It's been a while since I've read Twilight Company and Rogue One, both of Freed's previous books, also included in Star Wars universe. Therefore, when I started reading "Alphabet Squadron" I had time to forget how boring this author can be! First's chapters are kinda hard to read, and yet, as in case of "Company" from middle of the book, I was so strongly drawn by the story that it was hard to break away. Therefore, it is my pleasure to write this review for you now.
What's happening in a galaxy far, far away?
Empire is Falling! Rebel forces... oh, sorry... New Republic forces are taking new victories! We hit time right after the sixth cinematic, Return of the Jedi, when we witnessed the Emperor's death and ultimate breaking of Empire's spirit!
But that does not mean that all military power will politely lay down their arms. "Shadow Wing" - one of the Empire's most formidable fighter regiments, remains active even after Palpatine's gone.
That's why Caern Adan decides to assemble a team of individuals and create an entirely new squadron of the Republic, tasked with precisely tracking down and destroying threat of the Shadow Wing.
Well, who's better for it than a former Imperial pilot?
Meet Yrica Quell!
An imperial pilot who, as a prisoner of the New Republic, gets a chance to atone for her sins. She gets an offer to find her old friends and put an end to their activities in exchange for freedom.
It won't be easy, but she doesn't have to do it alone. I believe that Caern Adan was
watching the Avengers, and just like Nick Fury, he's trying to create his strike group. So Yrica Quell will be assisted by Nath Tensent, a former pirate who served on different sides of this war, a mute and mysterious Karios (which I liked the most), and Wyl Lark and Chass na Chadic. Each of the heroes is different and has its own story and reasons to join the Alphabet Squadron and fight against the Empire.
The longer I read "Alphabet Squad", the more I tried to compare them to "Suicide Squad", with the difference that almost all of the squadron members were in it voluntarily. Nevertheless, just like in "Suicide Squad", I had the impression that our heroes are thrown on a suicide mission and: "if they die, they die". The republic will not cry for them, because virtually no one knows about their actions.
I had the same problem with "Alphabet Squadron" as with "Twilight Company" - namely: both books start slowly and are quite boring in a couple of first chapters.
With Alphabet - for first hundred (100!) pages, there wasn't much to draw me to this book. Author introduced the characters, showed some more or less significant events, and it was only when a group was formed and their main mission began that I got caught up in their story. Caern Adan is an asshole that I still can't like, Yrica Quell is curious somewhere, but if she died in the middle of the book, I wouldn't care about her, but Karios, Wyl, Nath, and Chass are irreplaceable here. Especially Nath and Chass, because I have the impression that these two bear burden of this book on their shoulders.
Everything changed at the end of the book
Even though it started slowly, even though I had some critiques of the author's style, it doesn't change the fact that ending of the book is just brilliant! Everything explodes, they shoot each other, sky is burning... COMPLETE CHAOS EVERYWHERE! Events in book are like some Hollywood action movies. Then when smoke goes off and you think it's already over, HE comes into the spotlight! (and I don't mean Vader here) And you already know that second volume will be as good or better than what you just finished reading.
It started on average but ending was so good that I go for second volume right away.
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