Book Reviews

The Force Awakens (Star Wars Novelizations #7) By: Alan Dean Foster

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The Force Awakens (Star Wars Novelizations #7) By: Alan Dean Foster

Plot:

Set years after Return of the Jedi, this stunning action-packed adventure rockets us back into the world of Princess Leia, Han Solo, Chewbacca, C-3PO, R2-D2,and Luke Skywalker, while introducing a host of exciting new characters, including Rey, Finn, BB-8 and Kylo Ren.
Darth Vader may have been redeemed and the Emperor vanquished, but peace can be fleeting, and evil does not easily relent. Yet the simple belief in good can still empower ordinary individuals to rise and meet the greatest challenges.
So return to that galaxy far, far away, and prepare yourself for what happens when the Force awakens…

Review:

I’ve had this for a while but for whatever reason never got around to reading it. After watching Rogue One I’ve been filled with an extreme desire for anything Star Wars so I finally picked this up.

First off it was a lot easier to read than Life Debt, it did jump around from character point of views a few times without a clear indicator, but it wasn’t in first person so I fell into it a lot faster. There were several scenes that I thought were better than the movie, though a few the movie did better as well.

I really enjoyed seeing inside the characters heads and I got a better sense of their character and motivations than just from watching the movie. I really like Rey better than before after reading this. Some of the info about Finn contradicted what was already told in Before the Awakening. He wasn’t as adept at weapons as he came off in that book. I got to see more about Ren as well, though I still don’t think he’s a very scary villain, especially after that scene with Vader in Rogue One.

I thought the novelization was a good read, definitely if you liked the movie, but I’m concerned if what I learned will transfer forward. That doesn’t appear to always be the case, but Disney could want things to be more cohesive so we’ll see.

4/5

2016 Favorites

Movies

Wow, so I did not see many new movies this year. I re-watched a lot of old stuff and caught up on some 2015 stuff. Overall, though, apart from the re-watches of favorites, I didn’t like many movies this year.

Star Wars: The Force Awakens– I liked the new characters a lot, but was disappointed by the story so I’m not sure if I would call it a favorite. It was nice to see a new Star Wars, though.

Deadpool– I didn’t write a blog for this movie, at least I don’t think I did. I went through a period there where sitting in front of a computer screen made me physically ill so there were a few movies and books I missed. Joys of pregnancy. Anyway, I really liked Deadpool and was lucky enough to pick it up Black Friday and re-watch. So I guess that’s a favorite for this year.

The Big Short– Really liked this movie, even though it made me mad. Enough that I read the book, then read more by the author, and then purchased the movie even though it was on Netflix at the time.

Star Wars: Rogue One–This might be my favorite movie of the year, I need to watch it a few more times to decide exactly how much I loved it though.

Books

Book wise I also did a lot of re-reading but I was lucky enough to read several books I loved that were new to me.

Lois Lane: Double Down– This series has become such a surprise favorite of mine. Once again I gave this book as a Christmas present and I’m excited for the next to come out. I rarely find a YA book that isn’t filled with whinny emotional stupid teens and this really fills that void for me.

Carry On– Rainbow Rowell is now a must buy author for me. I’ve loved every book she’s written even though none of them are in a series or like the books I normally read. Her characters are awesome and this book was just perfect.

Stars of Fortune– I was really surprised by this Nora Roberts book. It was like reading an old favorite of hers but for the first time with no knowledge of what was going to happen.

Fire Touched & Magic Binds & One Fell Sweep– It wouldn’t be a list of mine without Patricia Briggs and Ilona Andrews on it. I’m so happy with the speed that Ilona Andrews is able to write at and wish that Patricia Briggs would pick up the pace. I read One Fell Sweep as it was posted on their blog and don’t have a review written, however I did buy the book and plan on re-reading it so I’ll post a review then.

The Last Dragonslayer– Loved finding this Jasper Ffrode series, wish it didn’t seem to end with a cliffhanger, but the first book is awesome.

TV

I didn’t have much patience with TV the second half of the year. These things happen when your hormones are in overdrive though. There were still a few shows that I really enjoyed.

Agent Carter– It still makes me sad that this was canceled. Peggy Carter is such an awesome character and a wonderful role model for women/girls everywhere.

Fuller House– Sometimes you need a junk food show. Something that is fun and doesn’t make you think at all. First episode of the first season was bad, but they eventually found their feet and the second season was really good.

Marvel’s Jessica Jones– Jessica Jones is not a character to look up to, but I thought the show was great. She’d been through a lot and still kept fighting. Hope things get better for her, but if Daredevil is any indication of what happens with a second Marvel season on Netflix probably not.

Marvel’s Luke Cage– This is my favorite Marvel show on Netflix. It was so good. Loved pretty much everything about it.

The Librarians– I wish there were more shows like this out there. It’s like Eureka and Warehouse 13, it’s fun and light and I know that things are going to work out. I really just love it and I’m so glad that it keeps getting renewed, I dread the day it doesn’t.

Dark Matter– This was such an awesome find for me. I miss SciFi that isn’t about the world ending or after the world has basically ended or just a constant sink hole of depression. Dark Matter isn’t light by any means, but it doesn’t fill me with a sense of dread.

Video Games

Stardew Valley– I spent so many hours playing this it’s kind of crazy. I love Harvest Moon and Rune Factory games and this was a perfect version of both with a little bit of Animal Crossing thrown in. It’s like this game was made for me and I loved it. It just came out on PS4 and XB1 in case anyone doesn’t want to purchase it on Steam. There’s also a freakin adorable guide available.

Aftermath – Life Debt (Star Wars – Aftermath #2) By: Chuck Wendig

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Aftermath – Life Debt (Star Wars – Aftermath #2) By: Chuck Wendig

Plot:

Set between the events of “Return of the Jedi” and “The Force Awakens, “the never-before-told story that began with “Star Wars: Aftermath” continues in this thrilling novel, the second book of Chuck Wendig s “New York Times” bestselling trilogy.


“It is a dark time for the Empire. . . .”


The Emperor is dead, and the remnants of his former Empire are in retreat. As the New Republic fights to restore a lasting peace to the galaxy, some dare to imagine new beginnings and new destinies. For Han Solo, that means settling his last outstanding debt, by helping Chewbacca liberate the Wookiee s homeworld of Kashyyyk. 

Meanwhile, Norra Wexley and her band of Imperial hunters pursue Grand Admiral Rae Sloane and the Empire s remaining leadership across the galaxy. Even as more and more officers are brought to justice, Sloane continues to elude the New Republic, and Norra fears Sloane may be searching for a means to save the crumbling Empire from oblivion. But the hunt for Sloane is cut short when Norra receives an urgent request from Princess Leia Organa. The attempt to liberate Kashyyyk has carried Han Solo, Chewbacca, and a band of smugglers into an ambush resulting in Chewie s capture and Han s disappearance.

Breaking away from their official mission and racing toward the “Millennium Falcon” s last known location, Norra and her crew prepare for any challenge that stands between them and their missing comrades. But they can’t anticipate the true depth of the danger that awaits them or the ruthlessness of the enemy drawing them into his crosshairs.


Review:

First person present is never going to be my favorite tense to read in and like last time it took me some time to get into. It also took me a little bit to remember who was who and what was going on.

I ended up putting this book down a lot and didn’t really feel inspired to finish it until after I saw Rogue One. However, I don’t blame that solely on the book but more on the fact that I’m days away from my due date and having serious issues concentrating on anything.

Lots happened and Han, Leia, and Chewie were a bigger part in this story. There was more of a focus on romance and love interests in this one and I’m not sure if I like it. Didn’t really need the love triangle with Norra, though that ended up being interesting so I guess it was alright. The other romance was just background and I don’t really see why it was necessary.

I really liked the parts that showed the New Republic and the issues that it was experiencing. The transition is difficult and I like that things aren’t just coming easy. It was realistic that these people who are supposed to be good were falling into the same old traps.

Jas has somehow become a female Han Solo which I could do without. She was such a badass on her own and now she’s dealing with pretty much the exact same issues he had without the swagger and cool. She’s distant and blunt, which works with badass, but the rest of her story that was revealed was boring and pretty much already done.

Jom has been chewed up and discarded. Sinjir tried to grow only to fail and apart from Jas seems to be ignored which is sad.

I like the characters in this series a lot. I like the nods that I’m getting to the movies and the universe that’s being fleshed out. I just think there were too many threads going on in this one. The crew split up into groups and we followed both of them, we followed Admiral Sloane, Han, Leia, and a few other people. It was a lot and I think the main crew ended up suffering because of it.

3.5/5

Born of Ice (The League #3) By: Sherrilyn Kenyon

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Born of Ice (The League #3) By: Sherrilyn Kenyon

Plot:

In the Ichidian Universe where The League is law, most live in fear. We fight back. Welcome to a world where corrupt assassination politics dominate everyone. It’s kill or be killed. Welcome back to the future…and meet hell’s new breed of heroes. Devyn Kell spent his life in service to the League until he learned of the double dealing and backstabbing that was costing innocent people their lives. Refusing to play those politics, he became a Runner; someone who makes sure planets get the weapons, medicine and supplies they need to survive. May the gods have mercy on any who get in his way, because he definitely won’t. Alix Garran is a woman on the run from a past she can’t escape. Signing on to work for Devyn as a System’s Engineer, she finds a cause she can fight for—and a man she can respect. But as Alix’s past catches up to her, and Devyn’s old enemies turn lethal, they have to fight together…or fall alone, in Born of Ice, the third bestselling League novel from Sherrilyn Kenyon.

Review:

This book involves the children of the people from the first two books. It felt almost like Kenyon didn’t want anything too bad to happen to them, especially after how brutal she was in the first two books. On the one hand it was nice to have a character not be so damaged on the other hand that’s really the only thing she changed. The heroine still was hiding something from the hero, something big, and the man was still huge. This time at least the heroine wasn’t tiny and the hero didn’t take long to get over the lie. He understood why she did what she did, so that was nice.

I like the world, I do like the characters even though I complain about them, but I’m hoping that the plot of the next one is different. I’ve read it before but I can’t remember.

3.5/5

Born of Fire (The League #2) By: Sherrilyn Kenyon

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Born of Fire (The League #2) By: Sherrilyn Kenyon

Plot:

In a universe where assassins make the law, everyone lives in fear–except for Syn. Born of an illicit scandal that once rocked a dynasty, he always knew how to survive on the bloodthirsty streets. But that was then, and the future is now…

Syn was raised as a tech-thief until his livelihood uncovered a truth that could end his life. He tried to destroy the evidence, and has been on the run ever since. Now trained as an assassin, he allows no one to threaten him. Ever. He is the darkness that swallows his enemies whole.

Shahara Dagan is the best bounty hunter in the universe. When Syn comes back on the radar, she’s the only one who can bring him to justice. There’s only one problem: Syn is a close family friend who’s helped out the Dagans countless times. But if she saves him, both of their lives will be on the line. Is Syn’s protection worth the risk? The only hope Shahara has is to find the evidence he buried long ago. Now it’s kill or be killed–and they, the predators, have just become the hunted…

Review:

I was a bit disappointed with the heroine in this book. She was supposed to be this total badass that was at the top of her game. So good at her job that her name was known and yet she did stupid things several times. Things that she should know better than to do. The twist at the end didn’t explain those away either. Also, the hero was always able to best her when he tried. Annoying.

The timeline for this book and the previous don’t match up, but Kenyon explains why at the beginning of the book. They were apparently published by two different houses and she had to make sure they weren’t connected, then when she got the rights back she tried to mesh them as best she could. The reasoning is convoluted but doesn’t really affect your enjoyment of the books.

Story was pretty similar to the first, from the super tall hero who’s the absolute best at what he does and also terrifying to people except the heroine, to the heroine who is super skinny and shouldn’t be missing meals. There are several other similarities as well.

Honestly I remember liking this book more and I thought that the heroine had so much potential, but she rarely lived up to it.

3/5