My Grandmother Asked Me to Tell You She's Sorry

Title:  My Grandmother Asked Me to Tell You She's Sorry

Author:  Fredrik Backman

Publisher:  Atria Books

Date Published:  June 15, 2015

Genre:  Fiction, Contemporary

Rating:  ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

My Thoughts:

-  Elsa is a very observant and wise child. Mentally, she is beyond her years. Elsa and her grandma are best friends, and grandma is full of moxie. They live in an apartment complex with a cast of unique and quirky characters. Grandma loves to tell Elsa stories about the Land of Almost Awake. Grandma sends Elsa on a quest, where she must deliver notes to different people in the building, but Elsa has to find the notes in a sort of treasure hunt. 

-  I adored this book! The characters are so well written and thought out. At first they don't seem important, or they are portrayed a certain way, but as the story unfolds, each character becomes endearing and relatable. 

-  It was interesting to read an adult fiction book from a child's perspective. There were some heavy subjects, and I enjoyed seeing them through Elsa's eyes.

-  Backman is a master storyteller. The way his stories unfold and connect is genius. I have loved every book of his that I've read. 

-  The emotions this story elicits were deep and heartfelt. I laughed out loud, I grieved, I was sad, angry, torn, melancholy, etc. In the end, I felt a hopeful joy. This was pretty much a perfect book for me. 

-  I read this for book club last month, and we had a very engaging discussion about various things. It was a lot of fun. 

My Thoughts in a GIF:

Ranger's Apprentice: The Early Years

Title:  The Tournament at Gorlan and The Battle of Hackham Heath

Author:  John Flanagan

Publisher:  Philomel Books

Date Published:  October 6, 2015 and November 29, 2016

Genre:  Fantasy, Adventure

Rating:  ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

My Thoughts:

-  I love the Ranger's Apprentice and Brotherband books. They are some of my favorite stories and characters in all of literature. I was really excited when the author wrote some books about Halt and Crowley in the their younger years. 

-  Morgarath has been plotting to take over the kingdom. He has already convinced the king to banish his son, Prince Duncan. He has removed almost all of the Rangers and replaced them with his own people, and he is trying to win over the majority of the barons. Halt and Crowley decide to team up and recruit some of the disbanded Rangers to take down Morgarath. They are also trying to find Prince Duncan, so they can prove his innocence and frame Morgarath for treason. 

-  I loved these books. I loved getting to know Crowley more, and I was excited to read more about Halt. I may or may not have a thing for him. I loved meeting old friends and gaining new ones. It was fun to see Crowley step into his role as leader of the Rangers.

-  I am sad the author has only written two books for this series. I think there were plans to do more, but he is currently writing the Royal Ranger series. I need to read those.

-  Flanagan's humor is the best! I love the bantering between characters and the way they tease each other. I caught some serious giggles when Halt first met Lady Pauline. 

-  If you love adventure, stealth, tournaments, battles, clever bantering, highly skilled archers, and/or Australian authors, this is the book the for you! I highly recommend anything by John Flanagan, but I would start with Ranger's Apprentice.

My Thoughts in a GIF:

Rook

Title:  Rook

Author:  Sharon Cameron

Publisher:  Scholastic Press

Date Published:  April 28, 2015

Genre:  Young Adult, Distoptian

Rating:  ⭐⭐⭐

My Thoughts:

-    In what used to be Paris, a mysterious do-gooder named The Red Rook, is saving people from execution. Yes, exactly like The Scarlet Pimpernel. I don't think this was a reimagining or a retelling of The Scarlet Pimpernel, but the story was definitely influenced by the classic book. Instead of historical France during the French revolution, this story takes place in a futuristic world where technology is frowned upon because it brought about a horrible catastrophe. 

-    I liked the story overall, but it was too long. I think I would have enjoyed it more if some slower parts had been cut. 

-    Sophia made for a perfect Red Rook. She was constantly underestimated because she is a girl. I liked how Sophia used society's misogyny to her advantage. I also loved her cleverness and determination. 

-    I didn't get too attached to any of the characters, I liked Sophia well enough, but I didn't care of anyone else.

-    I don't know why, but I'm not enjoying YA books as much as I used to. Lately, I've been gravitating more towards adult and middle grade.

My Thoughts in a GIF:

Illuminae

Goodreads Synopsis:    This morning, Kady thought breaking up with Ezra was the hardest thing she’d have to do. This afternoon, her planet was invaded.

The year is 2575, and two rival megacorporations are at war over a planet that’s little more than an ice-covered speck at the edge of the universe. Too bad nobody thought to warn the people living on it. With enemy fire raining down on them, Kady and Ezra—who are barely even talking to each other—are forced to fight their way onto an evacuating fleet, with an enemy warship in hot pursuit.

But their problems are just getting started. A deadly plague has broken out and is mutating, with terrifying results; the fleet's AI, which should be protecting them, may actually be their enemy; and nobody in charge will say what’s really going on. As Kady hacks into a tangled web of data to find the truth, it's clear only one person can help her bring it all to light: the ex-boyfriend she swore she'd never speak to again.

BRIEFING NOTE: Told through a fascinating dossier of hacked documents—including emails, schematics, military files, IMs, medical reports, interviews, and more—Illuminae is the first book in a heart-stopping, high-octane trilogy about lives interrupted, the price of truth, and the courage of everyday heroes.

My Thoughts:

-    When I was first introduced to this book, I was blown away with the cover and the format. I knew I needed to read it. For some reason, I thought this was a crime book told through case files, interviews, etc. I had no idea it would be a thrilling sci-fi. 

-    I loved this book. It is truly a work of art. I can't even imagine how long it took the authors to come up with some of the pages. 

-    The story is a thrill ride, and I loved every moment. I had no idea what was going to happen next, and I couldn't even guess. The ending is awesome!

-    I haven't had a book hangover like this in a long time! I can't wait to read the sequel! 

Red Queen

Goodreads Synopsis:    This is a world divided by blood - red or silver.

The Reds are commoners, ruled by a Silver elite in possession of god-like superpowers. And to Mare Barrow, a seventeen-year-old Red girl from the poverty-stricken Stilts, it seems like nothing will ever change.

That is, until she finds herself working in the Silver Palace. Here, surrounded by the people she hates the most, Mare discovers that, despite her red blood, she possesses a deadly power of her own. One that threatens to destroy the balance of power.

Fearful of Mare's potential, the Silvers hide her in plain view, declaring her a long-lost Silver princess, now engaged to a Silver prince. Despite knowing that one misstep would mean her death, Mare works silently to help the Red Guard, a militant resistance group, and bring down the Silver regime.

But this is a world of betrayal and lies, and Mare has entered a dangerous dance - Reds against Silvers, prince against prince, and Mare against her own heart...

My Thoughts:

-    Wow! This book was one wild ride!

-    This book got a lot of buzz when it came out, and it deserved it.

-    I picked this book up a while ago, but I had just finished reading Pierce Brown's book, and I wanted something different, so I put it down. I always planned on picking it up again, and I'm so glad I did! I just wish I had picked it up sooner.

-    The characters were complex and I never knew who to trust or not. I still don't. 

-    The story was gripping from beginning to end. The story was begging me to come back to it when I wasn't reading. I was so hooked. 

-    Oh the feels! I felt hope, loss, betrayal, excitement, anger, etc. It was amazing!

-    The ending is killer! I can't wait to read what happens next!

Aftermath

From Goodreads:    As the Empire reels from its critical defeats at the Battle of Endor, the Rebel Alliance—now a fledgling New Republic—presses its advantage by hunting down the enemy’s scattered forces before they can regroup and retaliate. But above the remote planet Akiva, an ominous show of the enemy’s strength is unfolding. Out on a lone reconnaissance mission, pilot Wedge Antilles watches Imperial Star Destroyers gather like birds of prey circling for a kill, but he’s taken captive before he can report back to the New Republic leaders.

Meanwhile, on the planet’s surface, former rebel fighter Norra Wexley has returned to her native world—war weary, ready to reunite with her estranged son, and eager to build a new life in some distant place. But when Norra intercepts Wedge Antilles’s urgent distress call, she realizes her time as a freedom fighter is not yet over. What she doesn’t know is just how close the enemy is—or how decisive and dangerous her new mission will be.

Determined to preserve the Empire’s power, the surviving Imperial elite are converging on Akiva for a top-secret emergency summit—to consolidate their forces and rally for a counterstrike. But they haven’t reckoned on Norra and her newfound allies—her technical-genius son, a Zabrak bounty hunter, and a reprobate Imperial defector—who are prepared to do whatever they must to end the Empire’s oppressive reign once and for all.

My Thoughts:

-    I enjoyed learning about what happened in different parts of the galaxy after the emperor was killed. There aren't very many stories that deal with recovering from a huge rebellion.

-    I loved revisiting old characters like Wedge, and the main three. I hope there is more Han, Luke, and Leia in the next book. I really wish that they had been the main focus of the book. There is a lot of story missing between Return of the Jedi and Force Awakens.

-    I like the new characters, but I'm still trying to figure them out. There are so many struggles and issues for different people for different reasons.

Lair of Dreams

Goodreads Synopsis:    The longing of dreams draws the dead, and this city holds many dreams.

After a supernatural showdown with a serial killer, Evie O’Neill has outed herself as a Diviner. With her uncanny ability to read people’s secrets, she’s become a media darling, earning the title “America’s Sweetheart Seer.” Everyone’s in love with the city’s newest It Girl…everyone except the other Diviners.

Piano-playing Henry DuBois and Chinatown resident Ling Chan are two Diviners struggling to keep their powers a secret—for they can walk in dreams. And while Evie is living the high life, victims of a mysterious sleeping sickness are turning up across New York City.

As Henry searches for a lost love and Ling strives to succeed in a world that shuns her, a malevolent force infects their dreams. And at the edges of it all lurks a man in a stovepipe hat who has plans that extend farther than anyone can guess…As the sickness spreads, can the Diviners descend into the dreamworld to save the city?

In this heart-stopping sequel to The Diviners, Printz Award-winning and New York Times bestselling author Libba Bray takes readers deeper into the mystical underbelly of New York City.

My Thoughts:

-    I thought the first book was creepy. This book takes creepy up a notch. It was fun though. While I was creeped out at night and sometimes afraid to sleep, I enjoyed the ride.

-    I love the story, but the book is really long. I don't know what parts could be cut out though. There is a lot of good stuff happening, but the book is too long.

-    The ending is one heck of a thrill ride! I loved it!

-    I loved how Libba addressed the segregation and racism in America in the 20s. She wasn't pushing a message and didn't call it out, she just told the honest truth from a Chinese girl's perspective and a black boy's perspective. Thank you!

-    I liked that I got to know different characters and their backgrounds in this book. In the first book, it focused on Evie and a couple other characters, and this book was more for Henry and Ling. I liked that different characters got to shine. 

-    I can't say enough about the setting. Libba really outdid herself. I felt so immersed in New York in the 20s. I loved it. I love all the finery, jazz, and jargon. It's so much fun. 

Previous Book in The Diviners' Trilogy:

Moving Target: A Princess Leia Adventure

Goodreads Synopsis:    A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away...

Reeling from their disastrous defeat on Hoth, the heroic freedom fighters of the REBEL ALLIANCE have scattered throughout space, pursued by the agents of the sinister GALACTIC EMPIRE.

One rebel task force protects PRINCESS LEIA, bearing her in secrecy from star to star. As the last survivor of Alderaan's House of Organa, Leia is a symbol of freedom, hunted by the Empire she has opposed for so long.

The struggle against Imperial tyranny has claimed many rebel lives. As the Empire closes in, Leia resolves to make a sacrifice of her own, lest the cause of freedom be extinguished from the galaxy....

My Thoughts:

-    This is one of those books that I don't have a lot to say about.

-    I liked it. It was a fun Princess Leia adventure.

-    I've never read a Star Wars book that takes place after Empire Strikes Back. Most of them happen after A New Hope, so it was nice to get a book in a different time frame.

-    It is always fun when Nien Nunb is on the scene.

-    I loved Leia's resolve to find Han at the end of the book. 

Goodbye Stranger

Goodreads Synopsis:    Bridge is an accident survivor who's wondering why she's still alive. Emily has new curves and an almost-boyfriend who wants a certain kind of picture. Tabitha sees through everybody's games—or so she tells the world. The three girls are best friends with one rule: No fighting. Can it get them through seventh grade? 

This year everything is different for Sherm Russo as he gets to know Bridge Barsamian. What does it mean to fall for a girl—as a friend? 

On Valentine's Day, an unnamed high school girl struggles with a betrayal. How long can she hide in plain sight?

My Thoughts:

-    There was a lot packed into this book. It was thought provoking and humorous.

-    Some of the issues that were covered were a little heavy for a middle grade novel, but they were important issues that all kids and parents should be aware of.

-    The pacing of the story was perfect. I was hooked from the beginning, and I didn't want to stop. 

-    I wanted to scream and yell at Emily to stop texting that boy, but alas, I knew she wouldn't hear me. I didn't like how forgiving Emily was. She should have been livid at that boy. Why did she believe his story? I don't believe anything he said.

-    I liked Bridge's growth, and how she learned who she was and how she fit into the world. Middle school is an awkward age. 

-    I'm excited to read more from this author. 

Kanan: The Last Padawan

From Goodreads:    In Star Wars: Rebels, Kanan Jarrus is a cocky, sarcastic renegade fighting the Galactic Empire alongside the ragtag crew of the Ghost. But years before, during the Clone Wars, he was known as Caleb Dume, a Jedi Padawan training under Master Depa Billaba. Neither master nor apprentice ever suspected that their “loyal” Clone Troopers would turn on them upon the issuing of Order 66 — the Emperor's directive to execute all Jedi. How did Caleb Dume escape the Jedi purge? How did he learn to survive on his own after his master fell? And how did he become the man we know as Kanan Jarrus? What can a Padawan do when being a Jedi makes him a target? Join young Caleb for a tale that bridges the years between the Clone Wars and Rebels! Collecting KANAN: THE LAST PADAWAN #1-6.



My Thoughts:

-    In the Star Wars universe, if you want to know everything about everything and everyone, you have to read all the mediums. It is kinda crazy.

-    After watching a couple seasons of Star Wars: Rebels. I knew I needed to read this comic series. I wanted to learn more about Kanan's history.

-    I decided to go with the trade books on this one. I liked being able to get more story in one book. 

-    I really enjoyed getting to know Kanan better. I didn't know he changed his name. 

-    I wish I could have gotten to know Kanan's master better. I wanted a little more about Kanan's time as an apprentice.

-    I liked that the last issue incorporated the Ghost crew! It was fun to see them in comic form.

Heir to the Jedi

Goodreads Synopsis:    A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away. . . . 
 
A thrilling new adventure set between A New Hope and The Empire Strikes Back, and—for the first time ever—written entirely from Luke Skywalker’s first-person point of view.

My Thoughts:

-    The title is a little misleading. I thought the story would be more about Luke learning about the Jedi and the force. Luke does use the force a few times in the book, but nothing huge.

-    This was a fun adventure with Luke. I liked seeing him do missions for the Rebels. I liked seeing him grow and become the Luke we see in Empire Strikes Back.

The Weapon of a Jedi: A Luke Skywalker Adventure

Goodreads Synopsis:    A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away....

The REBEL ALLIANCE has destroyed the Empire's dreaded DEATH STAR, but the galaxy remains convulsed by civil war, and the Imperial starfleet is hunting the rebels throughout the galaxy.

LUKE SKYWALKER, the pilot who destroyed the Death Star, is now hailed as a hero. But Luke seeks only to support the freedom fighters, serving the Rebellion behind the controls of his X-wing fighter.

Even as he flies alongside the pilots of Red Squadron, Luke feels stirrings in the mystical energy field known as the Force. And this farm boy turned fighter pilot begins to suspect his destiny lies along a different path....

My Thoughts:

-    I don't have a lot to say about this one. 

-    It was good. I liked learning about how Luke learned to use his lightsaber. 

-    It was fun.

-    I liked the C-3P0 was telling the story.

Jack: The True Story of Jack and the Beanstalk

From Goodreads:    Jack has always been told that giants are not real. But if that’s the case, how do you explain the huge, foot shaped pond in the yard, or the occurrence of strange and sudden storms in which the earth quakes and dirt rains from the sky? When his father is carried away in such a storm, Jack gives chase in the only logical way: by trading the family cow for some magic beans that will give him access to a land beyond the clouds. He arrives to find that the giants themselves have giant-sized troubles. With the help of an overachieving little sister, a magic goose and a chatty cook (who is not interested in grinding human bones into bread, thank you very much!) Jack sets out to save his dad and save the day.





My Thoughts:

-    I liked Rump a lot, so I was excited to read more of these, but this one was a little disappointing. It wasn't as good as Rump.

-    I wish the story has strayed from the original a little more. 

-    I really like that the giant world was the same world as Rump. It was really fun to see old characters come back.

-    I liked the characters a lot. I like Jack and his sister, and I liked their relationship.

-    The story was a little slow at times. I think the pacing was just off.

Smuggler's Run: A Han Solo and Chewbacca Adventure

Goodreads Synopsis:    It is a period of civil war. The heroic freedom fighters of the REBEL ALLIANCE have won their most important victory thus far with the destruction of the Empire's ultimate weapon, the DEATH STAR.

But the Rebellion has no time to savor its victory. The evil Galactic Empire has recognized the threat the rebels pose, and is now searching the galaxy for any and all information that will lead to the final destruction of the freedom fighters.

For the MILLENNIUM FALCON's crew, who saved the life of Luke Skywalker during the Battle of Yavin, their involvement with the rebels is at an end. Now HAN SOLO and CHEWBACCA hope to take their reward and settle some old debts....

My Thoughts:

-    The hardest reviews to write are the ones where you don't have anything to say about the book. This is one of those books.

-    It was a fun Han and Chewy adventure. That is all.

-    I did like that old man Han is telling the tale and reminiscing of his younger rebel days. 

Deep Dark Fears and The Creeps

Goodreads Synopsis:    A charmingly creepy collection of 100 illustrated comics based on idiosyncratic and universal "deep dark fears."

We all have weird fears, from getting sliced to ribbons in subway station revolving gate to getting turned around by the wind while swimming and going too far out to sea. Based on the wildly popular eponymous Tumblr, Deep Dark Fears explores our odd, creepy, and hilariously singular fears. Animator, illustrator, and cartoonist Fran Krause brings these fears to life in vividly illustrated comics based on real fears submitted by readers (plus a few of his own). These "deep dark fears" run the gamut from unlikely but plausible to completely ridiculous, highlighting both our deeply human similarities and our peculiar uniquenesses.

From Goodreads:    Illustrator, animator, teacher, and comic artist Fran Krause has touched a collective nerve with his wildly popular web comic series–and subsequent New York Times best-selling book–Deep Dark Fears. Here he brings readers more of the creepy, funny, and idiosyncratic fears they love illustrated in comic form-–such as the fear that your pets will tell other animals all your embarrassing secrets, or that someone uses your house while you’re not home-–as well as two longer comic short-stories about ghosts.

My Thoughts:

-    Both books are full of irrational fears people sent to the author.

-    A lot of the fears were so outlandish that they were hilarious, but some of the fears were pretty dumb. When I say dumb, I mean there is NO possible way that could EVER happen dumb.

-    Both books were fun quick reads, and they were perfect for the 24 Hour Read-a-Thon.

Battlefront - Twilight Company

From Goodreads:    A companion novel inspired by the hotly anticipated videogame Star Wars: Battlefront, this action-packed adventure follows a squad of soldiers caught in the trenches of the ultimate galactic war between good and evil.

The bravest soldiers. The toughest warriors. The ultimate survivors.

Among the stars and across the vast expanses of space, the Galactic Civil War rages. On the battlefields of multiple worlds in the Mid Rim, legions of ruthless stormtroopers—bent on crushing resistance to the Empire wherever it arises—are waging close and brutal combat against an armada of freedom fighters. In the streets and alleys of ravaged cities, the front-line forces of the Rebel Alliance are taking the fight to the enemy, pushing deeper into Imperial territory and grappling with the savage flesh-and-blood realities of war on the ground.

Leading the charge are the soldiers—men and women, human and nonhuman—of the sixty-first mobile infantry, better known as Twilight Company. Hard-bitten, war-weary, and ferociously loyal to one another, the members of this renegade outfit doggedly survive where others perish, and defiance is their most powerful weapon against the deadliest odds. When orders come down for the Rebels to fall back in the face of superior opposition numbers and firepower, Twilight reluctantly complies. Then an unlikely ally radically changes the strategic equation—and gives the Alliance’s hardest-fighting warriors a crucial chance to turn retreat into resurgence.

Orders or not, alone and outgunned but unbowed, Twilight Company locks, loads, and prepares to make its boldest maneuver—trading down-and-dirty battle in the trenches for a game-changing strike at the ultimate target: the very heart of the Empire’s military machine.

My Thoughts:

-    I didn't care for this book. It didn't feel like a Star Wars book to me.

-    I didn't like that the main characters didn't believe in what they were fighting for, and they were just waiting for an opportunity to leave Twilight Company. That isn't what the Rebels are about.

-    Some of the battles were fun, but most of the book was pretty slow.

-    I love the Battlefront games, but I haven't played the new one. I was worried they wouldn't be able to make a story out of the game, and I was right.

Lost Stars

Goodreads Synopsis:    A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away…

Eight years after the fall of the Old Republic, the Galactic Empire now reigns over the known galaxy. Resistance to the Empire has been all but silenced. Only a few courageous leaders such as Bail Organa of Alderaan still dare to openly oppose Emperor Palpatine.

After years of defiance, the many worlds at the edge of the Outer Rim have surrendered. With each planet’s conquest, the Empire’s might grows stronger.

The latest to fall under the Emperor’s control is the isolated mountain planet Jelucan, whose citizens hope for a more prosperous future even as the Imperial Starfleet gathers overhead…

My Thoughts:

-    This book went by quickly. It was easy to read, and it was really good.

-    I liked seeing famous events from the original trilogy, and I enjoyed seeing them from both the Empire's side and the Rebel's side. It was cool to get both perspectives.

-    I liked both of the main characters, but they could get dramatic at times, and I rolled my eyes at a lot of the romance parts.

-    I can't believe this is my first Claudia Gray book. Her books have been on my TBR list for a long time, but I never got around to them. She does a good Star Wars story, so hopefully I'll like her other stuff.

Harriet the Invincible

From Goodreads:    Sleeping Beauty gets a feisty, furry twist in this hilarious new comic series from the creator of Dragonbreath

Harriet Hamsterbone is not your typical princess. She may be quite stunning in the rodent realm (you'll have to trust her on this one), but she is not so great at trailing around the palace looking ethereal or sighing a lot. She finds the royal life rather . . . dull. One day, though, Harriet's parents tell her of the curse that a rat placed on her at birth, dooming her to prick her finger on a hamster wheel when she's twelve and fall into a deep sleep. For Harriet, this is most wonderful news: It means she's invincible until she's twelve! After all, no good curse goes to waste. And so begins a grand life of adventure with her trusty riding quail, Mumfrey...until her twelfth birthday arrives and the curse manifests in a most unexpected way.

Perfect for fans of Babymouse and Chris Colfer's Land of Stories, this laugh-out-loud new comic hybrid series will turn everything you thought you knew about princesses on its head.

My Thoughts:

-    This was a fun and refreshing twist on an old fairy tale. Gnome and I both really enjoyed this one.

-    The book is unique. Some pages have illustrations and dialogue like a graphic novel, but most pages just have text like a regular novel. It was cool that they mixed the two. 

-    I like that Harriet just does whatever, and I love that she uses her curse to her advantage. 

-    I liked that this had a lot of twists on the Sleeping Beauty. I wasn't sure what was going to happen next.

-    There were a lot of funny moments. Gnome and I laughed throughout the book.

-    My only complaint is that the book is a little long. I think they could have shortened it a bit.

Lords of the Sith

When the Emperor and his notorious apprentice, Darth Vader, find themselves stranded in the middle of insurgent action on an inhospitable planet, they must rely on each other, the Force, and their own ruthlessness to prevail. 
"It appears things are as you suspected, Lord Vader. We are indeed hunted. " 

Anakin Skywalker, Jedi Knight, is just a memory. Darth Vader, newly anointed Sith Lord, is ascendant. The Emperor's chosen apprentice has swiftly proven his loyalty to the dark side. Still, the history of the Sith Order is one of duplicity, betrayal, and acolytes violently usurping their Masters and the truest measure of Vader s allegiance has yet to be taken. Until now. 

On Ryloth, a planet crucial to the growing Empire as a source of slave labor and the narcotic known as spice, an aggressive resistance movement has arisen, led by Cham Syndulla, an idealistic freedom fighter, and Isval, a vengeful former slave. But Emperor Palpatine means to control the embattled world and its precious resources by political power or firepower and he will be neither intimidated nor denied. Accompanied by his merciless disciple, Darth Vader, he sets out on a rare personal mission to ensure his will is done. 

For Syndulla and Isval, it s the opportunity to strike at the very heart of the ruthless dictatorship sweeping the galaxy. And for the Emperor and Darth Vader, Ryloth becomes more than just a matter of putting down an insurrection: When an ambush sends them crashing to the planet s surface, where inhospitable terrain and an army of resistance fighters await them, they will find their relationship tested as never before. With only their lightsabers, the dark side of the Force, and each other to depend on, the two Sith must decide if the brutal bond they share will make them victorious allies or lethal adversaries. 

My Thoughts:

-    This one was interesting, but a little slow, and I don't think it added anything to the overall Star Wars story/timeline.

-    I liked seeing the conflict in Darth Vader. Even from the beginning, he was torn between the light and dark. 

-    Most of the book is one giant battle, and I wish the story had been broken up more with different events.

-    I liked being introduced to Cham Syndulla, I've heard his daughter is a pretty significant character later on. 

-    Isval was an interesting character. I wish we had gotten more of her back story. I really liked when she saved the slave girl. 

-    Overall, this wasn't an essential read, and I'd probably advise people to skip it. It wasn't the best Star Wars book, but it wasn't the worst either. 

Dark Disciple

Goodreads Synopsis:    Based on unproduced scripts from the blockbuster TV show Star Wars: The Clone Wars!

The only way to bring down the dark side's most dangerous warrior may be for Jedi and Sith to join forces.

In the war for control of the galaxy between the armies of the dark side and the Republic, former Jedi Master turned ruthless Sith Lord Count Dooku has grown ever more brutal in his tactics. Despite the powers of the Jedi and the military prowess of their clone army, the sheer number of fatalities is taking a terrible toll. And when Dooku orders the massacre of a flotilla of helpless refugees, the Jedi Council feels it has no choice but to take drastic action: targeting the man responsible for so many war atrocities, Count Dooku himself.

But the ever-elusive Dooku is dangerous prey for even the most skilled hunter. So the Council makes the bold decision to bring both sides of the Force's power to bear—pairing brash Jedi Knight Quinlan Vos with infamous one-time Sith acolyte Asajj Ventress. Though Jedi distrust for the cunning killer who once served at Dooku's side still runs deep, Ventress's hatred for her former master runs deeper. She's more than willing to lend her copious talents as a bounty hunter—and assassin—to Vos's quest.

Together, Ventress and Vos are the best hope for eliminating Dooku—as long as the emerging feelings between them don't compromise their mission. But Ventress is determined to have her retribution and at last let go of her dark Sith past. Balancing the complicated emotions she feels for Vos with the fury of her warrior's spirit, she resolves to claim victory on all fronts—a vow that will be mercilessly tested by her deadly enemy . . . and her own doubt.

My Thoughts:

-    This book was so awesome! I almost gave it 5 stars, but a small part in the book held me back. 4.5 stars though!

-    I probably should have finished watching Clone Wars before I read this, but oh well. It was still amazing! Now I'm even more excited to see what happens in Clone Wars.

-    This story was SO gut wrenching. I was on edge the whole time. I didn't know who to trust or what was going to happen. It was a nail biting journey.

-    Asajj Ventress is one of my new favorite Star Wars characters. I love redemption stories, and her story is one of the best!