Alyce Caswell - Author
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Book Reviews

In the Shadow of the Old Canon

28/5/2022

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Star Wars: Brotherhood by Mike Chen

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Cato Neimoidia has declared itself neutral in the Clone Wars, but a devastating attack has laid waste to one of its cities and now they are demanding an investigation. Obi-Wan is sent in the Republic's place, newly alone without his former Padawan, and finds that Neimoidians have many more nuances than he realised. And he is more in need of Anakin's help than ever.

While I liked the idea of this book, I felt that it didn't quite live up to my expectations. Too much meandering and too little engagement - an impression not doubt spurred on the prose constantly getting bogged down in lengthy self reflection by the characters. I find myself missing the Clone Wars books of the old canon. They had to follow similar rigid rules, I imagine, but still managed to be exciting and convey a feeling of danger.

This all said, Brotherhood is an easy, undemanding read, just not especially memorable.

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This is How the Trilogy Dies

15/4/2022

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Queen's Hope ​(Padmé Trilogy #3)
by E. K. Johnston

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Padmé usually shares everything that she is with the galaxy, especially her handmaidens - but now she has a secret. Something that is hers and hers alone. But the Clone War has begun and stealing moments with her new husband is difficult, especially when she must depart on a clandestine mission and leave loyal Sabé in her place on Coruscant.

I absolutely LOVED the other two books, so this was a little bit of a letdown. I do enjoy how Johnston gives the women of Star Wars a voice, though Queen's Hope contained too many voices and seemed to include some characters just 'cause. Padmé's mission didn't really add much to the plot either. But Johnston did finally make me like Anakin/Padmé together - something I never thought was possible. Ha!

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More Theme Park Advertising

31/3/2022

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Star Wars: A Crash of Fate (Galaxy's Edge)
by Zoraida 
Córdova

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Izzy left Batuu - and her best friend, Jules - behind years ago and had no intention of ever returning. But when her crew and and her boyfriend ditch her, she takes on a job that sends her back to Batuu. Jules has been waiting for Izzy to return for most of his life, even if he won't admit it. He never thought he'd see her again...much less be punched in the face by her!

Very cute. The plot wasn't particularly engaging, but the teen romance between Izzy and Jules kept me hanging on. And then the epilogue killed the small amount of enjoyment I'd got from reading this, because here we go - yet another Galaxy's Edge book that ends just as something interesting finally happens. It's probably my fault for picking up a title that ties into a freaking theme park.

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Nothing Lesser About This One

12/3/2022

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Star Wars: Lesser Evil (Thrawn Ascendancy #3)
by Timothy Zahn

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​Forces continue to move against the Chiss Ascendancy - and they are not always the same forces that are moving against Thrawn. He will defend the Ascendancy at any cost, make any sacrifice, but he is not the only one who will face consequences. In the end, the Chiss Ascendancy will either be broken or saved by its many secrets.

Whoa. I'm still sitting here, still somewhat shocked. The trilogy is over - and it was so artistically done (no, I will never stop using that quote in these reviews, fight me). Lesser Evil is a superb conclusion that feel more targeted and less aimless than the previous two books, possibly because everything comes to a head - possibly because it just is that much better. This is everything I wanted in a conclusion to the prequels about Thrawn's origins. In the past, I would have said that sci-fi novels that are heavy on politics and military aspects are not my thing...but maybe it's because they didn't have Thrawn (and now I also have a soft spot for that Geary guy - I digress).

Well worth the read. One of the best books in the current canon.

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Fun in the Time of Disaster

5/3/2022

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Star Wars: Midnight Horizon (The High Republic)
by 
Daniel José Older

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A group of Jedi head to Coronet City to investigate a Nihil sighting and find themselves following very different paths on their mission. Meanwhile, Corellian local Crash (who runs a protection company) needs to find the real murderer of one of her employees or she'll face the consequences. It's incredibly lucky that she stumbles across two Padawans, isn't it?

I am not a fan of Older's books in this universe. That said, I appreciated the - dare I say it - balance he used here, adding much-needed levity around the main devastating event in the adult novel. But my usual gripes remain. This read too young to be a YA novel at most times (just like Race to Crashpoint Tower felt more Junior Reader than MG) and the scenes were too disjointed for my liking. Reath was also unrecognisable from his previous appearances. However, a little bit of fun is required at this point in the series, so my overall impression is more favourable than it ought to be.

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The BEST Kind of MG Adventure

2/3/2022

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Star Wars: Mission to Disaster (The High Republic)
by Justina Ireland

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Jedi Knight Vernestra and her Padawan Imri are back with another adventure. After Avon is abducted by Nihil and put to work by them, Vernestra and Imri must investigate other disappearances before they can make any progress towards rescuing their friend. It would be nice if people seemed more willing to help them!

Jedi and seismic activity in the same book? Kid!me would have loved the heck out of this. Who am I kidding? Adult!me also loved it. Ireland is one of two authors who makes reading the High Republic worthwhile. The excitement that her previous MG novel lacked is here in spades - along with great pacing and superb handling of characters I care about a lot.

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A Less Enjoyable MG Adventure

2/3/2022

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Star Wars: Race to Crashpoint Tower (The High Republic)
by Daniel José Older

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Ram is a Jedi Padawan who would rather tinker with machines than deal with other beings, but he needs to get out an urgent message about the Nihil on Valo - before it's too late! Meanwhile, Zeen and Lula (an unaffiliated Force sensitive and another Padawan respectively) are racing to Valo to help out. What can they do together that they can't do apart?

I suppose I shouldn't be surprised that I didn't like this - I already disliked the first volume of The High Republic Adventures, which introduced Zeen and Lula - but I am a completist, alas. As for Ram, his POV was too chaotic and I didn't really get a sense of him as a character, so it was hard for me to feel anything about him being in danger. The Drengir, usually my preferred villains, were used poorly. At least the next MG novel in the series is by Justina Ireland. Whew.

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Enjoyable MG Adventure

26/2/2022

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Star Wars: A Test of Courage (The High Republic)
by Justina Ireland

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Vernestra is fifteen and one of the youngest to become a Jedi Knight. When the ship she's on is attacked by saboteurs, she must look after those even younger than herself - including a genius, a warrior-to-be and a Padawan. Their escape pod lands on a moon that is anything but safe.

I really enjoyed this middle grade adventure. It reminded me a little of Jude Watson's Jedi Apprentice series in the old canon (which I loved, btw). Vernestra is a great character - she's very relatable despite being a one-of-a-kind prodigy. A solid MG novel in its own right and a good addition in the High Republic. I would have liked a slightly more exciting adventure though!

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Now That's What I'm Talking About!

25/2/2022

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Star Wars: The Fallen Star (The High Republic)
by Claudia Gray

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Starlight Beacon is still the light of the Republic and one of its "great works". But the Nihil threat still lurks and The Eye will do everything in his power to see that light extinguished. His weapon of choice: three saboteurs, aided by a convenient disturbance in the Force. Stellan Gios is currently in charge of Starlight Beacon. Will he prove worth of this mantle?

I haven't liked any of the adult novels in this series thus far, but I knew Claudia Gray wouldn't let me down - she and Timothy Zahn remain the best Star Wars authors on Disney's payroll. Jedi have been dropping like flies in these books and I just stopped caring. Gray actually made me give a damn. She kept the pacing perfect from page one, all while tightening the tension. And Gray proves that chaos doesn't mean the book containing it has to be chaotic - looking at you, Cavan Scott and Charles Soule.

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Wibbly Wobbly Timey Wimey Stuff

12/12/2021

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Aurora's End (The Aurora Cycle #3)
by Amie Kaufman & Jay Kristoff

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The squad has been split up and scattered, all of them trapped by time - or a lack thereof. The Ra'haam will soon bloom and burst and there's no stopping them once that happens. What the galaxy needs is a Weapon, but that's MIA. The only thing that most of the galaxy can do is pray. But for Squad 312, they'll have todo a lot more than that or everything is lost.

The conclusion we all deserve. This was a damn heavy book to hold, but it was worth getting the paperback over the ebook - all the better for some of the cool formatting. I really enjoyed this trilogy (after the somewhat clumsy start) and usually I don't have any patience for time shenanigans, but it was well done here. So the ultimate ending was a bit...underwhelming. Everything else was great, though. And I do love me some insta!love pairings. xD

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    About

    Alyce Caswell, when she isn't buried in a book or drinking her way through a giant pot of tea, is a keen writer of science fiction and romance. She has published two novels and four novellas in her space opera family saga, The Galactic Pantheon Series.

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  • Home
  • Books
    • The Galactic Pantheon >
      • The Tortured Wind
      • The Twisted Vine
      • The Flickering Flame
      • The Shifting Ice
      • The Whispering Grass
      • The Creeping Moss
      • The Galactic Pantheon Novellas
      • The Adventures of Grace Pendergast, Galactic Reporter
    • Dealing with the Demon >
      • Giveaway
    • Love and Lockdown
    • The Eyes of Charon
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