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jarichan's review against another edition
4.0
Eine wirklich gelungene Fortsetzung, die nicht in das "Zweiter Teil einer Trilogie"-Loch fällt. Die Figuren werden stark weiterentwickelt, Vergangenheiten aufgedeckt und Beziehungen verändern sich. Die Kämpfe selbst interessierten mich hier tatsächlich weniger, ich war voll auf die Figuren fokussiert. Von denen lebt diese Trilogie nämlich.
chelshopkins's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
4.0
gingerreader99's review against another edition
5.0
I'm giving it 5 stars, and sure maybe I'm just a Starfighter pilot fanboy that inhales stories surrounding them. It's true. HOWEVER, Freed does more than just deliver a typical Starfighter pew pew battle. This is deep if you ask me. It explores themes of Post Traumatic Stress with essentially the entire cast of characters. Having them painfully examine their past experiences, how its shaped them at that moment , what they will do and how they have grown beyond (in most cases) that past. I don't expect everyone to grasp the level of depth but it's there to those who can see it.
As with Twilight Company Freed delivers a story that humanized the soldiers we often see in the background of large scale battles. Giving faces, names, histories, to the people we take for granted getting blown up in the snow of Hoth or the streets of Troithe. The same can be said for the Empires characters. This is how his writing resonates with me. It's Star Wars but it's so much more than that.
As with Twilight Company Freed delivers a story that humanized the soldiers we often see in the background of large scale battles. Giving faces, names, histories, to the people we take for granted getting blown up in the snow of Hoth or the streets of Troithe. The same can be said for the Empires characters. This is how his writing resonates with me. It's Star Wars but it's so much more than that.
galax003's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
reflective
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? Yes
4.0
cptrexct's review
adventurous
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.25
Not satisfying
toledoray7's review against another edition
2.0
I hate to give this 2 stars but by Goodreads suggestion, this book was just "ok".
I think the fundamental problem I have with this book is that I care little about the characters. Outside of Nath and maybe Quell I am not interested in any of the other characters. Chass is extremely unlikable and while Freed is trying to have a character arc for her I am not seeing much development or any redeeming qualities. Wyl is much the same way. His character arc is to become less sympathetic? Kairos was the most intriguing character in the first book and Freed decides to pretty much write her out of this one for the most part. I couldn't believe it. Quell is fine but I am getting tired with her character's relentless guilt. I am happy where she ended up at the end of this novel as that is probably the most interesting development that could have happened to her.
I thought Freed's writing style was not great here, especially in the combat scenes. Maybe it was just me but I often couldn't visualize in my head what he was describing so I just pushed through and accepted that only the outcome of the battle scenes really mattered. I felt like there was a few gaps in the plot that were maybe lost in editing or perhaps I just didn't comprehend certain plot developments.
Overall I am disappointed that this book wasn't more interesting however for all of its faults, Shadow Fall ended in a way that gives the story a lot of potential to have a satisfying conclusion.
I think the fundamental problem I have with this book is that I care little about the characters. Outside of Nath and maybe Quell I am not interested in any of the other characters. Chass is extremely unlikable and while Freed is trying to have a character arc for her I am not seeing much development or any redeeming qualities. Wyl is much the same way. His character arc is to become less sympathetic? Kairos was the most intriguing character in the first book and Freed decides to pretty much write her out of this one for the most part. I couldn't believe it. Quell is fine but I am getting tired with her character's relentless guilt. I am happy where she ended up at the end of this novel as that is probably the most interesting development that could have happened to her.
I thought Freed's writing style was not great here, especially in the combat scenes. Maybe it was just me but I often couldn't visualize in my head what he was describing so I just pushed through and accepted that only the outcome of the battle scenes really mattered. I felt like there was a few gaps in the plot that were maybe lost in editing or perhaps I just didn't comprehend certain plot developments.
Overall I am disappointed that this book wasn't more interesting however for all of its faults, Shadow Fall ended in a way that gives the story a lot of potential to have a satisfying conclusion.
braddington's review against another edition
5.0
In typical Star Wars fashion, "Shadow Fall" fits right into the darker-middle-chapter mold that so often splits up our heroes, sends them on a journey of self-discovery, and leaves the audience questioning whatever shocking change in the status quo our heroes endure by the end. Right when we think Alphabet Squad has formed some sense of cohesion in Shadow's predecessor, Freed takes the trilogy in a new direction and executes it flawlessly.
Shadow Fall isn't a book about war, which could turn away apprehensive readers, but rather a story about relationships between unlikely allies and longtime foes in the context of war. This is what sets the novel, and its trilogy, apart from many other Star Wars books I've read. I've come to understand and care for these characters just as I would for any of our heroes on the big screen. Everything in Freed's post-ROTJ galaxy is described with such great sense of detail and delicacy that make you want to live in this universe (as long as you have a trusty pilot by your side). At the same time, everything Shadow Fall stands for aligns with and adds to the repertoire of what Star Wars can be.
The book begs one core question: what happens when we dwell on our mistakes rather than search for a way to move forward and grow beyond our misgivings? To some extent, the entirety of Alphabet Squadron faces this central question to varying degrees, and it's a question that is aligned with redemption and atonement, two concepts which are the lifeblood of the franchise. Shadow Fall challenges us to look at our own choices, as they relate to the characters, to ensure we don't venture down those same dangerous paths.
Aside from a more meta-level perspective, Shadow Fall is chock-full of exciting moments that will make you throw out your arm from fist-pumping the air or make you question your understanding of the Cosmic Force. It's also not lacking in its moments of sadness and despair, realities of war that Freed has not shied away from throughout his Star Wars work. If you're looking for the next best trilogy since Chuck Wendig's "Aftermath" series, Shadow Fall has proven that Freed's "Alphabet" story is the one.
The wait until 2021 for the final book in this series won't be easy, but, knowing there will be an inevitable goodbye to this cast of characters, I'm willing to ride out the wait as long as I can.
Shadow Fall isn't a book about war, which could turn away apprehensive readers, but rather a story about relationships between unlikely allies and longtime foes in the context of war. This is what sets the novel, and its trilogy, apart from many other Star Wars books I've read. I've come to understand and care for these characters just as I would for any of our heroes on the big screen. Everything in Freed's post-ROTJ galaxy is described with such great sense of detail and delicacy that make you want to live in this universe (as long as you have a trusty pilot by your side). At the same time, everything Shadow Fall stands for aligns with and adds to the repertoire of what Star Wars can be.
The book begs one core question: what happens when we dwell on our mistakes rather than search for a way to move forward and grow beyond our misgivings? To some extent, the entirety of Alphabet Squadron faces this central question to varying degrees, and it's a question that is aligned with redemption and atonement, two concepts which are the lifeblood of the franchise. Shadow Fall challenges us to look at our own choices, as they relate to the characters, to ensure we don't venture down those same dangerous paths.
Aside from a more meta-level perspective, Shadow Fall is chock-full of exciting moments that will make you throw out your arm from fist-pumping the air or make you question your understanding of the Cosmic Force. It's also not lacking in its moments of sadness and despair, realities of war that Freed has not shied away from throughout his Star Wars work. If you're looking for the next best trilogy since Chuck Wendig's "Aftermath" series, Shadow Fall has proven that Freed's "Alphabet" story is the one.
The wait until 2021 for the final book in this series won't be easy, but, knowing there will be an inevitable goodbye to this cast of characters, I'm willing to ride out the wait as long as I can.
wheelerdavid44's review against another edition
4.0
Good second installment in the series, but not as good as the first. This is not the “standard” opinion of this book. Many people liked it better than the first book. The story was fine, and there were definitely some good scenes. However, there were a few sections that seemed to drag on for me. Overall, a good book, and I look forward to finishing the series with the third and final installment.
emsemce123's review against another edition
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
No. Again, another Alphabet Squadron book I was disappointed in. Damn my completionist curse! I don't know what it is but I can't get into Freed's writing style. It's not bad, tons of characters with their own stories and motivations and yet I can't get excited for it. The squadron battles are good and well-written but because I'm not interested in the story or even find the characters very likeable I can't get too invested in anything, feels like there's no stakes. Also I wish certain things were elaborated on better (mild-spoiler) the majority if this book takes place on the planet Troithe and it's planetoid Catadras (I think that's what it was called) and they both circle a black hole? Or just the planetoid does? I don't even know but I remember thinking, alright,now there's stakes for everyone involved but it never gets brought back up again ultimately climaxing in...yeah, more starfighter battles, which yeah its cool, but I was kind of excited for the black hole that was mentioned once and never brought back up again making me wonder if I'd imagined it and spacing out thinking about how much cooler being stranded on a planet about to be sucked into a black hole and having to find a way off while a war rages on in which neither side really knows about it. That's interesting. Why did Keize switch sides? Why did Yrica switch back sides? Why did she choose to join the empire to learn how to fly to defect at the first chance to join the rebellion only to become too emotionally attached to her unit to leave them, to be given an out by Keize (in which he also defected back to the Empire because...?) To try to prove herself to the New Republic, but after her secret is found out she jumps ship right back to the Empire. Did you learn nothing?!? Pick a side or at least have a compelling reason to switch, just feels like lazy writing. Not saying a story like this couldn't work, but it doesn't for me with how it's written.
soggyblanket's review against another edition
4.0
Enjoying this series more than any Star Wars in awhile. Highly recommend.