by Matthew Wilson
Star Wars: Death Troopers, was written by New York Times Bestselling Author, Joe Schreiber
This novel is the forty-first event on the Legends novel timeline. This tale takes place during the Rise of the Empire Era. It takes place one year before A New Hope.
SUMMARY: The Purge, an imperial prison barge in route to a detention moon loses engine power. Unlucky for them, they are right next to the imperial Star Destroyer, Vector. The Destroyer’s tractor beam keeps a tight grip on to the prison barge. The crew of the Purge have trouble contacting anyone aboard the Destroyer. After running a bio-scan, they discover only a handful of survivors are on the ship.
A team sets out to investigate and find parts on the Vector, but return with a hacking cough that escalates rapidly into much worse symptoms. Until death consumes them and then… reawaken. Only a handful seem to be immune to the spreading sickness.
In this haunting tale of zombies in space, we follow a few inmates, two young brothers and their father. They fight for survival among other inmates, and zombies.
CHARACTERS: There were just a few characters in the novel, a nice surprise character as well, but I won’t spoil that for you.
Zahara Cody: She’s the doctor aboard the Purge. She’s fed up with her job and is ready to end her service to the Empire. She’s strong willed and determined. I’d say most importantly, she’s trustworthy and intelligent. If I found myself in a space horror, I’d want her on my team.
Trig Longo: He’s just a boy, an inmate along with his brother and father. This kid isn’t annoying. He’s smart because he listens, doesn’t whine or argue. He’s frustrated but he’s curious, which makes since. He’s a kid and they like to learn the hard way.
OVERALL THOUGHTS: I absolutely loved this book! It’s a terrifying horror story and it’s Star Wars! The book was surprisingly extremely gruesome and gory! It’s like the show Walking Dead meets Star Wars. A haunting read for sure.
The characters were all written so very well. The surprise character was spot on. The best part was that I didn’t even see it coming when this character was revealed. Joe Schreiber told a great story with a creepy backdrop. Everything was set up really well. Descriptions were detailed, the words became a bloody painted picture in my brain.
Do I recommend you pick up Star Wars Death Troopers? I sure do! It would be great to start reading this around Halloween!
RATING: I give this book a B+ While it was awesome, there was still a little cheese… what horror story doesn’t?
by Matthew Wilson
World of Warcraft: The Last Guardian was written by Jeff Grubb.
SUMMARY: Long ago, Azeroth was protected from outside forces by the Guardian of Tirisfal. The guardian was a mage, keeping watch over the world, insuring that the burning legion (demonic forces), could do no harm. Sargeras, the dark titan, leader of the Burning Legion, is unrelenting in his campaign to rule the worlds in the universe. After his successful takeover of Draenor in the previous novel, Rise of the Horde, he turns to Azeroth in an attempt to capture it. Throughout Azeroth, Orc numbers have been rising, villages pillaged, farms destroyed, and people slaughtered. The portal used to link Azeroth to Draenor remains undiscovered by warriors of the Stormwind kingdom, they’re busy defending themselves.
An organization known as the Kirin Tor, an order of mages, users of magic, have been deteriorating as the rise in demonic forces have crept over the land.
The Guardian of Tirisfal has always been hesitant to take on an apprentice, until Kahdgar comes to his door.
CHARACTERS: In the world of Azeroth we are met with many new characters, but I haven chosen two to talk about.
Kahdgar: He’s a young man who wields mage powers learned from the Kirin Tor. He is sent to the Guardian with hopes of becoming an apprentice. He’s patient, yet desperate for knowledge. Kahdgar is eager to see visions of either the past or the future within the Guardians tower. He’s a fast learner and skilled at problem solving.
Medivh: He’s the Guardian of Tirisfal, the most powerful mage in all of Azeroth. This power was inherited by his mother Aegwynn, who held on to the roll of Guardian for an extremely unnaturally long time. Medivh is strict, but can also have a sense of humor. He is very mysterious, as he would often disappear from his tower at random and would reappear at his leisure. His odd and inconsistent behavior is confusing for the young Kahdgar.
OVERALL THOUGHTS: I really enjoyed this novel, but I have to be honest… it’s not the greatest. The story was fantastic and the plot was executed well. Dialogue wasn’t so smooth. I found story beats getting a little rough towards the last half of the book when the character Garona was introduced. She is half orc and half human, sent to spy and gather info on the Guardian for the orcs. The banter between Garona and Kahdgar was not organic.
A lot of the same words were used within a sentence or paragraph, it made some of the story sound cheaper (if that makes any sense?) a thesaurus would have come in handy for sure. These hiccups with the writing didn’t take away from the story, just the way it was hashed out. Had the book gone through another editor or another set of eyes, I think some of these issues would have been fixed.
Do I recommend that you read World of Warcraft: The Last Guardian? Yes, a great continuation of the Warcraft story from Rise of the Horde
RATING: I will give this novel a B.
by Matthew Wilson
Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge – Black Spire was written by New York Times Bestselling Author, Delilah S. Dawson. She also wrote the novel, Phasma. Galaxy’s Edge – Black Spire is a tie-in novel to Disney’s Star Wars theme park, Galaxy’s Edge. Delilah S Dawson tells a wonderful adventure story that takes hope to the furthest reaches of the galaxy.
SUMMARY: This tale takes place after the events of The Last Jedi. After the resistance suffered a terrible blow when the First Order reduced their numbers in a cat and mouse chase, through hyperspace. The small fleet desperately needs to increase its headcount along with a place to set up camp.
General Leia calls on Resistance spy Vi Moradi, who recently, just barely escaped with her life, along with a dying First Order Captain, from the clutches of the First Order. Moradi is to head to the planet Batuu, on the furthest reaches of known space, to set up a resistance base and recruit Resistance soldiers. She won’t go alone on this mission, her new partner is her former foe… Archex, formally known as Captain Cardinal.
Follow Resistance spy, Vi Moradi, as she goes on a wild escapade to find hope a home in the furthest reaches of the galaxy.
The mission falls flat when Moradi’s ship crashes on Batuu, on the outskirts of Black Spire Outpost. While Vi and Archex are unconscious and their droid wrecked to bits, their ship is raided and all their goods, including their long-range communication equipment, is stolen. Now Vi Moradi has to figure out a way to get back their lost supplies, recruit to her cause, and contact General Leia.
Oh… and figure out a way to work with the local gangster and fight against the First Order!
CHARACTER: From a line up of new characters and a few familiar, I’m mentioning two… slightly familiar.
Vi Moradi: Vi is a horrible spy. She wears a jacket with the resistance logo, and has her hair dyed with blue… when you’re a spy, you should blend in to your surroundings, don’t have logos on or near you. She talks too much, telling people she just meets that her mission is to recruit folks to the resistance She’s reckless, careless in fact. However, she’s put into a rough situation and manages to pull through.
Archex: He’s a wounded warrior, on the mend from a life-threatening poison. He’s seen, first hand, how the First Order can be. After the crash landing on Batuu, Archex feels helpless and he can’t stand it. The toll on his battle with Phasma has done serious permanent damage to his body. He can hardly do any physical activity for the resistance, which makes him feel more like a burden than a contributor. He’s loyalty to the Resistance is unclear, making it difficult to trust him.
OVERALL THOUGHTS: Delilah S. Dawson delivers a fun, action-packed, high-stakes adventure! In my overall review section, I give my honest opinion. This novel is mostly easy to read, but for me, there are a few parts that I feel drag a little. Yet, the plot is simple, making the adventure feel like an enjoyable classic.
I had a hard time taking Vi Moradi serious. Her sarcasm at odd times and cockiness was a little much. If she’s one of the best in the Resistance, then yeah, the Resistance is in serious trouble. I didn’t like how this spy was so outspoken and flamboyant about who she was and what she was doing on the planet. Most of the other characters in the story were well written. Archex/Captain Cardinal was an interesting choice of character to bring back. I don’t know if bringing him back (pretty much from the dead) was really necessary. However, Archex does have a pretty cool moment in the book that might make you pump your fist in the air.
The dialogue isn’t too bad. Sometimes I think the sprinkled sarcasm from Vi Moradi (as mentioned before) was off putting. The Batuuan cultural greetings are a nice touch, making Batuu feel like a real place.
Dawson’s writing style in this novel was pretty straight forward, telling a linear story without cutting to past events. The book is good advertisement for Disney’s Galaxy’s Edge theme park, and it does fit in nicely with the overall Star Wars story, progressing events forward. Some of the writing was a little choppy, making the final climax come off like an 80’s or 90’s action movie. It was quick wrap up to a story that could have been a little shorter to build up to the final climax. Meaning, two opposing sides somehow knowingly expecting an event at specific time.A few story points felt a little repetitive, some events being too similar to each other multiple times… cut have cut some of that out.
There are a few teases and call backs that raise a few questions and stir excitement. Overall the book was pretty good despite the few dull and overly exaggerated moments.
Do I recommend that you read Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge Black Spire by Delilah S. Dawson? Sure, especially if you have plans to visit Galaxy’s
RATING: I give this book B.
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by Matthew Wilson
Stranger Things: Darkness on the Edge of Town Novel Review
Stranger Things: Darkness on the Edge of Town was written by Adam Christopher. This novel bounces between a prequel era, long before events of the show, and moments just before season three.
SUMMARY: In this Stranger Things novel we get a glimpse at the relationship between Eleven and James Hopper. It takes place between the events of Season two and three. Eleven wants to know more about Hopper and his past as the duo is snowed in to their cabin. The novel flashes back to the 70s when Hopper was a homicide detective in NYC. A possible serial killer is prowling the streets. Hopper and his parter begin their investigation until it’s taken away by the FBI.
The story explodes with historical knowledge of our beloved Sheriff, of Hawkins Indiana. In this story you’ll witness how Hopper was involved in uncovering a sinister plot by a cult, who may… or may not summon the devil himself.
CHARACTER: Out of the few characters to talk about, I chose to briefly discuss the most important, James Hopper. He was a Family man, who really loved his wife and daughter. He’s also a Vietnam veteran. His choice to move to NYC from his hometown of Hawkins Indiana, was motivated by his desire for action. Once he came home from Vietnam, small town Hawkins just wasn’t “exciting” enough.
OVERALL THOUGHTS: I enjoyed this novel. It was captivating and really held my attention. It’s a thrilling and suspenseful tale of crime. Its a great backstory piece for Hopper, it’s story points and details don’t lean on the events that happen on the Netflix series, and that’s great. Dialogue was good, and all the characters were written well.
Do I recommend that you read Stranger Things: Darkness on the Edge of Town? Well, if you like Stranger Things, yes. If you don’t like Stranger Things, I still think you’d enjoy it, it’s a great crime novel.
RATING: I will give this book a B+
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by Matthew Wilson
Star Wars: Thrawn Treason was written by New York Times Bestselling Author, Timothy Zahn. This is the third and final installment of the canon Trawn trilogy! This tale takes place before the Rebels television series.
SUMMARY: Politics among the Empire’s ranks is ever present in this tale of war and greed. Director Krennic’s Stardust project is hit with delays as an infestation of Grallocs (a cousin of the Mynock), feed on the power of the cargo freighters hauling parts and weapons. These creatures latch onto ships as they fly through space, leading the empire to believe a glitch in the freighters hyperdrive blasts the ships into space, dropping out in the middle nowhere.
Thrawn strikes a deal with Emperor Palpatine, Tarkin and Director Krennic, that if he can solve the Gralloc problem in a certain timeframe, his TIE defender program will receive more funding. Assistant Director Ronan is to accompany Thrawn on the Chimaera (Thrawn’s Star Destroyer) as the mission proceeds. It is on this mission when Grand Admiral Thrawn discovers the Grysks (a terror from the unknown regions), has made their way into imperial space! Also in this discovery, an unexpected reunion takes place, Eli Vanto returns with the Chiss Ascendancy!
Thrawn meets with Vanto and Admiral Ar’alani of the Chiss Ascendancy, making Assistant Director Ronan skeptical of Thrawn. Does Thrawn’s loyalty lie with the Empire or the Chiss Ascendancy? Are Thrawn’s actions treasonous? As the plot thickens, relationships are made and severed as the truth pertaining to the missing Stardust cargo is exposed.
CHARACTERS: This book has several great characters. I will mention only two!
Thrawn: The blue Chiss is calm, cool, and collected. He has a brilliant mind with a knack for outwitting his foes. Thrawn is a problem solver and genuine leader, with no hesitation to promote or reprimand his subordinates. His loyalty to the Empire and to the Chiss Ascendancy is nearly equal, and his hatred for the Grysks is great. His actions appear outright crazy and foolish, yet nothing he does is without forethought based on wisdom he’s acquired.
Ar’alani: Admiral Ar’alani is a of the Chiss Ascendancy. She’s admiral of the ship named Steadfast. She’s understanding of Thrawn’s roll to the Empire, but also can’t help but question where his heart is. She’s a hard leader that follows procedure but also willing to follow Thrawn’s instruction. Ar’alani is dead set on wiping out the Grysks.
OVERALL THOUGHTS: I’ll start off by saying Star Wars: Thrawn Treason is very clever, highly amusing, and extremely exciting! You need to read this! Timothy Zahn is a great writer and handles character development and story elements equally as good. He tends to lean heavy on a more “hard sci-fi” style of writing, compared to a more fantasy based sci-fi. This novel truly was fun to read and I found it hard to put down.
This story has several elements that link to the Catalyst novel, and I think that is brilliant. Not only do we have Director Krennic and Stardust sprinkled in this tale, but Death Troopers! The Death Troopers aren’t just mentioned, we actually follow a few of them on a mission, and it’s awesome! This book really ties into canon that’s already established, making it a great addition to the overall story.
The twists and turns were fashioned in a few different ways. Some felt organic, while others were a little too dramatic. Thrawn’s brilliance can come off too convenient at times, which can take away some of the tension, making certain outcomes predictable. However, the book is full of surprises and wonderful moments. There are indeed some of the most tense situations in recent Star Wars story telling that grab you by the collar and pull you to the edge of your seat.
Well, do I recommend that you read Thrawn Treason by Timothy Zahn? Yes, I’d say this is the best in the Trawn trilogy.
RATING: I will give this novel an A+
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by Matthew Wilson
The NKJV Unapologetic Study Bible: Confidence for Such A Time As This is published by Thomas Nelson. (I’d like to thank Thomas Nelson publishing for sending out this hardcover edition for me to review). The NKJV Unapologetic Study Bible can be found in various bindings.
The first page, as you would expect, is the presentation page. The next few pages contain the copyright/publishing details, the Table of Contents, an Abbreviations page (a guide to how the books in the Bible will be abbreviated), and a Foreword.
This forward was written by Emmanuel A. Kampouris. To summarize this forward, it’s plea to bring Christ and biblical teachings back into the spotlight. It seems faith in God by the masses, is on a steady decline. We need to arm ourselves, our peers and our children with the Word of God, so that we may stand strong in God’s favor.
The study system in this bible is broken down into a special chart/grid. These charts are found in the introduction to each book of the Bible. Articles, quotations, profiles, and other features are organized into eight topics with four categories of study notes/commentary. The introduction will give an in-depth explanation on the topics and categories.
Cited Information/features from the back cover for the Bible:
Bible Book Introductions
Over 200 Articles
Over 70 Quotations
More than 50 Profiles
Indexes
Overall Thoughts: I do like this bible, however I feel in time, some of its contents will no longer be relevant. I’m not a big fan of a Bible advertising a website. The notes are pulled from the Kairos Journal, a website for pastors and church leaders, a tool to guide them toward biblically and spiritually directed thoughts and actions. The topics in this bible are extensively covered on the Kairos Journal Website.
As we read the historical notes, current issues, and additional notes, we will gain instruction and insight as to what the appropriate, biblical response to current social issues that we face every day.
I really like the size of this bible. It’s pretty much the size of a standard hardcover novel. I prefer to remove the dust jacket while reading to prevent wear and tear on the dust jacket. The font is a decent size, and the words of Christ are red.
The layout of this study Bible is simple and clean. It reminds of high-school/college text books. The articles within give great information on various subjects. The information in this study Bible will surely give you as the subtitle reads, confidence for such a time as this.
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