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A review by braddington
Shadow Fall by Alexander Freed
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.