warlocksarecool21's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
For the most part, I enjoyed this book. For me, the strongest part of the book were the chapters that took place during the clone wars. I think Zahn wrote Anakin really well, capturing his softer parts as well as his arrogance, recklessness and impulsivity. I also really appreciated Padmé’s appearance in this book. I think she was also well-written. I liked how we saw both her compassion for others and greater sense of nobility was at conflict with her personal relationships and desires, with the latter usually coming out on top. I think that’s an integral part of her character, and we see it happen again and again in the movies, so I like that Zahn picked up on that. I also liked how the “then” sections of the book were tied to the present sections, from all the little character details, to Vader suppressing memories of “The Jedi” and Thrawn making little comments about Anakin to Vader.
I feel like Thrawn didn’t develop as much in this book as he did in the first one, and I was disappointed he didn’t as strong of interpersonal relationships like he did with Eli in book #1. I did like seeing his alliances and loyalties play out, and how high a regard he holds for his people. I admired the dichotomy of how in the “then” sections he was always operating with his people as his first priority, even though he still honored his alliance with Anakin. But switching to the “present” sections, my heart broke when he had to navigate how to help his people while convincing Vader and the empire of his loyalty and the importance of his people. I am interested to see how this Chiss civil war plays out in the final book and I am hoping characters like Eli will make an appearance because I miss him.
Despite all the strengths of this book, the reason it wasn’t a four or five star for me is that I struggled at times with the overly technical descriptions of the action scenes and a lot of the science/technology elements that Zahn included. I don’t think they were poorly written, but at times many of those descriptions went over my head and I kept having to reread to figure out what was happening, but I enjoy his character work and overall plot development.
I feel like Thrawn didn’t develop as much in this book as he did in the first one, and I was disappointed he didn’t as strong of interpersonal relationships like he did with Eli in book #1. I did like seeing his alliances and loyalties play out, and how high a regard he holds for his people. I admired the dichotomy of how in the “then” sections he was always operating with his people as his first priority, even though he still honored his alliance with Anakin. But switching to the “present” sections, my heart broke when he had to navigate how to help his people while convincing Vader and the empire of his loyalty and the importance of his people. I am interested to see how this Chiss civil war plays out in the final book and I am hoping characters like Eli will make an appearance because I miss him.
Despite all the strengths of this book, the reason it wasn’t a four or five star for me is that I struggled at times with the overly technical descriptions of the action scenes and a lot of the science/technology elements that Zahn included. I don’t think they were poorly written, but at times many of those descriptions went over my head and I kept having to reread to figure out what was happening, but I enjoy his character work and overall plot development.
cptii's review against another edition
adventurous
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
jenibus's review against another edition
2.0
I am wholly disappointed by Thrawn: Alliances. It pains me to say a New Canon book is bad out of fear of association with the trolly-rage reaction certain fanboys have to anything New Star Wars related. Let it be known that I was a fan of the Heir to the Empire trilogy, and greatly enjoyed the New Canon Thrawn book. I went into this book excited about the premise. I get to see Thrawn and Vader have to work together when their strategic methods are so wholly opposite? This sounds great! Wait! Thrawn made a bunch of references to knowing a General Skywalker in previous years! EVEN BETTER GIVE ME THAT SWEET HIDDEN IDENTITY SUBPLOTTING YESSSS.
And then I was bored.
The book started out strongly: Vader is mistrustful of Thrawn and they both have to work together to find some disturbance in the force on an outer rim planet. MEANWHILE, IN THE PAST, A commander Thrawn for the Chiss Ascendency was on this same planet and encounters one General Anakin Skywalker on some sort of mission. I loved the parallel set ups. But then nothing seemed to happen.
I suppose it is here that I should mention that I haven't watched a single episode of Star Wars Rebels. The very opening of the novel seemed to be a "LAST TIME..... ON STAR WARS REBELS" refresh because Zahn understood that not everyone who would have picked up a Thrawn book would have watched this tv show. This worked out great in Thrawn. Arihnda Pryce was apparently a Rebels character, but I didn't need to know that as the reader. Alliances, however, did not have the same end result. Although the opening was a nice recap on what happened in this show I've never seen, other parts throughout the book left me confused. We continually referenced Thrawn's failure to capture the rebels and how this was an indication of his lack of loyalty to the Empire. It got to the point that I messaged my friend who hadn't read the books but DOES watch Rebels to ask him what on earth they were referring to. I believe other side characters in the book also were references to the show, if only because I genuinely don't know why they were included otherwise.
This brings me to the main point of why I was bored: redundant and not needed flow of information in regards to the pacing. In the beginning, I was excited about seeing the parallels between Thrawn interacting with General Skywalker and Grand Admiral Thrawn interacting with Darth Vader. But upon the 5th time we rehash the same scenario, the same information, the excitement had vanished. Vader asks Thrawn what's going on. Thrawn doesn't answer. Vader gets mad, his lightsaber twitches. Thrawn asks him for trust, sometimes referencing that he was once asked to put blind trust in a General Skywalker. Vader says Skywalker is dead. Vader is frustrated but leaves Thrawn be. Repeat every time Thrawn makes a decision. Nothing new is being gained here.
Meanwhile, in the past, I am bored out of my mind. Anakin is trying to locate Padme and it's just reminding me how poorly written they were as characters in the prequels. Anakin is constantly worried about if Padme is dead, but you the reader know that she's fine, she dies of Having a Sad in Episode 3 so no, she's not going to be killed by whoever has kidnapped her. Perhaps Padme's decisions make more sense if you CARE about the rising Separatists Threat to the Republic, but Clone War era has never been my interest as a Star Wars fan. I did not expect to read about the era between episodes 2 and 3 in a book about Darth Vader and Grand Admiral Thrawn.
There's also some plot involving the nogri on Thrawn's ship and different underlings, but I just was bored by them.
This set up could have been great, it had all the pieces, but it failed in execution. I am so incredibly disappointed by Thrawn Alliances. I might still read Thrawn: Treason but it's not going to be a high priority.
And then I was bored.
The book started out strongly: Vader is mistrustful of Thrawn and they both have to work together to find some disturbance in the force on an outer rim planet. MEANWHILE, IN THE PAST, A commander Thrawn for the Chiss Ascendency was on this same planet and encounters one General Anakin Skywalker on some sort of mission. I loved the parallel set ups. But then nothing seemed to happen.
I suppose it is here that I should mention that I haven't watched a single episode of Star Wars Rebels. The very opening of the novel seemed to be a "LAST TIME..... ON STAR WARS REBELS" refresh because Zahn understood that not everyone who would have picked up a Thrawn book would have watched this tv show. This worked out great in Thrawn. Arihnda Pryce was apparently a Rebels character, but I didn't need to know that as the reader. Alliances, however, did not have the same end result. Although the opening was a nice recap on what happened in this show I've never seen, other parts throughout the book left me confused. We continually referenced Thrawn's failure to capture the rebels and how this was an indication of his lack of loyalty to the Empire. It got to the point that I messaged my friend who hadn't read the books but DOES watch Rebels to ask him what on earth they were referring to. I believe other side characters in the book also were references to the show, if only because I genuinely don't know why they were included otherwise.
This brings me to the main point of why I was bored: redundant and not needed flow of information in regards to the pacing. In the beginning, I was excited about seeing the parallels between Thrawn interacting with General Skywalker and Grand Admiral Thrawn interacting with Darth Vader. But upon the 5th time we rehash the same scenario, the same information, the excitement had vanished. Vader asks Thrawn what's going on. Thrawn doesn't answer. Vader gets mad, his lightsaber twitches. Thrawn asks him for trust, sometimes referencing that he was once asked to put blind trust in a General Skywalker. Vader says Skywalker is dead. Vader is frustrated but leaves Thrawn be. Repeat every time Thrawn makes a decision. Nothing new is being gained here.
Meanwhile, in the past, I am bored out of my mind. Anakin is trying to locate Padme and it's just reminding me how poorly written they were as characters in the prequels. Anakin is constantly worried about if Padme is dead, but you the reader know that she's fine, she dies of Having a Sad in Episode 3 so no, she's not going to be killed by whoever has kidnapped her. Perhaps Padme's decisions make more sense if you CARE about the rising Separatists Threat to the Republic, but Clone War era has never been my interest as a Star Wars fan. I did not expect to read about the era between episodes 2 and 3 in a book about Darth Vader and Grand Admiral Thrawn.
There's also some plot involving the nogri on Thrawn's ship and different underlings, but I just was bored by them.
This set up could have been great, it had all the pieces, but it failed in execution. I am so incredibly disappointed by Thrawn Alliances. I might still read Thrawn: Treason but it's not going to be a high priority.
waveycowpar's review against another edition
4.0
I enjoyed this book.
Things I liked:
- The way the Force works with double vision to warn Anakin/Vader about where bullets and attacks will come from.
- Padme is in it.
- Batuu is a key location.
- Thrawn and Vader’s dynamics as the Emperor’s two stars.
- Lightsaber proof battledroids and clone armor.
- Thrawn knows Vader is Anakin.
- What a Skywalker is.
- Links to Star Wars the Clone Wars and Star Wars Rebels.
It didn’t feel like a full story, but there is one book left in the trilogy so that might be why.
Things I liked:
- The way the Force works with double vision to warn Anakin/Vader about where bullets and attacks will come from.
- Padme is in it.
- Batuu is a key location.
- Thrawn and Vader’s dynamics as the Emperor’s two stars.
- Lightsaber proof battledroids and clone armor.
- Thrawn knows Vader is Anakin.
- What a Skywalker is.
- Links to Star Wars the Clone Wars and Star Wars Rebels.
It didn’t feel like a full story, but there is one book left in the trilogy so that might be why.
randomreader41's review against another edition
5.0
Loved the dual story of Thrawn & Anakin & Thrawn & Vader.
jonathanfs's review against another edition
3.0
It just did not grab me like Thrawn did. The approach was cool, and it was nice to see some insight into Padme's character.
daisyjamies's review against another edition
4.0
REREAD after a while anyway i love thrawn and darth vader buddy cop comedy
kavinay's review against another edition
3.0
I wonder if this would be a better book if it simply ditched the first third of the story. Darth Vader and Thrawn doing a buddy-cop routine in a bar doesn't exactly hit the same notes as The Last Command.
Still, the book picks up from there. Thrawn is less annoying when he's really unaware of how hard he can push Vader. Meanwhile, Vader is most intriguing when he's actually struggling with the identity of "The Jedi."
You get the sense that Zahn has the essence of a great story and dynamic between the two (three?) principle characters in the book. However it just seems like a lot of the plot that moves us from one scene to another is largely interchangeable. That's okay, but given the chance to fill holes in canon, I'd hoped Zahn would address Cortosis-like details more frequently and deeply.
Still, the book picks up from there. Thrawn is less annoying when he's really unaware of how hard he can push Vader. Meanwhile, Vader is most intriguing when he's actually struggling with the identity of "The Jedi."
You get the sense that Zahn has the essence of a great story and dynamic between the two (three?) principle characters in the book. However it just seems like a lot of the plot that moves us from one scene to another is largely interchangeable. That's okay, but given the chance to fill holes in canon, I'd hoped Zahn would address Cortosis-like details more frequently and deeply.
tbloehrlein's review against another edition
3.0
I feel like I was getting an advertisement to visit Batuu and Black Spire at Disney World.