nathaliem's reviews
258 reviews
Forest Mage by Robin Hobb
dark
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- 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
I honestly don't know how to review this! Did I enjoy it? Yes! Would I recommend it? Uh...
As always I adore Robin Hobb's writing, as well as characters such as Spink and Epiny. I also wanted to know where the story would go, because I was invested in that.
The story in itself is super miserable (which is fitting considering the setting in the latter half of the book) and could get pretty "really?" at times. Nevare himself, well, if he was frustrating in the first book, it gets even worse here. It was tough to root for him at times. He makes the miserable story even more miserable so it's all just misery upon misery upon misery and that's not something everyone necessarily wants to read about.
Now, as for me, I definitely don't mind it as long as everything else makes up for it. The side characters are great as always, and just because I jive so hard with Hobb's writing I find it very easy to get into it, but obviously that's not going to be the case for everyone.
I'm honestly just glad I managed to finish a book this year :D
As always I adore Robin Hobb's writing, as well as characters such as Spink and Epiny. I also wanted to know where the story would go, because I was invested in that.
The story in itself is super miserable (which is fitting considering the setting in the latter half of the book) and could get pretty "really?" at times. Nevare himself, well, if he was frustrating in the first book, it gets even worse here. It was tough to root for him at times. He makes the miserable story even more miserable so it's all just misery upon misery upon misery and that's not something everyone necessarily wants to read about.
Now, as for me, I definitely don't mind it as long as everything else makes up for it. The side characters are great as always, and just because I jive so hard with Hobb's writing I find it very easy to get into it, but obviously that's not going to be the case for everyone.
I'm honestly just glad I managed to finish a book this year :D
Content Warnings
Graphic: Fatphobia
Minor: Rape
Lords of the Sith by Paul S. Kemp
4.0
I really liked this one! This was my first new canon book set closer to the prequel trilogy than the original trilogy, and I loved that the Empire and its characters were at the center of it. It's set around 8 years after Revenge of the Sith, so both Darth Vader and the Emperor aren't all that known in all parts of the galaxy, so these people think they can take on Vader (and the Emperor) and have no idea they're doomed.
I also liked the other things that were going on. Mors and Belkor were both great characters, and at times I had no idea whom of them I wanted more to survive (though I definitely made up my mind by the end). The Twi'lek stuff was interesting as well, though I didn't particularly care about their characters. But their point of view was interesting.
I have yet to see the Star Wars: Rebels series, but knowing is in it (and he might show up at one point), made me want to start it even more.
I also liked the other things that were going on. Mors and Belkor were both great characters, and at times I had no idea whom of them I wanted more to survive (though I definitely made up my mind by the end). The Twi'lek stuff was interesting as well, though I didn't particularly care about their characters. But their point of view was interesting.
I have yet to see the Star Wars: Rebels series, but knowing
Spoiler
Cham's daughter
The Force Awakens by Alan Dean Foster
4.0
I loved this! You'd think the novelization for a movie would be a great waste of time, but this was a great read.
This book was based on the script, and not necessarily on the movie itself (though drastic changes may have been made afterwards), so parts that were eventually removed from the movie are still present in the novelization. You also get more insights into what the characters are thinking, and added dialogue that might clear up some doubts that the movie may have raised.
I definitely recommend this if you've seen the movie, and just want a teensy bit more on it. It's a quick read, because you already know the setting and what happens, but it's enjoyable nonetheless.
This book was based on the script, and not necessarily on the movie itself (though drastic changes may have been made afterwards), so parts that were eventually removed from the movie are still present in the novelization. You also get more insights into what the characters are thinking, and added dialogue that might clear up some doubts that the movie may have raised.
I definitely recommend this if you've seen the movie, and just want a teensy bit more on it. It's a quick read, because you already know the setting and what happens, but it's enjoyable nonetheless.
A New Dawn by John Jackson Miller
3.0
The reason I was mostly interested in choosing this book next in my adventures of getting caught up with the new Star Wars canon, was because of the release of the new Rebels midseason (two) trailer. I hadn't gotten to Rebels yet (I was still watching The Clone Wars at the time), but I got intrigued by this book mostly because this is set a few years before the TV show.
All in all, this was a fun read. It helps that I'm already interested in Rebels, because I'm not sure how interesting these characters would be if it wasn't for that.
At times, the book felt like a chore to read and I was reading more for the sake of finishing it. Not that I disliked it per se, but it didn't excite me all that much.
However, in the back of my mind I had already known this but for some reason I had forgotten, I was incredibly excited to see Rae Sloane turn up again. She was arguably one of the more interesting characters of the Aftermath novel by Chuck Wendig, and I love getting to know more about her. I also found Count Vidian an interesting adversary.
I recommend this one if you're a fan of Rebels and are interested in how Kanan and Hera met eachother, or if you want just a bit more Rae Sloane after Aftermath, or even if you want to read about a new villain. Though overall I do not consider this a must read.
All in all, this was a fun read. It helps that I'm already interested in Rebels, because I'm not sure how interesting these characters would be if it wasn't for that.
At times, the book felt like a chore to read and I was reading more for the sake of finishing it. Not that I disliked it per se, but it didn't excite me all that much.
However, in the back of my mind I had already known this but for some reason I had forgotten, I was incredibly excited to see Rae Sloane turn up again. She was arguably one of the more interesting characters of the Aftermath novel by Chuck Wendig, and I love getting to know more about her. I also found Count Vidian an interesting adversary.
I recommend this one if you're a fan of Rebels and are interested in how Kanan and Hera met eachother, or if you want just a bit more Rae Sloane after Aftermath, or even if you want to read about a new villain. Though overall I do not consider this a must read.
The Perfect Weapon by Delilah S. Dawson
4.0
A perfectly enjoyable short story about one of the people present in Maz Kanata's castle in The Force Awakens and probably the closest book we got to that movie chronologically (maybe aside from Before The Awakening). It probably won't have much of an impact on later movies or books or comics or the like (though maybe could end up being relevant?), but it's fun nonetheless.
Spoiler
the asylum
Tarkin by James Luceno
2.0
Man, I was a bit disappointed with this one.
This one does everything you'd expect it does - give more insights into Tarkin as a character, his relation to the Emperor and Darth Vader (the latter which I find the most interesting aspect of it, because people generally have no idea who Vader is behind the mask, but).
I find it just pretty boring overall. I had trouble getting myself to finish it even when I wasn't halfway the book yet, and I probably wouldn't have if this had had no relation to Star Wars.
This one does everything you'd expect it does - give more insights into Tarkin as a character, his relation to the Emperor and Darth Vader (the latter which I find the most interesting aspect of it, because people generally have no idea who Vader is behind the mask, but
Spoiler
Tarkin figures it outI find it just pretty boring overall. I had trouble getting myself to finish it even when I wasn't halfway the book yet, and I probably wouldn't have if this had had no relation to Star Wars.
Dark Disciple by Christie Golden
4.0
Dark Disciple is one of the new media released, the other being comics and story reels, that contain stories that would have normally appeared in the Star Wars: The Clone Wars series if not for its cancellation. This was the last one out of those I had to consume, but I think this was my favorite.
The novel focuses on Quinlan Vos, a quite unusual Jedi Master (he was known to bend the rules every once and a while) and with the ability to see and feel the memories of certain objects when he touched them. The Jedi Order feels the war has gone on long enough and feel Dooku needs to die by assassination, so they send Vos out to find Asajj Ventress so they can take him on together. However, the two form a connection, and things don't turn out as planned.
Once I got about halfway through the story, I didn't stop. It's quite an addictive read, and it was never dull. I took me a while though to see Ventress as someone who was able to love, be selfless, to care. All relatively quickly. But I guess this was because I wasn't used to seeing that from her. In the end I cared though, and I was somewhat rooting for her and Vos.
I also really loved the Jedi parts of it - I loved that Obi-Wan had an important role, and Anakin and Windu and Yoda. A lot of the new canon so far has been in the A New Hope/OT era, so it was refreshing to get to read about those characters again.
I think when starting this, I would have preferred (or just generally would have liked) to have seen this as one big arc in the The Clone Wars series, but as it went on, I don't think they would have been able to go into as much depth as they did here. The psychology of the characters and their relationship probably wouldn't have worked quite as well.
If you've just finished The Clone Wars series and are looking for more surrounding that era, this is a really great read. It gives you closure, and more characterization for Asajj Ventress and Quinlan Vos, both of whom are really interesting characters. I especially like that Vos was featured in this, since there's not much information on him yet in this canon.
The novel focuses on Quinlan Vos, a quite unusual Jedi Master (he was known to bend the rules every once and a while) and with the ability to see and feel the memories of certain objects when he touched them. The Jedi Order feels the war has gone on long enough and feel Dooku needs to die by assassination, so they send Vos out to find Asajj Ventress so they can take him on together. However, the two form a connection, and things don't turn out as planned.
Once I got about halfway through the story, I didn't stop. It's quite an addictive read, and it was never dull. I took me a while though to see Ventress as someone who was able to love, be selfless, to care. All relatively quickly. But I guess this was because I wasn't used to seeing that from her. In the end I cared though, and I was somewhat rooting for her and Vos.
I also really loved the Jedi parts of it - I loved that Obi-Wan had an important role, and Anakin and Windu and Yoda. A lot of the new canon so far has been in the A New Hope/OT era, so it was refreshing to get to read about those characters again.
I think when starting this, I would have preferred (or just generally would have liked) to have seen this as one big arc in the The Clone Wars series, but as it went on, I don't think they would have been able to go into as much depth as they did here. The psychology of the characters and their relationship probably wouldn't have worked quite as well.
If you've just finished The Clone Wars series and are looking for more surrounding that era, this is a really great read. It gives you closure, and more characterization for Asajj Ventress and Quinlan Vos, both of whom are really interesting characters. I especially like that Vos was featured in this, since there's not much information on him yet in this canon.
Battlefront: Twilight Company by Alexander Freed
4.0
I was keeping this book for last in my readings of the new Star Wars canon, mostly because I didn't think this one would interest me that much. I figured this one would spend most of its time on the war, at the cost of developing its characters, but boy was I wrong.
Don't get me wrong though, there's still plenty of battles and fighting in this, and there's characters that you'll grow to like that will eventually die (and you won't be there to witness all of them), but it's still a thrilling read.
We follow various POV characters throughout the book, but the main character is Hazram Namir, a sergeant in Twilight Company. He's a rebel who doesn't believe in the rebellion, which I found very interesting. Though he does get very frustrating at times, but it's also part of what I like about it. He's not 100% a good guy.
We also follow some other characters in Twilight Company, and then also other sides of the war - like the Imperial side and even that of one of the Stormtroopers. It was interesting to see their motivation and why they were doing what they were doing, but in the end I think I would have liked to spend a bit more time with them, just so their stories would have a bit more impact than they did.
But overall, a very enjoyable read. When it was time for the Hoth battle (and its aftermath) I could not put it down. I also very much enjoyed the characters a lot. Even the ones I was never sure how to feel about (looking at you, Governor Chalis!) but I didn't think there was ever a weak point.
Don't get me wrong though, there's still plenty of battles and fighting in this, and there's characters that you'll grow to like that will eventually die (and you won't be there to witness all of them), but it's still a thrilling read.
We follow various POV characters throughout the book, but the main character is Hazram Namir, a sergeant in Twilight Company. He's a rebel who doesn't believe in the rebellion, which I found very interesting. Though he does get very frustrating at times, but it's also part of what I like about it. He's not 100% a good guy.
We also follow some other characters in Twilight Company, and then also other sides of the war - like the Imperial side and even that of one of the Stormtroopers. It was interesting to see their motivation and why they were doing what they were doing, but in the end I think I would have liked to spend a bit more time with them, just so their stories would have a bit more impact than they did.
But overall, a very enjoyable read. When it was time for the Hoth battle (and its aftermath) I could not put it down. I also very much enjoyed the characters a lot. Even the ones I was never sure how to feel about (looking at you, Governor Chalis!) but I didn't think there was ever a weak point.