the Jedi, (review link to that posted below) I want to give up on Luke in the books. He’s my favorite character in the movies. Least favorite in the books… canon and legends.

RATING: I will have to give this book a 0 of 5. It was just way too boring.

Star Wars: Battlefront II Inferno Squad Book Review

by Matthew Wilson

Star Wars: Battlefront II Inferno Squad

SPOILER FREE

Star Wars Battlefront II: Inferno Squad is written by New York Times Bestselling Author, Christie Golden. This story takes place after the events of A New Hope.

SUMMARY: Inferno Squad is an elite group of imperials who were placed together to weed out some “bad eggs” in the Empire. The elite group was put together after discovering, that an imperial scientist was ultimately responsible for creating the very weakness that caused the Death Star to be a vulnerable target. Therefore, the Empire needs to clean house, and that’s exactly what Iden Versio and her team will do.

The team is tasked with a dangerous mission, different than their previous missions., Inferno Squad is to infiltrate the extremist rebel group known as the Dreamers. This particular cell has direct ties to Saw Gererra’s Partisan group. With their intelligent/elite minds, they devise a risky plan to be naturally adopted into the rebel cell. If successful, they will put an end to the extremist rebels and save many within the Empire.

CHARACTERS: As always I like to briefly mention a character or two. For this novel, I’ll mention three.

Iden Versio: The leader of Inferno Squad. She was a military child from Vardos, now grown, we meet her as a senior lieutenant in the Empire. She’s smart and tactic, that’s why she holds such high rank and climbing, for such a young woman. Iden is loyal and hard edged. She won’t hesitate to complete her task.

Gideon Hask: He’s an imperial, also a part of Inferno Squad. He’s always been a good friend to Iden. In the past, they would challenge each other in many areas, to excel, to become the best of the best. Gideon’s roll within the Dreamers is pivotal to Inferno Squad’s success or failure. He must instill doubt within the cell, to turn them against each other.

Staven: He’s a Dreamer, determined to bring drown the Empire. He’s aggressive, fueled by the passion of the loved ones lost. His quest for justice against the Empire is cruel and extreme. Is tactics would be seen as vile to both the Rebel Alliance and the Empire.

OVERALL THOUGHTS: Wow… this book is a must read. Christie Golden, just knocked it out of the park! The book is a tie in to the upcoming video game, Battlefront II. Inferno Squad sets the new bar in Star Wars literature. It’s so captivating… so surprising! This novel is reminds of some mafia/FBI films. It’s Star Wars meets Donnie Brasco, or Star Wars meets The Departed.

Why is this novel so short? I want more! There are some time jumps that I think could have been fleshed out, to add a few pages. The characters were outstanding, the chemistry between them, outstanding. I was so invested in the story and the characters. This novel made my heart race. I haven’t stayed up late to read in a long time… I was up past midnight reading this treasure.

Thank you DelRey and Christie Golden for putting this story out. I honestly didn’t expect that much. I’ve learned to tame my expectations with the Star Wars books. We’d get one good book, followed by some mediocre books, a stinker, and then another decent read. This novel is top notch! I highly recommend you pick up this book. It’ll keep your blood pumping and keep you on the edge of you seat!

Battlefront II – Inferno Squad was an absolute treasure. A must read for anyone who enjoys Star Wars.

Rating: I give this book a 5 of 5

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