I recently decided to treat myself and get the Loot4Fangirls box; my very first Loot Crate! Due to moving, it’s been chilling on the kitchen table for the past week or so. When I floated the silly (I thought) idea of doing an unboxing video, people on Twitter seemed receptive. So here we are! My very first unboxing video and my very first YouTube video ever. Enjoy!
Author: Bria
Strength from Wash-outs and Misfits
It’s been four years to the day since Star Wars fans were lucky enough to get not only a new X-Wing book but also a new book about Wraith Squadron. (Interestingly enough, if the first Wraith Squadron book were a person, it’d be preparing to go off to college right around now.) Star Wars: X-Wing: Mercy Kill was a wonderful book from the last years of the Legends universe that brought a lot of us back to the Star Wars fandom after we’d drifted away when our favorite characters were forced through some unfortunate plot lines. In fact, if you were to go aaaaaaall the way back, you’d see that a review of Mercy Kill was my very first contribution to Tosche Station and how I accidentally started writing for them. The X-Wing books have always been a lot more than that though. They were the basis of friendships, they were the foundation of many a sense of humor, and they brought of a heck of a lot of pure joy to people’s lives. The Wraiths though… well, let’s just say that the Wraiths have been so much more to me. Continue reading
Waru Express: The Empire Strikes Back
A Very Zahn New Year definitely helped make this project go much faster. Except for the part where I drank my way through a certain book. That’s right, folks, you get another spam of my face via reaction pictures.
Scoundrels
(Editor’s Note: Okay look. I cheated when I did this the first time. Or maybe I didn’t so much cheat as I didn’t reeeeally include Scoundrels in the Waru because I wrote a proper review for it. Short version of the review is that I loved the hell out of Solo’s Eleven and not just because my girl Winter or because Kell Tainer was in it. It kept me turning the page once I got it on my Nook at midnight until I was too tired to read anymore and I sat on the couch and did nothing but read until I finished the next morning. If you’re wondering whether I think you should give this book a try, the answer is an emphatic yes. Also stay spoiler free. Trust me on this one.)
Allegiance
First things first. Apparently I had completely managed to miss a piece of information the prior two times I read this book which is that Mara Jade is two years younger than Luke Skywalker. Mind. Blown. I’d always assumed that she was older than him. If it was anyone else but Zahn writing this book, I’d question it but since it is Zahn, I’ll have to stick with my surprise face. (Editor’s Note: Still don’t think it makes sense.)
I think that this might be one of my favorite Zahn books and it grows on me more and more every time I read it. He does great work in the Original Trilogy era and I love his grasp on the characters in their early years. Naïve Luke who doesn’t know when not to share information is adorable as is eye-rolling Han who just wants him to hush already. (Editor’s Note: I think Fresh Off The Farmboy Luke is my favorite Luke.) I especially love getting to read about a young Mara during her time as Emperor’s Hand. Every conversation she has with Vader thrills me for some reason. Continue reading
Waru Express: Lead Up to Yavin
When I first did the Waru Express, the library system was out to get me and took 2 weeks to get me my copy of Shadow Games which conveniently showed up the day after New Year’s. Originally, it didn’t get included in this post but was in the next one. It’s going in here now because I can! But enough of that! On with the show and three very very very different books.
Death Troopers
I really have no idea what I was expecting from this book but it probably should’ve been exactly what the book gave me. It is definitely a horror story set in the Star Wars universe. Surprisingly, I actually rather enjoyed it and I’m not necessarily a big horror fan. This goes back to a comment I think I made a few posts ago about how there really is something for everyone in the Expanded Universe. Schreiber introduces mostly new characters and I even found myself caring about some of them particularly the doctor, Zahara Cody. Continue reading
Waru Express: The Han Solo Trilogy
I don’t care what anyone else says but I love the Han Solo Trilogy and always have since I first read these when I was 9 or so. I’ve said before that they’re my guilty pleasure books and that’s just fine with me. It has, however, been reeeeeally long time since I’ve read these books and wow was it weird to keep reading about a ‘Bria’. I don’t know how you folks with more commonly used names do it when you read books. But let’s set my personal issues with that aside for now and get on with the reviews!
The Paradise Snare
Oh street rat Han. You try, kiddo, you try. Okay sure his background may be a little cliché but did we really expect Han to come from anything else? Plus, it’s a nice set up for everyone to realize that Thracken Sal-Solo is indeed a-word-that-I-cannot-use-in-this-review. (Editor’s Note: Asshole? Bastard? Dick? I don’t remember what I was going for but they’re all apt.)
The book serves as a nice set up for both the trilogy and Han as a character. For starters, both his relationship with Dewlanna and his experience with Ylesia make it a no brainer for him to save Chewie later on. You get to see where he came from and how he made the natural progression to the person he is when he first meets Luke and Obi-Wan on Tatooine. It’s also fun to see how Han seems to attract sidekicks no matter what although the idea of Han teaching Muuurgh proper Basic grammar is somewhat entertaining. As far as Ylesia goes though? Wow does Han have some bad luck when it comes to ending up on crappy mining planets. Continue reading
Waru Express: Coruscant Nights
I hope everyone got their fill of ‘Watch Bria have an emotional breakdown’ with the last post because we won’t be getting another one of those for awhile. Now that the Clone Wars are over, we get to look in on what some characters were up to before the Battle of Yavin. The Coruscant Nights books follow the adventures of Jax Pavan, a Jedi Knight who was lucky enough to survive the Purges and who, for some idiotic reason, is stupid enough to remain on Coruscant instead of fleeing for the stars. (Editor’s Note: Seriously. Was he on spice?)
Jedi Twilight
Hey guys. Do you know who was alive and then died in this book? Even Piell. Want to know who I still don’t give a bantha’s butt about? Yep. You got it in one. Literally all I know about him is that there was some continuity snafu and… nope. Still no caring to be found.
As for the book itself, it’s a decent enough read, I guess? I could’ve done without everything related to Black Sun because I really don’t care about Kaird or think it was a vital part of the book. (I mean, out of all the characters to bring back from MedStar, you picked him, Reaves? Really?) A lot of things about the plot just felt really convenient. I don’t get why Vader is so focused on getting Jax of all the Jedi who might have survive. I also don’t get why Anakin apparently gave Jax a jewel as a gift a while ago? Just… what? Oh and the whole Grey Paladin thing is a bit weird too. Basically, there are a lot of things I just don’t get but it’s an entertaining enough read to not be a waste of time. However, I think I enjoyed it more when I first read it a year or two ago. (Editor’s Note: Scratch that ‘think’ because I distinctly recall liking this more the first time.)
Oh and when I said I wanted more Nick Rostu? I meant a short story where he and Mace work together to command some battle during the Clone Wars and have lots of humorous exchanges. Not this. Don’t get me wrong, it’s still nice to see him being used but it just doesn’t feel like the same Nick although the war can probably be partially blamed for that. Poor Nick. He deserves so much better. Continue reading
Waru Express: Revenge of the Sith
Here we are. At last, we’ve arrived at the book I’ve been dreading because it is just that good. (Thanks for that, Matt Stover.) In 2005, Del Rey published the novelization of Revenge of the Sith and two novels that take place on either side of it, forming an unofficial trilogy. I’m also including another book in this post just because it needed a place to go. This is also the review where I finally did post some reaction pictures so I could properly express my anguish. (Enjoy the spam of my face.) However, if you’re going to take nothing else away from this and the past few posts, take away that I would positively love to see both Stover and Luceno write more books in this era. Please. (Editor’s Note: Del Rey sorta listened to me? A few years later, Luceno wrote Tarkin. Not that I actually think DR listens to me, haha.)
Labyrinth of Evil
This is by far the prequel lead-in book that has the most to do with its film. (So, in retrospect, my decision to go to the bookstore and read through this hardcover I couldn’t afford the day before the movie was released was a good one but then again 15 year old me probably should’ve had the good sense to get it from the library weeks before.) Because it goes directly into the film, it ends up being one of the most worthwhile of the lead-in books to read. Even though it’s a lead up, the book still has its own story to tell and that tale never really drags. Luceno’s action sequences are well done and he has an excellent grasp of all the characters.
Speaking of which, no one writes Palpatine like James Luceno and no one has the ability to make the Prequels make more sense like him either. He drops in some references (like the one to Plagueis that apparently went right over my head when I originally read that book) but had me nodding and going “ohhhhh” as I read it this time. He also references tons of things from the rest of the Prequel books without it being heavy handed. What’s even more impressive to me is that he manages to write the best Palpatine in a book that was still under the ‘LOLZ DON’T TELL ANYONE THAT SIDIOUS IS PALPS’ gag order. That writing accolade obviously extends to how he writes Sidious. Luceno keeps up the ruse for those who live under a rock and weren’t aware of Palpatine’s secret identity but he doesn’t sacrifice characterization to do so. Applause all around really. Continue reading
Waru Express: The Clone Wars
We’re neck deep in the Clone War books now and in case there was any doubt, the war really sucked but at least we got some pretty great books out of it. This week, I started a love letter to Matt Stover, continued the one to Barriss Offee, flailed over Yoda, and there were two other books that got lost in the middle. Oops.
Shatterpoint
This book is one of my favorite books in not only the entire Expanded Universe but of all time. Why? Two words: Matthew Stover.
Matthew Stover… How do I begin to explain Matthew Stover? Matthew Stover is flawless. I hear his writing hand is insured for $10,000. I hear he does lightsaber commercials… on Coruscant. His favorite movie is ‘How To Destroy A Reader In 300 Pages’. One time he met GRRM on a plane and he told Stover that he was good at killing people’s emotions. Lots of times he punched us in the feels… it was awesome.
Mean Girls joke out of the way, I positively adore Shatterpoint because this is the book that really establishes Mace Windu as an incredibly powerful Jedi Master who should not be messed with. The best part? It has absolutely nothing to do with SLJ playing him. Mace Windu is a force to be reckoned with and he is going to get his former Padawan off Haruun Kal or else. He’s also going to deal with this war and secure the planet for the Republic but that’s just quick task for after lunch. Continue reading
Waru Express: Republic Commando
When I first started this reread, I couldn’t decide if I was looking forward to or dreading getting to the Republic Commando books. It wasn’t because they were controversial in some circles of the fandom but rather because I knew they were going to kick me in the gut with feelings. (Editor’s Note: They kick me in the gut with feels just thinking about them.) Omega Squad and Etain Tur-Mukan found their ways into my heart and never left. Needless to say, I was absolutely not looking forward to rereading Order 66 but more on that later. At the end of the day though, I think I’m rather glad that I took the time to reread these four books because gosh do I still love them even if they did make me have an emotional meltdown on Twitter. (Editor’s Note: It was dramatic. I tweeted selfies, threw the book down like ten times in a row, and cried a little.)
Hard Contact
Overall, Hard Contact remains a solid action book. I think it could serve as a decent starting point for someone who’s really interested in the Clone Wars. There’s not much continuity that you need to know outside of the films especially it’s only peppered with the Mandalorian culture that fills the next three books. In short, it can stand alone and that’s a good thing in the epic Expanded Universe.
I still really like how Karen Traviss gives each of the clone commandos a distinct personality. It’s been a while but I think that this might’ve been one of the first Clone War era novels I read that really did that. At the same time, she doesn’t shy away from presenting the mentality the clones are raised with: they are soldiers who follow orders and they are expendable. Plus, these are the early days of the war and the Jedi and the clones are still trying to figure each other out. It’s some nice insight into that thought process.
I’ll also freely admit to loving Etain because I am a total sucker for the underdog. Heroes of the Jedi Order are great and everything but I like seeing the everyman too. (Sorry. I’ll stop giving Anakin a hard time for being the Chosen One some day. Maybe.) She’s a good kid who just wants to prove herself to the world and you have to respect that. (Editor’s Note: Etain baby. ETAIN YOU’RE SO CUTE AND ADORABLE.) Continue reading
Waru Express: Attack of the Clones
I took a few days off for Thanksgiving (and so I won’t completely kill Brian with my fast reading speed) (Editor’s Note: No seriously. I was concerning people.) but we’re back with more Prequel Era books! This time, half of the books were obvious tie-ins to books from much further down the timeline and two of them were, well, Attack of the Clones based. This one’s a bit more of a mixed bag than before.
Rogue Planet
Okay so you know how some people hate Boba Fett and get annoyed by how fans adore him and he gets all these appearances etc etc? Yeah, that’s me except with Tarkin and the building of the Death Star. Honestly, what is this obsession that EU authors have with him and the Death Star? I mean, I know it was a cool looking space station that blew planets up but can we not credit everyone and their mother with its construction? (Editor’s Note: This is funny given how much I enjoyed reading James Luceno’s Tarkin. Not that it was my favorite but…)
Overall, the book’s okay but it’s so obviously there for the New Jedi Order that it feels far too much like an extended short story sometimes. Character-wise, it’s good. I actually really enjoyed getting some insight into the early years of Obi-Wan and Anakin’s Master/Padawan relationship. (Editor’s Note: I think this could fit well with Charles Soule’s Obi-Wan and Anakin comic.) I also rather enjoy Thracia Cho Leem because anyone who can out sass Mace Windu and still have his respect deserves your respect. It’s too bad that she leaves the Jedi Order because wow is he going to need her in about a decade when Shatterpoint happens… The only thing I’m really not fond of is getting beaten over the head with “Oooo Anakin’s going to fall to the Dark Side one day!” I get what Greg Bear was doing but at times, it felt like a bit too much. Also, I will be forever sad that Anakin didn’t get to keep his ship. Poor baby. Continue reading
Bria LaVorgna 