Category: Sci Fi/fantasy - Alyce Caswell - Author

Alyce Caswell - Author

Prima Donnas of the Opera

9/10/2026

Shadow of the Ghost Light (The Calicas Chronicles #1)
by T.J. Johnson & Imogen Elvis

The Angel Theatre was destroyed by a devastating fire, but now it's rebuilt and about to open for shows for the first time in years. But ghosts and bad luck are treading the boards. Mae, who has hopes of improving her dancing career, suffers an injury - and her friend Carina has to quickly step in as lead singer when the prima donna is found dead. Turns out that putting on a show can be both magical and deadly... and maybe it's not just bad luck to blame.

Confession time. I've never seen any iteration of the Phantom of the Opera. I have no idea what happens in it. Shhh. Don't tell anyone. Anyway, I can't really comment on the retelling side of things, but I can say this: I was completely mesmerised from the early chapters and couldn't stop myself turning the pages at times. Johnson and Elvis have delivered an engrossing, intriguing fantasy with a smattering of romance and tension. These authors make a great pair.

A Galaxy of Pawns

19/9/2026

The Edge of the Abyss (Reign of the Empire #2)
(Star Wars Disney)
by Rebecca Roanhorse

When an act of violence orchestrated by Saw Gerrera goes awry and one of his own is captured before he can kill her, he must move quickly. He enlists the aid of Senator Bail Organa, who still naively believes that justice can be done inside the Empire. Meanwhile, Mon Mothma is dealing with a more insidious threat - pop idol propaganda aimed at youth, including her very own daughter. There are many ways to fight an Empire; there are fewer ways to win.

I love Rebecca Roanhorse's work, both inside and outside this particular IP, and her writing always draws me in so quickly. It has such a good rhythm. Additionally, she made this instalment so much less of a slog than the previous one from Alexander Freed - and this book actually fits the <i>Andor</i> vibe much better. Possibly due to the later position in the timeline. But it isn't without its problems... various characters from other Star Wars media don't quite fit into the narrative (Jyn was poorly handled) and Mon Mothma didn't seem to have much to do, albeit act somewhat out of character. But honestly? This didn't detract from my enjoyment of the book as much as it could have. It's certainly one of the better Disney canon books we've had lately. I'd like to see Roanhorse utilised more often.

Apocalypse Future

14/9/2026

Destiny's Way (The Doomed Earth #2)
by Jack Campbell

Lieutenant Selene Genji and Lieutenant Kayl Owen are still on the run, hunted by those who'd kill to keep their activities hidden from humanity. Genji and Kayl need to save Earth from exploding in 2180. How many small changes matter in the grand scheme of things? And what must they do in order to prove that Selene is no threat? They'll have to convince billions...or maybe just a few important souls.

Undoubtedly the best instalment in the duology, since it benefits from a strong, satisfying conclusion, though it also suffers from the same repetitions that plagued the first book. I still think this should've been one novel, not two. Ah well. Selene and Kayl are so darn likeable and grow on you until you want to be fighting alongside them. I love them together. I'd happily read this again. And I do wish I could share Campbell's optimism about humanity...

A Duology It Ain't

7/9/2026

In Our Stars (The Doomed Earth #1)
by Jack Campbell

Lieutenant Kayl Owen of Earth Guard investigates a strange wreck and finds a survivor - along with her bizarre and seemingly impossible mission. Lieutenant Selene Genji just watched Earth explode forty years in the future. She's not sure how she travelled back in time, but she has to make sure that Earth survives. This isn't a simple matter. She has to change humanity itself. Will Kayl manage to help her?

There is a lot to like about this book. For one, it's hopeful and expects the best of humanity... which is less and less common in sci-fi these days. Campbell doesn't pull his punches. Sure, he's a bit heavy handed with his message, but the frustration imbued in his words is genuine. I also appreciate the improvements in his writing. The romance might be a tad clumsy (better than Campbell's other attempts! haha), but I enjoyed that aspect of In Our Stars.

In fact, it was all very enjoyable... except the book has a Very Big Problem. There's no real ending. Splitting a book into two releases doesn't automatically create a duology. What you get is dodgy pacing and an even dodgier structure. I like Campbell's work, but I can't overlook that.

Delighted & Beknighted

22/8/2026

One Knight Stand (Lady's Knight #2)
by Amie Kaufman & Meagan Spooner

Gwen is now renowned as Lady Dragonslayer, a knight in search of more monsters to slay. With her, as always, is Lady Isabelle - still hoping to find a way to escape her guardian, Lord Whimsitt. His latest cruelty is sending Gwen and Isobel out again, without proper rest, so that Gwen can put her seal of approval on a seaside town's tourism venture. But a true enemy awaits them there...

What an utterly delightful sequel that manages to terrify and swoon-ify by equal measure. Gwen and Isobelle feel like old friends of mine by this point and I enjoy spending time with them (even when they're being frustrating about their feelings...but that's YA love for you, ha!). How I wish I'd had these books as a teen. Even now, as an adult, I adore them. There's more than a mere dash of magic here.

Alyce Caswell and the Book of Doom

16/8/2026

Luke Skywalker and the Shadow of Mindor (Star Wars Legends)
by Matthew Stover

Haunted by the recent events at Mindor, Luke Skywalker enlists the services of an inspector from the Judicial Service to investigate him for war crimes. What follows is the account of a dangerous adventure involving the villain Lord Shadowspawn, an old villain who has returned to use holodramas to enact his dark agenda. Will Luke be judged fairly for his deeds at Mindor? Who can say...

The 70s/80s Star Wars comics are a fun read, but they stray into silly territory a lot. Bringing back a villain from those pages... I suppose it matches the schlocky tone of the book, though I can't say I enjoyed either aspect. Stover employs bombastic writing that might've been amusing for a page or two. But it's the whole damn book. So much wasted space of explaining/telling when a few lines of dialogue would have sufficed. So many "exotic" similes and metaphors bogging down the prose. So many out-of-character moments. However, I will admit that Luke landing a ship the same way Anakin once did was a stroke of genius and I'd like to see that happen again in Disney canon. And uh... at least there's fewer racist moments than in Stover's Clone Wars novel? (See my review of Shatterpoint).

Luke Skywalker and the Shadows of Mindor is an unapologetic farcical slog that accomplishes what Stover set out to do. It's this way for a reason. I get it, but it's not my thing.

Cue "Across the Stars"

10/8/2026

Eyes Like Stars (Star Wars Disney)
by Ashley Poston

Ardent Quay was just looking for the last instalment of her favourite series, but instead she finds trouble - in the form of Sian, an archeologist in need of a quick escape from the First Order. Ardent helps him stowaway on her father's tour ship and soon things get even more complicated when her brother reappears after an absence. Ardent's life may now be in danger... and so too is her heart.

I absolutely adore YA sci-fi/romance and I also adore Poston's YA novels, so this purchase was pretty much a foregone conclusion for me. It's a fun ride that doesn't really deviate from the usual genre blueprints. There's no real surprises here. However, the Star Wars setting is what truly makes it an engaging read... visit the planets you know and planets you don't know. Encounter legendary heroes and villains (happily, they aren't overused here). And fall in love like you're a teenager..

Expanded Universe Round-Up #34

8/8/2026

Jedi Prince series by Paul Davids & Hollace Davids

#1 - The Glove of Darth Vader

Dark Greetings, fellow readers! I have a confession to make: as a kid, I LOVED this series. It was a shock to realise that these books were universally hated (I assume I made this discovery on TheForce.net). I owned books #1-4, while my brother owned books #5 and #6 - he was ever so stingy in letting me borrow them, but many years later he gifted them to me as an adult.

So. The Glove of Darth Vader. This is the book that radicalised me to be anti-whaling at a very tender age. I also devoured it enough times that I could remember practically every paragraph on this re-read (and it's also literally falling apart, alas). I admit...it hasn't held up well. I laughed out loud when the Glove was first brought up. I mean...why only make ONE glove indestructible? But it's still fun and has a cracking pace. It's 82 pages of entertainment aimed at kids. It does the job - or, at least, it did for me.

#2 - The Lost City of the Jedi

This was one of my favourite books in the mid-1990s. I was enamoured with the idea of the Lost City, though now I think it was a silly thing to run with, even in the wild (sometimes unhinged) years before the prequel trilogy. And then there's Rey - I mean, Ken. When I tell you I groaned out loud in the cinema while watching The Rise of Skywalker, it's because I couldn't believe they'd take inspiration from this series, of all things. I hope they didn't. Wow, what a horrible coincidence if not.

(On second thought, the mention of a character called "Snoke" in this book does make me very suspicious.)

Okay. Confession time. Kid!me wanted to be Ken and honestly, that was the whole point of his character. A reader insert. He performs that function well.

This book is objectively bad, but I will honour the love I once felt for it with a high rating lol

PS: The illustrations throughout are incredibly good!

#3 - Zorba the Hutt's Revenge

What a delightfully unhinged read that was. The only thing funnier than this book are the reviews far wittier readers have written and posted on Goodreads. This time, we get bucketloads of sexism, a random detour to Tatooine for a housewarming gift, and Zorba the Hutt, who is the best gift of all. He and Trioculus have a hilarious confrontation scene. And Trioculus... well, his pickup lines make Anakin look as suave as Lando lol.

So bad it's good. No... so terrible it's brilliant.

#4 - Mission from Mount Yoda

I am highly amused by the idea of a school being established on Dagobah. And naturally, it's called Dagobah tech. Brilliant. Unfortunately, I didn't find this book as fun as the previous three, though it certainly had its moments. The overarching plot does seem to be getting somewhere, at least; Triclops meets the Rebels and heads back with them to Dagobah Tech! I mean... their lab/base/school. He misses his beloved Kendalina. Ken, wake up! You know what this means, right?

Another silly, zany adventure from the infamous Jedi Prince series. Not the best instalment, alas, but honestly which instalment isn't wonderfully horrifying?

#5 - Queen of the Empire

What a wild ride. I enjoyed practically every minute of it, too, because the batshit insanity dial was turned up again for this instalment. Let's go to Hologram Fun World! Which will later feature in the Galaxy of Fear series, as some sort of prequel (though I assume Lando ironed out all those wrinkles from his purported first visit). Trioculus also performs the classic "kidnap a woman to make her marry me" gambit that was already overdone way back in comics from the first half of the 20th century... but I digress. My boy Zorba returned and I can never be mad about that.

I recall less of this book than the others because in the 1990s my brother owned this copy, which meant I had to beg him to read it (or wait until he was out of the house). But it's still just as ridiculous and fun as the rest of the series.

This book gets 5 stars purely for the Moffs having a Mofference on the Moffship. I CAN'T EVEN

#6 - Prophets of the Dark Side

And finally, we reach the end. Three more books were planned, but mercifully they were not commissioned - or maybe I should be sad about that, because the entertainment value of this series is incredibly high. The environmental themes were very welcome, but the constant ableism and sexism... ack. None of the loose plot threads were ever tied up so that's a bit frustrating. Apparently, the wedding at the end was going to be interrupted...because we can't have two Han/Leia weddings in the Legends canon!

Zorba is hilarious, as always. I'll miss him. I'll even miss Trioculus and Hissa. Who knows when I will laugh this hard again? Ahem. Now Ken...eh, he was not a well-written character, so I'm going to say that I'll continue to show favouritism towards Palpatine's other grandchild (AKA Rey). I will never be happy about the sequel trilogy pulling a Jedi Prince, but at least Rey doesn't eat random food given to her by the bad guys.

Expanded Universe Round-Up #33

8/8/2026

Mara Jade: By the Emperor's Hand

Mara Jade is a Legends fan favourite - and for good reason. As a kid exploring the Expanded Universe, I just couldn't get enough for her. Too bad her characterisation was a bit uneven throughout the years, notably whenever someone other than Zahn or Stackpole was at the helm - so yes, it's probably obvious that I really enjoyed this TPB collecting their Mara Jade series. It really highlights her motives. What makes her tick. Perhaps the story isn't the most engaging... but I loved it anyway.

PS: Is it just me or was Mara drawn to resemble a certain other 1990s redhead? lol

Shadows of the Empire: Evolution

Since I wasn't a huge fan of Shadows of the Empire, I knew I probably wouldn't like this sequel either. I was right. Mind you, I did feel more for Guri and kind of wanted to see more of her, though I'm glad we never got that chance in the Expanded Universe. As for Steve Perry... he should never be allowed to write female characters. Ever.

X-Wing Rogue Squadron Series

Vol 1

I'll always have a soft spot for Wedge and Rogue Squadron, thanks to Stackpole's novels. So while these comics are perhaps not the best I've read (I think they're average, even for the day), they are a fun, nostalgic read for a fan like me. I also appreciated the "handbook" in the back. It helps one keep track of all the characters who come and go.

Vol 2

The stories in this omnibus are less engaging than those that can be found in the previous instalment. Plourr's arc was enjoyable (and she's the reason I've rated the omnibus as high as I did), but everything else was either too ho-hum or just too silly to hold my attention for long. Mystical temples and Sith energy - keep that stuff away from my X-Wing adventures!

Vol 3

Sure, the stories in this omnibus have their weak points, but they are still undoubtedly the best in the entire series. Soontir Fel is an engaging character. I'm still mad that he didn't appear more in the EU, because he really is that cool. I'll also add that Syal deserved better as a character, but Legends did have a bad track record regarding female characters...even towards the end. Ahem. In short, I loved this omnibus.

Tython Time

8/8/2026

Legacy (Star Wars Disney)
by Madeleine Roux

Rey's lightsaber is broken and, troubled by her failure to fix it on her own, she believes that a trip to a mystical Jedi forge on the world of Tython will help her. General Organa insists on accompanying her. There are things Rey would rather keep hidden from the general. Meanwhile, a First Order major who survived an assassination attempt is on a hunt that will also lead her to Tython.

Oh. I feel delated. Disappointed. But I'm not sure how much of that disappointment was caused by this book or by the decisions made in the sequel trilogy. Roux had a mountain to climb in terms of trying to appease me.

That said, I did get some of what I wanted here - Leia acting as a master of sorts to Rey, whose journey was full of guilt and turmoil. Frankly, the whole book should have been about that. Instead, we were constantly interrupted by a subplot that might have been more satisfying in a separate novel (emphasis on might). More flashbacks to Leia's training would have been nice. I've also just discovered that this part of Leia's life will be covered more extensively in a book coming out next year and I'm a tad annoyed about the missed opportunity to tie it properly into this one (as Roux reportedly had no knowledge of what was in the pipeline). Someone is making poor decisions somewhere and it's not the authors. So I won't hold Roux accountable for that.

If you're desperate for more Rey and Leia interaction, this is as good as you're going to get. Bonus ancient Jedi ruins (my great weakness, no matter the canon).