Star Wars: Dark Disciple by Christie Golden - Paul's Review

*I received this book as an eARC from Del Ray via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review*

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Title: Star Wars: Dark Disciple
Author: Christie Golden
Recent Release Date: July 7, 2015

My Pre-Reading

Synopsis: Based on unproduced scripts from the blockbuster TV show Star Wars: The Clone Wars!

The only way to bring down the dark side's most dangerous warrior may be for Jedi and Sith to join forces.

In the war for control of the galaxy between the armies of the dark side and the Republic, former Jedi Master turned ruthless Sith Lord Count Dooku has grown ever more brutal in his tactics. Despite the powers of the Jedi and the military prowess of their clone army, the sheer number of fatalities is taking a terrible toll. And when Dooku orders the massacre of a flotilla of helpless refugees, the Jedi Council feels it has no choice but to take drastic action: targeting the man responsible for so many war atrocities, Count Dooku himself.

But the ever-elusive Dooku is dangerous prey for even the most skilled hunter. So the Council makes the bold decision to bring both sides of the Force's power to bear—pairing brash Jedi Knight Quinlan Vos with infamous one-time Sith acolyte Asajj Ventress. Though Jedi distrust for the cunning killer who once served at Dooku's side still runs deep, Ventress's hatred for her former master runs deeper. She's more than willing to lend her copious talents as a bounty hunter—and assassin—to Vos's quest.

Together, Ventress and Vos are the best hope for eliminating Dooku—as long as the emerging feelings between them don't compromise their mission. But Ventress is determined to have her retribution and at last let go of her dark Sith past. Balancing the complicated emotions she feels for Vos with the fury of her warrior's spirit, she resolves to claim victory on all fronts—a vow that will be mercilessly tested by her deadly enemy . . . and her own doubt.

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Review: This has taken the spot as my favorite of the new Star Wars canon novels. The storytelling is excellent. Reading this book, I could hear the voices of the animated characters. There wasn't a moment when I thought a character's actions didn't allign with their already canonical self. Ventress especially has excellent quips. 

The material that went into creating this was many unproduced episodes of The Clone Wars tv series. There were certain points where it seemed evident that one arc ended and a new one started. I didn't mind though. There was constant action. I never found myself bored. Since these arcs would have made up a large part of the season, a lot of time passes. This isn't a book that takes place over a few days. Relationships really build and change within this book. 

I liked how this book addressed the Dark Side and the way it was handled make me excited for the future of Star Wars. The Dark Side isn't always connected to the Sith. The Force is used in many different ways. The characters in this novel truly embody the idea of grayness. 

I loved watching the relationship between Vos and Ventress evolve. There were a lot of great parallels to Anakin and Padme. It is even addressed within the book. The Anakin in this book is the closest to Revenge of the Sith I've seen before. The Jedi Order is also degrading and the effects of the war are evident. 

This was an excellent Star Wars novel. It was always moving forward. The story actually progressed. Characters changed. Things happened that truly matter to the overall Star Wars universe. I give this novel a 5/5 and I really hope more stories are told form this time period. I'm sure the focus in the next year will be on post-ROTJ, but I want at least a few Clone Wars era stories. 

--PAUL

Star Wars: Dark Disciple by Christie Golden - Paul's Pre-reading

*I received this book as an eARC from Del Ray via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review*

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Goodreads

Title: Star Wars: Dark Disciple
Author: Christie Golden
Recent Release Date: July 7, 2015

Synopsis: Based on unproduced scripts from the blockbuster TV show Star Wars: The Clone Wars!

The only way to bring down the dark side's most dangerous warrior may be for Jedi and Sith to join forces.

In the war for control of the galaxy between the armies of the dark side and the Republic, former Jedi Master turned ruthless Sith Lord Count Dooku has grown ever more brutal in his tactics. Despite the powers of the Jedi and the military prowess of their clone army, the sheer number of fatalities is taking a terrible toll. And when Dooku orders the massacre of a flotilla of helpless refugees, the Jedi Council feels it has no choice but to take drastic action: targeting the man responsible for so many war atrocities, Count Dooku himself.

But the ever-elusive Dooku is dangerous prey for even the most skilled hunter. So the Council makes the bold decision to bring both sides of the Force's power to bear—pairing brash Jedi Knight Quinlan Vos with infamous one-time Sith acolyte Asajj Ventress. Though Jedi distrust for the cunning killer who once served at Dooku's side still runs deep, Ventress's hatred for her former master runs deeper. She's more than willing to lend her copious talents as a bounty hunter—and assassin—to Vos's quest.

Together, Ventress and Vos are the best hope for eliminating Dooku—as long as the emerging feelings between them don't compromise their mission. But Ventress is determined to have her retribution and at last let go of her dark Sith past. Balancing the complicated emotions she feels for Vos with the fury of her warrior's spirit, she resolves to claim victory on all fronts—a vow that will be mercilessly tested by her deadly enemy . . . and her own doubt.

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Why?: Christie Golden wrote some of my favorite Star Trek books, the Voyager: Homecoming duology! She also has quite the resume with Star Wars books, but I have not had the pleasure to read any of them. This book has been created from unproduced episodes of The Clone Wars animated series. It is also part of the new canon of books. The two main characters are Asajj Ventress and Quinlan Voss. The Clone Wars Darkhorse graphic novels are my favorite comic book form of Star Wars and they featured Vos prominently. There is absolutely no reason why I would not read this book.

Expectations: I'm expecting a high action story with two characters that are the very definition of gray. Quinlan Vos doesn't have much canon backstory before this book compared to his vast history in the old Expanded Universe. I'm interested to see how similar he is to his EU origins. 

Judging a book by its cover: Amazing cover. I loved it the first time I saw it. The colors are great. The way the facial tattoos pop is great. The yellow and green lightsabers are great. I need everything about this book! 


--PAUL

Star Wars: Lords of the Sith - Paul's Review

*I received this book as an eARC from Random House Publishing Group - Del Rey Spectra via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review*

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Title: Lords of the Sith
Author: Paul S. Kemp

Release Date: April 28, 2015

Synopsis: On Ryloth, a planet crucial to the growing Empire as a source of slave labor and the narcotic known as “spice,” an aggressive resistance movement has arisen, led by Cham Syndulla, an idealistic freedom fighter, and Isval, a vengeful former slave. But Emperor Palpatine means to control the embattled world and its precious resources—by political power or firepower—and he will be neither intimidated nor denied. Accompanied by his merciless disciple, Darth Vader, he sets out on a rare personal mission to ensure his will is done.

For Syndulla and Isval, it’s the opportunity to strike at the very heart of the ruthless dictatorship sweeping the galaxy. And for the Emperor and Darth Vader, Ryloth becomes more than just a matter of putting down an insurrection: When an ambush sends them crashing to the planet’s surface, where inhospitable terrain and an army of resistance fighters await them, they will find their relationship tested as never before. With only their lightsabers, the dark side of the Force, and each other to depend on, the two Sith must decide if the brutal bond they share will make them victorious allies or lethal adversaries. 

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Review:I have really enjoyed these new canon Star Wars books. All of them have made effort to connect the two trilogies and the tv series, Lords of the Sith especially. There was a reference to a former padawan that made me squeal. 

When it comes to Darth Vader, he needs to be an ominous force. There has to be that mystery remaining, even though we know so much about his past. This book did an excellent job at not getting too much inside of Vader's head. There were many parts of the book when I was hearing Anakin's voice in my head instead of Vader's deep voice. Although the focus of this book may be on Vader and the Emperor, they don't get as much "screen time" as other characters. 

Cham Syndulla is the real core of this story. Not only that, but he is the connection to the Star Wars tv shows. He was featured on The Clone Wars and has a direct connection to a character on Rebels. 

This book can be seen as a sequel to Revenge of the Sith and The Clone Wars, but also a prequel to Rebels and A New Hope. All of the connections are there. 

Pretty much every character in this book has a grayness to them. The "freedom fighters" are very close to terrorists, but they're attacking the "bad guys" so it's okay, right? The uber bad guys are on the run, but they have all the power and will to destroy anyone in their way. The government and military leaders either do a horrible job at their job or are attempting to play the system to get more power. 

Moff Delian Mors is introduced in this book and she has received a lot of hype, being the first LGBT character in the new Star Wars canon. I am very excited to see the positive outpour over an LGBT character and hope to see more in everything Star Wars, but Mors's sexual orientation is just a small aspect of her character. Overall, she is a lazy Imperial officer. She had some redeeming qualities, but she is only a side character. I'd love to see her in more things Star Wars, but even more I'd love to see more characters to represent other aspects of the LGBT community. 

Like all of the new canon Star Wars books, reading little details gets me even more excited knowing they are legit. When one of the royal guards took off his helmet, my mouth dropped. Vader's meditation chamber has been featured a lot in these books recently. It makes me wonder if there is something more to it than we know. 

I really enjoyed this book. The whole first half is pretty much just set-up, but it's enjoyable getting to know these new characters and Ryloth as a planet. I actually found the set-up more interesting than the running, chasing, and hunting of the second half. I give this book a 4/5. I believe that makes this my second favorite of the new Star Wars canon books so far, just behind Heir to the Jedi. Although once Dark Disciple and Aftermath come out, I'm almost positive that will change. 


--PAUL

Star Wars: Lords of the Sith - Paul's Pre Reading

*I received this book as an eARC from Random House Publishing Group - Del Rey Spectra via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review*

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Goodreads

Title: Lords of the Sith
Author: Paul S. Kemp

Upcoming Release Date: April 28, 2015

Synopsis: On Ryloth, a planet crucial to the growing Empire as a source of slave labor and the narcotic known as “spice,” an aggressive resistance movement has arisen, led by Cham Syndulla, an idealistic freedom fighter, and Isval, a vengeful former slave. But Emperor Palpatine means to control the embattled world and its precious resources—by political power or firepower—and he will be neither intimidated nor denied. Accompanied by his merciless disciple, Darth Vader, he sets out on a rare personal mission to ensure his will is done.

For Syndulla and Isval, it’s the opportunity to strike at the very heart of the ruthless dictatorship sweeping the galaxy. And for the Emperor and Darth Vader, Ryloth becomes more than just a matter of putting down an insurrection: When an ambush sends them crashing to the planet’s surface, where inhospitable terrain and an army of resistance fighters await them, they will find their relationship tested as never before. With only their lightsabers, the dark side of the Force, and each other to depend on, the two Sith must decide if the brutal bond they share will make them victorious allies or lethal adversaries. 

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Why?: I've enjoyed every book in the new canon so far. I like how each little detail adds to the new canon universe, showing what of the old canon has been kept and what has been left aside. It is also nice how it is manageable. I have watched or read everything within the new canon. 

This book focuses on two of the greatest villains of Star Wars: Darth Vader and Emperor Palpatine. I'm interested to see their viewpoint and I hope they both still seem mysterious. Cham Syndulla is also featured. He was in The Clone Wars as well as being Hera, from Rebels, 's father.   

This is also the first appearance of an LGBT character in the new Star Wars canon. I'm interested to see how this new moff character plays out. 

Expectations:  I'm excited to see how this book blends the feel of the original trilogy, The Clone Wars, and Rebels. I'm expected a glimpse into out favorite Sith lords, while also bridging the gap between Episode III and IV. It'll be interested to see how much Darth Vader knows about his own past, and those around him as well. 

Judging a book by its cover: This cover is pretty hardcore. How much more badass can you get than Darth Vader's red lightsaber and force lightening? 


--PAUL

Star Wars: A New Dawn by John Jackson Miller - Paul's Review

*I received this book as an eARC from Random House Publishing Group - Del Rey Spectra and LucasBooks on NetGalley in exchange for an honest review*

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Title: Star Wars: A New Dawn
Author: John Jackson Miller
Recent Release Date: September 2, 2014

Review of Kenobi by John Jackson Miller
My Pre-Reading of A New Dawn


Synopsis: 

A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away. . . . 

“The war is over. The Separatists have been defeated, and the Jedi rebellion has been foiled. We stand on the threshold of a new beginning.”—Emperor Palpatine 

For a thousand generations, the Jedi Knights brought peace and order to the Galactic Republic, aided by their connection to the mystical energy field known as the Force. But they were betrayed—and the entire galaxy has paid the price. It is the Age of the Empire.

Now Emperor Palpatine, once Chancellor of the Republic and secretly a Sith follower of the dark side of the Force, has brought his own peace and order to the galaxy. Peace through brutal repression, and order through increasing control of his subjects’ lives.

But even as the Emperor tightens his iron grip, others have begun to question his means and motives. And still others, whose lives were destroyed by Palpatine’s machinations, lay scattered about the galaxy like unexploded bombs, waiting to go off. . . .

The first Star Wars novel created in collaboration with the Lucasfilm Story Group, Star Wars: A New Dawn is set during the legendary “Dark Times” between Episodes III and IV and tells the story of how two of the lead characters from the animated series Star Wars Rebels first came to cross paths. Featuring a foreword by Dave Filoni.

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Review: This book sets the scene for the new Star Wars canon. It is a prequel to the new tv series Star Wars Rebels. This book shows how two of the main characters in the tv series, Kanan and Hera, met. Since the series is only beginning, the characters don't feel fully fledged out. Hera has almost no backstory. Kanan was only a padawan during the Jedi Purge. I liked learning about his past. I hope for more stories set closer to right after the Purge. 

With this whole new era of Star Wars, they're really trying to get back to the feel of the original trilogy. The world present in this novel is a mix of the original trilogy and the prequels. It's mostly the original, but with some more modern things. I liked how a stormtrooper was randomly a female. It was the most subtle thing, but I liked the diversity they are presenting. A primary antagonist is also female captain of a star destroyer.

Usually Star Wars stories are grand and in exotic locales. This novel takes place mainly on a mining planet. This added to the gray tone reminiscent of the film that started it all. 

Although Star Wars Rebels may be a children's show, this novel is not. There are some pretty brutal deaths. 

Vidian is the main villain of the novel. Unfortunately, he does not seem very original. He is another cyborg Star Wars villain. He does have an interesting background, even though it may be really bureaucratic. 

I think a downfall of this novel is that it couldn't make any big changes. The Star Wars story group had a lot of influence on this novel. I think John Jackson Miller was a little restricted. I preferred his Kenobi book. 

I give this novel a solid 3/5. If you are a complete Star Wars superfan, you may enjoy this book as a prelude to Rebels. But, if you don't have to read every Star Wars book that comes out then I'd say you can pass on this one.   


--PAUL

Star Wars: A New Dawn by John Jackson Miller - Paul's Pre-Reading

*I received this book as an eARC from Random House Publishing Group - Del Rey Spectra and LucasBooks on NetGalley in exchange for an honest review*

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Goodreads

Title: Star Wars: A New Dawn
Author: John Jackson Miller
Recent Release Date: September 2, 2014

Review of Kenobi by John Jackson Miller

Synopsis: 

A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away. . . . 

“The war is over. The Separatists have been defeated, and the Jedi rebellion has been foiled. We stand on the threshold of a new beginning.”—Emperor Palpatine 

For a thousand generations, the Jedi Knights brought peace and order to the Galactic Republic, aided by their connection to the mystical energy field known as the Force. But they were betrayed—and the entire galaxy has paid the price. It is the Age of the Empire.

Now Emperor Palpatine, once Chancellor of the Republic and secretly a Sith follower of the dark side of the Force, has brought his own peace and order to the galaxy. Peace through brutal repression, and order through increasing control of his subjects’ lives.

But even as the Emperor tightens his iron grip, others have begun to question his means and motives. And still others, whose lives were destroyed by Palpatine’s machinations, lay scattered about the galaxy like unexploded bombs, waiting to go off. . . .

The first Star Wars novel created in collaboration with the Lucasfilm Story Group, Star Wars: A New Dawn is set during the legendary “Dark Times” between Episodes III and IV and tells the story of how two of the lead characters from the animated series Star Wars Rebels first came to cross paths. Featuring a foreword by Dave Filoni.

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Why?: The Star Wars universe recently went through an overhaul. All the books are now noncanon and considered a part of the Star Wars Legends banner. This is one of the first books that will be within the canon of the upcoming trilogy. The canon consists of the two movie trilogies, the most recent Clone Wars animated tv series and the upcoming Rebels animates series. This book is a prequel to that series, showcasing two of the main characters (Hera Syndulla and Kanan Jarrus). I'm really excited to see what mood this book sets. 

Expectations: I'm expecting this book to bridge the gap between the trilogies, while trying to stick with the feel of the original trilogy more. With the upcoming trilogy it seems that they want the aesthetic and overall feel of the classic movies. I'm also expecting a cool origin story for these two characters. I'm hoping it will give me a look into why they act how they do in the upcoming Rebels tv series. John Jackson Miller also wrote Kenobi, which i enjoyed. It took place in the same time period.  

Judging a book by its cover: I like the cover. It has a similar feel to the Rebels artwork I have seen. The Empire is going to be a big threat in this book. 


--PAUL

Half a King (Shattered Sea #1) by Joe Abercrombie - Ashley's Pre-Reading

*I received this book as an eARC from Random House Publishing Group - Del Rey Spectra/Del Ray on NetGalley in exchange for an honest review*

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Title: Half a King (Shattered Sea #1)
Author: Joe Abercrombie
Publication Date: July 15, 2014

Synopsis: “I swore an oath to avenge the death of my father. I may be half a man, but I swore a whole oath.” 

Prince Yarvi has vowed to regain a throne he never wanted. But first he must survive cruelty, chains, and the bitter waters of the Shattered Sea. And he must do it all with only one good hand.

The deceived will become the deceiver.

Born a weakling in the eyes of his father, Yarvi is alone in a world where a strong arm and a cold heart rule. He cannot grip a shield or swing an axe, so he must sharpen his mind to a deadly edge.

The betrayed will become the betrayer.

Gathering a strange fellowship of the outcast and the lost, he finds they can do more to help him become the man he needs to be than any court of nobles could.

Will the usurped become the usurper?

But even with loyal friends at his side, Yarvi finds his path may end as it began—in twists, and traps, and tragedy

Why?: I love a good fantasy, and this one sounds like it has a lot of potential. A hero with one hand who has to save his country. He cannot wield traditional weapons, so he has to fight with his mind. Twists and traps and tragedy too? Count me in!

Expectations: I expect a pretty epic fantasy story. Lots of fighting and battles and the like, but also a lot of mind games. I'm also expecting quite a bit of world-building. Other than that though, I've never read anything by Joe Abercrombie so I have no idea what to expect. I guess my expectations are pretty high since I've heard such good things.

Judging a book by its cover: This cover is pretty simple, but I actually love it more and more the longer I look at it. The snowflake is really pretty against the black background and the red title really stands out, but I love that the snowflake is made of swords. Or at least that's what it looks like to me. I would totally pick this book up off of a shelf if I saw it in a bookstore or library.


--Ashley