Star Wars: Rebel Dawn, book three of the A.C. Crispin Han Solo trilogy. This Expanded Universe tale takes place during the Rise of the Empire era, about 2 BBY (or two years before the Battle of Yavin).
SUMMARY
Han wins the Millennium Falcon from Lando in a big sabacc game, then he and Chewie head to Kashyyyk to visit Chewie’s family and fix up the ship.
Things get wild when Han’s old girlfriend Bria (who’s now a Rebel commander) shows up to speak with Han, Lando, and a bunch of other smugglers into hitting the Hutt spice colonies on Ylesia for a huge payday. What seems like easy money turns into a mess of betrayal, secret agendas, and loads of trouble with the Hutts.
THOUGHTS
Han Solo wins the Falcon from Lando! Is it just me or are sabbacc games the most boring thing to read in a Star Wars book? I’m pretty sure I say that same line in my reviews, every time that game is played.
Han Solo gets thrown in a sack for Chewbacca to haul him up in the trees of Kashyyyk. t’s such a silly thing, the whole description of it is funny, it’s hard to take it seriously… Han Solo in a bag slapping against trees as his Wookie pal swings and climbs in the forest. I laughed at this.
There’s also a Wookie with a speech impediment, which makes it easy for humans to understand what’s being said. I also laughed at this… what are we doing?
I don’t like how Boba Fett was written; the book says Boba Fett it’s his adopted name… obviously the book was written before we see Boba Fett on screen in Attack of the Clones with his biological father… Jango Fett. Then again, is Boba Fett his son, or is brother? There’s no mother, it’s a genetic copy. Why am I just now realizing this? Anyone can argue that there’s inconsistencies in the Star Wars timeline; I’m on the, I don’t really care, side of the fence.
There are few quotes that I are hilarious, one of them being “I don’t give a ragnuff’s patootie, about this floozy.” Now if that’s not top-notch Star Wars dialogue – I don’t know what it is. There is a quote that beats this one out, if you want to know what that is, check out my other channel, I’ll provide a link in the description box below. Overall, the book was pretty lame, the best stuff is when Solo drops the spice.
Red Rising was written by Pierce Brown. the book was published in 2014 and is book one in a series.
SUMMARRY
A low class group of people work hard, believing that what they are doing, will excel mankind in the future. Darrow, a young married man is pushed to his limits by one of the upper-class Gold overlords, resulitng in a life changing event for Darrow. The Reds seek justice to the way they are treated… Darrow, will rise up from the Reds and prepare for an eventual rebellion.
OVERALL THOUGHTS
The story was fine. Yet, I don’t understand what all the hype is about. Maybe this is a weird take but it was kind of like, Hunger Games meets Star Wars. A dystopian type future due to government, on a different planet, and the start of a rebellion.
The introduction was great, the author did a good job developing motivation for the main character very quickly. The story takes an exciting turn when we find out that the Reds, a group of people that believe they are alone on Mars, paving the way for eventual establishment… are just low class slaves and that there is already a society that’s thriving on the planet.
The book starts off with fantasy vibes before shifting into sci-fi, but the two remain tightly knit throughout the book. The book is full of action, it’s tragic, it’s turning out to be a massive story.
Do I recommend Red Rising? If you’re into dystopian YA, you’ll like this one.
Before I Forget by Tory Henwood Hoen is one of those quiet, emotional stories that sneaks up on you.
It follows Cricket, a young woman who leaves the city and moves back home to care for her father, who has Alzheimer’s, giving her sister Nina the chance to chase the life she wants. And right away, you feel how out of place Cricket is—back in her childhood home, surrounded by memories she’s clearly been avoiding.
What surprised me is how the story balances grief with humor. Her dad starts predicting things that somehow keep coming true, turning him into a small-town oracle. It’s funny, a little strange, and oddly tender as it brings closure or comfort for those that speak to him. The town loves it. Nina… absolutely does not.
At its core, this book is about healing damaged relationships—between parent and child, one’s self, and healing emotional scars. Cricket grows and finally faces her past, but that growth comes at a cost, as her father’s health continues to decline.
It’s emotional without being heavy-handed, funny in unexpected moments, and deeply human. If you like stories about family, loss, and the messy process of becoming who you are, Before I Forget is worth your time. I thoroughly enjoyed it. I give this book an A.
Sleepaway Camp, a 2025 novelization of the 1983 horror film, was written by B.R. Flynn. This novelization was published by Encyclopocalypse Publications, August 2025.
SUMMARY
A little boy, his sister, and their father were involved in a tragic accident on the lake near Camp Arawak, leaving only one survivor. One of the kids, Angela, would be adopted by her Aunt Martha. When Angela had gotten old enough, Martha sent her son Ricky and Angela to sleepaway camp – Camp Arawak.
Angela was different, strange and quiet. Her behavior made her an easy target for bullies. During the season, kids and staff started dying. While some thought the deaths were merely accidental, something far more sinister was creeping around the camp… could it be the legend of the Horned Serpent? Some at Camp Arawak might think so!
OVERALL THOUGHTS
I am pleasantly surprised by this novelization. It’s fast paced and yes, it’s creepy. The author does an excellent job expanding the events of the film, adding the perfect amount of extra material.
Getting inside Angela’s head was fantastic. Some mysteries from the film are more transparent in the novelization. I was surprised by what would be considered spoilers in the film, were all mentioned right up front. What becomes the great reveal at the end of the movie, is explained in detail in the beginning of the book! In the film, it was an excellent plot twist. I thought while reading… how in the world could the end of this book live up to that wild ending in the film? Oh boy, it most certainly does!
The author did a good job capturing the weirdness of Aunt Martha. What could be viewed as really bad acting in the film, is explained perfectly in the book. She is a sick and twisted woman! The Author did such a good job with all the characters, they were written so very well. I’ve gotta say it… this story overall… perverted.
Sleepaway Camp… from 80’s cult classic film to slasher novel of the century!
There are some fantastic changes in the novelization which I say make the book far superior than the film. I was really surprised by the differences and just how perfect they were. When camp gets started on day one, the campers are gathered around a fire as one of the camp councilors tells a scary story about a creature that comes up from the lake, a monster, a shape shifter called the Horned Serpent, that changes into a girl before killing its prey.
Mass Market Paperback Cover
I’m a big fan of novelizations, I’ve read a lot of them. This one is right up there with the best I’ve read. It’s not the best story at all, but what the novelization does is just… fire.
RATING
While I think this story is gross and believe that all the characters are screwed up in so many ways, I’ve got to give this novelization an A+. It does everything a novelization should do.
Conan Songs of the Slain was written by Tim Lebbon. This book is published by Titan books, and will be available July 8, 2025.
SUMMARY
Conan lay dying on the battlefield when two opponents find him, impressed by his physique, they drag him off the field to sell him as a slave to the salt mines. On the road, Conan is nurtured back to health by fellow captive named Tann. Conan and Tann work in the mines until Conan is healed from his deadly wounds.
Conan asks Tann for his meal and water to build up his energy and strength to pull of their escape, saying he’ll repay Tann upon their escape. The two are successful, and part ways when they reach safety.
Years pass, Tann and his family and friends fall victim to a group of thugs. Tann then seeks out Conan to request his favor be issued.
The main villain of the story is pure evil. He’s captured some folks including Tann’s family. 10 manages to escape and now is going to seek out Conan to repay the favor that is owed.
Conan doesn’t hesitate to help out an old friend or brother in slavery however, you wanna say it. Conan goes on a quest and is reminded of his younger days. He will faced many trials in this perilous adventure.
OVERALL THOUGHTS
All right, so this is my first Conan book. I’m honestly very surprised of how good it is especially coming from Tim Lebanon, which I know he wrote a Star Wars book that I did not like a long time ago. I’m very pleased with this book. The only thing that I knew about Conan was fantasy . I was unsure about going into this book because I know that there’s a lot of different books out there turns out you don’t need to know anything about those books for this story, which is great.
Tim Lebanon did an awesome job with these characters. Each one is unique. The story just keeps getting crazier and more intense as we move through the pages. The book is loaded with intense battles that are gory, gruesome, and dark. There are a lot of things in this book that are also pretty creepy when we get into a certain side characters and their personal quests in life. Some get into their past with demons witchcraft there are many times in this book that I got chills. I’m very impressed with the writing style.
The story delivers on fantasy, violence, honor, and sacrifice. I absolutely enjoyed this story and the grand adventure that an old king seeks adventure to pay off an old debt. He didn’t have to go on such a quest, but honor and loyalty actually mean something to Conan.
So do I recommend that you read Conan Song’s of the Slain? Yes it’s an excellent fantasy story that requires no previous book knowledge a great one shot story.
RATING
I will give Conan: Songs of the Slain, an A+. I just couldn’t put this book down.
Dead Space: Martyer, was written by B. K. Evenson. The book was originally published in 2010 and was republished in April 2025.
SUMMARY
This is a sequel to the video Game – Dead space. Some unusual activity in the Chicxulub Crater grabs the attention of geophysicist Michael Altman. Altman joins a team to find the source of a strange signal. What they discover is a strange artifact which they dub, “The Black Marker.” This “Black Marker” is turned into an idle. People are unaware that this artifact is driving people to insanity, turning them into vicious killers.
OVERALL THOUGHTS
Evenson did a fine job writing the characters for this book. There was no lacking descriptive details for both the emotional side of a character as well as the physical things that happen. Characters are placed in vulnerable situations, some cave in to their weaker will while others remain strong.
I enjoyed the mystery of the story, it took it’s time while also feeling fast paced due to short chapters, most of the time. This book can make one feel claustrophobic, which is great since it is a horror.
I like a good creepy book, however this book goes far beyond that, serving brutal gore at times. The story is also a tragic one. If you like gross horror, especially if it ties in to other media like video games and even comics, this is a book you’ll appreciate.
While I thought the author did an excellent job with this tale, I don’t think I’ll be reading the next book in the timeline. It’s just not my cup of tea.
