The Bookwyrm's Review of Galaxys Edge, Part 2 by Jason Anspach and Nick Cole
Rating: 9.5/10 Stars
Synopsis
Kill Team
Always make 'em pay.
In the aftermath of the Battle of Kublar—and the destruction of the battleship Chiasm—Legion Dark Ops recruits Chhun, Wraith, and the survivors of Victory Company to form an elite Kill Team of legionnaires. Their secret mission is as clear as it is deadly: find and eliminate those responsible for the Kublar disaster.
Standing between them and their objective are a maze of corrupt Republic officials, a spy on the verge of losing himself in deep cover, and the Zhee—a murderous species who will stop at nothing. But perhaps the biggest threat of all is the truth they seek to uncover.
A truth that could ignite a revolution—and engulf the galaxy in flames…
…unless the Kill Team is willing to finish the job. At any cost.
Attack of Shadows
The End of the Republic begins now.
The galaxy ignites as Goth Sullus and his fleet unleash a devastating surprise assault on the Republic. All that stands in his way are the 7th Fleet and the Legion. But with allies hidden in the very heart of the Republic, Sullus looks to reshape the galaxy in his own image.
Fleets collide in a moment-by-moment account of tactics, heroism, sacrifice, and the start of the final war of the Republic. The stakes have never been higher—and it’s winner take all.
Review
This review is really of two books in the Galaxy's Edge series, Kill Team and Attack of Shadows, which were collected together on Audible as Galaxy's Edge, Part 2. It's an excellent deal in my opinion. Anyway, on to the review.
Picking up where Galaxy's Edge 1 left off, we find a galaxy that's basically a dumpster fire. Kill Team covers the events immediately after the battle of Kublar for certain survivors, who end up tapped to become one of the corrupt regime's kill teams, fixers of problems both large and small that are a threat to the government. It's a mix of both good and bad missions, and really builds up just how much of a mess the galaxy has become, with a rebellion and endemic corruption really showing a regime on it's last legs. We can see the end approaching in the minds of the soldiers tasked with the governments most sensitive missions.
These are some excellently written soldiers. It's an ensemble that really reflects what a real world spec ops team would be like in a far future setting. The comradery, the sometimes disgust with leadership that really doesn't deserve the loyalty they demand, the willingness to sacrifice for each other is all there. The real life military experience of the authors comes through in the characters, because even set far into the future, these are the type of soldiers that Caesar's legionaries of soldiers of Napoleon's Grand Army would see as fellow brothers in arms. They just come across as real people, which is the best compliment any writer can get when talking about their characters. You'll find yourself fully immersed in their lives.
In Attack of Shadows, we see the threat from the outside finally arrive, throwing the already turbulent galaxy into utter chaos. The strength of the Republic is finally put to the ultimate test, and we see that even the most powerful system can be possibly shattered if the right pressure is put on it. In this case, we see a power that the Republic can't possibly understand, a power that comes from outside it's borders in the hands of someone who has centuries of experience with the Republic and it's distant predecessors, and knows their true strengths and weaknesses. It's a great bit of world building, and I was completely sucked in.
The focus in this one is the characters in the invading army. It's a real slice of life approach in a military context, and is amazingly realistic, even though it is set far into the future. It's again highlighting the reality of military life, and the characters reflect that. The enlisted leadership in this case is is definitely motivated and experienced, and they really run the gamut of leaders I experienced in my time in the army. They come across as real soldiers, pushing their soldiers to excel, but willing to get their own hands dirty and set the example. They are also much more sympathetic than you'd expect for an invading army, mostly because they see themselves as more an army of liberation, freeing the people from an oppressive regime. Whether this turns out to be true or not you'll have to read to find out. You'll also see some surprise crossovers from Kill Team in ways you certainly could not see coming.
The audiobook narration is handled by the fantastic R.C. Bray, who has established himself as one of the all time great audiobook narrators. He does such a fantastic job of breathing life into the character's, giving them each their own unique personality and flair. You are never in doubt about which character is speaking, and his narrative pacing is a marvel. He never falls into a monotone, and you may find yourself unable to stop listening, he's that good.
Like I mentioned before, two books for one Audible credit is always a good deal in my opinion. It's especially good when it's a story that sucks you in and won't let you go. This is the kind of story that has appeal to a wide range of readers/listeners, whether they like sci-fi, military thrillers or space opera. I can't even really compare it to another authors writing, because this sprawling yet intimate story is fairly unique in my experience. I highly recommend checking out Galaxy's Edge today!
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