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3.69 AVERAGE
3.69 AVERAGE
adventurous
lighthearted
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I surprised by the slew of one star reviews on this book. I have read plenty of bad Star Wars novels, and frankly I am surprised to see how poorly this book was received. I admit when i first heard that Disney and LucasFilm were ejecting the EU I was disappointed as someone who spent many hours of my life reading books in the EU. Creatively I understand why they are doing it. I enjoyed the first book of the aftermath Trilogy and was blown away by the Claudia Grey novel Bloodline.
As for Life Debt, I enjoyed the ride and more than anything this felt like a trip in the Star Wars universe. Wendig has done a cool thing with the structure of these books. Telling the story of of a Galaxy spanning collapse of empire is hard thing to do. He has effectively captured this by spreading out around the galaxy in interlude that become like unconnected short stories. It a neat bit of foreshadowing the plot of the second book was hinted at in a interlude in the first book.
It was clear to me that Wendig would focus the second book the liberation of the Wookie homeworld Kashyyyk. I admit I was a little worried with Han and the Falcon which graces the cover had not appeared by the page 100 mark. That not totally bad to me since I really like the characters Wendig has created. Norra Wexley is an excellent character, I enjoyed both her and her son. The idea of her team which includes ex-imperial loyalty officer, a bounty hunter and battle droid hunting escaped Imperials was cool enough to me to carry novels on their own.
the story centers around this team who Leia hires to find a lost Han Solo who left to find a captured Chewbacca. The treachery inside the empire, the fumbles of the new republic help to make sense of the events we saw in episode 7. Those events drives the plot which I feel was well organized with perfect three tiered Star Wars action at the end.
If there was a weakness to the novel for me were several of it's elements deserved to be expanded into their own books. Like the team hunting War criminals the resistance on the Wookie homeworld could easily have carried a whole novel. It felt like those cool elements were brushed over.
I have seen a few reviewes that complained about Wendig's writing. Yes he has a few moments that took me out of the story when a character would fall to the "Earth," or non-Star wars elements. Those are nitpicks I care far more that the story felt grounded in the universe by way of character. I am excited for the third book.
As for Life Debt, I enjoyed the ride and more than anything this felt like a trip in the Star Wars universe. Wendig has done a cool thing with the structure of these books. Telling the story of of a Galaxy spanning collapse of empire is hard thing to do. He has effectively captured this by spreading out around the galaxy in interlude that become like unconnected short stories. It a neat bit of foreshadowing the plot of the second book was hinted at in a interlude in the first book.
It was clear to me that Wendig would focus the second book the liberation of the Wookie homeworld Kashyyyk. I admit I was a little worried with Han and the Falcon which graces the cover had not appeared by the page 100 mark. That not totally bad to me since I really like the characters Wendig has created. Norra Wexley is an excellent character, I enjoyed both her and her son. The idea of her team which includes ex-imperial loyalty officer, a bounty hunter and battle droid hunting escaped Imperials was cool enough to me to carry novels on their own.
the story centers around this team who Leia hires to find a lost Han Solo who left to find a captured Chewbacca. The treachery inside the empire, the fumbles of the new republic help to make sense of the events we saw in episode 7. Those events drives the plot which I feel was well organized with perfect three tiered Star Wars action at the end.
If there was a weakness to the novel for me were several of it's elements deserved to be expanded into their own books. Like the team hunting War criminals the resistance on the Wookie homeworld could easily have carried a whole novel. It felt like those cool elements were brushed over.
I have seen a few reviewes that complained about Wendig's writing. Yes he has a few moments that took me out of the story when a character would fall to the "Earth," or non-Star wars elements. Those are nitpicks I care far more that the story felt grounded in the universe by way of character. I am excited for the third book.
adventurous
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Really fun book in terms of characters & worldbuilding post-rotj but the writing style holds it back a bit.
adventurous
emotional
funny
lighthearted
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Aftermath Life Debt:
The second book of the Aftermath trilogy suffers, like part 1, from one big problem: Chuck Wendig. Not only does the man keep coming up with very strange statements, but he also has absurdly stupid ideas and doesn't even manage to write good. As in the first part, there were a few things I liked: but none of that was the main plot. Norra and co. are still more or less insignificant to me. Sinjir is still cool. Wendig's constant unfunny jokes and dialogue just completely take down this part of the plot. On top of that, a storyline is stolen 1:1 from the X-Wing books. Yes, the plot and the idea is cool, but it was written by Michael Stackpole and not Chuck Wendig. The Empire stuff was cool again though and we get a lot of lore. Especially the ISB controlled Coruscant as well as the ISB headquarters (which fits very well with the depiction in Andor) was cool. Also Gallius Rax is a very interesting villain, even if he feels more like a very horny Thrawn than a character of his own - although that slowly changes at the end of the book. The interludes were rather boring for the most part this time....
The book is a lot better than the previous one though, it benefits from the fact that galaxy wide things are happening now and not just Akiva. It's also good that we have OT characters like Han and Leia. As I said, large parts of the plot are stolen from X-Wing, otherwise the liberation of Kashyyyk is depicted, which is quite enjoyable in itself. It's a shame, of course, that things like Crimson Dawn etc. didn't exist in 2016, that could have been included here, but at least criminal cartels are mentioned, one of which could be CD. Also, some seeds for the sequels are planted here - Snap (Temmin) Wexley learning to fly, the New Republic stupidly disarming in a war, and more.
Here are a few highlights of what I liked and what I didn't:
+ An Imperial scientist working on a virus - Cool. I want to see more of that!
+ Ken Palpatine is indirectly mentioned. Nice
+ Coruscant was cool
+ Yularen really did die aboard the Death Star. Rip :c
+ Origin of the name Snap Wexley
+ The ISB has its own ships
+ The Eclipse and other references to the EU e.g. captured superstar destroyer over Kuat
+ Rancit from the Tarkin novel is mentioned. As is his demise, at the hands of Vader.
+ The Hutts don't seem to come back to Tatooine. Picked up in Tbobf.
+ The Starhawks
+ Palpatine only ever showed up when he was in control of the situation - Like in TBB.
- Very strange double crossing at the beginning, which is actually a triple crossing. Wow, that's so cool! /j
- Mr Bones is really just annoying in this novel. I liked him in book 1.
- Why don't they just call it Wraith Squadron? Phantom sounds like a cheap copy...
- Sloane's "plan" to get to Coruscant is stupid to the max.
- How does an ISB droid know Sloane has been promoted when Fleet and ISB are rivals?
- Stolen plot from X-Wing with Norra and her husband, as well as Norra's relationship with Wedge.
- The Starhawks - New ships but they are not described at all how they look like. Great.
- Super modern new droids because the empire is gone now - it's not even a year after Endor....
- Deus Ex Mr Bones
- Sloane is a grand admiral, so why is she wearing a grey uniform on Chandrila???
- Star Destroyers come out in the atmosphere of Jakkus. Out of hyperspace.....
- Palpatine's introduction to Rax sounds so cringe. "Hello, my name is Sheev"
Like I said better than part 1, but still not really good. Wendig was the wrong choice to write such an important trilogy that significantly shapes the canon post Endor.
The second book of the Aftermath trilogy suffers, like part 1, from one big problem: Chuck Wendig. Not only does the man keep coming up with very strange statements, but he also has absurdly stupid ideas and doesn't even manage to write good. As in the first part, there were a few things I liked: but none of that was the main plot. Norra and co. are still more or less insignificant to me. Sinjir is still cool. Wendig's constant unfunny jokes and dialogue just completely take down this part of the plot. On top of that, a storyline is stolen 1:1 from the X-Wing books. Yes, the plot and the idea is cool, but it was written by Michael Stackpole and not Chuck Wendig. The Empire stuff was cool again though and we get a lot of lore. Especially the ISB controlled Coruscant as well as the ISB headquarters (which fits very well with the depiction in Andor) was cool. Also Gallius Rax is a very interesting villain, even if he feels more like a very horny Thrawn than a character of his own - although that slowly changes at the end of the book. The interludes were rather boring for the most part this time....
The book is a lot better than the previous one though, it benefits from the fact that galaxy wide things are happening now and not just Akiva. It's also good that we have OT characters like Han and Leia. As I said, large parts of the plot are stolen from X-Wing, otherwise the liberation of Kashyyyk is depicted, which is quite enjoyable in itself. It's a shame, of course, that things like Crimson Dawn etc. didn't exist in 2016, that could have been included here, but at least criminal cartels are mentioned, one of which could be CD. Also, some seeds for the sequels are planted here - Snap (Temmin) Wexley learning to fly, the New Republic stupidly disarming in a war, and more.
Here are a few highlights of what I liked and what I didn't:
+ An Imperial scientist working on a virus - Cool. I want to see more of that!
+ Ken Palpatine is indirectly mentioned. Nice
+ Coruscant was cool
+ Yularen really did die aboard the Death Star. Rip :c
+ Origin of the name Snap Wexley
+ The ISB has its own ships
+ The Eclipse and other references to the EU e.g. captured superstar destroyer over Kuat
+ Rancit from the Tarkin novel is mentioned. As is his demise, at the hands of Vader.
+ The Hutts don't seem to come back to Tatooine. Picked up in Tbobf.
+ The Starhawks
+ Palpatine only ever showed up when he was in control of the situation - Like in TBB.
- Very strange double crossing at the beginning, which is actually a triple crossing. Wow, that's so cool! /j
- Mr Bones is really just annoying in this novel. I liked him in book 1.
- Why don't they just call it Wraith Squadron? Phantom sounds like a cheap copy...
- Sloane's "plan" to get to Coruscant is stupid to the max.
- How does an ISB droid know Sloane has been promoted when Fleet and ISB are rivals?
- Stolen plot from X-Wing with Norra and her husband, as well as Norra's relationship with Wedge.
- The Starhawks - New ships but they are not described at all how they look like. Great.
- Super modern new droids because the empire is gone now - it's not even a year after Endor....
- Deus Ex Mr Bones
- Sloane is a grand admiral, so why is she wearing a grey uniform on Chandrila???
- Star Destroyers come out in the atmosphere of Jakkus. Out of hyperspace.....
- Palpatine's introduction to Rax sounds so cringe. "Hello, my name is Sheev"
Like I said better than part 1, but still not really good. Wendig was the wrong choice to write such an important trilogy that significantly shapes the canon post Endor.
medium-paced
This book started off really bad, and I almost put it down a couple of times. It did get better though. But still if you aren't interested in the knowing every detail of the new Star Wars galaxy you could probably skip this series and not miss much
adventurous
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
An essential book for fans interested in the post-Disney Star Wars Universe. After a couple of misfires, this is where we finally start to see the plot lines of Episiodes IV-VI connecting to The Force Awakens and beyond. Earlier novels in the new Expanded Universe, including Wendig's own first volume in this trilogy, had been hampered by restrictions in how far they could go in developing the story before Episode VII was released. Now, after the film's release, Disney and Lucasfilm have started actually filling in the blanks. The first to come out was Claudia Gray's "Bloodline", a misfire with unconvincing plot developments and motivations, and disposable new characters. Now Wendig comes along with a plot that convincingly describes the post-Death Star II status quo, includes events that actually matter to the main characters (Leia, Han, Chewie), and in the end drops a few important hints about episodes VII-IX.