Category: YA - Alyce Caswell - Author

Alyce Caswell - Author

The Missing Developmental Edit

19/10/2023

The Last Love Song by Katie Holford

I received this ARC from Blackstone Publishing (via NetGalley) in exchange for an honest review.

Mia Peters grew up in the same town that her famous mother, the singer Tori Rose, was always trying to leave - in fact, Tori never returned from her final tour. Mia doesn't really know what her mother was like, but she's about to. Tori Rose has gifted her a scavenger hunt for graduation and Mia only has one week to solve it before her best friend and crush, Britt, also leaves her behind to chase the music.

If you can manage to suspend your disbelief enough - and it is very hard at times - this is a cute, if unremarkable, YA read. I really liked the premise and some of the characters were interesting, if underdeveloped. The major issue is that we're supposed to believe that in a small town certain characters never crossed paths with Mia. Or that she wasn't able to find out her mother's cause of death from anyone in town or online (trust me, you could find this stuff on the Internet in 2006 and many articles from that period are still searchable now). Had these issues been smoothed out, I might have really enjoyed The Last Love Song.

Expanded Universe Round-Up #22

17/10/2023

The Wrath of Darth Maul

I wasn't expecting much, but the first three quarters of this book were so easy to rip through and enjoy. Windham managed to tie together several different events in Maul's life. But then, alas, this become yet another retelling of The Phantom Menace. Good grief, don't we have enough of those already?

Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith
(comic adaptation)

After the last two adaptations, I was prepared for more confusing and rushed storytelling, but Lane is clearly much more proficient at writing comic scripts than Gilroy was. Sure, some things are cut and some scenes have even tweaked (and that's after you take the original screenplay into consideration) - but it's all done to make sure the story keeps flowing in this shorter medium. Bonus Quinlan Vos.

Visionaries

Parts of this collection are interesting and other parts are cool, but none of the stories (or art stills) really stood out for me.

Purge

This collection had a shaky start, but each story brought improvement until the series reached a solid conclusion. "The Hidden Blade" was my favourite of the lot.

Darth Vader and the Lost Command

A tad predictable, but a good read nonetheless. Creating sympathy for a monster is one of the usual angles that writers go for when using Darth Vader.

Darth Vader and the Ghost Prison

Whoa! That was awesome. Tohm was such a fascinating character with distinct motivations... I have rarely encountered such great work in this regard. This graphic novel has definitely become one of my favourites. It will make a fine addition to my Legends collection.

Darth Vader and the Ninth Assassin

A huge disappointment after the previous story. The plot was silly and there was a very weak attempt to tie it all together at the end.

Darth Vader and the Cry of Shadows

This was an interesting read, though by no means unique - there are plenty of tales about clones learning hard truths. And also, for a story with a title bearing Darth Vader's name, there is very little of Darth Vader within it.

Bronze Debut

9/9/2023

Silver Valley (Silver Valley #1)
by Arabella Rosier

Savannah Shaw moves to Silver Valley because of her father's work and is happy to see her best friend, Jasmine Spark, again. But there is something seriously strange going on and Jasmine has told her not go into the forest. But Savannah is drawn to the forest - and the boy she's seen lurking there. Soon the secrets of Silver Valley will be revealed.

This is a well-written debut that introduces believable teenage characters and it was intriguing enough to hold my attention for the first and second acts (after that...not so much). There's potential here, but a lot of it is unrealised. I imagine that the uneven pacing and plot issues will improve across the series, just as the author improves in her craft.

More Heir than Spare

2/7/2023

My Spare Heart by Jared Thomas

Phoebe doesn't want to go to a new school or move in permanently with her dad and his girlfriend - and she definitely doesn't want to do yoga! She just wants to play basketful like her heroes. While settling in isn't so bad, it does mean that she can't see her mum as often as she'd like...and it'd help if her mum actually showed up when she promised she would.

Jared Thomas has a gift for writing YA fiction that feels real, isn't unbelievable or OTT, and is accessible to teens who might not usually read as a hobby. For some adult readers, this means the prose isn't as elegant as in some other YA novels, but you're not the intended audience. Thomas grapples with some very difficult issues here, including having an alcoholic as a parent and dealing with micro-aggressions. This is a solid Australian story.

Expanded Universe Round-Up #13

16/6/2023

Jedi Quest series (Star Wars Legends)
by Jude Watson

#0 - Path to Truth

I've always found it odd that this book isn't the first official title in the Jedi Quest series and was seemingly published as a one-shot, but perhaps TPTB were testing the waters. They didn't need to be so cautious - Jude Watson always delivers. It might not carry #1 on the cover, but this instalment is incredibly strong and immediately highlights the differences between Obi-Wan's firm bond with Qui-Gon and his tenuous connection with Anakin. Bonus Siri Tachi!

#1 - The Way of the Apprentice

A solid instalment that could have been merely average, had Watson not isolated the four Padawans and revealed key aspects of their characters in how they interacted with each other. Admittedly, in order to properly enjoy this, I had to take a step back from my disappointment that Obi-Wan and Anakin don't have the same fantastic bond that existed between Obi-Wan and Qui-Gon in the earlier Jedi Apprentice series.

#2 - The Trail of the Jedi

This one is 40 pages shorter than the previous two instalments, but it's none the poorer for it. In fact, the plot and pacing benefit enormously from the shorter length; both are tight and on point. I'm also pleased to see an overarching plot being introduced (and one that isn't "oh look Anakin is travelling towards his destiny" - thank goodness).

#3 - The Dangerous Games

It says a lot about Watson's skill that she took the cringeworthy concept of Anakin meeting Sebulba again, before a Podracing event of all things, and managed to make it work. Didi and Astri also reappeared, which made this Jedi Apprentice fan very happy. I like the darker edge of this series - the endings consistently straddle the line between satisfactory and disheartening.

#4 - The Master of Disguise

This started quite strongly, with us readers thrown straight into the action on a world beset with civil war, but things went downhill during the Granta Omega investigation. That should have been exciting. Alas, no. Even the shorter length didn't ease my frustration with the storyline.

#5 - The School of Fear

Sadly not as strong as previous entries in the series, this instalment rehashes the frustrating Sano Sauro plot thread from the previous book (and it really wasn't needed, unless it was included to add pages to the overall length) and then forces Ferus and Anakin to interact in that tense way of theirs (which is beginning to feel repetitive).

#6 - The Shadow Trap

I thought this was going to be a run-of-the-mill story, but I was pleasantly surprised - although perhaps "pleasantly" is not the word I should use, since this book has quite a tragic climax. It's so impactful that I remember it all these years later. There's also a Big Reveal about the villain... which is equal parts cool and exasperating (I actually groaned out loud), even if you are a fan of the Jedi Apprentice series. Oddly enough, this last aspect of the book didn't imprint on my memories.

#7 - The Moment of Truth

Hmm. This wasn't bad but it was mostly forgettable - until the Big Reveal at the end. I have been enjoying the many and varied references to the Jedi Apprentice series throughout these books, but I feel this is one too far. It would be a lot more interesting if Obi-Wan and Anakin encountered recurring villains that are new threats, not throwbacks.

#8 - The Changing of the Guard

An excellent return to form and a fun adventure in one package. I am relieved to find that Ferus is no longer so annoying as a character - and I enjoyed Siri and Obi-Wan's interactions, which felt more natural than in some previous instalments of the series. Everything about this book was on point. Heck, I don't usually like cliffhangers and I was more excited than annoyed by this one!

#9 - The False Peace

Twisty, action-packed, perfectly paced and old friends in trouble - what more can a Jude Watson fan ask for? Oh, you also want some great setup for Obi-Wan and Anakin's partnership in Attack of the Clones? You got it! This series might've lost its way for a bit, but it looks like Watson will stick the landing. Onward to the last book!

#10 - The Final Showdown

Well, the title was partially right - one villain met their end and another escaped (again - sigh). I think Korriban was an excellent setting for this book, because dead Sith creepiness always adds a fun/scary element to a plot. And it's a great playground to foreshadow Anakin's destiny. The conclusion is shocking, but also a genius move... for setting up another series. I'll admit that I'm not 100% happy about it. I prefer fewer loose plot threads in a series' final instalment.

Expanded Universe Round-Up #10

31/5/2023

Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace
(comic adaptation)

An obviously rushed adaptation that excluded some things that should have been kept, while including other things that could have been dropped. I also found the clumsy (and at times completely missing) scene transitions quite jarring.

Star Wars Episode I: The Queen's Amulet

This is a very well-presented book, including an "amulet". But it's really quite pointless - and a missed opportunity, since it could have been a nice story about friendship.

Star Wars Episode I Journal: Anakin Skywalker

I own several books that are different versions of The Phantom Menace and this is just one of them. Wow, they sure crapped these things out! I actually like this one, because it really does read as though a 9-year-old boy wrote it. I was 10 when I first picked up this book. It was incredibly influential on my writing at the time. So while the story isn't original, I think it does have something to offer.

Star Wars Episode I Journal: Queen Amidala

So in the previous review I said that the Anakin journal was hugely influential on my writing at the time. Well, that had nothing on this! Jude Watson is my favourite of the YA Legends authors and she was certainly in fine form here. I feel like she really understood Padmé. Or perhaps I just prefer her characterisation of Padme over everyone else's! Journal books can be hit and miss... this one was a massive hit for me when I was a kid. It's still a hit for me now, to be honest.

Star Wars Episode I Journal: Darth Maul

I did not enjoy this "journal" as much. It doesn't read like an actual journal, though it does still have the Jude Watson shine. Additional scenes aren't just there to add pages - they actually add to Maul's characterisation. I will also admit to being disappointed that the pages are normal paper, not the pretty ones seen in the previous journals.

Expanded Universe Round-Up #9

7/4/2023

The Followers (JA Special Edition #2)

Though not an amazing book, I much prefer this as an ending to the Jedi Apprentice series than The Threat Within. The first half is strong and benefits from the familiar rhythm of Obi-Wan and Qui-Gon working together as a team, but the second half is weaker and it feels as though Watson doesn't have the same grasp of Anakin's character that she does with the other Jedi.

But I was intrigued by the mystery and I didn't even mind that there were loose plot threads left at the end (because I know that one such thread is probably named Sidious lol). An okay finale to a series I love very much, even after two decades and that troublesome adulthood thing.

Legacy of the Jedi/Secrets of the Jedi

I consider both books presented here as part of the Jedi Apprentice series and I'm always happy to continue that journey, just that little bit longer. Watson manages to keep consistent storylines going through the eras she jumps into, each part showing us something about a different character. However, while the juvenile writing style works for the characters when they're younger, it's really jarring once the characters grow older. It just...feels off. Especially in the interactions between Anakin and Padmé.

But I would never skip these two books in my reread of my admittedly vast Legacy canon collection. For Siri Tachi fans, this is essential reading. I think it's obvious that I'm one of them!

The bonus story at the end is a good read, but it's nothing special.

Rise of the Sith (Dark Horse Omnibus)

Reading these comics has reminded me just how crowded the storytelling timeline around The Phantom Menace was in that era. Not all of the stories contained in this omnibus are good, but most of them are entertaining - and it was fun watching Darth Maul ferociously cut Black Sun down to size. The Ki-Adi-Mundi stories... are awful. It felt like the writer had a story they'd always wanted to tell and forced it to fit (if somewhat clumsily) into the Star Wars universe.

Expanded Universe Round-Up #6

7/4/2023

The Dark Rival (Jedi Apprentice #2)

This is the first Jedi Apprentice novel I ever read, so it has a special place in my heart. But the pacing suffers somewhat from it essentially being a part 2 of an unfinished story, rather than a self-contained book 2. I will assume this was due to the change in authors. Other books in this series flow into each other more naturally. I still find Xanatos to be an intriguing villain and have always enjoyed the fact that he stuck around for a bit, instead of being a one-off guest character.

The Hidden Past (Jedi Apprentice #3)

My undisputed favourite of the series when I was a kid. I think I can see why. The story managed to evoke so many different emotions within me and was at times incredibly tense. It also dropped a few hints for the next book, which I like. And who doesn't love a good old insurgency? Liberating a planet always makes for a thrilling read (ahem, perhaps I've gone that route myself as a writer...). The dubious mention of Obi-Wan having a brother called Owen is of note.

Lastly, I was amused to find the T-shirt transfer paper still in the middle of my copy, though I know I spent years trying to decide if I should use it. I'm glad I didn't!
(PS: my ancient JA bookmark was once again used - it features the cover of this very book)

The Mark of the Crown (Jedi Apprentice #4)

Palace intrigue, legacies, a poisoned queen, a secret heir and democracy on the horizon - what's not to love about this 4th book in the JA series? Certainly one of the strongest instalments. Obi-Wan gets to wield a sword and that's pretty cool.

Perhaps I'm also biased in that my favourite bookmark was taken from the middle of these very pages (one bookmark disappeared but I still have one, reinforced by sticky tape and extra cardboard). And perhaps I bought a second copy off eBay - to ensure that I always have spare bookmarks!

The Defenders of the Dead (Jedi Apprentice #5)

Back in the year 2000, it was quite difficult for a kid to find sequential books in a series at the shops. So for a long, unbearable year, I could not read books #5 or #6 of the Jedi Apprentice series. I had enjoyed the conclusion in the two books after them, but the Melida/Daan mission was a mystery to me. How could Obi-Wan possibly leave the Jedi and join some other cause? It made no sense!

Well, it still makes no sense. Don't get me wrong - this is a good book and it explores both physical and emotional conflicts. But Obi-Wan's decision feels completely out of character, even though Watson did her best to build up to it.

Interestingly, Melida/Daan was mentioned in a recent High Republic novel, returning the planet to canon status once more.

The Uncertain Path (Jedi Apprentice #6)

While I don't agree with the method used to divide Obi-Wan and Qui-Gon in the previous book, it's great to see how they tackle challenges without each other - even if it's only for a little while. Tahl... oh Tahl. I loved her so much and still do. She didn't get much to do in the previous book, but here she really shines and instantly becomes a favourite.

The mystery of what's going on in the Temple is intriguing - and then the book ends on a startling cliffhanger, which definitely WON'T tempt me to keep reading the JA series past my bedtime. Nope! I will resist the Dark Side of the Force!

Expanded Universe Round-up #5

7/4/2023

The Dark Side (Jedi Vol 1)

A prequel to the Jedi Apprentice series that ended 10 years before this TPB hit shelves. The timing was strange, perhaps to entice readers who had since grown up. I was one of those and like any JA fan I was excited to finally see the fall of Xanatos. That excitement was short-lived. The story is a mess and the art is even messier... and it's clear the writer failed to understand why Xanatos was so intriguing as a villain.

How odd that a comic series aimed at adults lacks the maturity and character development of the YA books it drew inspiration from. This was obviously intended to continue with some sort of "Qui-Gon on a quest" arc, but I'm grateful to Disney for stopping it in its tracks.

Jedi Apprentice (1999-2002)

Back in 1999, I would venture into the "Teen" section at Borders (few stores had such a clear distinction between kids books and older books - YA as a label did exist, but didn't seem to be widely used) and imagine my delight when I discovered the Jedi Apprentice series. Thanks to these books, I feel like I grew up with Obi-Wan. I will always love them. And I will always remember how shocking it was back then, to discover that Obi-Wan's future as a Jedi was in jeopardy

The Rising Force (Jedi Apprentice #1)

This was the second JA book I ever read, having got my hands on book #2 first. Someone gave me another copy for my birthday and Mum, having kept the receipt, duly went and exchanged it for me. I remember the anxious wait in the car. And then she returned - with book #1! It was worth the wait. I enjoyed re-reading it today, all these years later, because though Wolverton didn't write the whole series, he did a damn good job of introducing it to us all.

Even now, I am impressed at how perfectly paced this book is, and how well the characters and their motivations are introduced, despite its length. That ending in the afterword is simply brilliant. Sure, I would have preferred it to be longer...but the days of meatier YA tales were still to come.

This remains one of my favourite books.

(PS: Yes, I did use my ancient cardboard JA bookmark while reading it...)

Seriously Good Sequel

27/9/2022

Bravely (Disney)
by Maggie Stiefvater

There are two types of people - those whom magic seeks and those who seek magic. Merida is definitely the former. After a curious knock on the door on Christmas Eve, she encounters the god of ruin and realises that DunBroch is in danger of falling to his powers. Luckily, Merida is granted some time - a year - to prove that her family can change. But if she fails...all will be lost.

Okay, I did not expect this to be one of my favourite reads of the year. I was sure I would have to force myself through some lacklustre Disney release, but this was really quite special. Very well written, the triplets are given separate identities, Merida continues to grow, the world is expanded but retains the magic and feel of the film...I think I actually prefer the book to its progenitor. Gasp! This is mostly because the trailers of the day promised adventure and the movie did not deliver, which left me feeling very disappointed in the cinema.

At last, I've had a true adventure with Merida. I loved every minute of it.