| Title | : | Victory's Price (Star Wars: Alphabet Squadron, #3) |
| Author | : | |
| Rating | : | |
| ISBN | : | - |
| Language | : | English |
| Format Type | : | Kindle Edition |
| Number of Pages | : | 320 |
| Publication | : | First published March 2, 2021 |
Soran Keize has returned to the tip of Shadow Wing’s spear. Operation Cinder, the terrifying protocol of planetary extermination which began in the twilight of the Imperial era, burns throughout the galaxy. Shadow Wing is no longer wounded prey fleeing the hunters of the New Republic. With its leader, its strength has returned, and its Star Destroyers and TIE squadrons lurk in the darkness between stars, carrying out the fallen Emperor’s final edict of destruction—as well as another, stranger mission, one Keize has championed not for the dying Empire, but for its loyal soldiers.
Alphabet Squadron’s ships are as ramshackle and damaged as their spirits, but they’ve always had each oth
Victory's Price (Star Wars: Alphabet Squadron, #3) Reviews
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This is an extremely emotionally heavy book. I really enjoyed this book. I am glad it is 460 pages as it was all needed for the character development. There is a lot of action in the book, but this is more the soldier's tale. I am glad the story is done this way. It is very much in the style of Battlefront Twilight Company by the same author. I would give this 4.5 stars but the more I though about it it deserves a round up instead of down.
Some time has passed since the last book, and aligences have changed. One of the things I did not like about the last book was I really did not understand the characters motivations for the side they chose and the choices they made. Here it is explained a lot better, however the characters are still changing and each choice opens up mor paths. I am glad Hera Sundulla had a much bigger part in this book. Personally I think it is past time she had her own book or series.
The is a great ending to the Alphabet Squadren trilogy, with room to revisit some characters as well as an ending for others. It does start off slow and has a lot of characters and emotions to cover. Once I got past the first 50 pages the book got a lot more interesting. The slow burn really does fit the story well. I would like to see more of some of the survivors of this book return. -
Where to start? This is the best Star Wars Canon novel. Yeah that's where I'll start. I will likely be in the minority in thinking that. But I have never read Star Wars book that has more effectively examined the nuances of ethics and morality like this one did. And Freed explored these complex themes while also crafting original characters that, by the end of the trilogy, the reader is intimately familiar with. The best thing I can liken the end of this trilogy to, is the feeling you get at the end of Tolkien's Return of the King; You've reached the end of a beautiful journey, and while you don't want it to end, you do feel a bittersweet satisfaction for the characters you've come to know and love.
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Simply stated, Alexander Freed sticks the landing in the conclusion to his Alphabet Squadron trilogy. The time he spent over the first two books introducing us to his new characters pays off in a story that blends deep character moments with the sort of expertly crafted military sci-fi we've come to expect from Freed. Heartfelt introspection and emotional tension for the characters don't so much alternate with fast-paced action as they are interwoven with it, all as the narrative builds to an epic conclusion. It was one of those books I hated to see end. At the same time, it made me excited for whatever Freed has in store for us next.
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It took me 53 days to read this book, so for me that tells me the real story. Pleasure reading shouldn't feel so much like work.
Freed is a great writer, and the plotting and characterizations were well done, but this just wasn't for me, nor was the trilogy on the whole if I'm being honest.
To all those who enjoyed it and this more sombre reflection on the tolls the war took on the forces of the Rebellion or Empire alike, outstanding. For me this was enjoyable overall, but not storyline or group of characters I ever feel like revisiting as it stands. -
Alexander Freed has done what no one else has been able to for post-Endor Star Wars in the new canon. The Alphabet Squadron trilogy is a bold, honest look at the galaxy as it deals with the aftermath of the Empire and the establishment of the New Republic. In this concluding volume, Victory’s Price, the threads of the series (and the year after Endor as a whole) are brought together in satisfying, complex ways. The Emperor’s Messenger, which has lurked in the background of the previous two novels, now becomes something more—and what it’s connected to is something that finally allows Star Wars to comment on current issues in the real world. (None of the new-canon books, and certainly not the sequel trilogy, has done that at all.) George Lucas originally saw a number of connections between the first trilogy of films and current events, and I suppose he must have thought he was making some statements about contemporary politics through the prequel trilogy. But since Disney took over, the series has been adrift, even where it has occasionally been thoroughly entertaining as Star Wars stories (Rogue One, Solo, Rebels). Alphabet Squadron (and, to a lesser extent, The Mandalorian) is what should have launched the Disney era.
The fascinating thing about the mission that’s generated by the Emperor’s Messenger in this novel is that it is a moral quandary. It isn’t a simple good-vs.-evil narrative, nor is it a retread of any typical SW plots; it’s genuinely complicated, and any of the possible outcomes, even up to the climactic moment, seems justifiable. It’s resolved in a nuanced way that allows Quell to confront her past, skillfully blending a personal journey with something that’s also significant to the galaxy. Freed never lets his characters off with easy answers to the burdens they bear from the war. “I’ve accepted what I’ve done,” says one character. “I know the awful deeds I’ve committed and I’ve tried to move past my guilt, because it stopped being useful long ago. . . . I live with the memory of what I’m capable of every day. I need the memory to do better” (420).
There are no easy answers, but there are points along the way where a person simply needs to move ahead. As Hera tells Quell, “What you deserve . . . is a question for philosophers” (440). For a lot of characters in this series, the easiest answer would be to die in battle and not have to confront what life means after the war; in fact, there were points during this novel at which I thought that by the end of the story, none of the original Alphabet Squadron ships (and maybe none of the pilots) would survive to the end—which seemed appropriate. But this is not Rogue One. Some of the characters are asked to survive and endure, which is a much harder quest.
This all relates to what is perhaps my favorite thing about Freed’s perspective on Star Wars: individual lives matter. He shows us space battles, almost tempting us to get so involved in the exciting action sequences that we stop caring about the almost anonymous people who are dying. But he always reminds us that the lives of individual are exactly what’s important. Some poignant, beautiful things happen during the battle of Jakku that bring the value of life right to the forefront even while the battle continues.
Alphabet Squadron is not perfect, but it’s tremendous. Some of its shortcomings: We never learn nearly enough about the perspective of Shadow Wing. I wouldn’t mind if Freed would write another book from their side of this story. Wyl Lark may be a little too perfect (and his idealistic communication attempts only just barely pay off at the end), and Kairos a little too mysterious. And I would have preferred to see Chass persist in her religious faith, rather than discard it relatively quickly, after a lot of buildup. In this final novel, I felt there is at least one epilogue too many. Especially the last one is unnecessary, but it may have been better to eliminate all of the “what happened to them after the war” segments. Let the reader stay at the end of the war and ponder the future possibilities.
Those criticisms aside, this series has easily been the best Star Wars I’ve read. Freed not only crafts stories that are intriguing, but he seems to understand what it would feel like to be in Star Wars, a skill that no other current SW authors have demonstrated to this extent. He captures little moments of Star Wars that made me smile and think, “Yes, it would feel like that, wouldn’t it?” It’s like reading an author who can channel memories of how I played SW as a child, much of which I’d forgotten in all the years since. I had a great time being brought back to the wonder of the SW galaxy. -
This book is the third book of a series. I recommend reading them in order. This one takes place a year after the Battle of Endor. Alphabet Squadron is still nipping at the heels of Shadow Wing and what does this mean for Quell who is now a member of Shadow Wing.
This was a fitting end for this series that had its ups and downs. This book and series is probably the most realistic book for this universe and I believe this will affect one's enjoyment. It doesn't glamorize war but looks into how it affects the common person who is fighting it. The question is are you looking for a realistic look into war or are you looking for escapism with fantastic battles and humble heroes and dastardly villains. For me, I am looking for the latter and I think that is why this isn't my favorite series. I love the idea of the last days of The Empire and the Rebels finding the last remnants of it. I also love the concept of what happens to members of The Empire after the war. When we concentrated on these concepts I loved this book. The problem is when we do a deep dive into this book. I really don't care for the characters. Why would I care if a person is obsessed with a cult? And what is with this book and all the chatting between opposing sides during a battle? All I could imagine is Luke starting his trench run in the Death Star and Vader chasing him. Then they start talking like they are old friends while Vader is trying to blow him to smithereens. It would remove the tension of the moment.
The overall arc is terrific as it leads up to Jakku. I just didn't love the characters involved in the whole book besides Hera. I was interested in the whole book but there were ideas that I just did not like. I appreciate what the author was going for with the realism but I think I look forward more to the fantasy portrayal when I read a book from this universe. I did like the whole series. It just could have been better. -
"The truth being...?"
"We were murderous bastards," she said. "and being true to one another doesn't make it any better. It just means we don't stop when we figure out how bad it's gotten."
Star Wars Sparkles: ✨✨✨✨✨
This was SO GOOD. I'm gutted to be done with Alphabet Squadron - this trilogy has honestly been the most enjoyable, free and mature Star Wars fiction I've ever had the privilege of reading.
VICTORY'S PRICE picks up where SHADOW FALL left off - Quell returned to the 204th Imperial Fighter Wing, and the remainder of Alphabet Squadron - Wyl, Kairos, Nath and Chass - processing her betrayal and part in the atrocities of Operation Cinder while still on the tail of the 204th, with Shadow Wing resorting to more and more desperate strategies and tactics to survive and wipe out 'traitorous' Imperial remnants.
From the very first book I have been so impressed with the maturity of Freed's characters - an enormous, galaxy spanning war would have immense fallout on those who fought in it (let alone two enormous, galaxy spanning wars in a lifetime) and while some Star Wars fiction pays lip service to the idea of PTSD or war guilt, the ALPHABET SQUADRON books have from the start been very realistic and gritty with how it has been portrayed.
VICTORY'S PRICE is no exception, with the main players all grappling with their personal damage and how they cope with it - drink, hero complexes, prayer, self-loathing. Half of the book features Yrica Quell, who was pushed into defecting from the Empire after burning a planet, back with her Imperial squadron and wrestling with her newfound responsibility to the New Republic and her knowledge and care for her people.
The guilt and rage that Chass and Kairos feel over the betrayal of Quell and the revelation that she was a willing participant in Operation Cinder consumes them, filling their minds with revenge and judgement. Wyl is forced into leading the squadron over Nath, but Nath has to face that he isn't a Han Solo type afterall and step up to the plate. Soran Keize, the leader of Shadow Wing, struggles with a future where the Empire is defeated and every single soldier or pilot who followed orders is hunted down by a vengeful New Republic and held to account.
More than any other, the ALPHABET SQUADRON books portray Imperials as.. people. People fighting for what they believe, for their families, for their comrades - but people. Not every Stormtrooper is a heartless murderer, not every TIE pilot dreams of burning down civilian cities, and at a certain point when you have spent your entire adult life fighting for a regime, all you have left is your squadmates.
Most Star Wars fiction features bombastic, exciting combat - VICTORY'S PRICE is no exception, but the combat in this final book of the trilogy takes on a far more melancholy, inevitable and pointless feel compared to the others. People laugh and cheer, but it feels hollow - Shadow Wing aren't going to surrender, Alphabet aren't going to stop - they're all circling death together, it's only a matter of who falls in first.
I was very satisfied with the ending - I won't spoil anything, but the outcome feels very natural and... right for this group of misfits. As much as I would dearly love more books with this group, I think that's just my greediness talking.
A fantastic end to an amazing trilogy. I can't wait to reread it. -
Alphabet Squadron: Victory’s Price is an Emotionally Satisfying Conclusion to the Trilogy (READ MORE:
https://yourmoneygeek.com/review-alph...)
Alphabet Squadron: Victory’s Price picks up right where Shadow Fall left us. Delivering the final act of a trilogy is no easy feat, and yet Alexander Freed delivers an action-packed, edge-of-your-seat, and satisfying conclusion to the beloved Alphabet Squadron series.
With Wyl Lark on the cover of Alphabet Squadron: Victory’s Price, it’s safe to assume that his story is at the center of the novel — and it is. He also has a few close calls that had me seriously concerned about what direction this book was heading in. His journey is an emotionally satisfying one and the trauma that all of the characters have endured is mentioned, though not delved into as fully as I may have wanted to see. But there is a great note about the fact that they haven’t had a therapist aboard since Adan.
As a fan of Star Wars: Rebels, I was thrilled with how much of a prominent role Hera Syndulla had in Alphabet Squadron: Victory’s Price. She was a driving force of motivation for the new characters that the series introduced us to and provided the perfect anchor for those who may need external character connections when delving into the literary universes of Star Wars.
And don’t worry, Yrica Quell’s story is far from over since we last met with her. Victory’s Price delves deep into her character, motives, and actions — exploring her character arc with all of the grace and respect that should be afforded to her character.
It would have been easy for Freed to choose a path where Mon Mothma decided to make an example out of Yrica Quell’s traitorous actions over the course of the Alphabet Squadron trilogy, but instead, he wrote a path that I hope more Star Wars creators are brave enough to tread in the future. Quell’s choices are not forgotten, her actions related to the destruction of Nacronis are not forgotten, but she is allowed to live with them. Despite it all, she even gets the girl in the end.
The “Victory’s Price” segment of the novel brings satisfying closure for not only the readers, but for the characters. Readers are not left to worry about the fates of the characters they’ve grown fond of, as Freed elaborates on the “after” that they share together and independently, while smartly leaving it with the potential to revisit this chapter of the Star Wars story in the future.
Alexander Freed’s strength lays in making nuanced characters that come alive on the pages of his novels. Each character in the Alphabet Squadron trilogy has had a distinct voice, a distinct personality, and a distinct way of resonating with all of us. Whether it’s stories about duty, acceptance, trust, or victory — Freed’s unique voice has created a Star Wars story that is worthy of sitting alongside the great sci-fi classics dwelling on anyone’s bookshelf.
Alphabet Squadron: Victory’s Price is a fitting end to a trilogy that reinvigorated the imaginations of so many Star Wars fans. From daunting tales of piloting feats, to the human stories that resonate through every Star Wars tale, and the connections that make all of us who we are, you won’t want to miss out on the end of this story. -
Star Wars: Victory's Price was written by New York Times Best Selling Author, Alexander Freed. It was published by Del Rey.
Victory's Price concludes the Alphabet Squadron trilogy.
Here’s my YouTube video review:
https://youtu.be/HII-ohp82PY
SUMMARY: After the events that took place in the Cerberon System, the New Republic has the 204th Imperial Unit Shadow Wing mostly on the run playing defense. Between each run in, the 204th strikes its judgment on select Imperial holdouts in the galaxy. Operation Cinder phase II, has begun. The New Republic, specifically the group lead by General Syndulla, is to put an end to the 204th. The mission gets tricky, as it appears there is a mole within Syndulla's New Republic ship, as well as one within the 204th!
Many twists and turns entangle the opposing sides, all the way up to the epic, final battle of the Republic and the Empire - over the sands of Jakku.
CHARACTERS: The cast of characters is great, I'm only picking two to discuss.
Wyl Lark: He's been commanding the squadron, and he's still homesick. He doesn't have the fight in him anymore. He want's the war to end and just go home already. His relationship with his unit is on the rocks, but they still have a bond that holds them together, even by the weakest thread. Whyl is the one character that actually made me feel anger and bitter. Alexander Freed's writing is just too good.
Kairos: She's always been the odd one, the mysterious female with something going on internally. She's unique, the mystery continues with Kairos. She's a hunter, which makes her an excellent tracker.
Yrica Quell: All I'll say in this review, is that she surprised me.
Chass Na Chadic: She's a wild one, after her wild adventure in the Cerberon system, she's left scarred and emotionally on edge. She's a bad A, with an attitude, and shows no fear of anyone or anything. She's my favorite character in this trilogy.
OVERALL THOUGHTS: I liked this book. It was mostly everything I was hoping it would be. The last time we saw these characters, they were all put in really tough and surprising situations. That element continues as many of the cast goes through extreme changes and adjustments. By the time the story concludes, I found some of the character arcs satisfying, while some were left open or just a tad too awkward.
Alexander Freed’s writing is outstanding. The novel feels more than just sci-fi/fantasy - it feels real. From the dialogue to the descriptions, every moment was fleshed out nicely. The way Freed creates characters and what he puts them through is just incredible. The war has changed people, there’s no easy walk in the park for anyone, the hero’s suffer. The desperation for victory or death drives the plot
The book read quickly, not one moment did I feel I was wasting my precious time or drift off from boredom. I was glued to the pages all the way to end! The only negative I have to say, is there is one moment in the end that feels like a "check the box, gotta include that thing" in the story, it came across unnatural and as an afterthought. However, Overall - Victory's Price is a fast paced nail-biting conclusion to the Alphabet Squadron trilogy. Freed's brilliance and storytelling ability is just, next level.
RATING: I give this novel an A. -
It’s rare for a Star Wars book to feel so important. It ripped my heart out and resuscitated me dozens of times throughout the course of the story. It’s also a rarity for a singular author to pen a trilogy in its entirety; for that reason this trilogy has a tremendous continuity in story and in tone throughout. If you liked the previous two entries in the trilogy, you’re bound to love this one as well. In particular, I liked what Victory’s Price did with the Keize-Quell relationship, the elevated role for Hera Syndulla of Rebels fame, and the adventure on Kairos’s home planet. Overall, it’s perhaps one of the best-written Star Wars books on a literary level. Freed is truly a master of characters and of emotional depth in his prose. I, for one, feel the need to see a therapist after reading this book—especially if that therapist is formerly a torture droid. . .
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A fitting end to Alexander Freed’s trilogy about Alphabet Squadron. Asking interesting questions about loyalty and duty, and how far should retribution go in dealing with those who accepted and enforced unethical and brutal regimes. And humanizing those who were in those regimes.
This whole series lives in the land of the grey, the morally complex, and ethically dubious. This was an excellent wrap up to this series, with Yrica, Wyl and Chass finding some peace after their many trials and engagements. -
When it is available, I will by the paperback copy of this book as well to not only complete my set but to continue to vote with my money for THIS being the Star Wars that is put out into the world.
I resonate so strongly with Alexander Freed’s approach to Star Wars, characters, and worldbuilding in the Star Wars universe. THIS is the empathetic, character-driven, micro-and-macro scope, well written Star Wars we all deserve.
I have big thoughts and feelings that I am unsure I will be capable of putting into shape soon. Suffice it to say, for now, that is the Star Wars of my heart, the one I will come back to, the creative future I want for the franchise and in my own experiments with entering the intellectual and emotional playground of this world myself.
What a flimsy, awful, uninformative gushing of a review. I may update it one day to be something more encompassing and formed, but in the meantime I agree with and recommend the following (that might better exemplify WHY you should shut up and read this trilogy than I am capable of at this time):
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show... -
This was a book I was eager to devour but wanted to savor every chapter. I didn’t want to finish it too quickly, but like Freed so beautifully illustrates, all good things must come to an end, and what a spectacular end it is.
Naturally, “Victory’s Price” picks up right where 2020’s “Shadow Fall” left off; our beloved Alphabet Squadron partially united but with individual priorities. One character’s shocking decision at the end of “Shadow Fall” weighs heavy on the crew and colors each of their storylines. Hera Syndulla is back leading the New Republic’s charge to hunt down the deadly Shadow Wing as they continue to wreak havoc across the galaxy and the plot culminates at the famed Battle of Jakku, the epic last stand of the Empire.
What I have come to love about Freed’s trilogy is the deep character development. He’s created a cast that have never appeared in any other form of Star Wars media yet I’ve come to love them so much. The squadron and the other supporting characters are outstanding for a number of reasons.
One, they are infused with relatable traits, both good and bad. In Wyl, Nath, Chass, Kairos and Yrica, we see bravery, foolishness, righteousness, redemption, regret, selfishness, forgiveness, love and everything in between. Freed makes readers feel close to them because we can so easily see ourselves in them, flaws and all. This is a group of heroes yes, but they live with the struggle of having to choose between right and wrong at seemingly every turn. Plus, the consequences are often as difficult to face as the decisions themselves, which creates a rich and resonant storytelling landscape.
Second, these characters have histories and backgrounds that are distinctively Star Wars, which makes them just so much fun. Kairos’ backstory particularly was one that I was not expecting. It’s a beautiful mixture of mystery and wonder and gives readers just enough information to explain who she is while leaving much to the imagination. She easily has become my favorite squadron member (Lucasfilm/Disney, can we get a spin-off please?!).
Lastly, Freed illustrates that it’s the coming together amidst differences that wins wars. It’s through diversity of background, thought and beliefs that battles can be won. It’s viewing the world from another’s perspective and making unselfish decisions that can benefit the greater good. It’s through honesty and forgiveness that true change can come about. I found myself close to tears numerous times as these flawed, broken characters go through an experience together and come out the other side changed because of it.
Yes “Victory’s Price” has space battles, explosions, drama and mystery. It ultimately succeeds, however, in showing that no matter how long a life you live or what you’ve done in the past, what really matters is who you live your life with and wherever the next part of your journey takes you, a galaxy full of possibilities awaits.
The Alphabet Squadron trilogy has firmly cemented itself as required reading in Star Wars canon. -
**Thank you to Del Rey for providing me with an advanced copy to read and review!
Well, I wrote a whole review....and then copied unrelated text over it. So...this is an inferior take 2. :(
Between and betrayal and the ongoing war, the pilots of Alphabet Squadron must remember why they are fighting and what it means to be a team. Broken and tired after the Battle of Troithe in SHADOW FALL, VICTORY'S PRICE brings us one step closer to the end of the war and one step closer to peace. With the end in sight, both sides are trying to figure out what it means to win and to lose, and how to move forward in a new world. For the pilots of Alphabet Squadron, what is the price of victory?
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Freed has a strong understanding of the human condition and doesn't shy away from the complexities of trauma and the weight of war. He builds his characters in such a way that allows us to truly see who they are and what they are going though. This approach makes characters' interpersonal relationships the most meaty and interesting parts of the book. Not something you'd necessarily expect for a book that advertises it being about a group of pilots, at least not to me! So many of the conversations truly matter, not only to the characters, but to me as a reader who doesn't live in a space opera. Each character gets their due in this book, and each of them feels finds a satisfying c0nclusion to their character arc.
This series ends *well*. No spoilers here, but this is to say that I felt justified in the time that I spent reading these books and getting to know and fall in love with these characters. The conclusion of this book gives me a sense of hope for the world and a sense of gratitude for Alexander Freed. In a world where it seems that so much of our favorite media doesn't stick the landing or doesn't do right by the characters they've spent so long crafting, VICTORY'S PRICE is a balm.
There's not much I'd change in this book, but if I had to comment on one thing that I didn't love as much as the rest, I'd say that the beginning of the book moved a bit slower than the rest of it. It starts to hit around halfway through, and is impossible to put down once you get to part 3 (I'm serious, prepare yourself). But before that, the book is slower as it sets up this game of cat and mouse, and as we are building what the pilots' lives look like after the battle of Troithe. This isn't that strong of a criticism, I know, but it was honestly hard for me to find any!
All in all, Freed has outdone himself with this one. This finale is one I'd very highly recommend to not fans of the trilogy in books 1&2, but readers who are on the fence about starting the trilogy and readers who don't quite know if they're going to finish it. It is so so worth it, if you're asking me. -
The third and final entry in Alexander Freed’s “Alphabet Squadron” trilogy is a satisfying-enough conclusion, one that serves to effectively tie up the majority of the series’ narrative strands in a way that is robustly entertaining, if not exceedingly exciting or surprising. That said, "Victory's Price" does a VERY good job at keeping the reader’s attention, thanks in no small part to Freed’s loose prosaic style, which helps to keep things moving at a fast clip and ensures that even the most attention-adverse of readers will likely stay engaged. "Victory's Price" isn’t a grand slam conclusion, but it is a compulsively readable one – and in this case, that’s more than enough to warrant a recommendation.
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Alexander Freed delivers his best work yet, wrapping up his Alphabet Squadron trilogy in epic fashion. Outside of the incredible character arcs and expansive set pieces, he manages to leave readers with moving questions that prompt us to reflect on wars, relationships, and change in new and intense ways. One of the more introspective Star Wars books I have ever read. This one will stick with me long after tonight.
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Just leave me here in my feelings. Can't move. Only feelings.
This was an amazing end to the trilogy. And I'm not just saying that because Freed absolutely upped his Hera game in this one.
Every character just took me on a journey. The ending was not at all what I was expecting but it works so well and hurts in just the right way. Victory's price INDEED.
Also I have never hated an Imperial the way I hate Soran Keize. I kept screaming about it out loud.
I also screamed "Make better choices!" at a rather large number of characters.
All the feelings. ALL OF THEM. -
THIS IS A FULL TRILOGY REVIEW FOR ALL THREE BOOKS OF ALPHABET SQUADRON
This was an exhausting story to get through. All the more exhausting that it spun an entire trilogy and, although it carried some interesting ideas and intriguing themes, it suffers from a problem I struggled with from the very beginning: these three books were needlessly complicated and could have easily carried their themes while remaining entertaining.
I can't help but compare this series to another. Much like Alphabet Squadron, Chuck Wendig's Aftermath trilogy follows an unlikely band of allies who find themselves searching for purpose in the aftermath of the Battle of Endor and leads up to the final confrontation between the Empire and the New Republic at the Battle of Jakku. But the members of Norra Wexley's team were much easier to get attatched to than the pilots of Alphabet Squadron. In fact, as I write, I can't help but find that every one of those five pilots echo one of their counterparts from Aftermath: Yrica Quell echoes Norra Wexley, while Chass Na Chadic could have been made from the same mold as Jas Emeri. Nath Tensent feels like a very pale and far less interesting copy of Sinjir Rath Velus (how could anyone be nearly as cool as Sinjir?), and Wyl Lark has much of the innocence of a young Snap Wexley. Finally, Kairos shows some of the same brutality as (but none of the humour of) Mr. Bones. Even Hera Syndulla's inclusion in the story echoes, in many ways, the way Wedge Antilles hung around Norra's team (for difference reasons though). I doubt Alexander Freed copied those characters directly or even intentionaly, but the comparaison can't be helped.
The biggest fault of these books, at least for me, is my belief that Freed tried too hard to psychoanalyze his characters, often witholding information and giving only brief snippets of insight to the reader so that they can draw their own conclusions. Sadly for me, this was just too much work and I often felt overloaded with information about them; a needless complication that prevented me from fully enjoying the story. Chuck Wendig, by contrast, gave us characters with motivations simple enough to be believable, and believable enough to be complex. That isn't to say that Alphabet's motivations are unrealistic or badly handled; they aren't and others might enjoy their struggles. It's just that it didn't work for me.
The premise of Alphabet Squadron was simple enough. As I understand it, the pitch for the series came from when a member of the Lucasfilm Story Group joked about a squadron, each with one of the different rebel fighters, called Alphabet Squadron... and the idea was actually taken up and presented to the publishing branch. When Alexander Freed was offered the change to write the books, he wanted to write a book about the guys in the middle, those who are not affected by the good or the evil of the conflict, but firmly in the gray areas of conflict. A great pitch and very similar to the pitch for other projects such as Rogue One (for which Freed wrote the novelization).
I simply wish it had worked for me.
The first big gripe I have with this story is its setting: the aftermath of the Battle of Endor, as the New Republic is fighting to defeat the last remnants of the Empire.
The setting worked well for the first novel, as it introduced our characters well, whether they were Alliance fighters such as Lark and Chadic, or former Imperials like Quell and Tensent. It also introduced some of the problems that continued to plague the characters throughout the trilogy: what to do with Imperial defectors? How the Alliance could transition from a rebellion into a new government? And what pilots and soldiers will do once the war inevitably ends? It also introduced the rudderless Shadow Wing, an Imperial remnant desperately searching for purpose in a fractured Empire where the Emperor is dead. It also covers the shadow cast over all of these characters: the dreaded Operation Cinder, the deceased Emperor's order to remaining Imperial forces following his death to burn worlds, destined to break the spirit of the rebels and any who might join them. .
But once the first book ends, it feels like the setting no longer works, especially as it has already been used so efficiently in Aftermath. Instead, using a time jump and fastforwarding the story to a more peaceful time after the Battle of Jakku would have been so much more interesting. The campaign in the Cerberon system, which makes up most of the second (and, in my opinion, best of the three) books, could have been a battle against lingering Imperial remnants, which The Mandalorian has shown us are still operating after the defeat of the Empire. And it would have made Shadow Wing's quest for purpose more relevant as it tries to survive in a galaxy where only a few isolated pockets of loyalists remain. Even the New Republic fighters could have been portrayed as rudderless, since they would need to justify their continued necessity in a galaxy at peace.
Similarly, Keize's master plan would have worked a lot better in such a context, as a means of giving his pilots a prupose to cling to. Major Soran Keize is probably one of the most interesting characters of the story: he's the antagonist, but he's one of the most likeable antagonists I've ever come across. As Quell herself said about her mentor, he was 'the best of them'. Soran Keize is an Imperial pilot who, even at its height, believes the Empire is rotten and who holds no loyalty to the Emperor, not even before his death. His only loyalty is to his fellow pilots and the crews who assist them. But even his motivations are made needlessly complicated and take far too long to be revealed in their entirety. Had some of the moves he made in Victory's Price been handled in Shadow Fall, it might have helped the pace. It would also have set up the pace for a great finale, one where all the storylines would have converged in a final battle for purpose (or for the end of purpose) in a clearly familiar location. Instead, the finale of Victory's Price left something to be desired. For a story called "Alphabet Squadron", I was hoping for a reunion of the five pilots who had made the original squadron formed by Caern Adan. And, for a time, it seemed like that would have been the endgame.
But no.
Instead, each must follow their own path which is relatively believable and, while ultimately true to their character, doesn't make it a particularly satisfying ending. The setting of the final confrontation between Shadow Wing and Alphabet which, as has been teased since the first novel, is the Battle of Jakku fails to works completely, even if Freed does limit his narration to the events surrounding these two groups rather than the whole battle. He also includes a very powerful moment which, I will admit got to me and speaks to the entire point of this saga. Once again however, I would have loved this moment even more if the entirety of Alphabet Squadron had been present for the battle.
Another criticism is that, in his apparent desire to make things as complex as possible, Freed drops some things on us seemingly at the very last minute. In fact, delaying revelations is a theme throughout this story and works against the story. Freed was eager to write a more complex story than the mainstream Star Wars we're used to, and that is a big challenge to his credit. But he does it in a needlessly complicated way that left me breathing a sigh of relief when I finally finished them.
All in all, Alphabet Squadron is a great story but its execution leaves a lot to be desired. Much like E.K . Johnston's Padmé books, it teases a great premise but struggles in its delivery. Unlike the Padmé books, however, it suceeds because these books actually HAVE a story to tell. But they remain trapped by a writer who enjoys teasing and leaving his reader speculating, with a huge reliance on technical details, overly precise dogfighting and psychoanalysis of its characters and their motivations.
That is the story he told. -
Without a doubt the strongest of the three Alphabet books. Freed handled each of the character arcs well, bringing them to mostly satisfying conclusions, but it was always going to be Yrica and Keize who carried this story…and they did it admirably.
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Very good. I'm stunned but in a good way. Just wanna read the whole trilogy again.
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Freed has really accomplished something special here, capping off a fantastic trilogy looking at the damages of war, trauma, genocide, and the drive to fight. It never holds from asking tough questions, but always does so while exuding charm and just a brilliant drive towards action. There's not much I'd change. The characters are fantastic, the questions it asks are compelling, the story is nearly perfect. Recommend for anyone remotely interested in military fantasy, whether Star Wars or not. Easily some of the best Star Wars novels there are and beyond - this is simply up there with the best in the genre.
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A fun ending that got where I hoped it would, but this series just isn't a squadron series. Everyone is constantly more interested in getting out of combat or away from their squadron than they are in flying together. I found Quell's part of the ending so completely unbelievable that it was hard to take seriously. The rest was a lot of fun but I really want to go back and re-read the original X-Wing series now.
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This is one of the best trilogies of anything I’ve ever experienced.
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Where Alphabet Squadron had a very rough takeoff, only to smooth out with some turbulence in Shadow Fall, I expected Victory’s Price to have a rough yet satisfying landing.
Instead of a landing, however, Victory’s Price crashed and burned after deliberately nose-diving straight into the ground.
It’s difficult to pinpoint how disappointed I am since the first book hadn’t exactly won me over. The second one was a little better than the first, so it understandably gave me hope that this last one would really pack a punch and, in the end, make me appreciate the trilogy as a whole. But where Shadow Fall took two steps forward after Alphabet Squadron, Victory’s Price decided to take four steps back.
It was like being back at square one with the first book except worse since it’s the final book of the trilogy. Where Yrica became interesting in the second book, she lost that here. She was just bland and boring as she was in the first one. I was disappointed with Chass na Chadic and how she was handled in Shadow Fall, and that disappointment only grew with Victory’s Price. I was sick and tired of her attitude, with her selfish actions. When it comes to this particular series, Chass is officially the character I can’t stand and dislike the most now.
Out of all the characters, the only ones I cared about were Nath Tensent and Hera Syndulla. Their scenes were the best, the most enjoyable ones for me to listen to and read about. I wish the two got the spotlight more than they did, but at least they were there. Honestly, I think part of the reason I persevered through this was just so I knew what happened to Nath at the end since he’s my one and only favorite of Alphabet Squadron.
There were, however, a few scenes that I did like which didn’t involve Nath and Hera. One of those moments was when Wyl Lark talked about the celebration on Endor. I thought that was a nice touch to get an outsider’s perspective of that scene at the end of Return of the Jedi.
When it comes to the audiobook, I was glad it was performed by one of my favorite narrators when it comes to Star Wars: January LaVoy. It still is funny to me, though, how this trilogy had a different narrator for each audiobook rather than sticking with a particular one for all three books.
I should have just dropped it once I got to the halfway point but, as it’s the final installment of the Alphabet Squadron trilogy, I felt compelled to see it through to the very end. -
A two part review:
Part 1: The reason that Alexander Freed is the best Star Wars author right now is because he feels like the culmination of all of us '70s and '80s kids all grown up. His writing is measured and mature. His characters are thoughtful and gray. His philosophies have significant weight, and genuinely consider two sides of a conflict in a way that no other Star Wars medium has. I know that he isn't going to appeal to younger readers, and I know that his stories aren't stuffed with fan-theory-confirming Easter Eggs and grand explanations to fill in movie plot holes, but dammit, I feel like an adult when I read his novels. Star Wars Publishing, don't let this man go.
Part 2: Dear Disney,
About a year ago I wrote a review to you explaining how your publishing house had really lost its way, a combination of filler novels while you figured out (or failed to figure out) what you were doing with the sequel trilogy, and of sub-par writers badly writing inconsequential Star Wars assignments.
So it only feels fair to write you another review now that my feelings on the matter have very much changed. I loved most all of the stories you've published the last year, and the current batch of writers have been mostly outstanding. However, it seems to me that the reason for this resurgence is also due in large part to all y'all finally having figured how much Star Wars to publish. You have a wide variety of TV shows coming down the pipe, you have YA novels and adult novels and kids novels being published at least once a month, you have a strong comic scene, and the launch of the High Republic era has finally untied your creators' hands to craft to stories of substance. It's not an overwhelming amount of content, but it's enough that when something doesn't land for me (sorry Thrawn series), I don't nearly as upset as I might have in the past because I know there is more out there.
Hm. This seemed much more profound in my head. Oh well. In summary, keep the content coming, let the universe keep expanding, and good heavens give Alexander Freed all the time and money he needs to keep writing more books. Or even a TV series or two.
~Neil -
i've been trying to be more selective about the pieces of star war i engage in and i almost didn't get this one--the first in the series was great but the second left me more lukewarm than i'd wanted, but man. MAN. sw being what it is, and being a disney property in its current iteration to boot, i never expect it to deal with Big Subjects in anything close to meaningful nuance, but victory's price manages to do so pretty well, and not just compared to the rest of the franchise. i spent the last third of the novel emo as hell about all these flawed people in perilous situations facing tough choices. i kiss every member of alphabet squadron on the mouth.
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Well done, Freed, well done. I gave lower scores for the first two books in this character driven trilogy, but this ending perfectly tied them together. As a complete unit, I would give the trilogy a 4.5 out of 5. Character development and storyline was wholesome and intriguing. The elusive "bad guys" were interesting and complex, to say the least without spoiling anything. If anyone is starting this trilogy, know that this book makes it all worth it.
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I have to say this is the best of the three books. I’ve kinda of enjoyed this aftermath after the battle of Yavin, but at the same time, im relieved im done with this period of the timeline. Not my favorite by far.
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A great conclusion to this trilogy. Wish all star wars novels were this good
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hera syndulla i’ll love you forever
