Book Review: 'Kindred Spirits' by Christie Golden

A quick read that is set not long before the events of 'Dark Disciple', also written by Christie Golden ('Kindred Spirits' is billed as a prequel and is also included in the paperback edition of 'Dark Disciple').

The story follows Asajj Ventress, former Sith apprentice turned bounty hunter, and pirate captain Lassa Rhayme. Rhayme and her crew had planned to steal the cargo from the ship, the Steady On, but instead of finding the ship, she finds damaged fighters floating in space and only one survivor; an injured Ventress and her damaged ship, the Banshee. Rhayme brings Ventress and her ship aboard the Opportunity, of which she's captain, and after her injuries heal and her ship repaired, Ventress teams up with Rhayme to track down the missing Steady On, which is now in the hands of the disreputable Honda Ohnaka, and then chaos ensues!

It's a good read, fast paced, energetic and an exciting pirate adventure. I also liked the two leads, Ventress is bad ass, as always, and you can never go wrong with a kick ass pirate captain either, even though the story is unfortunately very brief, and by the end, you're left wanting more. As I like tales of swashbuckling and derring do, I would definitely read more stories like this, especially more escapades from Lassa Rhayme and her crew.

'Kindred Spirits' was originally published in 'Star Wars Insider' issue #159 with original illustrations by Magali Villeneuve.

Book Review: 'Star Wars Battlefront II: Inferno Squad' by Christie Golden

Tie in novel for the upcoming video game 'Star Wars: Battlefront II', with the POV of the Empire and specifically the newly created Inferno Squad - Iden Versio, Gideon Hask, Del Meeko and Seyn Marana.

Christie Golden begins the novel during the Battle of Yavin, from 'A New Hope', with Versio piloting a TIE Fighter. I liked this new perspective of the battle, as we usually only see the battle from the viewpoint of the rebels, but was good to read it from the other side for a change, and from a TIE pilot involved in the skirmishes as well.

If you're a 'Star Wars' fan, then you know the outcome of that battle, but fate transpires that Iden Versio is far enough away from the eventual explosion to survive.

But survives she does and she makes her way back to Empire space and is recruited, along with three others at the top of their respective fields, by her father Admiral Garrick Versio, and Inferno Squad is born.

It's not long until the activities of the Dreamers, a Rebel splinter group of Saw Gerrera's partisans, gets the attention of the Inferno Squad, and they're sent in to infiltrate the group to bring them down.

I'd enjoyed the previous Battlefront tie in, written by Alexander Freed, which was a series of battles, not surprising since it was a tie in for a First Person Shooter game. This time around, there's actually more of a story, and a decent one at that, as we're treated to a glimpse of life on both sides of the Galactic Civil War.

Although Iden is the main protagonist, we get to see each of the other members of the Inferno Squad also fleshed out with their personalities and back stories, showing that, much like the YA 'Star Wars' novel 'Lost Stars', not everyone that is part of the Empire is evil, but just happens to born onto the 'other side' of the war. Makes one wonder what Leia Organa would've been like if she was surrounded by people that had sympathies for the Empire instead of for the Rebellion.

There's a few hints and Easter eggs for the more ardent 'Star Wars' fans within the novel, but not so much that will detract from the casual fans. If you've previously read the 'Rogue One' novelization and the Jyn Erso focused 'Rebel Rising', then you may pick up on some of the events hinted at in this book.

As the game that the book is a tie in for has a story campaign (unlike the first game) focusing on Iden Versio, reading 'Inferno Squad' will expand her back story so that you may end up more emotionally invested in the character, especially as she's on the 'other side' of the war.

Overall, it's a good fast paced read, with characters that grow on you, despite their backgrounds, as the story progresses, and that have to react to the tough situations and consequences that are presented before them. Another decent edition to the new Star Wars canon of stories.

****/5

Book Review: 'Star Wars: Dark Disciple' by Christie Golden

Superb! 'Dark Disciple' by Christie Golden, is a great story, based on the unproduced scripts of The Clone Wars, that were originally written before the show was cancelled.

The Jedi have taken the unprecedented step of ordering the assassination of the elusive Count Dooku and have charged Quinlan Vos, a maverick Jedi Master, with the task. Adding further to the difficulty of the job, he has to track down Dooku's former apprentice, Asajj Ventress, and gain her trust so they can take down Dooku together.

But as the mission progresses, he gains more than her trust as the two fall for each other, the Light and the Dark sides of the Force in an unlikely romance. This also leads Vos down a dangerous path, both for himself and his friends, whilst for Ventress, this leads her to a path of redemption. In effect reversing what we already know of their characteristics.

I enjoyed seeing the usually tough as nails and unshakeable Ventress, as she finds the love and peace that has been missing in her life, adding some light to the darkness. I also liked Kenobi in this story too, as he is concerned that the effect of becoming too close to the Dark Side will have dire consequences for his friend Vos.

'Dark Disciple' feels very much like a YA novel, with a romance between two of the most unlikely protagonists. But it's not all lovey-dovey, it wouldn't be Star Wars without the clash of lightsabers, and we get plenty of those, plus decent action sequences, and the intrigue of whether or not the mission will be completed.

A listened to the audiobook, narrated by Marc Thompson, and wow, I was blown away by the recording. Not just a simple narration, his acting of the characters, giving each a distinct personality, along with some of the vivid descriptions he gave to scenes, really brought the story to life. Adding in the sound effects and music, it really felt like 'Star Wars'.

Definitely a worthy addition to the new 'Star Wars' expanded universe!

****/5

Cool Art: 'Star Wars: Dark Disciple' Cover Art by Matt Taylor

'Star Wars: Dark Disciple' cover art by Matt Taylor

Based on a series of scripts originally written for the unaired seventh season of 'Star Wars: The Clone Wars' and starring ex-Sith bounty hunter, Asajj Ventress, and the Jedi Quinlan Vos, this new Star Wars tale of love and loss, betrayal and redemption is being produced in creative collaboration with the Lucasfilm Story Group and Dave Filoni, supervising director of The Clone Wars and executive producer of Star Wars Rebels.

'Star Wars: Dark Disciple' hits the shelves on July 7, 2015.
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