Review: Alphabet Squadron - Shadow Fall

 "Shadow Fall" is a direct continuation of "Alphabet Squadron" and second volume in the new trilogy written for us by Alexander Freed. I started immediately after reading "Alphabet Squadron"

I can say right away, that this book is better!

"Shadow Fall" has advantage over first volume because reader already knows main characters, events, and reason to fight. You can jump into action and various plot twists much earlier.

It was similar to Timothy Zahn's first Thrawn trilogy. "Heir to the Empire" convinced me, but it was "Dark Force Rising" I've read with a flushed face, wondering what new strategy Thrawn would come up with this time.

Soran Keize & his nefarious plans

Soran Keize is a hero (or more an anti-hero) whose activities I followed with undisguised pleasure. That precisely is what I missed in the first volume - an experienced leader who plans, plots, and implements his schemes.

Neither Yrica Quell nor Caern Adan did surprise me like Keize! I saw a bit of Tarkin in him. If it only appeared in this form in the first volume, it would have been 10/10.

I even had impression that Alexander Freed tried to divide this book so that we would alternately follow the events on both sides of the barricade, sometimes on side of Yrica Quell and once on side of Soran Keize. In addition, "Shadow Fall" has a new danger, which encourages you to read each page. What more could you want?

Story keeps up!

"Shadow Fall" continues threads from first volume, also adding a few new ones. I don't want to go into the plot here - because then I'd have to tell you too much from first volume and thus take away a lot of fun from reading. But let me tell you that story keeps up, and if you like Squadron's vibe, you will have a lot of fun here, although I'd like to see a lot more of space combat myself.

I even started comparing Freed's books to "The Lost Fleet" by Jack Campbell, and unfortunately, they lost the match. However, if you are looking for quite interesting military sci-fi in the Star Wars universe, "Shadow Fall" is a good choice!